Online exhibition to commemorate the old railway to Horncastle
In 2021, we launched a special virtual exhibition to mark 50 years since the former branch line to Horncastle finally closed on the 5th April 1971, alongside a physical exhition at the Joseph Banks Centre which was attended by over 2,000 people.   Our volunteers tracked down photographs, plans, and objects, many of which had never been seen before.  The online exhibition is still available – just click on the link above.

We’re very proud to say that the exhibition won a prestigious award from the Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology.

Thomas Sully – Artist
A lot of work has been undertaken by Colin Gascoyne on the life and works of the famous American painter Thomas Sully, who was born in Horncastle.  

We erected a new plaque in Sully’s honour in autumn 2020. You can find this in Dog Kennel Yard on the brick wall facing the Co-op Food Store.
Click here to find out more, or pick up a leaflet from the Co-op, or visit our Town Archives at the Joseph Banks Centre for full details of his life and artistic output.

Mareham Le Fen booklet

Two books of notes were donated to the Society recording life in Mareham Le Fen from the 1920’s onwards. They were just ad hoc memories and in no particular order but very evocative of those times. The memories could relate to any small community at that time with lots of shops and small businesses and the church being the mainstay for many people.

In 2020, we published a booklet based on these notebooks.  You can find more details including how to buy the booklet on our Publications page.

Saving Horncastle’s Roman Wall

The Society is working in partnership with the Horncastle & District Community Association to preserve the Roman Wall around the Community Centre and St Mary’s Square. A detailed specialist survey has been carried out by Dr David Watt of the wall’s condition and costed the works required to save it. This complex and specialist work is estimated to cost c.£100,000.

We helped lead a very successful fundraising campaign including a major grant from Historic England, and match funding from the Pilgrim Trust, Horncastle Town Council, East Lindsey District Council’s Councillors Community Grants, The Leche Trust, Tesco Bags of Help, the Medlock Trust, the Michael Cornish Charitable Trust and over 100 public donations to our Sponsor a Stone appeal.

Then in March 2021 after delays caused by the pandemic work finally started on site to conserve the wall for future generations. This is being carried out by experts from Cliveden Conservation and overseen by our lead advisor Dr David Watt.

Information Boards, artwork and guides
Over the past few years many attempts have been made to provide improved tourist guide information around the town.
Working with the Horncastle Walkers are Welcome we have helped create a new Horncastle Heritage Trail, with printed copies funded by East Lindsey District Council. Together with local partners we have installed a series of interpretation boards around the trail to further bring to life the town’s history for locals and visitors alike.

Pig Market Sculptures

The area of The Wong adjacent to the Old Drill Hall was the site of the Pig Market and still contains the old weighing machine. The area has been allowed to fall into disrepair and is a blemish on the Boston Road entry into the town.
The Society is investigating installing some sculptures (similar to the horse sculptures) depicting the Pig market and the people attending. A great deal of investigative work has been done by Dr Lawrence and a report produced. Planning permission will be needed as this is in the conservation area. Funding will also have to be sought and expenditure is estimated as being in the region of £10,000.
Anyone interested in getting involved please contact the Chairman.

Horse Fair plaque

The Great August Horse Fair in Horncastle was an event of national importance for some 300 years.  Last staged in 1948, it ran for two weeks at its height with dealers travelling to our town from all over the world.  There’s much more about the Fair in the History section of this website.

In 2024 we unveiled a new plaque commemmorating the Fair on the wall of Kennedy’s shop in the Bull Ring, as shown on our main page.

“Batemans Ales” sign

We commissioned the renovation of an old and much loved “ghost sign” on East Street during 2025.  The sign advertised the ales of local brewer Batemans, but it had suffered over the years from weathering and finally had been painted over.  Using the skills of local traditional signwriter Tim Fry, we had the sign restored to its original condition.

We are very grateful to the owners of the property for allowing the work to be done, and to Batemans Brewery, Wainfleet, for meeting the costs.