Having agreed to purchase “Forge Cottage” on Linga Lane back in late 2018, I was immediately keen to discover the history behind the property. It was obviously one of many older properties in the village, and I knew that there had to be some information out there somewhere; little did I realise, however, just how difficult it would be to unearth even the smallest detail. But following on from conversations with local residents I have been able to piece together some of the later elements of its history.
Alan Taylor was born in Bassingham in 1942 and, until recently he had spent all of his life here, witnessing many changes over the years. He also has a unique knowledge of this property because as a young boy he was a frequent visitor; not only did he play in and around the house in the late 1940s/early 1950s but he also pumped the bellows in the smithy/forge itself!
Alan also told me about the inside of the house. The property was originally not one, but two (or more) red brick cottages. The one nearest the road – with the unique ‘diamond windows’ – was a one-up/one-down cottage with a staircase against the ‘back’ wall, whilst the cottage next door was a two-up/two down with only a ladder providing access to the upper floor! The fireplace was a ‘double’ which served both cottages and what is now the hallway/staircase was the old kitchen and the bathroom above was a small bedroom. The upstairs windows were much lower; their tops were in line with the current guttering which meant that you had to almost lie down to see out of them.
The hedge which now marks the eastern boundary with number 8’s long driveway was not there to begin with; as you will see, maps show that there were more outbuildings and workshops on land to the east which was all owned by the occupant of our cottage. The outhouses and garage at the far end of our property were already there by the 1940s, and Alan remembers there being a ruined building next to our kitchen which he used to climb about in; it’s quite possible that these were the remains of other cottages. He also recalls playing about on a motorbike hidden underneath a tarpaulin in the garage which has now been replaced with an extension to the house which fits the exact same dimensions of the original, cavernous building.
So, was this property always a smithy, and just EXACTLY who lived at here? Well, that, dear reader, is the $64,000 question, and as a result what follows can only be described as educated guesswork. I have gathered together what maps, documents, photographs and census returns that I can find for Bassingham ranging from 1823 through to 1971 but the major problem is that Linga Lane is only ever mentioned in two of censuses, and “Forge Cottage” not even once – which pretty much confirms that the name of the building is clearly a much later, decorative addition.
One thing that I am 100% certain of is that Matthew Winn lived – and died – here in 1949 and, because of this, I have researched his family all the way back through the records and include their history concurrent with that of the property as best I can, even though I don’t believe that they lived at “Forge Cottage” from the very beginning.
Right… let’s get started…
1807
Clearly unrelated to “Forge Cottage” at this point, in 1807 Matthew Winn was living in Reepham (“Repham” here), Lincolnshire, where he was listed as a voter. This Matthew Winn must be the father of the Matthew who would live and work in Bassingham in the near future because in the 1851 census our Matthew lists Reepham as his birthplace but, as he was then 47 years old, he could have been only 3 or 4 years old in 1807, ensuring that the Matthew Winn listed here has to be his father. This Matthew was also a farmer.
1823
At the moment, this is the earliest original document that I can find relating to the village. It is a page from the 1823 Poll Book which basically named those thirty-four people (men) living in the village who were eligible to vote.
Whilst this document clearly does not give any hint of an address for each person, it definitely lists James Wheatley and Robert Robinson as the village blacksmiths. It is quite probable that the two men worked the same forge and, at this stage, I think that this might well have been the one down at the southern end of the High Street because…
1834
Matthew Winn must have arrived in the village by November 1834 at the very latest; he appears in the pages of the 1834 Poll Book for Bassingham as a tenant of George Hunt of Caythorpe. Winn might have arrived the previous year, but he most certainly wasn’t listed in the 1832 Poll Book, making this his first official appearance as a resident.
1839
This map was drawn in 1839 to identify plots and farm fields and boundaries. A copy had been requested by John Brogan to show the extent of Eastfield Farm, and although there are no names of roads or buildings, there is clearly a long building perpendicular to the road at 107 which fits the footprint of what is now “Forge Cottage”. 105 will be “Pinfold Cottage” and “Hythe Cottage”, whilst 106 will be the conglomeration of what is now “Moorland Cottage” and “Conington Cottage”. I had always suspected that my property is Georgian and not Victorian; the purchase information that we have states 1850 or pre-1850 but this map seems to suggest 1839 at the latest (Victoria ascended the throne in June 1837).
However – and this is a huge discovery that I have made in early November 2022 – it would appear from this map that there is no forge at the property. The first map that I can find which undoubtedly indicates the forge building is from 1886 (below). It would therefore appear that the smithy was erected somewhere between 1839 and 1886, which is huge ‘window’ in which to work, and we can presume that the cottage(s) here might well have been nothing more than simply workers’ homes for many years. However, the fact that there are three village blacksmiths in the 1841 census suggests that perhaps the erection of the forge wasn’t too far away.
