There are plenty of places to visit in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The town is situated on the River Welland and has a population of 31,588 according to the 2011 census. It is the administrative centre of the South Holland District and is a market town. You can find many things to do in the town, including visiting the Grade I-listed parish church or the Romanichal Traveller Museum.
Museum of Romanichal Travellers
If you love historical museums, Spalding is a great place to visit. The Museum of Romanichal Travellers has a fascinating collection of Romany artifacts. Founded by Gordon Boswell, the museum’s founder was a Romany. His father wrote a famous autobiography titled “The Book of Boswell”. The museum’s founder spent his last decades collecting Romany artifacts. Now, his widow is curating his collection.
The museum is home to the largest collection of Romany vardos in the UK. Visitors can explore the vardos and watch a slide show about the Romany life. Gordon Boswell and his wife spent fifteen years building the museum.
The museum opened in 1995. Boswell was a Romany and proud of his heritage. He spoke about the Appleby Horse Fair by horse and wagon, which inspired him to establish the museum. Boswell’s wife, Margaret, is now continuing his legacy.
Ornamental Lake pumping station
If you’re looking for a great place to picnic and spend the day, consider visiting Ornamental Lake in Spalding. It features a Grade I-listed war memorial and a cafe. There’s even duck feed and birdfeed for sale. And, you can visit the Ornamental Lake pumping station, built in 1833. It operated for 180 days a year, pumping more than three million imperial tons of water.
Grade I-listed parish church
If you’re looking for a stunning Grade I-listed parish church in Lincolnshire, then Spalding may be the place for you. Built in 1284, this church features Perpendicular Gothic architecture. It is open to the public on Thursdays and Sundays, and has guided tours of the mill tower. You can also buy stone-milled flour and rolled oats from a shop in the old granary.
The church is also home to the Archbishop Spalding Catholic School, founded by the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1963. Initially staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the school has served the local Catholic community for over 50 years.
The Gothic-style architecture of the interior is also impressive. The nave features a hammerbeam roof and clerestory windows. Sir George Gilbert Scott restored the roof in the 1860s. The intricate chancel screen dates from the 15th century. To the north of Spalding is the village of Surfleet, which has a church tower with a two-metre lean.
The Grade I-listed Cowbit parish church in Lincolnshire is dedicated to St Mary. It was built in the 14th century by the Prior de Moulton of Spalding and added by Bishop Russell of Lincoln. It was restored in 1882. It is also home to a Grade II listed early 19th century mill.
A Grade I-listed parish church in Spaldining is another important landmark in the town. A Grade I-listed war memorial is also located in this city. There are also many other Grade I-listed buildings to explore in the town. At the Ornamental Lake, you can purchase bird and duck feed. You’ll also find the former Victorian blacksmith’s workshop, which was used to service the river’s boats.
