MuDDyBrilliAnt plAn to sAve historic wAlls

Century-old mud walls in Whittlesey are being treasured by a new group which wants to preserve them for future generations. The Whittlesey Mud Walls GroupwasformedinMarchto promotethehistoricalboundary walls which were created in the late 18th century.

Robert Boddington (69) a member of the group, said there had been 26 walls but that the total was now down to16, includingjust oneinEastrea where he lives.

He said: “We have seen the decline of the walls. We are concerned about a bit of heritage and history disappearing. We want to preserve what’s left.

“If they are maintained they are capable of carrying on for another couple of hundred years.

“Thelong termgoalistoget the better ones listed.”

The group is seeking lottery funding to pay for training from building specialists on how to preserve the walls, which are 18 inches wide.

Aparticular concern is the state of the coping (roofs) of the walls which protect them from deteriorating quickly.

Robert i s joined i n the group by fellow members of Whittlesey Museum who agreed that action needed to be taken to stop more mud walls from disappearing.

He added: “They were originally boundary walls for properties in the town. There werelots andlots of them, but through the years they have got knocked down because they take up so much room.”

Thegroupwillholdits first public meetinginthecarpark of the Black Bull in Market Street during the Whittlesey Festival on September 11.

Therewill beateamofprofessional restorers fromSPAB (Society for the Protection of AncientBuildings) whowillbe making a section of mud wall.

Campaigners: Robert Boddington, Annette Glazier, Minn Mean, Jen Barback and Jackie and David Prebble