So, one cold Friday evening after work a couple of weeks ago, our team travelled over from the Peak District to the Belton House Estate outside of Grantham in Lincolnshire to enjoy the evening and see for ourselves the success of this project and our part in this restoration work.

During the walk you can enjoy mulled wine, marshmallows on sticks and cook them over fire pits, enjoy the displays, lights and attractions throughout the pathways finishing back in the courtyard where most enjoyed warm crepes to end a wonderful evening event.

It was a memorable experience, and we appreciate the kindness of The National Trust team and David Munslow for making this possible. We also enjoyed seeing our work being used for its intended purpose being a safe thoroughfare through and around the courtyard buildings.

Inside the heart of the outside buildings is a traditional courtyard laid with thousands of granite cobble setts. This became a necessary focus for the Trust for restoration work on the Setts in order for the courtyard to be made suitable for the modern requirements regarding flooring for public places and to be more pushchair, wheelchair and scooter friendly.

The project required areas of the original setts to be uplifted, then following trials was agreed that these were either cut in half or have the tops removed, allowing them to be relayed giving a flat top surface.

English Heritage worked together with The National Trust to agree how the setts should be finished allowing the project to retain authenticity and using the original materials which was critical in maintaining the heritage of Belton House.

David Munslow, of The National Trust, brought some of the setts here to us in December 2022 for trials on both options suggested of cutting in half and or topping to obtain the flat surface area for the setts required.

After successful trials approval was passed for us to process the setts ready for relay in the summer of 2023.

There was a strict deadline mapped out for the restoration works from us receiving the now uplifted setts, processing and then delivery back to Belton.

This had to be meticulously planned out in order for the contractors on site to do the uplifting, delivery to our yard, processing and then returning back to Belton House of which the Trust had a set closure period in the courtyard for 2 weeks to allow for the relaying to be done.

A more functional and better access has now been achieved to the courtyard, shops and amenities and we have been very proud to have been a part of the supply chain in brining this project to a successful completion.

However, there is more! Each Christmas season, Belton House has a “Winter Lights at Belton” daily and evening event. There is a magical winter light walk around the magnificent gardens with different displays, themes, attractions, food & drinks, and a few small rides for children.

As part of a Thank You from the National Trust we were invited to come and see the courtyard project completed and enjoy the festive event. This was a wonderful evening and good to see the benefits the restoring of the Setts has achieved.

We have a story about this next week! You even get to see some of the team.