Alford, Lincolnshire

Alford

Alford Windmill, 2005
Alford shown within Lincolnshire
Population	2700
OS grid reference	TF454758
Parish	Alford
District	East Lindsey
Shire county	Lincolnshire
Region	East Midlands
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALFORD
Postcode district	LN13
Police	Lincolnshire
Fire	Lincolnshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
European Parliament	East Midlands
List of places: UK • England • Lincolnshire

Coordinates: 53°′N 0°′E / 53.26, 0.18

Alford (pronounced "Olford") is a town in Lincolnshire, England, with a population of about 2,700 people, known by many as a charming place to be. Alford lies at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds, thirteen miles north-west of Skegness.

Windmill

Alford is known for its five-sailed windmill, a 30 metre high, 5 sailed tower mill built in 1837 by Sam Oxley, an Alford millwright. In its heyday it was capable of grinding 4 to 5 tonnes of corn a day. The mill worked until 1955. After two years standing idle it was restored to full working order and is still in full commercial use, producing organic flour and cereal. It is the only windmill left in Alford; in 1932 there were three - each with different sets of sail (four, five and six). It is also one of only three working mills in Lincolnshire. The others being at Sibsey and Burgh le Marsh.

Manor House

The town is also known for its Manor House, reputedly the largest thatched manor house in the country. The manor house is open from Tuesday to Friday and on a Sunday. In 2006 it was refurbished, thanks to national lottery funding in association with English Heritage, the refurbishment led to the installation of new interactive exhibitions and increased accessibility for disabled visitors. The manor house also has a tea room and open gardens.

Craft Markets

The town is also well known for its craft markets which have taken place every August Bank Holiday since the 1970s. The market takes place in the grounds of manor house and includes a range of stalls selling locally crafted products and usually has some form of musical entertainment taking place in the marquee. Other than the August Bank Holiday markets held in the manor house, a more frequent market takes place in the Corn Exchange every Tuesday and Friday. This is a smaller, more low key version of the market but still follows the same theme.

Weekly & European Markets

Market days in Alford are on Tuesday and Friday. The market varies in size, dependant on the time of the year and usually the day. The main market takes place in the Market Square with usual stalls consisting of groceries and greeting cards etc. Occasionally, mostly on the Friday market some additional clothes stall may appear around the surrounding area of the Library. European markets began in Alford at Christmas 2005 and have appeared since at Easter and in the holidays with the most recent one taking place on the 25th August 2007. European Markets invite traders from the near continent to sell predominantly food items.

Facilities

Alford's main retail indstry is aimed at local people with the bulk of shops being convenience related such as pharmacies, groceries, DIY and homeware.

Alford's only large supermarket is the Co-operative on Church Street.

Alford has two banks; Lloyds TSB and Barclay's as well as a branch of the Yorkshire Building Society.

In terms of medical facilities there is an NHS and private Dentist located on South Street and Merton Lodge Doctors Surgery on West Street.

There are three schools; Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, John Spendluffe Technology College and Alford Primary School.

Currently under construction in Alford is a new crematorium which is scheduled to open in 2008.

Located at the South West of the town is Beechings Way Industrial Estate. The Estate is mainly commercial and contains such industries as printing companies and manufacturing firms. There is also a branch of the building merchants; Jewson and the Royal Mail sorting office.

Religious Buildings

The main church in Alford is St Wilfred's located at the junction between Church Street, South Street and West Street. The church operates frequent services and holds annual events such as the Flower Show. Alford also has a small methodist church.

Approximately four miles from Alford in the tiny village of Markby is the church of St. Peters, the only remaining thatched church in Lincolnshire. Popular with tourists, it is still used for Weddings, Christenings and Funerals, as well as regular Services.

Other Information

The Arctic Monkeys recorded their first album at the Chapel Studios in nearby South Thoresby.

Notable inhabitants of Alford and the surrounding area have included Captain John Smith who lived in nearby Willoughby, Anne Hutchinson^[1] and Thomas Paine, who was an excise officer in the town. Richard Dixon of Alford was one of the original Jamestown settlers in America.

Beechings Way Industrial Estate is so named as it is built on the closed East Lincolnshire Railway line from Grimsby to Boston. The line and Alford Town station being part of the many local rail services that were axed by Dr. Beeching during his rationalisation of British Railways in the 1960s and 70s.

References

^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.

External links

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