Map project to begin in Spalding, with Crowland to come in 2022

A map project that aims to uncover how towns have developed throughout their history is coming to Spalding in December.

The Lincolnshire Extensive Urban Survey is part of a national programme which has been running since 1992 – with the aim of telling the
story of how places have changed and shape their future planning and development.

Holbeach was one of the first Lincolnshire towns to feature in the scheme in 2019 – with Spalding now up next, with work to start before the end of the year.

Crowland’s map project is still in the pipeline and is due to be conducted in the middle of next year.

Nicola Grayson, Extensive Urban Survey Project Officer for Lincolnshire County Council,is leading the project and explained: “It is being done to address the gap of knowledge we have in our smaller towns and also to provide a planning tool. It is particularly relevant today with the advent of the government’s design codes.”

The aim is for residents to be able to see how their street used to look in the past and see when, how and why changes were made.

It will use and build on the existing Historic Environment Records, documents that contain information about monuments, archaeological finds and landscapes.

However, individuals with their own information can help to create the most definitive record of Spalding and Crowland.

Nicola added: “We have already been in contact with a few local groups but if local groups and individuals are interested please do get in touch, we are looking for old maps, and details of how the town has developed, how things used to be and really just looking at how the town came to look as it does now.

“We will also hopefully be delivering a local presentation of the work once it is complete so people can look out for that.”

The project is funded by Historic England.

To contribute to the mapping project, email Nicola.grayson@Lincolnshire.gov.uk