Sleaford

Sleaford is a town in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England. It takes its name from the River Slea, a tributary of the River Witham. It is north-east of the town of Grantham and north-west of the town of Boston. Sleaford lies 115 miles north of the capital London, and the city of Lincoln is eighteen miles to the north.

Attractions

In October 2003 the largest public-funded crafts & design gallery outside London, The Hub, opened in Sleaford. The development cost £2.4 million, offering 2000 sq.ft. of display space within a former seed warehouse. Entrance to The Hub is free. It incorporates 'The Pearoom', a major crafts gallery previously in nearby Heckington village. In the nearby courtyard are designer-maker craft studios. There is also a new riverside walk with sculptures, starting from the Hub.

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There is a large street market, of around thirty stalls, in the market square abutted by St. Deny's church. Market days are on Friday, Saturday & Monday (Monday being the busiest). There is a farmers' market on the first Saturday in each month. In 2003 Daily Telegraph readers voted Sleaford the 7th best market town in England.

Related Topics:
Farmers' market - Daily Telegraph

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Maypole dancing happens in the market square on the first May bank holiday Monday. The Kesteven Morris dance team rehearses, and occasionally performs, in Sleaford.

Related Topics:
Maypole - Bank holiday - Morris dance

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Sleaford Wood is a Woodland Trust wood, on the northern edge of town. It is a mature 250-year old wood, with deer and woodpeckers.

Related Topics:
Woodland Trust - Deer - Woodpecker

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Sleaford Golf Club is an 18-hole course.

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Approximately three miles from Sleaford are the two famous RAF Cranwell airfields. The national RAF officer training college is centred between these. The northern airfield (grassed) includes the area used by early naval airships. The larger southern airfield has supported military jet operations since the first flight of the Gloster Whittle. It currently has two paved runways. Training craft such as the Firefly, Tucano and Super King Air complement the operations at Cranwell. An independent Heritage Centre at North Rauceby near Sleaford, supported by the local Council, interprets the aviation exploits associated with the RAF airfields around Sleaford. A satellite airfield nearby, at Barkston Heath, teaches flying skills to future military aircrew.

Related Topics:
RAF Cranwell - RAF - Airships - Jet - Gloster Whittle - North Rauceby - Barkston Heath

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About ten miles away is RAF Coningsby, home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the first operational Typhoon (i.e.Eurofighter) squadron in the RAF.

Related Topics:
Miles - RAF Coningsby - Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Eurofighter

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