Public Transport
Finding Your Way
Getting Access to Churches
Setting the Scene - Lincoln
The Trail - Section 1
Stage 1. Lincoln to Washingborough
Stage 2. Washingborough to Branston
Stage 3. Branston to Potterhanworth
Stage 4. Potterhanworth to Nocton
Stage 5. Nocton to Dunston
Stage 6. Dunston to Metheringham
The Trail - Section 2
Stage 1. Metheringham to Blankney
Stage 2. Blankney to Scopwick
Stage 3. Scopwick to Digby
Stage 4. Digby to Dorrington
Stage 5. Dorrington to Ruskington
Stage 6. Ruskington to Sleaford
History | The Route
Section 2 - Stage 1
Metheringham to Blankney
As you walk towards Blankney look to your right for a good view of Metheringham mill, which dates from 1867 and is clearly visible on the skyline above the village. It originally had six sails but over the years as they inevitably broke they were not replaced so that by the time it finally closed about 1930 only three were left.
In 1086 the Domesday Book described Blankney as "Blachene" meaning "Blanca's island" and by the early 1400s a large estate had developed there, which three hundred years later, in 1719, came into the ownership of the Chaplin family. It was Charles Chaplin (1786 - 1859) who had the latest Blankney Hall built in the 1820s and he was also responsible too for the appearance of the present village with its ornate stone cottages erected during the 1830s and 1840s. Charles's son Henry was to become an MP and a confidante of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) who regularly visited Blankney. Henry was also a celebrated racehorse owner whose horse "Hermit" won the 1867 Derby and was eventually buried on the estate. Regrettably the hall caught fire in 1945 and was so severely damaged that it was never rebuilt although farm buildings and stables survive.
Blankney church, St. Oswald's, stands near the hall site and has a lychgate dedicated to Henry's wife Lady Florence who died in 1883 and inside there is a white marble figure of her too. Henry and Florence rest together in an unobtrusive enclosure behind the chancel. The tower was rebuilt in 1805 and most of the rest of the church was restored from 1874. Nevertheless some mediaeval work remains in the nave arcades and parts of the porch.
DISTANCE : 1 mile : 1.5 kilometres.
REFRESHMENTS : None on route.
NOTES. Parking is available in Metheringham in Prince's Street by the play area; otherwise use street parking, preferably off the High Street, which is always busy. Metheringham station is half a mile to the southeast of the village centre. (GR078614)
The Route
In Metheringham village centre face the Star and Garter and set off following the road round to the left for a few yards before turning right into Church Walk. An enclosed path at the end passes the church and leads onwards to the cemetery. Keep ahead there as the path heads out into the countryside and to a small hand gate before continuing by a wire fence to another gate at Blankney cricket field.
Walk diagonally over the cricket field aiming for the right hand end of a row of cottages by the main B1188 road where there is a kissing gate. Join the road, turn left and keeping ahead at a "T" junction pass the former hall entrance to reach the spacious green by St Oswald's church.
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