Long Sutton, Lincolnshire
| Long Sutton | |
| Lincolnshire | |
|---|---|
 St Mary's Church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TF430230 |
| Location: | 52°47’8"N, -0°7’12"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 5,037 |
| Post town: | Spalding |
| Postcode: | PE12 |
| Dialling code: | 01406 36 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Holland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
South Holland and The Deepings |
Long Sutton is a market town in Holland, the south-eastern part of Lincolnshire. It lies in the Lincolnshire Fens, close to the Wash and 13 miles east of Spalding.
The town is known for floral displays that decorate the town and its churches throughout spring and summer, and was named amongst the best kept villages in Lincolnshire, and for the second year running, has been named best small town in the East Midlands in Bloom competition. The Butterfly and Wildlife Park, voted Lincolnshire's Family Attraction of the Year by the Good Britain Guide, was home to butterflies, birds of prey and reptiles, and lay just outside the town until closure in 2012.
St Mary's Church has a 13th-century lead-covered timber spire. It is of a similar design to Chesterfield's twisted spire but Long Sutton's spire is straight. It is the highest, oldest and best-preserved lead spire in Britain. The town has many examples of fine Georgian architecture.
History
The Friday market dates back to the early 13th century when the town was a prosperous trading centre. By the mid-14th century, it was considered to be one of the richest communities in Lincolnshire. Prosperity continued into the 20th century, helped by the arrival of the railways. In the 1950s eleven trains would daily transport passengers and local produce to and from the town.
The town previously had a railway station on the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway. However, it was closed in 1959 when passenger services were withdrawn from almost the entire M&GN route.
On 21 June 2012, at about 2:30 pm, a tornado hit Long Sutton. Particular damage was caused in Woad Lane with the tornado "leaving a trail of destruction in its wake".[1]
In 1987 a Butterfly Park was opened near Long Sutton, where animals and insects could be seen and admired. The Butterfly Park was closed in October 2012 after a series of losses and bad weather.[2]
Community
In 2001 the town had a population of 6,461 according to the census of that year.
Long Sutton has a Friday market and produce auction. Premier Foods have a food processing plant, producing Fray Bentos pies. The town has a history of association with antique dealers and shops, this is due to its location just off the A17 which leads to Newark-on-Trent where the International Antiques & Collectors fair is held annually.[3] The largest remaining antique shop is the 'Long Sutton Antique & Craft Centre'.[4]
Town pubs are the Olde Ship Inn on London Road, the Crown and Woolpack on High Street, and the Corn Exchange and the Granary on Market Street.
Long Sutton is the terminus of the A1101, the United Kingdom's lowest road. It is now bypassed, with Sutton Bridge, by the A17 which follows the former railway.
Sport
- Football: Long Sutton Athletic FC
Media
- Newspaper:
- Spalding Guardian
- Lincolnshire Free Press
Outside links
References
- ↑ "Tornado hits Long Sutton"; Spalding Guardian 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012
- ↑ "Long Sutton Butterfly Park to close". BBC News. 28 October 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-15495374. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ↑ "Antique Fairs – IACF Antique & Collectors Fairs". Iacf.co.uk. http://www.iacf.co.uk/. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
- ↑ "Antique Centres in Lincolnshire - Stamford, Hemswell, Horncastle, Louth, Gainsborough, UK". Antiques Atlas. http://www.antiques-atlas.com/listings/lincolnshire/. Retrieved 2013-05-29.