5 great Betjeman links to Lincs!

Said Betjeman of Woodhall Spa

‘Something unexpected, that half timbered Bournemouth like settlement, among silver birches, heather and rhododendron. With its tree lined streets, the unique Kinema in the Woods and the Headquarters of England Golf, Woodhall is a gem in the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside.’ The town features in his poem ‘House of Rest’ which confronts the feelings of loss and loneliness in old age.

‘Outside the Church at Woodhall Spa

The smiling groom and bride, And here’s his old tobacco jar Dried lavender inside.’

In his Collins Guide to English Parish Churches John Betjeman wrote ‘The county town and cathedral city of Lincoln is ancient on the hill and industrial in the valley.’ With its cathedral, castle, Roman heritage and rich history it is a major tourist destination. When Betjeman spoke at a conference in the city in 1963 he said, ‘Uphill Lincoln has great charm. I have got a really comfortable feeling to think that I am in Lincoln in the heart of Lincolnshire..’

John Betjeman was brought up in Gospel Oak North London, his father Ernest a prosperous silverware maker of Dutch descent. His mother Mabel nee Dawson hailed from Spalding in Lincolnshire and John spent time in the town researching his family history.

Appearing in the BBC TV series A Bird’s Eye View from 1969, John Betjeman takes a whistle-stop trip round Britain’s homes, from humble cottages via castles and stately homes through to modern housing developments – all filmed from a helicopter. One short sequence shows the River Welland and Deeping St James’ bridge, when Betjeman declares: ‘Far over in England, how peaceful are names Like Deeping St Nicholas, Deeping St James, Long string of rich soil and low houses of men Where slow flows the Welland through Lincolnshire fen.’

While we are still trying to get our bearings, our pilot whizzes off to the Cotswolds for the next segment. An Englishman’s Home appears on a DVD compilation and can also be found online including on BBC iPlayer.

Deeping St James Church is also included in Betjeman’s Best British Churches (New Edition) published by Collins, 2011.

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