Barry PhilipsLincolnshire is a county rich in history, old architecture, and forgotten landmarks. From deserted medieval villages to abandoned RAF bases and derelict hospitals, the county is full of eerie places that tell stories of the past. These abandoned places attract historians, photographers, urban explorers, and curious tourists who want to experience a different side of England.
Some of these locations were once thriving communities, while others were military centers, grand estates, or major industrial landmarks. Today, many stand silent—weathered by time and surrounded by mystery.
In this guide, we explore the Top 40 Abandoned Places in Lincolnshire, their history, what remains today, and why they continue to fascinate visitors.
Top 40 Abandoned Places In Lincolnshire
1. Nocton Hall
Nocton Hall is one of the most famous abandoned places in Lincolnshire. Originally built as a grand country house, it later became a military hospital during both World Wars. During World War I, it served as a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers, and later during World War II, it became an American military hospital.
The building gained a reputation for paranormal activity, making it one of the county’s best-known haunted locations. Many locals associated the ruins with ghost stories and mysterious sightings, which only increased public curiosity.
Sadly, much of the original structure was destroyed by fire and demolition over the years. What remains today are scattered ruins, old walls, and traces of what was once a magnificent estate. While much of the site has been redeveloped into housing, the historic reputation of Nocton Hall still draws attention.
It remains a symbol of how even grand estates can fall into silence over time.
2. Bass Maltings, Sleaford
The Bass Maltings in Sleaford is one of the largest and most striking abandoned industrial buildings in England. Built between 1882 and 1905 by Bass Breweries, the site was designed for large-scale malt production used in beer brewing. Its huge red-brick architecture dominates the local skyline and remains instantly recognizable.
The complex operated for decades before closing in 1960. Fires later damaged major sections of the property, leaving large portions of the structure unsafe and unused. Some pavilions suffered heavy fire damage, while others were simply left to decay over time.
Despite its derelict condition, Bass Maltings remains an iconic industrial heritage site. Urban explorers, photographers, and architecture enthusiasts are often drawn to its scale and haunting atmosphere.
Its abandoned towers and broken windows create one of the most dramatic abandoned landscapes in Lincolnshire.
3. RAF Kirton in Lindsey
RAF Kirton in Lindsey is one of Lincolnshire’s most notable abandoned military sites. Opened in the 1940s, the airbase played an important role during wartime and later passed through various administrations including the Royal Air Force, the United States Air Force, and the British Army.
The base was finally closed in 2013 and prepared for disposal. Many buildings were left standing, including barracks, technical areas, and administration blocks. Reports from urban explorers describe abandoned paperwork, military planning maps, and decaying infrastructure still left behind.
The site reflects Lincolnshire’s long connection with military aviation, often earning the county the nickname “Bomber County.” Many former RAF sites across the region have similar eerie qualities, but Kirton in Lindsey remains one of the most accessible examples.
It stands as a quiet reminder of Britain’s military past.
4. Rauceby Hospital
Rauceby Hospital, often referred to by locals as the abandoned asylum near Sleaford, is one of the most talked-about derelict institutional sites in Lincolnshire. It was originally built as a psychiatric hospital and served mental health patients for decades before large parts of the site were shut down.
Many of the buildings remain standing, though some areas have deteriorated significantly. The site has become popular among urban explorers due to its eerie corridors, old wards, and the atmosphere of abandonment.
Recent community discussions describe it as still accessible in parts, though visitors note the dangers of decay and the importance of respecting the site. Some locals also report increased police attention due to anti-social behavior around the estate.
Its abandoned institutional design gives it a haunting feel that makes it one of Lincolnshire’s most memorable forgotten places.
5. Gainsthorpe Medieval Village
Unlike abandoned buildings, Gainsthorpe is a deserted medieval village—one of the best-preserved examples in England. Located near Kirton-in-Lindsey, it was once a functioning settlement listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Over time, the village was deserted, likely due to economic changes, land use shifts, and broader social changes affecting medieval England. Today, the houses, barns, and streets survive mainly as visible earthworks in open fields.
Visitors won’t find standing houses here, but instead an open landscape where the outlines of an entire lost community remain visible.
It is one of the most fascinating examples of abandonment not through disaster, but through the slow passing of centuries.
6. Pleasure Island Theme Park
Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes was once one of Lincolnshire’s best-loved theme parks. Families visited for rollercoasters, rides, and seaside entertainment for decades before the park permanently closed in 2016.
