Waddington, Lincolnshire

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Waddington
static_

static_image_caption=St. Michaels Church, Waddington
latitude= 53.110000000
longitude= -0.524000000
population = 6,086 (2001 Census)
region= East Midlands
shire_district= North Kesteven
shire_county= Lincolnshire
constituency_westminster=Sleaford and North Hykeham
post_town= LINCOLN
postcode_district = LN5
postcode_area= LN
dial_code= 01522
os_grid_reference= SK987580
london_distance=convert|115|mi|km| S

Waddington is a large rural commuter village in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Situated approximately 6 km (4 miles) south of Lincoln on the A607 Grantham Road. According to the census 2001 the village had a population of 6,086.

Topography

Waddington is located at coor dms|53|11|31|N|2|26|35|W|city and known as a Lincolnshire Cliff Village, as it is situated on a ridge of Jurassic limestone called the Lincoln Edge or Lincoln Cliff. The small cliff is one of only a few hills in Lincolnshire. [cite web|url=http://www.cliffvillageslincolnu3a.org.uk|title=Why Cliff Villages?|author=Cliff Villages (Lincoln) U3A|accessdate=2008-03-30 |year=2006] Lying 2.7 miles (8 km) south of Lincoln and 12.9 miles (18.3 km) north-northwest of Sleaford, Waddington enjoys warm summers and dry frosty winters.

During the Ice Age, most of the region surrounding Waddington was covered by ice sheets and this has influenced the topography and nature of the soils. [cite web|url=http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:6AkqnN-CzZ4J:www.english-nature.org.uk/special/geological/sites/area_ID22.asp+ice+age%2Blincolnshire&hl=en&gl=uk&strip=0|title=Lincolnshire (including North and North East Lincolnshire)|work=England's Geology|accessdate=2008-03-30 |author=Natural England] Much of Lincolnshire is low-lying, in some places below sea level, but Waddington's cliff-top position means it is 226 ft (69 m) above sea level, giving it commanding views over the River Witham valley.cite web|url=http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm1818|title=Flush Bracket 2094: Navenby|accessdate=2008-03-30 |author=Bench Mark Database |date=2005-04-16] [cite book|title=Countryside Character|volume=3: Yorkshire and the Humber| year=1998| isbn=0861704975| author=Countryside Commission| chapter=Northern Lincolnshire Edge with Coversands/Southern Lincolnshire Edge| chapterurl=http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Images/JCA45+47_tcm2-21144.pdf|format=PDF| accessdate=2008-03-30]

The more modern areas of the village have developed down the steep hill towards the city of Lincoln. The Viking Way enters the village from the north on Far Lane and passes south along High Street then briefly along Millers Road.

History

The village is a documented settlement in the Domesday Book of 1086 and was mainly an agricultural community until the late Nineteenth Century. Horse racing also took place on the heath-land areas, which are now part of the RAF Station.At various times other activities including malting, brick-making and stone-quarrying have taken place in the village.

High Dyke, the road that runs between the main RAF base and the service married quarters, lies on the line of the Roman Road Ermine Street. There is only minor evidence that High Dyke is Ermine Street, but the alignment is so exact that it is unlikely to be a coincidence. It is of note that Ermine Street as it passes Byards Leap, 20 miles to the south, is also called High Dyke at that point. The traceable line of Ermine Street peters out in the adjacent village of Harmston, and does not reappear until the other side of Lincoln.

Around 1830, George Boole, the mathematician, taught at Waddington Academy boarding school in the village, run by Robert Hall. From 1838 to 1840, Boole lived in the village and became head of the Academy.

Parish church

The present-day Anglican parish church of St Michael is a modern stone building situated on the High Street. Consecrated in 1954, it replaced an earlier 12th century church destroyed in a World War II air raid on the night of 8 May 1941."Waddington At War 1939-1941", Terry Miller & Jean Towers together with the Waddington Local History Group, 1992. ISBN 0952008408.] An account of that night is documented in the book "Waddington at War 1939-1941".

Buildings

The older part of the village primarily consists of buildings built of the local limestone along with some brick-built houses built after brick making began to take place on the lower slopes of the village.

The newer residential areas are located in the lower part of the village and are of modern brick and tile construction.

Enemy action during 1941 severely damaged 71 houses in the village, as well as the Horse & Jockey pub and the NAAFI building on the RAF Station. The damage was mainly caused by two aerial mines; large bombs dropped by parachute and fused to explode before hitting the ground. Unfortunately 11 people were killed, among them the NAAFI manageress, Mrs Constance Raven, after whom the all-ranks club on the RAF Station is still named.

Public buildings

The Parish Council Office is located on the High Street, while the post office is incorporated within the Co-op premises on Bar Lane. This store also incorporates a pharmacy.

The Waddington branch of the Lincolnshire County Library is located in Lower High Street.

In addition to The Cliff Villages Medical Practice located on the Grantham Road and Mere Road junction, there is also a chiropody practice located on Bar Lane.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue premises are located adjacent to the The Cliff Villages Medical Practice on Mere Road

Schools

There are two primary schools within the parish of Waddington. All Saints Primary School is in the upper part of the village on Mere Road, whilst Redwood Drive Primary School is in the lower part of the village off Brant Road.

