Funding for new lease of life at Fydell House

Thanks to lottery ticket buyers, the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) have awarded a development grant to Boston Preservation Trust at Fydell House, Boston, a unique Grade 1 listed 300-year-old building in South Street noted for being a survivor from the Queen Anne period, and an asset for the town for many years since it was bought by Boston Preservation Trust in 1935.

The Trust has announced a £60,000 grant from the NLHF which will help progress plans to apply for a full National Lottery Grant for 'Fydell House - Gateway to Boston's Cultural Quarter'. This is supported by matched funding from the Architectural Fund. A further donation has been made by the Medlock Trust to match fund a full grant.

Plans can now be progressed to reinvigorate the house, improve access, provide space for events, activities and interest groups within and outside the House including the wonderful walled gardens. It will also include opportunities for people to engage with, and learn about, Fydell House.

Boston Preservation Trust will work with neighbouring partners at the Guildhall and Blackfriars Arts Centre as well as local colleges and schools, volunteers and other local groups to deliver a programme of pilot activities including performance, trails, research, talks, events and wellbeing sessions. These pilot activities will help the organisation plan what will be done during the next stage of the project and when the work is finished.

Anyone interested in getting involved can get in touch with Fydell House through its website https://fydellhouse.org.uk/

Fydell House was owned for generations by the Fydell Family of wealthy merchants and landowners but was under threat of demolition in 1935 when rescued by Boston Preservation Trust supported by public subscription. For several decades after this the building was used as an extension of Nottingham University, but it has found a new life for itself since 2010 when the educational money was withdrawn.

Many Bostonians will already know Fydell House as a beautiful building with numerous historical links to the famous explorer and scientist Sir Joseph Banks, as well as the Fydell family and more recently with Boston Massachusetts and Ambassador Joseph Kennedy.

Commenting on the Award, Martin Fairman, Chair of Boston Preservation Trust at Fydell House said: "The members, volunteers and trustees have worked hard over these past 4 years to  make a successful bid for this grant which sets us on a path attracting around £700,000 for Fydell House over the next three years of Development and Delivery. We have an excellent team and a fantastic opportunity to make it all happen."

Katy-Jayne Lintott, Project Manager for the project said "Fydell House is a rare and beautiful survivor in Boston, and I am extremely excited to work with the dedicated team there to develop their plans breathing fresh life into such an iconic building.

"Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire are extremely proud to be partnering with Boston Preservation Trust to help with this project."

The development phase of this project will cost £84,000 and, if successful in achieving funding, the delivery phase is estimated to cost £625,000.