Gourt Home::Gourt :: Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town in Lincolnshire, England. The West Lindsey Council headquarters are based in Gainsborough.
The town's main attractions are Gainsborough Old Hall, Gainsborough Castle and West Lindsey Leisure Centre.
History
One of the best preserved manor houses in Britain, Gainsborough Old Hall is a large 15th century timber-framed medieval strong house. Sir Thomas Burgh built it between 1460 and 1480. It boasts a magnificent Great Hall and strong brick tower. King Richard III in 1483 and King Henry VIII in 1541 both stayed at the Old Hall.
The River Trent runs right alongside Gainsborough, and recently the river banks have been renovated to provide residents and tourist with access to the riverside and a sitting area to enjoy the view. The main church is All Saints.
Historically, Gainsborough is the 'capital that never was.' King Cnut allegedly performed his unsuccessful attempt to turn the tide back in the River Trent at Gainsborough, but nevertheless, the town was a capital city of Mercia during the Dark Ages.
The town was garrisoned for the king in January 1643 but the royalist fortification of Newark had blocked the Great North Road to Parliamentarian traffic so Gainsborough became significant as part of a route around Newark by way of Lincoln and the line of the modern A15 road. It was in the Royalists' interests to obstruct this but holding Gainsborough also allowed them to forage in Lindsey and to harass Parliamentarians there. During 1643, this competition gave rise to the battles of Gainsborough and Winceby.
Industry
Gainsborough has a long-standing history with industry. The town was the manufacturing base of Marshalls, a major boiler manufacturer. The company occupied Britannia Works, the biggest in Europe when built. The site has now been split among many different companies, Tesco and Dransfield. The remainder of the site is occupied by local companies. Tesco, on Beaumont St, demolished a large section of the Works to create its large store around 5 years ago. Dransfield is in the process of remodeling about 9 acres (36,000 m²) of the site to include a shopping area and a new heritage museum, building work is now underway on the site and the corner of Spring Gardens and the projected finish date is Spring 2007. There is a Morrisons on Heapham Rd South.
Another area of Gainsborough’s industry is Roses. They produced seaside Rock making machines along with packaging machines. These included cigarette making machines and bread-slicing and wrapping machines. The proper name of the firm is Rose Bros., after William German and Walter, the co-founders.
Gainsborough is the home of two of the largest Jokes and Novelties manufacturers in the UK: Smiffy's (also known as Smiths of Gainsborough), and Pam's of Gainsborough, a smaller company. Smiffy's are the only wigmaker manufacturer left in the UK too.
Gainsborough is also famed as Britain’s most inland port and so has a long history with river trade — the town’s Trent bridge prevents most barges from go beyond it and so many have to offload their goods at the town. There is currently one wharf in the town — mainly a source of wood.
Sport and Entertainment
The town is home to Gainsborough Trinity F.C., a semi-professional football club playing at the sixth level of English football. During a brief spell at the start of the 20th Century, the club was professional and a member of The Football League.
Education
The town has one of the top state schools in the country Queen Elizabeth High School (selective from 11-18) on Morton Terrace, whilst the Castle Hills Community Arts College on The Avenue recently achieved the status of performing arts college for the second time. The Middlefield School of Technology is on Middlefield Lane. The town has links with the John Leggott Sixth Form College in Scunthorpe, which enrolls many international students. Gainsborough College focuses on vocational education.
Gainsborough is thought by many scholars to be the basis for the fictional St Ogg's in George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss.
External links
"Gainsborough, Lincolnshire"