Louth is a market town in Lincolnshire, England. Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud .

Much of the town centre is lined with brick buildings from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the town's skyline is dominated by the Parish Church of St. James, the spire of which is 295 feet (89 metres) tall, reputedly the tallest parish church in the UK.

Historically, the town is most noted as the origin of the Lincolnshire Rising, the forerunner of Pilgrimage of Grace, in 1536.

Louth's twin town is La Ferté-Bernard , close to Le Mans in Pays-de-la-Loire, France.

Famous Ludensians

Inhabitants of Louth are known as Ludensians, taken from the name of the river Lud:

• Michael Foale, the first British-born astronaut, was born at the Crowtree Lane Hospital (since closed) in the town (his father was stationed at the nearby Royal Air Force base at Manby).
• Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born in Somersby, between Louth and Horncastle, and was educated at Louth Grammar School.
• Corinne Drewery, lead singer of the band Swing Out Sister, attended schools in the town whilst growing up in the village of Authorpe, between Louth and Alford.
• Jeffrey Archer was elected the town's member of parliament in a by-election in 1969. He stood down at the October 1974 general election.

Nearby places of interest

Cadwell Park motor racing circuit is around four miles south of the town, between the villages of Scamblesby and Tathwell.

The tallest structure in the European Union, the Belmont television and radio mast, is situated in the nearby village of Donington on Bain.

Louth will be the eventual southern terminus of the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, based at nearby Ludborough .

Market Times

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are all market days, with a farmers' market on the fourth Wednesday of each month. A cattle market is held each Thursday at the Louth Livestock Centre on Newmarket.

Geography

Louth is located at 53°22'00" North, 00°01'00" West (53.3667, -0.0167)¹. The point at which the Greenwich Meridian crosses Eastgate is marked with a plaque on the north side of the street, close to the junction with Northgate.

External links

• Location map of Louth, Lincolnshire
• Louth website
• Louth Today
• Louth Museum
• St. James Church