Happy Birthday to Kirton in Lindsey Town Hall! On 14th June this year the Town Hall was 125 years old.
It was formally opened on in June 1899 to a great fanfare and two days of celebrations. The foundation stone had been laid two years before as part of the celebrations for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and this gave the building its name.
However, the story of the Town Hall starts much further back. Kirton House of Correction (or Bridewell) was opened in 1792 and was a ‘state of the art’ prison in its day. Built on a site between what is now Queen Street and Spa Hill, it was designed to hold 116 prisoners and also had a bespoke Sessions House for hearing the Lindsey Quarter Sessions. It closed 81 years later in 1873 when Lincoln prison was built.
Also sitting in the Market Place was the disused Greyhound public house which had fallen into decay and was an eyesore. Not the image that the townsfolk of Kirton in Lindsey wanted for their town!
The solution proposed was to build a Town Hall by transporting and re-using the Sessions House and rebuilding it on the site of the former pub. Mr Embleton-Fox owned the parts of the Bridewell which were to be re-used and the remainder of the funding came from individual and public subscription.
Once opened, the Town Hall immediately became the most dominant building in the Market Place and has been the subject of many photographs and postcards. Over time it has hosted a huge range of activities. Some of the more unusual include land sales and auctions, two bank branches and a cinema.
In 1985 it was given Grade II Listed Building status by English Heritage in recognition of both its current architectural features and its unusual origins and in 2010 it underwent a major refurbishment and extension to make sure it remained fit for the modern world. This was achieved through a community fundraising effort which raised £1.2 million in grants and sponsorship. The main grant of £932,500 came from the Heritage Lottery Fund and enabled the extension to be built in addition to repairs and restoration of the original building.
It was formally re-opened by Prince Edward on 17th June 2011, 114 years since the foundation stone was laid in honour of his great great great grandmother.
Today it is a registered charity managed on behalf of the community by a Board of Trustees whose job is to ensure the future of the building and its continued role in the community.
Upcoming events
For the latest updates on regular activities, visit www.kirtoninlindseytownhall.co.uk and their Facebook pages. For further information, contact Jo at info@kirtoninlindseytownhall.co.uk or call 07752 246255.
Kirton in Lindsey Amateur Gardeners Annual Show
Saturday 7th September
The KLAGS 42nd Annual Show promises to be a highlight of the horticultural year. The event is an ‘open show,’ meaning anyone can enter items.
Timetable for the day:
- Staging of Exhibits: 8:30am to 11:15am
- Judging: 11:30am to 1:30pm
- Public Viewing: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
- Presentation of Awards: 3:30pm, followed by a raffle
For queries regarding entry and participation, please contact Carol Rigby (Chair) on 01652 409940 or Sarah Wilkinson (Secretary) on 01652 409717 or sarah.wilkinson11@outlook.com.
Down Greedy Gut and Up Red Lion Passage
Wednesday 11th and Saturday 14th September, 2.00pm
As part of the national Heritage Open Days Events, The Kirton in Lindsey Society will host two guided walks starting and finishing at the Town Hall. It’s a chance to discover some of the more unusual parts of the town that you might not know existed!
The walks are free, but booking is essential. Contact Martin Hollingsworth on 01652 648435 or m.hollingsworth205@btinternet.com.
Annual Art Exhibition
Friday 4th October, 5.00pm – 9.00pm and Saturday 5th October, 10.00am – 5.30pm
The 13th Annual Art Exhibition will showcase a range of artistic techniques, including painting, pottery, textiles, and glass craft. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase everything on display.
Local artists, as well as some from further afield, will display up to four paintings in any medium. Each year features a mix of regular and new exhibitors, maintaining a high standard with numerous sales.
Tea, coffee, and snacks will be available throughout, and the bar will be open on the Friday evening.
Admission is free, catalogues are £1.00, and all proceeds support the work of the Town Hall.
Artists interested in exhibiting can still participate. For more information, contact Jo at info@kirtoninlindseytownhall.co.uk or subscribe to the art exhibition news at http://eepurl.com/drWu8j.