Our Village.........
Fosdyke is both a village and a parish almost 100 miles north of London, near the mouth of the River Welland, where that river empties into The Wash. The parish lies about six miles northwest of Holbeach and about eight miles south of Boston. The parish is bounded on the north by Kirton parish, to the west by Algarkirk and by the River Welland on the south. The area is flat fenland, drained by many small canals and covers 2,356 acres. The "sea bank" protects the village from high water on the River Welland.
Although not mentioned in the Doomsday Book, records go back to the 12th century, since when it has always had a reasonably busy port, the activities of which, together with agriculture, have been the mainstay of employment in the village until recent times when the Port and its shrimp fleet ceased to trade. Today, the main source of employment is still Agriculture and its associated Food/Flower/Plant Processing Industries, so typical of South Lincolnshire.
Offering little in terms of architectural interest save the church, vicarage, and almshouses, the true beauty of this parish lies in the ageless dignity and the unique fen character of its people.
Historical curiosities........
§ In ancient times, Fosdyke often served as a port for Boston and the surrounding area. The land was hard loam and made good cattle pasture.
§ By calculating the tide table for 12 October 1216 and given travel in the usual daylight hours, it is possible to deduce that King John's treasure was lost in crossing the Welland in the vicinity of the site of the much later, Fosdyke Bridge.
§ Church records go back to 1599
§ In the 18th century this was a popular bathing resort for Sunday afternoon outings, treacherous though the waters were and are. In 1812, construction started on a beautiful English Oak bridge to cross the Welland and it was finished in 1815. It was replaced in 1911 by a new iron bridge.
§ A small Coast Guard station was established here prior to 1900, manned by one officer and two men.
§ In recent history, the 1963 winter was very severe. 8mm film of a ship trapped in the ice near Fosdyke Bridge.
§ As with the churches, the ‘new' bridge over the river Welland is the third. The previous two being wooden structures.
§ The old lamp from the previous bridge now shines in restored beauty over the church path.