A programme of refurbishment and essential upgrades is taking place across Lincoln, from student accommodation at Bear Lane to the College’s historic medieval kitchen and Smoking Room.

At Bear Lane, work over the summer has included new kitchens in houses 6 and 8, the full internal refurbishment of Emily Carr House, and redecoration across a number of flats and staircases.

Less visible, but equally important, is the replacement of the 30-year-old plant room that provides heating and hot water to five staircases. The upgrade will help ensure the buildings continue to serve generations of Lincoln students into the future.

Back on the main College site, a rather different challenge is under way in the College kitchen, the oldest working medieval kitchen in Europe.

The existing cooking equipment was installed 26 years ago and has now reached the end of its intended working life. It is being replaced with modern electric equipment, moving the kitchen away from gas and providing a cleaner and safer system that meets current standards.

Modernising a kitchen that has been in use for around 500 years is not a straightforward task. The project strives to introduce contemporary cooking equipment and ventilation while respecting the character of this remarkable historic space.

To allow meals and other catering to continue throughout the works, a temporary field kitchen has been installed in Grove Quad. It is expected that the works will take several months to complete.

Lastly, the Smoking Room has undergone a facelift, which has included repainting and other decorative works. 

The projects form part of the College’s ongoing work to maintain and improve its buildings, balancing the needs of today’s community with the care of Lincoln’s historic estate.