Village Spotlight - Morton and Hanthorpe
Morton and Hanthorpe scenes. St John the Baptist Church. Photo: SG141012-TW www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/buyaphoto
We have relaunched our popular I Love Bourne campaign and as part of that we are running a series of Village Spotlight features.The Bourne area has so many picturesque villages and we are taking a look at what makes them great places to live, work and play. This week it’s the turn of Morton and Hanthorpe.
Morton and Hanthorpe is a growing community but it is at no risk of losing its charming character.
Until 2004 and the two villages were merely neighbours but now they are one.
The change was approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ordnance Survey and the Registrar General, making official what the residents already knew – that the two communities were one and the same.
They have long shared the facilities in the villages, from the church, to the shops, post office, the village hall and not least, the public houses, The Five Bells and The Lord Nelson, all of which can be found in Morton.
Now the village is growing again, with Larkfleet Homes starting work on 20 new affordable houses in Bourne Road.
Morton and Hanthorpe Parish Council clerk Terry Barnatt said: “There is no danger of the village losing its character.
“The village can get very busy but this development should be the last in the village for a few years.”
And Terry should know about the village’s character having lived in Edenham Road, Hanthorpe for more than 45 years.
He said: “We have two good shops and a great post office which is very important to the village, particularly the older people.”
As with many rural communities the village hall is at the centre of most of the activities taking place.
Terry said: “It is very well used and it is always modernising in some way to keep up to date.”
The village has a thriving social scene for all ages.
An active brownie and guide group meets in the village throughout the year.
With a preschool and primary school in the parish there is a strong youth community in the area.
There is also plenty going on for the older generation. The Morton and Hanthorpe Over Sixties Club has been in existence for many years, meeting in the village hall every Wednesday come rain or shine. The group’s social events include playing whist, dominoes, cards and bingo, plus outings, meals and a good chat.
Morton WI is active in the community, with monthly meetings at 7.30pm also in the village hall.
The Morton Church Bell Ringers fill the village with the sound of bells from the steeple at the Grade I listed St John the Baptist Church.
For sports enthusiasts there is the Morton and Hanthorpe Short Mat Bowls Club which was formed in 2002 and currently meets in the village hall most Fridays throughout the year.
The community spirit is never more evident than at three of the village’s biggest annual events: The Morton and Hanthorpe Village Show in September; The Morton Steam and Vintage Weekend in June and the Morton Street Fair in July, which draws out crowds of hundreds.
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Weather for Bourne
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
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