APPROVAL GIVEN TO ALTER THE OLDEST BUILDING IN BRIGG

Proposed changes to the only grade one listed building in Brigg have been approved.
Listed building consent has been granted for the oldest part of Sir John Nelthorpe School, off Grammar School Road.
Permission was sought to erect an internal glazed floor-to-ceiling partition wall, make alterations to toilet provision and install a fan extraction system.
A report submitted in support of the application said: "By creating a glazed aspect, the original form of the library will be maintained whilst creating two functional areas."
The library is located within the 17th century part of the town's original school.
The report said the aim of the proposed works was to bring an historic part of the school back into functional use. 
Consulted on the application, Brigg Town Council supported the proposal.
North Lincolnshire Council has since granted listed building consent for the alterations.
A report prepared by planning staff concluded that the proposal "will preserve and enhance the listed building."
It said the alterations to the toilets were minor internal works "and do not impact on the character and special interest of the building."
While seen as a modern addition, the screen "is reversible and it is an acceptable alteration inside this listed building."
The report added: "This alteration will update the building and provide a more functional use of space inside the building." 
The new fan extraction system would "update the building" and have minimal impact on it character and appearance.
Sir John Nelthorpe founded the original school through a generous bequest in his will in 1669, though it took somel years for the building to be completed so teaching could begin.
The benefactor left instructions that pupils were to be "taught the Lattin, Greeke and Hebrew languadges, to write alsoe, and Arethmaticke." And they were to "have their learning gratis" (free).
They were still teaching Latin at Brigg Grammar School when we were there in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Greek was a subject in earlier decades of the 20th century. But when were the last Hebrew classes held?
PICTURED ABOVE: The oldest part of Sir John Nelthorpe Upper School which dates back to the 17th century and is Brigg's only grade one listed building.