South Kelsey Tourist Information

South Kelsey is a small Lincolnshire village bisected by the B1205 East/West, it lies within the triangle of the market towns of Caistor 5.5 miles, Brigg 8 miles and 9 miles north of Market Rasen which has its own famous race course. The county city of Lincoln is 22 miles away and the Lincolnshire coast about 16 miles east.

The Anglican church of St. Marys was originally built in 1228 and still has parts which date back to the 1250s, it includes 2 brass effigies of Sir Richard Hansard, Sheriff of Lincoln and his wife Joan, who lived in the moated manor house in the village, a tower and parts of the moat still exist.

The manor passed from the Hansard family to the Askew/Ayscough family and probably the most famous occupant of the house and the village would be the Protestant Martyr Anne Ayscough born 1521, she was the only woman and believed to be the last person tortured in the Tower of London, she was burnt as a Heretic at Smithfield on July 16 1546. Some records suggest Sir Isaac Newton may be descended from this branch of the Askew/Ayscough family.

As well as the Church there is a Methodist Chapel, The Black Bull Inn, a Village Hall, a Village playing field and Children's playground also a Children's Nursery and on the Eastern Outskirts of the village a Farm Visitor Centre.

The nearest school (Primary/Junior) is 2 miles away in the neighbouring village of North Kelsey.

The B1205 west out of the village passes the site of Winghale/Wenghale Priory built 1083 on its way to the Hamlet of BrandyWharf where there is a Cider Tavern and Camp/Caravan Site and a bridge over the Ancholme navigation canal.

The northbound part of the canal connects with the Caistor Canal 4 miles long, constructed in 1800 and abandoned in 1936, the canal runs from the Ancholme through 5 locks and the Village of South Kelsey, it never made it to Caistor terminating at the village of Moortown which is part of South Kelsey Parish.

Nearest M/Way M180 starts at Barnetby approx 6 miles away, connects A180 West to Grimsby, A15 North to the Humber Bridge, Hull and the Humber Ports. M180 west connects M181 Scunthorpe and M18 which connects into M62.A1,M1.

Nearest Airport is Humberside International approx 2 miles from M180 Barnetby at Melton Ross

Description by John Lacey