Saturday, November 28, 2020

GENEROUS BRIGG BENEFACTOR REMEMBERED


The Tintab (Tin Tabernacle) seating shelter in Brigg will be refurbished with new paint being added in the near future to help protect its wooden panels and supports from the elements. Brigg Town Council, as expected, sanctioned the refurb during its latest meeting.
But councillors also discussed ways in which the origins of this distinctive four-sided structure on East Park, near the Monument roundabout, might be marked.
The shelter was gifted to the town in the 1930s by a Mr Andrews who lived near the railway level crossing, and it became known as the Tabernacle because of an attached framed verse from the Bible containing this word for a meeting place.
Town Mayor Coun Sharon Riggall mentioned a request made to restore a plaque which once explained who donated the shelter.
Coun Rob Waltham described it as a building of local importance which was currently looking a bit shabby.
"We want it spruced up to look nice for the spring," he suggested.
Coun Brian Parker, the Deputy Town Mayor, noted weeds on the roof in need of removal.
However, Coun Penny Smith questioned why the Town Council was being asked to carry out work on the shelter when maintenance in the past had been undertaken by the North Lincolnshire authority.
Coun Waltham replied that, for the good of local people, "let's just get it done!"
The meeting heard a suggestion that original inscriptions within the Tintab had been "painted out."
Brigg Blog went down later to take a look and can confirm this to be the case - one of the metal plates being pictured here.
Sadly, after so many years, the original inscriptions can no longer be read.
Did the original plaques contain the Biblical inscription and also mention this generous benefactor?
There's a distinctive stone with a metal plaque attached at the Davy Memorial Playing Field to honour a generous gift of land in the last century, since enjoyed by generations of Brigg children. So remembering Mr Andrews' good deed near the Monument would not be setting a precedent.

 


 

An October view of the Tintab shelter from Wrawby Road.