We had our final meeting with HLF East Midlands on 1st March and our application will be heard by the committee on 9th, so it’s a nail biting week for all of us involved in the project. We all want this application to succeed so the building can be brought back to a useful and productive life.
It’s not just us either, lots of people who live locally and people who use the train service are just as excited as us, so fingers crossed everybody.
As soon as we know, we will let you know.
Press Release December 2016
The community interest company, Market Rasen Station Community Project Ltd are working hard to restore Market Rasen’s grade II listed derelict railway station building and bring it back to its former glory. This building heralded the arrival of the railway through our rural Lincolnshire town in 1848, part of the ‘railway mania’ as it became known. This company was called the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.
This project has only been possible with the financial support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, a development grant of £71,700 has been used to strip and repair the roof to make it watertight for the first time in many years, provide hard hat tours and develop a plan for heritage activities and interpretation.
This is not the end of the story we hope, as we have a second round application with HLF for a grant of £465,800 that will support the total refurbishment of the interior to provide modern start up office spaces and community space in what was the booking hall and stationmaster’s office. This space is much needed in town, it will enable small groups to meet in a pleasant environment and will have many uses, from the local heritage group monthly meetings to hosting art exhibitions and many more opportunities. There will also be a permanent display of the heritage and history of the building from its opening in 1848 to its closure in 1966. Hazel Barnard, the heritage officer, is currently meeting with various people who had an involvement with the workings of the station in the late 20th century. Their stories along with previously known information will form the core of the displays.
While our second round application is being considered, the building will remain under wraps with hoardings surrounding it, these hoardings are being used as a temporary display space with paintings depicting train travel from students at De Aston School and CLIP, both based in town, and two notice boards to keep the travelling public up to date with the restoration works. We are doing all we can to minimise the disruption to members of the public and the award winning Market Rasen Station Adoption Group, a local voluntary group, continue to ensure that the platform areas are kept looking their absolute best.
Follow us on Twitter @MktRasenStation, our website http://www.marketrasenstation.com or contact Hazel via email at heritageofficercic@yahoo.com.
In keeping with its status as a grade II listed building, as much as is possible of the original building is being saved, these photographs show the rafters after the slates have been removed and clearly shows the effort being made to preserve the fabric. The new sections are being inserted to replace the water damaged wood on the platform facing side, the final photograph shows the lining being placed on the car park facing side which didn’t need remedial work to the rafters. Everybody will be happier once the building is finally watertight.
The roofers have removed all the slates and are now looking at the rafters to decide what needs to be replaced.
Very pleased to report that the roofers arrived on site yesterday to start the long job of restoring the roof and making this much loved building watertight for the winter.
Welcome to our blog.
Members of Market Rasen Community project will be at Market Rasen Hub tomorrow, Friday, 8th July, 10 – 1.00pm to share information on this exciting project.
Market Rasen Station Building & Heritage Centre - The Restoration Story 