Repair man: Laurence Ashby of contractors TM Browne by the restored wall at the Black Bull.

FENLANDER: Historic Whittlesey mud wall repaired after council’s intervention

Thursday, January 19, 2012
12:32 PM

AN HISTORIC mud wall in Whittlesey has been repaired and restored thanks to the intervention of Fenland District Council.

One of the workshops.

It is one of a number of listed features that have benefited from grants from the council’s Fenland Renaissance programme.

The 15-metre wall at the rear of the Black Bull pub in Market Street is Grade II listed but had been allowed to fall into a very poor state of repair.

FDC organised two workshops to start the renovation and has provided a total of £6,150 in grants towards the total cost through the “historic buildings” element of the Fenland Renaissance scheme.

The council also took action to force the pub’s owners, Enterprise, to carry out the full restoration for which it was legally responsible.

Funding still available

FUNDING is still on offer from both of Fenland Renaissance’s two grant schemes.

About £50,000 is available from the “historic buildings” scheme, which focuses on buildings that are listed for their architectural or historic interest.

There is also still £3,000 left in the “shopfront” scheme, which provides grants for the repair or reintroduction of period buildings’ traditional timber frontages or for aluminium ones at more modern premises.

The shopfront grants are for up to 50 per cent of the total cost of the work, up to a maximum of £1,000.

A total of £115,000 has been handed out through the Renaissance programme.

For details and to apply call Martyn Kendall, FDC’s conservation officer, on 01354 654321, or e-mail mkendall@fenland.gov.uk

The repairs were completed by Enterprise’s contractors, TM Browne of King’s Lynn.

Councillor Jan French, FDC’s portfolio holder responsible for Fenland Renaissance, said: “Walls like this are a distinctive feature of the Whittlesey area and it is important to preserve them.

“By providing funding and ensuring the owners fulfil their responsibilities we have helped to preserve this part of the town’s heritage.”