New red signs installed in Spalding to help celebrate town’s history
A number of new red signs have sprung up around the town centre as part of a heritage project.
Eleven route marker and ‘wayfinding’ heritage information points will be installed as part of the Spalding Reconnected initiative, which received £233,163 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This project - which aimed to celebrate the town’s heritage - is now nearing completion after a series of willow sculptures along the riverside near Ayscoughfee Hall School along with new ‘riverbank biospheres’ and coir roll habitats around High Bridge.
The ‘wayfinding’ and interpretation of the project cost £66,625, as revealed in a Freedom of Information request submitted by this website with a further £59,855 for the arts and heritage trail, £22,450 for a heritage strategy and £26,525 for school and community activities.
South Holland District Council says the signs are a ‘pilot’ but has ambitions to replace and renew information points and markers as part of wider ‘wayfinding’ strategy for the town.
Coun Gary Taylor, portfolio holder for community development, said: “I am delighted to have reached another milestone with the Spalding Reconnected project, introducing these important wayfinding points that provide links to both the past and present day, and are a first step in developing new ways of highlighting Spalding’s special and unique history.
“It is so important to recognise, protect and celebrate our town’s long and rich cultural past and beautiful riverside, and to harness these for residents and visitors to Spalding and to help us access further, larger investment and opportunities in the future.”
The ‘wayfinding’ section of the Spalding Reconnected project was earmarked to receive the most money - which included £6,800 on developing a full street map for Spalding.
The signs use historic images of the town and river to connect with attractions in the town.
Locations for the new installations include Spalding Railway Station, Spalding Bus Station along with Hall Place, Bridge Street, Sheep Market, High Bridge and Churchgate. They are also appearing along the river bank with one spotted close to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.
The council hope that the project - which has also resulted in a heritage strategy - will help foster relationships in order to help Spalding further investment in the future.
Heritage Lincolnshire have managed the project while other partners include Transported Arts, East Mercia Rivers Trust and Lincolnshire County Council.
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