Armed with this information, we can begin to look at the censuses, wary of the fact that there might not be a smithy mentioned at this address anyway, and we may well not even be looking for a blacksmith as an occupant either.
1841
Taken on the night of Sunday 6th and Monday 7th June, the 1841 census was the first official census of England and Wales but, sadly, it afforded very little detail. Enumerators were even told to round ages up or down to make life easier for those who would take on the task of assessing the collected data. The 1841 census of Bassingham is in two short parts and, whilst both specifically mention Linga Lane in their introductions, only one goes on to name a household specifically on that road, namely that of farmer Conyers Booth (below) who, I suspect, would have been the occupant of the farmhouse that is now “South View”, number 26 Linga Lane.
As regards all of the other named householders it’s really hard to tell who lived where. And we have to bear in mind that there might not have been a forge on Linga Lane at this point in time, but the presence of not one but three village blacksmiths makes it a distinct possibility.
Matthew Winn and his family lived on Water Lane…
- Mathew (sic) Winn, aged 30 (incorrectly rounded down – he was 37), Blacksmith, born in County
- Jane Winn, aged 25, born in County
- Jane Winn, aged 6, born in County
- Mathew (sic) Winn, aged 4, born in County
- Ann Winn, aged 1, born in County
- Charles Winn, aged 35, Bricklayer’s Labourer, born in County
Matthew was not the only named blacksmith in the village; a second blacksmith, 25-years-old John Robinson – almost certainly a relative of the Robert Robinson, blacksmith, listed in the 1823 Poll Book – lived at the southern end of the High Street so we might guess that he worked the forge situated between where we now find “The Old Vet’s House” and “Forge House”. There was another person living with him at the time: 15-years-old Robert Robinson, who I believe to have been his younger brother. John would certainly go on to marry Mary from Caythorpe and appear in future censuses, whilst it rather looks as though Robert too had become a blacksmith by 1861 at which time he was living back with his parents, John and Jemima.
The village had a third blacksmith, James Wheatley (certainly related to the one named in the Poll Book, if not one and the same), whose name appeared in the ‘District 1’ schedule which includes “the fields south of Linga Lane”, so it is quite possible that he had put up a forge on Linga Lane next to the cottage. I don’t think that we will ever know for sure.
Winn, John Robinson and Wheatley were all recorded blacksmiths in the following year’s White’s 1842 History, Gazetteer & Directory of Lincolnshire.
1844
On 21st August Matthew Winn and William Foottit (of Marton) entered into a joint agreement with Thomas and Richard Garton (Lincoln tobacconists) in relation to a £2,600 mortgage. I have seen this document – it’s the property of John Brogan – but I really cannot understand all of the “legalese”! It looks like the pair borrowed £2,600 between them, each being responsible for the repayment of £1,300 at the rate of 5% interest on 21st February. Confusingly, there is a stamp dated 1840, but “the eighth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria” began on 20th June 1844, so I do have the correct year. There were several pages relating to this agreement, but I have not reproduced them all as they were just too wordy. What is clear from this document is that Matthew Winn was illiterate – he has signed the document with an ‘X’.
1851
The 1851 census was taken on the night of Sunday 30th and Monday 31st March, and things become even more difficult here as Linga Lane is not mentioned at all, not even in the introduction. We can guess that the occupants of our property might appear in Part 2a because that one deals with “All that part of the Parish of Bassingham lying to the East side of the road leading direct through the village of Bassingham from the end to the other,” but there is no way of determining who the occupant(s) might be. We can surmise that the road leading direct through the village has to be what we now refer to as the High Street. There is no “forge” or “smithy” named anywhere in the village.
This census finds Matthew Winn now correctly aged 47 years old and living at Broughton Road with a growing family.
- Matthew Winn, aged 47, Blacksmith, born in Reepham, Lincolnshire
- Jane Winn, aged 41, born in Marton, Lincolnshire
- Matthew Winn, aged 13, Farm Day Boy, born in Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Ann Winn, aged 11, born in Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Charlotte Winn, aged 9, born in Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Mary Winn, aged 7, born in Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Martha Winn, aged 4, born in Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Betsy [Elizabeth] Winn, aged 1, born in Bassingham, Lincolnshire
This time, as well as again being named one of three village blacksmiths, Matthew was also a cottager* of 5 acres, and although he appears in this Bassingham census, his address of Broughton Road is actually in Carlton-le-Moorland. There were already two blacksmiths resident in Carlton – William Laycock and Joseph Saywell – so Matthew probably travelled in to work a Bassingham smithy.
