Batemans Brewery has been based at Salem Bridge in Wainfleet since 1874. The town also has memories of an important medieval harbour and several listed buildings. These themes give the place different historical facets: a brewery tour and tasting, architectural history, and a river that features both in the town’s harbour past and on a circular walk.
Batemans Brewery and Salem Bridge Mill
The tour of Batemans Brewery includes the Victorian Brewhouse and the “Theatre of Beers”. It also includes a tasting of freshly poured beers served from brass beer engines in the cellar area. Those interested in brewing history and beer will find a clearly defined focus here, combining a visit with a tasting.
Salem Bridge Mill has its own timeline: built in 1820, it remained in operation until 1920—a total of 100 years. Today, the mill belongs to Batemans Brewery and is a listed building. This means two distinct dates are associated with the same named place: the start of brewing at Salem Bridge in 1874 and the longer operating life of the mill built in 1820.
Harbour Past and Riverside Walks
In the Middle Ages, Wainfleet was an important harbour. Its role as a harbour ended when the River Steeping silted up. The river also features in a walking route: the Wainfleet St Mary Walk circular route crosses the River Steeping. These two facts offer different perspectives on the same river—as part of the town’s history and as a specific crossing on a circular walk.
Churches, School and Local History
All Saints Church is a Grade II listed building. R. H. Sharpe and P. Atkinson built the church in 1821, reusing some medieval fragments. The church also contains two Dutch glass medallions. The approximate date range of 1555 to 1600 applies to one of the two; it does not describe both medallions.
Magdalen College School is also a listed building, in this case Grade I; it is also a Scheduled Monument. Magdalen College Museum displays school records, photographs and household objects, as well as Wainfleet’s original town charter from 1457. These different places offer the opportunity to explore architectural and educational history alongside local history.
The War Memorial Cemetery Gateway is a Grade II listed building. It forms the western arched gateway entrance to the cemetery on Spilsby Road. Another architectural connection can be found at houses 3–12 on Barkham Street: they were built for Bethlem Hospital in the style of similar houses erected for the institution in Southwark. Wainfleet’s Clock Tower dates from 1899.
The Station and Walk Starting Point
The Wainfleet Station Walk starts at Wainfleet station on the High Street in Wainfleet All Saints. The station also has its own historical timeline: it opened to passenger traffic on 24 October 1871; on 28 July 1873, passenger services from Wainfleet were extended to Skegness. These dates describe the development of rail services at the time.
The facts offer different starting points when choosing a focus for your stay: the tour with tasting, the history of the medieval harbour, named buildings and collection items, or a walk with a specifically stated starting point. You can arrange these themes according to your interests without combining the individual historic places and route details into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: North Somercotes, Sutton Bridge, Norton Disney, Coningsby, Friskney, Washingborough, West Ashby, Hackthorn
For the wider travel guide: Lincolnshire.
