The ARIES Project aims to encourage heritage tourism by working with public bodies to develop 'products'. The first of these is the leaflet published by East Lindsey District Council and supported by Lincolnshire Tourism 'On the Trail of Captain John Smith - Lincolnshire to Virginia' This leaflet takes visitors around the sites in Willoughby, Alford, Louth, and Tattershall, all places which have links with John Smith's early life. The leaflet is available at no charge from Louth TIC run by East Lindsey District Council (01507 609289) or from other Tourist Information Centres in the area. It may also be downloaded in PDF file form from the Lincolnshire Tourism website at www.visitlincolnshire.com Click on Main Visitor Site - Current News - Lincolnshire celebrates links with America.
After 2007, the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, there are many other anniversaries which connect Lincolnshire and Eastern England with Early America. The Pilgrim Fathers tried to escape to Holland from Boston in 1607 and succeeded from Immingham in 1608, before leaving Holland for America in 1620. The 'Boston Men' joined with John Winthrop of Groton, Suffolk to sail to America in 1630 and established Boston, Massachusetts. With them sailed Anne Bradstreet, brought up at Tattershall, and her husband Simon, born at Horbling. Anne is well known in America as the first published American poet, whereas Simon became a leader of the colony. Ann Hutchinson of Alford followed in 1634 and became the 'troubler of Zion' eventually being banished from Massachusetts for her heretical preaching. Lincolnshire Tourism is bidding for funding to support tourism development in this Heritage area.
For individual or group tours, Lincolnshire's Blue Badge Guides provide an expert and fascinating insight into our County's Heritage. Please contact Jean Howard on 01507 604717 for bookings in the Louth area. For accommodation and dining, please see the Visit Lincolnshire website, the guides to local places of interest provided by Tourist Information Centres or the Poacher Guide at www.poacherguide.co.uk/special_interests/famous_people.php.
Captain John Smith and the ARIES Project