Horncastle Town Walk

Lincolnshire WalksHorncastle Town walk A walk of 21/3 km (11/2 miles)Around the home town of Sir Joseph Banks

IntroductionHorncastle is an attractive market town lying at the south-west footof the Lincolnshire Wolds and noted for its antique shops. Thetown is located where the Rivers Bain and Waring meet, and on thesite of a Roman fort. Parts of the Roman wall can still be seen.Horncastle means ‘the Roman town on a horn-shaped piece of land’,the Old English ‘Horna’ is a projecting horn-shaped piece of land,especially one formed in a river bend.This leaflet will guide you on a short walk around the townhighlighting some of the town’s rich history.Granted a market in 1230 the town flourished in the Middle Ages.After a recession in the 17th century prosperity returned with thecompletion of the canal in the early 19th century, that linkedHorncastle, via the River Witham, to Boston and Lincoln.Horncastle was famous for its annual August Horse Fair whichbegan in the 13th century and continued until 1948. It was thelargest in the country during the 19th century and attracted buyersfrom across Europe.This is one in a series of walks from Horncastle. The others are:• Horncastle, Fulletby & West Ashby• Horncastle Canal• round HorncastleWe hope you enjoy them. If you require this leaflet in another format please contact us. Lincolnshire County Council Natural Environment Team Tel: 01522 782070 Minicom: 01522 552055 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countryside

The walk1 At the Pagoda and bridge over 3 Turn right along North Street. the River Bain, follow Watermill Cross Conging Street and Road alongside the river. This continue past The Admiral area is the north basin of the Rodney Hotel and Old Nicks canal. Tavern, formerly the New Inn, to the junction of North Street and Stevenson’s Watermill can be seen straight High Street, the area known as ahead and the outline of the mill wheel can the Bull Ring. still be seen on the west wall. The basin was also used by the Horncastle Baptists in the This was the terminus for early 19th century for baptisms. passenger and Royal Mail coaches. Two old posting Inns can still be seen,2 Turn right into Dovecote Alley, the 17th century Red Lion and the older just after Mill View 16th century Bull Hotel. Sir Joseph Banks Court, to emerge convened many meetings at the Bull Hotel and on North Street. organised annual fundraising balls in The Assembly Rooms on behalf of The Dispensary. Look out for the Court House and Angel Inn on 4 Turn right onto the High Street your left, and the War and walk to the Market Place. Memorial Hospital building over the road. The Hospital building was the town’s second dispensary and has a plaque above the entrance in memory of Edward Harrison MD, Sir Joseph Banks and Sir Henry Dymoke. Admire the diverse architecture along the High Street. The building on the right just before the Market Place has two blue plaques on its wall. One celebrates the installation of the town clock in 1889 and the second shows the property was once the town house of Sir Joseph Banks (1743- 1820), botanist and president of the Royal Society.

The walk Enter the Market Place. Look out for the stone mooring post close to HaresThe Gothic-style Stanhope Memorial Warehouse. Built in 1865 thestands in the middle of the Market warehouse was used to store corn.Place and was erected in 1894 andcommemorates the Lord of the Manor, MP for 6 Continue along Bridge StreetHorncastle and local benefactor Edward and turn left as it becomes WestStanhope, who cleared the Market Place of its Street.old buildings in 1890 to improve the market. The buildings here are a mix of late Georgian There are a number of fine and Victorian and it is worth looking above the buildings along West Street. shop frontages to appreciate them. In Look out for the Fighting Cocks; particular look out for the former George Inn, The Crown Inn; the home and with the archway, where coaches from Lincoln, asylum of physcian Edward Harrison, at Boston and Louth stopped. It is said that the number 30 and Watson’s Infant School author George Borrow stayed here and wrote (1786-1918). Admire the stone sculpture at of his experiences at the horse fair in ‘Romany the end of West Street, erected as a tribute Rye’. Also look out for the Italian-style curved to Sir Joseph Banks. facade of the ‘Punch House’, which was built on the site of the 17th 7 At the traffic lights cross the century vicarage and attached A158, Lincoln Road, with care dram house. and continue straight ahead along West Street.5 Continue to walk in the same direction and The last building on the left was The Great cross the Market Place and follow Northern Hotel, built at the same time as the the road to the right, Bridge railway. On the right is the site of the old Street. Cross the River Bain. railway station.

