Boston, Lincolnshire

For other uses, see Boston (disambiguation).

Boston, population 54,000 (1996), is a town on the North Sea coast of England in Lincolnshire. It is the main town in the borough of Boston. The name "Boston" is a contraction of "Saint Botolph's Town". Boston is a twin town with Laval, France.

History

A settlement in Boston is believed to date back to 654, when a Saxon monk named Botolph established a monastery on the banks of the river Witham. This story is disputed by some historians who believe the town had a different origin.

Boston was not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book; however the small settlement of Skirbeck is mentioned. Skirbeck is now a part of Boston. Boston grew into a town during the 11th and 12th Century.

It was a significant port in the Middle Ages for trade with the continent of Europe. Much of Boston's trade at this time was in wool, Boston is often quoted as being "built on wool" by the locals. Apart from wool, Boston also exported salt, grain and lead. The wool industry began to decline in the 15th Century as the industry shifted to different parts of the country. Boston's wealth also declined as a result from then on.

In the 13th and 14th Century four orders of friars came to Boston, Dominicans, Franciscan, Carmelites and Augustines. The friaries where eventually closed by King Henry VIII. The dining room of one of the friaries was converted into a theatre in 1965 and is now known as Blackfriars Arts Centre.

The town received its charter in 1545 from Henry VIII and Boston had 2 Members of Parliament from 1552 onwards.

In 1607 a group of Pilgrims led by William Brewster attempted to escape to Holland from Boston. At the time emmigration was illegal and they were imprisoned in the Guildhall. Most of the pilgrims were released the following year and set sail for America on the ship Mayflower from Plymouth. These people became known as the Pilgrim Fathers. Boston remained a hotbed of religious dissent, and many of the later Puritan settlers originated there, hence the name Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston saw a revival during the late 18th Century when the fens where drained. The land was fertile and Boston began exporting cereals to London. In 1774 the first bank was opened and in 1776 an act of parliament allowed watchmen to begin patrolling the streets at night.

During the 19th Century Boston once again became an important port when new docks were constructed in 1884. The railway came to Boston in 1848. Boston was a major railway terminal but was hit hard by the Dr Beeching cutbacks of the 1960s.

In the 20th Century Boston continued as a major port, exporting grain, fertilizer and timber. The first cinema opened in 1910 and in 1913 a new town bridge was constructed. Central Park was purchased in 1919 which is now one of the focal points of the town. Electricity came to Boston during the early part of the century and electrical street lighting was available from 1924.

In the 21st Century, a new shopping centre named Pescod Centre is currently under development after many years of planning.

Boston has seen a large increase in immigrants, most notably from Eastern Europe. This has led to some racial tension which came to a head during the 2004 European Football Championship when the town was hit by rioting.

Sites of Interest

Boston is located in the Lincolnshire Fens in what is known as Holland, named after the Dutch workers who came over in the 17th and 18th Century to assist in draining the marshy land. It is notable for being one of the flattest areas in England. Much of the surrounding area of Boston is farmland, Lincolnshire being one of the centers of the English farming industry.

The magnificent mediaeval Boston parish church, with its high tower, known locally as the "Boston Stump" can be seen for many miles around the town. The church was begun in the 14th Century. Archeological records indicate that a wooden Norman church existed on the same site.

The Maud Foster Windmill, completed in 1819, is the largest operating windmill in England after extensive restoration during the 1980s and early 1990s.

The Guildhall, where the Pilgrim Fathers were put on trial and imprisoned, was converted into a museum in 1929. The American Room was opened by the US Ambassador Joseph Kennedy in 1938.

The Boston May Fair has been held in the town every year since at least 1125. Traditionally this fair is held during the first week of May and is one of the largest outdoor fairs in the country.

See also

• Boston United F.C., known locally as "The Pilgrims".