In Boston you can see medieval buildings, a working windmill,
or take a boat trip to The Wash. The town is not mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1086 but there were other small settlements near by at that time. It was once a major port. At the beginning of the 13th century it rivalled the port of London for trade with the continent.
It is still an active port today. The River Haven is a tidal river which provides access for shipping to The Wash and out into the North Sea. The docks are located to the east of the town where there are facilities for handling cargo and containers.
Everywhere you go you see references to the pilgrims. The pilgrims who eventually sailed for the new world came to Boston with the idea of sailing to Amsterdam. They were unable to obtain the required papers to leave England so they bribed their way aboard a ship.
After boarding they were all arrested and thrown in jail where they were all held for a month. Seven of them were held much longer than that.The cells where they were held are on the ground floor of the Guild Hall. The room where they were tried by the magistrates is also in this building.
The Guild Hall, dating from 1450, has been closed for refurbishment but is scheduled to reopen in June 2007. There is also an American Room which was opened by U. S. Ambassador, Joseph Kennedy, in 1938.They eventually did make their way to Amsterdam and settled in Leidon for a time then returning to England before sailing for America.
There are other historic buildings such as the 700-year-old
St. Botolph's Church
and the Blackfriar's Art Center. You can see a working windmill in action at the
Maude Foster Mill
and climb to the top for a fantastic view of the the town. Two markets are held every week plus a farmer's market once a month. If you are a golfer, there is the Golf Club with its championship course. Or you can take a boat trip from the marina to The Wash and see nature and wildlife.