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The History of Bottesford, North Lincolnshire

[Bottesford : 'ford by the house or building', Old English botl + ford; Budlesforde 1086 (Domesday Book).]

Bottesford is mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1085–86. Various spellings of Bottesford were noted, eg Budlesford, Bulesford, ladultorp (Yaddlethorpe). The Domesday book recorded the presence of a Saxon church and the site of a water mill in the area. At this time the land was owned by Gocelin, son of Lanbert, and the King had lands in Yaddlethorpe.

At the time of the Norman conquest, certain properties, including the church and a mill were given by King William to Gocelin Fitzlambert. Templar lands eventually became owned by the King and were sold in 1545, following which the manor had many owners.

Bottesford Manor is believed originally to have been the gatehouse belonging to the preceptory, most of the other buildings are however of fairly recent date. In 1865 an ancient gravestone was found over a body in the churchyard, in the angle formed by the north wall of the chancel and the east wall of the north transept. It had a large cross engraved in it, thought to be a memorial of one of the brotherhood who occupied the manor.

Enclosure (1794–1797) changed the appearance of the area, with new roads, hedges and fences. Before enclosure, people worked strips of arable land and had animals on the heaths and commons. Old maps show how small plots of land around the area of the church were occupied as arable. In 1795 the land was allocated with the Peacock and Morley families receiving the greatest acreage. Five acres were allocated for roads, including Scotter Road, Moorwell Road (between Hurst Lane and Scotter Road) and Yaddlethorpe crossroads (a new road to Ashby and Messingham).

1801 – Population of Bottesford = 104; Yaddlethorpe = 74

1841 – Population of Bottesford and Yaddlethorpe had increased to 280. The village folk had to walk for miles for seasonal employment, which resulted in the large number of footpaths and bridle ways in the area.

1846 – National School was built in the parish (School Lane).

1850s – local clay pits developed with the production of bricks, tiles and pots on Scotter Road.

1871 census – Bottesford Population = 144 (987 acres farmland); Yaddlethorpe population = 136 (355 acres farmland); ; both almost entirely rural apart from Yaddlethorpe brickmaking works; jobs – farmers and farmworkers; crops: wheat, barley, turnips, potatoes.

Templars Bath

Templars Bath is the spring in the field directly behind the manor in Bottesford, it is now just a few stones. The knights Templar had a preceptory here – Bottesford Manor house is believed to have been the gatehouse.

Local Roman remains have been found in this area, Templars Bath was described in Lyell's "List of Roman British Architectural Remains" as a furnace for heating a Roman villa, although it is more commonly thought of as a dipping well connected with the preceptory of the Knights Templars.

800–900 years ago the Knights Templar had a hospital in Bottesford near to the site. It was thought to be a ragwell (a well or spring containing what were believed to be lucky or health giving waters). People visited the site and often, because they were poor, they only left a piece of cloth in thanks, giving the name 'ragwell'.

At the time of the Norman conquest, certain properties, including the church and a mill were given by King William to Gocelin Fitzlambert. Templar lands eventually became owned by the King and were sold in 1545, following which the manor had many owners.

St John's Well – Church Lane

Legend says that the Knight's Templars used the water for washing for undertaking a vigil in the church before going off to the Crusades in the Holy Land. Water is about 8ft deep and the level never changes, even in dry periods. The overflow from the well can be seen by the side of the road, the actual well is in the garden of St John's House.

In November 1983 a committee was set up to gain permission to excavate Templars field. During the first day, they found an animals jaw bone (thought to be from a reindeer from the ice age). Remains of a building of 1610–1650 was also found, probably knocked down before the Civil war. Also found window glass and fittings, 16th and 17th century pottery pieces. Due to lack of professional help and money, the site had to be backfilled.

Bottesford Legends

A servant girl was apparently murdered whilst returning to a farm in the area. For some time horses and traps crossing the beck were known to suddenly take fright and turn round in the road. Often their handlers had to lead them across the beck. It is said that cattle near the beck kept away from the crossing place, which was thought to be because the herd could see a mysterious apparition.

The front wall of 214 Bottesford Land was built upon the remains of an old cottage which was said to be occupied by a witch. Children were warned to stay away!

In Bottesford churchyard there is a tombstone which was once surrounded by iron railings. It is thought that if you put your ear to the top stone, you would supposedly hear the jangling of chains.

St Peter's Church

Church of St Peter-ad-Vincula – the name commemorates the imprisonment and deliverance the Apostle of St Peter. St Peter was imprisoned in Rome. A story tells how an angel set him free, so the Vicar's robes have a design of a chain, with 12 links for the 12 apostles, and keys – the sign of St Peter. 'Ad Vincula' is the Latin phrase for 'In Chains'.

The church began with the coming of a monk from Selby Abbey. Domesday records show evidence of a church on the site in 1086, which was probably wooden. Records show rectors and vicars from 1218, which indicated a Norman church. The present church is early 13th century. It is built from local limestone. It is about the same age as Lincoln Cathedral and some of the cathedral craftsmen are thought to have worked on it.

There are subtle differences between the pillars of the north and south aisles which shows that craftsmen had the opportunities to use their own designs including the carving of faces (self portraits?). The overall style is restrained compared to the later, more decorated styles.

Nineteenth century church registers reveal the degree of literacy among the population – many were illiterate. The marriage registers reflect the changing local occupations from 'labourers to 'steelworkers' and 'furnacemen'.

Abraham de la Pryme was a local cleric / diarist who revealed features of 17th centre life in the area. He made non-favourable remarks on Bottesford church. He noted that the early 19th century church was dilapidated with broken windows, and there was a strong indication that cattle were herded into the church in stormy weather.

The south aisle was added in the 14th century, the buttresses and tower parapet in 15th century. The lancet windows are believed to be the longest and narrowest in any English village church. The clerestory (wall above nave) has narrow lancets which alternate between circular windows. This pattern is not found elsewhere outside south-east England.

The present stone church is architecturally significant as it is a virtually complete example of Early English style – the Nave, Chancel and Transepts all from the same period (approximately 1220–1250 AD).

The church was restored in 1870, during which time 2 small objects, thought to be Saxon sundials were rediscovered. One, semi-circular in shape, is now built into the outside of the east porch, the other (fully circular) is inside the porch, in the same wall. A small Sanctus bell and pieces of Norman carved work were also found at this time.

Roundhead soldiers are thought to have stabled their horses in Bottesford church and marks are still on the porch which are said to have been made by soldiers sharpening their weapons.

In the south transept there is a cupboard where the vicar's robes / vestments are kept. He had different colours for the different seasons of the year:

Green – for most of the year
White – for Christmas and celebrations
Red – for Pentecost
Purple – for Advent and Lent

The altar is at the waste end of the church. Behind is are yellow stained glass windows. There used to be more stained glass windows in the church, which are thought to have been taken to Messingham church.

The chapel in the north transept is for small services. The carpet is blue for Mary. The table is nearly 400 years old. The tomb of the Morley family is in the chapel, they lived at Holme Farm. There is a big stone font near the front porch, it is about 600 years old.

In 1965 the area around the church was grassed and many of the gravestones were removed.

Ray Nimmo
North Lincolnshire
June, 2001

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