Bracebridge Heath

Civil Parish in Lincolnshire North Kesteven

England

Bracebridge Heath

Bracebridge Heath is a civil parish located in the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated approximately 2 miles south of the city of Lincoln and falls within the administrative district of North Kesteven. The parish covers an area of about 4.5 square miles.

The village of Bracebridge Heath has a population of around 3,500 residents. It is a popular residential area due to its close proximity to Lincoln, offering a quieter alternative to city living while still providing easy access to its amenities.

The village has a range of amenities to cater to the needs of its residents. It is home to several local shops, including a supermarket, convenience stores, and a few independent retailers. There are also a number of pubs, restaurants, and takeaway establishments.

Bracebridge Heath benefits from excellent transport links. The A15 road runs through the village, connecting it to Lincoln and other nearby towns. The village is served by regular bus services, providing connections to Lincoln and surrounding areas. The nearby Lincoln railway station offers direct links to major cities such as Nottingham, Sheffield, and London.

The village has a strong sense of community, with various local organizations and clubs catering to different interests. It also has a primary school, providing education for children within the village and the surrounding area.

Overall, Bracebridge Heath offers a peaceful and convenient location for residents, with a range of amenities and good access to transport links.

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Bracebridge Heath Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.193896/-0.533463 or Grid Reference SK9867. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Bridleway to Bracebridge Heath

Jonathan Thacker

Lodge, Newark Road, Lincoln

A picturesque affair complete with polychrome brick, timber framing, decorative tilework, and fretted bargeboards. Built 1883 for Bracebridge Hall, possibly by Albert Vicars who did the house (which is much less spirited). Grade II listed.

Stephen Richards

Former hospital, Bracebridge Heath

The main building of the former County Pauper Lunatic Asylum, built in 1849-52 by Hamilton & Medland, and then Hamilton and Thomas Percy. Grade II listed. Many later additions; it was later St John's Hospital. The hospital closed in 1989, and the site was here being redeveloped for housing. A surprising number of the original buildings have survived.

Stephen Richards

5 Cross O'Cliff Hill, Lincoln

It seems to have been built between 1897 and 1913 and called 'Hill Rise'. It is not shown on the 1905 OS map. There are two potential candidates in the planning files, one 1905 and one 1908. It appears to have some substantial outbuildings to the rear. Unusually it has retained the original iron railings on the roadside, most having been removed for the metal in WWII.

Jo and Steve Turner

Ashleigh, 9 Cross O'Cliff Hill, Lincoln

House built for John Lodge (MD Wagon & Engine Co.) architect W Mortimer and Son to planning granted in April 1897. Garage and greenhouse added in 1912. Apparently called Ashleigh from new. In October 2013 planning was granted for conversion to 4 flats. In the grounds to the rear is an annex to be converted to two flats. Prior to this the property had been a training facility for some time, owned by Lincolnshire County Council. Access to 6 parking spaces at the rear had been accessed through a private driveway within the ownership of no. 11.

Jo and Steve Turner

29-31 Cross O'Cliff Hill, Lincoln

Pair of semi-detached houses shown on the 1905 OS map but not the 1886 OS map. Note that the properties are not symmetrical, no.29 occupying only the section with the gable end to the road, 31 having the centre section. Directories I have list them in 1913 but not 1897, suggesting a build date between 1898 and 1904. 1913 they are called 'The Croft' (29, apparently empty) and 'Brentwood' (31). By 1919, now occupied, no. 29 is 'Strathmore' and is shown in 1965 Kelly’s as two flats. 31 has subsequently been converted to at least 5 flats.

Jo and Steve Turner

Brickworks Chimney, Cross O'Cliff Hill, Lincoln

Close to the Orchard Walk houses, for some reason this is the only remaining structure from William Bartholomew Best's Cross O'Cliffe Brick & Tile Works. Kelly's Directory of 1872 is the earliest mention with the 1868 directory carrying no reference to the works. However there is a note in the press 1856 about the intended use of the land and the online heritage information and management system for the City claims it to be built in 1857 by R Toynbee. This may be a confusion with “Ward’s Brickyard” that is described in a Great Northern Railway 1863 schedule and plan as further north, roughly in the area of the LSST school. Cross O'Cliffe Brick & Tile Works was known from 1889 as Lincoln Brick Company who probably modernised the works. It closed in 1901 and by 1907 most buildings were ruinous and only the chimney and two buildings remained (both post 1887, known in 1965 as Old Brickyard Cottage and Fieldhouse, demolished by 2004). There is evidence that buildings on the site were previously agricultural, probably for pigs and post-dating the brickworks; it seems the area was used by butcher Zachariah T Priestley for slaughtering work c.1914. In 1992 the building remains were made safe and the 45ft 6in (13.8m) chimney was reduced in height by 17 feet (5m), refurbished and repaired.

Jo and Steve Turner

267-269 Newark Road, Lincoln

A pair of stone-built houses, with an 1841 date stone. Both 2 bedroom cottages, no.269 has been extended more than doubling its footprint giving the cottage a total area of about 75 sq m. No.267 has also been extended but to a lesser degree, probably by the addition of a kitchen.

