< Previous80 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWEDDINGS© Shutterstock / Natalia Kabliuk80-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:26 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY81WEDDINGSAn unforgettableexperienceWeddings may be as old as time itself, butthat doesn’t mean new and modern ideasaren’t influencing this classic tradition.It’s said that even if they aren’t gettingmarried themselves, a person is likely toknow someone who is. It’s a traditionthousands of years old, which has spreadacross the world. Lincolnshire is nodifferent, but what does make our regionunique is the wide array of venues andoptions when it comes to a beautifulwedding. Lincolnshire as a destination haslong been popular with tourists andtravellers, but many are those who comefrom busy cities and towns to have acountryside wedding in any of a widerange of beautiful traditional and heritagebuildings. While much has stayed the same whenit comes to weddings, there havecertainly been changes in recent years asto the level of formality. For generations,the vast majority of weddings werecarried out in a traditional and formalfashion – you’d get hitched quite early onin your relationship as it was the donething to do, the couple would still live intheir family homes before the ceremony.Of course, this traditional approach isstill followed today and for many the ideaof anything other than a church weddingwould be out of the question. Butincreasingly these days people are gettingmarried later in life – or indeed more thanonce – and that means they generallyhave more money to spend on the bigday. In addition, it’s highly likely that acouple have lived together for severalmonths, or even years, before the big dayand could be already be completelyinseparable. The actual formalities of themarriage ceremony itself therefore takeon decreased importance, with the daynow serving as a celebration of therelationship.More and more, the event is becominga personal celebration of the couple at itsheart – which feels like a good move. Weddings a little more out of theordinary have become popular, most ofthese tailored towards the specific82 Á80-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:27 Page 282 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWEDDINGShobbies, joys and dreams of those gettingmarried. While the ubiquitous Star Warswedding may seem a little much for mostpeople, it remains a fact that weddingslike it – but also others a little moresedate –occur across Lincolnshireregularly. Across Lincolnshire, the topvenues offer a blank canvas as the settingfor the special day as you want it.Top venues in Lincolnshire make use oftheir own team of wedding co-ordinatorswho can help make your day work likeclockwork. This doesn’t mean that yourplans will be homogenised and you’llhave to follow the never-changing planswheeled out for every previous couple.The role of the wedding specialists at thevenue is to help turn your dreams intoreality. If you planned any kind of get-together over the festive season you’llknow how there is potential for even themost informal gathering to go awry, sofor something that – fingers crossed –you’ll never do again, you need to makesure it’s alright on the night, and thewedding co-ordinators work as an extrapair of hands to ensure that’s the case.One of the nicest ideas can becelebrating your wedding across aweekend at a beautiful country house.Intimacy can certainly have an appeal – itwill ensure you have plenty of time tospend with your families and friends.Rather than rushing off after thereception, the happy couple can spendtime with their guests. Given that manycouples suggest that one of thedisappointing aspects of their day wastheir inability to speak to everyone, thiscan be particularly popular.The most important people on the bigday are obviously the happy couplethemselves. However, the experience ofthe guests is a major factor if you want tomake sure the guests stick around for allthe proceedings rather than nip off to alocal pub. You want their memories of theday to be the beauty of the bride, not theawful food or embarrassing spectacle theywere coaxed into participating in.Catering therefore plays a major partand, if you’re using a hotel then it’s likelythat’ll be included in the package and it’llbe of the highest standards – anotherthing not to worry about. They’ll have ahost of options to choose from, usuallyeven if you’re thinking of moving awayfrom the traditional wedding breakfastand instead hosting a buffet or justcanapés. If that’s the case, though, makethis explicit on the invites to ensureguests know what to expect – mostwedding guests will assume thetraditional fare will be provided so if onlycanapés are on offer the music could endup being drowned out by rumblingstomachs.Speaking of music, it’s important toremember that while it may be the bigday for the couple, other people are© Shutterstock / Galina Tcivina85 Á80-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:27 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY83ototray by prickverton..co.WEDDINGSA PICTURE PERFECT SETTINGWITH ELEGANT SURROUNDINGSAND NEWLY RESTORED BEAUTIFUL GROUNDSPERFECT FOR 2017 WEDDINGSEXCELLENT ATTENTIONTO EVERY DETAILLICENSED FOR WEDDINGSINCLUDING OUTDOOR CEREMONIESDELICIOUS MENUS & EXCELLENT WINESOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTIONTHE PETWOOD HOTEL HOSTSONLY ONE WEDDING EACH DAY TO ENSUREYOUR BIG DAY IS EXTRA SPECIALFOR FURTHER INFORMATIONCALL 01526 352411OR EMAIL EVENTS@PETWOOD.CO.UKPETWOOD HOTELStixwould Road, Woodhall Spa,Lincolnshire, LN10 6QGwww.petwood.co.ukThe ideal venue for every occasion !!"