Pictures of Alford
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.
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