Work Starts on £4.8m Highfields Restoration

The £4.8million restoration of Highfields Park, to restore the Grade II Listed Park to the grandeur of its heyday, begins later this week.

The refurbishment includes the restoration of the park’s older buildings and infrastructure including bridges, the boathouse and de-silting the boating lake.

As reported in East Midlands Business Link earlier this year, the refurbishment of heritage park was made possible due to £3.2million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund’s Parks for People programme, along with funds from Nottingham City Council and other partners and we are delighted that we are announcing the start of the restoration during Love Parks Weeks which celebrated everything that people love about their parks and open spaces.

Work will be completed by the end of 2017 and will include:

  • Restoring buildings, park infrastructure and features including bridges, historic railings, ticket office, boathouse and pavilion buildings.
  • De-silting the lake and improving the waterside boating area.
  • Repairing footpaths.
  • Refurbishing the entrance from the new tram stop, including creating an entrance feature and restoring the historic gas lamps.
  • Tree works, including opening up historic views.
  • Producing new croquet lawns from the two current bowling greens, enhancing the high quality croquet facilities.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Nottingham City Council Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “Highfields Park has been loved by generations of Nottingham people and it’s fantastic that it’s now being restored to its original splendour as it approaches its centenary.

“The park is an important part of Nottingham’s history, particularly because of its link with Jesse Boot, and I am proud that our ambitious plans for a full restoration along with improved facilities and an exciting events programme for today’s park users have come to fruition thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players and other funding partners.”

The Grade II Listed Highfields Park was opened in 1923 by businessman and philanthropist Sir Jesse Boot and was one of the first manmade, large-scale parks of the 20th century.  It contains prehistoric rock shelters built into the rock outcrop and is registered as a Site of Special Geological Interest.  It is also included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.  More park history is available on the website

The University of Nottingham, whose main campus adjoins the park, and the Highfields Park Leisure are helping to fund the park restoration and the Probation Service will carry out some of the work. The National Lottery bid was supported by various local groups such as Nottingham Croquet Club, Highfields Park User Group and Beeston Civic Society.  Views of park users were taken into account when planning the restoration and improvements.

Posted on:   21 September, 2017

Posted by:   Amy Smith

We have restored the former Mill Managers House at Darley Abbey Mills as wedding guest accommodation. We have been delighted with the workmanship, site management and level of dedication shown to complete the project. The internal restoration works have included new lath & plaster ceiling, three coat lime plaster and repair of lime ash floors. Externally the works have included repointing, repair and structural repairs. We will be looking to use Bonsers again on our future projects.

Andrew Rose, Darley Abbey Mills

We have worked successfully together on many high-profile heritage conservation projects including; the restoration of the Grade I listed Mill Building at Cromford World Heritage Site for the Arkwright Society; the restoration of the Bestwood Winding House, A Grade II listed building and scheduled ancient monument for Nottinghamshire County Council; and the restoration of the Grade II listed Buxton pavilion for High Peak Borough Council. Bonsers specialise in a vast array of heritage skills, ranging from stone repairs, lime plaster, ornate plaster repairs and brickwork, joinery and ironmongery restoration.

Les Needham, G F Tomlinson Group Limited

G F Tomlinson have used the specialist services of Bonsers extensively over many years, and regard them as our key heritage conservation and restoration supply chain partner. Their in-depth knowledge and skills on heritage building practices and sensitive approach to the protection of historic building fabric, are second to none.

On all of these schemes, they have delivered a first-class service and a very high standard of workmanship, and we therefore have no hesitation in recommending Bonsers to any prospective client.

Les Needham, G F Tomlinson Group Limited

The second and more challenging project Bonsers worked with us on was the Building 17 project. This was a very problematic project with cutting edge solutions required to the contamination issues within the building. The work was very difficult and the working conditions extremely unpleasant. The Bonsers team acted extremely professionally at all times, the communication between contractor and client was exemplary, they worked to a tight timescale and budget. Additionally their follow up services have been second to none, coming to site to sort out any maintenance issues and also providing support to us in our work engaging with our community about the project.
I would fully recommend their services to others.

Sarah McLeod, CEO, Cromford Mills

The canal side restaurant project was relatively small and straight forward though the timescale was extremely short – opening up the upper floor for extra trading space, introducing a dumb waiter and toilets into the building. However, the Bonsers' team treated the project very seriously, taking great care to liaise with me as the client,   working very considerately alongside my own staff and engaging positively with  the passing public when required to do so. Equally, they completed the job on time and within budget.

Sarah McLeod, CEO, Cromford Mills

As part of the restoration project funded by English Heritage, Bonsers were employed as the main contractor on this project, initially based upon very good references and viewing previous projects. Throughout the whole project working with Bonsers was professional, helpful and with a real emphasis on caring about what was being restored – not just another builder on a building. We would certainly use Bonsers again for any other restoration work at Barlborough Hall.

Malc Lucas, Facilities Manager, Mount St Mary’s College & Barlborough Hall School

Bonsers impressed with their deep technical knowledge, experience and empathy of historic buildings. Their quality, workmanship and professional attitude was impressive throughout.

Michael Shaw BEng CEng MRAeS Bursar, Coventry School Foundation