Alfred Smith is almost unknown despite his selfless career.  He was unsentimental and refused to be called a hero. "We worked in ignorance and we suffered for it."

His memory lived on in Legbourne as his youngest son, Alex, continued to live in their home until his death. A local residential road close to their bungalow is named after him.

https://sites.google.com/view/lincolnshirelass/alfred-smith-a-man-with-x-ray-vision

Jean Howard, September 2020

Alfred Smith (1872-1933), X-ray pioneer, was a native of the Grimsby who later lived in Legbourne.

Alfred began his career in medicine at the Grimsby hospital, studying pharmacy and dentistry, but he became fascinated by Rontgen's discovery of X-rays. He was one of the first in this country to learn how to use them, becoming director of a new unit at Coventry and Warwickshire hospital.

Unaware of the dangers, his damaged body forced retirement and he spent almost all he had on his medical problems, ultimately losing his right leg.

Having lived in the old army hut (on the left in the photo) the monies from a newspaper appeal and a small allowance from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust paid for a modest bungalow in Legbourne, where he kept poultry for a living.

Much of All Saints is 14th century, though considerable restoration was carried out by Rogers and Marsden in 1865.

The white, chalk building is very striking when viewed from the edge of the Wolds.

April 2015

The chancel with its traceried windows dates from 1865.

Greenstone buttresses and bands contrast with the chalk walls.

April 2015

All Saints has a 14th century chalk tower.

The greenstone corners and angle buttresses were added in the 1865 restoration.

April 2015

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The church of All Saints is a building of stone, wholly in the Decorated style of the later 14th century; it was restored in 1868, at a cost of about £2,000, and consists of chancel, nave of four bays, with clerestory, aisles, south porch and a western tower containing 5 bells and a clock, presented by Thomas Cheney Garfit esq. in 1891:

there are seven stained windows:

the east end of the south aisle anciently formed a chantry, and retains a small plain piscina in the south wall, discovered at the restoration:

the carved oak rood screen still exists, as well as an altar slab with its five consecration crosses, with which such slabs used to be marked, and there is another slab with inscription in Latin to Thomas Maidenwell, chaplain of this chantry, ob. Jan. 1507:

there are 250 sittings"

DB 29 June 2019

Pevsner states "The chancel is of 1859 by Withers. Restoration 1868 by Rogers & Marsden"

Church guide states that the chancel was redecorated in 1995.

DB 29 June 2019

Church Guide states "The windows are the work of Frederick Preddy in or around 1872" 

"In the centre is the crucifixion.

Moving round clockwise the scenes are, Moses striking the rock, The Passover, Sacrifice of the spotless and Moses raising the serpent.

The two scenes at the top are Cain murdering Abel and the Sacrifice of Abraham" 

DB 29 June 2019

A memorial to two unfortunate members of the Allenby family - one (Frederick - 1800-1815) drowned whilst bathing at Mablethorpe, the other (Edmund - 1797-1819) died whilst climbing Mount Etna. Both were sons of Hinman and Ann Allenby of Kenwick House.

Mark Acton, 2016

Cusped ogee headed piscina visible in south wall.

C19 altar rail. 

DB 29 June 2019

"ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF LEGBOURNE IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR ALL IN FRANCE FOR THE CAUSE OF LIBERTY IN THE EUROPEAN WAR AUG 4. 1914 - JUNE 28. 1919"

Church Guide states :-

"On the 29th March 1920 the War Memorial was unveiled to commemorate those who died for their country in the First World War.

It stands 12 feet high and is mode of Cornish Granite.

A Roll of Honour can be found in church for those who fought in the Second World War"

DB 29 June 2019

Looking from the nave across into the south aisle. 

The white painted interior has elegant four-bay arcades - south one shown here - dating from c1380.

The rood screen is 15th century work.

April 2015

Looking east towards the rood screen and chancel arch.

"Chancel arch of c.1380 with pointed, double chamfered head and polygonal responds"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063692 

DB 29 June 2019

Looking west towards the tower arch.

"Interior tower arch of c.1380"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063692 

Church Guide states :-

"As you look at the bell tower you can see a large wooden cross which was made by Eddie Osborne. It hung in the Methodist Chapel till it closed in 1983"

DB 29 June 2019

Church Guide states that :-

"On October 10th, 1912 the Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey dedicated the new pulpit at the harvest service. This being a gift from the Allenby family who once lived at Kenwick Hall"

DB 29 June 2019

"Fine C15 rood screen partially restored in C19 with central ogee headed opening flanked by 2 panels, lower sections blind, rich tracery with rosettes and narrow traceried buttresses"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063692 

DB 29 June 2019

Looking east towards the organ.

DB 29 June 2019

Organ dates from 1868 by Forster & Andrews, Hull.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forster_and_Andrews 

C19 screen around organ. 

DB 29 June 2019

Colourful organ pipes from the 19th century.

April 2015

Looking east towards the former chantry chapel of John Legbourne.

DB 29 June 2019

Church Guide states :-

"Where the side altar stands at east end of the south aisle was once a chantry, a small chapel where a privately commissioned priest said prayers for the soul of John Legbourne, Rector of South Somercotes, Canon of Lincoln Cathedral and Executor of John Gaunt.

There is a ledger stone in floor at the altar for one of those priests, Thomas Madynwel, who died in 1507" 

DB 29 June 2019

"C19 octagonal font with tall base with traceried panels and bowl decorated with blind shields"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063692 

In contradiction the Church Guide states "The font has a traceried stem with shields carved on its bowl and is more than 600 years old"

Pevsner states "Octagonal, Perp, with shields in quatrefoils"

DB 29 June 2019

Church Guide states 

"A Roll of Honour can be found in church for those who fought in the Second World War"

DB 29 June 2019

"Legbourne Road was a railway station on the East Lincolnshire Railway which served the village of Legbourne in Lincolnshire between 1848 and 1964.

The station was closed to passengers in 1953, and withdrawal of goods facilities took place in 1964.

The line through the station closed in 1970.

The station once housed a museum containing railway memorabilia; this closed in 1998 and the building is once again a private residence"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legbourne_Road_railway_station 

29 June 2019 

There has been a Primitive Methodist chapel on this site since the 1830s. The present building, the second, was opened in 1892 and closed in 1983.

July 2019

A second view of the chapel. Its location, Chapel Lane, was named after the earlier building on this site.

July 2019

Village pump to the right with All Saints Church in the background.

DB 29 June 2019

Village pump with the former school visible in the background. 

"Pump. 1877"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359662 

DB 29 June 2019

Detail of inscription. 

"Erected in memory of a very dear mother by the vicar of this parish for the free use of his parishioners and all wayfarers. A.D. 1877"

DB 29 June 2019

Not listed in Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 or 1937 nor marked as a public house on the 6 inch OS map published 1951.

A beer retailer listed in the 1919 and 1937 directories.

DB 29 June 2019

Former school now a private house. 

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"Public Elementary School (mixed), erected in 1863, at a cost of £300, for 120 children; Isaac Househam, master"

Isaac Househam also listed as hon. sec. of the Reading Room.

DB 29 June 2019

Date stone reads

"LEGBOURNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL. 1863" 

DB 29 June 2019

Unusually among Lincolnshire mills, Legbourne Mill was designed to operate by wind or water power.

It was built by Saundersons of Louth in 1847 and it remained in use until 1962.

Postcard by Tilley of Ledbury from David Robinson Collection, undated

One of the rare mills that could operate under wind or water power. It was built in 1847 and the last miller retired in 1962.

Location of mill: TF 362 842