End nears for first stage of Georgian house refit

11 hours ago

Ivan Morris Poxton

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The house has been described by the council as one of the region's finest listed buildings

Donna Clifford/LDRS The grand Georgian frontage of the brick-built, 18th century Baysgarth House. The ground floor has a red door with white portico and three tall windows, with white frames, to either side. The first floor has six tall windows and a small, bricked-up window. The orange-tiled roof has two chimney pots. The house stands in grounds with a green lawn and trees. — The house has been described by the council as one of the region's finest listed buildings

The first phase of a Georgian museum building renovation programme is nearing completion.

Baysgarth House, in Barton-upon-Humber, dates from about 1731 and has housed a museum since the 1980s. It is owned by North Lincolnshire Council and has been closed to the public since 2019.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the first stage of the refurbishment, which includes the creation of a cafe in a stable block and an ice cream outlet in a store building, is within weeks of completion.

It comes after the next phase of the project, which involves upgrading the main building with accessible toilets and other improvements, received council approval, the LDRS has said.

A proposed new community pavilion in Baysgarth Park has also been granted planning permission.

A public consultation showed support for cafe facilities at the site

Google An L-shaped brick-built house, dating from the 1730s, has red doors and white window frames. It stands in a yard used for a car park, with a green field and trees in the background. — A public consultation showed support for cafe facilities at the site

Under plans for the second part of the restoration project, the Grade II-listed house will be updated to include the reinstatement of a second archway and a period fireplace in the drawing room, which had been bricked up in the 1960s. The museum's entrance will also be relocated to the west door.

A cottage at the site is expected to be transformed into community and workshop spaces.

The revamp is being led by the nearby The Ropewalk arts centre, which is managing the house on a 15-year lease.

It is appealing for public sponsorship to help fund the renovation works.

Once reopened, the museum will tell the story of the Nelthorpe family, the ancestral owners, as well as Barton's role in the development of the bicycle.

Baysgarth House, which has extensive grounds, has been in public ownership since 1930.

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