Spilsby: History, Trails and Special Discoveries

Spilsby combines traces of history, distinctive buildings and routes through the Lincolnshire countryside. Anyone wishing to combine a trip with culture, activity and special discoveries will find a variety of starting points here: a market with its own traditions, memorial sites associated with Sir John Franklin, historic circular walks and the nearby Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby airfield.

Historic Places in the Townscape

The Church of St James is a Grade I-listed building. Inside, there is a memorial to Sir John Franklin; the Willoughby Chapel also commemorates generations of the Willoughby family. A statue of Sir John Franklin was created in 1861 by C. Bacon of London. Its inscription records that Franklin was born in Spilsby in April 1786. These details give exploring the town a personal and historical direction.

The marketplaces also tell the story of Spilsby's development. The town has three marketplaces: East, Middle and West. The Market Place is home to the Buttercross, a 15th-century market cross designated as a Grade II-listed monument. Spilsby's market takes place on Mondays. The traditional auction at this Monday market is called “the stones”. For visitors seeking local history not only in individual buildings but also in public spaces, this creates a travel opportunity of its own.

Circular Walks and Excursions

The Sir John Franklin Trail is a historic circular walk through Spilsby. The Franklin Way is a 3.5-mile-long, historic and signposted circular route connecting Spilsby with the village of Hundleby. The two routes have different focuses: one runs through Spilsby and draws on the town's history, while the other connects the town with Hundleby. Take the length of the Franklin Way into account when planning your day if you would like to include this route in your trip.

For a cycling trip, the Spilsby-to-Wainfleet-All-Saints cycle route is available. It runs along relatively flat, quiet country roads. This allows you to add a route through the surrounding area to your travel plans without losing the focus on historic buildings and local history. In the vicinity of Spilsby, the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby airfield offers flights, indoor tours, outdoor tours and photography experiences.

Old Spilsby and Historic Architecture

Old Spilsby is designated as a Scheduled Monument and preserves the earthworks of an abandoned medieval village. A complete landscape survives, with settlement plots, a broad hollow way and surrounding arable strips featuring ridge-and-furrow structures. Anyone interested in the development of earlier settlements can take a different approach to history here than at the buildings in present-day Spilsby.

Another distinctive building is Spilsby's former courthouse and prison, with massive Greek Doric columns. The original courtroom and prison cells are intended to be brought back into use for modern purposes while preserving the building's historic and architectural integrity. Spilsby Theatre is a Grade II-listed building, but has been closed since 2015 because of its structural condition. This information is also useful for orientation when exploring the historic townscape.

A Suitable Base for Planning Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Spilsby, you can first decide which experiences should shape your trip. Those interested in culture can focus their plans on the Church of St James, the marketplaces, the Buttercross and the memorial sites associated with Sir John Franklin. For active days, the Sir John Franklin Trail, the Franklin Way or the cycle route to Wainfleet All Saints are options. Anyone planning an additional excursion can include the Aviation Heritage Centre in the surrounding area. Parking is available at the nature reserve and at the Country Park. This allows you to align your choice of accommodation with your preferred ideas for each day without assuming any particular offers or amenities.

If you would like to compare other places for your travel plans, you can also find Norton Disney, Ropsley, Messingham, Wilsford, Old Leake, Great Carlton, Cranwell and Barrow-Upon-Humber.

For the broader travel overview: Lincolnshire.