Lincs Pride NOV 208.qxp 30/09/2019 14:03 Page 37
There’s no doubt that online shopping and tough times for larger retailers have irrevocably changed the face of our High streets. Fortunately there are a few remaining enclaves of independent retailers thriving even in today’s tough markets.
Below: Louth’s Old Market Hall was created by Rogers & Marsden in 1866. Our inset picture, below, shows the back of the building, modelled on King’s Cross Station.
In the south of the county, stamford is still a haven for independent retailers, whilst in the north of the county, Louth remains a thriving home to businesses like Pocklingtons and Eve & Ranshaw.
Home to 16,000 people and one of just seven market towns mentioned in the Domesday Book, Louth saw a particularly lively period of growth in the first half of the 1800s, prior to the arrival of the railway in 1848. Gasworks came along in 1826 and the town’s New street was created in 1830.
A new town hall was built in 1854 along with George street in 1850 and the Corn Exchange in 1855.
The town’s street names commonly reflected their former uses prior to this - Butcher Lane, Fish shambles and Cornmarket, for example and Mercer Row; a fine cloth dealer was known historically as a mercer.
The most prominent building in this image is old Market Hall, built in 1866 by Rogers & Marsden and modelled on King’s Cross station, London. It’s three storeys, created in red brick with a Welsh slate roof. Pevsner described the building as ‘Byzantine Gothic.’
Also seen here is the National Provincial Bank, which was merged into the National Westminster Bank in 1970 and local bakery Pocklingtons, established in 1924, replacing Clarks of Retford, a dry cleaning business and dyehouse thriving on the resurgence of the process thanks to the introduction of better solvents a decade or so beforehand. other food retailers in the town include Louth’s Cheese shop, award-winning butcher Meridian Meats and Beaumont’s Deli next to st James’ Church.
With around 57 stalls, Louth’s market is still held three times a week and with 70% of its businesses independently owned and run, it’s little surprise that the town was named Britain’s Favourite Market Town back in 2012 by Countryfile. A favourite for foodies and a true example of how local retailers can thrive even in the 21st century, we’ve no doubt that centuries from now, Louth will still be recognisable as one of Lincolnshire’s champions of independent market towns. n