Bourne

The market town of Bourne grew from a Saxon Village with a small manor house reputedly the birth place of Hereward the Wake.

The Red Hall, a fine Elizabethan mansion stands near the centre of the town, and the Abbey Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, founded in 1138, is one of the oldest buildings in Bourne.

The town is known worldwide as the place where ERA and BRM racing cars were made, and also the birthplace of several famous people including William Cecil, Lord Treasurer to Elizabeth I, and in 1825, Charles Fredrick Worth, who revolutionised French fashion.

Fresh water from St. Peter’s Pool and the Bourne Eau, which first attracted the Romans, flows out to the River Glen, passing Baldock’s Mill, which is now a heritage centre.

Bourne makes an idea touring base for exploring South Kesteven and has a good range of shops and eateries too. A Thursday market is popular with local people and visitors.

Bourne Wood, owned by the Forestry Commission, is on the outskirts of the town and has miles of accessible, well-marked tracks and trails, a large picnic area and is one of the best walking areas in the district.

Near to Bourne is Grimsthorpe Castle – built in 1540 for a visit by Henry VIII, it has magnificent state rooms, as well as 3000 acres of landscaped gardens, parkland and adventure playground. Cycles can be hired to enjoy the lakeside cycle trails.

Explore our beautiful locations in Bourne