Moulton, Lincolnshire

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Moulton is the primary village of an extensive Fenland parish, over 16 miles in length, and encompassing the smaller hamlets/villages of Moulton Chapel, Moulton Seas End and Moulton Eaugate.

Situated between Spalding and Holbeach, Moulton has many characteristics associated with English villages. Its main foci are the All Saints' church, known as "The Queen of the Fens", and Moulton Windmill, the tallest tower mill in the United Kingdom.

All Saints' Church was built in about 1180, instigated by Prior John of Spalding. It took approximately 60 to 70 years to build, and was heavily restored from 1866 to 1867 by William Smith. The church has a particularly wonderful rood screen, dating from around 1425. There is an intriguing headstone in the floor of the church, which is that of Prudence Corby, who apparently died on "July 36 1793". No explanation has been offered for its existence.

Moulton windmill, built in 1822 by Robert King, was a fully functioning mill, grinding wheat and other products. However, on December 20, 1894, the sails were damaged in a harsh gale and were removed in 1895. Soon afterwards, a steam system was installed to power the mill. A.W. Tindall leased it from the King family from 1890 until 1921. The Biggadike family, who took over tenancy of the mill in 1924 continued to mill, albeit small quantities of animal feed, until 1995.

A local campaign was established to restore the Grade I listed mill to full working condition. After the mill featured on the first series of BBC2's Restoration the project won a large Heritage Lottery Fund grant, which, along with many charity fundraising events has meant that the "Friends of Moulton Mill" campaign has succeeded in raising enough money to restore and refurbish the mill's structure and add a new cap. The white ogee cap is visible for miles around the Fenland landscape. A café and shop has also been built, and the mill has disabled access, allowing disabled visitors to see some of the mill's inner workings. The Friends of Moulton Mill are hoping to soon raise enough money to fit the sails, and have encouraged local people to "sponsor" a sail shutter. In March 2007, the mill ground flour again.

Moulton once had a castle, but now nothing more is visible above ground except a small mound of earth.

John Harrox founded a grammar school in Moulton in 1562, which closed in 1939 when the pupils transferred to Spalding. The school buildings still exist but are now private residences. The John Harrox Primary School commemorates his endowment as does the name of the sports club, Moulton Harrox.

There are many fine buildings reminiscent of the town-house style. Moulton also had a railway station, situated between Spalding and Holbeach, but this is no longer in service. The station buildings remain but are now private residences, but some of the old platform structures still exist.

During the 1970s a private astronomical observatory was located in the village and for a time the observatory dome became something of a local landmark. The observatory and its telescope were relocated to Sussex in the early 1980s.

Located nearby, just off the A151, is the Elloe Stone, believed to mark the site of the moot of the Elloe wapentake in Danish times.

On July 28, 2005, a mini-tornado swept through the village, damaging the church roof and some other properties in the vicinity, depositing glass tens of metres away. The tornado is believed to be the first known local occurrence of such a meteorological phenomenon.

[edit] References

Kaye, David (1995). Lincolnshire, A Shire County Guide. Shire Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-7478-0271-8.
Elsden, Michael J. (2000). Aspects of Spalding Villages. Bookmark, The Crescent, Spalding. ISBN 0-9539582-0-5.