Waltham on the Wolds

Geography

The parish had a population of about 967 as of the United Kingdom Census 2001, and is the site of the Waltham television transmitting station, which serves most of the East Midlands. Apart from the main village, the parish includes the village of Thorpe Arnold, which is just to the north-east of Melton. To the south-east is Stonesby, which is nearer to the 1,033 ft (315 m) transmitter. The village is on a ridge which has an escarpment close to the north-west that dramatically overlooks the Vale of Belvoir.

History

One of the earliest mentions of this place is in the Domesday book where it is listed among lands given to Hugh de Grandmesnil by the King. There was 100 acres (0.40 km²) of meadow and land for 11 ploughs. It was valued at six pounds.

The village had a railway station one mile (1.6 km) north of the village which opened in 1883 as a branch line from Scalford, but was only used sparingly for special occasions such as events at Croxton Park. The line, owned by GNR, was used mainly by iron ore trains carrying ore from quarries near Knipton, Eaton and Branston and the line's remains are still visible.The station was a terminus.There was a junction with the Eaton branch (opened in 1884) to the south west of the station. The ore trains came off this branch.

Iron Ore and other quarries

Two iron ore quarries were operated at Waltham briefly in the 1880s. One began in 1882 either side of what is now the A607 north of the village. The other was further north in the northern angle between the A607 and the narrow road to Eaton. Both quarries closed in 1885. Each had a horse-drawn tramway which carried the ore to the railway. The southernmost of the two quarries may have possessed a steam locomotive. Nothing can now be seen of the two quarries except (in 1992) the stone parapets of a bridge under the A607. This was used by the southernmost of the two tramways.

There was a quarry close to the railway, which was worked for limestone between 1931 and 1941.

Waltham Centre

Waltham-on-the-Wolds is also known for its connection with Mars (previously Masterfoods UK), and the much-advertised Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition which carries out research into effect of diet on cats, dogs and horses (for Spillers).

Amenities

The parish church, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene is built of a local, honey-coloured ironstone also used for several other churches in the district (e. g. at South Croxton). On 27 February 2008, the church spire was badly damaged by the 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake. The top 30 ft (9.1 m) of it had to be rebuilt, at an estimated cost of around £100,000. The work was completed in 2009. The church contains some Norman features with much building of about 1300. It was restored and extended in 1850, the supervising architect being G. G. Scott.

The Church of England primary school has a pre-school attached to it, which received the grade of outstanding in a 2011 inspection by Ofsted.

There is now only one pub in the village, the Royal Horseshoes [1] in Melton Road. This was refurbished in 2010. It is "Royal" because it can boast of having had Queen Victoria among its customers. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries there were twelve or more pubs in the village. There is a small village shop with a post office, and a delicatessen [2].