|
History
Sleaford, long the capital of Kesteven, can trace its history back
to Iron Age times. The earliest settlement was at Old Sleaford,
between the Boston Road
and the River Slea.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a massive mint (the
largest of its kind anywhere in Europe),
belonging to the Romano-British Coritanni tribe. The original ford at
Old Sleaford was also the site of the Roman settlement.
During Saxon times, the focus of settlement shifted to New
Sleaford, the site of the present town, and by the time of the Norman
Conquest it was an established administrative centre for the region.
Sleaford's market also dates from Anglo Saxon times. In
1087, the River Slea provided the power for 18 water mills, most of them in
Sleaford itself. The town grew as a market and business centre for
the surrounding countryside.
At the end of the 18th century, a navigable waterway was opened
along the Slea to link the town with the River Witham and for some years
following this, it enjoyed a unique position as the local terminus of the
inland waterway system in the area. The coming of the 19th century stripped
it of this role and the navigation itself was closed down in 1881.
Sleaford was well known in the past for its seed industry and
malting. Now renowned as a market town it remains at the centre
of large farming community.
Sleaford Today
Sleaford centre comprises mainly of 18th and 19th century
structures placed within a medieval framework of streets, lanes, squares
and watercourses. This medieval framework and 19th and 20th century
scale and levels of activity combined, is the source of both of Sleaford's
visual attractiveness as a market town and the difficult traffic problems
that it faces.
To the west, the old castle site remains with its defensive
mounds, and to the east a green finger reaches into the town alongside the
River Slea. Schools and recreation facilities are clustered around
the centre and are easily accessible. A feature of the town is the
railway track, which loops around the settlement.
The role of seeds in the town's economy gave rise to relatively
small scale warehouse buildings with a concentration around the railway
station.
The Maltings is an industrial complex at a quite different scale
to any other structure previously constructed in the town (or indeed
since). With its systematic organisation, height and construction, it
has no precedent.
During the 20th century, housing has been developed mainly at
suburban densities, on infill sites and at the town's edges. Recent
allocations of land for housing development have been taken up very quickly
with a characteristic mix of 3-4 bedroom detached and suburban houses.
New industrial areas have been designated to the north-east of the
town, associated with the A17.
Sleaford is still a compact town, contained with a radius of 1.5
kilometres. Within a 500 metre circle centred on the railway level
crossing are the town centre, Sleaford High School, the cricket ground and
parts of the recreation ground, Council and County offices, the castle site
and the Maltings. Brown field development sites are also within this
radius.
The Maltings are visible on the horizon from many places within
the town. Given the height of the buildings, it is unlikely that
these long views will be compromised by the new development (scaled
appropriately to the town), but this should be kept under review.
From outside the town the view from the south is important and should be
kept preserved.
Change
Sleaford has been growing vigorously over the last decade.
SRB has improved the quality of the town centre. The continued
success of the three secondary schools brings young people into the town
from the surrounding area, population increase could be as high as 20%, and
incomers and redevelopment have helped fuel the local economy.
Typical purchasers of new housing are in the 50-55 age bracket,
moving from the south east of England. This is shifting
the population profile of the town and leading to new demands for retail
and other services and facilities.
Sleaford and Lincolnshire
have a strong current and historic connection to the RAF through
Cranwell. The flow of RAF personnel acts as an effective marketing
operation for the area and results in an influx of ex-RAF people at the end
of their careers.
The town is centrally located within the county of Lincolnshire
and improvements to road communications have made it more accessible.
Good rail links run to the main line service at Grantham/Newark.
The location and changing nature of the town offer a wide range of
potential opportunities and requirements that can be brought to bear to the
benefit of the Maltings, Which is an unused brown field site and a historic
asset of national significance.
|
