The Old College in Tattershall is located in Lincolnshire, and it was a former grammar school that is now in ruins. The college was set up in the mid-1430s with the ruins dating from the mid-1400s. It was a good example of Gothic architecture. In the 18th century, it was used as a brewery. The importance of the site is that it was one of the first brick buildings in England and one of the surviving examples of a medieval school. The remains of the college are now maintained by English Heritage. I explored the remains of the college and also had a wander around the square of the village of Tattershall.
The college remains are sign-posted and just off the main square.
There is not too much to see except for the brickwork. It is the shell of the building. It was commissioned by Lord Cromwell, treasurer to King Henry VI. This man had a lot of wealth and owned a lot of the land here; he was also responsible for the castle in the town, which I will cover in another post.
The end of the building backs onto private gardens.
Tattershall was a village before the Romans, and it was listed in the Doomsday Book.
Below is the buttercross, and markets would take place here.
Another important item is the little house on top of a roof in the square. It is known as Tom Thumb's House aftr the fictional storybook character.
The town's mayor is Julian Fellowes, award-winner and writer of "Downton Abbey" and "Godsford Park", various plays, and other television/film screenplays.
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