FIT FOR A KING We’ll take a

FIT for a KING

From derelict eyesore to a fantastic community space celebrating the heritage of Kirton. This month we recognise the work of the county’s Heritage Lincolnshire charity, which aims to preserve and ensure the continued use of the heritage buildings which are most at risk in the county...

>> WHAT HAPPENS when good buildings go bad? If they’re really prominent – like large cathedrals or castles – there’s usually plenty of heritage interest. If, on the other hand, there’s some potential for residential conversion, they’re usually restored by those keen to live in them or develop them to make a profit.

But what about those buildings which are smaller in scale than major landmarks, but too large to be of interest to those seeking to create a private residence?

The Old King’s Head in Kirton is just such an example. Too large to live in, it required an eye-watering amount of money to restore and maintain it. And with pubs and other businesses already surrounding the building, – and comparatively little footfall in a village, compared to a market town’s High Street –its commercial interest would be a little more limited.

Without a fresh approach to its renovation, the building’s condition would almost certainly deteriorate with just one inevitable conclusion; dereliction. Thankfully, not all heroes wear capes; some wear hard-hats and hi-vis jackets. We’re referring to the good folk of Heritage Lincolnshire, the charity 30 years old this year which has, since 2016, managed to purchase, restore and now reopen the 16th-century Old King’s Head, ensuring not just the preservation of the building’s fabric and its place in social history, but its future use as a place for the people of Kirton and the surrounding villages to gather together as a community.

Some people think that heritage buildings are just funded from a bottomless budget controlled by central or local governments, but sadly that’s far from the case. It’s crucial to say that Heritage Lincolnshire isn’t funded by the government; it’s reliant on its own fundraising and the availability of grants from bodies like the National Lottery Heritage Fund to continue its work. As of 2016, the charity has saved from dereliction eight heritage buildings on the ‘at risk’ register, at a cost of over £25m. In addition to its restorations, the charity also undertakes to conserve the history of Lincolnshire through other activities like archaeological studies and research. “Currently the charity owns five sites,” says its Business Manager, Hannah Thompson.

Heritage Lincolnshire’s Historic Sites...

n Tupholme Abbey, Bardney: Grade I listed Premonstratensian abbey damaged during Henry VIII’s 1538 destruction of similar sites. Acquired and repaired by Heritage Lincolnshire in 1988. n Royal Observer Corps Underground Monitoring Post, Holbeach: A curious post-war relic which was one of a number of sites designed to provide early warning of a nuclear attack. A measurement of a bomb’s power would have been taken and reported to London to report the severity of fallout. n Tattershall College: One of a complex of buildings built by Ralph, Lord Cromwell, including Tattershall Castle, the collegiate church and the almshouses. A former malthouse of Tattershall Brewery which closed in the late C18th, and fell into dereliction in the 1970s before being taken on by Heritage Lincolnshire which now manages the site. n Hussey Tower, Boston: Now in ruinous condition, Hussey Tower was built in 1450 by Richard Benyngton and was later part of the manor of Sir John Hussey, a customs and excise official for Henry VIII when Boston was the wealthiest English port outside London. “These include Tupholme Abbey and Holbeach’s Royal Observer Corps bunker. We also manage and maintain sites like Tattershall College and Hussey Tower.” “Kirton’s Old King’s Head is a site which we can – sympathetically and appropriately –monetise, and run as a centre of its community. There’s no getting away from the fact that restoring and maintaining historic buildings is expensive, and you can’t just fix them up but leave them standing unused.” “It’s a site that we can ensure meets both our heritage ethos but can also be enjoyed and used too. That’s why we’ve created a business case as well as a heritage case for its renovation.”

“We’ve transformed it into a luxury B&B with nine bedrooms with a café and community rooms that groups can hire for their private celebrations or family functions and for meetings, craft groups, choirs, mother and baby groups or coffee mornings.” “Groups coming from out of the county to spend time enjoying local RSPB reserves like Frampton’s have also expressed interest in the rooms, which is one of the reasons we’ve used local bird life as the inspiration for the décor of our beautiful bedrooms.”

“For visitors who want to explore the village of Kirton, The Old King’s Head offers hour-long tours led by Heritage Lincolnshire volunteers.” >>

Focused on preserving Lincolnshire’s heritage sites

Celebrating 30 years in heritage, the charity, based in Heckington, specialises in taking care of our most historic sites...

