Summary
A town seemingly suspended in time, Louth is located in East Lincolnshire at the edge of the picturesque Lincolnshire Wolds.
Preserved within Louth’s town centre are local family-operated establishments that have become increasingly rare in other parts of the nation.
These establishments include bakers, butchers, and poultry shops, many of which have been passed down through generations since Victorian times.
The townscape features an array of flat-fronted Georgian houses, while the vibrant market sets up its stalls three days each week.
Overseeing this charming scene is the Medieval church of St James, crowned with the tallest spire of any parish church in the country.
Let us delve into the most notable attractions in Louth:
1. Tour of the Town Centre
Louth is best explored on foot, especially on Saturdays when the market is bustling and the streets vibrant with activity.
The town features cultured Georgian terraces and quaint cottages, while the narrow alleyways of New Street and Rosemary Lane are picturesque and lined with pie shops, tearooms, and pubs. Notably, nearly three-quarters of the businesses in the town centre remain independently owned.
Some establishments date back generations, such as Eve & Ranshaw, a department store located in Market Place, which was established in 1781. Additionally, the butchery Lakings of Louth has been operating since the early 20th century, with Dales & Sons poultry shop in business since 1896.
2. St James’ Church
Louth’s magnificent parish church was reconstructed in the early 15th century and has undergone minimal modifications since that time.
One notable addition includes the 87-meter spire, which stands as the tallest of any parish church in England.
This spire was completed in the mid-15th century, and the two principal porches were restored in the 1860s.
St James’ Church was significant as the meeting place for the Lincolnshire Rising in 1536, a protest organized by Catholics against the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
This uprising was short-lived, as the vicar involved was executed in London just months later.
Visitors can admire the original Medieval stalls within the choir and the chapel on the north side of the chancel, which houses two carved angels, remnants from the earlier iteration of the church.
The church also features a café and a souvenir shop, along with an opportunity to ascend the 198 steps to the top of the tower for a breathtaking view of Louth.
3. Louth Museum
Established by the Louth Naturalists, Antiquarian and Literary Society, Louth Museum opened its doors in 1910 with a single gallery. Following renovations in the early 2000s funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the museum expanded to include two additional galleries, a gift shop, and a classroom.
The museum is meticulously curated: The Town Gallery hosts the largest collection in the country from the Victorian woodcarver Thomas Wallis, alongside artifacts from a historic carpet factory, malting, printing shop, and local businesses.
For those interested in the darker aspects of history, an authentic gibbet that once displayed a local murderer’s remains is also showcased.
The Town Gallery Mezzanine chronicles the Louth Flash Flood of 1920, while the Ludalinks Gallery reveals local ghost stories along with geological and archaeological insights of the Lincolnshire Wolds and Lud Valley.
Lastly, the Panorama Gallery exhibits a highly detailed panorama of Louth, painted in 1840 by the self-taught artist William Brown.
4. Lincolnshire Wolds
Louth lies at the base of a range of hills composed of chalk, limestone, and sandstone, which were formed during the Cretaceous period.
The countryside within the Lincolnshire Wolds is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where its gentle hills and deep valleys offer a striking contrast to the coastal landscapes of reclaimed marshes and dunes east of Louth.
One steep valley can be found just outside the town at Hubbard’s Hills, which will be discussed in greater depth shortly.
The Wolds are largely uninhabited, featuring only small hamlets scattered over the landscape, resulting in minimal light pollution and spectacular night skies.
The most accessible way to enjoy the scenery is by vehicle, driving through the pastoral countryside adorned with hedgerows, streams, lush pastures, and expansive cornfields.
Moreover, during the last two weeks of May, the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival organizes over 100 group walks across the hills and valleys.
5. Hubbard’s Hills
This park, situated on the western side of Louth, is a charming segment of the Lincolnshire Wolds, formed 40,000 years ago at the conclusion of the Last Ice Age.
Hubbard’s Hills was landscaped in the early 1900s, having been bequeathed to the town by Auguste Pahud, a Swiss national who married a local farmer’s daughter, Annie Grant.
Upon his death in 1902, Auguste left instructions in his will for the land to be acquired and a memorial erected for Annie, who had passed away earlier.
The memorial, a Neoclassical temple, stands on the banks of the River Lud, which can be crossed via stepping stones.
The park becomes particularly delightful in summer, as children wade in the river while families engage in crawfish catching.
6. Rushmoor Country Farm Park
Encompassing six acres of Lincolnshire countryside on the town’s outskirts, this venue offers children and adults an authentic glimpse into rural life.
Children will delight in encountering the goats, horses, sheep, pigs, and a vocal donkey. Visitors can interact with these animals, with a keeper available to answer questions.
For those keen to engage further, there exists an opportunity to experience a day in the life of a farmer, including mucking out horses, feeding pigs, and learning about animal husbandry hands-on.
The farm also serves as a falconry center, offering half-day and hourly handling and training experiences.
7. Westgate Fields
While visiting Hubbard’s Hills, consider extending your exploration into this adjacent park, situated alongside the River Lud.
