< Previous30 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBRIGGThe history of Brigg is the history oftrade. The charming village situated onthe edge of the Ancholme Valley sprungup in 1205 as a connection of commercewhere sellers would come from afar toflog their wares and barter. It’s a traditionthat continues to this day with regularweekly markets every Thursday andSaturday. But it’s the monthly farmersmarket that draws in the biggest crowds. Starting life back in 2000, the farmersmarket takes place on the fourthSaturday of the month and boasts localarts, crafts and local produce includingmeat, cheese and honey. It’s by far andaway the town’s biggest marketstretching down the high street and rightacross the Market Place. Many stalls are selling an assortment ofartworks, from wooden carvings anddecorative bottles, to printed pieces andsculptures. Art is part and parcel of livingin Brigg, and with the river Ancholmerolling by and the vast open green space,it is a constant source of inspiration forlocal creatives, be that painters or poets. Plugged into the heart of this vibrantarts community is The Steel Rooms.Despite only being opened in 2012, theestablishment has become an importantpart of the town, with its art gallery,coffee shop and regular creative eventsletting everyone from little ones toseasoned pros explore their talents. Live,Love & Create, on the other hand, issituated in a grade II listed building andcelebrates, promotes and encouragesgreater participation in arts and crafts. The people of Brigg are big readers, asevidenced by the variety of bookshops.As well as the well-stocked and curatedOxfam bookshop, there’s also a regularThe very model of a market stall packed with paperbacks.One of the town’s latest additions is TheRabbit Hole, an independent bookshopwhich stocks an assortment of readingmaterials as well as a range of vinylrecords. Having recently moved to largerpremises, it’s clear the shop has beenwelcomed into the community withaplomb. For clothing, Brigg high street is morethan accommodating. As well as theboutiques one would expect from such amarket town, there’s the delightful vintageshop, RELIX, which stocks an impressivearray of quirky, stylish and unusual piecesof jewellery, clothing and collectibles. For those that prefer making their ownclothing and crafts, there’s JaylaursSewing Studio, the one stop sewingshop which has been trading in Brigg forover 30 years. Created from humbleBrigg is a model for the modernmarket town, one which balanceslocal traders, culture and history,with the convenience of well-known chains and amenities. 30-33.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:47 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY31BRIGGbeginnings on a market stall, the shopnow finds itself in its current premises inthe pedestrianised centre of Brigg in aglorious Victorian listed building. It hassympathetically tried to create a shopfrom ‘times gone by’ both externally andinside where every nook and cranny hasbeen filled with a huge array of fabricsand haberdashery for the discerningseamstress, crafter and curtain maker.The beauty of Brigg is in its mix of oldand new, demonstrated by its shops.Here we have vintage stores andindependent boutiques and bookshopsalongside Tesco, Lidl and B&M. This isdown to the formation of The Brigg TownBusiness Partnership back in 2011 whichaimed to support local traders. It’sbacked by the Campaign for theProtection of Rural England’s national‘Shop Local’ promotion – the partnershipaimed at reinvigorating the localeconomy while safeguarding jobs andbringing shoppers the very best in localfood and produce. Though there are a number of chainsin and around the town, history andheritage retain their importance. Thename Brigg is derived from the OldNorse ‘bryggja’ simply meaning jetty, butin this instance refers to ‘a bridge’. Aswell as providing access to theAncholme, the land on which Briggstands is thought to have been used as acrossing point for thousands of years. Ajetty or causeway was erected on theriverside during the late Bronze Age andthough its exact purpose remainsunknown, it does indicate the sheerimportance of the location. The area become known as ‘Glanford’during the Anglo-Saxon era before it wasfounded as a new town at the crossingplace of the Ancholme and dubbedGlanford Brigg around 1182/3, before theGlanford prefix was dropped altogether.It might have started as a small fishinghamlet, but improvements and theextension of the Ancholme bolstered thearea’s trade, commerce and population. To see some of the history first hand,look no further than the impressive BriggHeritage Centre, situated on the firstfloor of the former Georgian coachinginn – The Angel Complex. This stunningbuilding boasts a golden angel on itsimpeccably kept façade. Inside, theHeritage Centre tells the story of thetown’s history, going from its Iron Ageroots, through to Roman and medievalperiods and even to more recent history modern market town33 Á30-33.