Originally an Iron Age settlement, the Lincolnshire town of Sleaford, now home to about 18,000 people, owes its site to an ancient track that forded the River Slea.

Sleaford Castle (today reduced to grassy mounds that are obviously a favourite with the moles) and St Denys' church (still proudly there in the market place) date back to the 12th century. They formed the nucleus of New Sleaford, which eventually -- such is the way of the world -- eclipsed Old Sleaford.











Sleaford initially became significant for its wool trade. Then, at the end of the 18th century, the Slea was canalized, and the Sleaford Navigation promoted economic growth until, in turn, this form of transport was superseded by the railways in the mid-1850s.

Certainly, as you walk around Sleaford, the first thing you're instantly aware of is that there's water everywhere... It had been a wet day, but once we'd eaten our picnic (in the comfort of the car), the rain kindly stopped, and we stayed dry for our explorations. But the water in the air was nothing to the water all around. The Slea, of course, but so many other sluices and mysterious little waterways...









You also definitely have the impression that there was money here. There's a wealth of lovely buildings, in both mellow stone and red brick.

Examples, from all sorts of genres:












On the way back to Newark, we called in at the Lincolnshire village of Allington, which counts as "doubly thankful": "During the two world wars, 32 Allington residents served in the armed forces. Remarkably all returned home and consequently the village is one of a grateful few that does not support a War Memorial. During the Second World War many persons were exempt from service because, as farm labourers, their work was vital to the home effort. The war years saw Welby Hall becoming a military hospital and a POW Camp was established in the village which held Germans and later Italian prisoners." (The Allington online site also has a wealth of interesting old photos.)



Holy Trinity dates back to the 12th century. What an extraordinary little church...: "By the end of the 14th century it gained a double bellcote with the original bells which are still rung at every service... In the 17th century a repair was effected to the south side of the nave and the chancel and the chosen material was red brick at a cost of £180."


It was such an unpromising day, weather-wise, that we nearly didn't bother going out. I'm glad we persevered.