Lincolnshire, The Big Sky County

Time to visit old haunts in Lincolnshire. A pleasant 90 min drive got us to the motel at Sleaford where we set up camp for this week. I can recommend the Citroen Cleo; the cruise control really makes driving a breeze. Mind you, we couldn't get the satnav to work even after doing the unthinkable - reading the manual. The benefit being? Not listening to an Yank voice telling us we were where we already knew we were.

The Bishop's Eye

We drove to Lincoln on Monday and spent the day at the beautiful cathedral - yes, the whole day. So much to see and always worth hours of wandering and wondering - I've been doing this for over 45 years! We spent a couple of hours on a tour of the roof structure. Amaizing! Some of the massive oak beams are over 900 years old. One couple, who were on the tour, live in Jervis Bay - small world ain't it? They couldn't grasp the wealth and depth of hisory of the cathedral or the city and it's past social and industrial impact on English, and even world, history. Why would they ...

Lunch and afternoon tea at the cloister cafe were very enjoyable. We didn't stay for the organ recital which was scheduled for the evening.

We spent Tuesday morning visiting several lovely villages and a long, enjoyable afternoon with friends at a pub. The lunch was good and the beer excellent ...

Wednesday called for several expeditions into the darkest interior which provided several ancient churches, beautiful cottages, expansive views of hedge-rowed fields with ripening crops and the unexpected keep or manor house. Sadly, most of the churches are locked due to theft and damage. Lead roofs are a prime target. We are disgusted with this situation in England when we consider that we can wander around Japan and find temples are open and undamaged - even the plants in pots outside houses stay intact, as do the vending machines on street corners. What uncouth jobs we English are ... It's probably the Roman, Viking, Saxon and Norman Blood. All to do with having a history of invasion, pillage and football.

We visited South Kyme and came across a gem. On first view the St Mary and All Saints church seems unremarkable, but it dates from at least 1196 when it was an Augustinian priory. The church today consists of the south aisle and part of the nave of the former priory.

In the adjacent field stands Kyme Tower. This stone keep is all that remains of the medieval castle, which was built between 1310 and 1381, by Sir Gilbert de Umfraville. The tower sits upon a mound and is surrounded by a moat, which still survives as an earthwork. There is evidence of other embanked earthwork structures within the moated enclosure. To the east of the keep are fishponds and other features of medieval of post-medieval date. The 18th century Manor House stand nearby. The fields are begging for a resistivity survey ... a project for the future?

You can make out some of the underlying structures in the sat photos.









Thursday became a sorte to Wickenby airfield and the flight plan involved several stalls which resulted in forced landings into unknown fields far and wide.

Bloxholm village has an small church hidden away from the road which was probably built by the fok who lived at the, now semi-derelict, manor house. passing through Ashby de la Launde, Scopwick, Blankney, Metheringham, Nocton, Potterhanworth, Bardney, Kingthorpe, Langton by Wragby and Holton cum Becking, we arrived at Wickenby. Don't you just love the village names? Saxon, Norman, Dane; do we really know where we come from ...

Wickenby airfield was busy with civilian activity and the flying club's  CFI couldn't have been more helpful. One stalwart threw a Zlin 242 into an expert display of aerobatics. Well worth the visit; I've flown out of this field some years ago when most of the pilots were crew at RAF Scampton (of 617 fame). I think "Time Team" had one of their digs at the airfield.

We visited Wickenby church which, we were told, had had its lead from the roof stolen FIVE times! The suggestion to tile the roof has been vetoed by English Heritage, hence, tar-felt has been used to keep the weather out; so much for common sense conservation.

The church at Holton cum Becking was open. We stopped and ended up having a long chat to a Kiwi who was busy cleaning the place. Small world again ... This church has been robbed so many time that the most historically important objects have been confined to archival storage.

Friday saw us wandering the back roads around Sleaford again; so many lanes and by-ways, villages with their churches, pubs and old buildings. Late in the evening we drove back to Sheffield. An excellent week!