Spalding Gentlemen's Society

The Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, one of the oldest learned Societies in the kingdom, and the earliest provincial association for the encouragement of archaeology, was founded by Maurice Johnson, (1688-1755), ‘The Antiquary’, of Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding. Francis, Duke of Buccleuch, (1695-1751), Lord of the Manor of Spalding-cum-Membris, became Patron of the Society in 1732.

Early members included a number of notable eighteenth century figures, among them Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Hans Sloane, President of the Royal Society, whose museum and library formed the nucleus of the British Museum, Alexander Pope, George Vertue, the engraver, Dr. William Stukeley, John Anstis, F.R.S. Garter King of Arms, John Gay, the poet, the Rev. Richard Bentley, D.D., and Captain John Perry, the engineer. Later, Sir Joseph Banks, Sir G. Gilbert Scott, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Pishey Thompson, the historian of Boston, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, Lord Peckover of Wisbech, and Lord Ancaster, the Society’s Patron from 1960 to 1983.