< PreviousBring on the sun!Dear Lincolnshire Today,It’s hard to tell whether the recent spells of snow are caused by global warming, shifting seasons, or the potential flip of the northand south axis of the planet – but surely moving into April we can hope for a little sunlight? I bought a BBQ last year and have beenitching to use it, much to my wife’s dismay since I can barely cook, but that’s not the point.We’re running out of spring at this rate and we’ve had more snow than all of winter combined! If we’ve had the calendar sinceRoman times (or even before) then maybe it’s time to start changing it. If Winter is spreading into Spring, then maybe we need toconsider that after two thousand years, the thing is becoming a little outdated.Or maybe I’m just losing my mind after so much snow. It’s hard to tell.Mark H,Boston We’d love to hear from you: Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House, Armstrong St., Grimsby, N. E. Lincs DN31 2QE. Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk. We reserve the right to edit published letters.yourlettersWe’d love to hear from you. If you haveany news, views or issues you wouldlike us to cover, do get in touch.PICKOF THEMONTHA bit more thana pestDear Lincolnshire Today,I have to ask, who names the storms we’ve beenhaving recently? We’ve had the Beast from the Eastand the Pest from the West, which sound less likeforces of nature and more like side-characters in aRocky movie. Considering many people were hurt inaccidents and that there was a lot of damage acrossLincolnshire, I can’t help but wonder why we don’thave more realistic names for them.“My car was damaged in Storm Gertrude,” soundsbetter on the insurance forms than “My car wasdamaged in the pest from the west”, after all!R Sims,LouthAll above budget?Dear Lincolnshire Today,It always strikes me as odd that come March, and justbefore April, the county seems to be struck by a suddenspate of road works. They’re everywhere, with roads closedand more sectioned off by traffic lights, and it really doesfeel like you get more in February and March than the restof the year combined. I’m told this is because the localcouncils need to spend their budgets lest they lose them,and so do any non-necessary maintenance, causing havocfor commuters. My only question is, is it worth it? The country is trappedin a state of debt at the moment and we’re always talkingabout austerity and cuts to vital services like policing andthe NHS, but if local Councils are organising spuriousrepairs in order to gobble up the last remaining tens ofthousands in their budgets, then could that not be putto better use elsewhere?Or are we losing important funding not due to ashrinking economy, but to poorly run localGovernment? Food for thought…G Smith, North LincolnshireThe winnerof our letterof the month wins acase of wine10 LINCOLNSHIRETODAY© Shutterstock / Tainar© Shutterstock / photogeoff10_Layout 1 19/03/2018 13:59 Page 111_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:34 Page 1Pinchbeck Fields, Wardentree Lane, Pinchbeck PE11 3UF Email: pinchbeck.fields@allison-homes.co.uk 07920 563317Oakley Rise, Livingstone Road, Oakley Vale, Corby NN18 8ST Email: oakley.rise@allison-homes.co.uk 07484 504712www.allison-homes.co.ukNew developments coming soon in Boston, Colsterworth, Horncastle, Nettleham and Weston.time.Time to share experiences.Time to appreciate all that we treasure.Time to laugh.Time to relax.Time to hold.Time to capture precious moments.Ask about our choice of purchase options, including Help to Buy. Prices correct at time of going to print.3 and 4 bedroom homes currently available at Oakley Rise with prices from £206,995. 3 and 4 bedroom homes currently available at Pinchbeck Fields with prices from £172,995. Come and see our new showhome.Designed with passion. Built with pride.Consider the benefits of buying a brand new Allison homeSales OfficeOpen: Thur to Mon 10am – 5pmShowhomeNOW OPENVisit our ShowhomeSales OfficeOpen: Daily 10am – 5pm2880 031812-13_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:35 Page 1 www.larkfleethomes.co.uk 0845 450 7872 ...better, because we caredevelopments in the following locations...Bourne CorbyDoddingtonPeterboroughThorney WhittleseyChoice of purchase options including Part Exchange and Help to Buy.Visit our sales offices and ask for details.Find your perfect Larkfleet home this Spring… Solar panelsas standard*Hexham (2 bedroom) PeterboroughLudlow (3 bedroom) Bourne Redcar (4 bedroom) WhittleseyThirsk (5 bedroom) Doddington & Thorney 3 bedroom homes from£179,500subject to location2 