National Lottery grant of £222,000 for Gainsborough Old Hall

Gainsborough Old Hall was built by Sir Thomas Burgh between 1460 and 1480

A project to "revive" Gainsborough Old Hall has been awarded a £222,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.

The money will help fund a new community engagement coordinator, revitalise the garden and enable conservation works to the building, according to English Heritage.

It will also pay for the creation of an employability skills and development programme for the community.

The project starts this month and is due to be completed in 2025.

Gainsborough Old Hall has one of the most impressive medieval kitchens in England, a noble great hall with ornate wooden ceiling and an imposing lodgings tower.

It has played host to some of history's great names, from Henry VIII and Katherine Parr to John Wesley.

Starting as a place of power and influence in the 15th Century, it has since had many uses from an assembly room and masonic temple, through to a linen factory, pub and soup kitchen.

'Fresh interpretation'

The hall reopened in 2012 after a £255,000 revamp which included a new shop.

It came under the direct care of English Heritage in 2021 having previously been managed by Lincolnshire County Council.

A spokesperson for English Heritage said "more fun, family events and fresh interpretation is planned to better tell the story of the Old Hall".

Louise Fountain, property manager at English Heritage, added: "We are so grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for this grant which will allow us start the next chapter here.

"Gainsborough Old Hall has always [been], and will continue to be, at the heart of the local community and we look forward to a new era for this magnificent property," she said.

The charity said the work would be done in phases and the hall would remain open throughout.

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