At the southern end of the village there is a junction, a meeting of the three main roads/streets of the village. Here the High Street meets Newark Road and Lincoln Road. We are now about to head east along Lincoln Road and then follow it as it bends northwards and up, out of the village…
“The Old Rectory” (1908)
Just a stone’s throw away from the War Memorial is “The Old Rectory”, built in 1875 for the Rev. H.C. Calverley, and replacing an older Rectory. In 1822 the original Rectory was “one tiled dwelling house 72ft long x 20ft wide and kitchen contiquos [contiguous] in length 54ft and in breadth 20ft; one thatched barn 32ft long x 12ft wide; one tiled stable 36ft long x 18ft wide.” This first postcard, with an angled-view of the building through the foliage, was postally-used in 1908. In later years the building was used by soldiers and paratroops as well as Prisoners of War, the Children’s Family Trust and then private owners before becoming the Nursing Home.
“The Old Rectory” (1914)
This second, more face-on image, I found on the internet and was dated as having been postally-used in 1914. The building is now the village care home and photographic access is obviously restricted but I was fortunate enough to have been granted the opportunity to take the photograph above. As you can see, the building has been substantially extended at the right-hand end, from the paired black drainpipes onwards. The old orangery or greenhouse to the left of the building has also been replaced with a more solid brick structure. There are also the more obvious permanent additions of the many solar panels on the roof and the black metal fencing (presumably to limit the movements of the residents).
Postally used on 9th October 1914, the message on the back of the postcard is for some strange reason written in French! Addressed to Mrs Marfleet In Sheringham, Norfolk, the message roughly translates – I think! – as, “You will be pleased to know that Mrs N, my daughter, took the refugee as a water maid for the time being. Let’s see how it goes. Lots to do.” and then an initialled signature which could be “AL” or perhaps not.
“The Bugle Horn”, 19 Lincoln Road (1907)
Today “The Bugle Horn” public house still looks essentially the same as it did in 1907 except that it has been extended towards the camera. Part of this building may date back to 1654 when it was a “Towne House” standing in the middle of the road. Stabling facilities at the rear of the pub when it opened in 1692 have now, quite naturally, become a car park. From 1696 to 1733 it was known as “Cragge House” after the Landlord and his wife. Opposite this building, where the 1907 postcard shows just trees and fields, you will now find the new Bassingham Primary School and Hammond Hall.
An example of the above card by CPC (Cotswold Publishing Company Ltd.) was postally used on 2nd November 1912 and the sad message on the back reported that the landlord of the pub, Fred Neesham, “committed suicide this morning”. He was buried in North Hykeham All Saints churchyard on 2nd December 1912. It’s a bonus to see the chaps with their pony and trap. Interestingly, the pub was simply named “The ‘Bugle’ Inn” on this postcard.
Lincoln Road “Village Cottages” (c1910)
I am a little confused as to the history of this row of cottages. What is for sure is that in 1832 Charles Hart had owned the old school, a small cottage now demolished, next to the dyke behind the Wesleyan Chapel. In 1837 he bought whichever are the older of the cottages here, which were originally Poor Houses. Between 1837 and 1851 he then built a further three cottages, and in the 1851 census they were all occupied by various cousins and relatives of his! The low-roofed building in the right foreground (with the hedge and bicycle) of the original postcard has since been demolished and the row of cottages has been extended in its place towards the camera. There are now six cottages here – three per ‘block’ – ranging from number 39 at the left to 49 at the right. The farthest perpendicular black downpipe visible in the postcard is now white and, although one seems to have vanished between the first two cottages, the chimneys line up perfectly. Interestingly, if you stand “face-on” to the last cottage – number 49 – you can clearly see where the newer bricks of this later extension begin.
“Northfield Farm”, Lincoln Road (undated)
This is the farm on the ‘elbow’ as you leave the village on the way out to Aubourn and Lincoln. At one time it was Shaw’s Farm, but I have no doubt that it will have passed through the hands of many different families over the years. Once again, I found this image on the Old Lincolnshire Rural Photos Facebook group.
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