Nettleham Welcomes Duke of Kent to Open Bishop's Palace Site

Nettleham welcomed His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent today where he officially opened the Bishop's Palace Site and planted an English oak to commemorate the occasion.

® Stuart Twitchett, WLDC

The Duke arrived in the village by helicopter, at around half past ten, at the Police Headquarters, Deepdale Lane and was welcomed by Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Mr. Tony Worth and his wife, Jenny. They departed by car for Nettleham Parish Council at the Old School, Mill Hill.

Arriving at the Old School the Lord Lieutenant presented the Chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Mrs. Irmgard Parrott and Mr. Len Parrott, the Chairman's Consort, the Police & Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick, the Chief Constable Neil Rhodes and the Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr. Terry Williams and Mrs. Kathleen Williams, the Chairman's consort.

® Stuart Twitchett, WLDC

The Duke was escorted into the Large Hall of the Old School by Cllr. Williams and was introduced to Cllr. John Evans who has been the Lead on the Bishop's Palace Heritage Project.  Cllr. Evans gave an explanation of the project and introduced a number of key individuals to the Duke. Including:

• Mrs. Pat Gregory - Founder Member of Nettleham Heritage Association
• Mr. Chris Williams - Chairman, Nettleham Woodland Trust
• Mr. David Gibbons - Headteacher, Nettleham Junior School
• Mr. Nigel Kingston - Editor of Nettleham News; and
• Miss Chrissie Clayton - Orchard Specialist

A number of individuals from support organisations who have provided assistance to the project were also presented, they included:

• Ms Liz Bates - Director of Heritage Lincolnshire
• Mr. David Start - Director (Retired) of Heritage Lincolnshire
• Ms Mary Hurst - WREN
• Mr. Barry Billingham - Cory Trust

Also in attendance were:

• West Lindsey District and Parish Councillor Giles McNeill
• Parish Councillor Mrs. Janice Clayton, Vice Chairman of Nettleham Parish Council
• Parish Councillor John Hill
• Parish Councillor Joe Siddall
• Parish Councillor Mrs. Susan Harland
• Parish Councillor Allan Bonney

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A little after eleven o'clock His Royal Highness was escorted to the Bishop's Palace Site by Councillors Evans and Williams and given further information about the project, walking through the parish cemetery, into the newly named Swathe and through into the site where the Duke was invited to plant a commemorative English Oak by Mr. Rod Newborough, a forestry expert. There were cheers, applause and frenetic waving of flags by local school children.

At a quarter past eleven the Duke formally cut a ribbon on the ceremonial gateway into the main field of the Bishop's Palace Site and officially opened the site. Cllr. Williams proposed a vote of thanks.

© 2014 Nettleham News 

The tour continued into the Bishop's Palace Site into the schedule Ancient Monument with an explanation of the visible archaeological features.

Around half past eleven the Royal Party departed the village from in front of the White Hart public house and Methodist chapel for their next engagement.

Duke of Kent to Open Bishop's Palace Site

Nettleham will welcome His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who will officially open the new heritage amenity of The Bishop's Palace on Wednesday, 11th March 2014.

The site consists of an original palace of the Bishops of Lincoln and covers an area of over three hectares. The sites use dates back over one thousand years when it was originally the Manor of Nettleham, owned by Queen Edith, wife of King Edward ‘the Confessor’.

Three centuries later, in February 1301, a document signed by King Edward I whilst staying at Nettleham, proclaimed that his son Edward of Caernarvon (later Edward II), would be the first English Prince of Wales in this Lincolnshire village.

The site is an ancient scheduled monument, it has been leased by Nettleham Parish Council, from the Church Commissioners, and had been used as a paddock for many years.

District Councillor, Cllr. Giles McNeill said:

"I am very much looking forward to the Duke's visit. I know that a lot of local people, together with the Parish Council, and the support of English Heritage and other partners, have all put a lot of time, effort and energy in to this project. It is fitting that such an historically important site is being opened up for public access and moreover that it is being opened, officially, by His Royal Highness.

The site now comprises a heritage area (the Scheduled Ancient Monument) with a discovery trail and interpretation panels. In addition, adjacent to the scheduled area, a new area (Bishop’s Meadow) has been created with wild-flower meadowland, a woodland of native species, a heritage orchard and dry stone wall reconstruction.

The site is situated close to Nettleham C of E Junior School which will be undertaking a series of history-related projects on the meadow area.

During the preparation of the Nettleham Parish Plan in 2007, public consultation identified the site as being one which should be developed into a heritage amenity for all to enjoy. The Parish Council approved the project in 2010, the Church Commissioners, who own the site, were contacted and a lease was agreed in 2012.

Funding for the project was obtained from Heritage Lottery Fund, WREN and Cory Trust for various aspects of the project. Several local organisations are involved in the project, including Nettleham Parish Council, Nettleham Heritage Association, Nettleham Woodland Trust, Nettleham C of E Junior School and the local village quarterly publication, Nettleham News.