James Wheatley, village blacksmith in 1841, no longer lived in Bassingham, but the same John Robinson from that census was still here. Living in the same household as him and his wife, Mary (31), were James Smith, an 18-years-old journeyman blacksmith from Nocton, Lincs., and Henry Cullen, a 15-years-old apprentice blacksmith also from Nocton. These smiths were joined by William Donson (28, born Nottingham), and 21-years-old John Thistlewood from Canwick, Lincs. both of whom lived on Water Lane (the latter being a lodger). Of course, all of these smiths could have worked together at one forge – I just don’t think that we will ever know for sure.
* A cottager was an agricultural labourer who lived in a tied cottage on the landowner’s land.
1861
Taken on the night of Sunday 7th and Monday 8th April, Linga Lane was actually mentioned in this census. Two families were noted as living there, namely:
- George Holmes, aged 40, Cottager occupying 6 acres of land, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Jane Ann Holmes, his wife, aged 42, born Egleton, Rutland.
- Sarah Ann Holmes, their daughter, aged 3, Scholar (!), born Bassingham, Lincs.
- William Keniwell, aged 55, Groundkeeper, born Somerby, Lincs.
- Sarah Keniwell, his wife, aged 44, born Flintham, Notts.
- Ellen Keniwell, their daughter, aged 17, born Flintham, Notts.
- George Antcliffe, servant, aged 20, Carter, born Long Bennington, Lincs.
- George Tow, servant, aged 18, 2nd Carter, born Shelton, Notts.
- John Pheasant, servant, aged 14, Farm Boy, born Fulbeck, Lincs.
It is my contention that Keniwell’s large household almost certainly resided at what is now “South View”, 26 Linga Lane, the large farmhouse at the eastern end where it meets Lincoln Road. I could be completely wrong – there is a large farmhouse along Linga Lane if you head right out into the fields, but I don’t think this is it.
Interestingly, between the two households mentioned above there were two other families living in what was simply described as “Field”.
- William Barber, aged 33, Farmer of 14 acres of land, born Scredington, Lincs.
- Pell Barber, his wife, aged 27, born Brant Broughton, Lincs.
- Hannah M. Barber, their daughter, aged 2, Scholar (!), born Bassingham, Lincs.
- William Hollis, father-in-law, aged 71, widowed, Retired Farmer, born Brant Broughton.
And also:
- John Lambert, aged 41, Agricultural Labourer, born Canwick, Lincs.
- Eliza Lambert, his wife, aged 36, born Swarby, Lincs.
- George Lambert, their son, aged 12, Scholar, bor Bassingham, Lincs.
- Sarah Lambert, their daughter, aged 7, Scholar, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Ann Lambert, their daughter, aged 6, Scholar, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Charles Lambert, their son, aged 1, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- John Hodson, servant, aged 19, Carter, born North Clifton, Notts.
- Edward Lambert, servant, aged 16, Carter, born Aubourn, Lincs.
Now it’s quite possible that any of the above could quite easily have been living at what is now “Forge Cottage” – I just can’t be sure!
As for Matthew Winn the blacksmith, well he was now aged 56 and had moved from Broughton Road into the centre of the village. Living with his family on Main Street (the High Street), Winn was also employing two men (almost certainly his son Matthew and son-in-law George Hewson) and he also now had an apprentice in the form of Thomas Hall. All of these people could be found within the same household.
- Matthew Winn, aged 56, Blacksmith employing 2 men & 1 apprentice, born Reepham, Lincolnshire
- Jane Winn, aged 46, born Marton, Lincolnshire
- Matthew Winn, aged 23, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Elizabeth Winn, aged 11, Scholar, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Tom [Thomas] Winn, aged 6, Scholar, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- George Hewson, aged 23, Son-in-Law, Blacksmith, born Markby, Lincolnshire
- Charlotte Hewson [née Winn], aged 18, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire
- Thomas Hall, aged 13, Blacksmith’s Apprentice, born Aubourn, Lincolnshire
As in previous censuses, there were other blacksmiths residing in the village. John Robinson, now aged 45, of Main Street, was still here with his wife Mary, and employing two men – perm any two from the following list! Robinson also had Hunt Moss, a 15-years-old blacksmith’s apprentice, living with the family, as was the custom back then. Those other blacksmiths were: Robert Robinson, aged 38, of Thurlby Road, born Bassingham – the son of John Robinson, a road labourer, and his wife Jemima, all born in the village; Edwin Garratt, 22, living on Main Street; and John Martin, aged 22, on Baker’s Lane. At the same address as Martin was Betsy Beaumont, aged 28 and “a blacksmith’s wife”, born Bassingham – was she his wife?
Finally, Mary Wilkinson was living on Main Street; she was a blacksmith’s widow – but whose? Perhaps she moved into the village after her husband’s death because there doesn’t appear to be a Wilkinson smith in the village in the censuses – unless, of course, they arrived, and he died inter-census?
