William Dennis (1841-1921), 'Potato King', made his fortune as a potato grower in the Lincolnshire fens. He pioneered the use of light railways to carry the crops from his extensive fields to the public rail network.

The statue, made of bronze on a Portland stone plinth, was sculpted by Philip Lindsey Clark (1889-1977) and stands in front of the town hall at Kirton in Holland.

September 2011

Like most large villages, Kirton once had several public houses. The Black Bull is the only one remaining open. At the time of the image it was owned by Soulby, Sons & Winch of Alford.

Unposted postcard by R.A.P. Co. Ltd. 

Kirton's Methodist Chapel is on the west side of the main street in the centre of the village.

Pale rock-faced stone has been used on the facade facing the street; the rest of the building is constructed in less fashionable local red  brick.

September 2011

Built 1911-12 to the design of Henry Kidd in 'Chateauesque' style. It was paid for by the 'potato king' William Dennis whose statue was sited in front of the building in 1930. The hall is now used as a community events venue & for meetings of Kirton parish council.

Unposted postcard by R.A.P. Co. Ltd. 

This five-storey mill was built in 1833 on the site of a post mill.

Jon Sass Collection, undated photograph

The mill now has a replica ogee cap and has been converted into a dwelling.

The stump is listed Grade II.

Location of mill: TF 289 402

Peter Kirk Collection, 2002

Kirton Holme is a secondary settlement in the extreme northwest corner of the parish, approximately 3 miles from the village centre.

The Methodist Church is a short distance from the A52.

This is the original chapel built in 1820; it became a Sunday schoolroom when the replacement chapel was constructed alongside in 1903. 

September 2011

The pair of buildings on Kirton Holme Road, a short distance from the A52 and about 3.5 miles north-west of Kirton, were built for the Primitive Methodists. This, the second chapel, was opened in 1903 to the left (south) of the first one.

The Methodists held their last service here in 1962 and the buildings were sold to the Anglican Church for £800. Two years later, after refurbishment, Christ Church CE church opened in the buildings. (Prior to this the Anglicans had worshipped in a timber mission room.)

September 2011

Another photograph of the original chapel of 1820.

August 2018

Between Boston and Spalding, Kirton station opened in 1848 and is shown here in 1970, on the last weekend before the line closed.

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.

The large building, centre right, was the potato warehouse built by the "Potato King", William Dennis. By 1918 Dennis was farming some 12,000 acres in the County, including 2000 acres at Kirton. Potatoes were at one time a major traffic for the railway.

Everything in this view has now gone. A roundabout now occupies the site, the railway now the route of the A16 with all the land to the right of the railway redeveloped for housing.

Peter Grey Archive, 1970

"Parish church. Mid C12, late C12, C13, C14, C15,

c.1500 crossing tower and transepts demolished, and chancel shortened 1805 by William Haywood and stonework used for building west tower and extending aisles.

1900 restoration by Hodgson Fowler, 1907"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062022 

Peter Kirk Collection, 20 June 2002

The chancel was shortened in Hayward's substantial rebuioding in 1805. It is in typical Perpendicular style.

August 2018

View from the north-east; the north aisle dates from the early Decorated period of architecture, c.1300.

August 2018

This photograph of the interior shows the Perpendicular windows of the chancel.

September 2011

The octaginal font dates from 1405.

August 2018

Looking east towards the chancel. The arcades have six bays and date from the thirteenth century.

August 2018

View to the west. Circular piers have circular abaci and double-chamfered arches.

August 2018

The south doorway has decoration dating it from the late Norman period.

August 2018