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| The Stonebow, Lincoln |
Similarly a walk along Guildhall Street without the usual crowds allowed me to view buildings there in some detail. Looking above the often distracting shop fronts at ground level revealed interesting architectural features. The mainly C19 buildings there are of individual design; in contrast to most commercial premises built in recent years.
Continuing my tourist walk around the city I visited the Usher Gallery, now part of the museum and art gallery complex known as The Collection. The last occasion I visited was around 15 years ago, so some changes were evident to me. On this visit I focussed more on the building itself rather than its impressive collection of local art and exhibits. In doing so I was reminded of how noble a building this is. Built in the 1920s its exterior demands your attention by virtue its prominent position close to the Cathedral and yet at the same time, in the heart of the city. The details and relative grandeur of its inner space cannot fail to impress. From the quality of the materials and craftsmanship it is evident that little expense was spared in its construction. Now that the building is more accessible to the visiting public , by being linked to the museum site, perhaps more will pass through its doors and appreciate the building in its own right.  |
| The Usher Gallery, Lincoln
A newspaper article I came across last week concerned the various schemes whereby churches gain funding for repairs to their fabric. Although heritage sites continue to be subject to the punative 20% rate of VAT on their repairs, since the budget, a grant is now available which serves to soften the blow of costs to some degree. Yet the adequate funding of repairs to these building remains a huge issue. The article detailed a current initiative of the Anglican authorities who are currently in the process of contacting Parochial Church Councils , encouraging them to register ”Chancel Repair Liabilities” in their localities. These evidently amount to statutes that originated as a result of the effects of the Reformation and Dissolution of the Monastaries; the responsibility for repair and maintenance of the remaining churches’ chancels fell to the owners of land or property in adjoining areas. Although around 500 years old, these statutes have apparently never been repealed and are now actively being considered as potentially useful as a source of funding for church repairs. An example was given in the article of a couple who had inherited a property in Warwickshire with such a covenant attached. Several years later, they were required to make a substantial contribution to their local church’s upkeep. Depending on your viewpoint this potential funding stream could be seen as good or very bad! These changes come at a time when English Heritage apparently hands over (to a large degree) its funding responsibilities to the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2013. Times of great change, indeed!
The LHAR August newsletter informed us as volunteers that the 3 year LHAR Project officially draws to a close this October. This signals much that is exciting: namely the findings of the project and the rich data that this will have produced for future action. Other developments are eagerly anticipated including how the current team of volunteer stewards might be further engaged in the Trust’s work. In the mean time, a relatively modest amount of surveys remain to be done by the volunteers. No time to lose, then!
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