Heritage and Village History

South Luffenham has a rich and diverse heritage, from Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings to recognised archaeological finds and landscapes. There are a number of resources you might want to have a look at the first being is the Historic Environment Record (HER).

It is an important starting point for anyone interested in the archaeology, built heritage, and history of an area. They can provide information on a wide variety of buildings and sites, from finds of prehistoric flint tools to medieval castles and Second World War pillboxes.

Personal Notes of the Village History – By Pat Bellamy

Boot & Shoe Pub – the name came from the shoe making business thatwas originally there in the mid- 19th century, there was also a post office and cottage on site until it was converted into part public house and bakehouse, residents brought their Sunday roasts to be cooked in the oven.

Across the road was a general store, and below that was the pump for the spring that served the heart of the village. Still going strong but covered over now.

The original school for the village was in the “school house” once the new school was built the old school became the headmasters house.

Sapcote cottages – were originally reading rooms, then they became Alms houses mainly for the older residents of the village. Monies from the rents were distributed once a year to the poor of the village in the church Porch. The cottages are still Alms houses but any monies now go to the upkeep of the three properties. Although the aim of the charity is still to offer low cost rentals to residents/their relatives or any one who has a connection to the Parish.

The Church – Rumour has it that there is a tunnel that leads from the church to the Fosse. lt has never been found, but it is documented that the North sea used to come up as far as Uffington (near Stamford) and the river Chater and its tributary had boats that used to come up as far as a quay situated below the church. When the watermill was constructed down by the Station the water backed up in the race to provide power for the mill but it silted up the Chater and the Fosse so no boats could get through. The Chater was said to be six foot deep at Washdyke (field where cattle and sheep fleeces were washed)

The Watermill was owned by Molesworth, the miller was also the publican for the Railway Hotel (closed in 1930) built when the station was built. There was also another mill (Linecross Plastics) which was owned by the Ryvita company.

The derelict windmill in the field was built in 1832, but in 1895 there was a great storm which blew the sails and top off.

Great fires of Luffenham – There have been two major fires thefirst in 1874 when a six year old was playing with matches which spread from The Square across to Pinfold Lane and in 1913 when a spark from a Football Special set alight a thatched cottage and then destroyed 2 farms, a butchers shop, 5 cottages and 2 straw stacks.

Railway – There were 13 trains a day on the old Stamford to Seaton line. The trains were affectionately known as Wessy, Push & Pull and Puff & Dart.

The Common – 14th century to 1882 One night as the fog came down an elderly lady walking from Tixover to Luffenham heard the church bells tolling which guided her back home. ln gratitude she donated a plot of land to the village and the income from it paid for the sexton to ring the bells from 8am to 8pm daily from October to March. The field (opposite The Coach House lnn) became known as Bellfield, other names given to it were Bellringers Field and Feast Field.

The Coach House lnn was known as The Halfway House as it is halfway between Birmingham and Norwich via Leicester, South

Luffenham and Stamford. Ostler’s Cottage was part of the inn with stabling for the coach horses.

ln 1882 the Earl of Ancaster gave the village the Recreation Ground and Allotment Land in exchange for The Common as part of the Enclosure Act 1920 Golf Course built. Cannonball Lane (Bridleway Luffenham to Morcott) Cromwell’s men set up cannons in the spinney to fire on North Luffenham.

Shocky Balke – Led up from the top of Pinfold Lane (where the Penfold was built for drovers to shelter there animals overnight on the way to market) to The Common after which it became knownas Hangman’s Lane as it went up to where the gallows were situated. (Close to telephone towers) The Common stretched from Barrowden Lane to Fosters Bridge. Fosters Bridge is named after man who hung himself there.

ln 1793 a tribe of gypsies and their King was camping in the fields known as The Follies, his daughter Rose at just 17 years of age was dying of consumption and was too ill to travel so they stayed there a further two months. When she died the churchwardens of the parish would not let her be buried in the churchyard because she was not a Christian. The Rev. Bateman over-ruled his parishioners and she was buried in the south aisle of the church befitting her status as a Princess. A few weeks later a slab of marble arrived from London and placed over her remains. The slab is still faintly discernible in the Church today.

Morcott Road – A red brick barn was built and was used as dance hall in Victorian Times between the villagers of Morcott and Luffenham.

Adam & Eve Barn, The Street – the barn had a stone set in the wall above where grain was hoisted up. On the stone is a depiction of Adam & Eve which is thought to mean fertility and good times for Harvest. When the barn was sold one of theconditions was the stone had to remain with the building.