Restoration plans for 16th century Spalding pub Ye Olde White Horse labelled ‘concerning’

Restoration plans for an iconic town centre pub have been described as ‘concerning’ - with campaigners worried about a scheme that could see it lose its white paint job.

The Grade II-listed Ye Olde White Horse building has stood on Spalding’s Churchgate since the 16th Century.

But the hostelry has been shut since 2019 with owners Samuel Smith’s Brewery unable to find a tenant despite a number of attempts to advertise the role.

This has led to the building - an much-loved landmark with its eye-catching thatched roof - falling into a state of disrepair, a sorry sight exacerbated last year when a vehicle collided into its walls, leaving part of the structure boarded up and a target for vandals.

Now owners want to restore the pub to its former glory and plans for repairs - including replacement windows and doors - have been submitted to South Holland District Council.

However, the full-scale of the work has raised questions from Spalding Civic Society - in particular plans to remove the building’s trademark white paint from the exterior masonry walls.

“Photographs of the building dating back to 1900 and earlier indicate that much of the building has been painted white,” a letter sent to the council by the society states.

“Policy 29 of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan requires proposals to conserve and enhance the character and appearance of designated assets and also that proposals within the Spalding Conservation area should preserve (and enhance or reinforce, as appropriate) features that contribute positively to the area's character, appearance and setting.

“If the removal of the paintwork was to be a permanent change then this would have a significant impact on the appearance of a listed building and the conservation area.”

The civic society continued by asking for confirmation of what the long-term plans are for the appearance of the building.

“The heritage impact assessment is silent on whether the paintwork is to be reinstated other than a statement that ‘we will clean off all the paint to match the unpainted areas of the building which will improve the look and the longevity of the building, white paint next to a road doesn't stay white for very long’,” it added.

“This statement is concerning to say the least.

“If the intention is not to repaint the parts of the building that have historically been painted white or had some form of white limewash applied, then we would ask that an opinion be obtained from Historic England in respect of this specific aspect of the proposal before work is undertaken, as we would have great difficulty in supporting this element without an opinion from Historic England.”

The design and access statement submitted by applicant Chris Wright of Yorkshire-based building contractor RN Wooler & Co makes no comment regarding plans to repaint the pub, but does argue their vision will ‘improve aesthetics and durability’.

“The proposals will restore the external look of the building from the roadside and prolong the life of the exterior walls,” it says.

“Our proposals have been carefully considered so as not to impact on the existing aesthetic or integrity of the building in a negative way.

“We are repairing existing items where possible and the new replacement windows and doors are to match the same style and (be) from the same materials as the beyond repair existing (items).”

“There are no new structures nor changes to the building’s external or internal walls, other than the paint removal works which will improve both the aesthetics and the durability of the external walls as any moisture can escape rather than being held behind the paint, which can deteriorate the bricks.”

Last year SHDC leader Coun Nick Worth called on Samuel Smith’s to clean up the site he labelled a ‘fire hazard’, while deputy leader Coun Gary Taylor has previously told LincsOnline he would love to see the hostelry pulling pints once more.

“It’s an iconic building, that thatched roof, in a prominent part of town,” he said.

“It had a good community feel to the place and we don’t want to see anything unfortunate happen to that building.

“We want that back into use as a community pub and building. It was a good place for food and drink and it had a lively atmosphere in there.”

While Ye Olde White Horse has remained empty for the past five years, the brewery’s hiring policy has come in for criticism.

Adverts for the position have always asked for ‘a couple’ to run the pub, operating the bar and kitchen between them.

LincsOnline has previously been contacted by unsuccessful applicants who say they were keen to take on the pub but were declined for a number of reasons, including a desire to hire a chef.

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