Spalding

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Spalding

Marta and I decided a gentle look around the town counted as part of our Welland exploration, and there's more to see than I expected.

Out first port of call after the hour's drive over was - coffee. We found an ideal place in Bookmark, a bookshop, with toys and maps and a very pleasant atmosphere.  

Like many bookshops now, they host book-signings by authors from time to time.  I was tempted to buy a book about the Welland and Spalding's past, but resisted on this occasion. 

We walked beside the river - a prominent feature, with several footbridges. The water is clean, and there are a fair number of fish.

As we were there on a Tuesday, the Chain Bridge Forge Museum wasn't open, so I hoped the camera could make the interior out better than my own eyes!

 Outside there is a large cartwheel

 and a scarily enormous circular saw

Gamlyn's Almshouses , built in 1843, replacing late 16th century ones provided by John Gamlyn.

We were surprised by the size and splendour of the parish church of St Mary and St Nicholas.

The ceiling of the entrance porch

The elephant in the church

Carvings on the pulpit - see tiny cat creature in the middle

Just along the road is Ayscoughfee Hall . Pronounced locally as Askerfee. Unfortunately it was Tuesday, so the museum was not open.

Ayscoughfee Hall

A medieval roundel in the wall

The gardens are a public park

We finished the day with lunch in the cafe, and then walked along the Welland as far as the Coronation Channel, which was built in 1953 to protect Spalding from floods.

We'll be back.