North Witham
Encyclopedia
North Witham is a small village and civil parish
in South Kesteven
, Lincolnshire
, England
. The village is located along the upper course of the River Witham
, 11.4 miles (18.3 km)south of the nearest major town, Grantham
. It has an estimated population of 158 in around 70 households. The village is perhaps best known for its links with Isaac Newton
, who is known to have lived nearby and visit the village on numerous occasions and made carvings in the wall of the church porch, and for the presence of nearby RAF North Witham
. The civil parish includes the hamlet of Lobthorpe. Nearby villages include Gunby
, Colsterworth
and Stainby
.
of 1086 as "Widme" and then again in 1382 in the will of the village rector as "N Wythum." The origin of the name Witham is disputed however theories include the settlement being named after Wymund, an early settler in the area, or that the name was taken from the prefix "With" meaning willow and "ham" (the suffix appointed to Anglo-Saxon settlements widely believed to mean "village") which gives us With-ham: willow village.
however a Saxon clay loomweight from around 650 AD was found at Manor Farm in the village and is now being stored at the City and County Museum in Lincoln
. It is believed that an Anglo-Saxon
church existed on the site of the current church of St Mary however no actual evidence of this has been found other than a carved Anglo-Saxon
cross in the Celtic
style which can now be found in the church porch and patches of herringbone brickwork within the current structure.
; however, evidence such as herringbone brickwork in the church wall suggests that perhaps at least some of the modern structure is Anglo-Saxon
. The church attracts considerable attention because of its striking and unusual features, which include an original Norman doorway in the northern wall of the structure. It is thought that such a small village was provided with such an extravagant church because of the early residents of the area who included Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror and Sortibrand, the local Thane.
The current tower and spire of the church were erected between 1380 and 1410; however, the current bells (a ring of three) weren't installed until around 1540. Also during the 15th century an arch between the vestry and the chancel was made leading into a room with a chamber above it. Local tradition states that the upper chamber was inhabited by the parish priest and above the archway there still remains a small hole through which the priest could check to see if the lamp above the altar was still lit. A side chapel was once present at the church; however, this was later destroyed and its foundation wasn't rediscovered until the restoration of the church in 1887. The side chapel is thought to have been where masses were said for the souls of the dead.
The next major changes to the church came in the 16th century when the English Reformation
occurred and many of the church's ornaments, including a Rood Screen
and a number of smaller items, were removed or destroyed. However it was over this period, between 1530 and 1564, that the current church bells were installed in the spire. The most notable bell is "Catherine" which was installed prior to 1540 and bears the inscription "Principio fine sonans sonus hic sit Caterine" (May this sound of Catherine be sounding in the beginning (and) in the end.) The other two bells, which were installed later, bear the inscriptions "Hope wel have w(e)l" and "CelorumXte placeat tibi rex sonus iste" ("O Christ, King of Heaven, may the sound please Thee") respectively.
The Church contains a number of tombs of the Sherard family, who were influential in the area in the past, and also a helmet from a suit of armour thought to have belonged to the occupant of one of the tombs. The entirety of the suit of armour, or one similar to it, was present in the church well into the 20th century, however much of it was stolen by thiefs.
Hannah Newton, (born Hannah Ayscough
) the mother of Isaac Newton
, married Barnabus Smith the Rector of the parish on Tuesday 27 January 1646 in his parish, and during the prohibited period for marriages. She moved to the rectory, staying there until August 1653 when her seventy-one-year-old husband died. Isaac's two half-sisters and half-brother were baptized in the parish, and probably born there. Graffiti accredited to the young physicist can still be seen in several places in and around the church.
, it is thought that this may have been around one quarter of the village's total population. A wall plaque to commemorate the dead was installed in the village church some time after the conflict.
During World War II
RAF North Witham
was established near the village and became an American airbase later in the conflict. Following the end of World War II the airfield was closed, used for as an ammunition dump and test track for a time, before being donated to the Forestry Commission
who still run the site under the name Twyford Wood. The village continues to be heavily influenced by aviation with RAF Cottesmore
being located nearby, this means military aircraft can often be seen above the village.
. In September 1874 the school is recorded to have had 24 pupils, however by 1936 this had dropped to 14. During 1941 a German bomber, thought to have been under the illusion that it was above the nearby town of Grantham
, bombed North Witham and completely destroyed the school. The remaining pupils continued to have lessons inside the rectory in the village until May 1942 when the six pupils were given places at South Witham and Colsterworth schools. Today children of a primary school age continue to attend the schools in the nearby village, however older children have to travel to nearby towns such as Grantham
and Stamford
to continue their education.
in 2007 because of a lack of interest from villagers in North Witham itself. The North Witham Parish council had previously met in the village hall: a cricket pavilion from the nearby village of Great Ponton
which was moved to North Witham in the early 1960s. At district level the village falls into the Morkery ward of South Kesteven
and is current represented at the district council by the Conservative Party
Councillor Margery Radley. North Witham falls into the Grantham and Stamford parliamentary constituency and is represented by Nick Boles of the Conservative Party
.
is still in place.
