Aubourn
Encyclopedia
Aubourn is a small '0' shaped village just east of the A46
, in between Lincoln
and Newark
, England
, in the county of Lincolnshire
and the district of North Kesteven
and the civil parish
of Aubourn, Haddington
and South Hykeham
. It has an odd one way system (odd for a small village in a countryside location), and a rather nice pub called 'The Royal Oak'.
The village sits in the valley formed by the River Witham
as it wends eastwards to The Wash
, hence a prime candidate for flooding. In pre World War Two
days the whole area was allowed to flood during the winter if the river got too high.
After the War, 2.5 m (8 feet) high flood banks were built along each side, reducing the annual flooding but making a flood (should it happen) likely to be more catastrophic, especially as large numbers of houses have now been built right up to the flood banks.
At the eastern end of the village stands Aubourn Hall, a beautiful early and mid 17th-century house, perhaps designed by the architect
John Smythson
, set in 1.2 ha of gardens. Built for Sir John Meres between 1587 and 1628, possibly on Tudor
foundations, it is brick
, with stone quoins
and three storeys high. The interior of the house features a beautifully carved staircase and attractively panelled rooms. The property has been the home of the Nevile family from the 17th century with the present owner being Mr. Christopher Nevile.
To the east of the Hall stands the Parish Church
, dedicated to “St. Peter”, and it must be one of the smallest Parish Churches in the Country. The present church was built around 1200 on the site of an earlier church built of wood and stone and recorded in the Doomesday Book of 1086. When built in 1200 the church was a much larger structure then it is today and included a nave
, porch
and tower
but in 1862 most of the building was demolished following the building of a new Parish Church on a new site, leaving just the chancel
standing, however the original foundations can still be seen in the Churchyard
in front of the main door.
The new church, also dedicated to “St. Peter“, was built on a site mid-way between Aubourn and Haddington, a large hamlet
1½ km (1 mile) west of Aubourn, which is part of Aubourn parish
and therefore does not have a church of its own (the residents of Haddington must have found the position of the new church much more convenient for them compared with walking to the old church on the far side of Aubourn as previously).
The new Victorian
church was clearly less robustly built then the earlier church for by 1968 it had deteriorated to the point that it was thought unsafe for it to continue to be used so the congregation moved back into what remained of the old church. This at first after its abandonment had been used as a mortuary but in 1933 had been restored, at which time a new altar
and a gallery for the organ
had been installed. It was then the new church’s turn to be largely demolished, leaving just the tower standing in the churchyard as a landmark on the road to Haddington.
A46 road
The A46 is an A road in England. It starts east of Bath, Somerset and ends in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, but it does not form a continuous route. Large portions of the old road have been lost, bypassed, or replaced by motorway development...
, in between Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
and Newark
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in the county of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and the district of North Kesteven
North Kesteven
North Kesteven is a local government district in the East Midlands. Just over north of London, it is east of Nottingham and south of Lincoln. North Kesteven is one of seven districts in Lincolnshire, England and is in the centre of the County...
and the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Aubourn, Haddington
Haddington, Lincolnshire
Haddington is a hamlet in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies just off the Fosse Way Roman road, now the A46, south-west of Lincoln and west of Aubourn.-Geography:...
and South Hykeham
South Hykeham
South Hykeham is a village and former civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, about south west of the city of Lincoln on the A16...
. It has an odd one way system (odd for a small village in a countryside location), and a rather nice pub called 'The Royal Oak'.
The village sits in the valley formed by the River Witham
River Witham
The River Witham is a river, almost entirely in the county of Lincolnshire, in the east of England. It rises south of Grantham close to South Witham, at SK8818, passes Lincoln at SK9771 and at Boston, TF3244, flows into The Haven, a tidal arm of The Wash, near RSPB Frampton Marsh...
as it wends eastwards to The Wash
The Wash
The Wash is the square-mouthed bay and estuary on the northwest margin of East Anglia on the east coast of England, where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire. It is among the largest estuaries in the United Kingdom...
, hence a prime candidate for flooding. In pre World War Two
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
days the whole area was allowed to flood during the winter if the river got too high.
After the War, 2.5 m (8 feet) high flood banks were built along each side, reducing the annual flooding but making a flood (should it happen) likely to be more catastrophic, especially as large numbers of houses have now been built right up to the flood banks.
At the eastern end of the village stands Aubourn Hall, a beautiful early and mid 17th-century house, perhaps designed by the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
John Smythson
John Smythson
John Smythson son of the great Robert Smythson, one of England's first true architects & resposable for the design of Bolsover Castle the crowning glory of his work, which began with the construction of the Keep, or Little Castle in 1612...
, set in 1.2 ha of gardens. Built for Sir John Meres between 1587 and 1628, possibly on Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
foundations, it is brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
, with stone quoins
Quoin (architecture)
Quoins are the cornerstones of brick or stone walls. Quoins may be either structural or decorative. Architects and builders use quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building...
and three storeys high. The interior of the house features a beautifully carved staircase and attractively panelled rooms. The property has been the home of the Nevile family from the 17th century with the present owner being Mr. Christopher Nevile.
To the east of the Hall stands the Parish Church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, dedicated to “St. Peter”, and it must be one of the smallest Parish Churches in the Country. The present church was built around 1200 on the site of an earlier church built of wood and stone and recorded in the Doomesday Book of 1086. When built in 1200 the church was a much larger structure then it is today and included a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
and tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
but in 1862 most of the building was demolished following the building of a new Parish Church on a new site, leaving just the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
standing, however the original foundations can still be seen in the Churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
in front of the main door.
The new church, also dedicated to “St. Peter“, was built on a site mid-way between Aubourn and Haddington, a large hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
1½ km (1 mile) west of Aubourn, which is part of Aubourn parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and therefore does not have a church of its own (the residents of Haddington must have found the position of the new church much more convenient for them compared with walking to the old church on the far side of Aubourn as previously).
The new Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
church was clearly less robustly built then the earlier church for by 1968 it had deteriorated to the point that it was thought unsafe for it to continue to be used so the congregation moved back into what remained of the old church. This at first after its abandonment had been used as a mortuary but in 1933 had been restored, at which time a new altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
and a gallery for the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
had been installed. It was then the new church’s turn to be largely demolished, leaving just the tower standing in the churchyard as a landmark on the road to Haddington.