alford.info
A major improvement project at the historic Alford Manor House has now been completed, with a brand-new permanent events venue officially handed over to the Alford Manor House Trustees.
The £2.1million UK Government Funded project which East Lindsey District Council has delivered has seen the creation of a new facility, named The Orangery, which will serve as a versatile event space for the Manor House, providing a dedicated venue for weddings, celebrations of lives lost, conferences, celebrations, community events and private hire.
As part of the development, a new kitchen and bar area have been created within The Orangery. This will allow the relocation of the existing kitchen facilities, creating additional space within the Manor House to enhance and expand museum displays. The improvements will enrich the visitor experience while helping to preserve and showcase the site’s rich history.
The project has also delivered a new outdoor storage and workshop facility, enabling the Rural Life Museum to house additional machinery and artefacts. This will allow more items from the collection to be displayed for visitors to enjoy.
Planning application was submitted in July 2024 and approved in October 2024. Following a competitive procurement process, Probus Construction was appointed in June 2025, with construction work commencing in August 2025.
Alford Manor House is a Grade II* listed building and one of Lincolnshire’s most significant historic landmarks. Throughout the project, great care has been taken to respect and preserve the heritage of the site. Probus Construction worked closely with the Trustees and project team to ensure the historic character of the building was maintained, with original materials and features retained and reused wherever possible.
The completion of The Orangery marks an important milestone for Alford Manor House, securing its future as a vibrant community and visitor destination while creating new opportunities for events, exhibitions and income generation to support the site’s ongoing preservation.
Councillor Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Community Safey, Leisure and Culture and Carbon Reduction at East Lindsey District Council, said: “The completion of The Orangery is a fantastic milestone for Alford Manor House and for the wider community. This investment has created a high-quality event space that will help secure the long-term future of one of East Lindsey’s historic buildings.
“The new facilities will enable the Manor House to host a wider range of events, generate additional income, and provide an enhanced experience for visitors. At the same time, the project has created opportunities to expand museum displays and showcase more of the Rural Life Museum’s collection.
“I would like to thank the Alford Manor House Trustees, Probus Construction and everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition. Their commitment to preserving the heritage of this Grade II* listed building while delivering improvements for future generations has been exceptional. We look forward to seeing The Orangery become a valued venue for residents and visitors alike for many years to come.”
Steve Ellis, Managing Director of Probus Construction, said: “We are incredibly proud to have completed The Orangery project at Alford Manor House and to have contributed to the long-term future of one of Lincolnshire’s most valued heritage attractions. Delivering a modern, purpose-built events venue within the grounds of a Grade II listed building required close collaboration, careful planning and a deep respect for the historic significance of the site.
Throughout the project, our team worked closely with the Trustees, East Lindsey District Council and specialist partners to ensure the new facility complements its surroundings while meeting the needs of a thriving visitor destination. By preserving historic features and reusing original materials wherever possible, we have helped create a space that balances heritage conservation with modern functionality.
The completion of The Orangery, along with the new kitchen, bar and storage facilities, will provide significant benefits for the Manor House, creating new opportunities for events, exhibitions and community activities while supporting the site’s financial sustainability. We are delighted to hand over the finished project and look forward to seeing how these new facilities help Alford Manor House continue to grow and serve the local community for many years to come.”
Richard Quantrell, Trustee of Alford Manor House, said: “The completion of the Orangery and the volunteers workshop is a major milestone in the development of the potential Alford Manor House has always had be a significant visitor attraction for East Lindsey.
The trustees of the charity would like to thank East Lindsey District Council and the professional team they assembled to complete what has been an immensely challenging project. The collaborative way in which they have done this has been an excellent example of partnership working. However, this would not have been possible without the first class contractors Probus who have throughout the 12 month building programme done their very best to ensure that we could continue to carry on with those parts of our business which have been possible in the circumstances.
We shall be throwing our doors open over the August bank holiday weekend to enable anyone who wants to come and look round our new facilities to do so.”
You can view the journey the project has been on, at our dedicated website –https://connectedwolds.co.uk/alford-manor-house/