Hopes for oldest educational building in Grimsby to be used again
The council is seeking contractor interest
The council is seeking contractor interest in carrying out works to help bring back into use part of the former Holme Hill School in Heneage Road, Grimsby. The Grade II-listed building is the oldest educational building in Grimsby, dating back to 1876-78.
The LDRS reported in 2022 on North East Lincolnshire Council plans to refurbish it and bring back into use by council staff, pooling together services spread over several council premises. Since then, Holme Hill’s clock tower has been restored, and survey and strip works have taken place.
At the end of August, a contract procurement notice was put out by the council for works on the former school, partly titled ‘Phase One Lindsey Suite’. It specified work for an estimated six-and-a-half months, including roofing, glazing and electrical works.
A £1m figure is indicated on the procurement notice, but a spokesperson has said assessments are taking place to work out full costings. “North East Lincolnshire Council has always planned a phased approach to the work at Holme Hill,” said the council spokesperson.
“The priority was to ensure the historic clock tower was restored back to its former glory as a structure that was on the council’s heritage ‘at risk’ register. This is now complete, and, as the picture shows,” said the spokesperson.
“An assessment of work needed to the remainder of the building is the next stage and that is being carried out in phases. An area known as the ‘Lindsey Suite’ is first and the authority is keen to get full costings for the work required.
“Once it has those, it will have a much clearer picture of what is required to restore both that Suite and the remainder of the building. An updated business case will then be considered.”
The council’s cabinet agreed in 2022 to look to refurbish and bring back into council use the former Holme Hill School. A council quarterly financial report last Autumn said surveys and strip out works were continuing.
In the freshly published first quarterly financial report for 2025/26, it mentions Holme Hill School and states to “bring forward the revised business case” for its development as part of the council operational estate.
The school clock tower was covered in scaffolding from July 2023, with restoration works completed by April this year. Expert stonemasons were employed, the weathervane restored, and the clockface cleaned and reglazed, with hands and numerals regilded.