Hemswell
Encyclopedia
Hemswell is a village
and civil parish
in the West Lindsey
district of Lincolnshire
, England. It lies just north of the A631
on the Lincoln Cliff
escarpment, 2 miles (3.2 km) west from Caenby Corner
and 7 miles (11.3 km) east from Gainsborough
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 309.
In Domesday
Hemswell is written as “Helmeswelle”, a settlement of 37 households, which before 1086 was under the lordship of Earl Edwin
.
Ariel photographs have shown ancient medieval settlement on the edge of the village, and 18th century enclosure maps indicate a larger village area than now exists and the site of a medieval church. Earthworks have been defined through crop markings and hollow ways
, ditched enclosures
, embankments and foundations of buildings that indicate the existence of crofts
.
Hemswell Grade II* listed Anglican parish church is dedicated to All Saints
. Originating in the 13th century it was partially rebuilt in 1764, when a new tower was added, and in 1858, when the rest of the church was replaced. An internal Early English three-bay north arcade
remains, as does a 13th century Decorated sedilia
on the south wall of the chancel
. The font
bears the arms of the Monson family. A further listed church, St Edmund’s on Spital-in-the-Street Road, is a converted 16th century quarter sessions
court house.
Opposite the churchyard is a 19th century maypole
of wood and wrought iron with painted red white and blue stripes. It is one of the oldest in England, and danced round each May Day
during the village May Day Fete. On Church Street is the listed early 19th century Post Office
, now non-operational, and Manor Farmhouse, originally 17th century. On Spital-in-the-Street Road is the early 17th century Spital Almshouse
, now a cottage, and its barn, previously a hospice
.
RAF Hemswell
was located just outside the village from 1937 until it closed in 1967. The site and buildings were subsequently redeveloped into a private trading estate which became the new civil parish of Hemswell Cliff
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish
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 West Lindsey
West Lindsey
West Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England.-History:The district was formed on 1 April 1974, from the urban districts of Gainsborough, Market Rasen, along with Caistor Rural District, Gainsborough Rural District and Welton 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 north of the A631
A631 road
The A631 is a road running from Sheffield, South Yorkshire to Louth, Lincolnshire in England. It passes through the counties of South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The road has many towns on its route including Rotherham, Maltby, Gainsborough and Market Rasen. It is mostly single...
on the Lincoln Cliff
Lincoln Cliff
The Lincoln Cliff is the portion of a major escarpment that runs north-south through Lindsey and Kesteven, in central Lincolnshire and is a prominent landscape feature in a generally flat portion of the county...
escarpment, 2 miles (3.2 km) west from Caenby Corner
Caenby Corner
Caenby Corner is a small settlement in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies at the junction of the A15 and A631, 10 miles north of Lincoln....
and 7 miles (11.3 km) east from Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 309.
In Domesday
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
Hemswell is written as “Helmeswelle”, a settlement of 37 households, which before 1086 was under the lordship of Earl Edwin
Edwin, Earl of Mercia
Edwin was the elder brother of Morcar, Earl of Northumbria, son of Ælfgār, Earl of Mercia and grandson of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. He succeeded to his father's title and responsibilities on Ælfgār's death in 1062...
.
Ariel photographs have shown ancient medieval settlement on the edge of the village, and 18th century enclosure maps indicate a larger village area than now exists and the site of a medieval church. Earthworks have been defined through crop markings and hollow ways
Sunken lane
A sunken lane is a road which has over time fallen significantly lower than the land on either side. They are created incrementally by erosion, by water and traffic...
, ditched enclosures
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
, embankments and foundations of buildings that indicate the existence of crofts
Croft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
.
Hemswell Grade II* listed Anglican parish church is dedicated to All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
. Originating in the 13th century it was partially rebuilt in 1764, when a new tower was added, and in 1858, when the rest of the church was replaced. An internal Early English three-bay north 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....
remains, as does a 13th century Decorated sedilia
Sedilia
Sedilia , in ecclesiastical architecture, is the term used to describe stone seats, usually to be found on the south side of an altar, often in the chancel, for the use of the officiating priests...
on the south wall of 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...
. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
bears the arms of the Monson family. A further listed church, St Edmund’s on Spital-in-the-Street Road, is a converted 16th century quarter sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
court house.
Opposite the churchyard is a 19th century maypole
Maypole
A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European folk festivals, particularly on May Day, or Pentecost although in some countries it is instead erected at Midsummer...
of wood and wrought iron with painted red white and blue stripes. It is one of the oldest in England, and danced round each May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
during the village May Day Fete. On Church Street is the listed early 19th century Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, now non-operational, and Manor Farmhouse, originally 17th century. On Spital-in-the-Street Road is the early 17th century Spital Almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
, now a cottage, and its barn, previously a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
.
RAF Hemswell
RAF Hemswell
RAF Hemswell was an airfield used by RAF Bomber Command for 20 years between 1937 and 1957 and saw most of its operational life during World War II. Later used by RAF Fighter Command as a nuclear ballistic missile base during the Cold War it closed to military use in 1967...
was located just outside the village from 1937 until it closed in 1967. The site and buildings were subsequently redeveloped into a private trading estate which became the new civil parish of Hemswell Cliff
Hemswell Cliff
Hemswell Cliff is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the A631 between Caenby Corner and Gainsborough and on the Lincoln Cliff escarpment. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 683....
.
External links
- "Hemswell", Genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2011
- Hemswell Parish Council, Parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2011