< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS T here are no hard and fast rules when it comes to popping that all important question. The only real advice would be to follow your instinct and make it memorable. One would-be groom might think proposing during a walk through the winter woods is perfect, while another might think that going down on one knee after a romantic meal is the way to go. Or break with tradition entirely and have the woman propose. In any case, there’s no shortage of inspiration to be found across our county with stunning views, venues, restaurants and sights to get stuck into. And after the big day, there’s plenty of exciting housing developments and handy schemes to help buy your own place and begin a new life together. It’s no secret that Lincolnshire is a wonderful place to live with its beautiful scenery and charming towns, villages and cities. No wonder people are so keen to set down roots in the area, with homemakers moving in from outside of the county, and yellowbellies themselves moving into bigger and better homes all the time. With so much open space, there’s plenty of room for new housing developments that can provide two-,three-, four- bedroom or more houses with modern amenities whilst also still enjoying the scenery. At present, there’s a whole host of exciting developments taking place right across the county, many of the very best featured in this month’s issue. So if you’re a prospective home buyer, looking for a first time home, that forever home, or looking for a new beginning, be sure and check out all of those developments. Of course, not every first-time buyer has the means or funds at hand to buy a new house outright. That’s where the government’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme comes in. First announced in the March 2013 Budget, the scheme is designed to help anyone struggling to save a deposit for their first home or move up the property ladder. Thousands of Finding a fresh start 62 Á It’s a brand-new year bringing with it a new beginning for any area of your life you’re looking to improve, develop or expand. Perhaps you’re looking to propose to your partner, buy a new car or house, or make an effort to get involved with cultural events in venues across the region. There’s no time like the present. 60-63.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:33 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 61 NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS © Shutterstock /Monkey Business Images 60-63.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:34 Page 2Please contact us if you have an enquiry or would like a quote: Tel: 01522 528708 enquiries@pyewipe.co.uk www.pyewipe.co.uk The Pyewipe, Saxilby Road, Lincoln LN1 2BG Welcome to the Pyewipe, set alongside the picturesque Roman Fossedyke Canal The Pyewipe was first licensed in 1788 trading on the Fossedyke as a Barging Inn. Today with its canal side setting, acres of mature trees, Big Hat Tipis, 21 en-suite rooms including a four poster bridal suite included in your package, and ample free car parking, makes the ideal setting for your big day. Not to mention you have the option to arrive in style on a boat if you so desire; an ideal stage to create memories that will last forever. Here at the Pyewipe we are the first location in the UK to be offering the Big Hat Wedding with an all inclusive package, from Tipi hire, to the food and beverage all in once place bought together to create a special once in a lifetime atmosphere set amongst the spectacular background of the Fossedyke Canal. With offering the Tipis and Catering all in one package you can have that special day within a budget making your dream wedding a reality without the usual exaggerated costs associated with outside catering. To make the most of your wedding with us why not book an appointment with one of our advisors to discuss the details of your big day. The Pyewipe Tipi Hire! If you said yes! Get in touch with us to see what we can offer. 60-63.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:34 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 63 NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS buyers can attest to the success of this scheme and cite how much easier and attainable buying a house became. What we get up to in those homes is another matter entirely. Too many of us spend our nights staring at the TV or into our phones, mindlessly scrolling through a social media feed, but there’s so much more to life than this. Use the excuse of the New Year to get your life in gear and embrace new things. There’s no shortage of excellent venues across the county, from arts centres, museums, galleries, theatres, restaurants, bars, hotels and more. If you don’t know where to start, why not just take a plunge? Our What’s On pages feature a broad section of events taking place in the county with family entertainment right through to those aimed at older folks. It doesn’t even need to cost you anything, as there’s plenty of walks, events and exhibitions that are completely free of charge to attend. Whatever you wants, needs or interests, make 2020 a new beginning. © Shutterstock /Artem Tryhub © Shutterstock /Rawpixel.com 60-63.