Brigg Matters Issue 61 Summer 2021

The Elwes family auctioned Brigg
building plots in 1849 and Albert
House was built on Lots 12 and
13 in 1857. It was during a
period which locally-renowned
historian, Frank Henthorn,
in his book ‘19th Century
Brigg’, described as, ‘Brigg’s
beautification’. Main roads were
being cobbled and features, such
as pavements for the convenience
of pedestrians, were being laid
in York Stone from the Market
Place via Wrawby Street to Albert
Street.
The mid-1800s was a period
when large middle class
houses were being built for
the professional classes in and
around Albert Street and along
parts of Bigby Street also known
then as Station Approaches. Such
properties were the first to benefit
from the then state-of-the- art technology of the early gas
works in Bigby Sreet.
Brigg was losing its reputation as a brawling town, full
of rivalry and lacking sophistication. Associations and
clubs offering culture and leisure activities were emerging
bringing positive and lasting heritage benefits; many are
still retained in the town.
At that time Albert House was two houses, 23 and 24
Bigby Street, and at some time in its modern history
became unified and evolved into a prestigious Bed and
Breakfast accommodation. Asked for how long Albert
House has been so named, Sue Cundy who, with partner
Jeff, assumed ownership only in October last year said:
“Since our arrival, we have been extensively renovating
Albert House from top to bottom; from roof to cellar and
during a previous refurbishment, an old, 1934, electricity
bill, addressed to ‘Albert House’ was discovered under the
fl oorboards, so, for some time”, responded Sue with a
wry smile.
Albert House is the couple’s first direct venture into
the sphere of managing a B&B but both have extensive
experience in the various facets of the hospitality
industry. As an example, Jeff has been a professional
IN PROFILE
SUE, JEFF and OUR ALBERT
snooker player and later owned
the snooker hall on Doncaster
Road in Scunthorpe for twenty
years. He has achieved
Championship breaks of 147 on
two occasions, toured the world
to play tournament matches
and has played professionally
alongside snooker champions
such as Alex Higgins, Stephen
Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
But past fame does not end
there. Sue’s son is Tai Woffinden,
a 3-time World Speedway
Champion. Tai was initiated into
speedway as a junior rider in
Australia where his late father,
Rob, was a professional rider. Tai
advanced his ambition by joining
the Scunthorpe Scorpions on his
return to his home town. The
original Scunthorpe Speedway
stadium was at Ashby Ville,
present-day site of Morrison’s and the Lakeside Retail
Park. It has now relocated to Normanby Road.
Asked if one of Tai’s bikes would ever appear in the
ever-growing event of Brigg’s Bike Night, Jeff asserted:
“We actually have one of Tai’s bikes in Albert House, it’s
mounted on the wall in the games room (complete with
an inevitable snooker table) and has become a great
talking point. But that one would be awkward to get
down, although we are expecting another couple of Tai’s
competition bikes to arrive soon...and then that could
be very much a possibility”. At the moment Tai is the
Captain of the GB team and competes in both the Polish
and Swedish Leagues of speedway competitions.
By contrast, Sue has lived in both Canada and Australia
and has become a property developer, consequently
becoming quite accustomed to revitalising property.
Since October, apart from specialised work such as
electrical installations, Sue and Jeff have been extremely
industrious. Jeff conquered his fear of heights and has
repaired the roof and together they have sanded and
oiled the luxury dining room floor, which at one-time
comprised oak planks from a church. In the same
Victorian recycling theme, the decorative cast-iron
radiators distributed around the accommodation were
reclaimed from a bank.
Sue added: “I may not have specific experience of
managing a guest house, but during the family’s time
in Australia our house became an important bed and
breakfast venue on the Australian speedway racing
circuit and, as such, I acquired very useful transferable
skills for the necessary multi-skills for managing Albert
House.’
The 10 foot-high ceilinged rooms, with their ornate
cornices and decorated finials, offer a great feeling of
palatial space and charm. Sue and Jeff have decorated
each room in a unique, elegant Victorian style but have
added the modern conveniences of Wi-Fi and smart- TVs
now expected by discerning guests.
Overall, the 167 year-old, Grade ll Listed Albert House
has the ambience of luxury; its appearance is akin
to a graded hotel. The simple external, symmetrical
facade with multi-paned windows hints at a Georgian
architectural style, rather than Victorian, but it belies the
internal appealing grandeur that prevails to guests when
Tai’s bike on the Games Room wall
Sue and Jeff in the dining room
they enter. “We like to complete the picture in detail
and have even re-installed the outside Victorian
iron-cast foot-scrapers, and added doors with fi nger
plates”, Sue said with satisfaction.
At the rear is a relaxing courtyard with parking
spaces for guests and there is a dog-friendly Coach
House annexe for guests who wish to bring their
pets. The annexe offers the opportunity to opt
for a self-catering experience. The four en-suite
guest bedrooms are a very fine example of a B&B
accommodation. Albert House will emphatically
reflect on Brigg’s hospitality reputation.
Sue and Jeff acknowledge the reputation of the
previous owner, Jeannie Walker and the high
positive reviews she received on a regular basis.
“Our aim is to improve Albert House’s already
excellent rating; we already have bookings and
we eagerly look forward to the lifting of Covid- 19
restrictions.”
52 Brigg Matters
Brigg Matters 53