|
Coordinates: 53°22'01?N 0°00'22?W? / ?53.3669, -0.0061
Louth pronounced (listen) (help·info) is a market town within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.
Geography
Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of around 17,000.
The Greenwich Meridian crosses Eastgate and this point is marked with a plaque on the north side of the street, close to the junction with Northgate. The three-mile Ł6.6m A16 Louth Bypass opened in August 19st 91. The former route is the B1520.
History
A flood occurred in the town on May 29, 1920, causing 23 deaths. Several stone plaques in the town show the high water level reached. Other, less devastating floods occurred on 25th June and 21th July in 2007.
Margaret Wintringham succeeded her dead husband at the Louth by-election in September 1921, to become the Liberals' first woman MP, and Britain's third woman MP.
Historically, the town is most noted as the origin of the Lincolnshire Rising, the forerunner of Pilgrimage of Grace, on 1 October 1536, starting in St. James Church, Louth.
Landmarks
Much of the town centre is lined with brick buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries and the town's skyline is dominated by St. James' Church, the spire of which is 295 feet (90 m) tall, though shorter than both Norwich Cathedral (315 feet (96 m)) and Salisbury Cathedral (404 feet (123 m)) in terms of spire height, it is reputedly the tallest Anglican parish church in the United Kingdom. The church was built in 1515.
The tallest structure in the European Union, the Belmont television and radio mast, is situated in the nearby village of Donington on Bain, five miles west of the town.
ABM Pauls used to have a large maltings, which is now derelict.
Twin town
Louth's twin town is La Ferté-Bernard, close to Le Mans in Pays-de-la-Loire, France. 
Shopping
[] Market times
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are all market days, with a farmers' market on the fourth Wednesday of each month. A cattle market is held each Thursday at the Louth Livestock Centre on Newmarket.
Education
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Further education
A new Ł3m further education college, called Wolds College, was built built next to the Cordeaux School. Construction by the Lindum Group started in November 2007, and the college officially opened in October 2008. Unlike many Lincolnshire secondary modern schools, both Cordeaux and Monks' Dyke have their own sixth forms; East Lindsey's only other secondary modern with a sixth form is at Skegness. Although the town is well served for A-level provision, vocational courses were less well served until the college opened in this part of East Lindsey in September 2008, although there is the Grimsby Institute some fifteen miles away.
Places of interest
Cadwell Park motor racing circuit is around four miles south of the town, between the villages of Scamblesby and Tathwell.
Louth will be the eventual southern terminus of the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, based at nearby Ludborough. The town was formerly on the East Lincolnshire Railway from Peterborough to Grimsby, an important north-south route, which opened in 1848, especially for holidaymakers in the summer. The line to Mablethorpe also started in the town from 1877, closing in 1960. The section to near Wainfleet closed in 1961, with the Louth to Grimsby section later continuing for passengers until October 1970 with freight stopping in 1980. The former station is now residential flats; there are other reminders still standing.
Alfred Lord Tennyson was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School and an stone inscription to commemorate this forms part of a wall on Schoolhouse Lane in Louth.
One of the town's main attractions is Hubbards Hills, which opened to the public in 1907. The park is a glacial valley through which the River Lud passes, with steep, wooded slopes on either side. The town's Playhouse Cinema is on Cannon Street. The Riverhead Theatre is on Victoria Road, to the east of the town.
Music
The Southwold Jazz Band are the resident band at Louth New Orleans Jazz Club[1], performing every Saturday night at the club in Queen Street. Electronic duo Team Doyobi also began collaboration in Louth. Ex-Magazine player Dave Formula lives in Louth and his new electronic punk/world fusion extravaganza the Angel Brothers frequently play in the area. Louth is also famous as the hometown of internationally celebrated eclectic ska punk Unlucky Fried Kitten. DJ and producer Nathan Boon was a member of King Edward VI Grammar School and is fast becoming a prominent artist in the fidget house and electro house genre.
Other local bands include Swing Out Sister, The Wasp Factory. Proles And Stranded are also local to Louth, also bands such as Five Shots Left and Silence Yourself have originated musicians in Louth. The band Five Shots Left from Louth won the 2006 Lincolnshire youth battle of the bands hosted by Diversity.
Local economy
Froveg is on Westgate. Many national food campaigning organisations are based on Eastgate under the umbrella organisation the Processed Vegetable Growers Association, notably:
Notable Ludensians
Inhabitants of Louth are known as Ludensians, taken from the Latin name of the town (Lude, Luda).
- Jeffrey Archer was elected the town's Member of Parliament in a by-election in 1969. He stood down at the October 1974 general election.
- Nathan Boon, an electronic musician was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, and still lives in the town.
- Jim Broadbent, actor, lives in a small village just outside Louth.
- Roy 'Chubby' Brown, adult comedian, (real name Royston Vasey) lives in nearby Fulstow.
- Leanda Cave, triathlete
- Barbara Dickson, singer and actress, lives in Louth
- Corinne Drewery, lead singer of the band Swing Out Sister, attended schools in the town whilst growing up in the village of Authorpe, between Louth and Alford.
- Sir John Franklin FRGS, (April 15, 1786 – June 11, 1847), English sea captain and Arctic explorer was also educated at King Edward VI Grammar School.[citation needed]
- Edward John Eyre (5 August 1815 - 30 November 1901) was an English explorer of Australia and a controversial Governor of Jamaica. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School.[citation needed]
- Graham Fellows, also known as John Shuttleworth and Jilted John, a singer-songwriter and comedian. He had the one-hit wonder Jilted John.
- Michael Foale, the first British-born astronaut, was born at the Crowtree Lane Hospital (now the sixth-form and IT block of King Edward VI Grammar School) in the town (his father was stationed at the nearby Royal Air Force base at Manby).
- Christopher Gladwin,(b.1976) artist and experimental musician.
- Ron Grant (motorcyclist), former motorcycle road racer and tuner.
- Dan Haigh, bass guitarist in rock band Fightstar, born in Grimsby, was brought up near the town.
- Augustus Charles Hobart-Hampden, (April 1, 1822 - June 19, 1886), English naval captain and Turkish admiral, was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School.[citation needed]
- Thomas Kendall, Vicar of Louth, Leader of the Lincolnshire rebellion
- Cate Kennedy, author
- Matthew Macfayden, actor, spent his childhood in the town
- Harry Mallett, cricketer.
- Actor Patrick Mower, currently seen in TV soap-opera Emmerdale lives in the area in Little Carlton.
- Ted Savage, footballer
- Captain John Smith, English, soldier, sailor and founder of the Commonwealth of Virginia, although born in Willoughby, attended the King Edward VI Grammar School, where his name is adorned upon a tablet in the school's 'Edward Street Hall'. A cast iron bust of him also stands within the school's canteen.
- Stuart Storey Stuart Storey - BBC sports commentator.
- James Thompson of Mr & Mrs Swing
- Team Doyobi, English Electronic Musicians schooled together at King Edward VI Grammar School.
- Alfred Lord Tennyson was born in Somersby, between Louth and Horncastle, and was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School.
- Graham Winteringham, architect.
- Chris Wright (Producer), founder of the Chrysalis Group and owner of London Wasps Rugby Club, was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School.
- Robert Wyatt, English musician and former member of Soft Machine, now lives in Louth.
References
- ^ A Brief History of Louth, Lincolnshire
- ^ Town profile of Louth
External links
| |
