New information points installed as part of celebration of Spalding’s historic town and riverside

Spalding Reconnected, a two-year project celebrating and reconnecting the historic Spalding town centre and riverside, is nearing completion, with the installation of a range of new route-markers and wayfinding heritage information points being installed throughout the town and riverside.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, the project has been carried out in partnership led by South Holland District Council, working alongside Heritage Lincolnshire as project managers, Transported Arts, East Mercia Rivers Trust and Lincolnshire County Council.

In total 11 (with designed mapping/artwork) wayfinding points have been put in place through the project, using historic images of the town and river to connect with contemporary areas of interest. The scheme is part of a pilot stage with ambitions to replace and renew information points and markers throughout Spalding as part of wider wayfinding strategy for the town.

Locations for the new installations include Rail Station/Bus Station/riverside various points and Hall Place/Bridge St/Sheep Market/High Bridge/Churchgate areas.

The wider Spalding Reconnected project has aimed to deliver immediate physical benefits to the town that celebrate its heritage and historic riverside, whilst developing a heritage strategy and fostering relationships that will help position Spalding to secure further, larger pieces of investment in the future.

Beyond the wayfinding work, other physical enhancements have included beautiful willow sculptures along the river and new ‘riverbank biospheres’ and coir roll habitats being introduced to help support the river’s ongoing health and ecology.

These, alongside the creation of the heritage strategy and work with residents and local families through engagement and community arts workshops, help to build the foundations to continue to support and improve the town’s offer in these areas for many years to come.

Councillor Gary Taylor, South Holland District Council portfolio holder for community development said: “I am delighted to have reached another milestone with the Spalding Reconnected project, introducing these important wayfinding points that provide links to both the past and present day, and are a first step in developing new ways of highlighting Spalding’s special and unique history.

“It is so important to recognise, protect and celebrate our town’s long and rich cultural past and beautiful riverside, and to harness these for residents and visitors to Spalding and to help us access further, larger investment and opportunities in the future.”