GAINSBOROUGH, market town, Lincolnshire, England; on the right (E.) bank of the Trent. Pop. of urban district 18,684. It is served by the L.N.E.R., by which it is 1 b m. N.W. of Lincoln. Gainsborough (Gegnesburji) was probably in habited by the Saxons on account of the fishing in the Trent. The Saxon Chronicle states that in 1013 the Danish king Sweyn landed here and subjugated the inhabitants. Gainsborough was probably a borough by prescription, for mention is made of burghal tenure in 1280. Mention is made in of a Wednesday market, but there is no extant grant before 1258, when Henry III. granted a Tuesday market to William de Valence, earl of Pem broke, who also obtained from Edward I. in 1291 licence for an annual fair on All Saints' Day, and the seven preceding and eight following days. In 1243 Henry III. granted to John Talbot licence for a yearly fair on the eve, day and morrow of St. James the Apostle. Queen Elizabeth in 1S92 granted to Thomas Lord Burgh two fairs, to begin on Easter Monday and on Oct. 9, each lasting three days. Charles I. in 1635-36 extended the duration of each to nine days. The Tuesday market is still held, and the fair days are Tuesday and Wednesday in Easter-week, and the Tuesday and Wednesday after Oct. 20. The parish church of All Saints is classic of the 18th century, excepting the Perpendicular tower. The Old Hall, of the 15th century, enlarged in the 16th, forms three sides of a quadrangle, partially timber-framed, but having a beautiful oriel window and other parts of stone. There is also a Tudor tower of brick. Gainsborough possesses a grammar school (founded in 1589 by a charter of Queen Elizabeth). There is a large carrying trade by water on the Trent and neighbouring canals. Shipbuilding and iron-founding are carried on; also manu factures of linseed cake, and agricultural machinery.