Gainsborough

Gainsborough is a market town in West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England, stretching along the eastern bank of the River Trent. The settlement serves as an inland port and connects waterways with surrounding flatlands.

During Anglo-Saxon times this place was a royal seat of Mercia before Danish armies seized it in 1013. The settlement grew into a regional trading center in the later Middle Ages with links to the Humber.

The name comes from Old English and roughly means "stronghold of Gegn", a personal name from the early medieval period. Today's market square continues to host regular trading days that bring together local sellers and shoppers.

Two railway stations, Lea Road and Central, connect the town with Lincoln, Sheffield and Doncaster through regular trains. Paths along the river offer easy access on foot or by bicycle from the center.

In the 1890s William Rose developed the world's first packaging machine here, turning the town into a center for the packaging industry. Some of his inventions influenced how products are transported and stored worldwide.

Location: West Lindsey

Website: https://gainsborough-tc.gov.uk

GPS coordinates: 53.40160,-0.77320

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:36