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:34 Page 464 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY G enerally speaking, the major canals in Lincolnshire were, apart from the ill-fated Caistor canal, economic successes. This is true of the Horncastle canal which had a profitable life of over fifty years. Plans to construct a canal from the River Witham to Horncastle were helped by the support of Sir Joseph Banks, a man of considerable influence both locally and nationally. In the mid 1700’s Horncastle was still a small market town that was unable to expand its trade beyond a few local, surrounding villages due to poor roads and lack of transport facilities other than packhorses or stage coaches; and this at a time when improved agricultural methods were producing a surplus that local farmers could “export”. In 1791, Sir Joseph gained enough support from local businessmen to consider building a canal from the town to the River Witham. By March 1792 a bill was put to Parliament which was passed on 11th June the same year, empowering the formation of a Canal Company to raise £15,000 capital. Three days later the first company meeting took place at The Bull Hotel in Horncastle. Construction work began in April 1793 at the Witham end making use of the Tattershall Canal, a one-mile waterway built in 1786 and known as the “Gibson Cut” after its builder John Gibson. (Parts of this survive near the housing estate to the southwest of the village and the castle.) At Tattershall the canal met the River Bain and turned towards Horncastle. Its route was achieved mostly by “canalising” the rivers course with some new cuts, notably between Tumby and Kirkby-on-Bain and (eventually) immediately to the south of Horncastle. However by the time work had reached Dalderby in 1797 the money, including an extra £10,000, had run out and the wharf there became the terminus until – after another Act of Parliament and a further £20,000 investment – the canal was completed to Horncastle in 1802, when on 17th September the town enjoyed a public holiday in celebration. The first boats arrived that same afternoon. Shareholders had a banquet and the navvy’s free beer. The final length of the canal was 11 miles with a fall (or rise depending upon direction of travel) of 84 feet. In Horncastle it divided into two channels leading to the north and south basins in Bridge Street and Wharf Road respectively. There were twelve locks of just over 70 feet in length and 15 feet wide admitting boats of 14 feet 6 inches beam and capable of carrying 50 tons of THE HORNCASTLE CANAL We’re looking at Lincolnshire’s waterways again this month to discover the story of the historic Horncastle canal. heritage Lincolnshire explored 64-65.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:38 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 65 cargo. Tolls were collected at the canal/Witham junction and initially at Dalderby until the final section to Horncastle was complete in 1802; then at Horncastle. As had been the intention all along trading routes now opened up via Lincoln, the Fossdyke and the River Trent to the industrial midlands and Yorkshire, as well as down the Witham to Boston. By 1826, steam packet boats, previously restricted to the Witham since their inception in 1814, were working the canal at a toll of two shillings. Now passengers, instead having an overland journey to the Witham before catching a packet could travel from their “doorstep”, though it took a full day to reach either Boston or Lincoln with usually two or three days wait before a return boat was available. The impact on Horncastle was almost immediate. The arrival of the canal brought a new prosperity and quickly changed Horncastle from what was virtually a village into a market town where the population by 1851 had more than doubled. What had formerly been small numbers of various merchant and ancillary businesses (e.g. wool and corn) increased too whilst some entirely new commodities such as coal were now traded. Boat building also became established along with (perhaps inevitably) some new inns. The Great Northern Railway’s line beside the Witham between Boston and Lincoln, built in 1848, some 53 years after the canal had opened, initially caused little concern but the construction of a branch line into Horncastle in 1855 was a different matter. (It ran within a stone’s throw of the canal for the last few miles!) Hitherto still quite profitable canal trade now began to suffer with passenger revenue being hit first. (J.N. Clarke records the coincidence of 1855 being a very bad winter with the canal frozen for weeks so that the railway was fortuitously able to seize most of the coal trade.) Nevertheless, the Horncastle canal survived for a number of years. There is known to have still been some regular traffic up to 1886 but profits were dwindling and the increasing costs of necessary repairs were becoming more and more difficult for the canal company to finance. It was finally wound up in September 1889 when operations along its full length ceased with only the lower part between Coningsby and the Witham remaining open for a few more years. Today what’s left of the canal is not navigable, but for walkers several sections remain accessible and provide some delightful waterside walks. The best access points and walks are as follows. (See OS Explorer maps sheets 261 and 273.) From near Tattershall castle for almost two miles to Wharf Lane just north of Coningsby. From Kirkby-on-Bain almost to Roughton. And from near Martin Bridge (on the Spa Trail) all the rest of the way into Horncastle. A public footpath also crosses the canal at Dalderby. The above includes part of the Viking Way about which I have already written about in Lincolnshire Today. For anyone who is interested, an extremely detailed history I can recommend is J. N. Clarke’s The Horncastle and Tattershall Canal; Oakwood Press [1990] to which I am greatly indebted. by Hugh Marrows 64-65.