Metheringham

History

The village is a documented settlement in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is thought to date from Saxon times and be associated with the name "Medrich". The addition of the plural ending "-es" together with the familiar "-ham" ending is thought to have produced "Medrichesham" (the homestead of Medrich), which in time became corrupted into the modern name of the village. The earliest surviving document relating specifically to the village dates from 24 June 1314, in the reign of Edward II. In July 1599, a great fire left only a few houses standing. It started in a gully that ran the length of the village street.

White's 1842 Directory of Lincolnshire called Metheringham "a large improving village, on a gentle declivity, between Lincoln Heath and the Cardyke navigation, 9 miles S.E. of Lincoln. Its parish increased its population from 536 in 1801, to 880 in 1831, to 1197 in 1841,and contains 5682A[cres], 1R[ood], 32P[erches] of land." It also notes, "An ancient Cross, which stood in the village was replaced by a new one in 1835, at the cost of about £25, and a market is now held round it on Saturday evenings. The drainage of the parish is aided by a steam engine of 25-horse power, and has dried an ancient spring called Holywell." It describes the church (see below) and adds, "Here is a Wesleyan Chapel, erected in 1840. A School was established by subscription in 1841, and there is a flourishing Sick Club, and also a Cow Club. The poor parishioners have 3R.37P. of land left by one Colley; and an annuity of £3, left by John Ellis in 1829."

The village was the birthplace of H. F. Ellis (1907–2000), the writer who developed the comic schoolmaster character A. J. Wentworth B. A. in the magazine Punch and later in The New Yorker.

The village war memorial records the names of 42 men who died for their country in the First World War and 8 who fell in the Second World War.

Geography

Metheringham lies 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the Lincoln Cliff escarpment, on the western edge of fenland that extends south-east towards Boston and The Wash. It lies on the north to south B1188 between Ruskington and Branston, and on the east to west B1202 and B1189. Dunston is 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north, and Scopwick and Blankney are to the south. The railway station is on Station Road (B1189).

The centre of the village is a conservation area. To the west and the A15 is Metheringham Heath, on which is a SSSI at a local quarry. To the east is Metheringham Fen, across which lies Metheringham Delph, which drains into the River Witham from where it connects to the Car Dyke near an old wartime airfield. The Metheringham Delph nature reserve at Tanvats, and Sots Hole, are nearby.

Community

Metheringham is known to locals as "Meg". The village population is approximately 4500.

The parish church is dedicated to St Wilfrid, and is in the Metheringham group of churches with Blankney and Dunston. There is a Methodist church, built in 1907 by the architect Albert Edward Lambert. San Damiano House is one of the five houses in England of the Community of St. Francis, a Franciscan Anglican religious order for women.

The village has a primary school, a cafe located in the high street, a Co-op store, and a traditional butcher's shop, which has been trading in the village for over 80 years. It has four public houses – the Star & Garter in Prince's Street, the White Hart Inn, the Lincolnshire Poacher in High Street, and the Londesborough Arms.

Metheringham is on the route of an hourly. daytime bus service Mondays to Saturdays between Boston and Lincoln, provided by Brylaine. This runs less frequently on Sundays. Other services run to South Kyme (P. C. Coaches) and to Sleaford (Road Car). There are regular direct train services Mondays to Saturdays to Lincoln, Doncaster, Sleaford, Spalding, Peterborough, and Leicester.