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Secrets of Holbeach's history have been unearthed in a new study called The Extensive Urban Survey




A medieval bridge over a Holbeach river nicknamed "The Stinker" and a 13th century "preaching cross" in the town are two of the findings of a new study.

New Discoveries, a study of 30 market towns in Lincolnshire is under way as part of a project called The Extensive Urban Survey, funded by Historic England.

Holbeach is the first of three South Holland towns looked at by researchers, with Crowland and Spalding still to come.

New Discoveries project officer Nicola Grayson in Market Hill, Holbeach. Photo supplied by Lincolnshire County Council.
New Discoveries project officer Nicola Grayson in Market Hill, Holbeach. Photo supplied by Lincolnshire County Council.

Project officer Nicola Grayson said: "We're bringing together lots of new information about so many towns in Lincolnshire, such as the fact that in Holbeach, Church Street used to be a river until it was covered over in the 19th century due to health concerns.

"Holbeach also had a market or preaching cross from the 13th century and a medieval bridge thought to be beneath the "five-way" crossroads in the town centre."

Residents can take part in the project by sending in old photographs, maps and other historical information about their town.

How Holbeach looked in the mid-19th century. Photo supplied by Lincolnshire County Council
How Holbeach looked in the mid-19th century. Photo supplied by Lincolnshire County Council

Nicola said: "We could have chosen so many towns in Lincolnshire, but we’re focusing on 30 and the aim is to produce a report for each town, along with a geographical information system (GIS) map showing their character, from the earliest records to the present day.

"But we don’t see this as a project we’re doing alone and so we want residents to have an input too by emailing or uploading images, old maps or interesting historical facts about their towns to us.

"All this information will help piece together an accurate historical picture of where we all live because it’s important to ensure that our history is properly recorded for future generations."

You can email it to incseus@lincolnshire.gov.uk ot go to www.lincsabout.town

New Discoveries to find out how Crowland, Holbeach and Spalding have changed over time



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