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 3
Scopwick to Digby (via Rowston)
We emerge from the fields into Rowston immediately next to the old "National" school of MDCCCLII (1852) and on turning towards the village centre realise that St Clements church is rather unusual. What strikes the observer immediately is the exceptionally slender tower; indeed it measures only five feet six inches across on the inside and the spire is necessarily narrow in proportion; it has been described as like a candle with a snuffer! Nevertheless the tower is Early English in style (C12th) with the spire added some 200 years later. A fragment of Norman work survives on the north door and much of the nave is again Early English with a Perpendicular clerestory. Next door the Manor House is from 1741 and across the road is a C14th village cross.
Yet more unusual buildings greet us at Digby! First of all a huge village cross, probably C14th in origin but restored, almost blocks the main street and then a few yards away towards the church is a six-foot high stone "pepperpot". The precise function of this is in doubt; it is referred to by several sources as the village "lock-up" but in official records as a wellhead. Either way it dates from the C17th and has been restored, but remains a most unusual sight.
Then across the road is the church dedicated to St Thomas the Martyr (i.e. Thomas à Becket) and again we have a rich patchwork of history on display. A church has occupied this site since Saxon times and a small amount of Saxon "long and short" masonry survives at the southeast corner of the nave. The lower section of the tower is Early English but is topped by a Perpendicular, crocketed spire; the doorway is Norman and there are Early English and Decorated arcades inside along with a Jacobean pulpit. Standing on a rise behind the inn the church makes a particularly appealing group along with the cross and the ancient inn.
In 1604 at a time when the village population is estimated to have been around three hundred Digby was badly hit by its own plague and archived parish records detail 134 burials within three months from July to September.
DISTANCE : 2 3/4 miles : 4.5 kilometres.
REFRESHMENTS : Red Lion, Digby.
NOTES. A free Stepping Out parking area is available in Vicarage Lane, Scopwick (GR069582); turn off the B1188 just north of the village centre to find it. As the footpath nears Rowston it has recently been re-routed so some OS maps may be inaccurate; follow the instructions below!
The Route
Before setting out for Digby few will be able to resist a stroll around Scopwick and alongside the beck.
When you are ready, cross the beck at a convenient footbridge opposite the church and turn left following the lane until it ends at a fieldgate. Go through the bridle gate next to it and swing right to walk up a field edge with a hedge to your right. At the field corner turn left, staying inside the hedge to reach a footbridge; turn right over it.
A clearly marked path now heads diagonally leftwards over a large arable field. At the far side there is a waymarker in a hedge and the path crosses a track to maintain its line over another field to a further way mark located to the left of a pylon seen ahead. Pass the pylon, cross a grassy track and maintain the same line towards some distant trees. As you get closer you will see that these form two woods. Aim to the right hand corner of the first one (where there is a waymarker) then bear round to the left to reach a footbridge. Cross this and turn left to join a farm track, which you should follow ahead to a road.
Cross over to where a track to a sewage works begins and turn right immediately behind the hedge - even though you may glimpse a waymarker ahead. After about 100 yards the path enters a large field through a hedge gap. Now bear slightly left along the edge of rough grass towards the corner of a large barn at Manor Farm, Rowston. From a waymarker on a fence corner to the right of the barn, and another one behind it, then walk across the farmyard to a stile at the road, emerging by the old school.
Turn left following the road through Rowston village going past the church and the cross on a little green. Stay on the road for another mile to the edge of Digby village still following it as it bends right then left for the village centre and the Red Lion inn. The church and lock-up are a short way to your right.
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