High point of the Wolds

Andrew Vaux discovers the charms of the ever-popular town of Caistor.

Sitting on the hillside at the northern edge of the Wolds, at almost the highest point in Lincolnshire, Caistor dates back to Roman times, but is most notable for its Georgian buildings. This attractive market town is a draw for walkers, with the Viking Way running through the centre and regular walks organised by The Civic Society helping to give visitors an insight into the fascinating history of the area.

Originally a hill fort of the early Britons – who named it Caer-Egarry – Caistor became a stronghold for the Romans and was named after the Latin ‘castra’ meaning ‘camp’. The town is referred to in the Domesday book as ‘Castre’. The Roman camp was encircled by a massive wall, part of which is still visible on the southern boundary of the parish church of St Peter & St Paul and the site occupied by the fortress is now recognised as a scheduled monument. In 2010, local news reported that the remains of a 4th-century Roman cemetery were found during the development of a new Co-operative supermarket in the town, along with shards of pottery. To mark the finding and depict the town’s links to this history, a Roman centurion woodcarving was commissioned by Caistor in Bloom.

The Church of St Peter & St Paul meanwhile retains something of Saxon and Norman times and some medieval additions.

Nearby is the original Grammar School building, which was built thanks to an endowment in 1630. One of its famous pupils was the distinguished poet, historian and novelist Sir Henry Newbolt, author of ‘Drake’s Drum’, inspired by a myth connected with Sir Francis Drake.

Other notable historical connections include Caistor’s role in the 1536 Lincolnshire Rising, along with Louth and Horncastle.

The town was destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1681 which caused several deaths and made 45 families homeless. At that time the town centre was in the vicinity of Church Street and Chapel Street. The rebuilding work, undertaken throughout the 18th and 19th centuries with brick in place of wood, gives us the present Market Place. A carving of ‘Bob’ the horse pays tribute to the animal who used to pull the fire tender in the town.

Trading thrived in the 19th century, with sheep, cattle, and horse fairs being held in the town, and craftsmen producing furniture for the local inns. The 1858 Caistor sheep fair was the largest in England at the time.

The House of Industry was built in 1800. This later became the Caistor Union Workhouse from 1836 to 1937 and finally Caistor Hospital until its closure in 1990.

The railway never came to Caistor; however, a canal was begun in 1793. Sadly, it was not used after 1855 and was officially abandoned in 1936.

Later developments include the creation of a bypass in 1938, and the establishment of RAF Caistor in 1940. Another secondary school, Caistor Yarborough, was built in 1938, and the grammar school was enlarged in 1994.

THRIVING COMMUNITY
Caistor’ market square is home to 56 listed buildings in the heart of the town. The Lion Pump, seen in the square in striking gold and bearing a red shield, was erected in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

Here visitors can enjoy a choice of eateries, as well as places of cultural interest including Caistor Arts & Heritage Centre, a renovated Methodist Chapel dating from 1867, where you can find detailed histories of the town and a café serving homemade food and refreshments. The renovation was achieved through a dedicated volunteer team, with funding from the BIG Lottery Fund, and was filmed by the BBC for its Village SOS show, with advice from TV property expert Sarah Beeny.

The Centre, which is also available for hire, hosts many annual events, including Murder Mystery Dinners, a Pudding Club, walking groups, craft activities and local history displays, as well as changing exhibitions.

The centre is currently open Monday to Wednesday and Friday 9.30am to 4pm and Saturday 9.30am to 3pm. It is closed on Thursday and Sunday. For further information visit www.caistorahc.org.uk; email: hello@caistorahc.org.uk; or tel: 01472 851605.

If you are looking for a spot for a leisurely tea and some treats to take away from your visit to Caistor, Rock Foundation is located on ten acres of farmland, formerly Top Farm, and is a hub for community support.

Within its Grade II listed buildings are facilities for live-in residents supporting those with learning disabilities and offering day care services. Service users are encouraged to participate in daily activities, including helping in the tea room. Also open to the public on the site are a gift shop, sweet emporium, a community allotment with vegetables for sale. Wooden garden furniture items are also available to buy.

Rock Foundation Caistor is now taking bookings for a Special Afternoon Tea, to celebrate Mother’s Day 2025, priced at £25 for two. The perfect way to spoil your loved one and contribute to this community focused scheme. Call 01472 488026 to book today.

