Plans revealed to honour dog who fetched thousands for charity

An application has been submitted for a statue of a beloved local dog, Snips, to sit within Lincoln’s revamped Cornhill Market in the Cornhill Quarter area.

City of Lincoln Council, Lincolnshire Co-op, and Lincoln Free Walking Tour have come together to create a dedication to this local legend.

Snips’ owner, market trader Henry Tyler, raised thousands of pounds for good causes by charging people a penny to stroke the terrier during the 1950s.

As a result of this fundraising, Snips received numerous awards from the city council and other organisations.

Matthew Thomas and Brant Clayton, Founders of Lincoln Free Walking Tour, regularly tell Snips’ story to guests on their tours, and were struck by the overwhelmingly positive response they were met with.

The pair began petitioning for a statue to be installed within the Cornhill Quarter, where the fundraising took place over 60 years ago, as a way to acknowledge Snips and the impact he made.

Plans are now in place to bring this proposal to life, and, with support from Stem Architects, a design has been submitted which details a bronze statue of Snips the dog sitting on a plinth.

Brant Clayton, Co-Founder of Lincoln Free Walking Tour, said:

“We are passionate about bringing the city’s history to life and celebrating our heritage with visitors to the city.

“Snips is one of the most popular parts of our walking tours and the project will provide something tangible for people to help remember and celebrate his story. It seems a fitting part of the brilliant work that’s happened in recent years within the Cornhill and Central Market to revitalise this area.

“We are honoured to be able to play our own part in his story.”

As well as reflecting local history, the statue will continue the charitable spirit in Snips’ story, enabling passers-by to donate to local charities by tapping their card.

Property Engagement Manager at Lincolnshire Co-op, Ben James, said: “We’ve worked hard to revitalise the Cornhill Quarter and fit the city’s evolving needs, but we’ve also been incredibly mindful to preserve and restore local history.”

“The installation of this statue is another fantastic opportunity to do that, and a project that we are really proud to be part of, especially as it will support local good causes.”

As plans stand, the statue should be in place by spring 2024.

The Cornhill Market revamp has been funded by a £5.9 million investment from the government’s Towns Fund programme through the ‘Be Lincoln Town Deal’, and additional funding of £918,000 from Historic England, the redevelopment has improved Cornhill Market’s sustainability and design.

Cllr Naomi Tweddle, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said:

“The story of Snips is a beloved one, and we’re so pleased his memory will live on in the redeveloped Cornhill Market.

“We are always passionate about preserving the building’s heritage and keeping the history alive, so we hope the statue inspires more people who learn about the story and also support a good cause.”