Greyfriars construction is now underway, with official contractors now announced.

The development of Lincoln’s culturally significant Greyfriars building has now begun, thanks to over £3 million in secured funding. City of Lincoln Council, in partnership with Heritage Lincolnshire, are thrilled to see work commence on the project, which will enable the iconic historic building to realise new potential.

Greyfriars is set to welcome visitors again in late 2025 thanks to a successful bid for funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and partner organisations.

Following the announcement of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £2 million back in 2022, works have now started to begin to repair and re-develop the building to create a fully accessible multi-functional space for weddings, conferences, and education.

To deliver these works, we can announce that the contractors assigned to the project are Alan Staley Building Contractors Ltd (ASBC). Trading as ASBC Heritage & Conservation Specialists, they’re dedicated to the conservation and restoration of our nation’s historic structures, making them a perfect fit for such a restoration project.

It is hoped that this mix of new uses will ensure that Greyfriars, which will be run by Heritage Lincolnshire when the works have been completed, is eligible for removal from the National ‘At Risk’ Register.

Dating back to 1230, Greyfriars is believed to be the oldest surviving Franciscan friary building in the country, having served the community in various roles over the centuries including as a Free School, a Jersey knitting and spinning school, a house of correction, a mechanics institute and the county museum.

Heritage Lincolnshire will work with community partners to create a multi-use space for events, conferences, weddings, learning and other creative uses in this historic part of the city. The project will deliver an exciting programme of activities and events to celebrate the history of Greyfriars and provide learning opportunities for a broad audience.

Funders for this £3.032 million project, include The National Heritage Lottery Fund, the Be Lincoln Town Deal Fund, City of Lincoln Council, Heritage Lincolnshire, Pilgrim Trust and Garfield Weston Foundation.

Heritage Lincolnshire invites local residents and organisations to get involved. Those interested can contact Greyfriars via admin@heritagelincolnshire.org.uk or via social media platforms.

Cllr Joshua Wells, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said:

“I am very pleased that the necessary funds from the National Lottery Heritage Fund have been secured to bring the Greyfriars building back into use, and that the construction phase has begun. The building is so steeped in history and culture, and it will become an even more unique and treasured asset to the city once made more accessible for visitors.”

Tracy Stringfellow, Chief Executive at Heritage Lincolnshire added:

“I am incredibly excited to start the next stage of this project at the iconic Greyfriars. A tremendous amount of work has been going on behind the scenes, with City of Lincoln colleagues we have been working closely with the Heritage Fund to bring about appointment of our construction partner, Alan Staley Building Contractors Ltd. We can’t wait to see work progress and for Greyfriars to begin serving the community once again.”