Hidden Delights

An interesting day today. First a meeting at The Village Church Farm, an accredited museum occupying approximately a three-acre site in Skegness. I was hoping for some photo opportunities but the museum wasn't really ready to be open to the public yet, and most of the exhibits were roped off, which isn't conducive to attractive photography. Definitely another place to pay a return visit to.

During the meeting I met some interesting people, one of whom spoke to me passionately about a building they wanted to secure, that is being used by Lincolnshire County Council as a library. I had heard this building was historically amazing, so as I had call to visit Wainfleet this evening as part of my work, I took the opportunity to visit it for myself. The council are having to make massive cuts to library services and Wainfleet Library is due for closure in May 2014 unless the community are successful in their endeavours to secure it.

The Photograph is Wainfleet Library and Museum. Potted history below


Magdalen College Museum - The Grade 1 Listed building is a scheduled ancient monument

William Patten, a native of Wainfleet was a powerful force in 15th Century. He later became Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England. He took his surname, like many clerics, of the place of his birth and would therefore be known as William of Waynflete (old spelling)

In 1484 William authorised the building of Magdalen College School in Wainfleet. The school was originally designed to take seven boys and educate them in Latin and Greek grammar and ultimately send them on to Magdalen College, Oxford. By 1755 the situation had changed and henceforth it became an elementary school for boys and girls totalling 30-60 pupils. By 1877 the number of pupils had fallen dramatically and the re-construction of a grammar school with new standards began. In 1933 the school was transferred to the new Skegness Grammar School and the building stood empty, apart for military use from 1939-1945. The building re-opened in 1951 and served again as a school until 1966.