Lincolnshire

Towns & Villages

LOUTH

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.

St.James' church, Louth
Photo Richard Croft CCL

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.