May fair tradition to be brought back to Fleet
After two years of restoration a historic house in Fleet is ready to again take its place at the centre of the community with a May fair.
Steve Holmes and Peter Day have been painstakingly returning Battleford Hall, the former rectory of Fleet Church, to its former glory, after 15 years of neglect.
And their plan is to run an event at the time of the 50th Spalding Flower Parade, including the people of Fleet and thanking them for their goodwill towards the project.
It would turn back the clock 100 years to when events were held in the gardens and the house was a focal point for the village.
Steve said: "There is a real soft spot in the community for the house and everyone has some connection to it in the past.
"A lot of people are happy to see it being restored - we are really trying to get something going and are really hoping it will become an annual event."
The fair is scheduled for Sunday, May 4, from 10.30 to 5pm, and there will be a range of attractions including launching helium filled balloons, stalls from local businesses and demonstrations from primary school children.
Steve and Peter, who are second cousins, found the house on the internet when they were looking for a property to renovate and moved to the area on a whim to pursue their dream.
The house dates from 1854 and was designed by Benjamin Ferry, an architect who was apprenticed to Augustus Pugin, designer of the Palace of Westminster.
Steve, who is originally from Australia, used to work for the National Trust as a gilder and plasterer.
He said the house was in a time warp at first when they moved in - with the servants' bells still in the kitchen and the original carriage left as it had been decades before.
Now they are concentrating on the 5.5 acre garden to get it ready in time for the big day.
Steve said: "I have always had a fascination with Victorian architecture, but we didn't realise just how special a house it was."
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Weather for Spalding
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: East
