The site of Little Steeping station, between Boston and Firsby, seen here in 1970.

On 11 September 1961 it was one of 25 rural stations in the County that lost its passenger trains, but goods trains continued to call until 1964.

Trains between Boston and Skegness still pass the site but the signal box and traditional crossing gates have gone to be replaced with automatic barriers.

Note the signal box with a very pronounced backwards lean.

Peter Grey Archive, 1970

The former village school was opened in 1871 and despite declining numbers in the 1930s continued in operation until 1963. It then closed and remaining pupils were transferred to Great Steeping. It is presently in use as the Village Hall.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

The school bell hung within this housing above the half-hipped roof.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

St Andrew's church in Little Steeping is, like many in the area, of greenstone patched with brick.

The tower and south arcade are late fourteenth-century whilst the north arcade is later Perpendicular.

The same view - on the same day - as the previous photo emphasising the remarkable patchwork effect of random greenstone, brick and stucco.

May 2016

Kelly's Directory 1930 reports :-

"The church of St. Andrew, the third built on this site, is an ancient building of stone, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and a western tower with pinnacles containing 3 bells :

the font is curious and of early date :

there are 100 sittings : 

the church was restored in 1912-13 at a cost of £1,700 :

during the course of the work a recumbent effigy of Thomas de Redyng was found, the supposed builder of the present church, and rector 1318-1353 ; his remains are said to have been buried in the chancel.

The churchyard was enlarged in 1891 by the addition of half an acre"

DB 4 September 2022

Little Steeping St Andrew from SE

St Andrew’s stands well north of the present day settlement of Little Steeping, its churchyard bounded to the north-east and east by the high embankment of the Steeping river. It appears that constant inundations led to the inhabitants moving to higher ground leaving the preaching cross,  the church and former inhabitants quite alone.

The single lancet in the east end of the south aisle is surrounded by rubble infill blocking an earlier wider opening.

This view shows one of the difficulties resulting from former well-meaning but ill-advised repairs to the soft Spilsby sandstone. The eastern gable end of the church has been rendered with a cementitious mix which is now falling away taking more of the surface of the stone with it.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

Detail of construction and repair at the south-east corner of the chancel.

Small limestone blocks form quoins to the lower part of the corner.

Seventeenth century bricks interleaved with greenstone rubble stone are used for repair work, and lighter coloured Victorian bricks are incorporated in the south wall.

May 2016

"No chancel arch, just an ornate C20 screen"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

"This Window is dedicated to the Glory of GOD and in memory of Edward Steere, Bishop, and Mary his wife, by her sole surviving sister Emily. Easter 1913"

Edward Steere who early in his career was Rector of Little Steeping became Bishop of Zanzibar "Steere spent several periods in Zanzibar, 1864–68, 1872–74, and 1877–82. In 1873 he placed the foundation stone at Christ Church, Zanzibar, in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The cathedral was based on his vision; its concrete roof shaped in a barrel vault was Steere's idea. He also worked with David Livingstone to abolish slavery in Zanzibar"

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

DB 4 September 2022

"A very fine recumbant effigy of Thomas de Redyng, rector of Little Steeping 1318-1353"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

"IN THANKFUL MEMORY OF EDWARD STEERE DD DCL CURATE IN CHARGE OF SKEGNESS AD 1858 - 1859 RETOR OF THIS PARISH AD 1859 - 1872 WHO IN 1862 WENT OUT WITH BISHOP TOZER TO CENTRAL AFRICA. SUCCEEDED HIM AS BISHOP OF ZANZIBAR IN 1874 AND DYING THERE AUGUST 27TH 1882 WAS BURIED BEHIND THE ALTAR OF HIS OWN CATHEDRAL : A BRAVE MAN : A DEVOUT SCHOLAR : A TRUE SHEPHERD OF SOULS : A SEER OF KEEN VISION : THE REPARATION OF THIS CHURCH BEGUN WITH HIS OWN HANDS WAS COMPLETED AD MDCCCCXIII. SOLI DEO GLORIA"

DB 4 September 2022

Piscina with elongated trefoiled head.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

This attractive cast hopper with two Tudor roses is on the north side of the chancel.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

A closer view of the sanctuary.

DB 4 September 2022

"TO THE GLORY OF GOD, AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF FRED EDWARD ROUGHTON, 7 BATT. LINC. REGT KILLED IN ACTION AT HOOGE FRANCE ON THE 22ND DECEMBER 1915. AGED 20. FOR SOME TIME A CHORISTER AND CROSS BEARER IN THIS CHURCH. ON WHOSE SOUL JESUS HAVE MERCY"

DB 4 September 2022

"Cross. C15, C19"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267205?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

This datestone is over the doorway leading to the north aisle.

