Blankney

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Blankney is a village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, with a population of 239 according to the 2001 census. The village is about 16 km (10 miles) south of Lincoln and 16 km north of Sleaford.

It is a small, attractive, stone built "estate" village, built around the great estate of Blankney Hall, which has existed since the time of William the Conqueror when it belonged to the Deincourt family.

In the 15th century the estate passed through marriage to the Lovels of Titchmarsh. After the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487, all the estates of the Lovels were confiscated by Henry VII for the crown and Blankney Estate was then bought by the Thorolds. It was the Thorolds who did much to embellish the house with the fine carved panelling of the period.

During in the reign of Charles I, again through marriage it passed into the hands of Sir William Widdrington who was created Baron Widdrington of Blankney in 1643. Lord Widdrington's great grandson had the indiscretion to take part in the rebellion of 1715. He was captured at Preston, convicted of high treason and his lands were confiscated in the following year.

In 1719 Thomas Chaplin, a prominent Lincolnshire landowner purchased the land from the Crown Commissioners for Confiscated Land, and it was to remain in the family for over two centuries. The estate owes its appearance largely to the influence of the Chaplins and their care of the land. The last Chaplin, Henry, led an extravagant lifestyle and had political ambitions, this lifestyle coupled to the falling revenues from farms led him ever into debt until finally in 1892, the estate passed to the principal mortgagee Charles Denison, 1st Earl of Londesborough.

At the start of the Second World War the Hall was requisitioned for use as billets for servicemen from nearby RAF stations. During 1945 it was badly damaged by fire and was then left as an empty shell before being demolished in the 1960s, all that remains today are the dilapidated remnants of the former stable block.

Unusually, the Hall was not built within its park, the park being on the opposite side of the village’s main road. Although part of this once magnificent park has been lost to arable farming much of it remains as a golf course. The course was first laid out over 9 holes in 1902 by the 2nd Earl of Londesborough, in all probability at this stage for the use of himself and his guests, but in 1904 Blankney Golf Club was formed to manage the course which it continues to do today. In 1938 it was decided to extend the course to 18 holes and this extended course came into play at the start of the 1940 season.

Blankney Cricket Club was originally formed in 1873 playing on a site in the centre of the village; it continued to flourish into the 20th century under the patronage of Lord Londesborough who used to watch the matches from the north wing of Blankney Hall. However, after the end of the Second World War in 1945 the club went into decline and closed a few years later. In 1988 the Cricket Club was re-formed on the same site, the ground was developed, and a new clubhouse was built, opening in 1991.

The Old Coach-Road was constructed from the Hall to Metheringham railway station (then called Blankney and Metheringham Station) 2 km (1 mile) away, at the turn of the last century by Lord Londesborough. It was run through woodland both existing and newly planted and where it crossed the Blankney to Martin road, a bridge with high parapets was built to take the road over the coach-road. It was probably constructed to allow the Earl’s visitors, in particular the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) who used the Hall as a discreet retreat for his amorous adventures, to arrive and depart without being seen by the local populace. This coach-road still exists and although private can be used for a pleasant walk by a concession from the landowner.

At the south end of the village tucked away in a quiet corner, casting a watchful eye over the village is the Parish Church dedicated to St. Oswald. The church which was restored twice during the 19th century has a curious tomb-slab to John de Glori with a bearded head looking out of a cusped opening and a beautiful sculpture by Joseph Boehm of Lady Florence Chaplin.

To travellers, the sight of the picturesque limestone houses grouped around the cricket ground with the church tower in the background gives Blankney the quintessential essence of the English country village.