Attractions Woodhall England

Woodhall Spa in an attractive village some 20 miles south of Lincoln. The 'spa' part of the village's name tells its own story; Woodhall became a fashionable spa destination after bromo-iodine springs were discovered here in the 19th century.

History

The lord of the manor was Thomas Hotchkin, and he was quick to sieze in the opportunity to attract visitors to his newly discovered springs. He built a bathhouse for visitors to bathe in the mineral-rich waters, then a hotel. For the next 50 years the Hotchkin family developed the 'Iodine Spa', with spa baths and accommodation for visitors. The real birth of Woodhall Spa as a town came in the 1880s when the family sold their spa baths to a group of London investors. The investors hired architect Richard Crane to develop a planned settlement, with wide, elegant avenues in a wooded setting.

The centre of the new community were the Spa Bath and Pinewoods Bath. The real heyday of Woodhall Spa was the Edwardian period, when high society, even royalty, flocked to stay at the Victoria Hotel. The village gradually lost its importance as a fashionable spa, but not before Lady Weigall converted her concert pavilion to create the famous Kinema in the Woods.

RAF Woodhall Spa was developed outside the village and large sections of the village were used by the military in WWII. The Petwood Hotel was used as an RAF officer's mess, most famously by the 617 Squadron, popularly known as the Dambusters. A memorial to the Dambusters stands in Royal Square.

The historic church of St Leonards is a tiny 13th century chapel standing near to the ruins of Kirkstead Abbey. St Leonards was cited by Simon Jenkins in his popular book, 'England's 1000 Best Churches'. The chapel was probably a chantry for the Abbey, and was erected in memory of Hugh de Breton, whose 13th century effigy lies near the altar. The church is remarkably complete, with its original 13th century door and Norman font.

Another significant church is St Peter's, an unobtrusive Victorian building erected in 1893 to a design by Hodgson Fowler, a highly respected 19th century architect. St Peter's replaced the former parish church of St Andrews which was considered too small for the growing town.

Just off Broadway is the Cottage Museum, with displays on local history. The museum is housed in a flat-pack house, made of corrugated iron. The ouse was used for many years by Thomas Wield, who made bath chairs to carry patients to the baths. It was late the home of his son, John Wield, an early photographer. Mr Weild's photographs, taken on glass plates, form part of the fascinating museum collection, along with exhibits tracing the development of the spa.

One of the most intriguing historic buildings in the area is the Tower on the Moor, a 4-storey brick tower. The tower houses a turret stair and is all that remains of a 15th century hunting lodge built for Ralph Cromwell of nearby Tattershall Castle.