Spalding Gentlemen's Society to receive £1.8 million from Government cultural investment funding to safeguard its future
A town museum has been awarded a £1.8 million funding boost to help safeguard its future.
Spalding Gentlemen's Society is set to receive a portion of £5.5 million from the Government’s cultural investment fund via the department of culture, media and sport – with the cash set ‘to save the Grade II listed building from damage’.
As one of the oldest learned societies in the UK, the money will go towards a major project on the 1911 premises in Broad Street – with the Government saying it will help to fix the building from ‘later extensions and defective drainage’.
In announcing the cash, Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: "Museums and libraries are the lifeblood of our community, promoting our shared heritage and opening our minds to new worlds and perspectives.
“From urgent repair work to protecting precious historical collections, this funding from the Government will support a wide variety of institutions across the East Midlands so they can continue to educate, inform and entertain their visitors for many years to come.”
Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.
The Government says the project will also include the installation of accessible toilet facilities and an air source heat pump.
It is said that tackling these urgent maintenance needs will ‘safeguard the building and enable the museum to progress with some ambitious development plans’.
As previously reported, the society – founded by Maurice Johnson II in 1710 – needs to take action to save its museum due to the sinking of an extension added in the 1960s.
In the long run it is hoped that the society’s treasure trove of artefacts – and extensive library – could help to attract more visitors to Spalding town centre, with people encouraged to come and explore its many and varied wonders.
The funding will also support important upgrades to museums and public libraries in the region, which will ensure they can continue to be assets to their communities and improve the visitor experience.
Further grants have been awarded to Nottinghamshire County Council Cultural Services, which got nearly £180,000 to enable the modernisation and reimagination of Hucknall Library to develop a creative, community and learning hub.
More stories like this delivered straight to your inbox every morning - sign up to The Briefing here.
The Green’s Mill and Science Centre in Nottingham will also receive nearly £700,000 to repair the mill sails and machinery as well as works to the timber, brickwork and roofs.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
