Work to give another Lincoln shopfront a new lease of life is almost complete, meaning 11 historic shopfronts have been revamped as part of a High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme.
The latest is 1 St Mary’s Street, where work began in December 2023 to restore the structure and ensure its future.
As part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme, which saw the city council receive a successful bid for funding of £1.68 million in April 2020, the city council has now almost completed the four-year programme of historic building restorations designed to revitalise the area and uncover its rich history.
Included in this have been plans to revitalise Lincoln’s historic shopfronts to bring them back to their former glory.
Shopfronts that have been restored in the city with new and existing businesses launching within the rejuvenated units. These include:
- Freckleface
- Jailhouse Frock
- Katie Cardew
- Sign of the Fish
- Lincoln’s Little Shops
- Gregorio Barbers
- The Plant Room by Sykes
Improvements to these properties included repairs, reinstating lost features, and making buildings suitable for new use.
Cllr Naomi Tweddle, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council said: “There are many unique heritage aspects and locations within Lincoln that need to be preserved so that Lincoln’s special character is maintained, and that includes its shopfronts.
“By restoring, revitalising and refurbishing these historic shopfronts, it not only helps us to protect heritage in our city, but also aids us in continuing to make Lincoln a great place for both residents and visitors to enjoy.”
David Walsh, Principal Advisor at Historic England added: “City of Lincoln Council and businesses are doing great work to preserve and enhance Lincoln’s unique character and create new retail spaces to serve local people and support the city’s economy.”
Ryan Calvert, Lindum Joinery General Manager, added: “It is fantastic to see another bespoke shopfront refurbished in Lincoln, helping to revitalise the high street, restore some of Lincoln’s heritage, and preserving our local history and iconic shop fronts.
“Having been a part of the wider Sincil Street shopfront development, we are very pleased to be able to continue to contribute to the restoration of Lincoln’s historic High Street and our joiners can now say they are a part of that history.”
