Barton upon Humber's historic core - Map
Baysgarth House Museum
Former home of the renowned Nelthorpe family, Baysgarth House Museum was transferred to the Champ Trust in May 2004. Exhibits in the museum reflect local relevance of the house. Additional exhibitions will run throughout the year.
Bardney Hall
Standing opposite the entrance to Baysgarth Park, you can enjoy good views of Bardney Hall, a fine Queen Anne house built in the early 1700s - reputed to have a secret passage to Thornton Abbey. It stands on the site of Bardney Abbey rectory, the Lincolnshire monastery owning much of Barton during the Middle Ages. The Hall's many fine architectural features reflect the growing prosperity of Barton during the 18th century.
Market Place
Around the present day Market Place, Barton's rich architectural heritage unfolds. The street grid is typical of the late Saxon period and the use of Anglo-Danish street names is strong evidence that Barton was laid out as a planned town during the 10th century.
The original market, mentioned in the Doomsday Book, was probably in the area between St. Mary's Lane and Whitecross Street. As the town developed the market moved, first to the area now known as George Street and eventually to its present location.
The red brick building at the corner of Brigg Road/Market Place housed the main offices of F. Hooper & Co. Its factory, on Brigg Road and Marsh Lane was once the world's largest cycle factory, making also some motor bikes and cars in the early years of the the 19th century.
Trinity Methodist Chapel
As imposing as a Grecian temple, this pale brick and stone building stands proudly on Chapel lane. The third Wesleyan Chapel to be built in the town, it opened in 1861, a strong reminder that Epworth, home of the Wesleys is only a few miles away.
The Old Vicarage
This is the birthplace of Rev Dr Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans, whose father was the vicar of Barton. Chad Varah was also the co-founder of the Eagle comic.
Tyrwhitt Hall
Glimpses of Tyrwhitt Hall (pronounced 'Tiritt'), can be seen from Beck Hall, adjacent to St. Peter's Church. Behind its later brick exterior lies a complex 15th century building, with a magnificent timber framed open hall, once the setting for many great banquets.
During the reign of Henry VIII, Sir Robert Tyrwhitt, Vice Admiral of England was bailiff of the King's Manor of Barton upon Humber. His Wand of Office, recovered from nearby Goxhill Haven in 1930, is now in Baysgarth Museum.
The adjoining East Acridge House was the home of the late author Henry Treece. His friend Dylan Thomas often stayed there.
Beck Hill
To the west of Beck Hill, St Mary's Church stands across the now dry Barton Beck. This pond, one of a series of 'blow wells' fed by springs around the Lincolnshire coast, has only dried up in recent years as a result of the lowering of the water table. In medieval times, the stream flowing north from the Beck was strong enough to power a watermill. This once plentiful supply of water has given rise to two stories as to how nearby Soutergate took its name. One is that the area was a focus for 'souters' who used the supply of water for tanning leather. The second is that it took its name from the Danish word 'sauther' meaning sheep, and that it was the road by which sheep were brought from the meadows to drink at the Beck.
St Mary's Church
Barton is now unique in the region, having two magnificent churches in the one parish. Dating from the 12th century, with later additions, St Mary's Church is one of North Lincolnshire's most spectacular ecclesiastical buildings. The attractive bell tower, highly ornate west door, superb north and south nave arcades and majestic tower arch tell us of the prosperity of the town prior to King Edward I's decision to develop Hull as the Royal Base on the Humber. The tracery pattern on the east window may take its inspiration from the great east window at Lincoln Cathedral.
32-36 Burgate
William Mackrill built this imposing terrace on the corner of Marsh Lane in 1806. His family owned brickyards on the Humber Bank and boats which shipped his bricks and tiles to London. William, inspired by his regular trips to the capital brought the latest house building trends to Barton.
Queen Street
The fine collection of Victorian Buildings on Queen Street and round the corner onto High Street gives you an unrivalled picture of the confidence and aspirations of Victorian Barton.
After the sale of Long's mansion and garden in 1843, the community of Barton generously contributed to an impressive collection of public buildings. These included the Temperance Hall (1843) now the Assembly Rooms; the Church School (1844); the Police Station (1847) the oldest working police station in the region; Odd Fellows' Hall (1864) and Primitive Methodist Chapel (1867) now the Salvation Army Citadel.
Nos 13-15 Queen Street stand on the site of the Free Charity School, serving 100 boys and girls. The first master of the school was Isaac Pitman, the inventor of the most widely used system of English shorthand. This school succeeded by the Church School, just across the road, which had as its first head teacher Samuel Wilderspin, 'The father of Infant Schools'. Befriended by Dickens, his achievements discussed in parliament, he became one of the best known educators of the 1830s and 40s and was awarded a pension by Queen Victoria for his services to education.
New Hall
This fine building, on the corner of Newport and Queens Avenue, dates from the 1690s. The massive porch, richly adorned with cherubs and palms of glory was originally from the nave of Beverley Minister.
Fleetgate
One of Barton's oldest streets, this was the centre of the merchant community in the middle ages. The 15th century timber framed rear wing of 41 Fleetgate is being carefully restored to its former glory as part of Barton's regeneration.
Also in Fleetgate lives Ken Harrison, who draws 'Desperate Dan' cartoons for the 'Dandy' and also cartoons for the Sunday Post.
Eagle House (1829), was designed for one of Barton's wealthy rope-makers, John Hall, in the newly fashionable Greek Revival Style. Only fragments remain of the large eagle which adorned the frontage - it was smashed down by soldiers staying here during the last war, who saw it as representing Germany.
Rope Walk building
The journey alongside Barton Haven to the waterside takes you past John Hall's 400 metre long rope walk, the longest Grade II listed building in the country. Ropes made here were used during the conquest of Everest. The Haven gave Barton access to ports on the East Coast and beyond. In land, shipping could travel along the Rivers Trent and Ouse, and in later years through the canal network to Yorkshire and the Midlands. There was a ferry across the Humber before the Norman Conquest and during the Middle Ages ferries sailed regularly to both Hull and Hessle. In the 1840s the coming of the railway heralded the end of the town's ancient ferry link, although boats carried goods to and from Hull until the 1950s.
For more information about Barton upon Humber go to the Visit North Lincolnshire website.