Gedney, Lincolnshire
Encyclopedia
Gedney is a village and civil parish
in the South Holland
district of Lincolnshire
, England. It lies just to the south off the A17 Boston to King's Lynn
road, 2 miles (3.2 km) east from Holbeach
and 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east from Long Sutton
. The parish stretches east to The Wash
, its villages and hamlets including Gedney Drove End, Gedney Dyke, GedneyDawsmere, Gedney Marsh, and the geographic extension of Gedney, Gedney Church End.
The parish has the only stretch of dual carriageway in South Holland and includes RAF Holbeach
at Gedney Marsh.
, making it one of the most intensive crop-growing
areas in the UK.
To the west, the parish begins at the eastern end of the Fleet Hargate
bypass, and includes the village's campsite and a few houses, bordering the parish of Fleet
. The boundary passes close to the west of Gedney Dyke, and meets the parish of Holbeach. It passes just to the west of Gedney Dyke Farm then follows Fleet Haven, near to the wind farm to the west of nearby Red House Farm.
It deviates to the east from Fleet Haven and passes to the west of (another) Red House Farm then rejoins Fleet Haven just south of Wards Farm. Fleet Haven runs out of land and meets the sea wall. In the parish, and close to the east is the base of RAF Holbeach
which is accessed via Durham's Road. The parish extends out on the mud flats along Fleet Haven Outfall. To access the part of the parish along the start of The Wash
would be extremely foolish and is out of bounds due to the bombing range. The limit of the parish finishes between Gat Sea End and Old South Middle. There are observation towers on the sea wall for the bombing range. The control tower is on the sea wall towards Dawsmere and Gedney Drove End. Dawsmere Creek extends out towards The Wash. The boundary with Lutton
is along Boatmere Creek then extends out to sea along Tycho Wing's Channel, which is the outflow of the River Nene
. This area is the far west of The Wash NNR
.
The boundary passes to the north of Lodge Farm, broadly following Boatmere Creek, south of Boat Mere Farm then along The Chase. It crosses Roman Bank at Sutton Corner, passing to the west of Lutton. It follows Docking's Holt Lane to the west of Long Sutton, meeting thr B1359 at the Garnsgate Road junction. It follows the B1359 (former A17) to the west, then crosses the A17 then follows a drain and Garnsgate Road where it borders Long Sutton and partly follows National Cycle Route 1. It passes to the north of Moorswood Farm, then follows Benderslough Drove and then the South Holland Main Drain, where it borders Sutton St James
to the south. At Leedsgate Bridge, west of Inley Drove Farm, it meets the parish of Fleet.
North of Leedsgate Bridge, the parish follows Fleet Drain, to the left of Rookery Farm, and it crosses the B1165 and the Little South Holland Drain at Raven's Gate Bridge. The boundary follows Fleet Drain north-eastwards alongside Raven's Drove. The two sides of the boundary are respectively known as Fleet Fen and Gedney Fen. Fleet Drain also follows Delph Bank. To the east of Fleet Drain at this point is Gedney Broadgate.
. It was dissolved around 1339.
The redundant railway station
was on the former east-west Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
. It closed in 1959.
The Red House wind farm was built in 2006 with six MM82 wind turbines, its 12MW of power feeding 6,500 homes.
, has Early English lower stages and Perpendicular upper. The nave
arcade
s and the chancel
are of Decorated style. During the rebuilding of the south aisle in 1890 a brass
of a female (ca. 1390), with a puppy at her feet, was discovered. Also in the south aisle is a damaged 13th century effigy of a cross-legged knight, conjectured to represent Falco D'Oyry, and Jacobean
alabaster
monuments of Adlard Welby, his wife Cassandra and their five children, erected in 1605. The south porch has a rare upper chamber. At the east end of the north aisle are the remains of a 14th century Jesse window.
The church had 29 windows damaged in 2006, including the Jesse window. Vestments and an altar cloth were set alight but the fire did not take hold. Two culprits, 15 and 16 years old, were interviewed by police and admitted causing the damage.
s are the Chequers on Gedney Dyke Main Street, the grade II listed Old Black Lion in Chapelgate., the Rising Sun at Gedney Drove End, and The Wildfowler On The Wash, also at Gedney Drove End.