!#"#$% !!"! & ' ( ) *** +,-+ . %/)++/ ( Licensed for Civil Marriages & PartnershipsLittlecoates Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN34 4LXTel: +44(0)1472 240024 Email: reservations.grimsby@icon-hotels.co.ukwww.thehumberroyalhotel.co.ukRELAX IN STYLE AT THE HUMBER ROYALYour home away from homeThe Humber Royal: modern,contemporary, award-winning and Grimsby’s only4 star hotel. We make it ourmission to ensure all yourneeds are met; whetheryou’re a business executive,a family or having aromantic getaway, we arehere to make your stayperfect.The Brasserie at the HumberRoyal offers an informal yetstylish dining experience withlocal Lincolnshire produceand unrivalled views overthe Grimsby Golf course.We are a also popularwedding venue, offeringgreat flexibility for ourcouples. Our wedding roomscan be changed in size andshape and dressed in anyway you like, truly a blankcanvas to suit any theme orcolour.80-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:27 Page 480-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:27 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY85WEDDINGSHorncastleZ Cake Art Z25 North Street, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 5DX. Telephone: 01507525926Mobile: 07734007765 Email: horncakes@tiscali.co.uk www.horncastlecakeart.co.ukgoing to need entertaining lest thememories of such an occasion turnsour. Discos and bands arecommonplace, but there is anincreasing trend towards the weirdand wacky as well, with comedians,magicians and activities being used.A little laughter can go a long way,and also helps to make a realimpression on guests. Just be carefulthat whatever entertainment is onhand doesn’t outshine orovershadow the bride and groom.If in doubt, consult with a weddingplanner, for they’ll have likely seen– and done – it all numerous timesbefore. A personal recommendation,and one so many people skip outon, is a professional photographer. Weall like to show snaps on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and just aboutanyone can be considered a passablephotographer with a phone – but thereis a very marked difference to be had. Aprofessional will focus on things such ascomposition, theme and pose to createimages that truly capture the spirit ofthe event. Considering all the effort,time and money that will no doubt gointo a wedding, not capturing it in itsfullest seems a crime. Don’t take anychanges, no matter how many followersyour cousin has on his Twitter.When it comes to looking your best,whether it be bride or groom there are© Shutterstock / Netfalls Remy Musser87 Á© Shutterstock / Wedding photography80-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:27 Page 686 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYAt Grange Park our superb Swedish Style venue offers youand your guests something a little different...Whether it's for a small intimate wedding or for 100+ guestsour attention to detail is meticulous. We are now able tooffer your guests accommodation at Grange Park in luxuryPine Lodges.Tel: 01724 762945 Email: info@grangepark.comwww.grangepark.comButterwick Road, Messingham, Scunthorpe DN17 3PPGrangeParkA place for all occasionsMuseumBoston’s beautiful, medieval Guildhall can be the setting for your special day. Have your ceremony in the stunning banqueting hall, used for centuries for celebrations and have your photographs taken in any of our wonderful historic rooms.For more information please contact usticboston@boston.gov.uk www.bostonguildhall.co.ukSouth Street, Boston, PE21 6HT (01205) 365954Boston Guildhall Museum@bostonguildhallSPECIALEDITIONCHOCOLATEAward winning handmade chocolate for everyone to enjoy, including those onspecial diets such as diabetics, coeliacs, vegetarians, vegans and some allergysufferers like nuts and dairy.www.specialeditionchocolate.co.ukTel: 01673 844073lMarriageslCivil PartnershipslNationality Checking ServicelCitizenship CeremonieslNaming & Renewal of Vows CeremonieslCopy Certificates (from 1837 to date)lCivil Funeral, Memorial, Woodland Burial and Interment CeremonieslPre planned Script only Funeral ServiceRegistration &CelebratoryServicesTel: 01522 782244Email: regist@lincolnshire.gov.ukwww.lincolnshire.gov.uk/registrationToday, whether you are on a leisure or a business