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A settlement in Boston is believed to date back to 654, when a Saxon
monk named Botolph established a monastery on the banks of the River
Witham. This story is disputed by some historians who believe the town
had a different origin.
Boston was not mentioned in the 1086
Domesday Book; however the small settlement of Skirbeck is mentioned.
Skirbeck is now considered part of Boston but the name remains as a
church parish. Boston grew into a town during the 11th and 12th Century.
It was a significant port in the Middle Ages for trade with the
continent of Europe. Much of Boston's trade at this time was in wool and
Boston is often quoted as being "built on wool" by the locals. Apart
from wool, Boston also exported salt, grain and lead. The wool industry
began to decline in the 15th Century as the industry shifted to
different parts of the country. Boston's wealth also declined as a
result from then on.
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In the 13th and 14th Century four orders of friars came to Boston,
Dominicans, Franciscan, Carmelites and Augustines. The friaries were
eventually closed by King Henry VIII during his split from the Catholic
church. The dining room of one of the friaries was converted into a
theatre in 1965 and is now known as Blackfriars Arts Centre.
The town received its charter in 1545 from Henry VIII and Boston had 2
Members of Parliament from 1552 onwards.
In 1607 a group of Pilgrims led by William Brewster and William Bradford
attempted to escape to Holland from Boston. At the time emmigration was
illegal and they were imprisoned in the Guildhall. Most of the pilgrims
were released the following year and set sail for The Netherlands,
settling in Leiden. Concerned with the morals of the time in Holland and
the fact the children were being brought up in a Dutch environment they
decided to move to a place better suited and set sail for the Americas
on the ship Mayflower from Plymouth in 1620. These people became known
as the Pilgrim Fathers.
Boston remained a hotbed of religious dissent. In 1612, John Cotton
became the vicar of the Stump and although persecuted by the Church of
England at the time for his non-conformist preaching he is responsible
for causing a large increase in the Church's population. He encouraged
members who disliked the lack of religious freedom in England to join
the Massachusetts Bay Company and later helped with the foundation of
the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Unable to tolerate the religious
situation any longer he eventually emigrated himself in 1633.
Boston saw a revival during the late 18th Century when the fens were
drained. The land was fertile and Boston began exporting cereals to
London. In 1774 the first bank was opened and in 1776 an act of
parliament allowed watchmen to begin patrolling the streets at night.
During the 19th Century Boston once again became an important port when
new docks were constructed in 1884. The railway came to Boston in 1848.
Boston was a major railway terminal but was hit hard by the Dr Beeching
cutbacks of the 1960s.
In the 20th Century Boston continued as a major port, exporting grain,
fertilizer and timber. The first cinema opened in 1910 and in 1913 a new
town bridge was constructed. Central Park was purchased in 1919 which is
now one of the focal points of the town. Electricity came to Boston
during the early part of the century and electrical street lighting was
available from 1924.
In the 21st Century, a new shopping centre named Pescod Centre has
opened bringing many new stores into the town. Further development is
planned.
Boston has seen a large increase in immigrants, most notably from
Eastern Europe. This has led to some racial tension which came to a head
during the 2004 European Football Championship when the town was hit by
rioting.
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