Westgate Fields offers expansive lawns bordered by oak, lime, and ash trees, complemented by a picturesque view of St James’s Church above the treetops.
The nearby Louth Golf Club capitalizes on the hilly terrain, providing views extending to the Humber Estuary 15 miles to the north.
Green fees begin at a reasonable £18 during weekdays.
In Westgate Fields, visitors can also discover four notable leaf sculptures, crafted from oak, which are part of the wider Louth Art Trail.
8. Louth Riverhead Theatre
This community-owned theatre, operated by a dedicated team of volunteers, serves as a venue for performing arts with a contemporary setting near the Louth Navigation’s commencement.
The theatre features productions by the Louth Playgoers while also hosting touring performances, musical acts, tribute bands, musicals, poetry recitals, as well as appearances by television personalities and comedians.
The Riverhead Gallery, open Monday to Saturday during box office hours, showcases exhibitions by notable regional artists.
9. Lincolnshire Wolds Railway
The Great Northern Railway (1848) formerly traversed the East Lincolnshire countryside, linking Louth and Grimsby with London.
Although the line was decommissioned in the mid-1960s, restoration efforts have gradually revived parts of it over the past 40 years.
The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway currently operates along a 1.5-mile route connecting Ludborough and North Thoresby, with future plans to extend the line back to Louth.
Two steam locomotives from 1928 and 1929 serve the railway, with departures scheduled hourly from Ludborough Station from 10:45 to 15:45. Visitors can also explore a museum located at Ludborough, displaying relics from the Great Northern Railway, such as advertising materials, station signs, tickets, railway lamps, and photographs.
10. Meridian Line
Situated precisely on the Prime Meridian at 0° longitude, Louth marks the intersection of Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
This position is commemorated in several installations along the line.
On Eastgate, there exists a modest plaque unveiled in 1948 positioned between two retail fronts.
Additionally, the sculptor Lawrence Edwards and book illustrator Les Bicknell collaborated on a series of four engraved steel lines embedded in the ground, along with three sculpted figures depicting individuals observing their own engraved plates, symbolizing the Meridian line.
11. Louth Navigation Walk
In the 1760s, the River Lud was transformed into a canal, creating the Louth Navigation that extended for 11 miles north to Tetney Haven in the Humber Estuary.
This canal facilitated the efficient shipment of goods such as grain and wool from Louth, thriving until 1924. While efforts are underway to renovate the abandoned canal for navigation, as of 2018, these plans remain in progress.
Currently, visitors can walk the towpath all the way to Tetney Marshes, starting from the basin located on Riverhead Road in Louth.
At the old wharf, two Grade II-listed warehouses can be found: the Navigation Warehouse to the west and the Jackson Warehouse to the east, along with the Woolpack Inn at the corner, which dates back to the era of the canal.
12. Playhouse Cinema
As the sole movie theatre within a 15-mile radius, Louth’s Playhouse Cinema serves as a vital local establishment featuring three screens.
Housed in a former Victorian chapel, the building boasts an Art Deco façade added in the 1930s, shortly after the cinema took residence.
The Playhouse screens the latest Hollywood releases as well as classics, independent films, and live recordings from renowned productions such as the Royal Ballet, Glyndebourne, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Notably, the Playhouse Cinema retains a few traditional practices, including a mid-film intermission during which staff offer ice cream for sale within the auditorium.
13. RAF Stenigot
Located approximately 10 minutes by car from Louth, the Lincolnshire Wolds hosts the striking remnants of four tropospheric scatter dishes that have succumbed to rust over the years.
This site once served as RAF Stenigot, a radar station established during World War II for monitoring Luftwaffe raids on central Midlands and the cities of Leeds and Nottingham.
In 1959, it became part of NATO’s ACE High radio communication system, marking the construction of those monumental dishes.
The site was decommissioned in the 1980s, leaving behind an abandoned landscape ideal for dramatic photography.
The radar tower remains intact and is classified as a Grade II structure.
14. Louth Market
In a town as traditional as Louth, timing your visit to coincide with the market is essential, as it operates on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
The market features around 60 stalls, framed by Louth’s beautiful Georgian architecture and the historic Victorian market hall.
This bustling market is the busiest in the district, offering an array of goods including fruit, vegetables, arts and crafts, Lincolnshire sausages, cheese, flowers, herbs, pies, and freshly baked breads and pastries.
A farmers’ market specializing in seasonal produce from Lincolnshire takes place on the fourth Wednesday of the month, while “Food Friday” occurs on the second Friday.
15. Old Maltings Antiques Centre
Situated at 38 Aswell Street, an antiques emporium resides in a charming old malthouse.
The Old Maltings Antiques Centre boasts more than 30 dealers, each occupying unique corners of the building, specializing in various items.
Visitors can explore a wide range of collectibles, antique furniture, lighting, ceramics, silverware, militaria, jewelry, and vintage items such as old tin signs, typewriters, umbrellas, toys, metal bathtubs, and farm tools.
The center is open Monday to Saturday and, unusually for such establishments, accepts card payments.
