Moulton, Lincolnshire
Encyclopedia
Moulton is the primary village of an extensive Fenland parish, over 16 miles (25.7 km) in length, and encompassing the smaller hamlets/villages of Moulton Chapel, Moulton Seas End and Moulton Eaugate.
Situated between Spalding
and Holbeach
, Moulton has many characteristics associated with English villages. Its main foci are the All Saints' church, known as "The Queen of the Fens", and Moulton Windmill
, the tallest tower mill
in the United Kingdom.
All Saints' Church was built in about 1180, instigated by Prior John of Spalding. It took approximately 60 to 70 years to build, and was heavily restored
from 1866 to 1867 by William Smith. The church has a particularly wonderful rood screen
, dating from around 1425. There is an intriguing headstone in the floor of the church, which is that of Prudence Corby, who apparently died on "July 36 1793". No explanation has been offered for its existence.
Moulton Windmill
, built in 1822, functioned, grinding wheat and other products, until 1995 despite losing its sails in 1895. The "Friends of Moulton Mill" was established to restore the Grade I listed mill to full working order. After the mill featured on the first series of BBC2's Restoration, the project won a large Heritage Lottery Fund
grant, which, along with many fundraising events has meant that campaign has succeeded. A café and shop has also been built, and the mill has disabled access, allowing disabled visitors to see some of the mill's inner workings.
Moulton once had a castle
, but now nothing more is visible above ground except a small mound of earth. It is reported that some of the stone from the castle was used to build at least part of the church at nearby Holbeach.
Moulton Grammar School was founded under the will of John Harrox (died 1561) who was steward to Sir John Harrington of Weston. The School opened in 1562 with ten pupils and continued to educate boys from the district until it closed in 1939 and was amalgamated with Spalding Grammar School. The school buildings still exist but are now private residences. The John Harrox Primary School commemorates his endowment as does the name of the sports club, Moulton Harrox. The Moulton Harrox Educational Foundation manages more than 200 acre (0.809372 km²) using the income to support the education of young people of the district.
There are many fine buildings reminiscent of the town-house style. Moulton railway station
, situated between Spalding and Holbeach, is no longer in service. The station buildings remain but are now private residences, but some of the old platform structures still exist.
During the 1970s Moulton was home to an astronomical observatory, the dome became something of a local landmark. The observatory was relocated to Sussex in the early 1980s.
Located nearby, just off the A151
, is the Elloe Stone, believed to mark the site of the moot of the Elloe wapentake in Danish times.
On July 28, 2005, a mini-tornado
swept through the village, damaging the church roof and some other properties in the vicinity, depositing glass tens of metres away. The tornado is believed to be the first known local occurrence of such a meteorological phenomenon.
About two miles (3 km) south of Moulton, and a similar distance east of Cowbit, is the separate village of Moulton Chapel
Windmill
Other
Situated between Spalding
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Spalding is a market town with a population of 30,000 on the River Welland in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. Little London is a hamlet directly south of Spalding on the B1172 road....
and 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...
, Moulton has many characteristics associated with English villages. Its main foci are the All Saints' church, known as "The Queen of the Fens", and Moulton Windmill
Moulton Windmill
Moulton Windmill in the Lincolnshire village of Moulton, between Spalding and Holbeach is a restored windmill claimed to be the tallest tower mill in the United Kingdom....
, the tallest tower mill
Tower mill
A tower mill is a type of windmill which consists of a brick or stone tower, on top of which sits a roof or cap which can be turned to bring the sails into the wind....
in the United Kingdom.
All Saints' Church was built in about 1180, instigated by Prior John of Spalding. It took approximately 60 to 70 years to build, and was heavily restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
from 1866 to 1867 by William Smith. The church has a particularly wonderful rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
, dating from around 1425. There is an intriguing headstone in the floor of the church, which is that of Prudence Corby, who apparently died on "July 36 1793". No explanation has been offered for its existence.
Moulton Windmill
Moulton Windmill
Moulton Windmill in the Lincolnshire village of Moulton, between Spalding and Holbeach is a restored windmill claimed to be the tallest tower mill in the United Kingdom....
, built in 1822, functioned, grinding wheat and other products, until 1995 despite losing its sails in 1895. The "Friends of Moulton Mill" was established to restore the Grade I listed mill to full working order. After the mill featured on the first series of BBC2's Restoration, the project won a large Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
grant, which, along with many fundraising events has meant that campaign has succeeded. A café and shop has also been built, and the mill has disabled access, allowing disabled visitors to see some of the mill's inner workings.
Moulton once had a castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, but now nothing more is visible above ground except a small mound of earth. It is reported that some of the stone from the castle was used to build at least part of the church at nearby Holbeach.
Moulton Grammar School was founded under the will of John Harrox (died 1561) who was steward to Sir John Harrington of Weston. The School opened in 1562 with ten pupils and continued to educate boys from the district until it closed in 1939 and was amalgamated with Spalding Grammar School. The school buildings still exist but are now private residences. The John Harrox Primary School commemorates his endowment as does the name of the sports club, Moulton Harrox. The Moulton Harrox Educational Foundation manages more than 200 acre (0.809372 km²) using the income to support the education of young people of the district.
There are many fine buildings reminiscent of the town-house style. Moulton railway station
Moulton railway station
Moulton railway station was a station in Moulton, Lincolnshire that closed to passengers in 1959.Former Services-External links:*...
, situated between Spalding and Holbeach, is no longer in service. The station buildings remain but are now private residences, but some of the old platform structures still exist.
During the 1970s Moulton was home to an astronomical observatory, the dome became something of a local landmark. The observatory was relocated to Sussex in the early 1980s.
Located nearby, just off the A151
A151 road
The A151 road is relatively minor part of the British road system. It lies entirely in the county of Lincolnshire, England. Its western end lies at coordinates otherwise, 1...
, is the Elloe Stone, believed to mark the site of the moot of the Elloe wapentake in Danish times.
On July 28, 2005, a mini-tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
swept through the village, damaging the church roof and some other properties in the vicinity, depositing glass tens of metres away. The tornado is believed to be the first known local occurrence of such a meteorological phenomenon.
About two miles (3 km) south of Moulton, and a similar distance east of Cowbit, is the separate village of Moulton Chapel
External links
Maps – Moulton; – Moulton Chapel; – Moulton Eaugate; – Moulton Seas End.Windmill
Other