Since closure, nature has slowly reclaimed the site. Buildings became overgrown, empty spaces replaced the removed rides, and the once-busy tourist destination turned into a ghostly shell of its former self. Urban explorers and photographers have documented its eerie transformation.
There have been redevelopment plans for the site, including proposals for holiday resorts and commercial investment, but its abandoned state remains one of the most striking examples of modern decline in Lincolnshire.
It represents a different kind of abandonment—one caused not by age, but by changing tourism and economics.
7. RAF Folkingham
RAF Folkingham is another abandoned military location with a powerful atmosphere. Opened in 1940, it played an important wartime role and later became associated with airborne operations and missile systems.
After military use ended, the site was sold privately in 1963. Today, it is known for old military vehicles left to rust along the former runway, creating an unusual “graveyard” of wartime relics. Reports describe tanks, amphibious trucks, and old transport vehicles slowly decaying in isolation.
The vast open runway and abandoned infrastructure make it feel frozen in time.
For military history enthusiasts, RAF Folkingham is one of the most visually powerful abandoned places in the county.
8. Skidbrooke Church
Skidbrooke Church is one of Lincolnshire’s most atmospheric abandoned religious sites. This old church has long been associated with ghost stories, paranormal legends, and local folklore.
Its remote location adds to its eerie reputation. Visitors often describe it as beautiful yet unsettling, with ruined interiors and signs of structural collapse. Some reports mention that parts of the roof have partially fallen in, leaving the building sealed for safety reasons.
Its Gothic appearance and isolation make it popular for photography and ghost-hunting stories. Even those not interested in paranormal tales often find it visually unforgettable.
Few abandoned churches in Lincolnshire create such a strong emotional impression.
9. Witham Preceptory
Witham Preceptory, also known as South Witham Preceptory, is one of the county’s oldest abandoned historic sites. Founded before 1164, it was a Knights Templar preceptory and served as a religious and agricultural complex.
The site was abandoned in the early 14th century and largely disappeared after the Knights Templar left. Historical records describe halls, a chapel, kitchens, and industrial buildings that once formed an important medieval complex.
Today, little remains beyond archaeological evidence and protected ground. However, its importance lies in its historical significance rather than visible ruins.
It is one of the most ancient examples of abandonment in Lincolnshire and offers a rare link to the era of the Knights Templar.
10. Gainsborough Riverside Development
Not all abandoned places are historic. One of Lincolnshire’s most striking modern abandoned sites is the half-built housing estate in Gainsborough.
Planned as a major riverside development of over 200 homes and commercial spaces, construction stopped after only around 20 homes were partially built. Since then, the site has become overgrown, vandalized, and repeatedly damaged by fires and graffiti.
Residents describe it as an eyesore and a danger due to anti-social behavior, disused pits, and even asbestos warnings around the fenced perimeter. The site later went up for auction with hopes for redevelopment.
It shows that abandonment is not always ancient—sometimes modern projects fail just as dramatically.
Comprehensive List
| No. | Abandoned Place | Location | Former Purpose | Current Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nocton Hall | Nocton | Mansion & military hospital | Mostly demolished ruins |
| 2 | Bass Maltings | Sleaford | Industrial maltings | Derelict industrial landmark |
| 3 | RAF Kirton in Lindsey | North Lincolnshire | RAF airbase | Largely abandoned military site |
| 4 | Rauceby Hospital | Sleaford | Psychiatric hospital | Semi-derelict institutional buildings |
| 5 | Gainsthorpe Medieval Village | Near Kirton-in-Lindsey | Medieval settlement | Earthworks and village remains |
| 6 | Pleasure Island Theme Park | Cleethorpes | Theme park | Closed and partially abandoned |
| 7 | RAF Folkingham | Folkingham | Military airfield | Disused airfield with relics |
| 8 | Skidbrooke Church | Louth area | Historic church | Ruined and partially collapsed |
| 9 | Witham Preceptory | South Witham | Knights Templar site | Archaeological remains |
| 10 | Gainsborough Riverside Development | Gainsborough | Housing estate project | Half-built abandoned estate |
