Guests invited to stay in city's Wonky House

You may have to twist and bend to get up the spiral staircase, but for wanting a weekend getaway with a difference, Lincoln's famous Wonky House could be just the thing.

Located in the city's Cathedral Quarter, the Grade II listed 40-42 Michaelgate is being marketed as holiday accommodation following a restoration project.

The city council and Heritage Lincolnshire secured £350,000 for the project from the Architectural Heritage Fund, with additional funding coming from a public appeal after deathwatch beetle was found during the work.

Tracy Stringfellow, chief executive of Heritage Lincolnshire, said the 16th Century property, which was saved from demolition in the 1930s, was "unique".

Talking about its history, she said: "In 1933, the city cleared a row of terraced properties on Michaelgate as part of the slum clearance programme and, as they got to this point, they saw the timber framing behind the brick facade and luckily the builder working at that time said 'we'd better stop, this is important'.

"They stopped and the city of Lincoln saved this building."

As for the lean, she said it came from the house's location near the city's appropriately named Steep Hill, located at the side of the property.

"That's what gravity does," she said.

She said the effects were not so obvious inside the property, other than perhaps on the spiral staircase.

"This is where the wonkiness is most evident."

Asked how many of the original features had been retained, she said: "It's the Trigger's broom question, isn't it?

"Where we've replaced things like the windows, it was a Lincolnshire joiner using traditional skills. As much as possible we've tried to retain the original.

"There are still some of those original 1500s timbers in there."

The renovation also included the installation of modern features such as a new kitchen, shower room and air source heat pump.

"People do want to experience something different and I think this property is unique," she added.

The building is owned by City of Lincoln Council and leased by Heritage Lincolnshire.

Proceeds from the holiday accommodation will be used to support the work of the charity.

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