Lincolnshire restoration specialists E Bowman & Sons report a spectacular start to 2008 with £6million worth of work in the first six weeks of the year.

Seven separate contracts were awarded to Bowman in competitive tenders. They range in size from under £60,000 to more than £2million and include:

A year-long, £1.6million contract with the Diocese of Lincoln for the alteration and refurbishment of the Old Palace, to the south of Lincoln Cathedral.

Bowman will form offices, conference facilities and en-suite bedroom accommodation in this historic Grade II* listed building. The ground beneath the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

A seven-month refurbishment to Buckminster Park, Lincolnshire, the former home of the Earl of Dysart.

An £850,000 refurbishment contract with Agellus Hotels Ltd to convert a former mill in Oundle into a hotel and restaurant.

Renovations to more than 140 homes in North and East Lincolnshire affected by last year\'s floods. This comes from contracts from major insurers and loss adjusters worth a total of more than £2million.

A £235,000 contract beginning this month (March) to refurbish the historic exterior of Leicester Town Hall.

A £60,000 contract with Stapleford Park Hotel near Melton Mowbray, Leicester, to repair lead parapet gutters and roofing, as well as making structural repairs to high-level masonry.

Commenting on Bowman\'s early successes, Trevor Jackson, the Managing Director of

"Our work on historic projects for English Heritage at Apethorpe Hall and for the National Trust at Belton House is helping attract interest in our work and our craftsmen and craftswomen. "Early signs are that we will break all sales records in 2008. This will help fuel our growth and ensure the business continues to move with the times.""