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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
This place has a long history – here is an abridged version based on the church’s Wikipedia entry:
St Botolph's Church is a Grade I listed Anglican church near the village of Skidbrooke in Lincolnshire. Currently under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), it stands in an isolated position in the Lincolnshire marshlands, about 7 miles north-east of the market town of Louth. It dates from the early 13th century, although it has been subject to frequent alterations and additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, in 1854 and 1871, and during the 20th century. It was declared ‘redundant’ for the purposes of Christian worship in November 1973.
It is constructed of limestone and brick with a slate roof and stone coped gables. Brick is used on the parapets of the aisle, the east gable of the nave, and on the eaves of the clerestory. Its plan is fairly standard and consists of a nave with a clerestory and north and south aisles, a south porch, a chancel and a west tower. The tower is supported by stepped angle buttresses and it has a west doorway with a pointed arch. The parapet is battlemented, with gargoyles and plain pinnacles on the corners.
Internally, it has four-bay arcades with octagonal piers on tall, octagonal plinths that date from the early 13th century. The capitals of the north arcade are plain while three of the four capitals in the south arcade are carved with a variety of motifs. In the north wall of the chancel is an aumbry (a small recess or cupboard), and in the south wall are a piscina (stone basin) and a damaged sedilia (a group of stone seats). On each side of the east window is a large grotesque corbel painted white. In the chancel floor is the gravestone of a vicar of the church who died in 1413, and in the nave floor are two further gravestones which date from the 18th century.
Archive picture from 1964 (note stained glass windows in tact):
Old St Botolphs by HughieDW, on Flickr
There have been reports of ghosts and unexplained paranormal activity, and of activity by Satanists, in the church which have led some people to refer to it as “the most haunted church in the UK”. Due to its remote location it has also been subject to a number of acts of wanton vandalism by people with IQs barely reaching double figures.
2. The Explore
Pushing it to call this an explore to be honest. This beautiful church is some way between a ruin and a heritage site. Let’s call it a ‘managed’ ruin. So no access issues like many of the ruined Norfolk churches. That said, this place is quite off-the-beaten-track but well worth the effort. There’s sporadic reports on the site of this place. After a long day and trip to the Lincolnshire cost and the light fading, I thought I’d pay this place a visit given it was only a ten-mile detour. No ghost sightings. Just a two-man team managing the grass in the grave-yard. Nice way to pass half an hour or so. Explored with non-forum member @LeonExo
3. The Pictures
A few externals to start with. The west doorway and pointed arch of the West Tower:
img7780 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7777 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The south porch:
img7782 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Grave yard on the south side:
img7781 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But it’s all about the inside really. The window in the chancel to the east:
img7744 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7761 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Gravestone of a vicar of the church who died in 1413:
img7773 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Unidentified gravestones in the nave floor:
img7775 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of the three carved capitals in the south arcade:
img7774 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Internal shot looking west:
img7770 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This stained-glass window in the West Tower has seen better days:
img7745 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Crest or shield on the chancel wall:
img7767 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And the tiled floor:
img7766 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of the two large grotesque corbels:
img7762 by HughieDW, on Flickr
General view looking east:
img7759 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The North Arcade:
img7747 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And one with the roof detail:
img7756 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And a final, sad picture to end with. Rest in Peace (RIP) little birdie:
img7751 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This place has a long history – here is an abridged version based on the church’s Wikipedia entry:
St Botolph's Church is a Grade I listed Anglican church near the village of Skidbrooke in Lincolnshire. Currently under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), it stands in an isolated position in the Lincolnshire marshlands, about 7 miles north-east of the market town of Louth. It dates from the early 13th century, although it has been subject to frequent alterations and additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, in 1854 and 1871, and during the 20th century. It was declared ‘redundant’ for the purposes of Christian worship in November 1973.
It is constructed of limestone and brick with a slate roof and stone coped gables. Brick is used on the parapets of the aisle, the east gable of the nave, and on the eaves of the clerestory. Its plan is fairly standard and consists of a nave with a clerestory and north and south aisles, a south porch, a chancel and a west tower. The tower is supported by stepped angle buttresses and it has a west doorway with a pointed arch. The parapet is battlemented, with gargoyles and plain pinnacles on the corners.
Internally, it has four-bay arcades with octagonal piers on tall, octagonal plinths that date from the early 13th century. The capitals of the north arcade are plain while three of the four capitals in the south arcade are carved with a variety of motifs. In the north wall of the chancel is an aumbry (a small recess or cupboard), and in the south wall are a piscina (stone basin) and a damaged sedilia (a group of stone seats). On each side of the east window is a large grotesque corbel painted white. In the chancel floor is the gravestone of a vicar of the church who died in 1413, and in the nave floor are two further gravestones which date from the 18th century.
Archive picture from 1964 (note stained glass windows in tact):
Old St Botolphs by HughieDW, on Flickr
There have been reports of ghosts and unexplained paranormal activity, and of activity by Satanists, in the church which have led some people to refer to it as “the most haunted church in the UK”. Due to its remote location it has also been subject to a number of acts of wanton vandalism by people with IQs barely reaching double figures.
2. The Explore
Pushing it to call this an explore to be honest. This beautiful church is some way between a ruin and a heritage site. Let’s call it a ‘managed’ ruin. So no access issues like many of the ruined Norfolk churches. That said, this place is quite off-the-beaten-track but well worth the effort. There’s sporadic reports on the site of this place. After a long day and trip to the Lincolnshire cost and the light fading, I thought I’d pay this place a visit given it was only a ten-mile detour. No ghost sightings. Just a two-man team managing the grass in the grave-yard. Nice way to pass half an hour or so. Explored with non-forum member @LeonExo
3. The Pictures
A few externals to start with. The west doorway and pointed arch of the West Tower:
img7780 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7777 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The south porch:
img7782 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Grave yard on the south side:
img7781 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But it’s all about the inside really. The window in the chancel to the east:
img7744 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7761 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Gravestone of a vicar of the church who died in 1413:
img7773 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Unidentified gravestones in the nave floor:
img7775 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of the three carved capitals in the south arcade:
img7774 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Internal shot looking west:
img7770 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This stained-glass window in the West Tower has seen better days:
img7745 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Crest or shield on the chancel wall:
img7767 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And the tiled floor:
img7766 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of the two large grotesque corbels:
img7762 by HughieDW, on Flickr
General view looking east:
img7759 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The North Arcade:
img7747 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And one with the roof detail:
img7756 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And a final, sad picture to end with. Rest in Peace (RIP) little birdie:
img7751 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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