Alford, Lincolnshire

Infobox UK place|
official_name= Alford
static_

static_image_caption=Alford Windmill, 2005
country= England
region= East Midlands
population= 2700
os_grid_reference= TF454758
latitude= 53.26
longitude= 0.18
post_town= ALFORD
postcode_area= LN
postcode_district= LN13
dial_code=
constituency_westminster=
civil_parish= Alford
shire_district= East Lindsey
shire_county= Lincolnshire

Alford (pronounced "Olford") is a town in Lincolnshire, England, with a population of about 2,700 people. Alford lies at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds, convert|13|mi|km north west of Skegness.

Facilities

hopping

Alford's main retail industry is aimed at local people with the bulk of shops being convenience related such as pharmacies, groceries, DIY and homeware. Alford has two supermarkets, the Co-operative on "Church Street" and David's Supermarket on "West Street". There is the [http://www.halfmoonhotelalford.co.uk Half Moon Hotel] , the [http://www.whitehorsealford.co.uk White Horse Hotel] and the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/386798 George] .

Markets

Craft markets

The town is also well known for its craft markets which have taken place every August bank holiday since the 1970s. The market takes place in the grounds of the manor house and includes a range of stalls selling locally crafted products and usually has some form of musical entertainment taking place in the marquee. Other than the August bank holiday markets held in the manor house, a more frequent market takes place in the corn exchange every Tuesday and Friday. This is a much smaller, more low key version of the market but still follows the same theme.

Weekly & European markets

Market days in Alford are on Tuesdays and Fridays. The market, which varies in size and is dependent on the time of the year and the day, is however, generally very small. The main market takes place in the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/99356 Market Place] with usual stalls consisting of groceries and greeting cards etc. Occasionally, mostly on the Friday market, some additional clothes stalls may appear around the surrounding area of the library.
European markets began in Alford at Christmas 2005 and have appeared since at Easter and in the holidays with the most recent one taking place on the 25 August 2007. European markets invite traders from the near continent who sell predominantly food items.

Banks

Alford has two banks; Lloyds TSB and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/386866 Barclays] as well as a branch of the Yorkshire Building Society.

Education

Primary schools

* [http://www.alford.lincs.sch.uk Alford Primary School] on "Hanby Lane".

econdary schools

* Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
* [http://www.john-spendluffe.lincs.sch.uk John Spendluffe Foundation Technology College] , secondary modern school on "Hanby Lane".The secondary modern underperforms compared to other similar schools, and in 2007 the grammar school did less well than normally, although it has had excellent results in previous years.

Health

There is an NHS and private dentist located on South Street and Merton Lodge. The doctors' surgery is on "West Street".

Industry

Located south west of the town is Beechings Way Industrial Estate. The estate is mainly commercial and contains such industries as printing companies and manufacturing firms. There is also a builders' merchants; Jewson and the Royal Mail sorting office. The UK's largest online fire safety retailer Safelincs Ltd is also based in Alford.

Other

A new crematorium opened on the outskirts of town in 2008.

Places of interest

Windmill

Alford is known for its five-sailed windmill, a 5 sailed tower mill built in 1837 by Sam Oxley, an Alford millwright. In its heyday it was capable of grinding 4 to 5 tons of corn a day. The mill worked until 1955. After two years standing idle it was restored to full working order and is still in full commercial use, producing organic flour and cereal. It is the only windmill left in Alford; in 1932 there were three, each one with different numbers of sails (four, five and six). It is also one of several working windmills in Lincolnshire. Others in working order can be found at Lincoln, Heckington, Boston, Waltham, Kirton in Lindsey, Sibsey and Burgh le Marsh.

Alford Manor House

The town is also known for its Manor House, reputedly the largest thatched [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/386834 manor house] in the country. The manor house is open from Tuesday to Friday and on a Sunday. In 2006 it was refurbished, thanks to national lottery funding in association with English Heritage, the refurbishment led to the installation of new interactive exhibitions and increased accessibility for disabled visitors. The manor house also has a tea room and open gardens.

Religious buildings

The main church in Alford is [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/386778 St. Wilfrid's] located at the junction between "Church Street", "South Street" and " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/386946 West Street] ". The church operates frequent services and holds annual events such as the flower show. Alford also has a small Methodist church.

Approximately four miles from Alford, in the tiny village of Markby, is the church of St. Peter's, the only remaining thatched church in Lincolnshire. Popular with tourists, it is still used for weddings, christenings and funerals, as well as normal services.

Notable residents

* Captain John Smith who lived in nearby Willoughby
* Anne Hutchinsoncite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location=Chicago | date = 1963]
* Thomas Paine, who was an excise officer in the town.
* Richard Dixon of Alford was one of the original Jamestown settlers in America.

Other information

Beechings Way Industrial Estate is so named as it is built on the closed east Lincolnshire railway line from Grimsby to Boston. The line (and Alford railway station} was axed by Dr. Beeching during his rationalisation of British Railways in the 1960s and early 1970s. It closed on 5 October 1970.

ee also

* Alford and Sutton Tramway

References

External links

* [http://www.alfordtown.co.uk Alford Town Council website]
* [http://www.whatsoninalford.com What's on in and around Alford]
* [http://www.alfordgroupofchurches.org.uk Alford Group of Churches Website]
* [http://www.alford.info Alford Town Website]