Continuing on from the previous report i documented as much as was possible during the remainder of the day. The day was such a joy for me. New environment and a variety of pillbox that is ten to the dozen up in this area but not something i had had the pleasure of seeing first hand. Outside of the small villages the area is just one huge flat expanse of land which is either marshland or farmland. It was great being in The Wash as there was the faint tang of salt in the air and it was just the right kind of mix - that of a slight refreshing wind, moody sky and the sun. Great for photographic purposes.
The company i picked up along the way was not too bad either. We should have settled the day in a pub though! Next time.
St James’ Church
Standing within or on the outside of this magnificent stone church we cannot fail to be impressed by its size, a great nave and tower supporting aisles to the north and south. Yet architecturally something is odd about the eastern end. Inside, above the altar, soars a great pointed arch carved with Norman decoration inviting the eye and the person to pass through. Yet it is infilled. Outside the clues are even stronger for at the eastern end ‘interior’ pillars of Norman style can be seen, partly supporting the arch just described, but obviously built to support arches stretching further each into the present field. The church was indeed far larger with transepts and presbytery to the east; all build in the Norman style that characterises much of the present lower nave - six pairs of mostly simple round arches supported by stubby circular piers and plain square capitals.
Who was responsible for building this large Norman church which probably was complete by 1200? The answer lies in the generosity of Alan de Croun, the son of a Norman baron Guy who came over with William the Conqueror. For his services Guy was regarded with a large number of ‘town-ships’ in Lincolnshire among which were Freiston, Butterwick and Fishtoft. It was his son however, that was responsible for offering the churches to the Abbot of Croyland (Crowland) for the purpose of establishing a cell of the monks. Freiston was chosen and a priory built in 1114 together with a Priory Church, all in the Norman style. The imitation Norman doorway in the south east corner probably connected the church to cloisters and the priory buildings, now all long gone, although the name persists in the 17th century building to the south.
To be given to such an influential Lord such as Guy de Croun would suggest that Freiston and its neighbours had already, before the Norman invasion, established themselves as thriving townships despite their watery locations. The place name endings of -ton, -toft, and -wick indicate Anglo-Saxon foundations with strong Danish connections. Perhaps a thousand years ago in the late Saxon period, the family ‘Freis?’ settled on this low, wet ‘island’ site, surrounded by salt marshes as the sea retreated from its higher level of the previous few hundred years. Their success in colonising these ‘new lands’ is recorded in the Doomsday book where there is ample evidence of a flourishing economy supporting a large population with more than the normal number of ‘sokeman’ or ‘freemen’. This independence of spirit and initiative had a demonstratable effect on the parish throughout the succeeding medieval period.
The company i picked up along the way was not too bad either. We should have settled the day in a pub though! Next time.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0002037
1/4 mile East of Freiston. Standard type 22 pillbox. Built using wood shuttering. Has been rendered to break up profile. Sat on the churchyard (roadside and to the rear corner of the graveyard). When eventually climbing through the stack of wood and nettles the three of us were challenged by the neighbourhood watch. Concerned we were out to look at nicking the slate from the church, eventually the lady settled down enough to show us the rear of the church and what she thought was another pillbox.St James’ Church
Standing within or on the outside of this magnificent stone church we cannot fail to be impressed by its size, a great nave and tower supporting aisles to the north and south. Yet architecturally something is odd about the eastern end. Inside, above the altar, soars a great pointed arch carved with Norman decoration inviting the eye and the person to pass through. Yet it is infilled. Outside the clues are even stronger for at the eastern end ‘interior’ pillars of Norman style can be seen, partly supporting the arch just described, but obviously built to support arches stretching further each into the present field. The church was indeed far larger with transepts and presbytery to the east; all build in the Norman style that characterises much of the present lower nave - six pairs of mostly simple round arches supported by stubby circular piers and plain square capitals.