The walk8 Keep left past the houses and 11 At the old Weslyan School then follow the footpath to the turn left, and cross the river and banks of the River Bain and a road, and continue into St footbridge. Mary’s Square.9 Turn left over the bridge. Above the gate at the first cottage on the right is a stone inscribed WM 1877. This apparently refers to William Marwood, the Crown Executioner although there is no evidence to suggest he lived there. Once in the church yard there are two cottages on the right, both with blue plaques. Both date from the 18th century and were the first Lincolnshire dispensary, started by Sir Joseph Banks in 1789, and the first Horncastle Workhouse. The bridge crosses the Horncastle Canal. The St Mary’s Church dates from the 13th century canal was completed in 1802 at a cost of and is built from local green sandstone. It was £45,000, nearly four times the original restored between 1859 and 1861. It is worth estimate. It links Horncastle to Tattershall looking inside to see the memorials and the and is 11 miles (171/2 km) in length. The famous scythes, reputedly from the Civil War. main cargo was coal, lime and farm produce. On the left is the National School, started by Sir The decline of the canal started with the Joseph Banks on land that he owned and built arrival of the railway in Horncastle in 1854. with over 20 trees from his estate at Revesby During the severe winter of 1855 the canal Abbey. froze and the railway started delivering coal. Although struggling financially, the canal Keep to the left hand path to stayed open until 1889. emerge on Manor House Street.10 Follow the footpath left onto Coronation Walk. A board provides more information on the history of the canal. Continue along Coronation Walk alongside the River Waring and a row of lime trees.

the walk12 Turn left along the front of the Follow the road as it bends left school. View the Manor House and becomes Wharf Road with and its plaque then continue to the River Waring on the right. the entrance of Banovallum House. The busy wharf and south basin of the canal was located on this stretch of the River At the end of the school there is a short Waring. section of Roman wall visible. In total the The town’s position between two rivers means wall enclosed approximately 5 acres of land. it has always been susceptible to flooding. It The 18th century Banovallum House is now suffered a number of serious floods in 1899, the headquarters of the Lincolnshire Wildlife 1912, 1920 and 1960. The level of the 1960 Trust, but was built on part of Sir Joseph flood is marked on the last building along Banks estate. (There is a circular walk around Wharf Road opposite The Ship. the grounds should you wish to explore.) 14 Turn left along the far side of Turn around and return to the the library. Look through the church. Turn left to walk in window to see part of the front of the church and emerge Roman Wall inside. Continue on Church Lane. into Lindsey Court, where William Marwood perfected his13 Turn right. “long drop”. Walk through the alley known as Tinkers Entry to Look out for the small building on the left emerge onto the High Street marked with a blue plaque. This was the and the Market Place. workshop of the cobbler and Crown Executioner William Marwood. Between Cross the road and walk down 1872 and 1883 he dispatched 178 prisoners St Lawrence Street at the side across the United Kingdom. of the Post Office to return to He introduced the “long drop”, and his the starting point. likeness appeared in the Chambers of Horrors in Madam Tussauds.The building at the end of the road on the St Lawrence Street, or Pudding Lane as it wasright is the old Free Grammar School, built in formely known, was once a busy area of the1778, and was in use until 1908 when the town and home to a variety of industries andschool moved to its current site on West trades including a tannery, saddler, basketStreet. The building at the entrance was the maker, and blacksmith to name a few. Theretown’s first fire station! were also many beer houses and brothels.

the map N P 6P (100m) Scale 23 1 78 54 12 15 9 10 13 14 11“Map drawn from aerial photography copyright Lincolnshire County Council and Getmapping PLC.Lincolnshire County Council reproduced from OS mapping with permission of the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (C) Crown Copyright and Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to civil proceedings. OS Licence I00025370”

Walk InformationWalk Location: Horncastle lies 35 km (22miles) east of Lincoln on the A158.Starting point: The bridge over the River Bain atthe junction of Conging Street, St Lawrence Streetand Watermill Road, Horncastle.Grid reference TF 258 697.Parking: Pay and Display car parks are located at the Bain(Tesco) and St Lawrence Street, Horncastle.Public Transport: The Interconnect 6 bus service operatesbetween Lincoln and Skegness and stops in Horncastle. Forfurther information and times call the Traveline on0871 200 2233 or visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/busrailtravel.Walk length: 21/3 km (11/2 miles). At a leisurely pace the walkwill take approximately 1 hour to complete.Type of walk: This level walk uses surfaced town paths. Thebusy A158 road is crossed twice.Ordnance Survey maps for the area: Explorer 273Lincolnshire Wolds South. Landranger 122 Skegness &Horncastle.Refreshments: There is a wide range of shops, cafes and pubsin Horncastle.Public Toilets: St Lawrence Street, Horncastle. This walk and leaflet have been compiled with the assistance of Horncastle Civic Society. First Published Febuary 2006 Revised and reprinted September 2008