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You may view the information for ALL the towns and villages
in Lincolnshire (the page may be very large)
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Louth, a small market town is sometimes referred to as the "Capital of the
Lincolnshire Wolds".
The local church, St James', has a spire 295 feet tall and claims to be
the tallest parish church in the UK. |
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The church is famous as the starting point of The Lincolnshire Rising, a brief
rebellion of Roman Catholics against the establishment of the Church of England
by Henry VIII and his dissolution of the monasteries.
Shortly after the forced
closure of Louth Abbey in 1536, the parishoners of Louth started a rebellion
demanding an end to peacetime taxes, an end to
the dissolution of the monasteries, and
claiming the right to continue to practise
their Catholic religion.
With additional supporters
from neighbouring towns, a force of up to
40,000 marched on Lincoln and took over
Lincoln Cathedral. Within a few days, Henry
VIII sent word that they would have to face
the forces under the Duke of Suffolk if they
did not abandon their uprising.
Over the next
year, the vicar of Louth, Thomas Kendall, and
most of the other ringleaders were rounded up
and executed for having taken part.
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St.James' church, Louth
Photo
Richard Croft
CCL |
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For Louth, as for many rural towns, the coming of the railway brought increased
prosperity. The East Lincolnshire Railway, from Grimsby to Boston via Louth
opened in 1847. Passenger services ended in 1970 with freight continuing until
1980. Once it was known that the line was to close, the Grimsby-Louth Railway
Preservation Society was established, to try to preserve the line. |
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Lincolnshire Wolds Railway
Photo:
Dave Hitchbourne
CCL |
As in similar
situations throughout the country, this did not fit the plans of British Rail
who removed the track and buildings. The society has restored Ludborough station
and signal box as a working museum.
They also have a half-mile line on which
they run trains hauled by both steam and diesel locomotives. They were
originally hoping eventually to have a complete line from Louth to Grimsby.
However the building of a bypass near Grimsby took over some of the trackbed but
it is still hoped to reconstruct the 10 miles of track between Louth and
Waltham. They are now known as the
Lincolnshire Wolds Railway. |
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Further information:
Louth Hotels, Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfast
accommodation
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