Who was responsible for building this large Norman church which probably was complete by 1200? The answer lies in the generosity of Alan de Croun, the son of a Norman baron Guy who came over with William the Conqueror. For his services Guy was regarded with a large number of ‘town-ships’ in Lincolnshire among which were Freiston, Butterwick and Fishtoft. It was his son however, that was responsible for offering the churches to the Abbot of Croyland (Crowland) for the purpose of establishing a cell of the monks. Freiston was chosen and a priory built in 1114 together with a Priory Church, all in the Norman style. The imitation Norman doorway in the south east corner probably connected the church to cloisters and the priory buildings, now all long gone, although the name persists in the 17th century building to the south.
To be given to such an influential Lord such as Guy de Croun would suggest that Freiston and its neighbours had already, before the Norman invasion, established themselves as thriving townships despite their watery locations. The place name endings of -ton, -toft, and -wick indicate Anglo-Saxon foundations with strong Danish connections. Perhaps a thousand years ago in the late Saxon period, the family ‘Freis?’ settled on this low, wet ‘island’ site, surrounded by salt marshes as the sea retreated from its higher level of the previous few hundred years. Their success in colonising these ‘new lands’ is recorded in the Doomsday book where there is ample evidence of a flourishing economy supporting a large population with more than the normal number of ‘sokeman’ or ‘freemen’. This independence of spirit and initiative had a demonstratable effect on the parish throughout the succeeding medieval period.
Possibly the correct vintage but not a pillbox.
Heading back out to The Wash and out on the high bank. One i had missed out on earlier.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0005166
East of Bennington Sea End, near Butterwick and facing east.
The are a total of 37 removed pillboxes along this line of defences heading up to the next coastal battery. Understandable when you realise the vulnerability of this coastal area.
PILLBOX (LINCOLNSHIRE 3 BAY): S0002039
Freiston Bridge. Type 23 pillbox, rectangular structure, appears to be two square pillboxes joined together by a raised platform. The whole structure is about 24ft in length and 8ft wide. The walls are approx. 16 - 18in thick. Each of the end chambers has 3 embrasures. Internally below each embrasure is a shelf. The ceiling still retains some of its wood shuttering. Between the two end chambers is an open chamber, the floor level of which has been raised some 2 - 3ft above the ground. In the centre of the open chamber is a concrete post 6in square at the base. In the top of the post is a metal pipe about 3 or 4in in diameter. The entrance is narrow and set centrally in the wall. Behind this is a concrete stand stopping at the raised platform in front. Standard 3 bay anti-aircraft pillbox. Built using wood shuttering. Has been rendered to break up profile.
On the other side of the bridge - another Type 23.
PILLBOX (LINCOLNSHIRE 3 BAY): S0002038
The faded cammo paint is pretty evident here.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/26): S0002051
West side of Cowbridge Drain at Halton End Bridge, 1.5 mile east of Boston.
Standard type 26 pillbox, built using wood shuttering, pebble-dashed to aid concealment.
It's there honest!
PILLBOX (LINCOLNSHIRE 3 BAY): S0002052
West side of Cowbridge Drain at Halton End Bridge, 1.5 miles east of Boston.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0002057
Fishtoft bridge, West bank of the Hobhole Drain. Standard type 22 pillbox. built using wood shuttering, some wood remains on the inside of the roof. Pebble dashed to aid concealment.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/23): S0006926
Single Bay Type 23. Boston Docks.
What is classed as a WW2 Aircraft Post.
Back out early the next day to capture the remaining pillbox.
PILLBOX (LINCOLNSHIRE 3 BAY): S0005171
On the West side of sea bank, Butterwick.
That ends the coverage on two days out in Lincolnshire. With better preparation i wouldn't have has to rush into a shop to buy and area map and attempt to locate the pillboxes within the area covered. As a result of this situation my battery on the laptop died before i managed to map most of the pillboxes so the coverage was erratic to say the least. There are many i missed in the area and the defensive structures put into place were extensive. I shall get up into this area again. Lovely area for a stroll!
I hope you enjoyed the report.
No comments:
Post a Comment