Within a short distance of the town, visitors can explore the villages of Nettleton, with its ironstone mining history, Claxby and Grasby with its attractive All Saints’ Church. For those who enjoy spending quiet time outside, there are also many fishing lakes to visit including Claxby Fishery, Wold View Fishery and Caistor Lakes Leisure Park.

FAMILY FUN
For a great day out with the whole family, visit nearby Hall Farm Park at South Kelsey, a small family-run park which opened in 2006 offering indoor and outdoor fun activities. Young ones can find out more about a real working farm with lots of things to see and do including soft play areas, a “snow” slide, giant sand pit, or pretend to be a farmer driving along on the toy tractors – or maybe even take a goat for a walk!

Finish off your visit by dropping into the Pepper Pot Tearoom, where you can sit and relax while enjoying home-made and locally produced food indoors, or on the patio during more pleasant spring and summer days, with spectacular views looking out over open countryside. For further details and opening times visit www.hallfarmpark.co.uk, or call 01652 678 822.

The area around Caistor is also particularly well-known for its beautiful countryside walks, especially The Viking Way, a long-distance trail stretching 147 miles from the Humber Bridge through Lincoln to Rutland.

The trail passes through the centre of Caistor and the ‘Caistor to Tealby’ route is one of the most scenic sections, with both valley and hill scenery. It crosses the highest ground in Lincolnshire and includes the Ramblers Church which sits high above the village of Walesby.

The church stands on the edge of an escarpment with far reaching views across the Wolds, and on a good day Lincoln Cathedral can be seen 20 miles away. A stained-glass window depicting walkers was donated by local ramblers in 1951.

If you’re looking for gardening inspiration, Waltham Herbs at nearby Willow Vale Nursery is a great place for those with green-fingers to discover. This family-run nursery prides itself on growing peat-free/reduced and pesticide-free plants, including perennials, herbs, lavenders and can also source trees, shrubs and roses, which they mainly sell at markets and event, as well as online.

days a year, also selling tea and cakes for charity.

For more information find them on Facebook, Waltham Herbs, or tel 01472 859481.

RETAIL THERAPY
With a wealth of independent shops and businesses selling everything from antiques and books to traditional sweets, fashion and soft furnishings, there is plenty of choice for all in Caistor.

Shoppers can also enjoy the town’s weekly market held every Saturday from 9.30am to 12noon in the Market Place, where traders offer fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, bread, and home-made bakes.

Meanwhile, Cornhill is home to a café, sweet shop and cocktail bar, as well as a vintage shop and bridal boutique, providing a truly local shopping experience.

For more information about exploring Caistor, visit www.lovelincolnshirewolds.com/caistor

WHY CAISTOR IS A SPECIAL PLACE
Alex Wright, managing director of marketing agency Knapton Wright Ltd, explains what makes this market town a great place to live and work.

For a relatively small market town on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, it has a rich history worthy of somewhere much larger and more widely known to people from outside the area. But this isn’t about the Romans, nor is it about the influence of the Georgian era on the town’s architecture, or about the impact that iron ore mining and agriculture have had on both the industry and topography of the villages around Caistor. It’s to celebrate the people and the communities that make this such a wonderful place.

Deciding where to put your business often has an effect on its success. Over the past ten years or so, and in particular, over the past five years, Caistor has become a hub of thriving independent businesses.

One of the reasons they’re here is the people and the active support that is offered openly. That support comes in the form of custom, of course, spending hard-earned pounds buying hand-crafted products from The Little Gift House or Harry and the Beagle, treating yourself to tasty delicacies from the handful of cafes and bakeries or the butcher’s stall at the weekend market, or even taking time out for your wellbeing at the gym or beauty salon.

Happy business, happy life
It also comes from people being happy to shout about the businesses that are here. When I talk to other business owners in Caistor, every single one tells me how grateful they are for the regular customers, their “followers” online and for the endless stream of visitors that come to Caistor once, and nearly always return.

The energy that the town exudes and the upward trajectory it has been on over the past 15 years were significant reasons why I chose to move my business, Knapton Wright – a marketing agency that works with brands that put people and the planet first – into an office here.

My team and I love being part of the thriving business community and, although most of our clients are from further afield, we enjoy working with a handful of local brands, seeing them grow and make plans for the future.

With numerous heritage projects, glorious countryside and the coast less than half an hour away, Caistor is a town with a colourful past and a bright future.

If you haven’t been yet, come and take a look, immerse yourself in its community and you will be back, perhaps for good!

For more information visit www.knaptonwright.co.uk

Photographs: Mick Fox

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