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:47 Page 2www.jobearnshaw.co.ukNorth Lincolnshire Centre Brigg 01652 65316532 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYDublcheckCleaning––Established 1993 ––For a free no obligation quote call:Graham Hunt 07817 288369graham.hunt@dublcheck.co.ukPremium Commercial cleaning servicewithout a premium price15 Bigby Street, Brigg, North Lincs DN20 8EJTel: 01652 650 520Comforts Avenue, Scunthorpe, North Lincs DN15 6PNTel: 01724 280 082J. Naylor Funeral DirectorsIndependent Funeral Directorswww.jnalor-funerals.co.ukWe have experienced staff to personallyhelp you with your individual needs.Planning for the future?We can help you arrange a funeral now orhelp if you are planning for the future.Member of National Associationof Funeral Directors• Clothing Alterations & Repairs • Fitting Room & Express Service• Fabrics, Haberdashery, Patterns • Crafts Fabrics & Fat Quarters• Soft Furnishing ServiceMonthly programme of workshops in Patchwork, Embroidery,Felting, Free Machine Embroidery, Overlocking, Crochet & SewingYOUR ONE STOP SEWING SHOPTel: 01652 650047 Email: info@jaylaurs.co.uk54 Wrawby Street, Brigg DN20 8JEThe China Royal Chinese Restaurant6 Bridge Street, Brigg DN20 8LNTel: 01652 650688 Takeaway Service 01652 654762www.chinaroyal.co.ukThe intimate, warmsurroundings of the ChinaRoyal are ideal for the mostromantic dinner or thelargest banquet. Serving thebest in Chinese cuisine, it hasfive star scores on the doors,and is open throughout allBank Holidays.Deliciously Deliciously LincolnshireGoldAwarded for outstanding quality and service byLincolnshireTodayawardWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NETOpen May Bank Holidays30-33.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:47 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY33BRIGGFOR THAT OLD FASHIONEDPERSONAL SERVICECome visit our showroom at Princes Street, Brigg, DN20 8HGTel: (01652) 651828 Email: briggbeds@hotmail.co.ukwww.briggbeds.co.uksuch as the World Wars. The jewel in the crown is the BronzeAge sewn plank boat – or ‘The Brigg Raft’ as it’s affectionatelyknown – which is one of only two such finds on display in thecountry. It was originally excavated in 1974 where it waspreserved and stored in London. But it has been returned tothe town, where it has been proudly displayed since 2013. The Angel Complex is also home to one of the town’s moststriking coffee shops, no easy feat when you consider thecompetition. It also houses a Bike Hub to encourage morecycling among locals and entice others to use the expandingcycle path alongside the Ancholme – a picturesque routewhere riders can take in the diverse wildlife both above andbelow the water. Brigg retains its link to the past with its yearly fairs, being theSummer Fest in June, the Horse Fair in August and a ChristmasFair which takes place at the end of November. While the HorseFair doesn’t quite live up to the grandeur of its glory days, thetradition is kept alive with the equestrian activity taking place onthe 5th August of every year. Folk music fans might note thedate as being the opening line of ‘Brigg Fair’, a song bestknown as a choral arrangement by Percy Grainger. On top ofthese events are more specialist gatherings such as the NorthLincolnshire Music and Drama Festival in March, a beer festivalin May and the Briggstock Acoustic Music Festival in earlySeptember. Brigg Live Arts also holds a bi-yearly cultural festivaland art exhibition in the town. They say the story of any town or village can be found in itspubs and, if that’s the case, then Brigg’s history becomesabundantly clear. After all, it’s said to have the greatest numberof pubs in such a concentrated location. There’s a plethora ofpubs to pick from, such as the Woolpack Inn and Lord Nelson inthe Market Place; the Exchange Hotel and the Dying Gladiatoron Bigby Street - which is the only pub of its name in thecountry - and the Nelthorpe Arms, White Hart and theYarborough Hunt on Bridge Street which scooped CAMRA’s ‘pubof the season’ award back in 2014. It might sound like a lot, butappreciating all that art, culture and history is thirsty work. But it’s not all arts, crafts and food markets. Known as theZebras for their black and white striped home kit, Brigg TownFootball Club dates back to 1863. The team is also alleged tobe the oldest association football club in Lincolnshire, as wellas being among the oldest surviving clubs in the world. Butthe jury’s still out on that one. Suffice it to say, the locals arefiercely loyal to their team. The Ancholme Rowing Club, onthe other hand, can prove their roots go back to 1868 andstill enjoy regularly rowing up the river. Brigg remains a jewel in the county’s crown and if youhaven’t visited yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. TEL: (01652) 651 828BRIGG BEDS10% OFFVOUCHER**OFFER TO BE USED ONLY ONCE PER CUSTOMERSUBJECT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS30-33.