Refurbishment of The Laurels care home in Market Deeping nears completion

A year-long restoration project of a prominent town centre building is nearing completion.

The Laurels care home in Market Deeping will soon be fully open to 19 residents once the final work is finished.

Mother and daughter team Touran and Yasamine Watts took on the business in February last year and set about giving the building a makeover.

There is still work to be completed in the car park and garden.

Yasamine said: “It’s been a challenging year making the necessary improvements. The walls and ceiling have crumbled in places and we’ve had to remove several trees which were risking the foundations and structure.

“I’m pleased to say that we’re getting there, though. Market Deeping is a small place but because of the location of the house we’ve had many comments on how it has played a part in people’s lives.”

Stamford stonemason Gary Cook has completed one of the final jobs by steam cleaning the grade II listed building’s facade.

He said: “It’s been a pleasure to help bring this wonderful old building back to life. The owners have a vision for taking the property back to its original look and I am excited to help.

“The accumulation of dirt happens very gradually over many years so it’s fantastic to see what the building is supposed to look like in its best condition. It looks magnificent and it’s somewhere that the owners and residents are going to be proud of.”

The building in High Street was built in the 1800s. During the Second World War it was used by the RAF and has also been used as a restaurant and private residence. It became a care home in 1986 and was run by Desmond and Jacqui Shiels for 35 years until they retired last year.