"Rauceby Hospital, originally called Kesteven County Asylum, is a now-defunct mental institution in the parish of Quarrington, Lincolnshire, England ...

The hospital was designed by George Thomas Hine using an "echelon layout".

Construction began in 1897 and it was officially opened as Kesteven County Asylum on 20 June 1902.

The gardens were designed under a separate contract by William Goldring ...

In 1940 the building was taken over by the Royal Air Force; renamed as No.4 RAF Hospital Rauceby, it became a crash and burns unit under the control of nearby RAF Cranwell ... 

After the introduction of Care in the Community in the early 1980s, the hospital went through a period of decline and finally closed in December 1997.

The site was subsequently developed for residential use by David Wilson Homes as "Greylees"". 

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

DB 20 August 2020 

Main entrance building viewed from the north with adjacent buildings all now demolished.

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The Kesteven County Asylum, erected 1899-1902 at a cost of about £130,000, is in this parish, and will hold 420 patients:

the buildings also include a chapel with sittings for about 300 persons.

John Alfred Ewan M.A. St.And., M.D. and C.M.Edin. medical superintendent; Rev. Benjamin James Shaul, chaplain; Thomas- Hinman Hildich, clerk to the visitors; William Norman Highsted, clerk and steward; Mrs. Annie Williams head nurse"

What remains of the main hospital buildings are surrounded by a fence and look to be in poor condition. 

DB 20 August 2020 

Main entrance building viewed from the south.

DB 20 August 2020 

"The gardens consist largely of a series of former airing courts for the patients' recreation.

Most of these lie to the west, south, and east of the pavilion wards, which open directly onto them.

To the south of the wards lie the two main, rectangular airing courts, these being laid to lawn and flanked by mature trees and flowering shrubs. Each contains a formal path system in cruciform pattern, surrounded by a perimeter path, at the centre of which stands an octagonal wood and iron shelter (supplied by the firm Boulton and Paul, 1902/03)"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001471 

DB 20 August 2020 

"brick chapel (c 1900)"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001471 

DB 20 August 2020 

Lodge to the former Kesteven County Lunatic Asylum.

"The drive system was laid out 1901?2, to Goldring's plan, and the lodges were built at the same time to designs by G T Hine"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001471  

National Grid Reference: TF037439

DB 20 August 2018

Isolation Hospital associated with the former Kesteven County Lunatic Asylum.

"The former isolation unit, now known as Ash Villa, functions as a 12-bedded in-patient unit for age 12-18 years within the child and adolescent mental health services under the control of the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust"

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

"The Home Farm and isolation hospital were built on the west boundary at the same time as the main hospital building" ie 1899-1902.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001471 

DB 20 August 2018

OS 25 inch map published 1905 seems to show the parish boundary between Quarrington and South Rauceby bisecting the signal box.

The station which is immediately adjacent is just within the Quarrington parish boundary.

DB 20 August 2018 

"The railway station originally served Rauceby Mental Hospital (the former Kesteven Lunatic Asylum, which lies immediately to the south of the railway station and was closed in 1998) and the village of South Rauceby in Lincolnshire, England.

The line was built by the Boston, Sleaford and Midland Counties Railway.

It now principally serves commuters living in the new housing estates that comprise the Greylees suburb of Sleaford"

DB 20 August 2018 

"Rauceby still has a working signal box at west end of the station, however the station is unstaffed and offers limited facilities other than two shelters, bicycle storage, timetables and modern 'Help Points'" 

"The former leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, Nick Clegg, proposed to his wife on a platform at the station"

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

DB 20 August 2018 

Detail of station signboard on the southernmost platform.

DB 20 August 2018 

Former rectory 1846, next to the church, now a private house.

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1856 states :-

"The old Rectory House, a large thatched mansion, was burnt down about 1760, and a new one was not built till 1846"

DB 18 November 2019

The tall tower and spire of St Botolph's are 14th century, as is the south wall of the nave with its large restored windows. 

The apsaidal chancel of 1862 has fine tiles on floor and dado, and some good Victorian stained glass.

September 2013

"A small church with a tall tower and spire.

There are no parapets or clerestory, and the N aisle covering is continuous with that of the nave.

The tower and spire are mid C14"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1360452 

DB 18 November 2019

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"At the time of the Domesday survey there were two churches here.

The church of St. Botolph is a building of Ancaster stone in the Decorated style, consisting of pentagonal apsidal chancel, nave of three bays, aisles, north and south porches and a western tower with plain parapet and octagonal spire, and containing two bells:

the chancel was rebuilt in 1862, in place of one erected by the Rt. Rev. C. J. Blomfield D.D. Bishop of Chester, 1824, and of London, 1828-56, and rector here 1810-20, and the north aisle some years previously:

the tower was restored in 1887 at a cost of £200, and the nave has also been restored:

the chancel windows are all stained, one being a memorial to the late Mrs. Newbatt, of Sleaford:

a low screen of carved oak, with a pulpit of the same material abutting on it on the south side, separates the nave from the choir:

at the east end of the north aisle there remain a bracket and a very small piscina:

some of the Perpendicular bench ends still remain:

in the chancel is a low tomb and there were formerly memorials to the Appleby, Bonchier and Chester families:

carved oak belfry gates were presented anonymously in 1888 and iron gates dividing the north aisle from the organ chamber were erected in 1889:

the flagon and paten were given by Sir Robeert Carre bart. of Sleaford, and bear his arms, impaling those of Bouchier:

the church affords 220 sittings:

land for the enlargement of the churchyard was given in 1879 by the Marquess of Bristol; and within it stands a beautiful monumental cross.

