About our Town
Bourne is a small historic market town in the heart of south Lincolnshire with a truly unique charm and friendliness. The town is fortunate to be situated in an outstanding location that is both pretty and idyllic with an abundance of woodland, water ways and recreational spaces. This makes way for an attractive setting in one of the country's largest and most diverse counties.
The town originated from a Roman road from which it was built upon, and also from the exceptionally fine-quality water supply derived locally from natural springs. The name “Bourne“ is a common name for a settlement and derives from the Anglo-Saxon meaning “water” or “stream”. To this day the ancient water ways and springs are a distinguishing feature of Bourne and make a pleasant backdrop to this beautiful town.
At the present time Bourne is a bustling market town with many amenities including a leisure centre, outdoor swimming pool, snooker and sports bar, restaurants, gyms, public houses, a fully equipped theatre and a good range of shops and businesses. The town boasts two outstanding secondary schools including the reputable Bourne Grammar School and the Robert Manning Technology College. The town also has two established primary schools which offer top quality education to the younger population of Bourne.
Bourne is blessed with many green open spaces which provide a useful setting for many recreation activities and relaxation. The Abbey Lawns boasts an attractive cricket ground, bowling green, sports field and a traditional heated outdoor swimming pool with newly refurbished changing pools and cafe.
Bourne also has an attractive park with an abundance of trees and water ways, views of pretty countryside and some intriguing historic buildings, including the old stone park keepers cottage which sits in the heart of park. The park is also home to one of the most ancient sites of artesian water supply in the country - St Peter's Pool. This pool is reputably filled by seven springs and it's from this natural feature that the early settlement of Bourne was first formed.
One of Bourne's best leisure facilities are the extensive Bourne Woods. Situated on the western outskirts of the town, this ancient woodland is home to a variety of wildlife and there are many paths and tracks for the public to explore in 400 acres of woodland. The woods are home to the shy and reclusive fallow deer and there are also ponds, artifacts and newly planted areas to discover. There is a car park, picnic area and toilets for public convenience and snack facilities can also be found at certain times.
There are many footpaths and areas to explore in Bourne, which offer picturesque walks with wooded areas, farmland, streams, architecture and parks to discover. If you fancy a complete retrieve from the town, the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside is easily accessible via car or on foot with some pretty traditional English villages such as Baston, Cawthorpe, Corby Glen, Grimsthorpe, Langtoft and Thurlby only a short distance from Bourne. The unspoiled countryside that surrounds Bourne is steeped in history and is perfect for discovering a range of historic buildings and features, some of which have existed for hundreds of years. Amongst the many delights of the countryside, you will find a number of traditional country pubs, many of which serve food on a daily basis. Alternatively near-by Peterborough offers a vast number of amenities, typical of any large city. Some of Peterborough's best facilities include a large shopping centre, cinema, bowling alleys, ice-skating, greyhound racing and many fast food outlets. Peterborough also offers excellent transport links to London, with a journey to Kings Cross taking under an hour by train.
Bourne hosts a twice weekly market next to the popular Corn Exchange, the venue for many events and meetings in the town. The market held on Thursday's and Saturday's offers a variety of stalls, maintaining the traditional values of the town. A special Christmas market is also held in the town to mark the beginning of the Christmas season.
The unique charm and character of the town centre gives some indication of Bourne's prosperous past with a diverse range of attractive architecture to be seen, most notably, the Red Hall - a stunning grade II architectural legacy in the heart of the town. This delightful building is among the oldest surviving domestic properties in Bourne today. It was built in the early 17th century by a wealthy businessman, Gilbert Fisher and is now owned by Bourne United Charities. Another historic building is the ancient Baldock's Mill. This building is now used as Bourne's Heritage centre and is classified as a Grade II listed building because of its architectural and historic interest. This old mill has also recently benefited from a new electric water wheel, generating up to 5kw of power. Other notable buildings in Bourne include the luxury Angel Hotel, the Corn Exchange and the imposing Town Hall.
At present the town is undergoing some exciting redevelopment projects with a major new revamp planned for parts of the town centre in the near future which it is hoped will bring many new retailers and business opportunities into the town.
The town offers many high street retailers including Boots, Clinton Cards, Heron Foods, Mackays, Superdrug, Sainsbury's, Walkers and Thorntons alongside a good range of traditional independent retailers. There are also a number of good coffee shops and eating establishments in the town, providing a welcome reprieve from the stresses and strains of the high street. For nights out, Bourne benefits from a number of good pubs and restaurants which offer a diverse range of cuisines and ales, making way for a vibrant nightlife. There are also two popular nightclubs that offer a range of music with guest DJ's and special events though-out the year. Despite the constant threat of parking charges being introduced in the town, Bourne is still lucky enough to benefit from free parking in all its car parks, a luxury that cannot be found in many other towns and cities.
The town provides a good mix of old and new with many new housing developments helping the town to grow and meet the demands of modern living. The new Elsea Park estate has provided the largest influx of housing in Bourne for many years and offers a variety of attractive housing to accommodate the growing number of people wishing to move into the area. This huge new estate will take several years to complete and will include many new facilities for the town including a sports field, nature conservation areas, a multi-purpose community hall and some small local shops. Sites may also be available for a public house and some new business premises. Houses are set among existing woodland and ponds and the lake and fountains that form the entrance to this innovative development creates an impressive entry into the town from the A15.
Bourne has good commuter links to other towns and cities in the area and is just 16 miles from the city of Peterborough, and approximately a 45 minute drive from the county's capital - Lincoln. The towns of Spalding, Stamford, Grantham and Boston are also only short distance from the town.
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