< Previous40 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY © stock.adobe.com / handlervid85 Roast Winter Veg & Quinoa Buddha Bowl FOOD & DINING Award Winning Butchers in Louth We consider ourselves very traditional but also very modern. We not only offer a wide selection of quality meats but also a range of home-made pastries and pies. 29-31 Mercer Row, Louth LN11 9JG Tel: 01507 603230 Email: orders@woolliss-butchers.co.uk woolliss-butchers.co.uk Woolliss & Son Butchers Delivery within an 8 mile radius of Louth Christmas Hamper orders being taken Ingredients: Serves 2 1 small sweet potato, peeled and chopped into bite size pieces Handful of cauliflower florets, approx 150g 1 carrot, peeled and sliced into 2cm disks 1tbsp oil 100g quinoa 1 avocado 4 brussel sprouts 1tbsp pumpkin seeds For the dressing: 1/2 clove garlic, grated 1/2 cm ginger, grated 1/2 tsp miso paste 1.2 tsp soy sauce 1tbsp Meridian Peanut Butter with Seeds R. WISBY (FAMILY BUTCHER) LTD We are a traditional butchers doing things the traditional way. Our meat is only of the best quality and we pride ourselves on our customer service. 16 High Street2 Market Place Horncastle Wragby LN9 5BLLN8 5QU 01507 52737101673 858968 We are a traditional butchers doing things the traditional way. Our meat is only of the best quality and we pride ourselves on our customer service. Christmas Orders Now Being Taken Method: 1. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan. Put the sweet potato, cauliflower and carrot in a large roasting tray, drizzle with the oil and season well. Roast in the hot oven for 30 minutes, shaking the tray halfway through to shuffle the veg. 2. While the veg is cooking put the quinoa in a saucepan with double the depth of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. When the quinoa is cooked drain any remaining water. 3. Make the dressing by mixing together all of the ingredients with 3tbsp hot water until smooth. 4. Slice the avocado, finely shred the sprouts and toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry frying pan. 5. In two large deep bowls, build the dish in sections, piling the roast veg in one side then add a mound of quinoa, some slices of avocado and pile of sprouts. Scatter over the toasted seeds and drizzle with dressing. Recipe provided by; www.meridianfoods.co.uk 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:09 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 FOOD & DINING 62HIGHSTREET, CAYTHORPE, LINCOLNSHIRE,NG323DN 01400272632 WWW.REDLIONCAYTHORPE.COM HELLO@REDLIONCAYTHORPE.COM DISCOVERANEWLEVELOFTASTE THISCHRISTMAS The Caythorpe TreatyourlovedonesthisChristmastoamealattheRedLion. AllGiftVouchersareavailabletobuyonourwebsite. We'regettingpreparedforDecembersoyoucanrelaxwith somedeliciousfoodandrefreshingdrinks. NowtakingbookingsforChristmasParties! Raspberry Gin Smash © stock.adobe.com/ Jane Vershinin Ingredients: * Frozen raspberries * Lime juice * Raspberry gin * Prosecco * Lemonade * Ice Method: Mix all ingredients into a large jug and stir well, serving into smaller glasses while using a sieve to extract the liquid from the raspberries for a fruity twist. Cocktail courtesy of www.edensgate.co.uk 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:09 Page 442 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY I ndeed, it’s hard to do justice to the town in one short article; even the architectural historian Nicklaus Pevsner devotes 32 pages of his “Lincolnshire” book to Stamford. And so important is the town’s architecture that in 1967 it became the first urban Conservation area in England. Its unequalled density of listed buildings get their distinct character from the exclusive use of local stone and stone slated roofs from nearby Barnack and Colleyweston respectively. Perhaps Stamford’s (indeed Lincolnshire’s) most picturesque street of all is Barn Hill where a plaque marks the former home of the Rev. William Stukeley. (See Lincolnshire Today March 2021) In May 1646 it is reputed that King Charles I fleeing from his defeat at Worcester hid at number 16 on Barn Hill. (Sources disagree on this however.) Geography naturally played an important part in Stamford’s history. Its origins going back to the shallow “Stoney ford” of the River Welland in prehistoric times on the Jurassic Way, something later exploited by the Romans for their Ermine Street. Stamford was never a Roman settlement (they built at Great Casterton to the north) but did became a Saxon “burgh” and is mentioned several times in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle from the mid C7th and subsequently became one of the five Danish “burghs” (fortified towns) of the Danelaw. Stamford’s hinterland was prime “sheep country” so its early prosperity was based on wool and cloth. Eventually it developed into an important coaching stop on Great North Road with its many coaching inns epitomised by JMW Turner’s painting of St Martins when he travelled this way en route to his northern tours. The A1 by-pass was constructed 1961. The oldest surviving building in Stamford is St Leonards Priory on the town’s eastern edge originating in the C7th and founded by St Wilfred and monks from Durham; some Norman arches and pillars survive and the west front dates from around 1150. Stamford had a Norman castle too, initially a motte and bailey built just after the conquest, but it was disused by the mid C14th and only part of its great hall survives on the north side of The Meadows. Stamford has had a Grammar school since 1532 and in the C14th briefly became a university town. In 1333 students and professors from Oxford established a rival university but had returned to Oxford by 1636 and their Brasenose Hall was demolished in 1680. The original knocker on the college gate went back to Brasenose College in 1890; however, a replica still adorns a gate on St Paul’s Street. Amongst Stamford’s many fascinating buildings is Browne’s Hospital on Broad Street dating from 1475 having This month we visit historic Stamford, only just in Lincolnshire but one of our greatest architectural treasures. Lincolnshire explored THE BRASENOSE GATEWAY ST LEONARDS PRIORY 42-43.