1871
The 1871 census was taken on the night of Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd April, and enumerator William Rogers decided that it wasn’t worth recording any of the street names at all. In fact, other than naming the pubs and a few other established properties, there are absolutely no details to go on. As a result, Linga Lane most definitely does not appear in this census, and I cannot even speculate as to who might have lived in the vicinity.
Matthew Winn had died in the December quarter of 1865 (at some point between the start of September and the end of December) and was succeeded by his 33-years-old son, also named Matthew, who was ably assisted by his apprenticed younger brother, Thomas Winn aged 16. Their mother, Matthew Winn Sr.’s widow Jane, lived next door together with Rebecca J. Skinner, her granddaughter.
- Jane Winn [his mother], widow aged 61, born Marton, Lincoln
- Rebecca J. Skinner, her grand-daughter, aged 4, born Bassingham, Lincoln.
- Matthew Winn, aged 33, no address details, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincoln.
- Lucy Winn [née Wells] his wife, aged 24, born Nettleham, Lincoln.
- Charlotte Winn, his daughter, aged 11 months, born Bassingham, Lincoln.
- Thomas Winn, his brother, aged 16, Blacksmith’s apprentice, born Bassingham, Lincoln.
(All of the above at the same address)
A few doors along was the family of John Skinner, aged 30, blacksmith, born in Digby, Lincs. and his wife Martha [née Winn and sister to Matthew Winn Jr.]. She was aged 25 and had been born in the village. It’s more than likely that Skinner joined the Winns at whichever forge they worked.
There were, of course, other blacksmiths in the village. The 81-years-old John Robinson was now living in retirement with his 83 years-old-wife Jemima, together with their youngest son, Robert Robinson (49). Older brother John Robinson (57) and his wife, Mary (52) was also working a smithy somewhere.
Interestingly, there was also a Harriett Robinson, aged 59, born Bassingham, Lincs., who lived with her two sons, both agricultural labourers. In 1851 she he had been living in South Collingham, Notts., married to blacksmith Henry Robinson, but by the time of the 1861 census she was widowed and had settled in Bassingham along with her children, declaring herself to be a “charwoman“. In 1871, it seems that she was no longer working, because she opted to describe herself simply as a “Blacksmith’s widow“.
1881
The 1881 census was taken on the night of Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th April. Once again Linga Lane escaped mention as, other than Hall Close, Watkin’s Yard, Blackaman? Yard, Reform Yard, Ley Lane, The Brickyard, and Fen Lane, there are no named roads or streets. So, once again, it’s impossible to even guess who might have lived here.
Matthew Winn was still a blacksmith, although something had gone drastically wrong with his age; 33 years old in the previous census, he had amazingly aged only five years in the intervening decade! For the record, he was actually 43.
- Mathew (sic) Winn, aged 38, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Lucy Winn, his wife, aged 32, born Nettleham, Lincolnshire.
- Charlotte Winn, his daughter, aged 10, scholar, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Mary J. Winn, his daughter, aged 9, scholar, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Mathew (sic) Winn, his son, aged 6, scholar, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Maria Winn, his daughter, aged 5, scholar, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
Matthew’s mother and brother lived elsewhere in the village. Thomas was still a blacksmith by trade, so it’s quite possible that he worked alongside Matthew in the forge.
- Thomas Winn, aged 26, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Jane Winn, his mother, aged 67, born Marton, Lincolnshire.
And, of course, the families of other village blacksmiths were very much in evidence. Still working at 69, were brothers John Robinson, (with his wife, Mary, aged 60), and 62-years-old Robert, sons of the now widowed Jemima (93).
1886
Although there are no specifically marked smithies on this map, it is still the first to show the outline of our smithy, just to the east of the long cottage building perpendicular to the road – irrefutable proof that there was a forge at this property. Of course, one might reasonably suppose that it had been here for a good few years beforehand, but until I can find a map which shows this I am stuck. Also evident on this map is the narrow row of small outbuildings which can still be seen at the southern end of our driveway today. There was also a line of outbuildings opposite the cottage which were probably part of the business, but these have long since vanished.
1891
The 1891 census was taken on the night of Sunday 5th and Monday 6th April with, yet again, no mention of Linga Lane.
At this point Matthew Winn may, or may not be the blacksmith at “Forge Cottage”, possibly assisted by his younger brother Thomas and his young son Matthew and Charles Parke, who were his apprentices. There address was simply “Main Road”, but I do have a theory, so please hear me out…
In conducting this census, enumerator John Hammond began his walk at Hall Field and proceeded up Water Lane, thence to “Main Road”. After deciding a few houses he listed the “Mission Hall“; the Primitive Methodist Mission Hall was an 18th century building with seating for 150. Purchased by the Salvation Army in 1885 it would be sold off in 1906 to Robert Ash, a joiner. It is now No.1 the High Street. Now, if you were to walk around the corner, you would pass Number 2 Linga Lane, then number 4, to number 6 – three properties. On the census forms, moving three households in from the uninhabited Mission Hall we find…
- Matthew Winn, aged 57, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Lucy Winn, his wife, aged 41, born Nettleham, Lincolnshire.
