Our history has several parts:
-
Our organisation (Bourne Arts & Community Trust)
-
Our building (Wake House)
-
Bourne when Wake House was built
Charles Frederick Worth and the “House of Worth”
Bourne Arts and Community Trust
The Beginning
On 23rd April, 1997, a public meeting was held at Burghley Arms, Bourne, to discuss the possibility of using Wake House as an arts and community centre. 2000 people from the area had signed a petition in support of its development as a centre which would be run for the benefit of the residents of Bourne and the surrounding villages. An extremely enthusiastic group of people gathered in the pub that night to show their support for this proposal. The WH Steering Committee was established as a direct result and the campaign to take over WH was under way.
Achieving the goal
Following its use as a family home, Wake House had been used as offices by SKDC and its predecessor, South Kesteven Rural District Council from 1974 until 1996. After 1996, the building was unused and fell into considerable disrepair. Floor and roof repairs were needed, as well as re-wiring, plumbing, decorating and general restoration in order to make the building safe and usable.
Plans were drawn up for the Community Centre. It was originally envisaged that various groups would benefit from the centre including:-
A centre for graphic arts – arts clubs, art exhibitions, photographic facilities and displays
Performing arts - rehearsal facilities, meeting rooms, dancing
Tourist Information centre
Conference and meeting venue
Crèche and school holiday activity centre
Business workshops
Information Technology – computer facilities, reference and research, internet access - Stamford College would provide easy access (12 hours per day) for all users to a computer suite
Social Education Centre - to run a coffee shop
The driving force behind this scheme was Jean Joyce, who lived in Edenham, and who had been an active SKDC Councillor for the Bourne area for several years. Jean worked tirelessly to improve facilities for all the residents of Bourne and its neighbouring villages, and her enthusiasm for the redevelopment of WH was key to its eventual success. However, success was not immediate, as the project was seriously threatened when it became known that two groups were interested in buying the building for commercial use.
BACT faced the challenge of raising thousands of pounds in order to renovate WH to meet the requirements of the clubs and organisations which would use it. Local tradesmen e.g, plasterers, roofers, electricians, plumbers and decorators were asked to offer their services, as well as financial donations being sought to support the project. All those who pledged their support were included in a roll of honour together with the opportunity to have their photo in the Bourne Local newspaper when work was under way. The roll of honour contained the names of local businesses, individuals, and the local MP. An appeal hotline was established for all who wanted to be involved.
At the end of October, 1999, an auction was held – which included items signed by Posh Spice and David Beckham – raising a total of £2,200 to go towards the restoration project. Another of the more than 100 items which was auctioned off was an England football training shirt signed and donated by a Manchester United team member. Linda Nightingale, who was the fundraising and public relations co-ordinator for BACT, thanked all who attended the auction, adding that she was delighted that the target of £2,000 had been reached. Other events held to raise money included a Charity Race Night, a stall at Christmas to sell mince pies and other baked goods, and a Wake House Christmas draw.
.Bourne Arts and Community Trust (BACT) legally began on 21st April, 1999, and following all the enthusiastic fundraising, Councillor Joyce received the keys to Wake House from Chris Farmer, Chief Executive of SKDC, at the end of October. 1999.
Chris Farmer, chief executive of SKDC presents councillor Jean Joyce with the keys.
Postscript
Several of the original aims of BACT listed earlier have been successfully addressed over the 25 years since 21st April, 1999:- Art exhibitions, art classes, dance classes, use as a conference/meeting venue, use by various businesses, a centre where IT is taught, and a coffee shop open to the public. In addition, a variety of educational classes have been held at Wake House. Jean and her colleagues would, no doubt, be delighted with BACT’S wide ranging provision and excited by the prospect of the next 25 years.
The Story of
Wake House
1820 - Present
A Building Through the Ages
Built around 1820 on the site of the old Waggon and Horses Inn, Wake House is believed to have been first owned by local lawyer William Worth. He used the building as both a home and as business premises for his law practice. Few of the original features now remain, including the curved staircase, framing around some of the internal doors, and high skirting boards. The main door would have been where the bay window now sits, with a passageway on the left of the house.
The Worth family had moved out by 1841, when a new lawyer (Gervase Wilder) is listed as the owner. In addition to the house, he also took on William Worth’s practice. Similarly, when Wilder died in 1853, solicitor Stephen Andrew took on both the building and business.
By 1974 South Kesteven District Council had repurposed Wake House for their local offices. By this point, it was a business building, with no domestic rooms left. After falling into disuse, the current occupiers (Bourne Arts and Community Trust) took over in 1999, running the building for the benefit of the local community.
A succession of different owners, each with different needs, can be seen in the many alterations to the building, including moving the front door, adding the bay window, multiple extensions and the car park which now sits where the garden would once have been.
Images
From top: Wake House before the front entrance was moved and the bay window added.
The house in 1935 decorated for the Silver Jubilee of King George V.
The house after the restoration of the front in 2019
The house in 2023 decorated for the Coronation of King Charles III.
A Thriving Market Town
Pure water from the natural spring at St Peter’s Pool is thought to have been the main draw for the first settlers of Bourne. By the 19th Century, this was a small, growing town. The Saturday market and annual fairs in April, May, September, and October would have encouraged people to travel to the area, to trade and to settle.
Between 1801 and 1901 the population grew from 1,664 to 4,361, more than doubling in size and showing the attraction of the town. With a growing population, building work would have been commonplace. In 1821 a new Town Hall was built, with the Magistrates Court upstairs and the Market Shambles below.
Some of the older buildings were either demolished or repurposed. For example, the Red Hall, built in 1605, was turned into the local railway station in 1859. Building the station was so important to the town that when the first passenger train arrived, the church bells were rung for the whole day in celebration!
Constant growth would have been supported by the blacksmiths, carpenters and bricklayers who traded in Bourne, while the shoemakers, wheelwrights and saddlers helped keep people moving. Farmers from the surrounding area would bring their produce into Bourne to be sold, via the bakers and grocer shops.
By 1870 the building of the Corn Exchange encouraged further trade between the farmers and local merchants. The numerous tailors, milliners and dressmakers show the importance of the clothing industry as well – perhaps inspiring a young Charles Frederick Worth!
Images
Top Left: Market Place, Historic Bourne
Middle Left: North Street, Historic Bourne
Bottom Left: A view down North Street from the old Bank
Below: The Pearce family, piano specialists, outside the Post Office and store in North Street
