Newton Gorse

A 17th century barn at Manor Farm behind the fingerpost

Grade I listed. Dating from the 12th century onwards, and restored in 1907 & 1926. It has a 2 stage west tower with a tall crocketed broached spire from 14th Century. The tower arch is also from this period. Entered through a 17th C door in the south porch, the nave arcades are 13th C. but rest on even older bases. The font is Norman but recut in 18th C. The clerestory windows are 15th Century. The carved pew ends are 500 years old. There is a double hagioscope. In the south aisle is a C13 trefoil headed piscina. The roof is a 14th C braced tie beam.

The tall, 14th century spire of St Nicholas easily visible

The busy Peterborough to Lincoln route bisects the village

Grade I listed The Domesday Survey records a church on this site in 1086 in the possession of Gilbert of Ghent the wealthiest landowner on the county at that time. The present church dates from the twelfth century onwards and consists of a western tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel, and south porch. The west end of the church is probably the oldest part dating from 12th or early 13th century with walls made of rubble which is 8ft thick in places. The South aisle once extended to embrace the tower but this section was demolished. Most of the church was constructed in 1320 with the nave, south aisle chancel and porch being rebuilt at this time. The western tower is from the thirteenth century and is of three stages with a plain parapet. The belfry stage has fourteenth century windows. The south porch, dating from the fourteenth century has arcading above the side benches with ogee headed panels. The nave has four bay arcades with thirteenth century octagonal piers. At the east end of the south aisle there is a door which once led to the rood loft. Only the lower portion of the rood screen remains at Osbournby. There is one modern stained-glass window to the north wall. The chancel has a fine fourteenth century sedilia with ogee arched heads and Crocketts with human head stops. There is also a piscina and aumbry. The nave has a number of good fourteenth century bench ends with various subjects including Adam and Eve, and St George and the Dragon. There is a twelfth century tub font with intersecting blank arcading, presumably from an earlier church. At the south west end of the nave there are commandment boards. There is a small organ by Harston of Newark, circa 1890. The church was restored in 1873 by Charles Kirk when the roof was replaced and the east window and pews were installed (cost £1,460). In 1965 the tower was found to be dangerously cracked and bulging and had to be strengthened. The clock which was removed from the tower face dates from 1740 and now resides in the North Aisle.

A huge area of tarmac. One feels there should be a green.

Founded 1839, rebuilt 1871 Link . Current status?

The footpath on the right leads to Aunsby

"10th century parish church with alterations or additions in the 12th and 17th centuries, repaired 1826, chancel renewed 1826, walls restored 1882" Link "The smallest church still in use in the county of Lincolnshire" Link

Heading towards Horse Close Plantation

This pleasant cycling byway, extending 1¼ miles east from Newton, ends abruptly at Newton Gorse woodland, ahead.

The path passes Newton Gorse woodland, ahead, crosses the A52, and continues to Osbournby.

"The gallows apparently stood by the roadside where the Threekingham-Newton footpath crossed the Sleaford-Bourne road (the modern A15). The area around this site was known as Galley (from Gallows) Hill. During the early 20th century, some large stones were uncovered at this site which were interpreted as the remains of the holdfasts of the wooden gallows." Link The site, on a road and parish boundary, was typical for gallows. The mentioned footpath, crossing the road and following the track to the right, is clearly shown on pre-1950s OS maps, but is absent on the current map.

The name suggests that there used to be a toll gate (barrier) on this former turnpike road?

The Weeping Beech at Walcot remains one of my favourite trees in England

Under the canopy of TF0635 : Saint Nicholas, Walcot: Fagus sylvatica pendula. This is the trunk of the Weeping Beech, Fagus sylvatica pendula.

This is a look at the bark texture of TF0635 : Saint Nicholas, Walcot: Fagus sylvatica pendula, a weeping Beech. It is gettin g on for 200 years old.