Brigg people are free to form their own opinions about additions now added alongside the town's only historic grade one listed building. But we think it's looking good.
A project to add a new access ramp with metal railings, gates and replacement stone steps at Sir John Nelthorpe School, on Grammar School Road, is now well advanced and will hopefully be completed by the time the new educational year begins next month.
This is intended to provide a 'new' main entrance to the Upper School, although actually it will turn the clock back several decades to when the so-called 'front door' was the main way in and out for visitors.
The changes will also permit members of the public to gain access to a new community facility being made available for hire to stage events and functions of various kinds.
No objections were notified to North Lincolnshire Council when planning and listed building consent applications for this project were submitted some months ago - both being later approved.
However, as the modern additions adjoin the original school room completed in 1680/81, there was a clear need to ensure they did not adversely affect the look of this historic survivor.
Helpful artist's impressions were shared with Brigg Blog by the council during the consultation stage to indicate how it would look.
Now the project is nearing completion, we think a good job has been done in what was always going to prove testing 'heritage' circumstances. The removal of the privet hedge gives a clearer view of the side of the 17th century building.
Other ex-pupils of Brigg Grammar School and (since 1976) Sir John Nelthorpe School will have their own views, together with members of the public who are not Briggensians, in the educational sense.
The main entrance to the original schoolroom in the 17th century was to the side, off what is now the drive.
The original door was restored and reopened (for occasional special use) in 1969 to mark the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the school through benefactor Sir John Nelthorpe's last will and testament.
He left considerable land whose rents were to be used to offer free education to youngsters from a number of local parishes including Brigg - among the subjects being English, Latin, Greek and mathematics.
The entrance facing Grammar School Road was fashioned in 1878 when extensions were added to enlarge the school.
By the late 1960s/early 1970s use of the 'main door' was restricted to visitors, staff and sixth form prefects for whom this was a perk. Their duties included 'policing' the queues of boys eager to buy break-time sweets and crisps from Jack Clark's tuck shop nearby. It was small so only a few boys were admitted at a time.
Pupils in years one to five had to go down the drive at the side of the main school building and round two corners to gain access to their classrooms.
PICTURED: Above - progress pictures taken yesterday (Tuesday, August 10). Below - a reminder of how things looked before the current project began.
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| Pictures taken in February 2021. |