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:38 Page 266 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING See 2020 in with a new car If you’re thinking about a new car for 2020, check out what we’ve been driving since the last issue. 66-69.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:40 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 67 COUNTY MOTORING Corolla hatchback, but with a larger boot grafted on. The new Corolla - in whichever shape you go for - is a handsome, chiselled vehicle, though. Inside and out, the Japanese motor is every bit a model you’d be happy to take to a business meeting. Inside, there's room for five, and luggage-wise, you’ll get a lot into this estate car. It’s not the biggest of its type, but the 2.0-litre hybrid, on test here, boasts 581-litres of load space. Of course, if you fold the rear seats, the Corolla turns into the perfect load-carrying workhorse. The Touring Sports is not just a practical set of wheels, though. The £30,345 flagship 'Excel’ version lent to us will hit 62mph in 8.1 seconds. And because a petrol and electric mix propel it, the car is frugal, managing between 50- 60mpg. Co2 emissions are low at 89g/km – making this perfect company car material. Fast Facts (Toyota Corolla Excel 2.0 Hybrid Touring Sports - as tested) · Max speed: 112 · 0-62 mph: 8.1 seconds · Combined mpg: 50.43 – 60.62 · Engine: 1987cc 4-cylinder petrol/electric hybrid · Max. power (ps): 180 · CO2: 89 g/km · Price: £30,345 Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 66-69.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:40 Page 268 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING The all-new Kia XCeed is a new urban crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that combines compact SUV practicality with the packaging and engaging handling of a hatchback. A sporty, business-like alternative to traditional SUVs, the new CUV offers comparable levels of space for occupants and luggage. The XCeed, as driven here in 1.0 T-GDi ‘2’ guise, Kia XCeed Fast Facts (Kia XCeed 1.0 T-GDi ‘2’ - as tested) · Max speed: 115 · 0-62 mph: 10.9 seconds · Combined mpg: 45.6 · Engine: 998cc 3-cylinder turbo petrol · Max. power (ps): 120 · CO2: 124 g/km · Price: £21,045 Tel: 01472 812130 www.lincsvwa.com Unit 3, Woodside Park, Station Road, Tetney, Grimsby. DN36 5HX Find An Experienced Motor Mechanic In Tetney, Near Grimsby n Servicing n MOTs n Repairs n Brakes & Tyres n Engine diagnostics n Car Batteries n Exhausts n ECU Remapping n Air Conditioning Testing/repairs/Re Gas VW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA SPECIALIST engages with its agile handling and a comfortable, assured ride. It also provides a more commanding view of the road ahead than a “vanilla” hatchback. The fresh model’s suite of advanced safety, connectivity and infotainment features make it one of the most high-tech cars in the CUV class. Powered by a range of fast-revving, turbocharged engines, like the one in this version, it’s also a very efficient vehicle. 66-69.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:40 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 69 COUNTY MOTORING In R-Design trim, Volvo’s XC40 is a car that has an athletic edge – but it’s the interior that gives it the advantage. Suede-effect materials and a perfectly screwed together cabin make the Swede a delightful place to spend time. The SUV will seat four adults comfortably - and five at a push. The boot is large enough for everyone's luggage, and things like the powerful sound system make every journey a pleasure. What's more, should a bad thing happen, like an accident, you’re in one of the safest smaller SUVs money can buy. The drive can be dynamic as well as relaxed, and the Volvo, as tested here in ‘D4' diesel guise, seems to have a tank that keeps on giving. If you want economy – then this is a car to consider. Volvo has a ‘premium’ image more than ever these days – and justifiably so. There’s no vacuous marketing spin around this brand – it really does deliver on all fronts – from quality to ride comfort, and from safety to looks. Fast Facts (XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro Automatic - as tested) · Max speed: 130 · 0-62 mph: 7.9 seconds · Combined MPG: 56.5 · Engine layout: 1969cc 4-cylinder diesel turbo · Max. power (PS): 190 · CO2: 133 g/km · Price: £38,635 Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro Automatic 66-69.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/2019 10:40 Page 4Next >