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:47 Page 434 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYAs the only blue butterfly to be regularly seenfluttering among our gardens, parks and city centres, theHolly Blue enjoys a special place in the pantheon ofBritish wildlife. Numbers of the butterfly, however, havedwindled for years. Fortunately, 2015 saw a renaissance,with the Butterfly Conservation’s Big ButterflyCount reporting a 151 per cent rise in2015 on the previous years. Sincethen, you might have seen moreHolly Blues when gardening oreven enjoying a strollthrough one of the county’smany market towns orpark attractions. Being a beautiful azureshade, the Holly Blue isamong the most easilyidentifiable butterflies.Their pale blue underside,dotted in small black spots,tells them apart from theCommon Blue. Females can bespotted by the black edges aroundthe wings. Holly Blues will be abundant from earlyspring, being as it emerges well before other bluebutterflies – much to the delight of wildlifephotographers across the county. It will be active fromMarch through to May, meaning now is the perfect timeto get out in your garden or local park and see them forWith its areas of natural beauty, Lincolnshire is a veritablehaven for butterflies. Here we take a look at one of the mostmajestic – the Holly Blue. Lincolnshirewildlifeyourselves. Should you miss them this time, fear not, asthey’ll be active again in late summer. For the bestchance, keep an eye out on holly bushes, where itcongregates in spring or, later, ivy which it’s fond of insummer. Despite its once southerly presence, thebutterfly has flown further north,colonising parts of the Midlands andnorthern England. Despite beingwidespread, numbers of HollyBlues can fluctuate year onyear, so if 2018 proves tobe a quiet year on thebutterfly front, perhapstry again next year. Thereason for thesefluctuations is due in partto climate, but also to theparasitic wasp Listrodomusnycthemerus, which kills anumber of caterpillars. Although Holly Blue caterpillarsenjoy eating the aforementionedholly and ivy, adults are partial to drinkingoozing sap, aphid honeydew and carrion juices.Quite the banquet that. There are few sights as emblematic of British wildlife asbutterfly with its bejewelled wings. Keep your eyes openthis May to catch a glimpse of one of the country’s mostbeautiful specimens. © Shutterstock / thatmacroguy 34-35.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:24 Page 1© Shutterstock / Marek Mierzejewski 34-35.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 09:24 Page 236 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONAs we inch closer to summer,it’s time to break out thedresses, shorts and skirts.funinthesun36-45.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 10:04 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY37IchiThis beautiful floral patterned dress fromIchi bares your shoulders and arms tothe sun, and the flowing fit means it’sperfect for the beach. Photo courtesy of DK Company - ICHI36-45.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 10:04 Page 238 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONAbove left: GantFor its spring/summer line, Gant are favouring simplicity and its clearly paying off. Pairing white with pastel blueconjures the airiness of spring, while the bared skin and straw hat means the sun is on its way. Above middle: Marc CainEver on the cutting edge of taste and style, Marc Cain has unveiled this breathtaking outfit for its latest range. Thestripped patter is on trend, while the light and airy materials mean this is a winner from spring and summer. Above right: MasaiThere are few other outfits this season half as comfortable as this one from Masai. Fortunately, it’s super stylish, so yourwardrobe will thank you. Opposite: LauRie Even in simplicity, LauRie is leading the rest of the pack. These fitted pale white jeans and ruffled v-neck look divine intheir own right, but imagine what a few accessories could do. 36-45.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 10:04 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY39FASHION36-45.qxp_Layout 1 18/04/2018 10:04 Page 4Next >