A Camping and Caravanning Club
certified campsite is present in the village and is often used by caravanners as a stopping-off point when using the nearby A1 road.
one of the three bells was repaired in July 2010 and it is hoped that the other two may also be eventually repaired.
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...
in South Kesteven
South Kesteven
South Kesteven is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England, forming part of the traditional Kesteven division of the county. It covers Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping.-History:...
, 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...
, 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...
. The village is located along the upper course of 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...
, 11.4 miles (18.3 km)south of the nearest major town, Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
. It has an estimated population of 158 in around 70 households. The village is perhaps best known for its links with Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
, who is known to have lived nearby and visit the village on numerous occasions and made carvings in the wall of the church porch, and for the presence of nearby RAF North Witham
RAF North Witham
RAF Station North Witham is a former World War II airfield in Lincolnshire, England. The airfield is located in Twyford Wood, approximately east-southeast of Cotgrave; about north-northwest of London...
. The civil parish includes the hamlet of Lobthorpe. Nearby villages include Gunby
Gunby, South Kesteven
Gunby is a hamlet of around 30 houses in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England.Gunby is located close to the borders with Leicestershire and Rutland. The closest town is Grantham although it is within of Oakham and Stamford. To the is North Witham, to the north Stainby and to the ...
, Colsterworth
Colsterworth
Colsterworth is a village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The village, together with the hamlet of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, had a population of 1,508 according to the 2001 census. It lies half a mile to the west of the A1, seven miles south of Grantham...
and Stainby
Stainby
Stainby is a small hamlet of around 30 houses located in south west Lincolnshire in the district of South Kesteven. It is only a very short distance to the border with Leicestershire ....
.
Toponymy
The origin of the name "North Witham" is uncertain, though the village appears in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 as "Widme" and then again in 1382 in the will of the village rector as "N Wythum." The origin of the name Witham is disputed however theories include the settlement being named after Wymund, an early settler in the area, or that the name was taken from the prefix "With" meaning willow and "ham" (the suffix appointed to Anglo-Saxon settlements widely believed to mean "village") which gives us With-ham: willow village.
Early history
No details are known of the village are known prior to the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
however a Saxon clay loomweight from around 650 AD was found at Manor Farm in the village and is now being stored at the City and County Museum in 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....
. It is believed that an Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
church existed on the site of the current church of St Mary however no actual evidence of this has been found other than a carved Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
cross in the Celtic
Celtic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
style which can now be found in the church porch and patches of herringbone brickwork within the current structure.
The church
As mentioned above North Witham's Parish Church of Saint Mary is believed to have been first built in its current form in around 1086 by the NormansNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
; however, evidence such as herringbone brickwork in the church wall suggests that perhaps at least some of the modern structure is Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
. The church attracts considerable attention because of its striking and unusual features, which include an original Norman doorway in the northern wall of the structure. It is thought that such a small village was provided with such an extravagant church because of the early residents of the area who included Countess Judith, niece of William the Conqueror and Sortibrand, the local Thane.
The current tower and spire of the church were erected between 1380 and 1410; however, the current bells (a ring of three) weren't installed until around 1540. Also during the 15th century an arch between the vestry and the chancel was made leading into a room with a chamber above it. Local tradition states that the upper chamber was inhabited by the parish priest and above the archway there still remains a small hole through which the priest could check to see if the lamp above the altar was still lit. A side chapel was once present at the church; however, this was later destroyed and its foundation wasn't rediscovered until the restoration of the church in 1887. The side chapel is thought to have been where masses were said for the souls of the dead.
The next major changes to the church came in the 16th century when the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
occurred and many of the church's ornaments, including a Rood Screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
and a number of smaller items, were removed or destroyed. However it was over this period, between 1530 and 1564, that the current church bells were installed in the spire. The most notable bell is "Catherine" which was installed prior to 1540 and bears the inscription "Principio fine sonans sonus hic sit Caterine" (May this sound of Catherine be sounding in the beginning (and) in the end.) The other two bells, which were installed later, bear the inscriptions "Hope wel have w(e)l" and "CelorumXte placeat tibi rex sonus iste" ("O Christ, King of Heaven, may the sound please Thee") respectively.
The Church contains a number of tombs of the Sherard family, who were influential in the area in the past, and also a helmet from a suit of armour thought to have belonged to the occupant of one of the tombs. The entirety of the suit of armour, or one similar to it, was present in the church well into the 20th century, however much of it was stolen by thiefs.
Hannah Newton, (born Hannah Ayscough
Hannah Ayscough
Hannah Ayscough was the mother of Sir Isaac Newton.-Early life:Hannah was born in Market Overton in Rutland in 1623. Her parents were James Ayscough and his wife Margery Blythe.-Motherhood:...
