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Holbeach looks ahead

The busy market town of Holbeach has much to offer both residents and visitors

Words: Judy Theobald Photographs: Johh Smith and John Whitaker

Holbeach is not merely a town but a huge expanse of land extending from the Cambridgeshire border in the south to the Wash sixteen miles to the north and about three to four miles east to west. On this expanse are Holbeach town and the villages of Holbeach St Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Holbeach Hurn and Holbeach Drove. Holbeach Clough and Holbeach Bank are other hamlets in this vast parish. The total population of this area is almost 24,000 with around 5,000 in Holbeach town, the largest of the settlements.

It lies in what was the original Saxon Elloe Wapentake, 'Ye Elloe Bellie' so the inhabitants of this part of the county could be said to be true Yellowbellies.

In 1252 the right for a market and fair at Holbeach was granted to Thomas de Moulton by Royal charter. The market was held close to the church and the market cross was probably situated adjacent to the nearby crossroads.

All Saints' Church, a splendid fourteenth-century building, dominates the town from all angles. The most extraordinary external feature of this church is its turreted north porch which is believed to have been salvaged from Thomas de Moulton's nearby castle when it finally became a ruin. Inside, one of the most imposing monuments is that of Sir Humphrey Littlebury, born in 1346, whose home was at Penny Hill Hall, a mile north of the town. His magnificent altar tomb has four canopied niches on each side, carved with eight coats of arms. Originally it was at the east end of the north aisle but now is at the west end, close to the north porch. Sir Humphrey is thought to have been killed in the Wars of the Roses.

Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, the sea came to within two miles of the town and it is thought that the stone to build the church, the market cross and the hospital of All Saints was brought along the river having travelled from Barnack along the Welland, through the port of Spalding, along the Wash and into Holbeach. This river was eventually culverted for about a mile through the town and no sign remains of it today.

Holbeach's proximity to the sea may have aided trade but it put the town in a perilous position on more than one occasion and there are records of floods in the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. However, a series of land drainage programmes have moved the coastline nine miles away and Holbeach is now completely surrounded by some of the richest agricultural land in the country.

At one time, Holbeach was a centre for the woad industry, producing twice as much as Boston which was well-known for its woad production. The leaves of this plant, Isatis tinctoria, were used to produce a blue dye and there may well have been factories in the area.

Holbeach has long been a centre for education. A grammar school was founded by Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth I in 1588, making it contemporary with Alford. This school functioned until about 100 years ago. In 1870 there were also four National Schools in and about Holbeach. The George Farmer's Free School was founded in 1669. The school that bears his name is still in Holbeach although it is now a technical college. The value of his original bequest has shrunk considerably but there is still enough to give grants of £50 to some pupils aged over sixteen who wish to continue with their education.

Holbeach is also fortunate in having the delightful Carter's Park close to the centre of town. Mr H P Carter was a farmer who amassed a considerable fortune by buying up every smallholding he could. He then went to live in South Africa but remained generous towards his home town which now owns the ten-acre park which bears his name.

Combining lawns, shrubberies and flower beds with areas for sporting pursuits, the park was the early training ground of the Olympic shot putter, Geoff Capes. Geoff was born in Holbeach in 1949, always excelled at sport and when he grew up, became a member of Holbeach Athletic Club. In the 1970s he set Commonwealth and British throwing records and was Britain's strongest man on three occasions.

As with many Lincolnshire villages, the contraction in agricultural employment and people's increased mobility all left their mark on Holbeach's prosperity - and continue to do so.

According to Market Towns Regeneration Officer Peter Julian, the new branch of Tesco's supermarket which opened two years ago, may have brought jobs to the town and stopped people from travelling to Boston or Spalding to shop, but in the meantime, businesses in the main shopping street have closed down, including the family firm, Hanson's Holbeach Bakery. The farmers' market has also virtually gone.

Holbeach also suffered a blow when Tinsley's sandwich factory, based four miles away at Holbeach St Marks, and which employed between 600 and 800 people, closed down. However, the premises have now been taken over by Geest which is just starting to get production going again on a pizza line. The company is investing very heavily in the site and as part of its strategy for employing staff, held an open day at which people were invited to tell Geest what working conditions would be most favourable to them. The company is trying to plan employment contracts and shifts around what people want and generally the employment situation in the town is extremely positive.

Furthermore, Holbeach is becoming an increasingly popular place to live as it is within the 'golden corridor' of towns across the south of the county which have convenient access to Grantham and Peterborough making it an attractive place to live not just for people working in those towns but for those who commute into London. However, Mr Julian said housing development in Holbeach may have to 'plateau out' because of a lack of infrastructure - schools, doctors, dentists, etc.

Holbeach is still a centre for education and the town's Agricultural College is now linked with the University of Lincoln and is going to be known as Holbeach Science Park. About £750,000 is being invested in the project to redevelop the site and offer an increased number of courses. The park will also incorporate mini factory units for people wanting to set up in the food industry. They will be offered IT support by the university.

In the town centre, Somerfield supermarket has been refurbished and close by is the new hi-tech Interchange Point for the Interconnect 505 bus route. This offers an improved bus service between Spalding and Kings Lynn and residents can also make use of a mini-bus service which they can call up to bring them into town. The mini-bus service started sixteen months ago and is already up to capacity. Tickets can also be booked from the new shelter. Mr Julian said that generally, the new Interchange Point had been very well received.

Despite all these changes, Holbeach still remains a peaceful town at the hub of its namesake hamlets and villages. There is plenty going on to entertain both residents and visitors alike. The town has its own band which plays at concerts and church services throughout the area, a football team and various clubs and societies.

On 7th December, Holbeach is holding its annual Christmas Fair.