Alford, Lincolnshire

Alford
Alford Windmill
Alford  Alford shown within Lincolnshire
Population	3,231 (2001)
OS grid reference	TF454758
Civil parish	Alford
District	East Lindsey
Shire county	Lincolnshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALFORD
Postcode district	LN13
Dialling code	01507
Police	Lincolnshire
Fire	Lincolnshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Louth and Horncastle
List of places: UK • England • Lincolnshire

Alford (pronounced "Olford") is a town in Lincolnshire, England, with a population of about 3,500. It lies at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds, 13 miles (21 km) north-west of Skegness.

Facilities

Shopping

Alford's retail outlets are mainly convenience-related to cater for local people. Shops include pharmacy, grocery, DIY and homeware stores, with one for upmarket food and wines. The town has two supermarkets, one on Church Street, the other on West Street.

Pubs

Alford's pubs are the Half Moon Hotel, The Windmill Hotel, The George, the Anchor, and the White Hart.

Markets

Craft markets

Alfords's craft market has taken place every August bank holiday since the 1970s. A market is held in the grounds of the manor house, and includes stalls selling locally crafted products with, usually, musical entertainment in a marquee. A smaller weekly market is held in the Corn Exchange every Tuesday and Friday.

Weekly & European markets

Market days in Alford are on Tuesdays. The market, which varies in size dependent on the time of the year and the day, is generally small. The main market takes place in the Market Place, with stalls of groceries and small items such as greeting cards.

Since Christmas 2005 European markets have been held annually at Easter and on holidays, with traders from the near continent who concentrate on selling food.

Banks

Alford has two banks, Lloyds TSB and Barclays, and has a branch of the Yorkshire Building Society.

Education

Primary schools

• Alford Primary School

Secondary schools

• Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
• John Spendluffe Foundation Technology College

The Grammar school was judged as "Outstanding" in the Ofsted inspection of 2007;^{[citation needed]} The Technology College received an "Outstanding" report from Ofsted in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Health

There are National Health and private dentists on South Street and Merton Lodge, and a doctors' surgery on West Street.

Industry

At the south-west of the town is Beechings Way Industrial Estate, containing enterprises such as printing companies and manufacturing firms, the builders' merchant, Jewson and a Royal Mail sorting office. The UK's largest online fire safety retailer Safelincs Ltd is based in Alford.

Recently, the town's main employer, Finnveden Powertrain Ltd. was meant to be shut down in 2010 but is still going,although a lot of people had to be laid off.

A new crematorium opened on the outskirts of town in 2008.

Population

Population of Alford Civil Parish
Year	1881	1891	1901	1911	1921	1931	1951	1961	2001
Population	2,894	2,843	2,478	2,394	2,194	2,227	2,218	2.139	3,231	4,987 Places of interest Windmill Windmill Alford is known for its five-sailed windmill, a tower mill built in 1837 by Sam Oxley, an Alford millwright. In its heyday it was capable of grinding 4 to 5 tons of corn per day. The mill operated until 1955. After two years' standing idle, it was restored to full working order. It is used commercially to produce stone-ground organic flour and cereal. It is the only windmill surviving in Alford. In 1932 there were three, each with a different number of sails (four, five and six).[citation needed] It is one of several working windmills in Lincolnshire. Others can be found at Lincoln, Heckington, Boston, Waltham, Kirton in Lindsey, Sibsey and Burgh le Marsh. Alford Manor House Alford Manor House The town is known for its Manor House, reputedly[citation needed] the largest thatched manor house in the country. In 2006 it was refurbished through National Lottery funding in association with English Heritage; the refurbishment led to the installation of new interactive exhibitions and increased accessibility for disabled visitors. The manor house has a tea room and open gardens. Religious buildings St Wilfrid's church St Wilfrid's, Alford is the parish church in Alford located at the junction between Church Street, South Street and West Street. The church operates services and holds annual events such as a flower show. Alford also has a small Methodist church. Approximately four miles from Alford, in the tiny village of Markby, is the church of St Peter's, the only remaining thatched church in Lincolnshire. It is used for weddings, christenings and funerals, and for normal services. Transport Former railway station Beechings Way Industrial Estate is so named as it is built on the closed East Lincolnshire Railway line from Grimsby to Boston. The line (and Alford Town railway station) was axed by Dr. Beeching during his rationalisation of British Railways in the 1960s and early 1970s. It closed on 5 October 1970. Notable residents Captain John Smith who lived in nearby Willoughby Anne Hutchinson, pioneer settler and religious reformer in the United States Thomas Paine, who was an excise officer in the town.[citation needed] Richard Dixon of Alford was one of the original settlers in Jamestown, North America.[citation needed] See also Alford and Sutton Tramway References External links Alford Town Council website Five Sailed Windmill, Alford Alford Group of Churches website Alford Town website