Welcome to Welton
This Lincolnshire village with a population of just over 4,000 has everything on its doorstep including a wide range of retail outlets, leisure facilities and small independent businesses.
The quiet commuter village, which lies just six miles from the city of Lincoln, is growing in popularity and has much to offer residents and visitors alike.
For the past few years, preparation work has been going on for a Neighbourhood Plan, which will help shape things to come in the village for the next twenty years having taken into account residents’ hopes, aspirations, concerns and ideas for the village – both now and in the years ahead.
It centres around key objectives for housing, economy, movement and transport, environment and the community and includes the promotion of employment opportunities through small businesses and rural office space, expansion of retail and commercial facilities available in the village and the preservation of important assets such as the library, heritage sites and village hall.
Welton Neighbourhood Plan was formally adopted by West Lindsey District Council at a meeting of the full council back in September and is now classed as ‘made’, meaning it should be used when future planning applications within the identified Neighbourhood Area are determined.
The village is well provided for with a wide range of services and amenities including two small supermarkets, a butcher, flower and gift shop, hairdressers, newsagents and numerous takeaways.
It has three churches – the Parish Church of St Mary, which was originally Norman but the present building is in the Early English style dating from around 1250; a Methodist Chapel which was founded in 1815 by Wesleyan preacher John Hannah; and the Threshold Church which is a group of people who meet in the village secondary school on Sunday mornings to worship, have fellowship and receive teaching.
For more than 800 years St Mary’s Church has offered friendship and support as part of the community. It is an historic church, parts of which date back to the thirteenth century and it is not only used for church services and church activities but also for concerts, exhibitions and school functions.
The Methodist Chapel is a much used venue, being a meeting place for a number of groups and clubs in the village. It hosts a prayer group, leadership meetings, a youth club, table tennis, art sessions and a ladies group.
“Our church has a range of activities for young and old, but there are no particular plans or projects planned for this year,” said church minister, the Rev Andrew Burrows.
The village also boasts a public house, which is said to be haunted, a library, village hall and sports and social club as well as a sports club and a Golf Centre of Excellence.
The Black Bull occupies a prime position in the village centre and is steeped in history, even having links to the infamous Dambusters.
Not many miles away from RAF Scampton, the old coaching house was a well-known haunt of Guy Gibson, who was the first CO of the 617 Squadron which he led in the Dambusters raid of 1943, resulting in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr areas.
Though no ghost has ever been witnessed, it is reputed to be haunted because there have been inexplicable sounds – believed to be an unseen phantom slowly walking up the eighteen stairs to the restaurant.
The Black Bull Inn and the church are centred around the village green and the original village pump still holds pride of place.
The village War Memorial stands facing the road in front of St Mary’s Church and bears the names of twelve men who perished in the Great War and a further three from the Second World War, while another name has been added on a separate tablet seen between the vases of flowers.
The William Farr school opened in 1952 on the site of the RAF Dunholme Lodge, a World War Two bomber station, which had been bought for £600 in 1946 by William Farr, the vicar of Welton. The school was named after him when he died in 1955.
Welton Manor Golf Club has built up a formidable reputation and as a Golf Centre of Excellence, has done much to put the village on the sporting map and is a real asset to the community.
Set in 120 acres, the golf centre features tree-lined fairways, lakes and meandering streams and is a firm favourite for golfers from near and far who wish to experience the course and take advantage of the facilities available.
It is a successful farm diversification by local farmer Charles Ottewell and his sons Andrew and David and it offers eighteen holes of challenging golf to suit all levels of players.
But if golf is not your cup of tea, the Manor site also has a successful restaurant and bar called the Falconer, which also forms the clubhouse and has a number of function rooms for public use.
It also has a coarse fishing lake, a Caravan and Camping club on the site and a floodlit driving range which is open all year round.
Welton also has the Manor Park Sports Club which is owned and operated by the Parish Council and features football pitches, both grass and artificial, a bowls green, a skate/BMX park and a children’s play area.
The Library is situated by the Co-op and locals are free to have a look around, browse through the new book stock and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while reading the newspapers.
Internet access is also free and is open to non-members as well. In fact the library has now increased the number of PCs to eight, which includes two designated junior computers
Welton is very much a typical Lincolnshire village, with village greens and back lanes.
It has a history going back 1,000 years to the days when the Vikings and the Danes began their invasions.
The name Welton is Anglo-Saxon and means the ‘ton’ or enclosure at the wells. Before the Saxons settled there, the Romans had occupied the ground, and before them a more ancient people probably lived there from about 7,500 years ago.
When Remigius decided to build a cathedral at Lincoln, Welton was owned by William the Conqueror and the king gave the parish to the bishop to endow six prebends, which provided income to support six canons attached to the cathedral. Some of the roads in the village have been named after them: Brinkhall, Beckhall, Rivehall, Westhall and Painshall.
Welton is a charming village, with a lot of the old houses built from locally made bricks of attractive colourings and Lincolnshire stone.
