< PreviousTech your pickDear Lincolnshire TodayI was fascinated to visit thenew onlincolnshire technologyhub in Louth recently. It wasamazing to see the new 3DTVs and high-speed camerasup close. Too often we hearabout these innovationswithout ever getting thechance to benefit so I hopethe new centre in Louth andthe others across Lincolnshirewill go from strength tostrength and make a realdifference to businesses andorganisations.T JonesLouthReaders’lettersWe’d love to hear from you. If you have any news, views or issuesyou would like us to cover, do get in touch.The gravy trains have to stopDear Lincolnshire TodayIf politicians only took what they were entitled to, they would getmore respect in today’s society. To me they’re no better than thosewho abuse the system, to max out on unemployment benefits .Many gain more in benefits rather than their neighbours who go outand work for it. As somebody who’s worked their entire life Iwouldn’t know where to start, but then I wouldn’t want to.There are of course genuine cases of claimees, I am sure but thenthere are probably honest politicians too somewhere (hopefully) G RankinLincolnPICK OF THE MONTHThe winner of our letter of the month wins a case of wine.We’d love to hear from you: Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House,Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE.Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk We reserve the right to edit published lettersChristmas allwrapped upDear Lincolnshire TodayAfter enduring thescrum in the shoppingcentres for theumpteenth time lastChristmas I vowed neveragain to rely on the malls formy festive shopping. Thanks to Lincolnshire’s independent retailers,I’ve managed to do that this year and I found some fabulous andunique gifts which I know my friends are going to love. I particularlyenjoyed the Christmas craft market at the National Centre for Craft &Design in Sleaford – and not only did I find some fantastic presents butI also picked up a host of ideas I’ll be able to use in 2014!S SmithSleafordEvenin’ allDear Lincolnshire TodaySo, having a reduced police presence in Grantham on Friday andSaturday nights has resulted in door staff having to up their efforts– surprise surprise! I am of course referring to the decision back inAugust, when Lincolnshire Police started a scheme to spread policeofficers more widely around Grantham, rather than just the towncentre – ‘encouraging’ clubs to sort out their own problems..Now there are people regularly fighting and falling out in thestreet – no doubt the police are taking a precautionary approach,working out a risk assessment plan or just sitting in the warmth oftheir cars nicking motorists. While that might help their ‘crime’figures, it hardly bodes well for the public.D CarterGranthamPICKOF THEMONTH10 LINCOLNSHIRETODAY010:Layout 1 6/12/13 13:51 Page 1The Croft is an exclusive private development of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties for the over 55s, built around the site of the original, and now fully refurbished, manor house with its new communal leisure facilities and on-site manager.Prices at The Croft start at £142,950 for a two bedroom bungalowSales office open daily from 10am to 5pmThe Croft, North Road, Bourne PE10 9AS Telephone 01778 426995www.thecroftbourne.co.uk Meet theBetteroffs of The Croft in Bourne ‘‘ By downsizing we could not only release some capital which was tied up in our old home but also benefit from having a new home with less maintenance and a more manageable garden. In addition, looking ahead to the future, we could see that buying at The Croft offered us the security of knowing our home would still be suitable for us later on in life and we wouldn’t need to move again.’’Read all about Mr and Mrs Sains’ move to The Croft at: www.thecroftbourne.co.uk/case-studies/4Models