Ceiling repairs approved for 'at-risk' theatre

Plans to replace the ceiling of a historic theatre have been approved.

East Lindsey District Council applied for listed building consent to replace the existing ceiling in the main hall at Spilsby Sessions House to make it safe and accessible.

The Grade II listed building in Church Street was built in 1827 and was originally used as a court and jail before it was converted into a theatre in 1894.

The building, owned by the charity Spilsby Sessions House Ltd, has been listed on the Theatres At Risk register since 2015 and badly needs repairs before it can reopen.

Under the plans, the existing floral embellishments will be detached and repaired.

The ornamental moulding round the wall of the room just below the ceiling, known as the cornice, will be retained and repaired, while the main ceiling will be replaced with modern materials.

In a report, the council said: "Whilst there are elements of the proposals which will result in some harm to historic fabric and the inherent significance of the historic ceiling, this harm will be outweighed by the ability to make the building safe and usable again.

"In terms of the overall project, of which the ceiling works is just one part, the works will contribute to increased public access to the Sessions House and engagement with heritage and culture."

The replacement of the ceiling is separate from a wider refurbishment project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The district council was given a total of £4.9m of government funding and a £1m grant from Historic England to carry out vital repairs to the building.

The council previously said the funding would allow the venue to be reopened as a community hub celebrating art and culture.

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