Now known mainly for its agricultural produce, Spalding was once a busy commercial port. This was an industry that affected a large majority of the local population and yet today that rich history is almost forgotten. Here Keith Seaton seeks to recover that lost past, beginning with the River Welland of Roman times, right up to the early 20th century, when river traffic began to decline. The Industrial Revolution was a boom period for the waterway, and as such special attention is given to the Master Mariners of this important period. By using key sources such as census and shipping records, local family history records, maps and fascinating illustrations, this book creates a rich tapestry of the heritage of the area.