trip, you willfind the hospitality of our Country Kitchen and Byards LeapLodge, just as warm as it was in the nostalgic times of Bayardand Old Meg. The Lodge has five double rooms, all of whichare en-suite and on the ground floor. Standard features foreach room include, digital flat screen TV, Free Wi-Fi internet,fully stocked mini bar, kettle with tea & coffee makingfacilities, alarm clock radio and hairdryer. Additionally we canprovide accommodation for guests requiring a room withdedicated facilities for the disabled.BYARDS LEAP LODGEEast View, Byards Leap, Cranwell, Sleafordwww.byards-leap-lodge.co.ukTel: 01400 261375 or 07595 760 774The perfect destination80-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:27 Page 7LINCOLNSHIRETODAY87WEDDINGSLincolnshire Jewellers, Engravers & GoldsmithsEstablished 1978Butcher Lane • Louth • Lincolnshire • Tel: 01507 604029 • www.striacroft.co.ukany number of independent boutiqueswith some truly stunning dresses ondisplay. The best advice is to start lookingearly, especially for the bride, as there isnothing worse than feeling like you haveto settle for a dress that doesn’t inspireyou. Take the time to find what is perfectfor you – and make sure the groom anddecorators know if this means a change ofcolour scheme. Men, being somewhatless picky, can – and often do – get awaywith doing their own shopping somewhatlast minute, and this can be for the bestwhen it comes to ensuring no extrapounds gained (or lost) jeopardise theirability to get into their hired wear.On the issue of pounds lost, manybrides and grooms are now looking to geta little advantage come the day and enrolthemselves in training regimes. Some ofthese are even known as `BridalBootcamps` and promise to knock youinto shape for the final day. While a greatidea in themselves, and the benefits ofhealth and fitness cannot be understated,do make sure the positive changes yourbody might go through don’t causeproblems when it comes to fitting backinto that – now several sizes too large –bridal gown. Bridal beauty, especially when it comesto hair, is obviously a big concern.Contrary to how one wants to look on anight out, a more demure look could wellbe the best option for the big day.Weighing down your chief bridesmaidwith piles of product and constantlydisappearing during the day to powderyour nose are obvious side effects,especially when you want a look that willlast from the ceremony in the morning tothe last knockings of the reception.Smokey tones and huge lashes certainlylook dramatic on a night out but unlessyou think you can find time to transformyourself in the middle of the day,something a bit less overwhelming isprobably your best option.In addition, given the time and expenseyou’ve invested into choosing yourwedding dress, you don’t want to detractattention from it with an over-elaboratehairdo or excessively dramatic make-up.You should be aiming to complement thedress and it’s likely that the outfit will playa role in deciding your hair style andmake-up for the event.If you’ve got a strapless dress, then youmay want to pile on the romance and optfor beautiful, tousled, flowing locks. Ofcourse, a few years back this could havemeant a boring and irritating few monthswhile your hair was in that awkward in-between stage and you had to cross yourfingers it would be the right length comethe big day. Nowadays that’s not an issueas high quality hair extensions can addlength. These can add a wonderfulfeminine touch to your look and there area host of options available, includinghuman hair, synthetic and monofibreextensions. Even if you don’t want to alterthe length the extensions offer volumeand give you the chance to try a host ofdifferent styles.Ultimately, it’s a day of celebration forthe bridge and groom, so what worksbest for them will inevitably be thecorrect choice. Getting the planning outof the way early, however, is advice thatwill stand a couple in good stead formaking a truly unforgettable experience.© Shutterstock / katielittle80-87_Layout 1 23/05/2017 08:27 Page 8LincolnshireheritageexploredLincolnshire’s landscape has been greatlyinfluenced by drainage. The Romans made an earlycontribution with their Car Dyke linking the RiversNene and Witham. Large areas of the fens in thesouth and in the northwest around Epworth, weredrained under the supervision of Dutch engineerssuch as Vermuyden. Our rivers too have had theircourses “adjusted” by man; both the Withambetween Lincoln and Boston and the Welland havebeen straightened and others such as the Slea,Bain and Lud have been canalised. Even todayland drainage remains important and iscontinuously managed by various DrainageBoards.In the north the River Ancholme, a significantman-made feature of the landscape, provides afine example of the fascinating history that liesbehind many of these great drainageachievements. The river rises to the south ofBishopbridge, originally flowing on an extremelymeandering course northwards towards a tidalcreek