As of August 2011, Chequers has been closed for over a year and is undergoing structural work. It's not known if it will re-open as a public house.
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 the South Holland
South Holland, Lincolnshire
South Holland is a local government district of Lincolnshire. The district council is based in Spalding.It was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the Spalding urban district with East Elloe Rural District and Spalding Rural District...
district of 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. It lies just to the south off the A17 Boston to King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
road, 2 miles (3.2 km) east from Holbeach
Holbeach
Holbeach is a fenland market town with in the South Holland district of southern Lincolnshire, England. The town lies from Spalding; from Boston; from King's Lynn; from Peterborough; and a by road from the county town of Lincoln. It is on the junction of the A151 and A17...
and 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east from Long Sutton
Long Sutton
Long Sutton may refer to:*Long Sutton, Hampshire, England*Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England*Long Sutton, Somerset, England...
. The parish stretches east to The Wash
The Wash
The Wash is the square-mouthed bay and estuary on the northwest margin of East Anglia on the east coast of England, where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire. It is among the largest estuaries in the United Kingdom...
, its villages and hamlets including Gedney Drove End, Gedney Dyke, GedneyDawsmere, Gedney Marsh, and the geographic extension of Gedney, Gedney Church End.
The parish has the only stretch of dual carriageway in South Holland and includes RAF Holbeach
RAF Holbeach
RAF Holbeach is a Royal Air Force bombing range situated between Boston and Kings Lynn in Gedney Drove End on The Wash, in Lincolnshire, eastern England. Most of the range, including the control tower and four observation towers are in Gedney, but it does overlap with Holbeach to the west...
at Gedney Marsh.
Geography
Gedney and its parish lies on reclaimed fenlandThe Fens
The Fens, also known as the , are a naturally marshy region in eastern England. Most of the fens were drained several centuries ago, resulting in a flat, damp, low-lying agricultural region....
, making it one of the most intensive crop-growing
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
areas in the UK.
To the west, the parish begins at the eastern end of the Fleet Hargate
Fleet Hargate
Fleet Hargate is a village in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies east of Holbeach, just south of the A17. It falls within the wider civil parish of Fleet which stretches from Gedney to Holbeach with a total estimated population of 2,286.The village has been designated a...
bypass, and includes the village's campsite and a few houses, bordering the parish of Fleet
Fleet, Lincolnshire
Fleet is a village and civil parish in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on Delph Bank, south-east from Holbeach.Fleet Grade I listed Anglican church, dating from the late 12th century, is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. The 120 foot high church tower with spire is...
. The boundary passes close to the west of Gedney Dyke, and meets the parish of Holbeach. It passes just to the west of Gedney Dyke Farm then follows Fleet Haven, near to the wind farm to the west of nearby Red House Farm.
It deviates to the east from Fleet Haven and passes to the west of (another) Red House Farm then rejoins Fleet Haven just south of Wards Farm. Fleet Haven runs out of land and meets the sea wall. In the parish, and close to the east is the base of RAF Holbeach
RAF Holbeach
RAF Holbeach is a Royal Air Force bombing range situated between Boston and Kings Lynn in Gedney Drove End on The Wash, in Lincolnshire, eastern England. Most of the range, including the control tower and four observation towers are in Gedney, but it does overlap with Holbeach to the west...
which is accessed via Durham's Road. The parish extends out on the mud flats along Fleet Haven Outfall. To access the part of the parish along the start of The Wash
The Wash
The Wash is the square-mouthed bay and estuary on the northwest margin of East Anglia on the east coast of England, where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire. It is among the largest estuaries in the United Kingdom...
would be extremely foolish and is out of bounds due to the bombing range. The limit of the parish finishes between Gat Sea End and Old South Middle. There are observation towers on the sea wall for the bombing range. The control tower is on the sea wall towards Dawsmere and Gedney Drove End. Dawsmere Creek extends out towards The Wash. The boundary with Lutton
Lutton, Lincolnshire
Sometimes called Lutton-Bourne, Lutton is a small village and civil parish located about south east of the town of Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England. The village of Lutton has also been known by the alternative name of Sutton St Nicholas...
is along Boatmere Creek then extends out to sea along Tycho Wing's Channel, which is the outflow of the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
. This area is the far west of The Wash NNR
National Nature Reserves in England
National Nature Reserves in England are managed by Natural England and are key places for wildlife and natural features in England. They were established to protect the most important areas of habitat and of geological formations...