bedroom homes from£147,500subject to locationOtherpropertystylesavailablesubject to location5 bedroom homes from£279,995subject to locationSpecial offers on selected plotsAsk for detailsm4 bedroom homes from£239,995subject to locationLarkfleet HomesHead Office: Larkfleet House, Falcon Way, Bourne, Lincs PE10 0FFSales offices open 10am – 5pm dailyPrices and information correct at time of going to print. *Excluding apartments.2881 031812-13_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:35 Page 214 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMESA home forthe dreamerThis month’s property has an unusual past, stands as a magnificent family home in thepresent, but has the potential for a home business in the future.14-17_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:36 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY15HOMEShis 7000 sq. ft. property is set in the quaint Lincolnshire parishof Old Leake, which boasts all the local amenities one could need,including two pubs, schools, supermarkets, and a medical centre.The semi-rural location is around 8 miles from Boston, just 16 milesfrom the coast, and a short drive away from the delightfulLincolnshire Wolds – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Mr Baggs and Mrs Baggs-Beerling have lived at ‘Rooster House’ for8 years. Funnily enough, this is much longer than they had initiallyanticipated to stay. After planning to live in the spacious abode foronly a couple of years, the charm of the property, and thefriendliness of the area, captivated them.‘Rooster House’ comes with an atypical history, one that you would“never guess looking at it”, as Mrs Baggs-Beerling noted. Over time‘Rooster House’ has evolved from a traditional farmhouse withoutbuildings, into a surprisingly popular restaurant andentertainment venue in the 1980s, and then transformed into theexquisite family home it is today.When discussing the property’s eclectic history, She also spoke ofhow the house has connected her with numerous new people as theex-venue is famous in the community. Mrs Baggs-Beerling spoke withjoy about how much the people used to love ‘Rooster House’ andhave memories there. She expressed that they “are nice stories tohear.” The owners do find it surprising, however, how popular theirhouse used to be, as it off the beaten path, and is in a communitythat would have been much smaller in the 1980s! Though, of course,this shows the wonderful draw the property has.16 ÁT14-17_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:36 Page 216 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMESFOR THATOLD FASHIONEDPERSONAL SERVICEBRIGG BEDSCome visit our showroom at Princes Street, Brigg, DN20 8HGTel: (01652) 651828 Email: briggbeds@hotmail.co.ukwww.briggbeds.co.uk10% OFFVOUCHER**OFFER TO BE USED ONLY ONCEPER CUSTOMERSUBJECT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONSWhen asked what attracted her to the property, theowners recall it was the sheer phenomenal size and layout.Today, upon entering the house, you are greeted by theEntrance Hall and Reception Area with a Victorian spiralstaircase that leads to the first floor.Leading off from the Reception Area is the DrawingRoom, which boasts an open-hearth fireplace, completewith original internal chimney damper, and feature baywindows with views over the Garden. The initial impressionone experiences is that the home carefully highlights oldercharacter features elegantly.At the other side of the entrance, through double Frenchdoors, is the rest of the house. The kitchen and dining roomis first, and possesses a bespoke fitted Murdoch & Trooncountry style kitchen with solid oak worktops and a full heightfitted Welsh dresser. There is also a central island unit andwine rack incorporating a Belfast sink and mixer tap, and adouble-range oven. Leading off the Kitchen is the Sitting Room complete with atravertine ceramic tiled floor, exposed brickwork walls, a highvaulted ceiling, exposed woodwork and ceiling beams.The living room continues through an archway and stepdown into the couple’s favourite space in the house: thelounge.Facing out into the garden, the lounge has exposedbrickwork and a large roaring feature fireplace with Clearview750 multifuel stove. This, Mrs Baggs-Beerling says, makessuch a big room cosy and homey.You will find also find a storage area downstairs, which wasformerly the restaurant venue. When speaking of this space,and the house as a whole, Mrs Baggs-Beerling got excitedover its potential and what could be achieved with the rightowner.She said: “It would be great for