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Bourne House
Bourne House at No 46 West Street was built in 1830 in the Regency style that was still prevalent at that time. This was the home of the Bell family, latterly Major Cecil Walker Bell, a solicitor and churchwarden at the Abbey Church, and he salvaged ancient stones from around the church in 1892 and used them as landscape features in the extensive gardens at the rear of the property. When he left Bourne in 1940, the house was bought by Kesteven County Council and used as dormitory accommodation for evacuees from Hull and after the war the authority converted it into a hostel for maladjusted and problem children, orphans or those from broken homes. The house continued in this role for a quarter of a century until being phased out and after standing empty for some years, it was acquired by property developers who planned to turn it into a complex of retirement homes and maisonettes. Conservationists objected that the extensive alterations would ruin the character of the building although they made no suggestions as to how the money to preserve it in its original condition might be raised. In the event, planning permission was granted and the transition was carried out in 1988-89 at a cost of £1¼ million and it remains an attractive part of the street scene.
The main house and outbuildings were turned into flats and 19 bungalows were built in the grounds but the trees were preserved, including some fine cedars, walnuts, a weeping ash and an old pear tree, and a new landscaped garden area. The Civic Society also gave its blessing to the work. "The house has been greatly enhanced by its sympathetic renovation", said the vice-chairman Councillor Don Fisher.
The ancient stones salvaged in 1892 were preserved during the 1988-89 conversion work as seats in the gardens at the rear of the property where they can still be seen although they have started to deteriorate as a result of severe winter frosts.
REVISED APRIL 2014 See also Cecil Walker Bell Bourne House children's hostel 
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