Sir William Ellys built a house here in the late seventeenth century; it was E-shaped with large projecting wings and turrets.

Frederick Robinson, first Earl of Ripon, and one time Prime Minister, was the owner of Nocton Hall when it was destroyed by fire in 1834.

Photograph taken in 1978

More details about this house and its owners can be found in T R Leach's book, 'Lincolnshire Country Houses and their Families: Part 2', published by SLHA.  Buy a copy.

The Hall was built in 1841 by William Shearburn for the Earl of Ripon.  It is close to the site of the seventeenth-century building.

Pevsner describes the style as late vernacular Tudoresque.

T R Leach Collection, undated

Nocton Hall is now derelict.

Local signage associated with the Village Trail states that :- 

"Carol Bennett, who wrote the original Trail Guide, points out that Nocton Hall has been twice destroyed by fire.

The present house was constructed in 1841 and the original in the reign of Henry VIII.

The original was consumed by a fire caused by a rook's nest catching fire in one the chimneys.

The second fire was caused by arson in October 2004.

After the United States Air Force last used the building in 1991, the Ministry of Defence sold the site and its sad decline began"

DB 7 December 2019

Detail of armorial decoration, at first floor level, on the west front.

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The manor anciently belonged to the families of D'Arcy, Wymbish and Towneley; it afterwards passed through the families of Ellys and Hobart to that of Robinson and was bought in 1889 by George Hodgson esq. of Bradford.

Nocton Hall stands on the site of a former mansion, destroyed by fire in 1834; the present building, which is now (1918) unoccupied, erected in 1841, in the Elizabrthan style, is surrounded by extensive and well-wooded grounds"

DB 7 December 2019

Stained glass in the nave of All Saints Church, depicting old Nocton Hall, destroyed by fire in 1834.

Described by Pevsner as "the magnificent Jacobean and Carolean house of the Ellys family".

DB 7 December 2019

View up towards Abbey Hill from the banks of the Roman Car Dyke Canal, Nocton Fen Lane.

Nocton Park Priory is situated beyond the crest of the hill (around Grid Reference TF077647).

"The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the inner precinct of Nocton Park Priory, together with those of the house which succeeded it, a house of Augustinian canons founded in the earlier 12th century.

The priory, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, was established by the lord of the manor, Robert Darcy, in or near a pre-existing deer park.

Originally a small foundation for nine canons, it declined in population during the 15th and 16th centuries, and, when it was dissolved in 1536, only four canons and a prior were resident"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1018898  

DB 2020 

Built of Ancaster stone in Early English style by George Gilbert Scott for the Countess of Ripon in 1860-63.

The steeple is in the north-west corner with porch below.

March 2016

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The church of All Saints, erected in 1862 at the sole expense of the late Countess Dowager of Ripon is a building of Ancaster stone in the Early Decorated style, from the designs of the late Sir G. Gilbert Soott, and consists of chancel, with mortuary chapel and vestry, clerestoried nave, south porch and a tower with spire 130 feet in height and containing 6 bells:

the interior has some remarkably beautiful stone carvings, an exquisitely finished alabaster reredos, and a pulpit of stone and various marbles, with figures in the panels of Our Lord, St Peter and St. Paul:

the chancel is separated from the adjoining chapel by a beautifully carved arcade, and beneath one of its arches is placed the fine altar tomb erected to Frederick John, 1st Earl of Ripon, who died 28 Jan. I859; it was designed by the late Sir G. G. Scott R.A. and bears a recumbent figure of the earl, in white marble, by the late Mr. Matthew Noble; the sides are relieved with shields of arms and inscriptions on diapered work:

in the chapel is a stained window, designed and erected by Miss Hobart, daughter of the late Very Rev. the Hon. Henry Lewis Hobart D.D. some time dean of Windsor, and vicar of this parish from 1815, in memory of two of her sisters:

the large west window is a memorial to Sarah Albinia, late Countess of Ripon, who died 9 April, 1867:

the east window is also from a design by Miss Hobart:

in the years 1873 and 1874 the whole of the interior was most elaborately coloured, under the direction of the late Sir G. Gilbert Scott R.A..:

in 1912 the interior was redecorated at a cost of £120:

there are sittings for 300 persons"

A quirky and charming boot scraper at the church entrance, presumably a detail of Scott's design of the 1860s.

March 2016

Looking east towards the sanctuary.

No expense was spared as note the twelve foot high branched candlesticks and elaborate reredos.

Pevsner states " The palish e window, in a belated kind of Nazarene Italianism, was designed by Miss Hobart, daughter of the Dean of Windsor, and made by Ward & Hughes"

DB 7 December 2019

Painted red-outline drawings of saints on the north wall of the chancel.

"In the years 1873 and 1874 the whole of the interior was most elaborately coloured, under the direction of the late Sir G. Gilbert Scott R.A."

DB 7 December 2019

Pevsner states "REREDOS. Marble and alabaster, with religious reliefs".

DB 7 December 2019

Headstone of Group Captain Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall, VC, MC (14 May 1894 - 17 February 1972).

"On 7 November 1915 near Achiet-le-Grand, France, Second Lieutenant Insall, on patrol in Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus No. 5074 with 1st Class Air Mechanic T. H. Donald, engaged an Aviatik two-seater and forced the German pilot to make a rough landing in a ploughed field.

Seeing the air crew scramble out and prepare to fire, Insall dived to 500 ft and his gunner opened fire, whereupon the Germans fled.

After dropping an incendiary bomb on the downed German aircraft, Insall flew through heavy fire at 2000 ft over enemy trenches.

