Talking Gainsborough

Regeneration initiatives are injecting extra life into a county market town, which is proving a growing magnet for tourists and shoppers.

Words: Glynis Fox Photographs: Mick Fox and Eyerise Photography

People arriving in Gainsborough for the first time are discovering it has more to offer than they imagined, and those who haven't visited for many years, are commenting on how it is changing.

And with injections of public and private money flowing in, the townscape in Gainsborough is set to become even more inviting, and transport funding should ultimately make it easier to get around.

So just what is there to enjoy in this bustling area, which boasts a real mix of historic attractions, places to walk alongside the River Trent, and up-to-the-minute shopping.

Those desperate for retail therapy, will enjoy the contrasting shopping options offered by the £39 million Marshall's Yard complex and the traditional town centre - which, together offer shopaholics the chance to browse big-name and niche stores.

But if you just fancy a wander around the town and dipping into its historic treasures, a visit to Gainsborough Old Hall in Parnell Street is a must, because this is a place where there is always something happening.

All Saints Church is also worth getting the camera out for and, if there is a concert on, you will enjoy the double bonus of sitting in an architecturally-impressive building with superb acoustics.

If you are passionate about arts and crafts, The Bend in the River (where an eighteenth Century Dutch warehouse has been turned into an art gallery) is well worth a visit and a great place to find an unusual gift, with its studios and workshops, which are home to artisans such as glassmakers and silversmiths.

And of course there are plenty of places to chill out and eat in Gainsborough, from traditional pubs to cafés.

If you want to be entertained while you dine, you might choose The Sands, or you can check out The State Club, which offers a varied programme of music, including live acts and which also shows the latest films.

The New Year promises to start on a high note for the town which has a proud manufacturing history, built on the production of tractors and packaging machines which put Gainsborough on the worldwide map.

That's because work is about to start on a major facelift in the town centre - a move which has been welcomed by many shopkeepers.
As we went to press, six tenders from firms keen to do the work, were being evaluated, in order to find a top quality contractor for the Public Realm project.

Growth Point Manager for West Lindsey District Council, Joanna Walker said: "The decision to start in January has been taken to avoid the run-up to Christmas and to get on site when, traditionally, trade is quieter in the early part of the year."

Miss Walker said work will include the pedestrianisation of the Market Place and Lord Street and repairs to Silver Street. Further improvements will be done in other areas during the financial year 2010-2011, provided money is available.

The £3 million scheme is being paid for by the East Midlands Development Agency, the private sector, Lincolnshire County Council and West Lindsey District Council.

A dedicated project manager will supervise the improvements, liaising regularly with traders to make sure everyone knows when and where the work will take place. The upgrade means it will be necessary to move the market to Ship Court Car Park.

Lincolnshire County Council has been given £1.85 million as part of the Community Infrastructure Fund. And that also spells good news for Gainsborough's transport network.

Anything that can make things run more smoothly in this area is really important, because it is hoped that 2,500 new homes will be built under the Growth Point project.

Miss Walker said a strategy will be developed for improvements to the public transport infrastructure. It will also look at potential improvements to road junctions and ways of making life easier for cyclists and pedestrians.

While the town centre is in line for an upgrade, Marshall's Yard - which opened at Easter 2007 on the site of a famous engineering works which once employed 2,000 people - continues to thrive.

As well as shopping it also hosts regular Farmers' Markets and special family events - such as a spooky Halloween night, complete with entertainment and competitions.

Marshall's Yard was brought forward by joint developers Dransfield Properties and Prospect Estates, which clearly spotted the massive potential that the former Britannia Iron Works offered.

The Marshall's Yard team is now preparing for a bumper third Christmas, with centre and store staff tempting more people from Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Doncaster and further afield to visit Gainsborough.

Dransfield Properties Ltd Managing Director Mark Dransfield said the site, which once employed thousands of people making steam engines and threshing machines - and which was a munitions factory during the war - had been a catalyst for other investment in the town.

And, despite a tough year, Marshall's has welcomed newcomers, including Yeomans and handbag specialist Chic.

The Pattern Store, which was part of the original factory at Marshall's Yard, has also undergone a major redevelopment. Work was completed earlier this year on a project which has created small starter units for businesses wanting a prime location with flexible leases.

"It has been a busy year for us. This last twelve months have seen our regular Farmers' Markets (second Saturday of the month) attract more and more visitors to the Yard and the completion of the Pattern Store development, enabling new businesses to locate into the heart of the town, in purpose-built modern premises," said Mr Dransfield.

Since it opened, the centre has won a number of high profile national and regional awards - including the BCSC Gold Award. It is also home to West Lindsey District Council's Guildhall.

