Spalding grew up beside the River Welland and was a place of importance by Norman times with a castle of which no trace remains. There was also a priory which was founded in 1051 by the Benedictines and in 1070 it was renewed as a dependency of St Nicholas, Angers. It grew to be the foundation of 30 monks and was one of the richest religious houses in Lincolnshire, its value after the Dissolution being valued at £900.
High Bridge & Ye Olde White Horse
Its extensive buildings reached south of the present Market Place and east of the Sheep Market, but following the Dissolution these were destroyed and although road names and other evidence of the Priory survived, the only real survivor is the Prior’s Oven, now a café, believed to have been a prison. There is also a range of buildings in Priory Road that are by tradition linked with the religious foundation.In later years Spalding grew as a trading centre on the River Welland, exporting corn and coleseed whilst imports were coal, timber and general provisions. In the 16th century it was described by James Camden, the historian, as a ‘most handsome town’. Spalding is attractively set on either side of the Welland and is one of the English town that makes the most of its river. Tree edged streets flank either bank and Georgian properties look across at each other. One of the river crossings is the High Bridge, a rather fine arched structure of 1838.
Medieval Ayscoughfee Hall
Ayscoughfee Hall
The medieval Ayscoughfee Hall is one of the oldest buildings in Spalding. Built by Richard Alwyn in the 1430’s it retains much of its original fabric including a fine bay window, brick vaulted cellar and one of the finest timber framed roofs in Lincolnshire. In the 1790’s the ceiling with its fine classical plaster work was added to the remodelled hall and although additions were built, principally as a
kitchen wing, they blend sympathetically with the medieval house. The 18th century panelled library has been restored and furnished to the period when the last Maurice Johnson lived in the hall. 6 generations of the family lived there, the second being the well known antiquary who founded the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society. In 1845 the front elevation was altered when William Todd was believed to have built the stone screen and added bay windows with crenellations and shaped gables. Architect William Sands is credited with laying out the attractive gardens circa 1730.
The Parish Church
The Spalding church of St. Mary and St. Nicolas was built as a parish church by the priory in about 1284 when Prior William de Littleport was the incumbent. This unusual arrangement between priory and parish still survives as a rare and interesting document. The chosen site was that originally occupied by a Norman cemetery chapel of which few remains still exist. Basically, however, the present church is a late 13th century cruciform building, the remainder being 14th and 15th century. The building was again altered between 1866 and 1867 when Sir Gilbert Scott carried out extensive restorations. The church contains
The Parish Church
interesting architectural features - Norman buttresses (which may be from the original chapel), a Perpendicular clerestory (or gallery) and south porch, and tower that dates from 1284, topped by battlements, crocketed pinnacles, flying buttresses and a 160 foot spire. The interior is also of many periods. The hammer-beam roof, with its carved angels is Perpendicular, the nave arcades are of 1284, the transepts are Early English and there are details carried out by Scott in the Victorian times. Most of the stained glass, the screen and pews also dates from this period, the elegant brass chandelier is of 1766 and there are several monuments of interest.
Fulney Church
Other Churches
The other churches in the town date from the 19th century. The church of St John the Baptist was built in 1875 and the Roman Catholic Church in 1878. St Paul’s in the suburb of Fulney which was built in 1880, is constructed of red brick and has a detached tower and spire away from the body of the building, to which it is linked by an arcade. The ruin of Wykeham chapel stands alone amid the Fens north-east of the town. It was built in 1311 by Prior Clement Hatfield to be the private chapel of his country house (of which the line of the moat survives) and was thus quite a fine
building, 43 feet in length. The window tracing is particularly good.
Spalding Gentlemen’s Society
The Gentleman’s Society was founded by Maurice Johnson of Ayscoughfee Hall in 1710. It began with a series of informal meetings of a few local gentlemen to discuss local antiquities and to read ‘The Tatler’, a newly published London Periodical. In 1712 the Society was formally established. Early members included a number of notable 18th century figures, among them Sir Isaac Newton. Alfred Lord Tennyson was a member of the Society in later years. The Museum is with the exception of Ashmolean, the oldest in Britain. The present Museum in Broad Street was opened in 1911 and is not open to the public although the Society are willing to show their collection of historic relics by appointment.
Other Buildings of Interest
Spalding retains many fine buildings which include in the Market Place the White Hart which has been an Inn for hundreds of years. Mary Queen of Scots stopped there for a night in 1566. The 18th century front conceals a timber framed building beyond which is being built a modern shopping development.
Beyond the town centre elegant Georgian architecture can be seen particularly in Welland Terrace which fronts the river. The houses were probably designed by John Cunningham in 1813 and have fine porches with Doric columns and pediments. Other buildings of interest include the Georgian Welland Hall which has an excellant porch and ceilings. On the other side of the river in Cowbit Road, Westbourne Lodge is an example of Palladian architecture, the building was designed circa 1760 by William Sands. Church Street, reached by crossing High Bridge, has notable 18th century houses which include Wisteria Lodge built in 1792 as well as the attractive Gamlyn’s Almshouses - William Gamlyn founded the charity in 1590 and the present alms houses were rebuilt by William Todd in 1844. High Street contains interesting buildings such as the early 19th century Holland Mills - the outstanding building however is Holland House which has been described as the finest house in Spalding, it was built by William Sands Junior in 1768. Double Street has two especially nice houses, the Sycamores which is early 19th century and the Limes which is early 18th century. Further down Double Street is the Friends Meeting House built in 1805 which contains original fitments. The finest building in Broad Street is the 18th century Manor House which is now the home of the Spalding Constitutional Club. The monumental Sessions House in Sheep Market was built in 1842.
