Garthorpe, North Lincolnshire

Garthorpe is a village located in the Isle of Axholme, in North Lincolnshire, England. Together with Fockerby, which is contiguous with the village, Garthorpe forms a civil parish of about 500 inhabitants.

History

Before the Dutch drainage pioneer Cornelius Vermuyden re-routed the River Don in his drainage of the area, Garthorpe lay on the east bank of the River Don in Lincolnshire while Fockerby lay in Yorkshire.

Until the opening of the Keadby Road and rail bridge in 1917, there existed a boat ferry from the east end of the village along Shore Road to Burton upon Stather across the River Trent.

Up to 1933 there was a train service to Fockerby Halt from Goole and Haxey, this line being closed to freight in 1965. Much of the local produce being shipped was potatoes and tulips out of the village with coal was ferried in.

Garthorpe is barely above sea level - and is about 1 mile from the tidal river Trent protected by large levees. Positioned midway between Goole and Scunthorpe, transport to and from must be via car. A local bus service is available.

The former primary school closed in the mid 1970s necessitating a council funded bus service to the Luddington and Garthorpe infants and primary school in Luddington 2 miles south of the Village. The catchment area's secondary school being North Axholme Comprehensive, 7 miles away.

At present there is no shop and a local pub called the Bay Horse. The Methodist Chapel closed at the end of 2010, and the local church is under threat also. The village also had another pub called the 'Plough Inn' which closed in 1918. In the late part of the 19th century, there was known to be a sign over both the front door showing "The Plough Inn", and one on the back door showing "The Sun Inn". Another drinking establishment which was associated with the village was called "The Webbs Hotel". Previous to this in 1887 this establishment was called the "Sheffield Arms". This was situated adjacent to the River Trent where the ferry crosses to Burton upon Stather.

During the 18th century, the local area was frequented by two notable highwaymen. Ned Mandrell was the earliest, and was said to have been a ruthless villain who was scared by none. It is thought that he was captured and hung and his remains buried at the southern end of Carr Lane, where the grass triangle is situated. The other was Snowden Dunhill, who lived much of his life in the village of Spaldington near Howden. His main hiding area was a place called Cow Lane, a local common pasture which everybody crossed as means as a short cut between the villages. After he was finally captured and sentensed at York Assizes, he was bundled onto a boat, destination Tasmania, Australia. When he had spent his time of hard labour and was due to be released, he died and never returned to be with the family who was waiting for him.

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Garthorpe,_North_Lincolnshire Garthorpe, North Lincolnshire] at Wikimedia Commons

• Isle of Axholme Family History Society
• Isle of Axholme website