- Matthew Winn, his son, aged 16, Blacksmith’s apprentice, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Maria Winn, his daughter, aged 15, nurse girl, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- William Ernest Wells, his nephew, aged 13, Farm boy, born Newcastle on Tyne.
For that to make any real sense we have to suppose that the term “Main Road” means the whole road which surrounds the entire village in a loop, i.e. High Street, Linga Lane, Lincoln Road, and possibly one of Whites Lane or Baker’s Lane. Stretching things a bit, I know, but it would work!
Matthew’s younger brother, Thomas, lived elsewhere in the village, with their mother, a servant (relation) and an apprentice.
- Thomas Winn (Matthew’s brother), aged 36, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincolnshire.
- Jane Winn, their widowed mother, aged 79, housekeeper, born Marton, Lincolnshire.
- Annie Mary Skinner*, aged 14, servant, born Carlton-le-Moorland, Lincolnshire.
- Charles I. Parke, aged 17, Blacksmith’s apprentice, born Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
*There are Skinners in the family through the marriage of Martha Winn, but I haven’t researched this.
The now 69-years old Robert Robinson was still one of the village blacksmiths. He was boarding with another family of Robinsons (who were almost certainly relatives) on Water Lane. We have to presume that, given their absences, his mother and elder brother were by now deceased. A second blacksmith was one William Nokes, aged 50 and born at Reading. He was lodging at “The Black Swan” along with another blacksmith, James Jones Brade(?), who was aged 45, and born at Chester.
1899
This small map is the first to acknowledge by name the presence of a smithy in the village. We know for a fact that there were two but, in the same way, the map also indicates that there was an Inn in the village and, again, we know that there were at least two by now. This map was clearly intended not to give a detailed view of the village, but more of a general idea as to what amenities were there.
1901
The 1901 census was taken on the night of Sunday 31st March and Monday 1st April. As ever, there was no reference to Linga Lane. Perhaps I should reiterate here that I have no proof of any blacksmith actually living at what is now “Forge Cottage” until the 1940s. It’s quite possible that the two – or more – cottages in the site were inhabited by other families whilst the blacksmiths themselves actually walked or ride to the forge to work it. On the other hand, the blacksmiths on this census are shown as working “at home“, so, draw your own conclusions…
At this point Matthew Winn and his family were living on “Back Street”:
- Matthew Winn, aged 64, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincoln.
- Lucy Winn, his wife, aged 54, born Nettleham, Lincoln.
- Jennie Winn, his daughter, aged 27, born Bassingham, Lincoln.
- Matthew Winn, his son, aged 25, Blacksmith’s son (working at home), born Bassingham, Lincoln.
His brother Thomas lived on “Village Street”:
- Thomas Winn, aged 46, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincoln.
- Emma Winn (née Green), aged 29, born Skellingthorpe, Lincoln.
- Albert Thomas Winn, son, aged 4, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Edmund Charles Winn, son, aged 1, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Thomas Allen, aged 15, servant and Blacksmith’s apprentice, born India.
So, given that these blacksmiths are working “at home“, I would put my neck on the block here and say that Matthew Winn was at our forge on “Back Street (Linga Lane)” whilst his brother, Thomas, was working the forge down at the southern end of “Village (High) Street”. There were no other village blacksmiths.
1905
Probably the first map to accurately to identify the forge as being the small rectangular construct to the east of the long cottage. The other buildings opposite the cottage have now been extended toward the road with the addition of a small workshop to the north (see 1908 photograph below).
A second smithy is identified at the southern end of the High Street, at the entrance to what is now Lime Grove.
1908
I had always given up any hope of ever finding any photographs of “Forge Cottage“; there just didn’t seem to be any amongst the many postcards of scenes and buildings in the village. Then in summer 2022 Tom Booker came up with a postcard showing the first three properties on Linga Lane and there, in its full glory, was “Forge Cottage” complete with the lime-washed forge and another workshop!
The first thing that springs to mind is that somewhere down the line someone has taken out the standard rectangular windows upstairs and down, to replace them with the unique but difficult “diamond windows” we see now. They might look great but I can tell you that when we recently replaced them with triple-glazed ones – for better insulation – their unusual shape meant that it was a very expensive job!
Here also is a small close-up of the activity in the corner of the postcard which almost certainly shows the blacksmith busy with an upturned bicycle together with probably his wife (seated) and young daughter in a white pinafore. The postcard was franked 23rd January 1908, making it almost certainly a 1907 scene. But is it the Winns?
