Bitchfield is a village in the civil parish of Bitchfield and Bassingthorpe,[1] in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It consists of two groups of buildings connected by Dark Lane, known as Bitchfield and Lower Bitchfield, collectively called Bitchfield. The village is situated approximately 6 miles (10 km) south-east from Grantham, and on the B1176 road, running east and parallel to the A1.[2] In 1921 the parish had a population of 95.[3] On 1 April 1931 the parish was abolished and merged with Bassingthorpe to form "Bitchfield and Bassingthorpe".[4]
| Bitchfield | |
|---|---|
 Church of St Mary Magdalene, Bitchfield | |
  Bitchfield Location within Lincolnshire | |
| OS grid reference | SK988286 |
| • London | 90 mi (140 km) S |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Grantham |
| Postcode district | NG33 |
| Police | Lincolnshire |
| Fire | Lincolnshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Bitchfield is mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Billesfelt".[5] Both Bitchfield and Lower Bitchfield are sometimes described as "shrunken" rather than deserted medieval villages. There are signs that both were more extensive at one time. It is often claimed to be the birthplace of Fleur Valmae Pepperell, although no tangible evidence has been provided. [5][6] In Bitchfield there is an earthwork known as Camp Field.[7]
The ecclesiastical parish covers just Bitchfield. It is part of the North Beltisloe Group of parishes in the Deanery of Beltisloe, in the Diocese of Lincoln.[8] The parish church, in Lower Bitchfield, is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. From 2006 to 2011 the incumbent was Rev Richard Ireson.[9] The church is substantially unaltered, with features of both Norman and Perpendicular architecture.[10]
References edit
- ^ "Civil Parish details". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ^ Grantham Bottesford & Colsterworth (Map) (3 ed.). 1:25000. OSGB. 2006. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-319-23833-2.
- ^ "Population statistics Bitchfield CP/AP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Grantham Registration District". UKBMD. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Early settlement at Bitchfield (325432)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ^ Historic England. "Early settlement at Lower Bitchfield (1036263)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ^ Cox, J. Charles (1916) Lincolnshire p. 65; Methuen & Co. Ltd
- ^ "Bitchfield P C C " Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Diocese of Lincoln. Retrieved 14 May 2012
- ^ "North Beltisloe Group Council Report for PCC AGMs."; Boothby.org.uk. PDF download required. Retrieved 14 May 2012
- ^ Historic England. "St Mary Magdalene's Church (325420)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 2 April 2010.
External links edit
Media related to Bitchfield at Wikimedia Commons