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:10 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 been founded by wealthy wool merchant William Browne. Despite its name it is actually almshouses surrounding a cloistered garden; the original was extended in 1870 to a design by James Fowler of Louth. Without a doubt the most impressive building in the area is the nearby Burghley House built for Lord William Cecil who was born at Bourne in 1520. (It took 35 years) He was Secretary of State and Lord Treasurer to Elizabeth I and had considerable influence in the town. He also founded Lord Burghley’s Hospital (almshouses) in 1597. He died in 1598 and is buried with a magnificent memorial in Stamford’s St Martin’s church. Burghley House was briefly under siege during the Civil War in July 1643 when it was occupied by the Royalists. Today Stamford’s architectural heritage is predominantly Georgian resulting from its heyday as a centre of Georgian society and because of this it has one of England’s earliest Assembly Rooms (1727) and provincial theatres (1768). Also, from 1819, Stamford became a spa when an iron-rich spring at the western end of The Meadows was brought into use; today an information board relates its history even describing the water’s beneficial chemical composition. Stamford is also renowned for its many magnificent churches (Pevsner lists nine) several of which dominate the skyline view from the Meadows. Within the town perhaps Stamford’s most famous building is the George hotel dominating the old Great North Road approach from the south. It is one of England’s oldest and most famous inns there having been a hostelry here possibly since the C10th and with links going back to the C12th and the Knights Templar. Much of what we see today is a rebuilding by William Cecil in 1597. It was once a cock fighting venue and outside an ancient mulberry tree dates from the time of King James I. Its heyday was around the 1830’s when up to 70 stage coaches passed through daily. The hotel’s unique sign, a former gallows, spans the entire road. The Marquis of Exeter, at Burghley House, prohibited railways through his land so the London to Scotland main line passed to the east via Peterborough. Nevertheless, railways did arrive eventually, the first being the Midland Railway from Peterborough in 1846; when extended to Melton Mowbray in 1848 it had to pass through Stamford by a tunnel. However, the Marquis did promote railways of his own and in 1867 opened a line to Peterborough via Wanstead and this ran alongside the Midland line in places. The Midland line remains in use whilst the Marquis’ line closed in 1929. The Marquess also supported a second link to the main line to the north at Essendine. That opened in 1856 and closed in 1969. A good read on Stamford is by Alec Clifton Taylor – the late architectural historian – featured in his book “Six English Towns”; it’s worth seeking out! The town was also the start of the little- known Stamford canal – one of England’s earliest! But that’s another subject! So more about that – and the River Welland - next month. by Hugh Marrows SITE OF OLD SPA THE MEADOWS THE CASTLE BARN HILL 42-43.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:10 Page 244 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY SPALDING A market town full of surprises A market town full of surprises 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:11 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 SPALDING © stock.adobe.com/Jack S palding is a remarkably well- known market town, both within Lincolnshire and without. It sits on the River Welland, in an area occupied from the time of the Romans, where it was known for its production of salt. Nowadays, it is much more famous for flowers and horticulture, especially its tulips and the Lincolnshire Flower Parade which, through no fault of their own, will be held on a different date next year, as it happened to be penned for the same date as King Charles III has announced will be his coronation. There’s a lot more to do in Spalding than pick up some flowers or take in the scenery, however, as it’s quite the popular destination for tourists both within and without the region. For the locals and those who live nearby, Spalding’s markets, held every Tuesday and Saturday, are a common and much-loved feature, with fresh produce and more available long before they reach the supermarkets. The traffic coming in and out of Spalding because of this has been an issue for some time, which is why new investment in transport routes out toward Boston are aiming to make the area more well-connected. Speaking of markets, the Spalding Christmas Market is planned to begin on the 8th December this year, and is always worth a visit. As you visit the town and peruse its many restaurants, shops and even museums, it’s hard not to take note of the fascinating architecture of some of its older buildings. Ayscoughfee Hall stands as a Grade I listed house dating from the 15th century and served as a place for Belgian refugees from WWI to stay, and What impresses most about Spalding is not what you expect to see, but what catches you by surprise. That’s not to say the traditional isn’t done brilliantly as well, but this market town is filled with surprises. 