South Lincolnshire Towns and Villages

I have included in south Lincolnshire the market town of Bourne and a number of charming villages. Stamford, Spalding, and Crowland are on other pages.

Bourne, Lincolnshire is a market town on the edge of The Fens. Its history is ancient, having been mentioned in the Doomesday Book of 1086 and 1,000 years before that it was a settlement on the Roman Road, King Street.

Copyright Tony Atkin
Geograph British Isles, Creative Commons

Bourne Abbey which today is the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul was built in the 12th Century. It was not a large or wealthy abbey but did have a fish pond, an infirmary, and a cloister. The abbey itself was not disturbed during the dissolution in 1536 but the outer buildings were taken down. (Picture below.)

Copyright Brian Green
Geograph British Isles, Creative Commons

Bourne Wood borders the town and makes for a delightful walk any time of the year. Managed by the Forestry Commission it is a place where you can see wildflowers in bloom, birds, deer, and other mammels. The Bourne Wood car park is off the A151 half a mile west of the town. Here there are toilets, a picnic area, and children's play area. From here you can take a number of trails and surfaced paths. The Sculpture Trail takes you on a two-mile walk where you can see sculptures created by different artists.

Two other structures of note are Red Hall and the New Inn. The Red Hall was built in the early 17th Century. Rooms on the ground floor are used for offices and other rooms are used as meeting rooms for various groups. The house is surrounded by a large lawn and you can walk around it for a close look at the architecture. Local legend has it that the house was involved in the Gun Powder Plot of 1605. While it is true the house was later owned by the Digby family, it was not even built by 1605 and they didn't own it until a century later.

Bourne makes a good central location from which to explore the small villages in south Lincolnshire.

Four miles northwest on the A151 is Grimsthorpe Castle and Grimsthorpe Park. . There is so much to see and do at Grimsthorpe Castle and Park that they have their own pages.

Folkingham has a lot to offer including something special for chocolate lovers and a most unusual place to spend the night.

Witham on the Hill has many old buildings including Palace Farm, the Church of St. Andrew, Witham Hall, and Parish Hall. The most unusual site is the Medieval Stocks. (Picture below.) This is where people were restrained for infractions which were sometimes very minor.

Copyright Brian Green
Geograph British Isles, Creative Commons

Other picturesque villages are:

Irnham
Baston
Swinstead
Market Deeping
Deeping St. James


Tallington Lakes with five spring-fed lakes in south Lincolnshire near Stamford is the place for water sports. Activities include water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, and canoeing. There is a swimming pool, climbing tower, children's playground, tennis court, and restaurant.

Copyright Rodney Burton
Geograph British Isles, Creative Commons

There are many other villages in south Lincolnshire and I will be adding them as time allows.

Return to Lincolnshire Guide from South Lincolnshire