Jo and Steve Turner

HSL Chairs, 150 Newark Road, Lincoln

This was originally Lincoln Tramways Company three bay tram depot. The 1888 OS map shows only one track entering the centre bay but a later photograph shows 3 tracks. It has a datestone of 1882 but the frontage was rebuilt in 1905 to accommodate the increased height of the new electric double-decker cars. The horse tram service assets were purchased by the Lincoln Corporation in July 1904 for the sum of £10,488. After trial running which started on 29 October 1905, the tramway opened for public service on 23 November 1905 with eight tramcars purchased from the Brush Electric Company of Loughborough. It operated as a depot throughout life of the tramway, 1882 to the end of 1929. In 1930 it was let to Mrs E Crack for a motor body building workshop. Bracebridge Motor Body Works occupied the building until 1957 and were then followed by Hutson's garage up to the 1970s . After Hutson's it remained empty and for sale until late 2002 when it was converted to retail and offices. Rails were discovered throughout the building that were retained under a new floor laid over a damp proof membrane. In 2003 it was turned over to a retail shop, Hein Gericke Ltd who were here until sometime after a takeover late in 2012. HSL (High Seat Limited) were in here by November 2015.

Jo and Steve Turner

Gatehouse Inn, 178 Newark Road, Lincoln

The Craft Union Pub Company Inn has a datestone for 1885. In the 19th century, the area was listed under Bracebridge 'a small scattered village' not as part of Lincoln. White's 1872 directory lists in Bracebridge 'Speed Thomas, victualler, Gate'. As you will see, Mrs Speed, presumably his wife, is in the Gatehouse in 1885. The conclusion is that this building replaced an earlier pub. I can't find it in directories that I have before 1872. (Late 19th & early 20th century there is another Gatehouse Hotel listed in Canwick Road). In June 2022 Stonegate Group reported on their website that the Inn was open again after a £200,000 makeover. A search of my directories found the following landlords; 1885 Mrs Catherine Speed, listed as Gate House P.H.; 1889 Robert Hoe, listed as Gate House P.H.; 1894-1926 Thomas Brown; 1930 Mrs Mary A Brown; 1946 Frederick G Brown; 1965 just listed as Gatehouse Hotel.

Jo and Steve Turner

River Witham north of Bracebridge, Lincoln

A public footpath follows a bend of the River Witham, looking northeastwards towards a residential area approximately 2.5 kilometres south of Lincoln city centre and 600 metres north of Bracebridge bridge. This photograph was taken on a humid afternoon in early May. Viewed from the largely undeveloped western bank of the Witham between Bracebridge and Dixon Street, the riverside homes on the corner of Fairfax Street and Park Lane can be seen (centre) with the white rear of the Aldi supermarket on Newark Road (A1434) extending into frame from the right. Though much of this footpath is insulated from the noises of the city, here the sounds of ducks splashing and birds chirping are unfortunately drowned out by the constant hum of the local Walkers crisp factory, whose fenced yard of grimy container lorries lines the opposite bank just upstream (south) of this point.

Jonathon Pile

Preparation works

Part of the construction of a major water main linking the north and south of Lincolnshire.

Jonathan Thacker

Preparation works

Part of the construction of a major water main linking the north and south of Lincolnshire.

Jonathan Thacker

River Witham by Bracebridge, Lincoln

A public footpath runs along the eastern bank of River Witham looking southwards (upstream) approximately 200 metres south of Bracebridge bridge, the first major crossing of the Witham in the Lincoln city area. This photograph was taken on a cool and cloudy morning in late July. With the weather threatening another day of rain in the wettest July for some years, it's little wonder there was nobody about either on this path or the one on the opposite bank. Even the river was free of wildlife, the clouds having presumably lost the trust of even the hardiest of ducks. Here the river is bounded by the fish ponds of the former Bracebridge Hall (now Grosvenor Hall Care Home) to the east and South Witham Marsh to the west, creating a wide corridor of green space between Lincoln's southern suburbs. There's still the distant clanging and revving from the nearby automotive garage, but it's an otherwise peaceful spot.

Jonathon Pile

Wheat field by Lincoln Cliff, Bracebridge Heath

A field of wheat stretches to the foot of Lincoln Cliff, looking southeastwards from beyond Lincoln's eastern suburbs towards the village of Bracebridge Heath, which sits obscured by trees on the top of the escarpment. This photograph was taken on a warm and breezy morning in late July. Running north-south across central Lincolnshire for approximately 50 miles, Lincoln Cliff (also known as Lincoln Edge) is a ridge of predominantly Jurassic limestone that despite its modest height affords reasonable views to the west of Lincoln, North Hykeham, and beyond. The footpath on this side of the field is one of many walking routes that link Lincoln and Bracebridge Heath, allowing good local access to the long-distance Viking Way trail that passes along the top of the escarpment. The radio mast rising above the trees on the left sits on the site of the Lincolnshire Headquarters of the East Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust.

Jonathon Pile

View towards Bracebridge Low Fields, Lincoln Cliff

A view of the Lincolnshire landscape just off the Viking Way atop Lincoln Cliff, looking southwestwards across agricultural fields towards the Lincoln suburb of Bracebridge Low Fields and beyond. This photograph was taken on a warm and breezy afternoon in mid-August. This view is from the edge of a large concrete square which curiously sits on the hillside not far from the Viking Way trail. Though its use is a mystery, it does provide an excellent vantage point to view the landscape below (and catch a pleasantly strong breeze on a warm summer's day!).

Jonathon Pile