RAF Manby is now a showground and has a small flying school where you can do parachute jumps…read more The, now private, housing around has street named after aircrft like Lighening, Spitfire, Vulcan etc. This is one for my ghost guide: First a bit of history: RAF Strubby came under RAF Manby RAF Flying College from VJ Day until closure in 1972. The nucleus of the staff of the Empire Central Flying School was transferred to RAF Manby to open the Flying College in 1946. Manby later became the home of the College of Air Warfare, part of which was the School of Refresher Flying. Ghosts: The area is haunted by a Second World War pilot. He is sometimes seen wearing a long coat, and at others wearing his flying gear. The drone of aircraft engines is sometimes heard over the old runways. Personal ghost story. I was working at manby on a Car show for the exhibition team. In a break my father and I went to the old control tower. It had huge signs saying danger keep out. Ok I am like my dad..we climbed through a window and went up the stairs..some were missing.. We stood in the contro; tower thinking of the men who once operated it. My dad said take a photo and see if any ghosts are going to be in it..very tongue in cheek. When the photos came back I told my parents no ghosts. My mum looked at the photo and told me I was wrong..no no one in the room. Look at the window she said..and sure enough sat on the none existant runway outside the window..was shape that for all the world looked like a Lancaster Bomber! There was nothing there when I took the photo and it was full sun..no shadows. Footnote: I understand the aircraft noise..when I was a teen my dad woke me up and said listen. A full moon and silent night but we could hear an aircraft..a big bomber (they used to call me radar as I know engines and could hear planes coming long before anyone else) and as we listened it would cough and we heard only 2 engines..then one cut out. He didn't make it said dad. The skies were empty.

My first job after leaving school in 1961 was as an Assistant (Scientific) at the Main…read moreMeteorological Office at RAF Manby, next to Tedder Hall, now the district Council HQ. We worked on a roster 24/7, 365 days a year. One of my tasks was to make hourly weather observations day and night, which involved an hourly cycle ride to the instrument enclosure to read temperatures, and cloud heights using a cloud searchlight at night. The camp was usually deserted in the wee small hours, and the hourly journey took me past two hangars, often with aircraft parked outside them. I am not susceptible to ghost stories but in a gale the rattles and bangs of the heavy hangar doors sounded spooky, also the steel cables that tethered the aircraft. One morning a thermometer was found to be missing, but the culprit, an airman who had been merry-making the previous night, was caught returning the thermometer in a fit of conscience the next day. He was put on a charge and admitted taking the thermometer and "urinating in the rain gauge".

Once again I am reviewing a whole place. The word is Disney! See the end…read more Not a lot to see here but walk in the woods as it is quite magical. Occasionally you will come across bumps or stones of the castle that was once here. Nothing of the castle remains (it stood in a field west of the church), or of the manor house built from its ruins in the 17th century; but something far older than these was found here some years ago by a farmer, who, worried because his field grew nothing but weeds, dug down to solve the mystery. He made a discovery of first-rate importance, for there came to light a wall six feet thick dividing two rooms, some roof tiles, and two magnificent Roman pavements, one of them 20 feet long and 16 wide, designed in small cubes of coloured stone and marble. In its early days the church belonged to Sempringham PrioryThe font of about 1400 is deeply carved with shields, in the nave are some rough benches, and in the chancel some stalls with foliage and curious little men and angels back to back on their poppyheads-medieval faces grave and gay. The traceries screen is Elizabethan, the ample pulpit (in front of the old roodloft stairway) is Jacobean, and the aisle has its old roof with carved bosses, some showing foliage with a man's face and a lion with its tongue out. Most of the impressive array of monuments are in the chapel, and the oldest is from about l300, the lovely recessed figure of Joan d'Iseney in coif and wimple, her hands at prayer, a dog at her feet. One group shows William Disney with his wife and nine children kneeling in prayer, each with its name on a scroll, the other group shows fierce-looking Richard Disney with two wives, both prettily dressed and one with many bows on her sleeve. The first wife, who has 12 children behind her, was the grandmother of Lord Hussey, who, having refused to join the Pilgrimage of Grace, refused also to raise a force against the conspirators and was beheaded by Henry the Eighth; the second wife was the younger sister of the immortal Anne Askew who was martyred at Smithfield in 1546. Walt Disney: We know of the American Disney's (well one) it is possible to trace the family lineage right back to Walt's Norman forbears who came over to Britain with the invading army of William the Conqueror in 1066. Amongst William's soldiers were several members of the d'Isigne family, who took their name from their town of origin situated near Bayeux. One of the d'Isignes is known to have received property at Norton on the Nottinghamshire / Lincolnshire border, and established himself as a farmer and Lord of the Manor. In 1834 some members of the family emigrated, first to the United States and then to Canada. Elias Disney (Walt's Father) was born in Huron County in 1859. Elias married Flora in 1888, eventually moving to Chicago. In1901 their fourth and final child, Walter Elias Disney, was born. Like many Americans, in later life Walt Disney became intensely interested in his family roots. In 1949 he paid his one and only visit to Norton Disney.

Pretty building, not a lot thoughread more

This was a very unique experience. History and location and great breakfast all included. Really…read moreenjoyed stay here!! I'll definitely be back!! Oh there's a 200 year old mulberry bush in the garden too!

