A FAMILY building firm is carrying out a Gainsborough landmark's second major makeover inside a year.

And the £250,000 major interior revamp of Gainsborough Old Hall will mean that the iconic building will have had £420,000 spent on it between February this year and the spring of 2012.

The medieval manor house, which has taken pride of place in Parnell Street for more than 500 years, is having a complete transformation of its gift shop and cafe areas.

LR Hutchinson & Son, one of the town's longest established construction businesses, has already started work on the finest example of a Tudor property.

Built in the 1450s, the Old Hall welcomed 28,000 visitors in 2010 and is run by Lincolnshire County Council for owners English Heritage.

In February this year it had a £170,000 roof restoration project to repair the ravages of time and the elements.

Now Hutchinsons, of King Street East, has been chosen to convert the town's top tourist attraction to meet the increasing demands of 21st century visitors.

The project will see the creation of a new gift shop and cafe to further improve the experience.

This will be complemented by an update for the hand-held tour guide device and a new display.

Both are aimed at helping visitors of all ages to gain a better understanding of the hall's historic importance.

Ninety per cent of the makeover costs are being met by external funders including Renaissance, the Trent Vale Partnership and the Pilgrim Trust.

The rest is being found by the county council and West Lindsey District Council – which will issue civil licences for couples to marry in the hall from next summer.

The venue is one of the country's best preserved manor houses and offers a fascinating insight into bygone days.

It was built by Sir Thomas Burgh as the manor to his estate in Gainsborough – not only as a family home, but also as a status of his wealth.

The Burgh family entertained both Richard III and Henry VIII, but the impoverished dynasty sold their home in 1596 to London merchant William Hickman.

He famously allowed the Pilgrim Fathers to worship within the walls of the hall before setting off to America.

But, ironically, the landmark was on the brink of demolition in the late 1940s – until it was saved by the Friends of Gainsborough Old Hall Association, now a member of the alliance formed to ensure its future.

"This project will mark the start of a new chapter in the history of the Old Hall," a partnership spokesman said.

"The building is a real hidden gem and these improvements will help to put it on the map, bringing more visitors to enjoy it and be inspired by it.

"And we're sure the idea of being married in such beautiful and historic surroundings will appeal to many couples."

Boyd Hutchinson is senior partner at the building company.

"We're pleased to have been chosen to make the improvements at the Old Hall and are proud to be playing this important role in its history," he said.

The hall closed to visitors on Sunday, December 18 and won't re-open until the spring.

For more details about LR Hutchinson & Son call (01427) 613076.