St Margaret's was built in 1733 as a landscape feature for Well Hall.

The portico has four Tuscan columns; the east window is Palladian,

Peter Kirk Collection, 1993

Kelly's Directory 1930 reports :-

"The church of St. Margaret, standing on a woody eminence in Well Vale park, is a structure of brick, in a modern Classic style, and has a turret at the west end containing one bell: there are about 100 sittings. The register dates from the year 1649. The living is a discharged rectory, united to the old church parish of Dexthorpe, with the endowed vicarage of Claxby annexed, joint net yearly value £442, including 24 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of Major Walter H. Rawnsley D.L., J.P. and is at present (1930) vacant."

DB 5 October 2024

"Parish church. Built in 1733 in the form of a Palladian Temple on a direct axis to the front door of Well Vale House. Altered late C18, restored 1959"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359700?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024 

The church is approached by a narrow public footpath from the village.

DB 5 October 2024

"The added sexagonal bellcote over has weather boarded base and 6 Tuscan columns support cornice and cupola"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359700?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024

"On the inner stuccoed wall 4 pilasters frame the 8 panelled doorway with moulded architrave and cornice, flanked by single blank openings with moulded architrave and keystone."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359700?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024

Interior glimpsed through an outside window.

"C18 tiered box pews to either side of nave, with fluted pilasters to front panels. Similar pews to either side of altar. Early C18 altar rails with knopped and turned balusters. C20 panelled oak reredos with central niche, all in C18 style. Double decker panelled pulpit with tester having triglyph and dentillated frieze. Stair balusters match altar rails. Panelled oak gallery hung with Royal Arms of George II and C18 funeral hatchments, one of 1733 to Mrs. Anne Bateman of Wellvale House. To either side of the altar are semi-circular headed commandment boards with moulded plaster surrounds. 

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359700?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024

C18 funeral hatchment.

"MORS JANUA VITAE" translates as "DEATH IS THE DOOR OF LIFE".

DB 5 October 2024

"Panelled oak gallery hung with Royal Arms of George II and C18 funeral hatchments, one of 1733 to Mrs. Anne Bateman of Wellvale House."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359700?section=official-list-entry 

DB 5 October 2024

Victorian letterbox together with a K6 type telephone kiosk (Designed 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott).

At the village centre near the old school - OS Grid Ref: TF 445 739.

DB 5 October 2024

House viewed from St Margaret's churchyard. 

"Former small country house in park, now private school. Early C17, sunstantially remodelled c.1730 for James Bateman, extended late C18, for Francis Dashwood, partly gutted by fire 1845 and rebuilt 1925 by Guy Elwes."

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1168883?section=official-list-entry 

Shown as Well Hall on the OS 25" map published 1906. 

DB 5 October 2024

Viewed from public footpath to the west.

Kelly's Directory 1930 has :-

"Well Vale, formerly the seat of the Dashwood family, is now the property and residence of Major Walter Hugh Rawnsley D.L., J.P .; the mansion is delightfully situated in a romantic and well-wooded valley and surrounded by a park of 170 acres, containing a lake.  Major W. H. Rawnsley D.L., J.P. is lord of the manor and sole  landowner."

DB 5 October 2024

Viewed from public footpath leading from the village to St Margaret's Church.

White's Directory 1856 reports :-

"The Right Hon. Robert A. Christopher Nisbet Hamilton, M.P., of Bloxholm Hall, owns nearly all the soil and is lord of the manor, but his beautiful seat, called Well Vale is occupied by Thomas Turnell Cartwright, Esq., and is a large mansion, in a romantic and well-wooded valley, containing several ornamental sheets of water. It was formerly the seat of the Dashwood family, of whom this manor, and several other estates, were purchased by the Right Hon. R. C. N. Hamilton, with the advowson of the Church (St. Margaret) which has been rebuilt in the form of a Grecian Temple, and stands on a woody acclivity near the mansion"

DB 5 October 2024