Roofie was Boston dependent on the health of the vegetable and to some extent fruit growing markets, say canning factories, haulage companies?
A big employer in Lincoln was Rushton Gas Turbines they must have employed several thousand, when I was there the University was just beginning. Higher education is a growth sector and to some extent has helped Middlesbrough to survive. In general though HE is a big city thing.
There has been a drift of jobs from many towns jobs to large cities such as closing local tax offices and moving them to large cities - the Middlesbrough Office shut and moved to Newcastle? Many banks have shut is small towns I think Guisborough had 5 Banks its now 1. Banking online, app and by phone now tends to be serviced from larger urban areas or even overseas. Myself I think soomething could be done by Government to help smaller struggling town through business rates, it might not solve the decline but reduce it. Same with Tax offices.