Sunday, February 23, 2025

Works to better highlight Sleaford monument confirmed

Improvements to the area around Handley Monument which will better highlight its importance as an historic Sleaford landmark will start in January 2024.

North Kesteven District Council is using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to make improvements which will highlight and reflect the character of the Grade II listed Handley Monument by uplighting it and improving the space around it. The changes include:

  • A new electricity supply and low energy LED feature lighting, to highlight its architectural features and fully showcase it as a gateway feature to Sleaford town centre as people enter via Southgate.
  • An information board detailing the monument’s history and Henry Handley who it commemorates.
  • Two new planters, each filled with a mix of planting to brighten up the area and with benches incorporated. Both of the existing trees are being retained within the planters.
  • Re-paving the area around the new planters, and giving the rest of the existing paving around the monument a good clean.
  • A new bicycle rack incorporated into one of the planters.
  • Removal of bollards where safe to do so, for better flow and accessibility by reducing the amount of street clutter.
  • The existing private access to the land behind the properties next to the monument will be maintained.

The project acts on a public survey which was carried out last autumn by North Kesteven District Council on the Handley Monument project. When asked what improvements should be made around the monument, the top response from respondents was ‘lighting the monument’, followed by ‘removal of signage and clutter’, and then ‘seating and landscaping’, and this is the work taking place.

The project has also been developed together with a stakeholder group including Sleaford Town Council and the Sleaford and District Civic Trust, and it has been shared with businesses next to the works. The Handley Monument project has been allocated £165,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Henry Handley served as MP for S. Lincolnshire from 1832 to 1837. He is also known for his interest in agricultural improvements at the time, including acting as an advocate for steam power. After his death in 1846 more than £940 was raised by the public towards this monument in his name, and it was completed in 1852.

North Kesteven District Council Economic Development Manager Alan Gray said: “Handley Monument is one of the first things that welcomes people into Sleaford as they come in through Southgate and is a very important part of the town’s character and heritage, so it’s exciting to be improving the space around it.

“The scheme also represents positive investment into this part of the town, creating a more attractive space for residents and visitors to enjoy the monument while also visiting nearby businesses and Sleaford Museum.

“Installation of the new power supply is expected in January 2024, followed by the new lighting for the monument to be installed over February and March.

“Once appointed, a contractor will then carry out the main public realm improvements including the new planters and benches in early summer.

“We’ll be able to confirm exact timescales for this once the contractor is appointed. Recognising that this is a busy area of town, they will also look to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Meanwhile, work is underway to define the shape of new improvements which are set for Monument Gardens, which is next to Sleaford Museum on Southgate.

A survey was undertaken this autumn asking how people rate Monument Gardens’ facilities, and funding for the improvements will be provided by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

 

Image courtesy of North Kesteven District Council

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our news site - please take a moment to read this important message:

As you know, our aim is to bring you, the reader, an editorially led news site and magazine but journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them.

With the Covid-19 pandemic having a major impact on our industry as a whole, the advertising revenues we normally receive, which helps us cover the cost of our journalists and this website, have been drastically affected.

As such we need your help. If you can support our news sites/magazines with either a small donation of even £1, or a subscription to our magazine, which costs just £27.55 per year, (inc p&P and mailed direct to your door) your generosity will help us weather the storm and continue in our quest to deliver quality journalism.

As a subscriber, you will have unlimited access to our web site and magazine. You'll also be offered VIP invitations to our events, preferential rates to all our awards and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Just click here to subscribe and in the meantime may I wish you the very best.

Advertisment












Latest posts

East Lindsey announces investment of more than £7.8m in district

East Lindsey District Council has this week announced investment of more than £7.8m in the district, as part of a transformational fund designed to...

Lincolnshire will still go to the polls on May 1st

Lincolnshire County Council intends to go ahead with elections on My 1st in spite of other authorities postponing them in the wake of impending...

Brigg’s The Rabbit Hole named Regional Finalist for Independent Bookshop of the Year

Independent Brigg bookshop The Rabbit Hole has made it to the Regional Finalist Stage for The Independent Bookshop of the Year award at the...

Turn out the potting shed, urges Heritage Seed Library

Do you have Ray’s butter bean, Grandpa’s Cress or Mrs Taylor’s Red Pear hiding in your garden shed or greenhouse? A charity is calling...

Horncastle Powerlifters push fundraising to limit for LNAA

The Horncastle Powerlifting Club really know how to push their fundraising to the max! They racked up an amazing £300 for the Lincs and...

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close