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Top Attractions in Gainsborough

Gainsborough Old Hall

Gainsborough Old Hall in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire is over five hundred years old and one of the best preserved medieval manor houses in England. The hall was built by Sir Thomas Burgh in 1460. The Burghs were rich, flamboyant and powerful people. Gainsborough Old Hall was not only their home, but also a demonstration of their wealth and importance. Sir Thomas was a great benefactor to Newark Church and also the founder of the Chantry and Alms House at Gainsborough. In 1470, the manor was attacked by Sir Robert Welles over a clash about lands, status, and honour, but it was not severely damaged. It was in 1484, that Sir Thomas entertained King Richard III in his hall. In 1510, Sir Thomas Burghs son, Edward Burgh, 2nd Baron Burgh, was incarcerated at the Old Hall after being declared a lunatic. Sir Edward died in 1528, leaving his eldest son Sir Thomas as head of the family. In 1529, his son and heir, Sir Edward, married Catherine Parr, later Queen consort to King Henry VIII. The couple would stay at Gainsborough Old Hall until 1530; when they were granted their own manor in Kirton-in-Lindsey. King Henry VIII visited Gainsborough twice; once in 1509 and again in 1541 with the doomed Queen Catherine Howard. The Queen was accused of indiscretions both at Gainsborough and Lincoln and she was executed. Catherine Parr, by this time a widow, became Henrys sixth wife. When Thomas, the Fifth Lord Burgh died without an heir, the Hall was sold in 1596 to William Hickman, a merchant from London, who made many improvements, especially to the east wing. William and his mother Rose supported John Smyth and the Separatist movement, and allowed them to meet and worship at the hall from 1603 until they sailed to Holland to find religious freedom. The Hickman family continued to play a prominent role in the development of Gainsborough and many became local members of parliament. It was Sir Neville Hickman who invited John Wesley to preach in the Great Hall several times in 1759, and in 1761 and 1764. In 1720 a new house was built at Thonock on the edge of the town and the Old Hall became unoccupied. It remained in the family and was used for a variety of purposes. Architecturally the Old Hall has changed very little over the years. It is principally a timber framed building, giving it its characteristic striped or black and white appearance. On the north east corner is a brick tower. A splendid view of the town awaits those who brave the fifty-nine step climb to the top. Today, the Hall with its elaborate timber roof survives as well as the kitchen—possibly the most complete medieval kitchen in England. The kitchen still contains many original features, including two open fireplaces, each large enough to roast an ox, and two bread ovens served by a third chimney. The Hall is over five hundred years old and one of the best preserved medieval manor houses in England. The tower of the Old Hall is supposedly haunted by the Grey Lady, thought to be the daughter of the Lord of the Manor who fell in love with a poor soldier and planned to elope with him. Her father discovered the plan and locked her away in the tower where she died from a broken heart. According to local legend the girls spirit still wanders the tower, endlessly waiting for her lover to arrive. The house was looked after from 1949 by a volunteer group, The Friends of the Old Hall, who saved the building and first opened it to the public. Sir Edmund Bacon gave it to the nation in 1970. The house is now owned by English Heritage and is open to the public as a museum. It is listed as Grade I for Heritage Protection. The Friends still exist as an organisation, and provide volunteer guides and other expertise.

Havercroft

Thonock is a small settlement in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated approximately 2 miles (3 km) north from the town of Gainsborough, and on the A159 road The population is included in the civil parish of Blyton. Thonock existed as a small village at the time of Domesday Book of 1086, when it consisted of five households. Thonock is listed as a deserted medieval village, but there are no visible earthworks. It existed as a part of Gainsborough in the early 14th century, and as a small settlement, including the hamlet of Havercroft, in later centuries, when High and Low (Nether) Thonock were mentioned. Havercroft lost settlement is located at OS Grid Reference SK 82799 93194 in the present parish of Morton. There are no earthworks however aerial photography clearly shows the boundaries of the village bisected by the Gainsborough to Grimsby railway line. Thonock civil parish was created from part of Gainsborough parish in 1894, but was later dissolved in 1974. A golf club is based at Thonock Park.
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