We’re delighted to announce that the first major renovation on our latest project – The Old King’s Head in Kirton near Boston – roof is now complete!
As part of this exciting new venture we are currently transforming the former inn, pub, hotel and family home on the corner of King’s Street and London Road into a luxury B&B, café and deli, to be enjoyed by locals and tourists.
When renovation work is complete on The Old King’s Head, the four-star B&B will offer four rooms on the first floor and a two-bedroom self-catering flat within the stable block of the building. There will also be a café offering a deli-inspired menu, using local produce for high-quality breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas. A communal space will also be available for community groups to use, as well as a small retail area which will offer customers a selection of food and gifts. An annual programme of events and activities will encourage regular use of the facilities.
We are excited to see the new building bringing life back into Kirton and believe that it will act as a great hub for the village when it opens next spring, particularly as the village has seen many of its local amenities including the bank, butcher’s and library close over the last few years.
Renovation work on the building started in February and last week the original thatched roof was removed and re-roofing work was completed. The new roof was revealed to the Lavender and Duff families, who are both former residents of The Old King’s Head, during the final hard hat tour as part of our Heritage Open Days festival – an event we co-ordinate annually for Lincolnshire.
Timothy Lavender is the son of the former landlord and landlady who ran The Old King’s Head as a pub from 1958 to 1969, after buying it from former professional boxer Johnny Cuthbert.
During the hard hat tour Tim shared his wonderful memories of living at The Old King’s Head; he remembers Kirton being a sleepy village that would come alive at the weekends as it was the only pub in the area to have a music licence – and where people would queue in the car park waiting for the pub to open!
Tim has played an important part in the history of the building and we were so pleased to be able to invite him along to the tour to learn about the restoration work we are carrying out. We were also able to introduce Tim to the Duff family who turned the pub into a family home after he had lived there. After exchanging stories, they found out that a letter Tim had once sent to Santa and tucked up inside the chimney was found by the Duff family!
Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the support of the local community, work is well under way to restore this previous coaching inn to its former glory – and we can’t wait to reveal the finished project when it will open to the public in the spring of 2020!
To keep up to date with our progress and announcements on The Old King’s Head, make sure you’re following Heritage Lincolnshire on Facebook and Twitter.
Article completed by Shooting Star, 30th September 2019