The village of Nettleham is fortunate to have many facilities for use by the local population, which include;

 

The Green undoubtedly forms one of the main focal points in the village and is important not only as an attractive feature in itself, but also as an historic survival of the traditional village green. Many of the buildings fronting it are constructed of stone or stone coloured bricks in common with the rest of the village, but there are red and brown brick buildings to be seen here also. Several of these buildings are architecturally important. Particularly worthy of note is probably the oldest surviving village building after the Parish Church, Beck House, dating from the 16th century.

 

The Parish Church of All Saints, dating back to c1055 stands in a pleasant setting of trees and is approached from the High Street by way of a footbridge over the Beck, which flows through the village. The village also has a Wesleyan Chapel, which is only 100 years old. Both buildings are still in regular use today for religious services and other community activities.

 

For a distance of about 100 metres in the vicinity of the Church the Beck runs clear and shallow alongside the road, but for the rest of its passage through the Conservation Area it flows behind the buildings on the north side of High Street to Watermill Lane, and Mill Hill as far as Vicarage Lane.  A footpath follows the course of the Beck and provides a pleasant waterside walk.

 

The Beck was, in earlier times, used to supply fresh water to the parish. The source of the beck is a spring on the edge of Lincoln, which was also was used to supply fresh water through pipes to Roman Lincoln nearly 2,000 years ago.  The Beck is now home to a mixed colony of ducks.  A delight every spring is for children of residents and visitors to see the broods of young ducklings paddling around on the water.  

Next to the Norman Church is Vicars wood a small area of woodland called Vicars Wood which is managed by the Parish Council.  Further upstream we have a larger area of woodland and lake whose reed lined edges is home to a wide range of water birds, and with numerous bench seats provides a delightful place for a rest during a walk on one of the numerous footpaths around the village.  The lake and woodland is within the grounds of the Divisional Police HQ, but free access is provided to all visitors and is located on a sign posted footpath.

 

On the south side of the High Street, accessed by a gateway beside the 1899 Methodist Chapel lies a Scheduled Ancient Monument site.  This site was the location original palace of the Bishops of Lincoln and covers an area of over 3 Ha.  A grassy foot path takes visitors through the site past interpretation panels to the Bishops meadow then on to the village burial ground which provides a route back to the High Street and All Saints Church.

The site dates back over 1000 years and was the location of the Manor of Nettleham owned by Queen Edith, wife of King Edward “the Confessor”.  It was also the site where Edward 1 created the first Prince of Wales in 1301.This Scheduled Ancient Monument site had lain derelict for many years.   In 2007 the Nettleham Parish Plan identified the site, following public consultation, as being one which should be converted into a heritage amenity for all to enjoy. 

The Parish Council approved the project in 2010. Funding totaling £45,000 has been obtained for the project from Heritage Lottery Fund, Cory Trust and WREN.  This has been a true community project with a steering committee comprised of representatives from the Parish Council, Nettleham Heritage Association, Nettleham Woodland Trust, Nettleham Junior School, and the Nettleham News.The site now comprises a heritage area (the Scheduled Ancient Monument) with interpretations panels and discovery trail, and easy access from the Nettleham High Street.  

 

In addition, there is a meadow area (outside but adjacent to the scheduled area) with wild flower meadow, woodland of 300 native species trees planted by the community, a heritage orchard, and dry stone wall reconstruction rebuilt by volunteers.  The site is close to the Nettleham Junior School which has undertaken various history related projects on the meadow area, including demonstrating the basic principles of archaeology with the Community Archaeologist from Bishop Grosseteste University.

 

A leaflet giving a potted history of the site has been produced to guide visitors around the site.

 

The Bishops Palace Heritage Site was officially opened on 11th March 2014 by HRH the Duke of Kent.

 

The cemetery, attached to All Saints Church, and the extension on the other side of High Street has been the final resting place for generations of Nettleham residents.  There is also provision for future needs in the form of a field behind the current cemetery which has been grassed and laid out with various trees and shrub planting to provide a quiet pleasant public space and for picnics until it is needed for its designated purpose.

 

The Old School Rooms (originally the village school) in the heart of the village next All Saints Church has both small and large function rooms and a fully fitted kitchen to enable catering for some 50+ people.  The rooms are hired out to local clubs and other organisations during most of the week, both in the day and most evenings.  In addition, nearby there is the purpose built village hall, which is used for dances, parties, concerts as well as indoor sports activities such as badminton.  Contact the Parish Office for further details about hiring the Old School facilities.

 

The village has a 10 acre sports field containing a cricket pitch, a floodlit football ground with a covered stand, plus practice football pitches and 6 hard surface tennis courts.  There is a pavilion on the sports field to allow players to shower and change after the match and then enjoy a relaxing drink with friends after the match.  The Pavilion is also available for hire to hold meetings, social, community and training events.  Contact the Parish Office for further information.

 

There are 3 play areas for young children dotted around the village, the largest is Bill Baileys which located near the centre and covers about 5 acres. Bill Baileys has play equipment including swings, seesaws and slide but also has a large grass area for various ball games including football (with fixed goal posts).  In addition, there are smaller play areas for young children located in some of the newer housing developments.

 

There are thriving infants and junior schools attracting pupils from around the district, not just Nettleham.  Attached to the infants’ school is an out of hours club where working parents can leave their children during working hours and during school holidays in the sure knowledge that the children will be taken care of and be kept safe. Other play groups are also active in the village.

 

The village library has now become the Hub, which provides library services as well as offering a comfortable place to meet for a coffee.  Rooms and offices are also available to rent in the building.

 

Nettleham shares a health centre with the nearby village of Cherry Willingham and located at the Eastern edge of Nettleham.  The Health Centre has several doctors, and practice nurses and contains the necessary facilities to perform minor surgical procedures. 

 

Nettleham Parish Council has a small office on Scothern Road located next to Bill Baileys Play area.  The office is staffed and open to the public Monday to Thursday mornings from 9am – 12 noon.