North Somercotes

Coordinates: 53°26′47″N 0°07′57″E / 53.446398°N 0.132638°E / 53.446398; 0.132638

North Somercotes
Church End, North Somercotes
North Somercotes  North Somercotes shown within Lincolnshire
Population	1,599 (2001)
OS grid reference	TF417965
District	East Lindsey
Shire county	Lincolnshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Postcode district	LN11 7
Police	Lincolnshire
Fire	Lincolnshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Louth and Horncastle
List of places: UK • England • Lincolnshire

North Somercotes is a large coastal village with a population of approximately 1800 people, located in the Marshes area of Lincolnshire, England.

General

The village's name means "North Summer Grazing Area" as only in Summer would it be dry enough for sheep and cattle to be able to graze in this area. It is located midway between the towns of Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes, and is the home of two public houses, (the Axe and Cleaver and the Bay Horse) two convenience stores, (McColl's and H's Costcutter supermarket) a number of take-away establishments (Zara Indian restaurant and takeaway, a Chinese take-away and a Turkish kebab takeaway, also serving fish and chips), a restaurant (The Travellers' Joy) two hairdressers and a tile shop. A Post Office has existed here since the 1840's. It offers a wide range of services including motor vehicle licensing and on demand Euro foreign currency purchase. There is a youth club for 12 to 17 year olds which meet at their own youth club building situated on The Birkbeck School grounds. It is also home to the North Somercotes Detachment of the Army Cadet Force held at one of the two Schools that are there, these are North Somercotes Primary and The Birkbeck School and Community Arts College. The Primary School is one of the oldest primary schools in the entire East Midlands region, dating back to 1691.

Traditions

North Somercotes was famous throughout the county of Lincolnshire for its village carnival in which brightly decorated floats with both children and adults dressing up wound the streets of the village once a year, usually in mid July. A young teenage village beauty was traditionally chosen to be the Rose Princess and a much younger girl was chosen to be the Princess's attendant. The Princess was crowned during the event. The last of these carnivals took place in 2000. All events were banned the following year, due the efforts by Lincolnshire County Council to keep the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis out of the county and the event has not taken place since.

However, one surviving tradition for which North Somercotes is well known is that of its Pancake Races, which take place annually on Shrove Tuesday at the Birkbeck School and Community Arts College. Originally the race was run along Keeling Street which is the main street of the village and part of the A1031 There are races for different age groups and the winner of the adult race has their name inscribed on the trophy. Each person receives a frying pan and has to race from one end of a field to the other, tossing their pancake at least once every few seconds on the way. The winner is the first to cross the line, having tossed their pancake several times and with the pancake still intact.

Royal Air Force

North Somercotes is home to the RAF Donna Nook. The beach at Donna Nook is used by the RAF for target practice and bombing is carried out at limited times during the week and outside the main seal breeding season of November and December.

Lakeside Lido

There is a caravan park known as Lakeside Lido on the edge of the village, with both static caravans and room for touring caravaners, many of whom travel to the village from Sheffield and other parts of South Yorkshire, as well as the nearby larger town of Grimsby. The camp comprises a large lake, suitable for fishing, tennis courts, a swimming pool, various bars, a fish'n'chip shop (not any more.) Now a 'Snooker room' and woods with public footpaths and a partially-stocked shop. Local residents may also use the park's facilities for a small charge.

'The Ark'

North Somercotes is home to a dog rescue centre, known as the Ark. This is located outside the main village on the way to Donna Nook.

Seals

In November and December North Somercotes loses its calm air as it is home to many tourists, who come to see the seals at Donna Nook, the beach located a 1½ miles from the village. While there is some dispute as to whether this is the largest seal breeding colony in England, it is certainly the only one where visitors can be within a few inches of the seals. Children particularly delight in seeing the new seal pups at such a close range. Wardens are there to offer information and anecdotes about Grey Seals, and the seal population generally.

Churches

St Marys church

Interior of St Peters

Trinity Methodist church

Worship

The village is served by two churches, the Church of England parish church and the Methodist church. It is a part of the Diocese of Lincoln and the Methodist circuit of Louth. While both churches are still regularly attended, neither of them has a junior church nor Sunday school. There is also a Pentecostal Church which meets in the village hall every Sunday morning.

Luke Walmsley

The village was thrust into the spotlight of the media in November 2003, when schoolboy Luke Walmsley was murdered by another pupil in the Birkbeck School, the only time that such an event has happened at a school in the United Kingdom. After Luke's death, his parents set up a Sports Foundation in his memory.^[1] The Foundation raised over £150,000. The money was used to build a new pavilion on the village playing fields, to upgrade the sports changing area and to build two brand new full size sports pitches and a mini soccer pitch. After a delay, work started on this on 4 February 2009 and was completed in September 2009.

Facilities

There was previously a petrol station at North Somercotes. However, since it closed, in early 2001, residents have had to buy their fuel in the neighbouring village of Saltfleet, or at the cheaper larger chains in Louth (11 miles from North Somercotes inland) or Cleethorpes (Tesco supermarket 13 miles north).

North Somercotes is served by its own Fire Station, manned entirely by volunteers. The nearest police stations are in Louth and Mablethorpe, both about 11 miles distant. The nearest ambulance stations are also in Louth and Mablethorpe. The village has its own Medical Centre (Marsh Medical Practice), comprising four GPs, who divide their time between the surgeries in the village and in the neighbouring village of Manby. The Medical Centre has its own dispensary, negating the need to travel to chemists in Louth or Mablethorpe.

Transport links

The village is served by a bus link to Louth, which runs three times a week on Louth Market days, i.e. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There are more frequent buses to Grimsby and Mablethorpe at certain times of year. The village is served by Cleethorpes railway station, 16 miles distant. The station is operated by TransPennine Express, and is also served by Northern Rail and East Midlands Trains.

New developments

Although many new houses have been built during the last decade, the village retains a rural charm, which has been lost in many parts of the country. Pleasant footpaths in the fields around allow walkers to enjoy the calm of this rural location.

Communication

The village has its own local directory called Communication, which is distributed amongst villagers free-of-charge. When an issue is published, usually monthly, local residents attend at the Village Hall to collate and staple the magazine.

References

1. ^ "Funds flood into Luke memorial". BBC News. 2003-11-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/lincolnshire/3233300.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-25. 

External links

• Village website