Volunteers in Nettleham have converted a telephone box into a tiny information hub after it had stood unused and forlorn for ten years.
Parish councillor and Nettleham resident Andrew Simpson, a member of the Nettleham Conservation Area Working Group, said: “With the phone box being out of use and derelict, we wanted to do something with it to refurbish it and bring it back into use somehow.
“It was suggested we turn it into a book exchange, but with some in the village already I did a bit of research and came across a village in Norfolk that had turned their phone box into a visitor centre, so that’s where the idea came from.”
Supported by West Lindsey District Council and Nettleham Parish Council, the phone box contains the original telephone, with an information board on the history of the iconic kiosk. There are also free information leaflets, including a guide for a walk around the village, written by 97-year-old Pearl Wheatley, a member of the volunteer group and local resident.
Pearl said: “I was approached to be part of the project because I have some local knowledge. I’ve enjoyed working on the walk and I think the phone box looks really good and hopefully will get used and be of interest to more and more people.”
Faye Pudney, Visitor Economy Officer at West Lindsey District Council, said: “We’re delighted to support Nettleham’s charming micro visitor centre by providing a variety of leaflets showcasing what is available throughout the district.
“We aim to highlight the hidden gems beyond Lincoln, encouraging both visitors and locals to discover the rich offerings of Lincolnshire. By exploring more, staying longer, and enjoying all that the area has to offer, we hope to boost our local economy and create memorable experiences.”
The phone box has been painted the original iconic ‘currant red’, thanks to Andrew scouring the country for the right paint, and is now looking as new as it was when it was first installed in the village.
He said: “The original plan was to just do something to restore the phone box, so having seen it transformed into an information centre is a great outcome and we hope it will be used for many years to come.”
