Grantham
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A soaring church spire and a Victorian clock tower, are all that’s visible when first approaching the red brick town of Grantham in southwest Lincolnshire. Surrounded by rich agricultural land and picturesque villages and hamlets, it is a bustling market town set amongst the best of English countryside.
For centuries it was a preferred stop for noblemen and kings who used the inns and hostelries as they journeyed through by stagecoach. The Angel and Royal Hotel is evidence of this era and was chosen as a court by King John, and is said to be the oldest inn in England.
A Royal Manor when the Domesday Book was compiled, Grantham today is a modern town but with many landmarks as constant reminders to its colourful past. The River Witham acts as a natural border between the town and its surroundings where you will find country mansions, woodlands, old stone villages and traditions kept from bygone times. The birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton and Lady Margaret Thatcher, Grantham is a town of great contrast with a fine blend of ancient character and modern charm.
There are plenty of things to do and see in Grantham. For those wanting to take part in various activities, the Leisure Centre includes a 25m indoor heated pool, solariums, sunbeds and fitness rooms, and operates a variety of team sports and classes during the day and evening. Whilst the Sports Stadium has an international football pitch, sports hall, table tennis centre and facilities for track and field events.
For golfers the Belton Woods Country Club has two 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole course, Belton Park and Stoke Rochford golf clubs are both 18 hole and Sudbrook Moore at Carlton Scoop is a 9-hole course. Mega-Bowl is a ten-pin bowling hall, Rollaworld has a 500 square metre rollerskating rink close by the town centre.
The Guild Hall is an arts centre operating an extensive programme of dance, drama and concerts. Paragon Cinema is a two screen cinema showing first run feature films. Coarse fishing and fly fishing is available on the various reservoirs, lakesides and river banks. For anyone wanting to go for a walk, there are many on offer including: The Riverside Walk, The Gingerbread Way and the Viking Way.
The unspoilt countryside around Grantham and nearby villages has led to the conservation and development of certain rural areas for nature reserves. Ancaster Valley is a steep sided valley with limestone flowers including rare pasque flower, fragrant and burnt orchids, bellflower and rockrose. Horbling Line is where keen birdwatchers will be able to catch sight of the whitethroat, spotted flycatcher, and nightingale.
More Closes has an area of rich wet meadow and marsh flora, with a variety of grasses, sedges and rushes. In the drier areas of the reserve, the flora includes dropwort, and the rare long stemmed thrift, now only found in the Ancaster area. At Tortoiseshell Wood and Meadow the main trees are ash and oak, some of the oak trees are over 150 years old. Attracts green and great spotted woodpeckers, nightingales and nuthatch. The meadow flowers include grasses, buttercup, cow-slip and cuckoo-flower, rarer species also found are adders tongue, betony and saw-wort.
There is also plenty of sightseeing to be done. The Angel and Royal hotel is one of the finest Medieval Inns in England. Among its clientele were King John, Richard III, Charles I and Edward VIII. It was here, in 1483, that Richard III signed the death warrant of the Duke of Buckingham. The Beehive Inn dates back from the early 1800’s and is believed to be unique in having a bee hive as a “living sign”.
Grantham House is a National Trust property dating from the 14th century. The house is situated in 25 acres of pleasant grounds and landscaped gardens sloping down to the River Witham. Grantham Museum, houses a comprehensive display of the town’s history and background. A rear gallery holds permanent displays including sections on Sir Isaac Newton and Lady Margaret Thatcher.
The Grantham Museum houses a comprehensive display of the town’s history and background. A rear Gallery holds permanent displays including sections of Sir Isaac Newton and Lady Margaret Thatcher. The Guildhall Centre, designed by William Watkins and dating from 1867 is now one of the major arts venues in the Midlands.
Three miles north of Grantham is Belton House, a honey-coloured stone mansion with arts and treasures form around the world. A National Trust property set in around 1000 acres of wooded deer park, landscaped gardens and a children’s adventure playground. With this and more, Grantham has plenty to offer everyone.
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