someone with their ownbusiness, perhaps someone in a medical profession who couldset up rooms for a practice on one side of the house!” MrsBaggs-Beerling’s creative ideas for the home are bottomless.She highlighted that the storage space could be used byartisan food makers making jams or other products.On a different note she suggested setting up part of theproperty as a guest house to rent due to the stunninglocation. Mrs Baggs-Beerling continued: “It would even be14-17_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:36 Page 3 Fireplaces – Fires – Stoves Gas - Electric – Multifuel - Wood-burning Burning Sensation (Grimsby) Ltd Armstrong Street, Grimsby. DN31 1XD Call: 01472 351651 sales@burningsensation.co.uk www.burningsensation.co.uk LINCOLNSHIRETODAY17HOMESgreat for a family of three generations. You could haveseparate living sides so the Grandparents have their own areaand their own space but still be part of the house and family.”As we can see from her extensive imagination, thepossibilities are endless with this property. Somehow, after somany changes, it remains a blank canvas for a new owner toput their personal stamp on.Upstairs, there are 5 bedrooms and 3 large bathrooms. TheMaster Bedroom features built in wardrobes and handy eavesstorage.Outside, the property has wrought iron gates, along with a120ft drive which is in an ‘L’ shape, providing extensiveparking, that leads to a triple garage.There is also an extensive, well-established secluded gardenwith raised beds and hedging, and one must not forget tomention the pheasants and squirrels wandering around.The jewel of the Garden, however, must be the willow tree.“It is ready to be landscaped in a lovely way if you are anavid gardener, which we are not,” Mrs Baggs-Beerlinghumorously commented. With a home that has already kept and enchanted thecouple for 5 years longer than anticipated, why are theyselling? Well, it is simply time to downsize. However, it’sworth noting that they are unlikely to be going far. Afterbeing in Old Leake for so long, they are reluctant leave thebeautiful and friendly area, as they just love it too much. Theproperty being sold by Hunters, and is on the market for£695,000.14-17_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:36 Page 418 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMESA little touch of luxury Imparting a sense of elegance and luxury to your home can be difficult, andit’s easy to go overboard and end up with a décor that’s more kitsch thansophisticated. Rather than putting up crystal chandeliers, the most expensivepatterned wallpaper money can buy and festooning vast Persian rugs aboutthe place, keep things simple. A few choice additions to any room can have amassive impact. To show you how easy it is to achieve an elegant interior athome, we’ve gathered up a few personal favourite we’re sure you’ll love too. 1) This stunning bed suit exudes luxury and will transform any bedroom. You can pick up this collection up for yourselffrom Lees Furnishers in Grimsby. 2) Only the very best will do for Maison Valentina as this elegantly made armchair can attest. Paired with a side table andthis armchair would make for a charming reading spot, or for after dinner drinks. 3) Modish Living offer this stylish chest of drawers made from recycled sleeper wood. Go on, add a touch of somethingupcycled to your interior design. 4) This teardrop chair from Home-Lust is made of honey-coloured rattan and is perfect inside or outside thehouse. 5) This cosy and cuddly cushion from Sarah Taylor Art features the ‘Fox of Delights’ on the front with a plaingrey reverse. The stunning, highly stylised design will look incredible on a sofa, bed or chaise lounge. 6) The Farthing present these rust horse head bookends which are perfect for holding up your favouritebooks or vintage collection. 7) The handcrafted Hepworth Table Lamp from Blackbird London is a nod to Barbara Hepworth’s largestand most prominent artwork pieces – Single Form. This stunning irregular table lamp with its signaturecircular hole is classic and timeless in design. 8) Taken from the Lily Razz wild & free collection, this grey macramé wall hanging would look perfect inalmost any room – over a bed, in a living room or perhaps as a statement piece in hallway or landing. 9) An elegant two-seater sofa which beautifully combines the old and the new – available from LeesFurnishers in Grimsby.218-19_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:38 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY19HOMES1345678918-19_Layout 1 19/03/2018 10:39 Page 2Next >