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Guests invited to stay in city's Wonky House

Amber Gashand
David McKenna,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
News imageAmber Gash/BBC Street view of the Wonky House, It is rendered white on the top floor with the beams showing through. Lincoln Cathedral can be seen in the background.Amber Gash/BBC
The Wonky House was constructed in the 1500s and saved from demolition in the 1930s

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".

News imageAmber Gash/BBC Still of Tracy Stringfellow, chief executive of Heritage Lincolnshire. She is standing outside the Wonky House wearing a green and black top. She has long hair and is smiling at the camera.Amber Gash/BBC
Tracy Stringfellow says the renovation has retained as many of the original features as possible

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.

News imageAmber Gash/BBC A modern bathroom suite with white tiles and a walk-in shower. There is a wall radiator above the toilet and window to the side.Amber Gash/BBC
The renovation included modern features such as a new shower room

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."

News imageAmber Macey/BBC Tracy Stringfellow making her way up the spiral staircase inside the house. The walls are painted white with exposed beams running horizontally and vertically.Amber Macey/BBC
Stringfellow says the wonkiness is most evident on the spiral staircase

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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