In 1895 a lych gate was erected, and a considerable portion of the south wall of the churchyard restored, at a total cost of about £140"

DB 18 November 2019

Text around top of the chancel reads :-

"IN MEMORY OF CHARLES KIRK AND ELIZABETH HIS WIFE LATE OF SLEAFORD A.D. 1862" 

The Church History by Christopher J. Micklethwaite 2017 states :-

"The present east end is the fourth this church has known.

It was designed and built by Charles Kirk in memory of his parents, Charles and Elizabeth, in 1862, as the inscription round the top of the apse records, at a cost of £460.

The quinquangular (five pointed) shape of the apse is most unexpected in England"

DB 18 November 2019

The Church History by Christopher J. Micklethwaite 2017 states :- 

"The present chancel with its fine roof, tiled flooring and Munich stained glass was created in 1862"

DB 18 November 2019

Closer view of the sanctuary with its many excellent tiles. 

DB 18 November 2019

The Church History by Christopher J. Micklethwaite 2017 states :-

"The 1867 Bevington organ was replaced by a Binns about 1915 which was improved in 1931 and electrified in 1935"

DB 18 November 2019

"Excellent C19 encaustic and glazed tiles in the chancel, including a range of geometric patterns on the floor, and wheat and grape motifs on the dado"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1360452 

DB 18 November 2019

This tall cross seems to be associated with the Sharpe family although the inscription was indecipherable.

DB 18 November 2019

Entrance to the churchyard.

In 1856, before Kirk's later alterations, White's Directory of Lincolnshire described the church :-

"The Church (St. Botolph,) is a small structure, partly in the early English and partly of the decorated style of architecture.

It consists of a nave, with a narrow north aisle, a chancel, and a slender tower and spire at the west end.

The chancel is small, being rebuilt on a reduced scale about forty-five years ago.

The north aisle was rebuilt in 1848, and the nave was renovated, and newly-seated with open benches, and new pulpit in 1849.

The rectory, valued in K.B. at £7. 2s. 3d., and now at £287, is in the incumbency of the Rev. Hy. T. C. Hine, M.A"

DB 18 November 2019

A tall cross marks Charles Kirk's burial. 

"Charles Kirk (1791-1847) was a builder and architect who worked on many buildings in Sleaford and South Lincolnshire, England"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kirk_(architect) 

DB 18 November 2019

Part of the inscription at the bottom of Charles Kirk's monument.

DB 18 November 2019

"Lychgate, probably by Charles Kirk, of 1895"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1360452 

Renovated in 2016. 

DB 18 November 2019

Looking east towards the chancel arch of 1862-3. 

C13 north arcade of 3 bays.

DB 18 November 2019

Looking west towards the C14 tower arch.

DB 18 November 2019

Given in memory of Thomas Clements (1871 - 1899).

The Church History by Christopher J. Micklethwaite 2017 states :-

"The tablet on the wall nearby refers to his death in the Greek hospital, Alexandria. Egypt.

He had moved there as an engineer but fell victim to typhoid fever" 

DB 18 November 2019

"Polygonal C14 font with tracery and foliage on the tapering bowl"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1360452 

DB 18 November 2019

The Church History by Christopher J. Micklethwaite 2017 states :- :-

"The monument to the Reverend Romaine Hervey (1763 - 1837) is by J. J. Sanders of London who carved a beautiful draped urn in white marble.

Romaine's father, also a clergyman, may have been fathered by Lord Bristol.

Romaine wrote a diary in shorthand of which there is a copy in the parish chest.

He was a friend of the Wesleys and named after a famous 18th century evangelical preacher"

DB 18 November 2019

One of two C14 piscinas.

This one at the east end of the nave - the other situated at the east end of the north aisle.

DB 18 November 2019

C19 pulpit.

DB 18 November 2019

First and Second World War memorials.

DB 18 November 2019

Looking east towards the organ.

DB 18 November 2019

Looking west towards a small extension recently added to incorporate kitchen, lavatory & storage facilities.

DB 18 November 2019

More detailed view of the altar at the east end of the north aisle.

Just possible to see C14 piscena to the right. 

DB 18 November 2019

The Church History by Christopher J. Micklethwaite 2017 states :-

"This is the equivalent of a Great War Memorial window, given by Letitia Kate, widow of William Carleton Barrett, Captain of Steamship Stuart Prince, who nobly went down with his ship March 22nd 1917, after being torpedoed by enemy submarine off the north coast of Ireland"

DB 18 November 2019

"Good, early C14 S door with many fine mouldings, foliate capitals, head stops, and at the top a boss of a man putting his tongue out.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1360452  

There was originally a substantial south porch. The Church History states "If you look carefully you can see where a substantial porch was attached to the south wall. This is depicted in a drawing of 1805 and a watercolour of 1826"

DB 18 November 2019

Boss immediately above the south door.

A man sticking his tongue out to scare away evil. 

DB 18 November 2019

The Church History by Christopher J. Micklethwaite 2017 states :-

"What we see of the nave and tower was built about 1325 and restoration has been minimal though £200 was spent on the tower in 1887 when four pinnacles were replaced on each corner"

DB 18 November 2019

West side of the C14 tower with spire visible above.

DB 18 November 2019

Water tower with adjacent reservoir on Quarrington Hill viewed from the top of The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford.

Kelly's Directory 1919 states "Sleaford is lighted by electricity, and supplied with water from works the property of the Sleaford Water Company, under an Act obtained in 1879: the water is pumped from a spring in the fen to a reservoir on the hill adjoining, about a mile west from the town; the reservoir will hold 375,000 gallons".

Reservoir only shown on OS map published 1905 with the tower having been built later.

DB 18 November 2019