We would suggest as both a starting and finishing point you use the Heritage Room (1) on Chapel Jetty, which was once the Methodist Schoolroom. Inside you will find several albums of old photographs showing how Bassingham once was, and many personalities who lived here. The Room is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm.
From the Heritage Room make your way to the front of this large building, the Wesleyan Methodist Church that was built in 1839. If you wish to look inside, see a list of key holders on the notice board.
Turn right on the Eastgate - opposite you will see Battersby Close (2) - this was the site of the osier shed. Willows were grown in the village and were treated here. This is why basket making is shown on the mosaic on the wall of the Heritage Room.
Moving on, we come to the junction of Eastgate and Lincoln Road. See The Hollies (3) with an imposing looking door - the local Solicitor had his brass plate here. The bay window on the right was used by a Milliner to display her hats.
Turn left - see the Village Joiner (4) - the house is one of the many in the area with the front door at the back.
Turn left at Linga Lane - on the corner are Parish Gardens (5) - let to enable villagers to be self-sufficient.
Next is the Pinfold (6) - still owned by the Parish Council - where stray animals were penned until claimed.
Next you will see Forge Cottage (7) - the home of one of the village Blacksmiths - it is more often now known as the "Four of Diamonds".
Turn left at the corner - No 1 High Street (8) - has had a varied history - it was the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Salvation Army Barracks - with seating for 150 - as it had a gallery, Garage and Petrol Station, Electricians, Hairdressing salon to name but a few.
On the right is Water Lane (if you wish to take a walk down here you will see Hall Field recently developed. Prior to building, archaeological excavations uncovered a wealth of history). You can continue on the footpath and come out near the War Memorial (9). On the right of Water Lane is the Black Swan - now converted into a private home.
Continue on High Street and see The Five Bells Inn (10).
The present Spa Shop (11) was built by the Lincoln Equitable Co-operative Industrial Society. The ground floor was originally divided to provide a pull-in for delivery vehicles, a shop and a bakery. Mayfield House next door was a shop.
Across the road was another bakery, originally Morshead, attached to Greens Stores (12). This is a much smaller shop than in the past. You can see where the Post Box from around 1900 was positioned in the wall, the boot scrapers and horse rings by the shop door.
Keep on down High Street, on the bend you will see one of the mains water taps (13) - mains water came to the village in 1936.
Keep on walking and you will see the War Memorial (14) built to commemorate those lost in the 1st World War.
On the right is Hall Wath (another name for a ford), you can see the River at the bottom of this cul-de-sac. Ivy House - Why is there a plate on the side of the building?
The Old Manor House (15) - probably the oldest house in the village.
On the opposite side of the road on the green area, a very friendly bull provides a welcome seat. This was carved by Mark Faulds and represents the Village Bull. There are two fields in the village where the Parish Bull grazed called the Holmes and the Breathing (16).
The rent from these two fields is known as the Bull Charity.
The Old Rectory, now a Nursing Home, was used by soldiers/paratroops before Prisoners of War, by the Children's Family Trust and several private owners since the Rector built a new Rectory.
On the right is a footpath - with a footbridge over the River Witham leading to Norton Disney.
Next we see the Church of St Michael and All Angels (17). The existing church is of Norman origin with many various restorations over the years.
Opposite is the former Church school (18), now a private house.
Further on Newark Road on the right is Witham House, - the first Post Office was opened here by William Pacey Boole.
On the left is Bakers Lane. In 1851 John Harris the baker lived in the house built sideways to the road and so the lane received its name.
Carry on up Newark Road - on the right - a house named Holmdene (19) is one of the old village homesteads built in the late 1700s. It is built in Flemish bonding.
Further along was the Mill - now little is left and a field known as The Mill Holmes - a field dedicated in the Enclosure Award of 1654 for grazing the Bull.
The rent from this field and the Breathing is paid to the Manorial Rights holders one year in three.
Turn left into Whites Lane. On the left is the Manor Farm (20). In 1832 Charles Marfleet occupied this house - he probably modernised the final frontage we see today.
Turn left - look to the right down Navenby Lane. The building you can see in the distance on the right is the Workhouse Cottages - now a private house.
This was the site of the village pond (21) - no water now, but the geese still sit there. It was filled in during the 1960s.
Walk towards Lincoln Road, past the mosaic birds on the wall and on the left is the Bugle Horn with its Chapel Anniversary mosaic panel. On the right is the Primary School and Village Hall (22) (this was the first Chance to Share scheme in the Country) with the mosaics done by the pupils at the entrance.
Next is the Memorial Playing Field - to commemorate the Second World War. See the mosaic on the side of the Village Hall. The small brick building is all that is left of the former Land Army Hostel, which served for many years as a Village Hall.
Across the road and back down Chapel Jetty.
We hope you enjoy your walk. It is not possible to include all items of interest but maybe wet your appetite for further exploration. If you have any interesting stories about the area please let us know and if you have any questions we will do our best to answer them. See contact names and numbers in the Heritage Room.
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