Lincolnshire History

Quick Guide: Grantham

Grantham is a market town in Lincolnshire that developed from an Anglo-Saxon settlement into a centre of transport and industry.

Brief history

Grantham began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement, its name likely derived from 'Granta ham', meaning a homestead associated with a man called Granta. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, it was already a significant royal manor, reflecting its growing importance within the region.

In the medieval period, Grantham developed as a market town supported by agriculture and trade, particularly in wool and leather. Its position on key north-south routes encouraged movement through the town, bringing economic activity and royal attention. This role expanded further in the early modern period, when Grantham became a major stopping point on the Great North Road, with inns, services and local businesses shaped by the steady flow of travellers.

The 19th century brought major change with the arrival of the canal and railway, helping to transform Grantham into a centre of engineering and manufacturing. Firms such as Richard Hornsby & Sons placed the town at the forefront of mechanical innovation. In the 20th century, Grantham continued to develop as an industrial and regional centre while retaining its long-standing connection to transport and movement.

Key facts

• Grantham was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as a royal manor.
• Isaac Newton was educated at The King's School in Grantham in the 1650s.
• Grantham became an important coaching town on the Great North Road.
• St Wulfram's Church has one of the tallest church spires in England.
• The Angel and Royal is one of the oldest coaching inns in Britain.
• Margaret Thatcher was born in Grantham in 1925.
• Richard Hornsby & Sons developed an early diesel engine in Grantham in 1892.
• Grantham gingerbread originated in the town in the 18th century.

Timeline of Grantham's history