1911
The 1911 census was taken on Sunday 2nd April and once again Linga Lane was ignored by name although, obviously, the people who lived there had to be recorded. This census was revolutionary in so much as it was supposed to be completed by the householder unless he/she was illiterate. Thus we can safely assume that the document seen here was indeed filled in by Matthew Winn himself. Of interest here is the fact that his son, Matthew Jr. (born 1875), was now the active blacksmith having taken over from his retired father. Young Matthew was as yet unmarried, and his nephew Harold Wagstaff – a child of the marriage of his elder sister Mary Jane Winn to Richard Wagstaff – was living with them. Again, the census indicates that Matthew Jr. was working “on own account” (i.e. for himself) and “at home” indicating that he lived at a forge.
- Matthew Winn, aged 74, retired Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Lucy Winn, wife, aged 66, born Nettleham, Lincs.
- Matthew Winn, son, aged 36, Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Harold Wagstaff, grandson, aged 4, born Shirebrook, Notts.
Mary Jane Wagstaff [née Winn] (25.2.1872 – c1969)
The very next recorded household was that of Matthew Sr.’s brother, Thomas Winn. Having trained as a blacksmith, Thomas was now involved in the cycle repair business, working for himself (“own account”) but, significantly, not “at home”. Interestingly, I know for a fact that what is now No. 1 High Street became a motor garage run by the Winn family and so it is possible that he walked around the corner to his business there. I really don’t know. On the other hand, the 1908 photograph shows a man dealing with a bicycle by the workshop to the left of the forge – was that where he had his business? And is that Thomas Winn in the photograph? It is definitely possible that he lived in one of the two cottages that made up the building that is now all one, “Forge Cottage”. Again, perhaps we’ll never know. Thomas’s 14-years-old son, Albert Thomas Winn was also a cycle repairer – and he was working “at home”; curiouser and curiouser…
- Thomas Winn, aged 56, cycle repairer, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Emma Louisa Winn, wife, aged 38, born Skellingthorpe, Lincs.
- Albert Thomas Winn, son, aged 14, cycle repairer, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Charles Edmund Winn, son, aged 11, at school, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Mary Ann Green, visitor [Emma’s mother], aged 71, widow, born Riseholme, Lincs.
As for any other blacksmiths, well William Tindall, aged 26, born Walcott, Lincs. was listed and he was working for someone else, and not at home. I’m pretty certain that he lived on Water Lane – his household falls between two records which are some distance apart and which both name that street in their address. He must have walked to one of the two forges in the village. Then there was Thomas Waite, aged 34, born Folkingham, Lincs., who was working “on own account” but again, not “at home”. I suspect that his address is on the High Street somewhere as his record comes twelve – south? – of that of John Morshead who was running the Stores opposite the Wesleyan Chapel. I strongly believe that he would have worked the forge at the southern end of the High Street, because, just three households along, we find Charles Nowell, the village vet – nowadays “The Old Vet’s House” is next door to “Forge House” opposite Lime Grove, and the census is definitely working its way down the High Street as we soon come across Mrs. Elsom (who had a shop at the bottom end), Jimmy Gent (a cobbler who lived in the little cottage at the end of Hall Wath), and Dr. Johnson (of “Ivy House”).
1921
I have no access to this census, but I know that Linga Lane was not mentioned by name. I can also confirm that living in the same household were Matthew Winn Sr., his son Matthew Jr. and his wife Lucy, together with Harold Wagstaff and one unknown other. I strongly believe that they were living here by this point.
Also, at a separate address, there was Thomas Winn, his wife Emma Louisa, sons Albert Thomas, Charles Edmond [sic] and now also John Winn, born 1916, Bassingham, Lincs.
I am unaware of any other blacksmiths because this census is on a pay-per-view website, and I cannot check everyone on it!
1936
There’s not much change in this 1936 Ordnance Survey map because the property looks exactly as it did back in 1905.
There was also still a second smithy indicated on this map, down the High Street.
1939
The 1939 Civil Registration information was collected on 29 September 1939 and this was used to produce identity cards and, once rationing was introduced in January 1940, to issue ration books. Information in the Register was also used to administer conscription and the direction of labour, and also to monitor and control the movement of the population caused by military mobilisation and mass evacuation. It’s quite a predictable thing to say by now but, Linga Lane was not mentioned.
In this document we can see that Matthew Winn, born 1875 and now a Master Blacksmith, was still living in the village with his wife Elsie and one redacted (blocked-out) family member (daughter Freda). (‘Redaction’ is done to protect the identity of people who might still be alive today, but it makes searching the database very, very difficult indeed). The Winns’ address was given as Lincoln Road so perhaps, at this point, Linga Lane was considered to be part of that? I’m not sure but knowing that he definitely lived on Linga Lane only ten years later I’d suspect that this might just have been the case.
