BuiltWithNOF
Heritage Association History

The Gainsborough and District Heritage Association started in 1994.

For over 60 years there had been calls for a local history museum to be started in Gainsborough. The idea of a museum first appeared in a letter to the local Gainsborough newspaper in 1930.

The Association was the result of those calls. Thanks to the determination of local people who wanted other to appreciate the local history of Gainsborough and the surrounding area.

This led to the opening of the Heritage Centre in the Britannia Chambers on Beaumont Street, part of former Marshalls buildings in Gainsborough.

The local Gainsborough paper summed up everyone’s feelings with a headline in their Friday, 7th October 1994 edition:

“It’s finally here after 64 years”

On the 15th and 16th of October 1994 the GDHA opened the Heritage Centre with Marshall Vintage Tractors - a pictorial exhibition of the Floods - a special 1995 calendar available for sale - a model of a Midget Submarine to see - a Rose Packaging Machine and Steam Engines.

The Centre was opened by Sir Nicholas Bacon, patron of the Association.

The local Gainsborough paper said only two words could sum up the event ‘tremendous success.’

Although the Heritage Centre and Museum in Britannia Chambers, Marshall, Beaumont Street, Gainsborough, closed in 2004 due to development of Marshalls Yard - we are still very active with a membership of over 60.

We now operate from No 12, Gainsborough Waterfront Enterprise Centre (formerly Lea Road School), lea Road, Gainsborough, where our archives are worked on and stored.

 
Opening the Gainsborough Heritage Centre

On the left is Sid Archer, sadly no longer with us, who was Chairman of the Association. In the Centre is Sir Nicholas Bacon, patron of the Association and on the right is John Stanley, secretary of the Association. This was taken at the opening ceremony of the Heritage Centre.

 

Although the Heritage Centre and Museum that were in Britannia Chambers, Marshalls, closed in 2004 due to development, we are still very active with a membership of 70.

We are now based at the Gainsborough Waterfront Enterprise Centre, on Lea Road. OUr arvhives are stored here and worked upon.

To get in touch - please email: susan@gainsboroughheritage.com

The Gainsborough and District Heritage Association - helping preserve Gainsborough’s heritage and history for today and tomorrow.