Louth, Lincolnshire

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.3669
longitude= -0.0061
official_name= Louth
population= 17,000 [ [http://www.localhistories.org/louth.html A Brief History of Louth, Lincolnshire ] ] [ [http://www.louthuk.com/town_profile.php?f=Louth Town profile of Louth ] ]
shire_district= East Lindsey
region= East Midlands
shire_county = Lincolnshire
constituency_westminster= Louth and Horncastle
post_town= LOUTH
postcode_district = LN11
postcode_area= LN
dial_code= 01507
os_grid_reference= TF326874
map_type=Lincolnshire

Louth audio|En-louth.ogg|pronounced (listen) is a market town within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.

Geography

Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway "Barton Street" crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of around 17,000.

The Greenwich Meridian crosses "Eastgate" and this point is marked with a plaque on the north side of the street, close to the junction with "Northgate". The three-mile £6.6m A16 Louth [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/417257 Bypass] opened in August 1991. The former route is the B1520.

History

A [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/740531 flood] occurred in the town on May 29, 1920, causing 23 deaths. Several stone plaques in the town show the high water level reached. Other, less devastating floods occurred on 25th June and 21th July in 2007.

Margaret Wintringham succeeded her dead husband at the Louth by-election in September 1921, to become the Liberals' first woman MP, and Britain's third woman MP.

Historically, the town is most [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/860306 noted] as the origin of the Lincolnshire Rising, the forerunner of Pilgrimage of Grace, on October 1 1536, starting in the parish church.

Landmarks

Much of the town centre is lined with brick buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries and the town's skyline is dominated by St. James' Church, the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/481423 spire] of which is convert|295|ft|m|0 tall, though shorter than both Norwich Cathedral (convert|315|ft|m|0) and Salisbury Cathedral (convert|404|ft|m|0) in terms of spire height, it is reputedly the tallest parish church in the United Kingdom. The church was built in 1515.

The tallest structure in the European Union, the Belmont television and radio mast, is situated in the nearby village of Donington on Bain, five miles west of the town.

ABM Pauls used to have a large [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/597153 maltings] , which is now derelict.

Twin town

Louth's twin town is La Ferté-Bernard, close to Le Mans in Pays-de-la-Loire, France. flagicon|France

hopping

Market times

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are all market days, with a farmers' market on the fourth Wednesday of each month. A cattle market is held each Thursday at the Louth Livestock Centre on Newmarket.

Education

Primary schools

* [http://www.kidgate.lincs.sch.uk Kidgate Primary School]
* [http://www.laceygardens.lincs.sch.uk Lacey Gardens Junior School]
* [http://www.st-michaels.lincs.sch.uk St. Michael's C of E Primary School]
* [http://www.eastfield.lincs.sch.uk Eastfield Infants and Nursery School]

econdary schools

* The Cordeaux School
* Monks' Dyke Technology College
* King Edward VI Grammar School

Further education

A new £3m further education college, called [http://www.woldscollege.ac.uk Wolds College] , is being [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7252741.stm built] next to the Cordeaux School. Construction by the Lindum Group started in November 2007, and the college will open in October 2008. Both secondary modern schools have sixth forms; most Lincolnshire secondary modern schools do not - East Lindsey's other sixth form at that type of school is St Clements Collegre in Skegness. Although the town is well served for A-level provision, vocational courses are less well served (until the college opens) in this part of East Lindsey although there is the Grimsby Institute some fifteen miles away.

Places of interest

Cadwell Park motor racing circuit is around four miles south of the town, between the villages of Scamblesby and Tathwell.

Louth will be the eventual southern terminus of the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, based at nearby Ludborough. The town was formerly on the East Lincolnshire Railway from Peterborough to Grimsby, an important north-south route, which opened in 1848, especially for holidaymakers in the summer. The line to Mablethorpe also started in the town from 1877, closing in 1960. The section to near Wainfleet closed in 1961, with the Louth to Grimsby section later continuing for passengers until October 1970 with freight stopping in 1980. The former [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/134019 station] is now residential flats; there are other [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/134326 reminders] still standing.

One of the town's main attractions is [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/417198 Hubbards Hills] , which opened to the public in 1907. The park is a glacial valley through which the River Lud passes, with steep, wooded slopes on either side. The town's "Playhouse Cinema" is on " [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/780566 Cannon Street] ". The " [http://www.riverheadtheatre.co.uk Riverhead Theatre] " is on "Victoria Road", to the east of the town.

