Boston market moves after 500 years for revamp

Archaeologists are excavating the original market site in Boston as part of the redevelopment

A Lincolnshire market has moved for the first time in more than 500 years to make way for a £2m revamp.

More space for events is being created at the market place, at the foot of St Botolph's in Boston, as part of the work.

The 102 stalls which trade on Wednesdays and Saturdays have now moved to a temporary site nearby on Wide Bargate.

Lincolnshire County Council said the work was expected to last eight months.

Len Evans, deputy chairman of the Market Traders' Federation in the town, said: "Traders are making the best of it.

"If the work is brilliant and it draws people into the town from around the area, then great."

Funding for the work has come from the county council, Boston Borough Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Medieval market

During the work archaeologists are taking the opportunity to excavate four trenches on the site of the old market place.

Gavin Glover, who is running the excavation, said it will provide more information about Boston's history and how it became one of the most important towns in England in the medieval period.

"As far as we know the market has always been in the same place," he said.

"The trenches are all broadly targeted at things that are on a map that dates to 1741.

"There used to be some buildings in the market place and each one of the trenches is aimed at one of them."