The vibrant town of Scunthorpe has a rich industrial heritage. It was here in 1859 that local landowner Rowland Winn discovered the Frodingham Ironstone, and the sleepy rural villages became the centre of iron and later steel making. Winn built homes for the influx of workers, churches and halls and brought a railway to the town. Today a heritage trail and free steam train rides around the operational steel plant tell the story of the great Victorian Iron Masters.
Rowland Winn’s Church is now the striking 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, where a changing programme of contemporary art can be found and unusual gifts are for sale. The town centre has seen more than £70 million of investment in the last two years, and a new shopping and leisure complex – The Parishes – has been built.
Above all Scunthorpe has retained vast areas of natural woodland, carefully tended parkland and public open space, which can be enjoyed by everyone and has brought abundant wildlife into the heart of the town.
Places to visit include North Lincolnshire Museum, Normanby Hall Country Park (with its award-winning Victorian Walled Garden, period rooms and costume galleries), organic farm shops, the seven-screen UCI cinema and many restaurants.