While Marshall's Yard is dominated by national retailers, the town centre remains home to many others, including niche retailers, such as family carpeting and furnishings firm, Horsleys and Lincolnshire Co-operative at the Lindsey Centre.

Horsleys has been a feature of Gainsborough's shopping scene for a phenomenal 107 years!

Today, the business, which is headed by directors John and Stuart Horsley and John's son David (a fourth generation family member), trades from two sites in Church Street - numbers 27/29 and 86.

One concentrates on selling carpets, furniture and electrical goods, while the other specialises in beds.

The Horsleys' team is in buoyant mood about the changes planned for Gainsborough and the recent slight pick-up in the housing market.

John Horsley said: "We believe the planned investment for the town and changes to the Market Square will ultimately be good for our business, and that we will also start to benefit from the slight lift in house prices, which has recently been reported.

CHAMBER VIEW

Gainsborough Chamber said the town is "doing quite well" but its area president, Lisa Whitelam - a partner in solicitor Burton & Dyson - is keen to see a better balance between trade in its traditional heart and Marshall's Yard.

"Marshall's Yard has brought a lot of big-name stores like Marks & Spencer, Next and Laura Ashley to the town and, therefore, a lot of new visitors. Unfortunately, although the Market Place is within walking distance of this complex, business owners say that people are simply not walking there," said Mrs Whitelam.

"Work to improve the appearance of the Market Place, which is starting in January, should help. If it is more attractive, then people are more likely to go there.

"If I had a magic wand, I would love to see another big retailer in the town, outside of the Marshall's Yard development, to persuade people to walk through the Market Place."

Mrs Whitelam hopes that treasures, such as Gainsborough Old Hall, could be used to tempt people to discover more of the town's hidden gems.

She said the Chamber is working hard to encourage a "dynamic business scene." Inter-trading between local shops and service businesses is promoted at many networking events.

"We are also lobbying to ensure that our industrial centres are not neglected in the investment planned for the town. At the moment, we feel that the proposed Business Improvement District (BID) is in danger of becoming very retail-focused," said Mrs Whitelam.

"As a Chamber, we would like to see more focus on the industrial parks. It is great that the retail sector in Gainsborough is better now than it has ever been, but traditionally this is an industrial town and it is important that we work to encourage ongoing investment and the creation of jobs in the manufacturing sector."

Mrs Whitelam said that Gainsborough's new multi-million pound Trent Valley Academy is a great opportunity.

"I have been able to look around the new school and the facilities are fantastic. It is too early to say whether it will help the economy. I certainly hope it will, but ultimately it is the pupils and teachers that will make the difference," she said.

"Overall, I believe that Gainsborough is in a great position at the moment to attract investment and hopefully new businesses. I, and the Chamber, feel very positive about the future for the local economy and businesses."

QUEEN ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL

Queen Elizabeth's High School is an 11-18 co-educational selective school situated on Morton Terrace. The school has been part of Gainsborough since Elizabethan times and celebrated its 420th Birthday on 21st November. As a school we are proud of our heritage and will continue to provide education of the highest quality into the future. The school was rated as outstanding by Ofsted in 2008.

Our exam results are certainly impressive and we aim to develop students who are academically strong and who are also able to go on to follow successful careers and fulfilling lives by developing the whole individual.

GAINSBOROUGH'S ATTRACTIONS

The Old Hall, in Parnell Street, is a fascinating Medieval building erected by Sir Thomas Burgh between 1460 and 1480.
This fascinating landmark is owned by English Heritage and managed by Lincolnshire County Council. It welcomes everyone from individual visitors to school groups. Events on its busy calendar include lectures, workshops and colourful craft fairs.

All Saints Church is also from the same period and it still boasts a medieval tower. But there was a major revamp between 1736 and 1744 when the nave was rebuilt. Lots of concerts are held in this stunning building, which has great acoustics.

Keen to do something different? Ghost Trails are offered by Gainsborough Delvers, who will introduce you to the town's most ancient and mysterious areas. Tours take in the Old Nick police cells, near Marshall's Yard.

If you prefer something hotter, you can chill out to a variety of entertainment and have a leisurely meal at somewhere like The Sands, or let your hair down and dance to live bands or relax with a film at The State Club.

The Trinity Arts Centre offers a range of entertainment, including films, dance, musical acts and stand-up comedy, in the atmospheric setting of a former Gothic church.

West Lindsey District Council currently owns the centre but, as we went to print, councillors were considering a report which explored new options for the coming year.

These could lead to a gradual change, which could see the community group Arts for Trinity becoming responsible for promoting events after January 2010 and looking after its own artistic programme and the maintenance of the centre after 2012.