Lincolnshire Walks
Long Sutton
an
Three circular walks of 2 ¾, 3
1 ¾, 2
d 6 km (
e s)
and 3 ¾ mil
Introduction
Long Sutton is a small market town in
South Holland with many fine buildings
from the 18th century. In 1307 Long
Sutton was on the sea bank and Walpole
Cross Keys was five miles away on
the sea bank in Norfolk, separated by
marshland. In 1640 three miles of
the marsh was enclosed by Cornelieus
Vermuyden and Long Sutton was no
longer on the sea bank. In 1831 Cross
Keys Embankment together with a bridge
designed by John Rennie over the newly
dug Nene Outfall Cut made it possible
for a direct route from Norfolk into
Lincolnshire. Two coaching inns in Long
Sutton, the Bull Hotel and the Crown and
Woolpack were well placed for passing
travellers.
The name Long Sutton comes from the
Old English, Sutton meaning village to the
south and Long being a description of a
long straggling village.
These walks will explore the town and
surrounding open countryside.
Photograph by Angela Reeve
5
8
6
9
North
7
9
8
2
1
9
6
7
3
4
4
5
8
7
400m
¼ mile
Map Scale:
6
5
Walk 1
Walk 2
Walk 3
Map
Reproduced from OS mapping with permission of the controller of HMSO (c)
Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and
may lead to civil proceedings. OS licence 100025370.
Walk 1
1
Leave the Market House and turn right. Take the second turn on the right, Market Place.
The Market House or Corn Exchange
was built in 1856 with money raised
by the sale of shares. The building had
space for a corn exchange, a market
house, a public room for meetings and
retiring rooms. The building became the
centre of town life. As well as markets
and produce shows, musical evenings
were regularly held. The need for the
corn exchange started to decline during
the 1920s when farmers started going to
corn exchanges in Spalding and Wisbech.
The Market House passed into private
ownership and became a garage. The
garage moved to a new location in the
1960s and by the end of the 20th century
the building had fallen into disrepair. In
1999 a group of local people began the
long process of restoring the building to
its present glory. It is now used as an
information and community centre.
2
At the War Memorial and church turn left and follow the public footpath between the car park and churchyard. Continue along the edge of the churchyard to a road.
St Mary’s church dates from the late 12th
century and many Norman features are
still present. The magnificent leaded spire
stands 162 feet tall and is the tallest of
its type in the country. It was built to the
same design as the spire in Chesterfield.
3
footpath between two houses and into the park.
Follow the surfaced path straight on through the park to a road. Look out for the whale bones!
4
At the road turn right and then left along Woad Lane. Take care along this road, traffic can be fast moving.
5
After approximately 1 ½ km (1 mile) turn left onto Hospital Drove.
Hospital Drove marks the boundary
between Long Sutton Common and the
former estate of the Governors of Guys
Hospital. The hospital owned the land
between 1746 and 1919 when it was
purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture
and the large farms were turned into
smallholdings.
6
After approximately 800m (½ mile) turn left along a public footpath between the two houses.
Follow the track for approximately 200m before turning left along the footpath across the field.
At the drain continue straight ahead keeping the drain on your left.
7 At the junction with another drain turn left and then right over the bridge.
Turn left and after approximately 40m cross the road with care and walk
straight ahead along the public Turn left after the bridge and follow the field edge and drain.
Walk 1
In the hedge you will see some fine
examples of mature hedgerow trees,
including oak, horse chestnut, ash and
sycamore. The oak is the king of British
trees, its timber being strong and durable.
It also supports the largest number of
insect species of any British tree species.
Follow the path along the field edges, behind the houses and then left in front of two bungalows to a road.
8
Cross the road and continue straight ahead along Park Road past the Masonic Hall.
9
At the T-junction with Market Street turn right to return to the start point.
Walk 2
Follow directions in Walk 1 up to the end
of point 3 .
4
At the road turn left, cross Park Road and continue straight on along Little London.
5
Turn left along Daniels Crescent.
On the right you will see the remains of
Sutton Bank or Sneath’s windmill. It is the
oldest of three windmills in the town. It
was built in 1779 by Thomas Ayliffe from
bricks made of clay from the adjacent sea
bank and worked until the early 1930s.
The octagonal shape of the mill is unusual.