46 Á 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:11 Page 246 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY SPALDING included a library, school and council offices. It serves nowadays as a museum and has been adapted through the centuries to its new purpose. There is also the St Mary and St Nicolas parish church, another Grade I listed building dating back to 1284, and which has survived flood, plague, famine and war. A short distance from that is Chain Bridge Forge, a 19th century blacksmith’s workshop where you can visit today and see objects forged with traditional tools and techniques, and even experience a traditional blacksmithing workshop. It’s not uncommon in Lincolnshire to see historic buildings and sites such as these, but what is unique – and cherished – is to see how Spalding takes them further, opening them up © stock.adobe.com/Jack 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:11 Page 3to the public and teaching, be it with museum exhibits or live shows, how they would have been used back in the day. This pride for history, and Spalding, helps elevate these experiences from merely looking at old buildings, to interactive displays that fascinate and intrigue. As always, it’s the passion that grips the attention and really makes the moment, and the people working here are certainly that. The town is not just for history buffs, though they would certainly find it exciting, as Spalding plays host to numerous other attractions – from wildlife at the Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre, to musicals, comedy and musicians and movies plated at the South Holland Centre. You can take a water taxi down the River Welland and, in warmer months, even wade in it; it might be a bit chilly in November, however. Beyond the fenland waterways and wildlife corridors lays Springfields Outlet and Festival Gardens, a perfect place to let off some steam and go shopping for Christmas, but you cannot go wrong exploring Spalding on foot either and visiting the town centre and the shops there. For food, you are spoilt for choice. Spalding has a frankly staggering, even ridiculous, number of award-winning eateries and dining experiences. You might even take a dab at opening your own if the fancy takes you, as one of Spalding’s well-known restaurants, Sergi’s, is currently up for sale for the low-low price of half a million. That’s the starting bid at an auction, mind. The town also plays host to an Italian, a grill restaurant, several traditional English pubs and high-class dining restaurants and numerous take-away restaurants, meaning anyone visiting or staying will be spoilt for choice. That’s a good way to describe Spalding, really – spoilt for choice. There is so much to do, and so many weird and wacky things that it’s hard to explain them all. You could visit the old buildings and try the fine food, or you could race toy cars around famous tracks such as Silverstone, Cadwell Park and Donnington Park, at the Scalextric tracks, or take the children (or man-children) out to play laser tag in a unique custom-built arena. For every activity that could be called traditional, Spalding wows with something off the wall and interesting, which so many other towns in Lincolnshire just can’t match. In fact, it sometimes seems like there is more to see and do in Spalding than larger cities in Lincolnshire, and they do it all with such passion that you cannot help but be drawn into the fun. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 BUSINESS MEETINGS - SEMINARS - CONFERENCES MARRIAGE & PARTNERSHIP CEREMONIES WEDDING RECEPTIONS - EXHIBITIONS TRADE SHOWS - MUSIC & SPORTING EVENTS CHARITY BALLS - PRIVATE PARTIES - CELEBRATIONS “The ideal venue for every occasion” Tel: 01775 713253 ÜÜܰëÀ}wi`ÃiÛiÌðV°Õ iÛiÌÃJëÀ}wi`ðiÌ © stock.adobe.com/Steven F Granville 44-47.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:11 Page 4Come and explore our wonderful Christmas ideas! thousands of decorations & Christmas inspiration gifts, treats & surprises galore! everything you neEd for your garden & home RESTAURANTS SERVING DELICIOUS HOME COOKED FOOD CLEETHORPES Humberston Road, Cleethorpes, N E Lincs DN36 4RW Tel: 01472 313600 LINCOLN Newark Road, South Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 9NT Tel: 01522 880033 SLEAFORD London Road, Silk Willoughby, Sleaford NG34 8NY Tel: 01529 304970 Christmas AT WELCOME TO ESTABLISHED IN 1780 Cleethorpes Lincoln Sleaford FREE PARKING! 48-53.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:13 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 CHRISTMAS Christmas is hard work. Everyone knows that. It doesn’t have to be however, and there are plenty of places across Lincolnshire offering to take care of the work so you can sit back, relax and have a little fun. C hristmas. Never has one word evoked such a contrasting sensation of excitement, joy, dread, exasperation and paranoia. It’s amusing to think of really, especially how those feelings change the closer or further away you are from it. Those talking about Christmas in the months of August and September are met with tired sighs, rolls of the eyes and despairing groans. To play Christmas jingles too early is seen by some as a crime against nature, whereas to not play them at the right times might as well be against the Geneva Convention. We panic and panic as the day gets closer, Outsource the hard work this Christmas 50 Á © stock.adobe.com/Connor 48-53.qxp_Layout 1 17/10/2022 15:13 Page 2Next >