This site was produced by: LOCAL AUTHORITY PUBLISHING
Publishers for local authorities throughout Great Britain. View more Official Guides at www.officialguides.co.uk

(1) From the car park in Caskgate Street, and with the road on your right, walk towards the left-hand corner Ship Court, pass under the archway of Ship Court and emerge into Silver Street, so called because the tenants paid an annual silver sixpence in rent. Facing you is the White Horse public house, which dates from the 17th century or earlier. The White Horse yard housed the water pump used by residents of the old town. Turn left and walk along Silver Street into Market Place, which has retained its original shape from Medieval times. Imagine the stocks, once set up in a prominent position in the centre of the square. The Market Place has always been the busy hub of Gainsborough Market from the mid 13th century. On the far left hand side is the old ‘Town Hall’ which was built in 1892 on the site of the old Moot Hall where the Leet Court met twice a year to deal with town problems.

(2) Make your way across the square to the right hand corner of the Town Hall. Leaving the Market Place, turn left down Lord Street. On the right is the ‘White Hart Hotel’. This 18th century coaching inn hosted celebrations marking the completion of the Trent Bridge built in 1791 and again in 1932 when the bridge tolls were abolished. Turn right into Parnell Street, take the first left into Cobden Street, and see the impressive south facing elevation of the Old Hall, a magnificent 15th century Manor House, host to Royal visitors, King Richard III in 1483 and in 1541 King Henry VIII. King Henry stayed for four days with his Queen, Katherine Howard who was accused of indiscretions during this period and later executed one cold February morning. It is one of the most complete medieval manor houses despite being partially destroyed during the Wars of the Roses. The Pilgrim Fathers were allowed to worship here in secret before they sailed to the New World.

(3) From the Old Hall take the path to the right of the building, pause to look back at the Gainsborough Library built in 1905, before continuing around the east wing passing the Tudor Tower on the corner. The memorial to both World wars is on your right, cross to Fawcett Street and enter the grounds of the ‘All Saints’ Parish Church. It is the only surviving example in the county of a grand 18th century city church. Two tiers of windows are decorated with Gibbs surrounds, and the church is beautifully decorated internally.

(4) On leaving the church entrance turn left along the side of the church into Church Street, turning right to the corner with Gladstone Street. On your right is the United Reformed Church built 1896 and formerly known as the John Robinson Memorial Church. This Church was directly linked with the Pilgrim Fathers and named after the Pastor who led the religious dissidents to Holland in 1608. He died before he could join others in America who had taken the historic ‘Mayflower’ voyage in 1620. Continue over the cross roads and along Church Street until the road bears left, cross at this point and, on the left you will see a wall mounted plaque that commemorates William Rose, the inventor of the first packaging machine, 1880, referred to earlier. Continue along Market Street and pause at the corner with Heaton Street. Looking towards the traffic lights on the right can be seen the old ‘County Court’ built 1759. Adjacent is the ‘Friends Meeting House' built 1704. Records indicate complete continuity of Quakerism in Gainsborough from the initial visit of its founder, George Fox, in 1652 up to the present day.

(5) From the corner of Heaton Street with Market Street, walk to the end through the Lindsey Centre Arcade; follow the signpost Post Office, through the Store, to reach Market Place again. Turn left and after a few yards on the left is Curtis Walk with its attractive restored ‘small shops’. Continue along Silver Street, past the White Horse premises. At the ‘T’ junction turn right into Caskgate Street, cross the road to Chapel Staith and continue past the row of shops and the Gainsborough Rowing Club, turning into ‘Whittons Riverside Gardens’. Take in the view across the river. It was at this point that the heroine of George Eliot’s ‘Mill on the Floss’ stood. To your left the 200-year-old Trent Bridge can just be seen. The two Toll Houses remain at the bridge. The Toll Gates taken from the Bridge are exhibited in the gardens near the bricked archway.

(6) From the Riverside Gardens with your back to the river, observe the elegant ‘Elswitha Hall’ built in 1759. The house was named after Elswitha, a Princess of the Gaina tribe who married King Alfred the Great in 868. Elswitha Hall was the birthplace of Sir Halford Mackinder, the famous geographer and pioneer of adult education.