AS work to conserve Cleethorpes’ heritage continues, a second survey is to begin on the resort’s iconic Victorian balconies.
Specialists will examine the structures outside six properties along the retail side of Alexandra Road later this month, ensuring they assess the six different balcony designs that exist on the full run.
They will pay attention to the way in which the structures meet the buildings’ brickwork by removing a small section of material from underneath the balcony decking. Six columns will then have a small excavation around them to establish the type and condition of the foundations. The planned re-paving works in this area, as part of the resort’s wider regeneration, was deliberately postponed to allow this further survey work to be undertaken.
Along with the Conservation Condition Survey conducted last autumn, the results of this latest investigation will help North East Lincolnshire Council and its regeneration partner ENGIE shape a positive way forward for the balconies, which are owned by the individual business proprietors.
Dating back to the early 1900s, they consist of cast iron columns and decorative balustrades fixed to what is believed to be a mild steel decking frame in most instances. The castings were fabricated by different Scottish foundries and front 26 properties.
As reported grant-funding, from the Townscape Heritage Project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, has kick-started a multi-million-pound heritage facelift of the resort and this investigative work is taking place as part of that.
Work is set to start on June 22 and expected to take four days, with safety measures being put into place for pedestrians that will take into account current social distancing guidance.
As part of the Heritage Project, people are currently being encouraged to take part in an online survey that focuses on Sea View Street and Alexandra Road. Please go to https://www.research.net/r/cleethorpes_visitor_survey.
Picture caption: The photograph was taken in 1904 and shows Numbers 30-32 Alexandra Road and the buildings’ balconies.