- Matthew Winn, aged 64, Master Blacksmith, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Elsie Winn (nee Wright), aged 47,
- Harold Wagstaff, his nephew, aged 33, farmer heavy worker, born Shirebrook, Notts.
- Freda L. Winn, aged 6, born Bassingham, Lincs. (redacted).
Elsewhere on this census we find Albert Thomas Winn, another of Matthew’s nephews. He was working in the blossoming motor repair industry. It looks to me like he was living down near the smithy on the High Street; his household record (104) is not far removed from that of Blanche Bates (96) who ran the sweet shop in what is now number 62 High Street. Robert Green the grocer was schedule number 118, so Albert was certainly living somewhere between those two properties and, as we shall soon discover, he almost certainly walked up to the top of the High Street for his daily work.
- Albert Thomas Winn [nephew of Matthew], aged 42, motor & agricultural engineer, born Bassingham, Lincs.
- Nellie Winn, wife, aged 45, housewife.
- William Ralph Winn, son, aged 12, at school.
The mother of both Matthew and Albert, Emma Louisa Winn (née Green) was a little further up High Street at schedule number 160, together with Charles Edmund Winn, brother of Albert. Just like his brother, Charles was a motor engineer. What is more, given that this was the last recorded household on High Street – the next being Lewis George Tindall on Croft Lane – I am 100% certain that this pair were living at what is now number 1 High Street which I know to have been a motor garage at this time.
- Emma Louisa Winn (née Green), Albert’s widowed mother, aged 68, housewife, born Skellingthorpe, Lincs.
- Charles Edmund Winn, her son, aged 39, motor engineer, born Bassingham, Lincs.
After that John Poucher, the register enumerator, set off up Croft Lane, whence he moved onto Lincoln Road. Now, it is my contention that he began this by walking back down Croft Lane to where it meets Linga Lane and that he classed this as Lincoln Road. Why? Well just the third schedule along Lincoln Road was number 169, and we all know who lived there don’t we? Schedule number 167 was the Salmon family in what I presume is now “Moorland Cottage”; Margaret Ann Walker and her sister (and unknown others) lived at schedule number 168 – “Conington Cottage” – and schedule 169 would be what we now recognise as 6 Linga Lane, “Forge Cottage”. Job done! Probably… 😉
Of the blacksmiths listed in the 1911 census, William Tindall was no longer a blacksmith but instead was a General Labourer, whilst Thomas Waite had moved to Stamford, where he was still employed as a blacksmith. There were no other listed blacksmiths in Bassingham in 1939 – unless, of course, their names are currently redacted. One also has to take into account the changing times; would it really have been necessary for a village in 1939 to need more than one blacksmith? Or even just the one, come to that? Remember – there was now a couple of motor engineers working at a garage, so one blacksmith would probably suffice.
The resident GP and surgeon, Dr. Osborne Johnson, also fancied himself a bit of an artist and he sketched a view (below) which includes part of this property.
1949
There is conclusive proof that by 1949 Matthew Winn and his wife were living at “Forge Cottage”, evidence provided by Alan Taylor who saw the deceased Mr. Winn being brought downstairs in a winding sheet; he died in February, aged 74. Alan also recalled that after Matthew’s death the business was taken over by the Blanchard family.
Matthew Winn died aged 74 years in February 1949 and was buried in the ‘overspill’ graveyard of St. Michael & All Angels on February 18th. His wife, Elsie (née Wright), died aged 91 years old in February 1984 and was buried with him.
In November 2023 I came across this photograph of Matthew Winn in part of the ‘Village Archive’ loaned to me by Parish Clerk Roger Hales.
I am pretty certain that this will be Matthew Winn (1875-1949). He stands outside the outbuildings at the far end of the property, puffing on a pipe and surrounded by chickens and his dog. The pile of bricks suggests that either a building has been demolished – I believe that there used to be three cottages here – or that new building is about to begin.
Thomas Winn, brother of Matthew, died aged 70 years on 22nd February 1925 and is also buried in the ‘overspill’ graveyard. His wife, Emma Louisa, died 2nd February 1955 and is buried with him. Also here is their son, John Winn, an RAF Sergeant killed in action in France on 2nd December 1939, aged only 23 years.
1950
Again, there appears to be no change in the ‘footprint’ of the property on this map. The extended cottage building, the two outbuildings at the southern end, and the outbuildings opposite the main property are all still present.
The other smithy towards the southern end of the High Street was also still very much in evidence at this point.
