Spalding
Home of the famous Spalding Flower Parade, and an important centre of the flower and bulb industry, you won’t find any of the old ‘Spaldas’ here now. They all left before Spalding became a bustling medieval port on the Wash.
Long before the land was drained and reclaimed, and the Wash receded to it’s present position, leaving Spalding as a peaceful market town on the river Welland with beautiful riverside walks. Grand Georgian terraces and buildings flank the river, indicating Spalding’s tradition as a major trading centre.
Alongside the river is the glorious restored medieval manor house, Ayscoughee Hall.
Recently extensively refurbished it houses an art gallery, a museum of local history and has some fine formal gardens.
Spalding’s traditional shopping centre around the market place and sheep market, is complimented by Tuesday and Saturday markets, and there are many cafe’s, coffee houses, and pubs for refreshment.
Spalding is situated on the eastern side of England, in the region called South Holland because of its manmade network of canals and waterways. These were constructed by Dutch engineers to drain the area, as much of the natural landscape is below sea level. The region is a major horticultural and agricultural area and by the mid 1950s, thousands of acres of tulips were being grown.
Tulips have been replaced by food crops, daffodils, food processors and flower packers. But the Tulip Parade has managed to survive, and all those involved with the special celebration events look forward to welcoming everyone to the 50th Spalding Flower Parade, the ‘TulipMania’ Festival and the World Tulip Summit 2008.
