The ‘Telephone Exchange,’ themed tea room highlights the history of the building and is situated on the ground floor. The tea room is open every Tuesday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm and is well worth a visit!
The tea room has a food hygiene certificate rating of five. Please check with a member of staff before ordering in regard to any food or drink allergies and intolerances.
Exchange Tea Room visitors below enjoying their pot of Twinnings tea!
The Heritage Centre and shop are open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
The Centre's shop stocks a range of local heritage books, CDs and DVDs relating to Gainsborough's history (items listed below). Items are available to purchase directly from the Gainsborough Heritage Centre or posted by request. There is a collection of twelve different replica packs of resources available relating to the First World War such as newspapers and ration cards as well as a DVD set. There are also Marshall Tractor Mugs on sale for £5 as well as other Heritage Centre memorabilia such as postcards and hand knitted Heritage Centre hedgehogs available too. Karl Wood Prints are also available to purchase and are very popular!
The final book of 'Gainsborough's War Story' written by Peter Bradshaw, focuses on the main events of 1918 including the Spring Offensive when Germany made huge advances and many local soldiers were killed, wounded or captured and includes the final 100 days that culminated in the Armistice on 11 November 1918. On sale now at the Gainsborough Heritage Centre for £15. Find out more here.
The Centre has a range of books covering a variety of subjects, see list below:
Special Offer on the Postcards From Gainsborough’s Past book
Compiled from Norman Cawkwell’s postcard collection of local scenes.
Price: £5.00 each or 2 books for £8.00
New Books
Gainsborough's Old Yards by Paul Kemp Price: £6.00
Tidal Bores by George Brocklehurst Price: £6.00
Pitch, Pine and Rivets History of Watson's Shipyard by Stan Otter Price £6.00
Gainsborough's House of Correction, Prisons and Lock ups by Paul Kemp Price £4.00
Pilgrim Routes by Dr Anna Scott Price £10.00
Journey's Over Land and Sea (children's book) By Dr Anna Scott and Neil Baker
The Wicked Pilgrim by Randal Charlton Price £11.99
Schools
Parish Church School
A history of this popular local school in hardback format with photos, memories and even school reports!
Price: £5.00
Gainsborough Girls’ High School
A history of this school with photographs and memories.
Price: £10.
Life at St John's and St George's School
By Wendy Niles
Price: £7.50
Buildings and Streets
Richmond House (formerly The Hollies)
Home to the Iveson family (solicitors down Lord Street) then bought by Charles Richmond (solicitor), and given to the town of Gainsborough. Hosted many art exhibitions by local and eminent painters.
Price: £7.50
Businesses on the East Side of the Market Place
Starting at the National Westminster Bank, and ending down Curtis Walk, step inside the Grand Cinema, then make a purchase at Bomers Store. Call in at the HSBC Bank, and find the George Eliot connection, and how about a drink at the Black Head pub?
Price: £10
Saint Michael and All Angels Church
Tells the story of a Church moved from London in 1896, and rebuilt at the corner of Ropery Road and North Warren Road in Gainsborough. This book is full of memories of the community spirit of this Church, and illustrated with wonderful photographs.
Price £5
The World Wars
Gainsborough's War Story Book 2: June 1915 - December 1915
This book shares Gainsborough's War Story through the pages of the Gainsborough News and includes the 8th Lincolns at Loos, the 5th Lincolns at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, Gallipoli and letters, 'From Your Loving Son Jack'.
By Peter E. Bradshaw
Price: £15.00
Gainsborough's War Story Book 3: 1916
This book shares Gainsborough's War Story through the pages of the Gainsborough News during 1916 and includes the Battles of Jutland and the Somme.
By Peter E. Bradshaw
Price: £15.00
Gainsborough's War Story Book 5: 1918 to 1920s
This book shares Gainsborough's War Story through the pages of the Gainsborough News including the stories of Gainsborough's Munitions factories and workers as well as Gainsborough's War Memorials and Roll of Honour's.
By Peter E. Bradshaw
Price: £15.00
The Rose Tablecloth
By Don Meale, a history of the names of the airmen embroidered on the Rose tablecloth
Price: £7.50
People, Organisations and Memories
Daisy Girdlestone (producer and photographer of pantomimes and concerts)
Relive the pantomimes and concerts produced by Daisy – Gainsborough’s first woman photographer. Many wonderful photographs loaned to us by the ‘Merry Madcaps.’
Price: £5
Three Tickets for the Workhouse
This book takes a look at some memories recalled to Mr. Stan Otter. The original interviews have been transcribed, so for the first time you can read these ‘raw’ accounts from local people. The language has been kept true to the recordings which gives us some wonderful examples of our local dialect.
Price: £5.00
Reminiscences by Phyllis Peart.
Phyllis known as Nurse Peart was born in Beaumont Street, Gainsborough towards the end of 1919 and attended Gainsborough schools. She did her general nursing training at Scunthorpe hospital during the Second World War. She then trained as a midwife in Sheffield and became a district nurse and midwife in Scunthorpe.
Price: £7
Nursing Midwifery and Me by Phyllis Peart
As shown above.
Price: £10
Straight from the Hosse’s Mouth
Memories of Gainsborough from people who lived in the town.
Price £5.
Other Books
Hewitt’s Windmill
Price: £10
All Saints Gainsborough: A Guide and Short History
By Jane Veale
Price: £1.50
The Scotter Embroidery
The Story of King John's visit to Scotter in 1216 as depicted in an embroidery created to celebrate the 800th anniversary of that event.
Photographic Memories of Beckingham and Saundby
Produced by Beckingham and Saundy History Group to record and capture the history of the Old Willow Works.
Price: £5.00
Flying Over an Olive Grove
This book details the history and remarkable story of ‘Fred Spiksley’, showcasing the Gainsborough born, football hero who first played for Gainsborough Trinity and went on to play for England.
By Clive Nicholson, Ralph Nicholson and Mark Metcalf.
Price: £19.95
Gainsborough Roll of Honour for WWI and WW2
Price: £5
Gainsborough Graveyards Burial List 1750 to 1900
Including Parish Church, North Warren, Holy Trinity and St Paul’s, Morton.
Price: £5
History of Gainsborough by Canon Moor
Price: £5
Brace's Notes
Price: £5
Marshall Son & Co 13 Magazines
Price: £5
Marshall Son & Co Occupation Engineers 1946
Price: £5
Adam Stark, A History of Gainsborough
Price: £5
Gainsborough, A Family History Pack
Price: £5
1851 Maps of Gainsborough
This CD is a fantastic resource of maps and includes a guide to the old yards, places and pubs that was in the town.
Price £5
1866 Maps of Gainsborough
This CD is a fantastic resource of maps and includes a guide to the old yards, places and pubs that was in the town.
Price: £5
