Leaving the Laurel Walk, head back towards the 90 degree bend. Instead of following the road around to the right to go past the Hall, turn left down the track. This will take you towards Bottom Lodge.
This track used to be the main carriageway to Nocton Hall from the old Lincoln - Sleaford road, hence Bottom Lodge and Top Lodge on that route. The following photograph shows you what the original track used to look like, before becoming overgrown.
 |
| Bottom Lodge |
Continue until you come out on to the tarmac estate road where Bottom Lodge is situated (you will see the end of the Laurel Walk to your left which was mentioned earlier). Turn right and walk up the road and you will pass Nocton Cricket Club on your left. To the right you can see All Saints Church. The next photograph is a view looking back down the road towards Bottom Lodge.
 |
| Bottom Lodge |
If you continue walking up the road, you will come across the junction with the Bridlepath. The left path takes you to Dunston, the right takes you back into Nocton (Main Street). If you look up the estate road, you will see Top Lodge, which was the main gatehouse to the Nocton Estate on the original Lincoln - Sleaford road.
 |
| Top Lodge |
 |
| Top Lodge |
Return to Nocton by walking down the Bridlepath and this concludes the Past Times tour of Nocton. My thanks go to Sheila Redshaw, without whom this pictorial tour would not have been possible.
Finally, you may like to see this sketch, courtesy of Gill Rumbelow, which shows much of the original layout of Nocton Hall and grounds. If you study it carefully, you may even be able to place the photographs to the various locations.
 |
| Sketch of Nocton by Gill Rumbelow |
Hello Geoff,
ReplyDeleteI was born at the RAF hospital in Nocton in 1981 and am returning there this week for the first time since! I came across your blog and have printed out all the directions and photographs, to take myself on a guided tour around the grounds.
Thank you so much for supplying all this; I am looking forward to having a walk there and seeing (roughly) the place of my birth!
Great blog, thank you!
Suzi Clements
Hi Suzi,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving a comment. It is so nice to know that people find the content useful or interesting... it makes all the effort worthwhile. I like to feel I am leaving a little 'footprint in the sand', so this material isn't lost forever. Enjoy your trip.
Best regards,
Geoff
My ancestors George and Elizabeth Robinson lived at Top Lodge with their large family. Their eldest child William was my great great grandfather. Elizabeth was shown in the 1861 census at postmistress. Any more information about them would be appreciated. Martin Robinson
ReplyDeleteHi Martin and thanks for your comment. There have been two books written on the history of Nocton "Nocton: The Last Years of an Estate Village Volumes One and Two". The ISBN are: Vol One 9781873257807 and Vol Two 978-1-907516-13-9.
ReplyDeleteThe only entry I can find for your relative is on P10 of Vol Two where there is a single entry 'George Robinson - postmaster' and I believe this originates from the White Directory for 1891.
I have also checked the church records of burials and have found the following:
Robinson, George, b. 14 Jul 1806, d. 21 Nov 1890, “of Nocton”, s/w Elizabeth Robinson
Robinson, Elizabeth, d. 10 Mar 1894, Hull, s/w George Robinson
Source: http://www.interment.net/data/eng/lincoln/allsaints/
Hope this helps. Best wishes for your research.
Hi Geoff. Thanks for your prompt reply. I think the gravestone is that of my great great great grandparents. Not so sure on the Whites entry. Elizabeth is listed as postmistress, Top Lodge in the 1861 census. George is shown as postmaster in the 1851 census but is listed as an agricultural labourer in 1861. By 1881 George is listed as a road labourer and Elizabeth as a road labourer's wife. Must pay a visit to Nocton soon. Regards. Martin Robinson
ReplyDelete