Discover Martin

Martin offers several historical themes: sacred architecture, a war memorial, a manor house and traces of a long history of settlement. Holy Trinity Church, the Martin War Memorial and The Manor House each offer a distinct architectural and historical perspective. There is also the Car Dyke, an artificial water channel with a protected section in Martin. You can get to know the place through its different architectural forms, commemorative heritage and landscape history.

Holy Trinity Church and its architectural features

Holy Trinity Church was built in 1876 by T. H. Wyatt and is a stone church in the Arts and Crafts style. Its tower dates from 1911, 35 years after the church was built. Architectural features include a nave, a chancel, a polygonal apse, transepts and lancet windows. A nave is the main, lengthwise space of a church; transepts extend out to the sides. A polygonal apse has several sides, while lancet windows are narrow, pointed window forms. Its materials, style and floor plan offer different aspects through which to describe the church’s architecture.

Memorial and manor house

The Martin War Memorial is listed as a Grade II monument and was unveiled on 9 April 1921. It takes the form of an ornate, prominent cross with carved decorative details. Its date and design give the memorial a specific commemorative significance, as well as a handcrafted character.

The Manor House offers a different architectural perspective. The building dates from around 1780, has three storeys and a T-shaped floor plan. Its red brick walls feature brick and ashlar detailing. Its approximate construction date is just under a century before Holy Trinity Church was built. The two buildings therefore offer a way to compare different periods and forms of construction without conflating their respective features.

Documentary records and the Car Dyke

The settlement of Martin is first documented in the 12th century, though its origins may date back further. A 12th-century Templar document records that Walter D'Ayncourt gave land in Martin to the Templars. This places the earliest documented history of the village in the 12th century, while leaving open the possibility of earlier origins.

A section of the Car Dyke in Martin is designated as a protected Scheduled Monument. The Car Dyke is an artificial water channel that runs along the western edge of the Fens, from Peterborough to Lincoln. Its construction is thought to be attributable to the Romans; it may have been built around AD 125. The designation applies to the section in Martin, while the described route and presumed date of construction place the Car Dyke as a whole in context.

Visitor information

Visitor facilities at Holy Trinity Church include a free library with DVDs and puzzles, as well as coffee on Tuesday mornings. If you plan to make use of these facilities, please check in advance whether they will be available during your visit.

A visitor notice dated 19 December 2025 named the gate on Linwood Road as the only pedestrian entrance to Martin Churchyard and described expanded access to most graves. As this access information is time-sensitive, please check before your visit whether the route is still in effect.

When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider which themes you want to shape your stay: church architecture, commemorative heritage or the history of the Car Dyke. Martin offers a range of historical points of interest, without requiring them to be combined into a single visitor experience.

Discover more destinations: Scredington, Stamford, Waltham, Rippingale, Dunholme, Sutton On Sea, Horbling, Broughton

For the broader travel overview: Lincolnshire.