Washingborough


Washingborough is a large village east from Lincoln city centre, in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The population at the census 2001 was 3,356, increasing to 3,482 at the 2011 census. It is situated on the lower slopes of Lincoln Cliff limestone escarpment where the River Witham breaks through the Lincoln Edge.

Geography

Washingborough is the point on the River Witham at which the Lincolnshire Fens begin. The Fens were first drained by the Romans and the Roman Car Dyke ran from Washingborough to the River Nene, near Peterborough.

History

There is a war memorial to the men of Heighington and Washingborough in the church.
A dig involving Channel 4's archaeological television programme Time Team, on a site adjacent to the modern canalised course of the River Witham, found evidence of an important late Iron Age settlement of around 1000 BC. At this time the river was tidal and the evidence suggests a trading and metal working centre with trading connections to northern Europe. Copper ore and ingots were found as well as evidence of smelting in crucibles. The settlement may have lost importance as water levels rose and the site became unsuitable. Much of the settlement site was destroyed when the river was canalised in the 18th century as part of the effort to drain the Fens.
The parish is dedicated to St John the Evangelist. St John's Church has a Norman tower, and inside the church is a Norman font. Church windows depict a Zeppelin raid on the village in 1916. An Iron Age shield was discovered near here in 1826. It is called the Witham Shield and is now in the British Museum.

Amenities

The village has two public houses, the Ferryboat on High Street and the Hunters Leap on Oak Hill, a Chinese and an Indian takeaway, a pizza house, fish and chip shop, supermarket and post office with chemists.
The Powell hut is the home of scouting and guiding in the village.
The Peterborough to Lincoln Line passes through the south-west corner of the village.

Education

Washingborough Academy is the village primary school. The school gained a good rating in their Ofsted reports in 2017, 2012 and 2009 inspection.

Twin village