| Barkston | |
The spire of Barkston church |
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Barkston
Barkston shown within Lincolnshire |
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| Population | 497 (2001 census)[1] |
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| OS grid reference | SK930415 |
| Parish | Barkston |
| District | South Kesteven |
| Shire county | Lincolnshire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWARK |
| Postcode district | NG23 2xx |
| Dialling code | 01400 25xxxx |
| Police | Lincolnshire |
| Fire | Lincolnshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Sleaford and North Hykeham |
| List of places: UK • England • Lincolnshire | |
Barkston is a small village and civil parish[2] lying on the A607 three miles north of Grantham in Lincolnshire, England, just south of the junction with the A153 (for Ancaster).
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The present route of the A607 through the village dates from the 1930s. The River Witham passes through the west of the village. At the 2001 census, 100% of the population was white, and 87% declared themselves as Christian. 20% of the population are retired.
To the east on top of the Jurassic limestone escarpment is RAF Barkston Heath, next to the course of the Roman Road Ermine Street.
The parish boundary crosses the A607 at the northern end of the Syston bypass. It follows to the south of Station Road, crossing the River Witham, crossing the northern side of Hambleton Hill, crossing the East Coast Main Line at Shire House, to the west. North of this point are the Barkston South and Barkston East railway junctions, situated either side of Westfield Farm, and now no longer needed since 2004. The boundary follows along the northern edge of Hurn Wood, where it meets Marston. Northwards, it crosses the Grantham Avoiding Line at the Sand Lane bridge. It crosses the ECML, follows the Viking Way eastwards and meets Hougham, and the River Witham, south of Frinkley Plantation. At Far Hill, the boundary leaves the Viking Way, passing northwards through Old Gorse Wood, to the west of the former Barkston Gorse Farm, crossing Frinkley Lane. Eastwards, it briefly meets Carlton Scroop, and at the top of a hill it meets Honington at Spellar Wood, passing along the southern edge. Passing south-west, it crosses Frinkley Lane, also the Viking Way, crosses Hough Road along the southern edge of Grove Plantations, and the Grantham-Sleaford railway line (Poacher Line). It crosses the A607 at the A153 junction, passes through Minnetts Wood, north of Heath Farm, over the top of Honington Heath, meeting Ancaster, and straight across the middle of RAF Barkston Heath.
At Ermine Street (B6403 road) it meets Wilsford and North Kesteven, and is briefly the South Kesteven boundary. At the southern edge of Barkston Heath airfield, it follows Heath Lane westwards, and meets Syston. It follows Heath Lane, at this point a track, along Barkston Heath, passing through Minnett's Wood along Minnett's Hill.
The Ecclesiastical parish of Barkston is part of the Barkston and Hough Group of the Deanery of Loveden, Diocese of Lincoln. The incumbent is The Revd Stuart Hadley.[3] The parish church is Dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
Although the Chapel has closed, the Methodist Church still holds services, in the village hall.
The parish church of St Nicholas features a Norman window, a 14th Century spire and 15th Century porch.[4]
Built in 1640 and re-built in 1839, Hickson's Almshouses still provide homes for local elderly people.[5]
The village is named in the Domesday book as Barchestune, and the name probably means the farmstead of a man called Barkr
A horse by the name Barkston took part in the 1839 Grand National failing to complete the course.
Barkston railway station was at the junction of the ECML and Sleaford railways, near Barkston South junction.
During World War 2, Arthur Lowe, of Dad's Army, was stationed at Barkston with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, which was tasked with servicing searchlights.[6]
RAF Barkston Heath has in recent years been the base of the Joint Elementary Flying Training School (RAF and Fleet Air Arm) in 1995, and the Army Air Corps joined in 1996, which became the Defence Elementary Flying Training School in 2003 when the RAF left. Now 703 Naval Air Squadron and 674 Squadron Army Air Corps are part of No.1 Elementary Flying Training School. The airfield is also used for the British Model Flying Association national championships. In June 2003, the BBMF moved to Barkston Heath for four months.[7]
The Deserted Medieval Village of Ringsthorpe was located just to the west of Barkston, on the other side of the river Witham. SK927414 Mentioned in the Domesday book, the latest archaeology at the site is from the Medieval period, and the last documentary mention is in the 14th century.[8]
Barkston has a Girl Guides and Brownies troop, a mother-and-toddler group, and an Indoor Bowls team. A produce show is held every summer.
The village public house is The Stag on Church Street.
Barkston has an active cricket club and a local football team that play in the Grantham & District League Premier Division, after finishing third in the 2007–08 season in Division One.
A mobile library calls once a month.