7
8 Turn left.
At the T-junction turn right and then left onto John Swains Way. 9 At the T-junction turn left to return to After approximately 60m turn the start point.
right onto a public footpath in front of the houses.
The red brick building of the Old Free
School, now converted to houses, stands
At the end of the tarmac path bear on the right. The school was built in
right in front of the shrubs and trees 1835 by public subscription. Before that
and then walk along the avenue of
time the school was held over the south
cherry trees and continue in the porch of St Mary’s church.
same direction to the corner of the playing field.
Turn right and after approximately 30m turn left and walk along the path between the fields to a road.
6
Walk 3
Follow directions for Walk 1 up to the
end of point 2 .
3
At the road turn right.
You will pass the impressive decorative
metal gates and majestic avenue of lime
trees that stand at the entrance of the
cemetery. The gates were erected in
1911 to commemorate the coronation
of King George and Queen Mary and
paid for by the women of the town.
4
After approximately 300m turn right onto Seagate Road.
On your left will be the remains of
Brunswick mill, built in 1817 with an
additional floor added in the mid 19th
century. The windmill sits on the old sea
bank, the highest land in the area.
5
After approximately 450m (¼ mile) turn right onto a public footpath along a track between some houses. Follow the track straight ahead.
6 At the end of the track where it meets a drain turn right and follow the public footpath alongside the drain.
Follow the path left over a bridge, along the field edge and then between two fields towards the church spire.
7 At the end of the field at a drain turn left and after approximately 40m, and before the houses, turn right across the drain and then straight on to follow the path around the field edge.
8
At a wooden fence and large manhole covers turn left. Ignore the tarmac path and road on the left and follow the path between a fence and hedge.
Where the path meets a tarmac path walk straight ahead to a junction with a road.
9
Turn right and follow the road through the town, past the church, to a T-junction. Turn left to return to the start point.
Useful information
Walk location: Long Sutton lies 8 km (5 miles) east of
Holbeach.
Starting point: Market House, Market Street, Long Sutton.
Grid reference: TF 431 230. Post code: PE12 9DD.
Parking: Car parks on West Street.
Public Transport: For times and more information call the
Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.lincolnshire.gov.
uk/busrailtravel or www.lincsbus.info
Ordnance Survey maps for the area: Explorer 249 Spalding & Holbeach.
Landranger 131 Boston & Spalding.
Walk lengths and times: Walk 1: 6km (3 ¾ miles) which will take approximately
2 hours to complete.
Walk 2: 2 ¾ km (1 ¾ miles). Approximately 1 hour to complete.
Walk 3: 3km (2 miles). Approximately 1 hour to complete.
Type of walks: The walks use tracks, field paths, roadside paths and quiet lanes. The
walks are level but may be uneven and muddy in places. There are no stiles on any of
the walks.
Please be aware that walk 1 has a section (approximately 1 mile) along a road with a
verge but no path. Although not a busy road it is straight and traffic may be travelling at
speed.
Refreshments: There is a wide selection of shops, pubs and cafes in Long Sutton.
Public toilets: Recreation Ground, West Street.
This leaflet has been produced in
partnership with Mrs Beryl Jackson, The
Long Sutton Market House Trust and the
Market House Photography Group.
Published October 2010
Be a responsible walker
Please remember the countryside is a place where people live and work and where
wildlife makes its home. To protect the Lincolnshire countryside for other visitors
please respect it and on every visit follow the Countryside Code. Thank you.
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Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
Leave gates and property as you find them
Protect plants and animals, and take litter home
Keep dogs under close control
Consider other people
Most of all enjoy your visit to the
Lincolnshire countryside
This leaflet is one in a series of walk leaflets produced by Lincolnshire County Council’s
Countryside Access Team to help you explore and enjoy the county’s countryside. If
you have enjoyed these walks and would like information on other walking routes in
Lincolnshire then please visit our website.
If you encounter any problems whilst on these walks, such as an overgrown path or a
broken signpost, please let us know so they can be corrected.
We would also welcome your comments and suggestions on the walk and leaflet to
help improve future editions.
If you would like to request a copy of this leaflet in an
alternative format or a different language please contact us.
Lincolnshire County Council
Countryside Access Team
Tel: 01522 782070 Minicom: 01522 552055
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countryside
Photographs by Angela Reeve