'1638:  WP RC' (Initials of churchwardens)

This is thought to be the date of extensive restoration of the church, including use of red brick.

May 2016

This gargoyle is above the south aisle.

May 2016

This gargoyle conducts water from the parapet of the nave onto the roof of the south aisle.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

Looking east towards the chancel.

"Mid C14 north and south three bay arcades, the north arcade being a little later"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

Looking west towards the tall C15 tower arch.

C19 pews. 

DB 4 September 2022

Looking east along the north aisle.

"Late C15 north aisle, somewhat remodelled in 1638, patched with brick in the C18 and restored in C20"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

"LITTLE STEEPING 1939 ROLL OF HONOUR 1945 EVERY ONE WITH ONE OF HIS HANDS WROUGHT IN THE WORK AND WITH THE OTHER HAND HELD A WEAPON ... 

THESE MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY ...

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE" 

DB 4 September 2022

"LITTLE STEEPING 1914 ROLL OF HONOUR 1918 EVERY ONE WITH ONE OF HIS HANDS WROUGHT IN THE WORK AND WITH THE OTHER HAND HELD A WEAPON ...

THESE MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY ...

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE"

DB 4 September 2022

An attractive well-proportioned porch in Perpendicular style with diagonal buttresses and alternating bands of brick and greenstone.

May 2016

"Inner C14 doorway with continuously moulded surround, hood mould with large grotesque head label stops and C16 plank door"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

Looking over the font and towards the altar at the east end of the south aisle.

DB 4 September 2022

Altar at the east end of the south aisle.

DB 4 September 2022

A depiction of St Andrew.

"IN MEMORY OF W. Frederick S. Noble Priest, Rector ... place here by his four pious children ... EPIPHANY 1918"

DB 4 September 2022

"C14 octagonal font on high octagonal pedestal, seven sides with small standing figures under crocketed and finialled canopies"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry 

DB 4 September 2022

A depiction of Bishop Edward King (29 December 1829 – 8 March 1910).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_King_(bishop_of_Lincoln)

DB 4 September 2022

There is evidence of much repair in the tower, not only in varied materials but also in tie rods supporting the structure.

The original tower dates from the fourteenth century.

May 2016

"Late C15 three stage west tower with moulded plinth and string course. Six stage angle buttresses and patched with C18 brick. Large pointed west window"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1267204?section=official-list-entry  

White's Directory 1872 states :-

"The Church (St. Andrew), which is a small building of brick and stone, consisting of nave, aisles, chancel, and square tower with three bells, was repaired and re-seated in 1870.

The living is a rectory, valued in K.B. at £9. 17s. 4d., and now at .£200, in the incumbency of the Rev. Richd. Lucas Calcraft, M.A., who has a fen allotment of 91 acres awarded in lieu of tithes, and a good rectory house, built in 1857, at an expense of £700, defrayed by the late Lord Willoughby de Eresby and the rector"

DB 4 September 2022

The panelled ceiling here and above both side aisles are thought to be nineteenth century and are all similarly painted.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

The moulded eaves of the tower are decorated with a series of small sculptures. These along the western side show two faces, a rabbit and a flower head.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

The present name of this hostelry is quite recent. It was known as the White Lion for decades and, under this name, was latterly a Batemans pub. It is mentioned as early as 1856 when it was run by William Petty, butcher and victualler.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

The foundation stone for this chapel was laid in 1896; it was the second chapel to be built on this site.

The chapel was last used for worship in 1971 and was sold in the expectation of conversion to a dwelling in 1976.

It is located at NGR TF 432 629

Barry Barton, 1979

"A List And Brief Details Of Chapels In The Spilsby Circuit Past And Present" prepared by Colin Shepherdson & Keith Guyler (Revised August 1998) states that :-

"The first chapel was erected in 1819.

The foundation stone for a second chapel, on the same site, was laid on the 16.6.1896 and the last service held on the 3.10.1971.

The chapel was sold by auction on the 6.9.1976 for conversion into a house but is now standing unused"

Geoff Swain Collection 24 June 2002

Chapel fronts onto Main Road at National Grid Reference TF432629.

Geoff Swain Collection 24 June 2002

Although the high fencing conceals much of the side elevation of the building the detailing of the roof, with the decorative ridge tiles, show that the conversion has greatly respected the original design of the chapel. The footprint occupies only a small additional area to the rear.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

Viewed from the main road the former chapel looks almost as it did when in use as a place of worship

Jean Howard 20 August 2023

The two stones admirably pinpoint the date of construction of the chapel and the date of its conversion to accommodation.

Jean Howard 20 August 2023