BASTON. CHURCH : ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
This was my first ever trip to Baston, although I had passed by the village many times in the past on the way to Bourne. I had to do two trip to St John The Baptist church, on successive Saturdays. My first trip turned out to be less than successful due to poor conditions, the blinding sun that I had experienced at the neighbouring village of Langtoft had disappeared and by the time I got to Baston it was dull and miserable. Much better the following week as I popped in to re-shoot the exterior on my way to Morton. Brilliant blue sky but freezing cold with a heavy frost still on the ground as I arrived.
Very nice church, and a lovely village. Nice tower with some fearsome and impressive gargoyles surrounding the tower. Some very high quality carved stone heads can be found surrounding the whole building. For me, the highlight of this church though was the porch. I know that it is not a recognised term in church architecture, but I will just say that the porch looks a bit "wonky". Let's just say that I would not like the person who built this to put up an extension on the side of my house! When I got off the bus at Baston I noticed that the brick built bus shelter had been condemned as being unsafe, on my return to catch the next bus the thought did cross my mind that probably an ancestor of the man who built the porch at St John The Baptist was respo0nsible for building the bus shelter! That is not meant in any derogatory sense at all as I found the whole church charming, and I thorough enjoyed my time here.
The locals were very friendly, including one man who enquired as to what I was doing when he walked past and found me on my hands and knees in the bushes trying to find a good angle to shoot!
Interestingly, Baston once had a Chapel, that was close to the church. The building still exists but is now a car shworoom. This is just over the road from the church.
St John The Baptist was open when I visited, and there was a very well produced 24 page booklet available, price £1, detailing some of the history of the building. If in the area, please give this church a visit. Well worth while spending some time there.
THURLBY. CHURCH : ST FIRMIN
After previously visiting Langtoft and Baston I carried on the journey towards Bourne, getting off the bus at Thurlby. I was tipped off earlier in the day whilst at Lamgtoft, that St Firmin's was liable to be locked, and sadly this was proved to be the case. Keyholders were listed, so I will re-visit at some point and see if I can get inside. The day was glorious by that time, with not a cloud in the sky.
St Firmins is typical of many of the churches in this area in that there were a large number of very high quality, and finely carved, slate gravestones. These obviously, were very well preserved. Down the road at Morton and Hacconby there were even more slate markers, and many of these had a makers name of Fish of Bourne on them. On my travels I have not seen any area having more, or better carved, slate graves.
The church grounds at St Firmins are very, very large, stretching down to the very edge of the Lincolnshire Fens. These grounds were very well maintained, no mean feat given the size of them. It is also interesting to see the Carr Dyke, a Roman Waterway, preserved and running literally right at the side of the church.
