Wold Newton Churches Festival 2022

Lincolnshire Churches Festival Ride Sunday 11th September 2022

With the Festival having been given the blessing to go ahead by the Archbishop of Canterbury following the passing of Queen Elisabeth II, all was set for a ride to Wold Newton to visit All Saints Church. The good folk at the Village Hall were also to provide their legendary tea, coffee and cake (lots of cake).

Meeting up at Louth’s Leisure Centre were Ride Leader Tim Newbery, John Ambler, John Rickett, Paul Linder and Alan Hockham. Chris and Ying Owen had indicated that they would meet up with us at Wold Newton during their walk.

Weather was almost perfect for the ride; dry and warm with largely clear skies and light winds.

Following a minutes silence, heading north bound we passed through Utterby and North Ormsby. Tim had missed Reg Bagshaw’s joining details but we were all to gather together at Wold Newton Village Hall by around 11 am. Chris and Ying who were already in residence gave us a warm welcome.

Although Frances Kelly was not on cake detail today, she had promised that Jane, Ange, Sarah et al would look after us and indeed they did. Supplies of tea and coffee and a huge selection of their legendary cakes were on offer. Super effort from the team.

Time still for a walk up the hill to visit All Saint’s Church (Reg reminded Tim that he doesn’t ‘do walking’) but we never the less enjoyed a short visit. Set on the hillside to the north of what is now the main village and invisible to the passing tourist, the current High Victorian building is at least the third incarnation of the original, some say there have been a series of five churches here dating to pre-1200.

The reason why the church is now set so far from the village centre is that originally a higher ‘main road’ passed right by the church gates, indeed this was the former ‘Grimsby to Wold Newton Turnpike’. As this route fell into disuse (some say on purpose by locals to avoid paying the toll), the village ‘slid downhill’ away from the church with a lower track becoming the main road.

Interestingly, just along the road from Wold Newton is a cast iron milestone (the sole survivor of posts laid every mile along the route to Grimsby) which indicates that the distance to Wold Newton was 2 furlongs and to Louth 9 miles. Erected in 1826 by the Great Grimsby Haven to Irby Turnpike Trust, the turnpike act itself dates all the way back to 1765.

The Wold Newton turnpike with a toll gate at Brigsley was the only turnpike out of Grimsby and served as an improved means of transporting grain from the Wolds down along the seasonal quagmires of the marshes to the port at Grimsby.

Before leaving Wold Newton we were delighted to meet up with Jason Bartup and had a quick chat. We admired his new Giant Defy with electronic gear shifting. Very sleek.

With warm sunshine continuing, a short section now through the attractive Wolds lanes to East Ravendale and then downhill all the way, passing the old toll house in Brigsley (the former ice cream shop) and onto Waltham for lunch.

John Rickett needed to return home for afternoon engagements whilst the remainder enjoyed refreshments at the Blue Dragonfly Tea Rooms with John Ambler ordering a fine looking bacon and chicken bun.

At the junction with Sea Lane, opposite Saint Nicholas’ Church North Cotes, members were asked who wanted to visit the airfield for the Autumn Fly-in. It took a little persuasion for John Ambler to make the decision unanimous but we would all head off for the festivities in good spirits.

The airfield was busy with many light aircraft taking off and landing. Busier than perhaps when we visited in the Summer. We also discovered that flights were being offered in a microlight, ‘The motorcycle of the skies’ as it was advertised. John Ambler leapt at the chance and booked his slot. There was an opportunity for all of us to partake but we left the accolade to John. Congratulations as it looked a little windy.

Finally, time for Tim to buy tombola tickets from the RAFA (Mablethorpe and Sutton Branch) which ended up with the RAFA ‘Belles’ Alison and Jean presenting our Ride Leader with a large selection of whisky enriched marmalade.

The last leg of the route back to Louth went without mishap, the summer like weather persisting. 68 km (42 miles) covered, with Paul clocking over 100 km on return to Alford. Thanks to all for a fine day out.