Shops and restaurants

The village has a varied selection of shops which are mainly located around the Bar Lane area in the upper part of the village and the Redwood Drive Shopping Centre in the lower part of the village.There are Chinese and Indian takeaways in both locations, as well as a Fish and Chip shop in the upper village.

Public houses

There are three public houses in the village, the names of which reflect the agricultural history of the village. In the centre of the village is the Horse and Jockey which fronts the old town square, while the Three Horse Shoes is situated beside Saint Michael’s Church on the High Street. The third public house is The Wheatsheaf which is situated at the cross-roads of the Lincoln to Grantham road (A607) and Mere Road which is the main access road to RAF Waddington.

RAF Waddington

RAF Waddington, is an important UK airbase east of the village centre. One of the oldest airfields in the UK, it was founded in 1916 for the Royal Flying Corps. RAF Waddington is the RAF's E-3D Sentry (a.k.a. AWACS) reconnaissance aircraft base, having previously been home to part of the Avro Vulcan nuclear bomber force. There are two squadrons of AWACs (8 Squadron and 23 Squadron), sharing seven aircraft, each aircraft being named after one of the seven dwarves. The RAF's 3 Nimrod R1 reconnaissance aircraft of No 51 Squadron are also based at Waddington as is No 5 Squadron, the operators of the Airborne Stand-Off Radar System (ASTOR) which comprises 5 Sentinel R1 aircraft and its ground stations.These Squadrons have since been joined by Nos 54 and 56 (Reserve) Squadrons. The station hosts the annual RAF Waddington International Airshow.

A further major unit lodged at RAF Waddington is the UK Air Warfare Centre, which hosts the UK Defence Electronic Warfare Centre.

Public transport

The village is served by bus links to Lincoln and Grantham operated by Stagecoach Group. Buses travel to and from Lincoln at 15 minute intervals during peak hours and there is a bus service every half hour to Grantham and villages on the A607.

Climate

According to the Köppen classification, the British Isles experience a maritime climate characterised by relatively cool summers and mild winters. Compared with other parts of the country, Lincolnshire – and Waddington – are slightly warmer and sunnier in the summer and colder and frostier in the winter. Owing to Waddington's inland position, far from the landfall of most Atlantic depressions, it is one of the driest places to live in the UK, receiving, on average, less than 3 ft (600 mm) of rain per year.cite web|url=http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/section.asp?docId=27136|title=Lincolnshire County Council, Climate and Weather|accessdate=2008-02-24 |author=Lincolnshire County Council website|date=2008] The mean annual daily duration of bright sunshine is four hours and 12 minutes; the absence of any high ground is probably responsible for the area being one of the sunniest parts of the British Isles.cite web|url=http://weather.uk.msn.com/local.aspx?wealocations=wc:UKXX1087|title=Local Weather Forecast Lincoln, England|accessdate=2008-02-24 |author=MSN website]

Infobox weather
location = Waddington
Jan_Hi_°F = 43
Feb_Hi_°F = 44
Mar_Hi_°F = 49
Apr_Hi_°F = 54
May_Hi_°F = 60
Jun_Hi_°F = 65
Jul_Hi_°F = 70
Aug_Hi_°F = 70
Sep_Hi_°F = 64
Oct_Hi_°F = 57
Nov_Hi_°F = 48
Dec_Hi_°F = 44
Year_Hi_°F = 56
Jan_Lo_°F = 35
Feb_Lo_°F = 35
Mar_Lo_°F = 38
Apr_Lo_°F = 40
May_Lo_°F = 45
Jun_Lo_°F = 50
Jul_Lo_°F = 54
Aug_Lo_°F = 54
Sep_Lo_°F = 51
Oct_Lo_°F = 46
Nov_Lo_°F = 40
Dec_Lo_°F = 37
Year_Lo_°F = 42
Jan_Precip_inch = 1.45
Feb_Precip_inch = 1.08
Mar_Precip_inch = 1.04
Apr_Precip_inch = 1.46
May_Precip_inch = 1.13
Jun_Precip_inch = 1.51
Jul_Precip_inch = 1.7
Aug_Precip_inch = 1.45
Sep_Precip_inch = 1.61
Oct_Precip_inch = 1.83
Nov_Precip_inch = 1.51
Dec_Precip_inch = 1.38
Year_Precip_inch = 21
source = MSN
accessdate =

Nearby places

geocompass
hub = Waddington
type= ex
NN = Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln
NE = Blankney, Metheringham, Branston
EE = Scopwick, Coningsby, Woodhall Spa, Tattershall
SE = Digby, Ashby de la Launde, Ruskington
SS = Navenby, Wellingore, Temple Bruer, Grantham
SW = Brant Broughton, Welbourn, Leadenham
WW = Bassingham, Norton Disney, Newark-on-Trent
NW = Haddington, North Hykeham, Aubourn, Saxilby

References

External links

* [http://www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk/ RAF Waddington International Airshow]
* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwaddington/ RAF Waddington homepage]
* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s82.html History of RAF Waddington]
* [http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/libraryDetails.asp?library=ME2 Library]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/53/a3403153.shtml Original Waddington church destroyed in WWII]