But despite its impressive history, Welton still manages to keep up with the times, so much so that Virgin Media is planning a major programme to bring ‘ultra-fast’ broadband to the village.
It is all part of Virgin Media’s £3 billion private investment to bring high speed fibre cable to another four million premises in the UK.
The programme is expected to be completed by mid-2017.
IGNITE STOVES
Welton is home to one of the finest collections of woodburning, multifuel stoves and fireplaces in Lincolnshire and business is booming.
Ignite Stoves and Fireplaces has been up and running in the village for four years now and is going from strength to strength.
The showroom, located at The Stables in Lincoln Road, offers a welcoming place for customers to browse the products on offer at their leisure.
It is full of character and charm. Spread across two floors in a converted stable it has more than 30 wood burning and multifuel stoves on display, many of which are live working so customers can experience the true effect a stove can have on their home.
Showroom manager Dean Garrad said it had been a good year for Ignite: “During the past year we have really gathered momentum in terms of the business we are fulfilling.
“We are going around a lot of village shows and have a trailer to display the stoves, which reaches a valuable audience. It shows them examples of how woodburning stoves bring not only warmth but style to a home. It has helped make the business very successful in 2016.
From a free initial site survey through to product choice, installation and after sales maintenance, Ignite’s expert team is there to guide the customer.
It started with a small showroom but quickly expanded and has built up a good reputation with a lot of repeat customers on their books.
“At some point we will be expanding the showroom further,” said Dean. “It will either be at the end of this year or beginning of next so at the moment we are knuckling down to continue to offer the best products and service to our customers.”
ONE HAIR AND BEAUTY
It’s been almost six years since One Hair and Beauty opened in Welton. Salon manager Carol and her husband Jeremy set the business up a few years after moving to the area from London, where Carol managed a chain of Hair and Beauty Salons around Covent Garden.
When the salon first opened they not only offered a full hairdressing service but also basic beauty treatments. During the last eighteen months, the business has expanded its beauty treatment offering, culminating in the opportunity to take the lease over for the shop next door and since then they have redeveloped the site and now a brand-new beauty salon offers a fully extensive range of services.
Customers can now be treated to the full range of Decléor treatments including facials and massages and one of the new treatment rooms now includes a shower room, enabling full body treatments to be performed. The salon has been designed to offer customers a quiet and relaxing experience and along with the private treatment rooms there are well equipped manicure and pedicure areas for either individuals or small groups to enjoy, including luxury reclining leather chairs.
For those looking for the perfect sun-kissed glow, the salon has a separate spray tanning room where they use Sienna X spray tan, but if you prefer to use a sunbed you will find a state-of-the-art Vitesse Infared sunbed, which aside from the tanning will also help relieve symptoms of arthritis, as well as helping with skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. There is also a range of beauty treatments including mineral make-up and a brow service by Mii.
In the Hair salon you will find Carol and her team working to create perfect styles for men and women. Offering the full range of hair care services, all clients will benefit from a complimentary shampoo and head massage whilst at their luxury lie-back basin.
“It’s been a busy few years,” said Carol. “When the opportunity arose to take on the premises next door we knew we wanted to expand the beauty side of the business and we now have a unique local offering, with both hair and beauty working seamlessly alongside each other. The overall feel of the salon gives customers a relaxed and comfortable experience, enjoying the ease of ample free parking and disabled access.
“The whole team are passionate about their profession and the One Hair & Beauty values, attending training courses throughout the year to enhance the services and salon experience our clients receive. Style director Philippa Peppard has also achieved the highest certification in colouring, and is now a Redken 5th Avenue NYC Certified Hair Colourist and is the only stylist in Lincoln to have achieved this.”
“We look forward to welcoming old and new customers to the salon.”
For more information on treatments and packages, visit the salon at 1 Ryland Bridge, Welton or see latest offers on Facebook / www.numberonehair.co.uk
One Hair & Beauty, 1 Ryland Bridge, Welton, Lincoln LN2 3RP. Book appointments on 01673 862732.
THE SECRET GARDEN
Ten years ago Gary and Joanna bought Welton Paper Shop and the surrounding land and outbuildings. After making the shop a success they decided to develop the land to the rear and create The Secret Garden. Gary spent almost a year restoring the outbuildings to create a wonderful 34 seater tea and coffee shop, which oozes farmhouse style charm with original oak beams.
After months of restoration and hard work the café opened in January 2016. During the winter months customers can keep warm in the cosy café, but in the summer months visitors will be treated to the tearoom’s main attraction, the Secret Garden. During the summer the garden is a sanctuary away from the hustle of the village, with a postcode perfect setting and a treat for young ones, a tree swing.
Both Joanna and Gary pride themselves on their menu offerings which include breakfasts, lunches and snacks and as well as being able to enjoy the café, they offer both a takeaway and delivery service. All the food is freshly made to order using quality produce and all the cakes are homemade. Visit The Secret Garden at 5 Lincoln Road, Welton.
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