used for purposes of this advert011:Layout 1 6/12/13 11:53 Page 1Help to Buy012:Layout 1 6/12/13 11:54 Page 1Come and see for yourselves what makes our homes Special...Also Building in Tetney, St Pauls View, DN36 5JXExclusive 2 Bedroom Bungalows & 4-6 Bedroom Homes from £269,000www.keigarhomes.co.uk 01652 631939When you’re ready for something special...ALL NEW KEIGAR HOMES ARENOW AVAILABLE ON HELP TO BUYALL NEW KEIGAR HOMES ARENOW AVAILABLE ON HELP TO BUYYour Home... The Way You Want It...Customise your Home with a wide choice of inclusive, high quality kitchens, ceramic tiling, paint colours, carpets & vinyl All Included Within The Price!It...tchens,Price5% Buyer Deposit75% Mortgage from your Lender20% Government Loan5%20%75% % 52222205555%7777777775For more information on Help To Buy visit one of our Show Homes at Barton Upon Humber, Falkland Way, DN18 5RL 2-6 Bedroom Homes From £114,950 Scunthorpe, Brat Hill Farm, DN16 2RW 2-6 Bedroom Homes From £109,950 Show Homes Open 10am - 5pm Friday, Saturday & Monday Including Bank Holidays or call our Sales Team on 01652 631939013:Layout 1 6/12/13 11:54 Page 1Beautiful new homes in LincolnshireROMAN FIELDSJuniper Way, Witham St Hugh’s, Lincolnshire, LN6 9YP r#Fautiful open countrysider8JUIJOFBTZSFBDIPG-JODPMOBOE/FXBSLr"BOEUIF"DMPTFCZ2 & 3 bedroom homes from £109,995Call 01522 305 483 taylorwimpey.co.uk/romanfields4BMFT0GàDFPQFOEBJMZBNmQNTHE SHIRES-PDI-PNPOE8BZ0SUPO1FUFSCPSPVHI1&#-r0OUIFTJUFPGUIF&BTUPG&OHMBOETIPXHSPVOEr$MPTFUP1FUFSCPSPVHIBOEUSBOTQPSUMJOLT3 & 4 bedroom homes from £194,995Call 01733 302 758 taylorwimpey.co.uk/theshires4BMFT0GàDFPQFOEBJMZBNmQNOAK SPRING GARDENS $0.*/(400/ 5IF(BCMFT&MTFB1BSL#PVSOF-JODPMOTIJSF1&':r$MPTFUPUIFDFOUSFPG#PVSOFr(PPEDIPJDFPGTDIPPMTJOUIFBSFBr$MPTFUPUIF"BOE"2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes COMING SOON to this developmentPILGRIMS CHASE8ZHBUF4QBMEJOH-JODPMOTIJSF1&(6r#FBVUJGVMPQFODPVOUSZTJEFr$MPTFUP"BOE"r-PDBMBNFOJUJFTPOZPVSEPPSTUFQ4 bedroom homes from £176,995Call 01775 660 426 taylorwimpey.co.uk/pilgrimschase4BMFT0GàDFPQFOEBJMZBNmQNReserve a new home for only £99New Year, New HomeRESERVE A NEW HOME FOR ONLY £99 DURING JANUARY, PLUS GET FREE CARPETS THROUGHOUT*5FSNTBOEDPOEJUJPOTBQQMZBOEBSFBWBJMBCMFPOPVSXFCTJUFBUXXXUBZMPSXJNQFZDPVLUFSNTPSDBOCFQSPWJEFEPOSFRVFTUCZZPVS4BMFT&YFDVUJWF1IPUPHSBQIZJTJOEJDBUJWFPGUZQJDBM5BZMPS8JNQFZ)PNFT1SJDFTDPSSFDUBUUJNFPGHPJOHUPQSFTT0BL4QSJOH(BSEFOTSFGFSSFEUPBCPWFIBWFZFUUPCFDPOTUSVDUFEø5IFJNBHFTPGUIFIPNFTTIPXOBSFSFQSFTFOUBUJWFBOEUIFBDUVBMIPNFTNBZWBSZbSFTFSWBUJPOGFFBOEDBSQFUTPGGFSPOMZWBMJEPOSFTFSWBUJPOTPGIPNFTBUUIFEFWFMPQNFOUTMJTUFECFGPSFTU+BOVBSZBOEJTOPUWBMJEXJUIBOZPUIFSPGGFSLOOK THROUGH THE KEY HOLE AT OUR SHOWHOMESVISITTODAY014:Layout 1 6/12/13 11:57 Page 1Your Dream Kitchen...From planning to reality?View our credentials atCall now for your FREE quoteon 01522 526400Visit our showroom at: SunningdaleTrading Estate, Dixon Street, LincolnLN6 7UBwww.dreamdoors.co.uk• Trusted reputation• Made to measure custom built doors and units• Fitted by our own expertsLUXURY FITTED KITCHENS015:Layout 1 6/12/13 11:58 Page 1Kirkby-la-Thorpe, just a stone’sthrow from the busy market town ofSleaford is in a world of its own. Bestknown perhaps for the excellentQueen’s Head where you can expect arip-roaringly good meal, rolling a bitfurther into the village itself shows asmall community that sits amongsome quaint and pretty countrysideand is steeped in history.Perhaps no other building in thevillage is as packed with such historyas the Old Rectory. Sitting back byquite a way, blink as you pass on themain road and you could miss it. Takethe turning and the time to trundle upthe driveway however and you arerewarded with a house that beliesmere adjectives in its splendour. Itstall, grandiose stature simply from thefront is impressive and just makes