Boston like many other medium sized towns in England has a history that at times caused it to be well known and of national importance and at other times remains almost unheard of .

Boston began as a small settlement on the banks of the River Witham. No mention is made of it before 1000AD, but with the Norman Conquest in 1066, a record of Skirbeck, one of the districts of Boston, is made in the Domesday Book in 1068. The next mention of the town is with land belonging to the Church of St. Botulph being used for a site for part of the annual fair. The fair being a medieval meeting for trade. In fact Boston was to become the site over the next centuries for annual fairs to which merchants came from all over Europe to trade and likewise a range of goods from Europe and Asia were traded here. The fair becoming so important that Boston became one of only four international fairs in England for some time. The fair is still held each year in Boston today in May. The function has changed since its medieval origins, and now has fairground rides and amusements. It is still held for the eight days as it was originally

    Boston’s site at the head of the River Witham placed it in an ideal place to trade. The river system gave access to a large part of England via water transport, and being on the East Coast of England was situated to trade with the major producers in Europe. Boston became one of the most important ports in England in the 13th and 14th centuries. Trade through the port was second only to London for several years. The reason for Boston’s growth was in fact wool. England was the premier producer of wool which was exported to Italy and the Netherlands, much of this passing through Boston, and the returning goods from Europe also passing through Boston. As symbol of this growing wealth, the town church St. Botulph’s was begun in the 14 th. century. A story has it that the “Stump” as the church is known locally was “ built on wool” rather it was built with the profits from the wool trade.

    Boston began to go into a decline in the 16th century partly because the trade in wool lessened as the English weaving industry grew. The river began to silt up causing problems for navigation and only ships upto 50 tonnes could navigate it. This hampered trade and the town began to go into a decline. In 1545 it was granted a charter and became a borough.

Perhaps Boston is well known because of its links with the Pilgrim Fathers. It was from the River Witham that a group of people who wanted religious freedom attempted to leave the country for Holland. They were arrested before boarding the ship and imprisoned in the Guildhall which still remains. They later made a successful attempt and made their way to settle in America. It was from this group of early settlers in the New World that explains why Boston, America was so named. In addition the local football team, Boston United also took the nickname “the pilgrims.”  A monument to the Pilgrim Fathers can be found on the banks of the Witham marking the spot where they were arrested. Boston maintains links with its American counterpart Boston, Massachussetts in America and people regularly visit their neighbour.

During the 17th century the town was a centre for religious non-conformism inspired by such as John Foxe and John Cotton. Many Bostonians including John Cotton,  left to take up a new life in Massachusetts.

   Boston continued life as a small town through the 18th and into the 19th century. It had close links with the surrounding agricultural area and provided a centre for marketing the produce from this. During the later centuries the low lying areas which surround the the town were drained and  extensive sea banks built which created large areas of fertile land for the cultivation of crops. With the widening of the Haven, the part of the river from the docks to the sea, larger vessels began to use Boston again and the town’s port began to increase in prosperity. The port continued to import wood, steel, and export grain. The town continued with its weekly markets on Saturday and Wednesday.

    Boston is an attractive town to visit. There is there is the annual fair in May. The town church St. Botulph’s known locally as the “Stump” is impressive. This is the most visible piece of architecture in Boston, the largest parish church in England, it can be seen upto twenty miles away. There are several local sites also worth a visit.

Want to know more?

http://www.cix.co.uk/~heritage/vt/boston/life.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/asop/places/tours/boston/tour_boston.shtml

www.boston.gov.uk

www.bostonuk.com