| This is a peaceful rural retreat, yet an ideal touring
base, within easy access of Louth, Horncastle, Lincoln and many of the
attractions of Lincolnshire.
Our cottage is fully equipped, warm and sleeps 4 (in one double room
and one twin room).
Outside: Private parking for two vehicles. Country cottage
style garden with lockable cycle shed and clothes line. Grassed paddock
area to rear of cottage to enjoy ball games etc in.
| Downstairs:
Double glazed and heated entry porch.
Roomy fully fitted kitchen/diner with seating for four.
Appliances include: dishwasher, cooker, microwave,
fridge-freezer, kettle and toaster. Cosy lounge with seating for
six, Digital TV with DVD/CD player and feature fireplace.
Cloakroom with W.C. and laundry facilities.
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Upstairs: Two bedrooms: one double and two single beds (the
second bed is a pull out bed, both adults and children have found it
comfortable). Generous bathroom with independent shower over corner
bath.
The parish of Rigsby is an early Danish settlement (the village on
the ridge) and is listed in the Domesday Book with one principle
tenant (Leosard) five villagers and three smallholders. In those
days there were five Lordships in this area. Herbert of Rigsby was a
blood relative of William the Conqueror, the son of Odo, the
Archbishop of York. The Lordship continued until 1350, when, with no
male heir remaining, it passed by marriage to Thomas of Totheby.
The Tothby family sold their Estates including a substantial part of
Alford to Sir Robert Christopher in the C17th and they then passed
by marriage of his daughter Elizabeth Snead and then of Lucy to John
Manners, Duke of Rutland.
Robin Adam Christopher and his wife Lady Mary Nisbet Hamilton
acquired the Well Estate in the 1830s and sold the entirety to Hugh
Rawnsley in 1915.
The Read family first came to Rigsby House Farm in 1927, initially
renting from the Well Estate of the Rawnsley's, and after a
succession of Landlords from the 1950's we purchased the freehold in
1985.
Rigsby Wold Cottage is believed to have been built in 1850 to house
the labourers of the farm.
Rigsby House Farm is a 583 acre all arable unit, save for the thirty
acres of Pasture. It is a family farm, run by the 2nd and 3rd generation
of the Read family. Jack Read came here in 1927, renting from the Well
Estate of the Rawnsley's and after a succession of Landlords from the
1950's, the current owners purchased the freehold in 1985.
Conventionally farmed by Bill Read and his nephew, Michael. We grow
crops mainly of wheat, barley, beans and oilseed rape.
The grassland is traditional permanent pasture, it has never been
ploughed or improved other than with modest amounts of fertiliser and
minimal sprays.
The cattle on the grassland are the property of a nearby farmer, and are
young heifers, some of which will be used as replacements in his
single-suckled beef herd.
The environment
We are fortunate to live and farm in an attractive and environmentally
rich area and it is our avowed intention to maintain and improve the
latter where we can.
The farm has been accepted into the Government's E L S, the first stage
environmental scheme. The E L S scheme aims to protect and enhance
existing features, with the hedges and dykes being trimmed rotationally
every other year, the low input level grassland retained and the
existing trees protected.
Some field corners have been added, planted with species rich grass and
to be mown once in five years.
We have been doing a bit more than that. For several years, now, we have
been establishing grass margins around the perimeter of all our fields.
These are planted with species rich grasses., some have pollen and
nectar mixtures to encourage butterflies, a couple of areas are planted
with wild flower blends. These margins are presently entered as our
Set-a-side areas but we intend to retain most of them when that scheme
ends. They give us occasional access to all our fields but they are
really intended:
- To protect the boundary features from the sprays and fertilisers
applied to the crops.
- To reduce any nutrients entering our drainage dykes and improve the
water quality.
- To provide wildlife corridors between the nature reserves and
woodlands.
- To provide feeding and nesting areas for the wildlife.
They are maintained by partial mowing on different dates to provide
varying heights and structures of habitat
We have also been working at improving the density and structure of the
hedges on the farm. On the wold land we aim to create a more compact
denser hedge and eventually to replant the gaps, on the lower land a
bushier hedge 2.0 to 2.5 metres high and up to 2 metres thick. They are
trimmed in the autumn on a two year cycle.
Although there are fewer miles of hedges in the county overall, the
remainder are generally bushier, have 3 to 6 times the volume, and
provide more nesting sites and fruit for bird life than they did fifty
years ago.
Trees are an important part of the landscape and we have planted some
200 individual specimens over the last forty years, and have also
planted two small copses.
We love this farm, our aim is to farm efficiently and profitably on 90%
of the land, but to maintain and improve the environmental aspects
overall for the generations to come.
Within 1 mile
There are numerous footpaths, bridleways and quiet lanes allowing you to
explore on foot or by bicycle: the fields, the hedge-rows, the small
Norman church and the delightful Rigsby Wood, while listening to the
local bird song, watching the wildlife and observing the great views
stretching from the Wolds to the coast and beyond.
The Norman church, a chalk walled and thatched roof structure, built
by Herbert, was converted to a Chapelry and given to the Gilbertine
Priory of St Catherine by Gilbert of Rigsby in 1195 in whose hands it
remained for 300 years. The inner portions of the doorway and the arch
between the Nave and Vestry are remnants of the original Norman
building. The Registrar dates from 1686
The present building, designed by James Fowler of Louth was erected in
1863 at a cost of £685. All the labourers in the parish contributed a
week's wages. The small tower contains one bell but this is too fragile
to be rung
Services take place on the first Sunday of the month only at 11am. With
a typical congregation size of 8-12 and everyone is welcome. In late
summer a church picnic is held on straw bales in the adjoining paddock.
This is usually well attended and is always an enjoyable event.
Within 2 miles
After visiting Alford Manor house (awarded Highly Commended Lincolnshire
Star Award in 2007) take the opportunity to enjoy exquisite homemade
cakes and biscuits in their beautiful tea rooms, before making the short
journey to Alford's five sailed Windmill, on the edge of this popular
market town, to tour the mill and experience the flour milling process
first hand. Alternatively visit the Mill's Old Engine House for
Victorian and Edwardian antiques. You can purchase flour & oats from
their ground floor shop as a souvenir of your visit. If you should be
visiting over the late May or August Bank Holiday Weekends, we highly
recommend Alford Craft market that features interesting crafts such as
glass-blowing, blacksmithing, ceramics, restoration crafts and musical
instrument makers. Alford also has a modern, safe and fun playground for
the younger visitors.
Within 5 miles
At Claythorpe Watermill and Wildfowl Gardens you can watch closely over
five hundred birds wandering freely to feel part of their environment.
Woodthorpe Hall Golf Club is a full 18-hole course, measuring 5,140
yards off the white tees (with an SSS of 65 and a Par 67). If you fancy
a 4 car Scaletrix race or to see many hundreds of yesteryear models then
head to On Your Marques at Mumby.
Tel 01507 463404
www.rigsbywoldcottage.co.uk
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