youwant to explore further.Richard and Janette Hubbert havehad the impressive home for aroundfive years, but have only lived withinfor around three due to a hugeamount of work being done.Shrouded by tall trees, ivy and awhole host of other vegetation, thecouple claim you wouldn’t have been16 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYREADERS’ HOMESRelaxing,ramblingrectoryThe Old Rectory at Kirkby-La-Thorpe is the village’s biggest houseand a real hidden gem. In our quest to bring readers’ inspiration fortheir own homes we explore this huge, luxurious home.016-019:Layout 1 6/12/13 13:42 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY17able to see the property unless youstumbled upon it quite by accident. “We knew this area well and held adesire to relocate into a more ruralsetting,” says Richard. “Discovering this Victorian propertyticked all our boxes - an impressive,sizeable house in a setting in this quietlane, surrounded by open, ruralcountryside. Despite obviously requiringlots of love and attention, werecognised its potential to become ourideal family home. “Lots of practical work, such asroofing, electrics and plumbing, wasundertaken before we refurbished the18 016-019:Layout 1 6/12/13 13:42 Page 218 LINCOLNSHIRETODAY016-019:Layout 1 6/12/13 13:42 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY19READERS’ HOMESinterior but, despite the highs and lows ofsuch a challenging project, we have beenthrilled with the eventual outcome.”Janette says, “We’ve kept as manyindividual features as possible, whichmeans all the doors are original and someof the other touches really give itcharacter.“We actually found the original frontdoor keys which are huge and have keptthem as they are just so huge!”The house has a lot of history and onour tour round, you can see the traces ofthe past left in situ. From the servant’sbells in the kitchen, to the ‘nun’s room’under the stairs you are reminded of itsformer use. The priest’s reception roomdirectly off the immediate hallway as youenter the home is where the priest wouldhave welcomed parishioners back in thedays of it being a functional rectory for StDenys Church. More impressive perhaps isthe hallway’s ornate fireplace, a themethat is continued in nearly every room inthe house.Work as we find out on ascending thegorgeous staircase is extensive here.Originally nine bedrooms, the couple haveconverted upstairs into just six, whichmeans that the master suite is one of themost extensive we’ve ever seen. A largebedroom leads to a walk-in wardrobe,which is more of a room in reality, thenon to a large and impressive bathroom.This consists of a standalone bath tub andan almost wet room section for a walk inshower alongside. The sheer amount of space has affordedthe couple the chance to personalise andaccessorise in a way you might not be ableto do in less sprawling circumstances. Animpressive telescope for example sits in thefireplace within the wardrobe room, beingan interesting focal point in the extensive,lit storage space that exists within.Elsewhere upstairs there is a largehallway that leads to the other end of thehouse, which would originally have beenthe servant’s quarters and upstairs there isanother bedroom with ensuite that meansany guests have perfect privacy.Painted oak panelling in nearly everyroom and dropped ceilings often withVictorian style cornices mean it’s got acosy, but still grand feel.Sitting in an acre of land, it’s certainly ahome that’s been thought out in everyway possible. Those taking on such largeprojects would be wise to take inspirationfrom here, it’s simply stunning.The Old Rectory is on the market withFine & Country’s Grantham office. “We actually found the original front door keys whichare huge and have kept them as they are just so huge!”016-019:Layout 1 6/12/13 13:43 Page 4Next >