| 11 | RAF Binbrook | Binbrook | RAF station | Disused military base |
| 12 | St John’s Hospital | Bracebridge Heath | Hospital | Abandoned institutional site |
| 13 | Tupholme Abbey | Near Lincoln | Monastic abbey | Historic ruins |
| 14 | Hainton Hall | Hainton | Country house | Derelict mansion |
| 15 | RAF Hemswell | Hemswell Cliff | RAF airbase | Partially abandoned military structures |
| 16 | Somerton Castle | Boothby Graffoe | Medieval castle | Ruined historic fortress |
| 17 | Thornton Abbey Gatehouse | Thornton Curtis | Abbey complex | Preserved ruins |
| 18 | Alvingham Priory | Alvingham | Religious priory | Partial ruins |
| 19 | Bardney Abbey | Bardney | Monastery | Archaeological remains |
| 20 | Bullington Priory | Bullington | Augustinian priory | Ruined remains |
| 21 | St Botolph’s Priory Site | Lincolnshire countryside | Religious priory | Forgotten ruins |
| 22 | RAF Metheringham | Metheringham | Bomber Command base | Abandoned military sections |
| 23 | RAF Donna Nook Structures | Donna Nook | Military training site | Isolated abandoned buildings |
| 24 | Saltfleet Haven Ruins | Saltfleet | Coastal settlement | Abandoned coastal remains |
| 25 | Covenham Reservoir Buildings | Covenham | Utility infrastructure | Disused service buildings |
| 26 | Branston Hall Outbuildings | Branston | Estate complex | Derelict auxiliary buildings |
| 27 | Winterton Hall Ruins | Winterton | Manor house | Collapsing ruins |
| 28 | Belton House Old Service Wing | Grantham area | Estate service buildings | Disused heritage structures |
| 29 | RAF Spitalgate | Grantham | RAF training station | Mostly abandoned military land |
| 30 | Ancaster Railway Yard | Ancaster | Railway operations | Disused rail infrastructure |
| 31 | Mablethorpe Old Cinema | Mablethorpe | Entertainment venue | Abandoned building |
| 32 | Sutton Bridge Power Station Site | Sutton Bridge | Power generation | Disused industrial remains |
| 33 | Holbeach Airfield Remains | Holbeach | Military airfield | Abandoned runway remnants |
| 34 | Old Grantham Workhouse | Grantham | Workhouse | Derelict institutional building |
| 35 | Spalding Sugar Factory Ruins | Spalding | Industrial processing | Partially abandoned factory |
| 36 | Kirton Marsh Buildings | Kirton Marsh | Agricultural use | Neglected farm structures |
| 37 | Old Boston Railway Depot | Boston | Rail depot | Abandoned transport facility |
| 38 | Grimsby Ice Factory | Grimsby | Fishing industry support | Derelict industrial building |
| 39 | Lincolnshire Coastal Radar Station | Coastline area | Military observation post | Ruined bunker remains |
| 40 | Old Chapel at Tealby | Tealby | Religious building | Abandoned chapel ruins |
Comparison Table of the Top Abandoned Places in Lincolnshire
| Abandoned Place | Location | Former Purpose | Current Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nocton Hall | Nocton | Mansion & military hospital | Mostly demolished ruins |
| Bass Maltings | Sleaford | Industrial maltings | Derelict industrial landmark |
| RAF Kirton in Lindsey | North Lincolnshire | RAF airbase | Largely abandoned military site |
| Rauceby Hospital | Sleaford | Psychiatric hospital | Semi-derelict institutional buildings |
| Gainsthorpe Medieval Village | Near Kirton-in-Lindsey | Medieval settlement | Earthworks and village remains |
| Pleasure Island Theme Park | Cleethorpes | Theme park | Closed and partially abandoned |
| RAF Folkingham | Folkingham | Military airfield | Disused airfield with relics |
| Skidbrooke Church | Louth area | Historic church | Ruined and partially collapsed |
| Witham Preceptory | South Witham | Knights Templar site | Archaeological remains |
| Gainsborough Riverside Development | Gainsborough | Housing estate project | Half-built abandoned estate |
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Conclusion
Lincolnshire is full of abandoned places that reflect different parts of its history—medieval settlements, military bases, industrial giants, hospitals, churches, and even failed modern developments.
Some of these sites are protected heritage landmarks, while others remain hidden behind fences and local stories. Together, they reveal how communities change, industries disappear, and buildings outlive the people who once depended on them.
Whether you are interested in architecture, local history, photography, or simply the mystery of forgotten places, these abandoned locations offer a unique journey into Lincolnshire’s past.
They remind us that every ruined wall and empty building once had a purpose—and often, a story still worth telling.