I feel this should be in Britains secret places. In Minster…read moreYard stands Lincoln Cathedral. Go right on the round from the West door and on the right is a small door. It may have a sign outside telling you this is the Archbishops Palace but often it won't. You enter down a long dim tunnel. This is actually the thickness of the wall around the Cathedral. Emerge into such a pretty place. In spring full of flowers and autumn conkers everwhere..then snow mmmm. You are on a highish bank with twisty paths ans stairs but this is the best place to view the Palace. Other ancient buildings are private ecclesiastic offices etc. When it is open (usually summer season) it costs a small amount to get in but you can climb in when shut, over foot high walls, and see a bit. It is obviously a medieval ruin. Climb the stairs to the Alnwick Tower (Alnwick was a Bishop) and go into the magnificent vaulted undercroft. The Palace also boasts the most northernly vineyard in Europe and produces it's own wine. Just a lovely place for atmosphere, history and ambiance. Sit on the steps from the wall and dream.

If you are in Lincoln this is again at the top of Steep Hill and through the Bail..a health climb…read moreand walk. The building itself is interesting a red brick Victorian barracks built for the North Lincoln Militia in 1857. Inside there are period rooms and shops. The sweet shop is nice :0) and there is a WWI tank with a name Flirty I think. Lots of stuff on The Lincolnshire Regiment. An interesting day out and children love it. 10am - 4pm everyday: April - September (last admission 3pm) 10am- 4pm Monday to Saturday: October - March (last admission 3pm) Adults £2.25, Children and Concessions £1.50, Family Ticket £6.00, this covers two adults and up to three children.

I have been to this museum a few times and I'd say it is good for tourists and very interestingread more

When I first went here many moons ago it wasa grass mound. Now it has high walls, and is a real…read morecastle ruins, due to excavation. It is free to go in just climb over the style. Another pace best visited at dusk for atmosphere. This was John of Gaunts Castle brought to him by his wife Blanche and was the birthpace of Henry Bolingbroke, King Henry IV . It was finally destroyed in the Civil War after falling into disrepair..Bolingbroke having become a backwater. In 1652 Bolingbroke Castle was slighted, with a section of curtain wall and much of the upper walls removed and thrown into the moat by the Royalists to make it useless for military purposes It is a bit off the beaten track and the road is like a rollercoaster but well worth a visit. Beware walking around the outside in the dry moat as it is very marshy and soggy. The pub has a candle auction once a year too. The Ramsden family of Hareby gave 6.6 acres of land to Old Bolingbroke for recreation it was agreed it should be let for grazing each summer via a pin and candle auction. At such an auction, a pin is stuck into a lighted candle and the last bid received before it falls out is the winning bid.

This is an old RAF station. Several antique centres open all…read moreweek where real bargains can be had. A beautiful coffee shop in the main one. Also a big craft centre and several flea market building. All housed in RAF buildings and hangers. There is a small aviation museum and planes too. Lots of greasy spoon eateries. Best on a Sunday when it has a huge car boot and market. I have bought Victorian pen and inks for approx £3 and sold them for £90. Lot's of books and well anything..furniture, clothes, plants. It is HUGE! Ghosts: My father and I looked around an old hanger with ex RAF furniture and equipment for sale. All the time we were in there a phone was ringing. It was annoying and my father declared he wished someone would answer it. Later he read that the hanger was haunted by a phone constantly ringing and that there was no phone in the building! Others: Two ghosts have been reported at this former World War Two airbase. A pilot who crash landed runs down the runway with his clothes on fire, while an engineer who lost his arm in machinery staggers around screaming. A ghostly rendition of the Missouri Waltz is also reported.

This is a massive car boot/market. People come from miles and miles to hunt for a bargain or two…read more You really do need to leave yourself a good couple of hours if you want to see everything, however after a while all the car boot stalls begin to merge into one. The market side has a good range of stalls from clothes and shoes, through to diy goods and confectionary. There are also flea market areas within the outbuildings which make a nice diversion whilst walking around.

In navenby, very interesting! Adorable litte cottage, definately a must seeread more

The Alford Craft Market promotes the manufacture of high quality, hand crafted goods in and around…read moreLincolnshire. The manor House opens its grounds to dozens of stalls and entertainment. There are Markets at Easter, Spring Bank Holiday Weekend, throughout the Summer Months, August Bank Holiday and Christmas. The Bank Holiday ones are in the grounds and the others in the market place. In the Manorhouse and Grounds: Spring Bank holiday..... August Bank holiday ....23 - 25 Aug 2008 Xmas ........................................29 / 30 Nov and 6 / 7 Dec Artists Cakes Ceramics Cheese Decorative Painting Decoupage Dolls and Gollys Embroidery Enamelled coins Fabric Bags & Assessories Fretwork Gemstones Greeting Cards Herbs Jams and Preserves Jewellery - contemporary Knitware Painted Glassware Pens & Pencils Pottery Preserves Seascape and Landscape Photography Silver and Goldsmiths Soap & Candles Stained Glass Sweets - homemade fudge and chocolates Teddy Bears Walking Sticks Wooden Toys and Pyrography Woodturners Catering is wonderful veggie stuff by Ricardo Day - Caterers and they do sauages in a bun for meateaters. It started in 1974 and the Christmas Markets began, in the Corn Exchange in Alford in the winter of 1976. The August Festival also became associated with the Morris Dancing Festival organised by the Alford Morris Team, and this is still carried on with displays of dancing, and a grand ceilidh on the Sunday of the Bank Holiday. There is also performance art and lots of music and comedy. Accoustic, Irish, Folk. Plus juggling..acrobats etc. Open all day and evening with music also in the Half Moon. Free to get in but there are buckets, for making donations, at the gates.