This is an architectural gem that thousands of people pass every week and most wouldn't notice it. The former Baptist Sunday School was built by W Mortimer & Son of Lincoln in 1897, the ground floor shop was rented to tenants.
It was built with heavy clay Gault brick, very popular in the Victorian period. Stone dressings enhance the Flanders Gothic Revival style. Above the right door is a crested date stone inscribed "Baptist Sunday Schools 1897", although much of the wording has been eroded by time and weather.
After providing religious education for local children for over 70 years the first floor was converted into offices in about 1980.
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| c. 1905 |
R M Wright & Co were the first tenants of the shop, no 29 & 31, but in about 1905 William Arscott started his tailor's business there. Willam was born in Wellington, Somerset. He moved to Lincoln in 1884 to take up a position as tailor's foreman. William died in 1919 and Joseph Armscott carried on the business until at least 1942, although no 29 was by this time a ladies' hairdresser and a registry office for servants.
Fortunately it retains many of the architectural features that were built into it by our Victorian predecessors. The building is Grade II listed so it should be preserved for many years to come.
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