1960s
The house was condemned in the 1960s. Yes, that’s right – condemned. I know this through a conversation that I had with Derek Goode one day in summer 2021. He was called in to renovate and extend the property thereby adding the modern kitchen and third bedroom together with raising the upper floor windows*. He remembered that there were originally other small buildings – cottages? – to the left of the house in the part now occupied by the new build. Derek also recalled that, at this time, blacksmith Ken Blanchard lived in the larger of the two cottages and he leased the forge to a chap from Thorpe on the Hill who came to work it once a week. He also pointed out that the current garden space has been built up quite high; originally it was lower and sloped away eastward from the house which would almost certainly have helped with drainage.
*In March 2023 I learned that Jack Davison – who lived just along the road in “Hythe Cottage” at the time – was responsible for putting in those four gabled/dormer windows.
As a bonus bit of information, Ken’s wife Valerie used to operate a hair-styling business from here back then.
1971
Somewhere between 1969 and 1971, Historic England sent out a photographer to capture images of buildings of interest around the village, resulting in twelve being registered Grade II protected (including the telephone box opposite Green’s Stores). In amongst all of the photos that he/she took is this one – dated 1971 – which, whilst concentrating on numbers 2 and 4 Linga Lane, shows the table and of “Forge Cottage” at left with a person striding past. It had already been rendered, presumably after the renovation and extension work done by Derek Goode, and the unique “diamond windows” were clearly in place by now.
The forge has vanished – Alan Taylor told me that it was working into the 1960s but was pulled down in that decade, possibly as Derek carried out the renovation work. Hard to tell from this view, but I’d guess that also gone are the other buildings which were on the other side of what is now our drive.
1980-2000
Kay Millns lived in the cottage at some point around 1980-1990 before moving out to a property on Lincoln Road where she died in 2006.
2000
On 12th May 2000 the house sold once more, with Zoopla confirming a purchase price of £79,500. The new occupants were Stuart and Judy Robertson. This would be a period of great renovation of the property as the couple set about improving all aspects of the structure. The internal beams were shot-blasted, as was the painted brick wall between the dining room and lounge. The urge to knock the two fireplaces through was resisted as a new blocked off fireplace was built in the dining room. Stuart also took out the old coke boiler, and the bathroom was completely modernised as it was apparently completely unfit for purpose! The upper ‘dormer’ windows – each of which had a flat roof at the time – were given the current pitched roofs. In addition Stuart found the well which had been covered over, and he built it up using bricks from the pig-sty at “The Cottage” (now “Greenways”) over the road.
In October 2007 the Robertsons sold the property and moved three hundred yards around the corner to “Willow Farm” on Water Lane.
< Photographs coming (I hope!) >
At some point “Tal” Lambert and his wife Hannah lived at the cottage, but I cannot discover precisely when.
2007
It sold again on 3rd October 2007 to a couple that I simply know as Matt and Sarah, and this time the price had jumped massively to £230,000.
2009
Google Street View/Maps © captured the house as it looked in June of this year – definitely painted white. The forge itself has been replaced by hedging, our “lollipop tree”, and a small lawn. The sign on the gate is there too.
2011
Two years later, April 2011, and the woodwork was undergoing another lick of paint, while the render had become a creamy-yellow colour and the chimney stack had been completely re-built. Google Maps © still also wrongly numbered the property “4”!
There was also a small greenhouse in the space at the end of the outbuildings at the top of the drive. It looks like that must be Matt who is busy re-painting the kitchen windows. Within a year the house was on the market once more, because on 15th June 2012 it sold. Martyn Griffiths and Debbie Weston became the new owners at a price of £215,000.
2017
The next occupiers were Jonny and Vicki Baggott who had bought the property in May 2017 for £265,000. They were only here for just over eighteen months before putting the cottage up for sale and moving down to Kings Lynn. This is one of the photographs that was used by Purple Bricks to showcase the property when we bought it. 
Our deal went through in time for us to move in during March 2019.
2021
Between September 2020 and April 2021 building work went on. The small porch at the south end of the cottage and the tiny patio that it abutted were ripped up, together with the small pond, and the old garage was pulled down.
In their place was created a large “day-room”, a shower and WC, and a utility room. Lovely!
Perhaps the only downside of this extension was that, for a number of reasons, the original well had to be filled-in and, in order to make it safer, the top few rows of bricks were removed and repointed, which entailed it ending up two rows lower than it had started out – such a pity.
2022
As per the previous photographs, Google Maps © shows that the outbuildings opposite the main building have vanished, together with the forge itself. Interestingly this map also clearly delineates four conjoined buildings; when we moved in there were two, and then a gap to the garage, and I had always wondered if there might have been another small building there. The outbuildings to the south of the house are not represented on this map – but they are definitely still there. Google continued to wrongly number the property “4”; number 6 Linga Lane has mysteriously vanished from the face of the Earth!
2023
Right up to date now with the extension and solar panels, fitted April 2023. We didn’t trust putting them on the “old” roof! 🙂
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