Publications

HORNCASTLE FOR HORSES: THE GREAT AUGUST HORSE FAIR

In the early 1800s Horncastle’s Great August Horse Fair was said to be the largest in the world Buyers came from as far as Russia, Hungary and even America. ‘Horncastle for horses’ was a well known phrase across

the land, so strong was the link between the animal and the town. This booklet was produced to accompany the Society's exhibition and celebrations to mark 75 years since the last Horse Fair in 1948. It is illustrated with photographs and engravings of the Fair from the Society's Town Archive helping evoke the spirit of the fair and what it would have been like to visit.

£5 and available from our Facebook Shop, or from the Society on Wednesdays & Thursday mornings (10am-12noon) at the Joseph Banks Centre. Or drop us an email at info@horncastlecivic.org.uk to arrange another method. Also now available at Perkins Newsagents.

THE LIFE & TIMES OF HOLMLEIGH CHILDREN'S HOME, HORNCASTLE 1934-1968

Booklet sharing the story of Horncastle's former children's home, Holmleigh. It is richly illustrated with photographs and information from the Society's Town Archive.

The Holmleigh Children’s Home was created in 1934 by the Lindsey County Council after they took over responsibility for the county’s workhouses. They were appalled by the conditions in which they found the workhouse children, who were now in their care. So they decided to transform the workhouse site at Horncastle into a children’s home to serve the whole county, with purpose built cottage homes in a pleasant green environment then on the edge of the town where they could give the area’s most unfortunate children a more homely start in life. A5 soft cover, 40 pages.

A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF HORNCASTLE IN PHOTOS 1952-2022

Thanks to funding from Arts Council England's Lets Create Platinum Jubilee Fund the Society was able to create a free booklet of all the photographs contributed to our interactive exhibition to celebrate her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. The incredible collection of photographs cover all aspects of life in Horncastle and offer a fascinating glimpse into changing fashions, pastimes and ways of life.

FREE, whilst stocks last.

MEMORIES OF MAREHAM LE FEN - from 1920 onwards

A booklet based on the diaries and memories of Alfred Bontoft. It typifies life in villages and small towns at this period. It also details the trials and tribulations of being a butcher a that time. It is well illustrated and will evoke memories of times gone by for many people.

It is a perfect Christmas stocking filler.

£3.99 only - Available from Perkins newsagent, Sir Joseph Banks Centre, Royal Oak Mareham and the Village shop Mareham. Or phone 01507 622749 to order a copy.

Horncastle Then & Now

The Civic Society produced the book Horncastle Then & Now to commemorate the Millennium. It has some beautiful sketches by David Vale which reconstruct the town previous to the photography age.

SOLD OUT

Horncastle Yesterday & Today

As a sequel to this publication, a DVD was also produced entitled Horncastle Yesterday & Today. through computer animations and re-enactments of historical events and eminent people, it aims to entertain and inform. By recording the recollections of some of the more elderly residents alongside the thoughts and aspiration of younger people, it is anticipated that this film will become part of the history of Horncastle.

Still available to buy at Perkins Newsagent for £9.99

Horncastle's Great War

Produced in September 2016, this book contains the stories of all the soldier's commemorated on the war memorials in the town. It also contains fascinating details about life in the town at the time of WW1. There are extracts from soldier's letters home and information about the fund raising the people of the town carried out to support the 'lads'. There are articles on Munition workers, agriculture and women at war as welll as Belgian Refugees and Spanish Flu.

NOW RE-PRINTED AND AVAILABLE ONCE MORE

Price £15.00 - available via the website or at Perkins Newsagents and Sir Joseph Banks Centre or phone 01507 622749

'Most Brute & Beastley Shire' -The Lincolnshire Rising, 1536

Written by Nicholas G Fox BSc(Hons) MSc

This 2019 publiction written by one of HHHS members, Nick Fox, is now available to buy directly from Nick at a cost of £5. It is available on Facebook and also from the Sir Joseph Banks Centre, Horncastle at a cost of £7.25.

It is a thoroughly researched and detailed account of the Linconshire Rising. It is an easy read and well illustrated.

History to read or to see

Book or DVD ...
See the history of the town and how it has evolved.