Coningsby

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the novel by Benjamin Disraeli, see Coningsby (novel).

Map sources for Coningsby at grid reference TF2258

Coningsby is a charming village in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Taking its name from the Norse for 'king's town, it lies 13 km (8 miles) south of Horncastle on the A153 Horncastle to Sleaford road, with the Lincolnshire Wolds on one side and the Fens on the other. At its western end it adjoins with the village of Tattershall .

It is overseen by the impressive tower of its 15th century parish church, ‘St Michael's’ with its unique one-handed clock face. Thought to be the only one in the country and the largest in the world, the face is painted directly onto the wall of the tower and was probably installed in the 17th century. It is 5.03 m in diameter and its hand is nearly 2.75 m long. The driving weights are large stones and the pendulum is so long that it swings only once every two seconds. The pendulum is not actually attached to the clock; it is some distance away, linked by a long connecting rod. There are only three wheels in the timekeeping mechanism but it keeps excellent time and needs winding once a day. The tower, on which the clock face is painted, is quite unusual in that it is on the outside of the building. There is an arched passage under the tower, which is part of a public footpath through the churchyard.

1 km (½ mile) to the south of the village lies RAF Coningsby one of the RAF’s most important air bases and home of No. 3 Squadron, No. XVII Squadron and No. 29 Squadron. It is also home to an important feature of Britain’s heritage, for it is here that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, formed in 1957 to commemorate the Royal Air Force's major battle honour is based; a Lancaster, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and a Dakota. These aircraft are no museum pieces as they are still flying and can be seen at a variety of air-shows in the summer months.