The Vickers' petrol tank was hit, but Insall brought the plane 500 yards back inside Allied lines for an emergency landing.

Insall and Donald stayed by the Gunbus through a bombardment of about 150 shells while awaiting nightfall.

After dark, they then set to work by torch light to salvage their plane. After they repaired the machine overnight, Insall flew them back to base at dawn"

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

DB 18 December 2019

"To the south of the sanctuary is the tomb chapel, the focus of which is of course the tomb of the Earl of Ripon, Frederick Robinson, in whose memory the church was built, and his wife Lady Sarah"

https://nocton-church.blogspot.com/p/testsdsddd.html 

DB 7 December 2019

Designed by Miss Hobart, daughter of the Dean of Windsor and made by Clayton & Bell.

DB 7 December 2019

Monument to the 1st Earl of Ripon carved by Matthew Noble.

"Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon, PC (1 November 1782 - 28 January 1859) ...

He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom between August 1827 and January 1828"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._J._Robinson,_1st_Viscount_Goderich

DB 7 December 2019

A second view of the Earl of Ripon's monument with the Mortuary Chapel beyond.

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The chancel is separated from the adjoining chapel by a beautifully carved arcade, and beneath one of its arches is placed the fine altar tomb erected to Frederick John, 1st Earl of Ripon, who died 28 Jan. I859; it was designed by the late Sir G. G. Scott R.A. and bears a recumbent figure of the earl, in white marble, by the late Mr. Matthew Noble; the sides are relieved with shields of arms and inscriptions on diapered work" 

DB 7 December 2019

The organ faces into the chancel but is located at the back of the mortuary chapel.

A plaque states that it was "repaired and renovated at the expense of Nocton Church Sunday School A.D. 1967". 

DB 7 December 2019

Looking east towards the chancel. 

Christmas Tree Festival in progress.

DB 7 December 2019

Looking towards the west widow with the war memorial beneath.

DB 7 December 2019

Christ in Glory above the chancel arch.

DB 7 December 2019

"Square Caen stone font on green marble columns"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1061911 

DB 7 December 2019

Pevsner states "PULPIT. Of Caen, Ancaster, and red Mansfield stone with green marble columns".

DB 7 December 2019

Unveiled 27 June 1920 in a ceremony attended by the Dean of Lincoln.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/59680 

DB 7 December 2019

West widow by Clayton & Bell.

DB 7 December 2019

Detail of the foliage at the head of the shafts alongside the NW porch entrance.

March 2016

Banner of the Loyal Ripon Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

DB 7 December 2019

"Monument to Dean Henry Hobart, which portrays his wife and daughter"

https://nocton-church.blogspot.com/p/test-2.html 

"In 1816, Hobart reached the pinnacle of his success as a clergyman with his appointment as Dean of Windsor.

This made him spiritual head of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a chapel royal and royal peculiar, essentially the monarch's private chapel.

He was to hold this deanery until his death in 1848, serving four monarchs: George III, George IV, William IV and Queen Victoria.

The deanery carried with it the post of Register of the Order of the Garter, which is based at the chapel".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Hobart_(priest) 

DB 7 December 2019

The fine south porch.

March 2016

Tower viewed from the east. 

"Three storey square tower with angle buttresses, octagonal bell chamber and octagonal spire 130 ft high ... 

Four tall geometric tracery bell openings above and 4 lucarnes in spire"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1061911 

DB 7 December 2019

A pair of windows in the vestry with plate tracery in Early English style.

March 2016

"Row of 4 cottages circa 1860 probably by Sir G G Scott"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1165828 

DB 7 December 2019

Built as a poor house in 1833 by the first Earl of Rippon, before becoming the village Post Office in the early 1900's.

Now a private house.

http://www.artsnk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Nocton-Village-Trail-Guide.pdf 

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"Post Office - Mrs, Mary Elizabeth Smith, sup-post-mistress. Letters received through Lincoln. Metheringham is the nearest money order office & Potter Hanworth the nearest telegraph office for delivery, 1.5 miles distant, & Nocton railway station the nearest for collection of telegrams, on week days only" 

 DB 7 December 2019

Potatoes have been lifted, picked and brought to this point on the Nocton Estate by tractor and tipping trailer.

The machine in the centre, driven by a small oil engine, riddles the potatoes to remove soils and stones. Small and damaged potatoes are removed by hand.

At the end of the line (left) the potatoes are weighed and bagged in hessian sacks.

Photo 1950s 

Reported by The Lincolnite that :- 

"The tower was constructed between 1944-45 as part of the American war effort's US 7th General Hospital.

It is one of four remaining examples in the UK and was in continuous use until 1995 when it was sold as part of the general sale of the hospital site"

https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2019/10/former-nocton-hospital-water-tower-could-become-quirky-home/ 

DB 2020 

"Village School. 1869. Designed by Sir G G Scott ...

Two storey masters house, with splayed bay window"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1360559 

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"Council School (mixed), erected in 1869, for 100 children; Charles F. Eminson, master"

Now Nocton Community Primary School. 

DB 7 December 2019

Stained glass in the nave of All Saints Church depicting its predecessor the former St Peter's Church.

Built in classical style and consecrated 1775.

https://nocton-church.blogspot.com/p/our-history.html 

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1856 states :-

"Nocton Church (St. Peter) is a small structure in the Grecian style.

The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £7. 17s. IOd., and now at £560, is in the gift of the Lord Chancellor and incumbency of the Rev. Edward Wilson, M.A., who has a good modern Vicarage House.

The tithes were commuted for allotments at the enclosure"

DB 7 December 2019