City of Lincoln Council and Heritage Lincolnshire have secured the necessary funding to bring the iconic Greyfriars building in Lincoln back to life.
Greyfriars is set to welcome visitors again in 2025 thanks to a successful bid for funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and partner organisations.
City of Lincoln Council, in partnership with Heritage Lincolnshire, has announced the funding will enable the iconic historic building to realise new potential.
Following the announcement of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £2 million, works will begin to repair and re-develop the building to create a fully accessible multi-functional space for weddings, conferences, education and a café space for the community.
It is hoped that this mix of new uses will ensure that Greyfriars, which will be run by Heritage Lincolnshire when the works have been completed, is eligible for removal from the National ‘At Risk’ Register.
Heritage Lincolnshire will work with neighbouring partners GLL at the Central Library as well as Linkage Community Trust, University of Lincoln, Bishop Grosseteste University, local schools and colleges, volunteers and other local groups to deliver an exciting programme of activities and events to celebrate the history of Greyfriars and provide learning opportunities for adults and young children.
Anyone interested in getting involved can get in touch with Greyfriars via admin@heritagelincolnshire.org.uk or via social media platforms.
A Grade 1 listed scheduled [ancient] monument dating from around 1230, Greyfriars is thought to be the oldest surviving Franciscan friary building in the country and has also served the community of Lincoln in the past as a Free School, a Jersey knitting and spinning school, a house of correction, a mechanics institute and the county museum.
Funders for this entire project, which totals £3.032 million, include: The National Heritage Lottery Fund, the Be Lincoln Towns Deal Fund, City of Lincoln Council, Heritage Lincolnshire, Pilgrim Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and Changing Places.
Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “I am very pleased that we have finally secured the funds from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to bring the Greyfriars building back into use.
“Many people will remember visiting the building when it housed the city and county museum. I am sure it will become a popular venue from 2025.”
Matt Bentley, Senior Manager (Conservation and Heritage) at Heritage Lincolnshire added: “We are very excited by this fantastic news.
“The award of the funding is testament to all the hard work undertaken by the professional team, City of Lincoln Council and Heritage Lincolnshire over the last 18 months.
“We are incredibly privileged to be a partner in the saving this internationally important building, and can’t wait to move forward with the project, to create a new vibrant heritage venue for the city of Lincoln.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “A huge congratulations to the City of Lincoln Council and Heritage Lincolnshire who have been successfully awarded a grant of £2 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
"Thanks to National Lottery players, the future of this important, Grade I listed building has been secured, and I hope this project will help celebrate Lincoln’s rich history in a way that everyone can enjoy and be proud of.”