Pictures of Alford

a Historic Market Town in the county of Lincolnshire

Alford Pictures
Alford Hotels
Submit a history of Alford
Alford Attractions
Nearby Towns
Submit Pictures
Alford Map
Add to favourites

About Alford

Deep in the Lincolnshire countryside, not far distant from the golden sandy beaches between Mablethorpe and Chapel St.Leonards is the pleasant market town of Alford. A settlement was established here in or around 650 AD. The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book as 'Alforde' a small town, and it remained so for several hundred years. A charter was granted in 1283 and by 1530 the town had developed in size, it had a good market and some fine houses were being built.

The church of St. Wilfred was built here during the 14th-century and was much restored, altered and enlarged by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1869. It is a beautiful old church with a chambered south porch and amongst it's many treasures shows fine monuments. One monument, with effigies dates 1668 and there is a 17th-century pulpit. Another fine building to be seen is Alford Manor House, given to the town by Dorothy Higgins. It is of timber frame structure, dates 1611 and considered to be one of England's largest Thatched manor houses. The house once belonged to Dorothy Higgins Grandfather. Alford's unusual windmill has five sails and dates 1813.

Noted past citizens include Captain James Smith (1580-1631) who was educated in Alford. He was a great explorer and was one of the founders of Jamestown in Virginia, USA. Thomas Paine, who once worked in Alford as an excise officer, played a significant part in the foundation of the United States of America.

A walk round this lovely old place reveals delightful houses and cottages from as far back as the 17th-century. There is a museum that tells much of the history of the town and surrounding villages. Nearby is the pretty village of Claythorpe where you will find an 18th-century Watermill and wildfowl gardens. These delightful riverside gardens are home to ducks, geese and other waterfowl. Exotic species include storks and the red-legged partridge can sometimes be spotted in the countryside beyond and at Rigsby there are delightful wooded areas.

Alford and the other little villages are best enjoyed on foot when you will see much to enjoy and admire. Good inns and pubs are to be found in the area, many of which provide excellent fresh fish and seafood dishes, good wine and beer. The region has some specialist craft and antique shops as well as those that cater for all the requirements of modern living. For a fun time, there is Fantasy Island on the beautiful coast close to Ingoldmells.
For further information about Alford, please visit www.alford.info

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Alford

Manor House Museum	(0.3 miles, 0.6 km)	Pictures
Claythorpe Water Mill & Wildfowl Gardens	(3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Harrington Hall	(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Mablethorpe Animal Gardens	(7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction N)	Pictures
Snipe Dales Country Park	(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Fantasy Island	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Cadwell Park	(10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre	(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Bainland Country Park	(17.8 miles, 28.6 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Tattershall Castle	(19.2 miles, 31.0 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Pleasure Island, Cleethorpes	(20.7 miles, 33.3 km, direction NW)	Pictures
The Jungle Zoo	(21.1 miles, 34.0 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway	(21.1 miles, 34.0 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Spurn Head Lighthouse	(21.7 miles, 34.9 km, direction N)	Pictures

All attractions in Alford
All attractions in Lincolnshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Alford

Claythorpe, in the county of Lincolnshire (3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction NW)
The gentle hills of the Wold's beyond a coast inhabited by some of England's finest nature reserves reveal a wealth of preserved buildings dotted amid famously beautiful countryside.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Calceby, in the county of Lincolnshire (4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction W)
Often referred to as the 'lost village of the Wolds' Calceby lies close to the southern-most tip of the famous Bluestone Heath Celtic road, said to have been used by Ancient Britain's before the Romans arrived.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sutton on Sea, in the county of Lincolnshire (5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction NE)
Sutton on Sea has an award winning beach. It is a resort which has a wide appeal to families, apart from a beautiful beach and all the fun of sand castles, there is a great outdoor pool which is entirely safe for children.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Anderby Creek, in the county of Lincolnshire (5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction E)
One of the joys of Anderby is its fine stretch of golden sand making it ideal for bathing and for youngsters wishing to try their hand at building sandcastles.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Mablethorpe, in the county of Lincolnshire (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction NE)
So settled is this coastal town that it is difficult to imagine that the Middle Ages saw the first parish of Mablethorpe swallowed up by the sea.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Ingoldmells, in the county of Lincolnshire (7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction SE)
Ingoldmells offers an exciting traditional sea-side holiday, it has a good beach which is safe for bathing, and in the hinterland there is a great choice of caravan and camping parks for families.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Stainsby, in the county of Lincolnshire (8.4 miles, 13.6 km, direction SW)
This is a pleasant Lincolnshire village lying in the spacious countryside bordering the River Witham.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Fulletby, in the county of Lincolnshire (10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction W)
The village was the birthplace of Henry Winn, writer and poet. Winn was the son of the local shoemaker, he grew up in the village, was educated here, and later he married a local girl.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Louth, in the county of Lincolnshire (10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction NW)
Louth is a lively and interesting market town whose cattle have now been replaced with other industries and the good townspeople who for centuries were engaged in agriculture, are these days employed in business and commerce.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Saltfleet, in the county of Lincolnshire (11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction N)
The village is quite delightful, it is quiet and sleepy with an array of sturdy red-brick cottages.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Alvingham, in the county of Lincolnshire (11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction NW)
This charming village is set alongside the old Louth Navigation Canal. It is noted for having the only church in England dedicated to Saxon St.Adlewold.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Revesby, in the county of Lincolnshire (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction SW)
Surrounded by woodland, the pretty village of Revesby was once the home of the celebrated naturalist, Sir Joseph Banks
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Donna Nook, in the county of Lincolnshire (14.4 miles, 23.2 km, direction N)
This place takes its name from a ship once wrecked on its desolate shore. When the tide recedes the sea disappears from view beyond the muddy flats and banks of sand.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Mareham le Fen, in the county of Lincolnshire (14.6 miles, 23.5 km, direction SW)
This pleasant Fen village was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, but it's history is known to stretch far beyond 1086.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Carrington, in the county of Lincolnshire (15.8 miles, 25.4 km, direction SW)
This is a tranquil village perfectly placed for exploring the beauty of the Lincolnshire countryside.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Lincolnshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Thorpe Culvert Station	(9.7 miles, 15.7 km, direction S)
Skegness Station	(10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction SE)
Humberside International Airport	(30.9 miles, 49.8 km, direction NW)
M180 Junction 5	(33.4 miles, 53.7 km, direction NW)
M180 Junction 4	(36.4 miles, 58.5 km, direction NW)
Norwich Airport	(61.5 miles, 98.9 km, direction SE)
Alford to London	(122.0 miles, 196.4 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Alford

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Alford center
Windmill Hotel	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Half Moon Hotel And Restaurant	(0.3 miles, 0.4 km)
Best Western Kenwick Park Hotel & Leisure Club	(8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction NW)
Southview Park Hotel	(9.0 miles, 14.4 km, direction SE)
North Shore Hotel	(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction SE)
County Hotel	(10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction SE)
The Fountaindale Skegness	(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction SE)
Royal Renaissance	(10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction SE)
Best Western Vine Hotel	(11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction SE)
The Crown Hotel	(11.2 miles, 18.0 km, direction SE)
All hotels in Alford