Bourne Town Hall Trust awarded grants from Len Pick Trust and Bourne United Charities for ambitious entertainment venue project

Ambitious plans to create a new arts and entertainment venue has been boosted by further grants, just weeks after a multi-million pound Lottery award.

Bourne Town Hall Trust has been awarded funding from both the Len Pick Trust and Bourne United Charities for the regeneration of the Grade II-listed building.

Late last month, National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded Bourne’s Old Town Hall a £3.3 million grant to help turn the first floor former magistrates’ court into a theatre.

Funds from the Len Pick Trust, a charitable trust based in Bourne, will support the whole regeneration project, including the reconstruction of the town hall’s clocktower, and the original Georgian clock.

The original clocktower, part of the town hall when it was built in 1821, was destroyed by fire in 1932, despite the best efforts of the town’s fire brigade which was based there.

When complete, the original bell from the 200-year old clock, made by Thwaite's and Reed of Clerkenwell in London, will chime once again during daytime hours.

“The Len Pick Trust would like to congratulate the trustees of The Old Town Hall, Bourne, for raising the funds needed to carry out the major redevelopment work on the Old Town Hall building,” said a Len Pick Trust spokesperson.

“We share their vision for a centre to support the arts for the people of Bourne, and we are delighted to have contributed to achieving the goal.

“We are looking forward to watching the next phase of the project.”

Meanwhile, Bourne United Charities, made up of 15 different charities, has agreed to give £66,700 to the town hall trust.

This will go towards installing a lift to the first floor theatre space and a platform lift to the stage to make it fully accessible to all.

“We are proud to be able to support Bourne Town Hall Trust in the next phase of their journey to becoming a cultural venue for the town,” said a BUC spokesperson.

“Bourne is lucky to have such committed groups of people who give their time for free to benefit our community.

“Their plans to transform the building and host quality events will have a lasting impact in enriching the cultural offering available to the people of Bourne.”