Metheringham

Metheringham is an English village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 3,605.[1] It is about 9 miles (14 km) south of the city and county town of Lincoln and 10 miles (16 km) north of Sleaford. The centre of the village is a conservation area.

Metheringham

Metheringham High Street
Metheringham
Location within Lincolnshire
Population3,605 (2011)
OS grid referenceTF069615
• London115 mi (185 km) S
Civil parish
  • Metheringham
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLINCOLN
Postcode districtLN4
Dialling code01526
PoliceLincolnshire
FireLincolnshire
AmbulanceEast Midlands
UK Parliament

History

The village is a documented settlement in the Domesday Book of 1086[2] and is thought to date from Saxon times. It appears to be associated with the name "Medrich". The addition of the plural ending "-es" together with the familiar "-ham" ending is thought to have produced "Medrichesham" (the homestead of Medrich), which in time became corrupted into the modern name of the village. The earliest surviving document relating specifically to the village dates from 24 June 1314, in the reign of Edward II. In July 1599, a great fire left only a few houses standing. It started in a gully that ran the length of the village street.[3]

White's 1842 Directory of Lincolnshire called Metheringham "a large improving village, on a gentle declivity, between Lincoln Heath and the Cardyke navigation, 9 miles S. E. of Lincoln. Its parish increased its population from 536 in 1801, to 880 in 1831, to 1197 in 1841,and contains 5682A[cres], 1R[ood], 32P[erches] of land." It also notes, "An ancient Cross, which stood in the village, was replaced by a new one in 1835, at the cost of about £25, and a market is now held round it on Saturday evenings. The drainage of the parish is aided by a steam engine of 25-horse power, and has dried an ancient spring called Holywell." It describes the church (see below) and adds, "Here is a Wesleyan Chapel, erected in 1840. A School was established by subscription in 1841, and there is a flourishing Sick Club, and also a Cow Club. The poor parishioners have 3R.37P. of land left by one Colley; and an annuity of £3, left by John Ellis in 1829."[4]

The village war memorial records the names of 42 men who died for their country in the First World War and eight who fell in the Second World War.[5]

Notable person

The village was the birthplace of H. F. Ellis (1907–2000), a writer who developed the comic schoolmaster character A. J. Wentworth B. A. in the magazine Punch and later in The New Yorker.[6]

Geography

Metheringham lies 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the Lincoln Cliff escarpment, on the western edge of fenland that extends south-east towards Boston and The Wash. It lies on the north to south B1188 between Ruskington and Branston, and on the east to west B1202 and B1189. Dunston is 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north, and Scopwick and Blankney are to the south. The railway station is on Station Road (B1189).

The centre of the village is a conservation area. To the west and the A15 is Metheringham Heath, on which is a SSSI at a local quarry. To the east is Metheringham Fen, across which lies Metheringham Delph, which drains into the River Witham from where it connects to the Car Dyke near an old wartime airfield. The Metheringham Delph nature reserve at Tanvats, and Sots Hole, are nearby.

Community

Metheringham is known to locals as "Meg". The population of the built-up area was estimated at 3595 in 2018.[7]

The parish church is dedicated to St Wilfrid, and is in the Metheringham group of churches with Blankney and Dunston. There is a Methodist church, built in 1907 by the architect Albert Edward Lambert. San Damiano House is one of the five houses in England of the Community of St. Francis, a Franciscan Anglican religious order for women.[8]

The village has a primary school, a cafe located in the high street, a Co-op store, and a traditional butcher's shop, which has been trading in the village for over 80 years. It has four public houses – the Star & Garter in Prince's Street, the White Hart Inn, the Lincolnshire Poacher in High Street, and the Londesborough Arms.

Metheringham is on the route of an hourly. daytime bus service Mondays to Saturdays between Boston and Lincoln, provided by Brylaine. This runs less frequently on Sundays. Other services run to South Kyme (P. C. Coaches) and to Sleaford (Road Car).[9] There are regular direct train services Mondays to Saturdays to Lincoln, Doncaster, Sleaford, Spalding, Peterborough, and Leicester.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  2. Metheringham/ in the Domesday Book. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  3. The Origins of 'Meg' Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. Metheringham 1842. Retrieved 10 April 2014. Details of development in the rest of the 19th century appear in the 1892 edition: Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  5. Metheringham highlights. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  6. Obituary. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. City Population site. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  8. Site of Society of St Francis, European Order. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  9. Travel Search Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  10. Trainline Europe Retrieved 7 December 2015.
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