1. The Community Centre and Youth Hall are built on the site of the original railway station closed in 1980. The Heritage Centre, a former weigh-bridge office, houses drawings and details of Skellingthorpe Airfield history. The Airfield Memorial Verse:-
My brief sweet life is over; My eyes no longer see
No Christmas Tree; No Summer walks
No pretty girls for me; I've got the chop_
I've had it; My nightly ops are done
Yet in another hundred years; I'll still be twenty one.
Was written during the war as a requiem to an air gunner.
2. Secluded and easily missed, the Georgian Manor House was built in 1811 (there was an earlier Manor House).
Look for the plaque on the side of the house bearing the names of the president, clerk and treasurer of an un-named organisation, possibly the Christ's Hospital Foundation.
3. Pause at the village seat next to the Library, sculptured from a local demolished willow tree by a peripatetic artist. We have a thriving monthly magazine, 'Chatterbox' - ask at the Library.
4. The School House was built in 1856. It provided accommodation for the local headmaster until 1970, when it was sold and converted into a private house.
5. St. Lawrence's Church was ravaged by fire in 1916 and considerably rebuilt. The glazed fleche on the roof of the Church gives a clue to the recent changes - the pillars of the nave were removed a few years ago to give a clear floor area to enable multi-use. Though not approved by everyone, the dramatic interior is worth viewing.
6. An early sepia photograph of manor Cottages shows the Church Spire before the fire.
7. Jessops Cottage in Green Lane may have once been a school and is thought to be the oldest cottage in the village.
8. Pause at this road junction to view Lincoln Cathedral. The west front dominates the gap where the River Witham flows between the Lincoln Edge escarpment. Ferry Lane leads to the point where villagers crossed the river to Lincoln until the 1930's.
9. Henry Stone was Lord of the Manor hence the 'Stones Arms' which is thought to have originated as a coffee house.
10. The view from the 'Stones Arms' across to the Church is probably the most picturesque in the village especially when cattle or sheep are grazing. It is said that remains of medieval fishponds may be found in this pasture.
11. A number of 'Stones Manor' Cottages remain in various parts of the village. Built in the 19th century, they are in the vernacular Lincolnshire Style, and where built for use by local, estate workers.
12. 'Stoney yard' is part of the early village where the blacksmith and undertaker resided. On the corner is the old 'Village Hall', built in 1928 by and for the Women's Institute and which is now used by the scouts.
13. Woodbank leads to the Old Wood which was recently purchased by the Woodland Trust with monies raised by the local community and significant grant aid by the District Council. The woods are presently being regenerated by the Woodland Trust and are freely open to the public. Take note of the design of the 'Old Farm' opposite - it is most intriguing.
14. The Plough may originally have been the local Beer House.
15. The Methodist Chapel has recently had a new welcoming modern porch added.
16. Little remains of the old village green due to so called visual 'improvements', necessitated by the motor vehicle. Jerusalem Road leads to 'Jerusalem'. Seemingly no-one knows why the road or the place are so called!
17. Once 'Skellingthorpe Farm' this stylish house, with its plaque on the wall, is now 'The Grove' Nursing Home. NOTE: Here you cross the road to a green-way into the playing field.
18. Locally known as 'The Monson' this playing field in the centre of the village was named after Lord Monson. The pavilion has been recently renovated and if you visit on a sunny Sunday afternoon you may watch the cricket and have teat with he team.
19. Make you way between the children's play, tennis and bowls area, down the ramp and back to the Community Centre. Noting the old railway cutting which is slowly becoming a natural nature reserve.
NOTE: If you would like to extend your walk, turn right.
20. Skellingthorpe Hall, although not open to visitors, was regarded by Pevsner "as a Greekly Auguste house of the early 19th Century, notable for it's cast iron entrance gates with Greek-key pattern and Acanthus motifs".
21. Lincoln Road Farm has real dairy ice cream straight from the dairy. There's a play area for children with ponies, sheep, goats etc. 'Daisy Made' is open at weekends all year and week days during April to September. NOTE: Now happily return to the Community Centre.
22. The Duck Decoy is not presently accessible but hopefully will be in the near future. It can be seen, only from the by-pass as a circular group of trees.
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