.
The boundary passes to the north of Lodge Farm, broadly following Boatmere Creek, south of Boat Mere Farm then along The Chase. It crosses Roman Bank at Sutton Corner, passing to the west of Lutton. It follows Docking's Holt Lane to the west of Long Sutton, meeting thr B1359 at the Garnsgate Road junction. It follows the B1359 (former A17) to the west, then crosses the A17 then follows a drain and Garnsgate Road where it borders Long Sutton and partly follows National Cycle Route 1. It passes to the north of Moorswood Farm, then follows Benderslough Drove and then the South Holland Main Drain, where it borders Sutton St James
Sutton St James
Sutton St James is a village and civil parish in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England, about south west of Long Sutton.Lying in the Lincolnshire Fens, Sutton St James did not exist at the time of Domesday Book of 1086...
to the south. At Leedsgate Bridge, west of Inley Drove Farm, it meets the parish of Fleet.
North of Leedsgate Bridge, the parish follows Fleet Drain, to the left of Rookery Farm, and it crosses the B1165 and the Little South Holland Drain at Raven's Gate Bridge. The boundary follows Fleet Drain north-eastwards alongside Raven's Drove. The two sides of the boundary are respectively known as Fleet Fen and Gedney Fen. Fleet Drain also follows Delph Bank. To the east of Fleet Drain at this point is Gedney Broadgate.
History
A hospital for five paupers, (St Thomas Martyr), was founded at Gedney, date unknown, and served from North CreakeNorth Creake
North Creake is a village and civil parish in the north west of the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 414 in 184 households as of the 2001 census....
. It was dissolved around 1339.
The redundant railway station
Gedney railway station
Gedney railway station was a station in Gedney, Lincolnshire. It was a station on the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway network. It was closed in 1959.The station survives today but in a derelict state.Former Services-External links:...
was on the former east-west Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, was a joint railway owned by the Midland Railway and the Great Northern Railway in eastern England, affectionately known as the 'Muddle and Get Nowhere' to generations of passengers, enthusiasts, and other users.The main line ran from Peterborough to...
. It closed in 1959.
The Red House wind farm was built in 2006 with six MM82 wind turbines, its 12MW of power feeding 6,500 homes.
Church
Gedney Grade I listed Anglican parish church is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. Originating in the 13th century, additions and alterations carried-on into the 17th. It was considerably restored in 1890 however the spire to the tower was unfinished and left as a stump. The tower, 86 feet to its parapetParapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
, has Early English lower stages and Perpendicular upper. The nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
s and the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
are of Decorated style. During the rebuilding of the south aisle in 1890 a brass
Monumental brass
Monumental brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood...
of a female (ca. 1390), with a puppy at her feet, was discovered. Also in the south aisle is a damaged 13th century effigy of a cross-legged knight, conjectured to represent Falco D'Oyry, and Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
monuments of Adlard Welby, his wife Cassandra and their five children, erected in 1605. The south porch has a rare upper chamber. At the east end of the north aisle are the remains of a 14th century Jesse window.
The church had 29 windows damaged in 2006, including the Jesse window. Vestments and an altar cloth were set alight but the fire did not take hold. Two culprits, 15 and 16 years old, were interviewed by police and admitted causing the damage.
Amenities
Parish public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s are the Chequers on Gedney Dyke Main Street, the grade II listed Old Black Lion in Chapelgate., the Rising Sun at Gedney Drove End, and The Wildfowler On The Wash, also at Gedney Drove End.
As of August 2011, Chequers has been closed for over a year and is undergoing structural work. It's not known if it will re-open as a public house.
See also
- Gedney HillGedney HillGedney Hill is a village and civil parish South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. It is located close to the boarder of Cambridgeshire about south-east of Spalding, west of Wisbech and south of Holbeach....
, another civil parish to the south in South Holland district, at the PeterboroughPeterboroughPeterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
unitary authorityUnitary authorityA unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
boundary.
External links
- "Gedney", genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2011
- Parish Council
- Gedney Church End primary school
- Location maps for: , , , and (note the contour lines!)
- Gedney Drove End - poem by Cameron Self