October hope for Spalding statue

A Spalding society hopes its specially commissioned bronze statue will take its place in Spalding town centre by October half term.

The Hiring Fair depicts the meeting of a farmer and a shepherd and is hoped it will be sited at Hall Place, where hiring fairs traditionally took place each year in May.

Currently the figures are stood in an office in Sleaford while the final plans are made for the sculpture’s erection.

The statue, which cost £15,000, was commissioned by Spalding Civic Society and local arts group Transported and was completed in 2017.

The Hiring Fair’s figures await their permanent home.

The statue was exhibited at the end of last year across Spalding and it was hoped it would have been set up in Hall Place in time for this year’s Spalding in Bloom event.

Civic Society chairman David Jones said a number of steps still need to be taken to get it in place.

A finger post in Hall Place needs to be removed to make way for the plinth on which the statue will be set, and co-ordinating this involves both Lincolnshire County Council and South Holland District Council.

A change in management above Transported has also caused a delay in proceedings, but Mr Jones said this has now been resolved with the input of the University of Lincoln.

In 2016, The Civic Society commissioned 14 brass sculptures, which were set into walls around Spalding. The society has also put up blue plaques.

These initiatives are in place in a bid to improve the town, said Mr Jones.

He said Spalding has a lot to offer in terms of retail but the town can also encourage footfall with artwork and features.

Four bronze statues are currently available to adopt, which entails just entails keeping an eye on them.

Email Mr Jones at davidjones2da@hotmail.com to find out more.