Beckingham, Nottinghamshire

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Beckingham
Nottinghamshire
All Saints' church - geograph.org.uk - 732085.jpg
All Saints' Church
Location
Grid reference: SK779903
Location: 53°24’14"N, 0°49’45"W
Data
Population: 1,098  (2011)
Post town: Doncaster
Postcode: DN10
Dialling code: 01427
Local Government
Council: Bassetlaw
Parliamentary
constituency:
Bassetlaw

Beckingham is a village in the very north of Nottinghamshire, about three miles west of Gainsborough, across in Lincolnshire. The 2001 census recorded a population of 1,168, reducing to 1,098 at the 2011 Census.

The parish church of All Saints is mostly of the 13th century, though the exterior is apparently 15th century. The west tower has buttresses, battlements, gargoyles and pinnacles. There is a north chancel chapel and sedilia.[1]

Windmill

A tower windmill was built some time prior to 1840 to the north of the village. The tower was straight-sided. In 1841 the mill had two pairs of millstones driven by four common sails, described as 'self-regulating cloth and rollers to the sails'. By 1850 the mill had been fitted with a pair of patent sails, retaining one pair of rollers; these drove 3 pairs of millstones.

When the mill was sold in 1777, the sales particulars said:

To be Sold to the best Bidder; On Thursday the Eleventh Day of September 1777, between the Hours of Five and Seven in the Afternoon, at the Marquis of Granby in Gainsburgh, in the County of Lincoln.

A Well Accustomed Corn WIND MILL, situate at Beckingham in the County of Nottingham, with a Dressing Mill therein and the Ground whereon the same doth stand, with a new erected Brick and Tile Dwelling House, Barn, and Stable to the same belonging and adjoining.

For further Particulars enquire of Leonard Billet the Tenand, who will shew the Premises.[2]
Old Willow Works in Beckingham Marshes

About the village

Beckingham Marshes are an RSPB nature reserve.

In the marshes is a crude oil and gas production field run by IGas Energy. Oil has been extracted from the wells using traditional techniques for decades, without the need for shale fracking, which has been controversial elsewhere.[3]

Outside links

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References

  1. Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire, 1951; 1979 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09636-1page 34
  2. Stamford Mercury 21 August 1777 p.4 col.1
  3. 'Fracking confusion: How UK has been 'fracked' for decades': Caroline Lowbridge on BBC News East Midlands, 22 August 2013