Gainsborough Old Hall

Gainsborough Old Hall is a remarkable timber-framed medieval manor house tucked away in the centre of Gainsborough on the River Trent. Built in the late 15th century by Sir Thomas Burgh, it survives almost complete with its great hall, original kitchens and tall brick tower, making it one of the finest examples of a late medieval house in the country.

Visitors can stand beneath the soaring timber roof of the great hall, where King Richard III and Henry VIII are both said to have been entertained, and explore the cavernous kitchens with their huge fireplaces and bread ovens. The east range houses a series of historic rooms tracing the building's later use as a Puritan meeting place, where members of the congregation who became known as the Pilgrim Fathers gathered before their journey to America.

Managed by English Heritage in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, the Old Hall hosts changing exhibitions, family activities and a programme of medieval-themed events. Its position just a short walk from Gainsborough Central station and the town's market square makes it an easy and rewarding stop for anyone exploring north Lincolnshire.