Renovating the West End Constabulary

By Rebecca Poole

A first-time buyer has discovered over 100 years of history while remodelling Lincoln’s West End Constabulary into her forever home.

Eleanor Bryan bought the property on Carholme Road in December 2023 and has documented her renovation journey on social media, amassing over 130,000 followers in total.

She explained: “I wanted something that was really unique and because I was buying a house by myself, I didn’t have a big budget.

“I was looking at houses and that was the only one that stood out as a bit unusual. It was literally the first house I viewed and when I walked in, I couldn’t believe it, I just thought ‘this is my house.’”

Although Eleanor fell in love with the house at first sight, she viewed other properties she considered distinctive but found they only confirmed that The Old Constabulary was for her.

“I just fell in love with it. It has two living rooms, so it had a room that would’ve been the policeman’s office. I’m turning that office into a library, which is very exciting!”

The property was built as a police station in 1897 but was decommissioned in the 1960s and was converted into a family home, however, along with the prison cells, many of the original features were removed.

“One of the things we’ve found which has been devastating, is all of the evidence of the original features which were ripped out. For instance, we found the bits of decorative cornicing shoved in the walls. It has been good to have those things though because we can put them back and we now have a mould to work from.”

One of the challenges Eleanor has found is that she has had to learn how to restore an old building, but by working with a heritage builder, she is determined to renovate it back to its former glory using traditional methods.

“Choosing Danelaw Lime and Heritage Conservation was the best decision I could’ve possibly made,” she said.

“They’re really committed to using traditional techniques rather than modern materials, which I think is part of the reason people have been so interested in what we’re doing because it’s quite specialist stuff.

“I now know that you can’t put new materials on old buildings, because old buildings rely on things being breathable, so if we put a silicon render on the house it would’ve basically made it full of damp.”

Part of the excitement for Eleanor, who lives in the house with her boyfriend Adam, has been researching the history of the building and learning more about its time as West End Police Station. Previous residents have been in touch to share their own memories, including a woman born in Eleanor’s living room.

“She said she hated when the races were on because the jail cells were always full and that the policeman’s wife had to cook for everyone. The prisoners would actually eat dinner with the policeman’s family!”

The project has also gained the attention of the county’s current officers, who have provided Eleanor the opportunity to learn more about her home’s past.

She added: “The police recently got in touch and said that the lads at the station are really enjoying the renovation and have asked if they could take us to the archives to learn more.

“They’ve said that they’re going to give us a police helmet so we can put it on display in the library, which is great.”

Although Eleanor was warned that buying the old constabulary would be the wrong decision, she stressed that it is one of the most rewarding choices she has ever made and encourages others to take the risk.

“When I started out and I bought this house, I had never even put up a shelf because I’d been renting the whole time, so I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I have learnt so much along the way and surprised everybody who thought it was going to be a huge mistake.

“From the very beginning we’ve been living in a building site, but it’s just been part of the adventure.”

Follow Eleanor and Adam’s renovation journey @RenovatingTheConstabulary on social media.

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The Old Constabulary as it was when in use originally.

old const 2