A veritable hub of history, Spilsby has borne witness to countless chapters of human occupation since prehistoric times which have left their indelible mark on the town's landscape and culture. It served as a Roman settlement between the 1st and 4th century AD, as evidenced by nearby archaeological findings of a Roman villa or an illustrious Romano-British farmhouse.

Positioned in the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside, Spilsby has functioned as a flourishing rural market town for over 700 years, with its size remaining virtually unchanged since the 19th century. Its charming town centre comprises an array of local amenities from supermarkets and banks to traditional newsagents and a variety of shops that fringe the market place, the hub of town activity where markets take place every Monday.

Spilsby is home to several impressive architectural landmarks, including the medieval buttercross monument and the old town hall. Its historical richness extends to the Manor of Eresby, held initially by the Beke family before passing to the Willoughbys, and the magnificent Gunby Hall, a prominent mansion house built in 1700 and later donated to the National Trust in 1944.

The town's development history is also quite fascinating. The 19th century saw several progressive additions in Spilsby - the moving of the King Edward VI Grammar School, the construction of nonconformist Methodist chapels, the building of a prison (now a Theatre and Arts Centre), and the installation of gasworks for the first time. The opening of a pumping station in 1908 brought tap water to homes, and the establishment of the Spilsby Pavilion in 1892 and the Masonic Lodge and Hall in 1913 have enriched its cultural and social fabric.