at the Humber near South Ferriby. TheAncholme valley is wide, shallow and with a verygentle gradient; Bishopbridge, almost 20 milesfrom Ferriby being on the five-metre contour.The soils are mainly clay with poor drainage,and were prone to seasonal flooding from run-off from the higher ground flanking it on eitherside. Valley settlements reflect these conditions,with Brigg at a crossing point being theexception, as all lie well back from the river. Itsoriginal course remains clearly depicted onmodern OS maps forming part of several parishboundaries. Yet despite all this the Ancholmewas a commercial waterway from the late1200’s.Early work to rectify the situation began inthe 1630’s, promoted by Sir John Monson, andthe “new” straight cut to Ferriby completed by1639 where the construction of a sluicerestricted tidal ingress. (Some of the stone forthis may have come from Thornton Abbey.)However, by the early 1700’s the waterwaysaw little use and in 1766 Ferriby Sluice wasThis month we examine thestory of the River Ancholme– one of Lincolnshire’shistoric drainage systems.88-89_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:38 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY89Broughton, Castlethorpeand Brown’s Bridges and Rennie’s famoussuspension bridge at Horkstow. (A veryearly example of its type and Rennie’s onlysuspension design.) Around this time tooschemes for extensions to Market Rasen(1823) and to the Witham near Fiskerton(1829) were proposed, though neithercame to fruition!The Ancholme finally now became ascene of considerable economic activitywith links to industrial Yorkshire andfurther afield, plus passenger services, viaferry, to Hull. There were mills andwarehouses constructed at Bishopbridgeand Brandy Wharf (which survive) as wellas at Brigg. Naturally cargoes wereagricultural produce (including livestockand animal feeds) but also coal, bricks,wood and as late as the 1920’s sugar tothe factory at Brigg. Early boats werehorse drawn – even the passenger packetboats - but from the mid-1840’s steampowered boats were introduced and bythe 1870’s the Ancholme PacketCompany were running daily services toFerriby. Of the sailing vessels used squarerigged keels were preferred to sloops,their sails being far easier to lower andraise again at the numerous bridges.described as “decayed” with“Humber water and silt as faras Glandford”. (i.e. Brigg) Ayear later an Act of Parliamentset up the Commissioners ofAncholme Drainage and a newsluice was built although this failed tosolve the problem of flooding in theupper reaches. In 1793, another Actauthorised the Caistor Canal to run from apoint just north of Brandy Wharfeastwards to a terminus at Moortown -but still more than three miles fromCaistor itself. Although canal building wasin its heyday this one was a financialfailure – tolls never even paying theinterest on the loans obtained for itsconstruction.Flooding at times of heavy rainscontinued so by 1800 the Commissioners,anxious for a solution, requested JohnRennie to report to them. He proposedwidening and deepening the river, anothernew sluice at Ferriby, east and westcatchwater drains and two new locks; allfor a sum of just under £62,000. TheCommissioners baulked at the cost and arevised plan costing £25,000 resulted in afurther Act of 1802. It was this Act thatintended the navigation to be extended toBishopbridge with two new locks atHarlam Hill and Kingerby though not all ofit came to fruition. In 1824 theCommissioners consulted Rennie’s son, SirJohn. As a result yet another Act of 1825authorised further improvements,widening and deepening the river plus anew lock, to Sir John’s design, at HarlamHill and a wider one at Ferriby. This latterallowed access by larger 60 ton vesselswhich were then able travel the full lengthto Bishopbridge. It also saw the building ofnew bridges, examples being the colourfulSlow, gradual decline started from the1850’s with competition from the railwaysfollowed eventually by that from roadtransport. Even so trading activitycontinued until well into the 1930’sthough only basic maintenance to thenavigation’s infrastructure was takingplace. In compensation the river didhowever begin to develop a new role as aleisure facility for boaters and anglers.As the C20th progressed this aspect ofthe river’s usage grew as increasedconservation awareness and social changecreated greater opportunity for leisureactivities. In the first decade of the C21stleisure usage was further enhanced byimprovements implemented by theLincolnshire Waterways Partnership.Between early 2004 and the end of 2008dredging, the renovation of the windinghole at Bishopbridge, improvements toHarlam Hill lock, the provision of newmoorings at various points and a newslipway at Brandy Wharf took place. Allthis meant that boats could travel the fulllength of the river again for the first timein 30 years!by Hugh Marrows88-89_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:38 Page 2Next >