"The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is an aviation museum in East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, England.

It was opened to the public in 1988 by Lincolnshire farmers Fred and Harold Panton, as a memorial to their older brother, Christopher Whitton Panton, who died during the Second World War"

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

Located on site of the former Royal Air Force airfield, RAF East Kirkby.

18 August 2017

RAF East Kirkby's former control-tower.

DB 19 April 2019

"One of the main features to the museum is the Original Control Tower restored to show you what an operational tower would have been like"

https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/museum/the-museum.htm 

DB 18 August 2017

"Towed an assault glider in Operation Elmira on D Day (Carried soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division) and re-supply after the landings.  Recovered WACO Assault gliders from Normandy landing grounds July/August 1944".

https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/history/history-of-dakota-n473dc.htm 

DB 19 April 2019

"The centre's main exhibit is Avro Lancaster Mk VII, NX611, named Just Jane after a popular wartime comic character.

The Lancaster was built by Austin Aero Ltd at their Cofton Hackett Works just south of Birmingham in April 1945 ...

Restoration of Just Jane to flying status is an ongoing project, which is to soon be completed with the centre acquiring the last of four airworthy Merlin engines at the end of 2012. As of the end of 2016, the aircraft was still undergoing restoration"

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

Just Jane seen here on a regular taxi run which raises some of the money needed to maintain and restore it.

DB 20 August 2019

Entance to the Memorial Chapel.

DB 26 February 2020

The Memorial Chapel displays the names of all the aircrew and ground crew that died from RAF East Kirkby during the Second World War.

DB 20 August 2019

"Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael James Beetham, GCB, CBE, DFC, AFC, DL (17 May 1923 - 24 October 2015) was a Second World War bomber pilot and a high-ranking commander in the Royal Air Force from the 1960s to the 1980s.

As Chief of the Air Staff during the Falklands War he was involved in the decision to send the Task Force to the South Atlantic.

At the time of his death Beetham was one of only six people holding his service's most senior rank and, excluding Prince Philip's honorary rank, and had the longest time in rank, making him the senior Marshal of the Royal Air Force"

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

DB 20 August 2019

The Prime Meridian passes through the site.

DB 26 February 2020

Memorial to the aircrews of 57 and 630 Squadron 1939-45.

Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is based at the former Royal Air Force airfield, RAF East Kirkby.  The airfield was originally built in 1943 as a Bomber Command Station and was used by both No. 57 Squadron RAF and No. 630 Squadron RAF from 1943 until the end of the war.

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

DB 20 August 2019

This fine seven-storied mill, together with house and bakehouse, was built in 1820.

Jon Sass Collection, undated postcard

The five sails on Barlow's Mill were removed in 1927 and milling continued under engine power until the 1950s.

Location of mill: TF 333 623

This mission church was built in 1896 at the time of major restoration of the parish church in the village. It then stood out of use and derelict for many years.

It is located at NGR TF 334624.

The former CE mission church was converted into a hall for the community.

May 2018

The typical pointed windows of the former church were replaced on north and south sides of the building when it was converted into a village hall.

One of the former windows has been retained over the entrance at the west end of the building.

May 2018

The interior of the former church gives generous space for a range of community activities. The original dividing wall between nave and chancel remains.

May 2018

A Free school was founded in the village in 1719. In 1874 a new school building was opened and it took children from Miningsby as well as East Kirkby.

New buildings (seen here) were opened in 1973 and children from Old Bolingbroke were added. It was known as the Gregory Croft CE (Aided) Primary School.

Because of a falling roll the school closed in July 1989.

May 2018

Note: The school was named for the charitable endowment made by Gregory Croft and Margaret his wife on 16 May 1719.

Listed as the Lion in White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1856

"Ashton John, vict., Lion"

but as the Red Lion in Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919

"Hooton Harry, Red Lion P.H"

Particularly associated with 57 & 630 squadrons whose Lancasters flew from nearby RAF East Kirkby.

DB 22 June 2019

The greenstone church stands alone on the edge of the village. It is largely Decorated work.

The south porch tower is unusual for the county. The chancel clerestory and east wall date from the restoration of 1904-6.

Inside can be found old pews and screens along with fragments of what may have been an Easter sepulchre.

Mark Acton, 2017 

"Parish church. C13, C14, C16, extensively restored C19 and 1904- 6"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168096 

Tower is unusually located to the south and contains the entrance porch.  

Peter Kirk Collection, 16 May 1992

View of the church from the south-east

May 2018

View from the west. Entrance to the church is through a porch at the baseof the tower.

The relatively friable greenstone has been patched with more resilient limestone, especially as quoins.

May 2018

The clerestory in the chancel - an unusual feature - was added in 1906.

May 2018

The entrance porch - the base of the tower - has simple rib vaulting and walls with blank arcading.

May 2018

The priest's door in the south wall of the chancel.

May 2018

"East Kirkby War Memorial was unveiled on 19 October 1919.

It was constructed by the local monumental masons Messrs Browning and Sons of Spilsby at a cost of £300"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1433524 

DB 22 June 2019

This chapel, built right in the village centre, opened for worship in 1862 and closed in 1971.

For many years after closure it remained derelict, awaiting conversion or demolition.

The National Grid Reference for the site is TF 334 623.

Barry Barton, 1977

The chapel has been converted into a dwelling. One bay at the western end of the building has been demolished - perhaps to create ground space for parking. (Many chapels were built on plots very little larger than the footprint of the building.)

May 2018