The area surrounding Grade 1 listed St Mary Le Wigford Church on Lincoln’s High Street is to be transformed with removal of hard landscaping to create a grassed area within a refined historic boundary.
Work’s due to start on the project this week thanks to Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme, in which City of Lincoln Council received a successful bid for funding of £1.68 million in April 2020.
It will rebuild the lost historic boundary and enhance the setting of the church by removing the hard landscaping and replacing with a landscaped grassed area.
Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council said: “St Mary Le Wigford Church is steeped in local history and also had the longest record of unbroken service in the City of Lincoln. “To transform the landscape surrounding St Mary Le Wigford to create a new public green open space in the city centre will be fantastic and I look forward to seeing this progress.”
Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone officer Ross McGivern said: “We are delighted to see work start at St Mary Le Wigford.
“It is an exciting step in the heritage led regeneration of Lincoln city centre, and testament to the excellent work carried out by colleagues in Lincoln.
“The works will not only allow this wonderful building to shine but also improve the public space for the benefit of all – from parishioners to visitors. We are thrilled to see Lincoln’s High Street Heritage Action Zone have a such a striking and positive impact on the ground.”