) the mother of Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
, married Barnabus Smith the Rector of the parish on Tuesday 27 January 1646 in his parish, and during the prohibited period for marriages. She moved to the rectory, staying there until August 1653 when her seventy-one-year-old husband died. Isaac's two half-sisters and half-brother were baptized in the parish, and probably born there. Graffiti accredited to the young physicist can still be seen in several places in and around the church.
Modern history
A total of 24 men are listed as having died in the First World War on the North Witham Roll of HonourRoll of Honour
Roll of Honour may refer to:*A memorial list of names of people who have died in military, police service or other services*Roll of Honour , an Irish Republican song praising the participants in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike...
, it is thought that this may have been around one quarter of the village's total population. A wall plaque to commemorate the dead was installed in the village church some time after the conflict.
During World War II
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...
RAF North Witham
RAF North Witham
RAF Station North Witham is a former World War II airfield in Lincolnshire, England. The airfield is located in Twyford Wood, approximately east-southeast of Cotgrave; about north-northwest of London...
was established near the village and became an American airbase later in the conflict. Following the end of World War II the airfield was closed, used for as an ammunition dump and test track for a time, before being donated to the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
who still run the site under the name Twyford Wood. The village continues to be heavily influenced by aviation with RAF Cottesmore
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Cottesmore was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, situated between Cottesmore and Market Overton. The station housed all the operational Harrier GR9 squadrons in the Royal Air Force, and No 122 Expeditionary Air Wing...
being located nearby, this means military aircraft can often be seen above the village.
Education
Records suggest that a school existed in the village prior to 1857, however it wasn't until 1872 that a purpose built school building was constructed by Browne's Hospital, StamfordBrowne's Hospital, Stamford
Browne's Hospital is a medieval almshouse in Stamford, Lincolnshire. It was founded in 1485 by wealthy wool merchant William Browne to provide a home and a house of prayer for 12 poor men and 2 poor women.-The Hospital:...
. In September 1874 the school is recorded to have had 24 pupils, however by 1936 this had dropped to 14. During 1941 a German bomber, thought to have been under the illusion that it was above the nearby town of Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, bombed North Witham and completely destroyed the school. The remaining pupils continued to have lessons inside the rectory in the village until May 1942 when the six pupils were given places at South Witham and Colsterworth schools. Today children of a primary school age continue to attend the schools in the nearby village, however older children have to travel to nearby towns such as Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
and Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
to continue their education.
Government
A Parish Council was traditionally responsible for local issues, however this was merged into the Parish council for ColsterworthColsterworth
Colsterworth is a village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The village, together with the hamlet of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, had a population of 1,508 according to the 2001 census. It lies half a mile to the west of the A1, seven miles south of Grantham...
in 2007 because of a lack of interest from villagers in North Witham itself. The North Witham Parish council had previously met in the village hall: a cricket pavilion from the nearby village of Great Ponton
Great Ponton
Great Ponton is a village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. In the 2001 census, the population of the village was 100% white ethnic origin, and 87% Christian.-Geography:...
which was moved to North Witham in the early 1960s. At district level the village falls into the Morkery ward of South Kesteven
South Kesteven
South Kesteven is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England, forming part of the traditional Kesteven division of the county. It covers Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping.-History:...
and is current represented at the district council by the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Councillor Margery Radley. North Witham falls into the Grantham and Stamford parliamentary constituency and is represented by Nick Boles of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Amenities
In the past the Parish contained two pubs, the Plough Inn and the Black Bull in, however both of these closed down during the 20th century. Similarly a village shop was opened inside the village hall during the 1980s, however a lack of interest from villagers caused the shop to close within a couple of years of it opening. A phone box was present in the village until 2007 when it was vandalised and subsequently removed by British Telecom, however a post box from the reign of King George VIGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
is still in place.
A Camping and Caravanning Club
Camping and Caravanning Club
The Camping and Caravanning Club is a United Kingdom not-for-profit organisation involved with all aspects of camping.-History:The Camping and Caravanning Club started in 1901 as the Association of Cycle Campers. Thomas Hiram Holding was one of the founders and is considered by many to be the...
certified campsite is present in the village and is often used by caravanners as a stopping-off point when using the nearby A1 road.
Current issues
The village currently faces a number of issues largely caused by a lack of interest and funding as the sense of community within the parish has decreased. In addition to an urgent need to repair or replace the village hall there is also work underway to repair the church's historic bells which have been defunct for around ten years. Thanks to a generous donation from a villager in neighbouring South WithamSouth Witham
South Witham is a village in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, situated close to the Leicestershire and Rutland borders.-Geography:It is bisected by the young River Witham, about three miles to the east of its source. It is the point on the A1 where it enters Lincolnshire from the south, near ...
one of the three bells was repaired in July 2010 and it is hoped that the other two may also be eventually repaired.