HISTORY ARCHIVE

Old Photos, Postcards, Newspaper Cuttings etc that tell the story of our area's past

Historic Photos of Theddlethorpe from the collection of Jean Simpson

Extracts from the Minutes Book of Theddlethorpe Parish Council

Originally two parish councils: All Saints and St Helen's. The first meetings were held on 4th December 1894. All Saints ceased to have a parish council until the two parishes amalgamated in 1952 and became one council for the whole of Theddlethorpe. These records were saved in the collection of the late Jean Simpson.

The Horrible Murders of Thomas Hall and Mary Grant in 1817

History of the King's Head Pub

Historic Crime in Theddlethorpe

Click here for a transcript of some documents regarding people finding themselves on the wrong side of the Law in Theddlethorpe. It's taken from hand written notes found in Jeans archives. Some of the handwriting is Jeans but I don't know who contributed to the rest. Some of the stories are really sad and some are hilarious.

Stories of Historic Village Crimes

The loss of Mablethorpe St Peter's Church in 1287

Mablethorpe St Peter's

The parish of Mablethorpe St Peter's was part of the Northern part of Mablethorpe about 400 yards East of Bleak House and the current dunes line on the Theddlethorpe border. It could have been built of stone around 1230 but it is more than likely a wooden structure existed long before this. However the sea, before the 1200s was well back from the present water line - perhaps a mile east to judge from extensive grants of pasture rights to the seaward side of the bank. During the 13 century tides became higher and flooding was a serious problem.

On the 31st December/ 1st January 1287 a flood was recorded by the Louth Chronicles who said "The church of St Peters of Mablethorpe was torn apart by the waves" . This was confirmed by the Hagnaby Abbey Chronicles. The same Chronicler also recorded that on St Hillary's day (13th January) The sea overran the coastal area when the church of St Peters of Mablethorpe was wholly destroyed. He also went on to say that in the year 1288 (4th February) a flood reached Maltby Field and totally destroyed the church of St Peter. On that day many men perished along with an unknown number of cattle. Also on the 14th August the sea caused very great damage in Mablethorpe.

In 1290 the bishop of Lincoln instructed the Arch Deacon of Lincoln to allow Robert of Waddington, Chaplin, to collect tithes to have the church rebuilt.

In August 35 * note it does not say which 35. The sea again broke through the banks of Mablethorpe and along the nearby coast causing a flood which drowned sheep and crops and lasted 2 or more days.

We hear no more until the 16th Century. However, Mablethorpe must have been under threat. In 1425 the sea banks were breached and a greater part of the town was submerged.

In 1540 the church and Chancel was swallowed by the sea . This seems to have brought a complete end to the rebuilding of the church of St Peter's. The sea had won