Annual Award 2011

Restoration of a former Georgian Coach House on Fleetgate, Barton upon Humber.

The premises of 53, 55 and 57 Fleetgate are the winners of Barton Civic Society Annual Award for 2011.  The drawings for the restoration were prepared by ARchitect, Donald Kitching, and the work was undertaken by Builder, Nathan French, who said "my Dad wanted a redundant shop removing and the frontage of the building restoring to its Georgian appearance.  Being in the building trade for several years, and especially renovating listed buildings in the Beverley area, I thought I would offer to undertake the work."

The building, which stands next to the oldest house in North Lincolnshire, is itself steeped in history.  Archaeologist, Caroline Atkins of Goxhill, kept a close eye on work in progress; in the foundation trench she spotted the base of a neatly-jointed chalk wall of a much earlier building.

These premises, 53, 55 and 57 Fleetgate were, until the 1870s, part of a much larger property owned by farmer John Wilson who lived next door in what is now known as Holly House, 59 Fleetgate.

The archway from Fleetgate gave access to a Coach House which is said to be the place where the Stage Coach, meeting the Barton Ferry, put up overnight, although this could also have been the Waterside Inn along Waterside Road.  There is a former granary above, a reminder of the time when all Barton's farmsteads were in the town itself.

In the early years of the 20th century the archway and adjoining Coach House were converted into a shop, occupied for much of its life by Fred Canty, Draper and Outfitter.

The 2011 Annual Award presented by the Civic Society Chairman, Ian Wolseley at the annual AGM.

53, 55 and 57 Fleetgate