Music

"The Southwold Jazz Band" are the resident band at Louth New Orleans Jazz Club [http://www.myspace.com/louth_jazz_club] , performing every Saturday night at the club in Queen Street, occasionally with local resident Robert Wyatt. Electronic duo Team Doyobi also began collaboration in Louth. Ex-Magazine player Dave Formula lives in Louth and his new electronic punk/world fusion extravaganza the Angel Brothers frequently play in the area. Louth is also famous as the hometown of internationally celebrated eclectic ska punk Unlucky Fried Kitten. DJ and producer Nathan Boon was a member of King Edward VI Grammar School and is fast becoming a prominent artist in the fidget house and electro house genre.

Other local bands include Swing Out Sister, The Wasp Factory. "Proles And Stranded" are also local to Louth, also bands such as "Five Shots Left" and "Silence Yourself" have originated musicians in Louth. The band "Five Shots Left" from Louth won the 2006 Lincolnshire youth battle of the bands hosted by "Diversity".

Local economy

[http://www.froveg.co.uk Froveg] is on "Westgate".

Notable Ludensians

Inhabitants of Louth are known as "Ludensians", taken from the name of the River Lud.

* Jeffrey Archer was elected the town's Member of Parliament in a by-election in 1969. He stood down at the October 1974 general election.
* Jim Broadbent, actor, lives in a small village just outside Louth.
* Roy 'Chubby' Brown, adult comedian, (real name "Royston Vasey") lives in nearby Fulstow.
* Leanda Cave, triathlete
* Barbara Dickson, singer and actress, lives in Louth
* Corinne Drewery, lead singer of the band Swing Out Sister, attended schools in the town whilst growing up in the village of Authorpe, between Louth and Alford.
* Sir John Franklin FRGS, (April 15, 1786 – June 11, 1847), English sea captain and Arctic explorer was also educated at King Edward VI Grammar School. Fact|date=February 2007
* Edward John Eyre (5 August 1815 - 30 November 1901) was an English explorer of Australia and a controversial Governor of Jamaica. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School. Fact|date=February 2007
* Graham Fellows, also known as John Shuttleworth and Jilted John, a singer-songwriter and comedian. He had the one-hit wonder Jilted John.
* Michael Foale, the first British-born astronaut, was born at the Crowtree Lane Hospital (now the sixth-form and IT block of King Edward VI Grammar School) in the town (his father was stationed at the nearby Royal Air Force base at Manby).
* [http://www.psybertron.co.uk/cgladwin.htm Christopher Gladwin] ,(b.1976) artist and experimental musician.
* Ron Grant (motorcyclist), former motorcycle road racer and tuner.
* Dan Haigh, bass guitarist in rock band Fightstar, born in Grimsby, was brought up near the town.
* Augustus Charles Hobart-Hampden, (April 1, 1822 - June 19, 1886), English naval captain and Turkish admiral, was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School. Fact|date=February 2007
* Cate Kennedy, author
* Harry Mallett, cricketer.
* Actor Patrick Mower, currently seen in TV soap-opera Emmerdale lives in the area in Little Carlton.
* Ted Savage, footballer
* Captain John Smith, English, soldier, sailor and founder of the Commonwealth of Virginia, although born in Willoughby, attended the King Edward VI Grammar School, where his name is adorned upon a tablet in the school's 'Edward Street Hall'. A cast iron bust of him also stands within the school's canteen.
* Stuart Storey [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics2000/bbc_team/856110.stm Stuart Storey] - BBC sports commentator.
* James Thompson of Mr & Mrs Swing
* Team Doyobi, English Electronic Musicians schooled together at King Edward VI Grammar School.
* Alfred Lord Tennyson was born in Somersby, between Louth and Horncastle, and was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School.
* Graham Winteringham, architect.
* Chris Wright (Producer), founder of the Chrysalis Group and owner of London Wasps Rugby Club, was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School.
* Robert Wyatt, English musician and former member of Soft Machine, now lives in Louth.
* Nathan Boon, an electronic musician was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, and still lives in the town.
* Mrs Ottaway

References

External links

* [http://www.louth.org Louth official website]
* [http://www.louthtoday.co.uk Louth Today]
* [http://www.myspace.com/louth_jazz_club/ Louth Jazz Club]
* [http://www.louth.org/2000/2000.html Louth Museum]
* [http://www.stjameschurchlouth.com St. James' Church]
* [http://www.louthtowncouncil.gov.uk Louth Town Council]
* [http://www.louthcanal.org.uk Louth Navigation Trust]
* [http://www.louthlincs.co.uk Louth Directory]
* [http://www.louthshopping.co.uk Shopping in Louth]
* [http://www.poacherguide.co.uk/town_information/louth.php Poacher Country]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Louth WikiTravel]
* [http://www.louthdistrictscouts.org.uk Louth District Scouts' website]