Heritage Lincolnshire is 30 years old this month... which is considerably younger than the sites it looks after – many of which are in a fragile state and necessitate complex and expensive care if they’re to survive for hundreds of years more. “Our charitable aims are lifelong education, building conservation and archaeological fieldwork and research,” says Hannah Thompson, Business Manager. “We also have a national reputation for the conservation and re-use of historic buildings and for delivering innovative activities that engage and enthuse local people.” “We are the most active Buildings Preservation Trust in the East Midlands and work alongside our commercial archaeological team.” “Our heritage open days allow visitors to gain access to sites of architectural and cultural interest across Lincolnshire.”

“Post-pandemic, we’re hoping to host over 200 heritage open days each year.”

n Heritage Lincolnshire is based in The Old School on Cameron Street, Heckington. Call 01529 461499 or see www.heritagelincolnshire.org to find out more about the charity.

>> “Visitors can discover the unique history of Kirton village and as well as The Old King’s Head, including stories from over its lifetime.”

“We are thankful to the volunteers who have also worked so hard learning about Kirton so that they can engage visitors with our brilliant tours of The Old King’s Head and surrounding historic villages.” “The funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other organisations has meant that we were able to complete this restoration to the highest standard.” “From the wonderful building renovation and stable block conversion to heritageinspired sage green windows and traditional themed décor in the rooms, we hope that visitors can appreciate the charm of The Old King’s Head as we have brought it back to life.”

“We hope that residents of Kirton, as well as visitors, will enjoy the new café in the main building and use the community room as a space for leisure and recreational activities.”

“It’s wonderful to have been a part of such a beautiful restoration. The building has such a rich history and holds a lot of memories for the village of Kirton.” “Since opening on 1st October we’re really delighted to have had such interest in the building and we’re keen that as well as preserving its past, it can be a place to make memories in the future, too.”

Craft Workshops

As well as community groups, The Old King’s Head will also be hosting craft mornings such as Corn Dolly workshops on 30th October and a taster leathermaking session on 3rd Nov.

Above: Mary Duff and her husband Richard were the last publicans of The Old King’s Head in Kirton and the family has taken a keen interest in the redevelopment of the site by Heritage Lincolnshire. The Old King’s Head is based on High Street, Kirton PE20 1EG. Call 01529 461499 or see www.theoldkingshead.com.

Heritage Timeline

Marking the most important years in the life of Kirton’s Old King’s Head pub...

1599 John Wyberd is a merchant haberdasher from Essex who builds and moves into a new public house, The Swan. It takes 161,000 handmade bricks to create the building, which is enough to build 31 modern houses today.

1625 John’s son William Wyberd, haberdasher and judge in the High Court, inherits the Swan upon his father’s death. Charles II is on the throne, which perhaps inspired a later change of name.

1667 A major remodelling takes place resulting in the building we see today. The building is redesigned in a style known as ‘The Fen Artisan Mannerist Style,’ and the roof was thatched. It takes eight tonnes of straw to thatch the roof, which is the equivalent weight of a fully grown African elephant!

1731 After being owned by Jane Wyberd, the pub is purchased by Robert Smith and Susannah Read, then William North. In 1781 it is leased to John Atkinson and comprises four shops, three barns, three stables, a brewhouse, eight acres of land, eight acres of meadow and eight acres of pasture.

1800 The inn is acquired by Samuel Barnard and recorded as The King’s Head. John Baldock becomes innkeeper.

1875 The inn is purchased by John Cade, one of 36 landlords that would serve the pub throughout its life. His brewer, John Benton, is found to have drowned in the brewing copper in June of 1875, and the town’s local coroner records a verdict of suicide due to ‘temporary insanity.’

1939 Annie Smithbone takes over as innkeeper as her husband Fred goes off to war. He returns and resumes his position in 1946. In 1948, Jonny Cuthbert takes over and remains there until 1956... he was also a British Featherweight Boxing champion!

1972 The building is purchased by Geoffrey and Mary Duff and remains in their ownership until being sold to two more families; Reuben & Jacqueline Gill in 1987 and Robert & Maureen Schofield in 1999.

2016 Heritage Lincolnshire purchases the property and begins fundraising to ensure the building can be saved.

2021 Following major restoration and conversion The Old King’s Head reopens as a B&B and café with meeting room for local residents. n