Wainfleet was once one of the most prominent ports on the eastern side of England. Of that there is no doubt. Its heritage is chronicled - albeit in a piecemeal way - in a whole range of reliable documentary sources. In the 12th, 13th and early part of the 14th centuries, the town was a veritable hub of prosperity, trading valuable cargoes to and from Europe. Tokens were minted locally to be used at the warehouses. Custom officers supervised, commercial activities. Wealthy merchants traded in the town. Ships were commissioned to fight battles at sea.

Yet walk through Wainfleet today, and there is no trace of those incredible days of yesteryear. Although there are important industries - notably brewing, vegetable processing and timber veneering - the maritime heritage has all but vanished. There is a pub called The Jolly Sailor, but, apart from that, there is hardly anything to denote that this was once a pre-eminent port - perhaps one of the largest in the country.

What happened to it? Where was it located? Why did it fall into decline? These are basic questions, but they remain largely a mystery. True there are fragments of information scattered in museums, libraries, maritime centres and old books. But they are just pieces in a jigsaw which is still a -long way- short of completion.

Over the past 10 years 1 have sought to gather together the various strands. Progress has been made, but there is still much research to be completed before the rich and colourful texture of Wainfleet's glorious past is finally revealed.

Maritime historians will doubtless help to point the way, coming up with a supply of precious clues. But we are in the computer age. Hi-tec archaeological research - as seen in Channel 4 TV's Time Team and BBC 2's History Zone - may yet prove even more invaluable in this fascinating quest.

The fate of Wainfleet's port is one of the great abiding whodunits of Lincolnshire's past. If these pages can point the way to the solution of a famous mystery, it will have served its purpose.