Alford, Lincolnshire
| Alford | |
| Lincolnshire | |
|---|---|
 Alford Windmill | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TF454758 |
| Location: | 53°15’36"N, -0°10’48"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 3,231 (2001) |
| Post town: | Alford |
| Postcode: | LN13 |
| Dialling code: | 01507 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | East Lindsey |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Louth and Horncastle |
Alford is a tiny town in Lincolnshire with a population of about 3,500. It lies at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds, 13 miles north-west of Skegness.
Alford's shops are mainly convenience-related for local folk; a pharmacy, a grocery, a couple of banks and supermarkets and homeware stores. Its public houses are the Half Moon Hotel, The Windmill Hotel, The George the Anchor, and the White Hart.
Markets
Market days in Alford are on Tuesdays. The market, which varies in size dependent on the time of the year and the day, is generally small. The main market takes place in the Market Place, with stalls of groceries and small items such as greeting cards.
Since Christmas 2005 European markets have been held annually at Easter and on holidays, with traders from Europe who concentrate on selling food.
A craft market has taken place every August bank holiday since the 1970s. A market is held in the grounds of the manor house, and includes stalls selling locally-crafted products with, usually, musical entertainment in a marquee. A smaller weekly market is held in the Corn Exchange every Tuesday and Friday.
Industry
At the south-west of the town is Beechings Way Industrial Estate, containing enterprises such as printing and manufacturing companies, a builders' merchant and a Royal Mail sorting office. The UK's largest online fire safety retailer Safelincs Ltd is based in Alford.
Recently, the town's main employer, Finnveden Powertrain Ltd, which was to be shut down in 2010,[1] but is still operating, although many people were laid off.
Churches
- Church of England: St Wilfrid's
- Methodism: Alford Methodist Church.
Approximately 4 miles from Alford, in the village of Markby, is the church of St Peter's, the only remaining thatched church in Lincolnshire.
Sights about the town
Alford Windmill
Alford is known for its five-sailed windmill, a 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 operated until 1955. After two years' standing idle, it was restored to full working order. It is used commercially to produce stone-ground organic flour and cereal. It is the only windmill surviving in Alford but in 1932 there were three, a four-sail, a five-sail and a six-sail mill).
Lincolnshire is a good place for windaill and other noteworthy mills can be found at Lincoln, Heckington, Boston, Waltham, Kirton in Lindsey, Sibsey and Burgh le Marsh.
Alford Manor House
The town's Manor House is reputedly the largest thatched manor house in the country. In 2006 it was refurbished through National Lottery funding in association with English Heritage. The manor house has a tea room and open gardens.
Transport
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 Town railway station) was axed by Dr Beeching (no relation) during his rationalisation of British Railways in the 1960s and early 1970s. It closed on 5 October 1970.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Alford, Lincolnshire) |
- Alford Town Council website
- Five Sailed Windmill, Alford
- Alford Group of Churches website
- Alford Town website
- Alford in the Domesday Book
References
- ↑ [ http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/job-losses-Alford-firm-Finnveden-reacts-difficult-times/story-11208966-detail/story.html Alford firm Finnveden reacts to difficult times] - This is Lincolnshire, 2009