Middle Rasen

{{Infobox UK place

| static_image_name= Middle Rasen Church - geograph.org.uk - 70190.jpg

| static_image_alt= Red-brown church with limestone pinnacles and details. A square tower on the left, the nave on the right under a low roof hidden behind castellations in the same material. We can see a neat porch and a very imposing stained glass window. The church and graveyard stand a metre higher than the road, retained behind a low wall of the same red-brown ironstone. The church is seen framed by bushes and large trees in the middle nearground. The sky is mostly of high, light, clouds with patches of blue.

| static_image_caption= St Peter’s Church, Middle Rasen

| country = England

| official_name= Middle Rasen

| map_alt= Middle Rasen is shown in red on the cream outline of Lincolnshire, two thirds of the way up and roughly half way across. It is NE of Lincoln, half way to Grimsby.

| coordinates = {{coord|53.387129|-0.362506|display=inline,title}}

| population= 2,043

| population_ref= (2011)

| shire_district= West Lindsey

| shire_county = Lincolnshire

| region= East Midlands

| constituency_westminster= Gainsborough

| post_town= Market Rasen

| postcode_district = LN8

| postcode_area= LN

| dial_code=

| os_grid_reference= TF089890

| london_distance_mi= 130

| london_direction= S

}}

Middle Rasen is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England, located about {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} west from the town of Market Rasen.{{cite web |url=http://www.middlerasen.org.uk/ |title=Parish council web site |accessdate=16 March 2013}} The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 2,043.{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126529&c=middle+rasen&d=16&e=62&g=6447765&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1464086766109&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|accessdate=24 May 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}

History

Rasen is mentioned in Domesday Book of 1086, but West Rasen, Middle Rasen and Market Rasen are indistinguishable. In its entirety the list includes ten separate references to Rasen, which as a whole consists of 144 households.{{cite web|title=Middle Rasen (and Market Rasen and West Rasen)|url=http://www.domesdaymap.co.uk/place/TF1089/market-middle-and-west-rasen/|work=Domesday Map|publisher=Anna Powell-Smith/University of Hull|accessdate=13 July 2011}}

Today's village results from the merger of the two historic villages of Middle Rasen Drax and Middle Rasen Tupholme.{{cite web |url=http://www.middlerasen.org.uk/index/MR/Middle%20Rasen.htm |title=Parish council web site history page}}{{cite PastScape|mname=Middle Rasen|mnumber=892385|accessdate=13 July 2011}}{{cite web|title=Middle Rasen|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=13473&st=MIDDLE%20RASEN|work=Vision of Britain|publisher=University of Portsmouth|accessdate=13 July 2011}}

Middle Rasen has had two churches. A church dedicated to St Paul Middle Rasen Drax took part of its name from the parent house of Drax Priory in Yorkshire. In 1846 St Paul's comprised a nave, chancel, South aisle and western tower, with the probable remains of a demolished north aisle and north chapel. – it was demolished in 1860, with parts of its fabric used to restore of the church of St Peter.{{cite web|url=http://www.middlerasenchurch.org.uk/history/|title=Ecclesiastical parish history|accessdate=16 March 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130423191742/http://www.middlerasenchurch.org.uk/history/|archivedate=23 April 2013}}{{cite PastScape|mname=St Paul, Middle Rasen|mnumber=349736|accessdate=13 July 2011}}Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire with the port of Hull 1885, p. 601 Grade II* listed St Peter's church dates from the 12th century, with later alterations and additions, and an 1861 restoration by Pearson Bellamy and John Spence Hardy, of Lincoln.{{NHLE|desc=St Peters, Middle Rasen|num=1166238|accessdate=13 July 2011}}

In 1885 Kelly's Directory noted village Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist, and Reformed Wesleyan chapels. It described a parish land of sand and clay, with a clay subsoil, on which wheat, barley and turnips were grown, and with pasture. Parish area was {{convert|3550|acre|km2|0}}, supporting an 1881 population of 928. There were 17 farmers listed, four of whom had added trades, variously a miller, cattle dealer, butcher & cattle dealer, and machine owner. Other occupations were a blacksmith, beer retailer & blacksmith, millwright, grocer, shopkeeper, wheelwright, carrier, grocer & draper, butcher & cattle dealer, miller, publican, and dressmaker, and a shoemaker who also ran the post office.

File:Middle Rasen.jpg

A tower windmill, built in 1827 for the grinding of cereal, ceased working permanently in 1925, and is now used as a store.{{cite PastScape|mname=Middle Rasen Windmill|mnumber=498317 |accessdate=13 July 2011}} A previous three storey red-brick watermill dated from the late 18th century, with 1827 remodelling – its remaining wheelhouse is Grade II listed.{{cite PastScape|mname=Middle Rasen Watermill|mnumber=892383|accessdate=13 July 2011}}{{NHLE|desc=Middle Rasen Watermill|num=1064040|fewer-links=x|accessdate=13 July 2011}}

Middle Rasen Primary School was built in 1875 to replace a charity school founded through a bequest by John Wilkinson, who died in 1720. In 1878 the school became a Board School, and in 1903 the Middle Rasen Council School. The charity still supports the current school.{{cite web|title=Middle Rasen Primary School|url=http://www.lincstothepast.com/MIDDLE-RASEN-PRIMARY-SCHOOL/886735.record?pt=S|work=Lincs to the Past|publisher=Lincolnshire Archives|accessdate=13 July 2011}}

Community

The ecclesiastical parish is part of The Middle Rasen Group of the Deanery of West Wold. The 2013 incumbent is The Revd Charles Patrick. Since the demolition of one church the other has carried both dedications, and is known to the Diocese as Drax St Peter & St Paul. The parish maintains a modern church hall which is used by the village.{{cite web |url=http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/search_parishes.php?05296000 |title=Middle Rasen P C C |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116085520/http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/search_parishes.php?05296000 |archivedate=16 January 2014 }}, Diocese of Lincoln{{cite web |url=http://www.middlerasenchurch.org.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709034345/http://www.middlerasenchurch.org.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-07-09 |title=St. Peter and St. Pauls Church, Middle Rasen }}, Middle Rasen Group To mark the Millennium a new clock, new bell frame, and three additional bells were installed.{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/VenueDetails.aspx?venuecode=20876 |title =Middle Rasen St Peter and St Pauls Parish Church |publisher=Lincolnshire County Council}}

The Middle Rasen Methodist church maintains a chapel on Gainsborough Road. The Anglican and Methodist churches hold joint services at a former RAF base {{convert|4|mi|km|1}} away.{{cite web|url=http://www.lgmethodistdistrict.org.uk/mraccircuit/middle_rasen.htm|title=Middle Rasen methodist chapel|accessdate=16 March 2013|publisher=Market Rasen & Caistor Circuit|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429022217/http://www.lgmethodistdistrict.org.uk/mraccircuit/middle_rasen.htm|archivedate=29 April 2012}}

The Bowling club maintains a Bowling Green on Church Street.{{cite web|url=http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/VenueDetails.aspx?venuecode=21561 |title=Bowling club venue}} The village has numerous sports and social clubs, including a Cricket Club and a Horticultural Society.{{cite web |url=http://www.middlerasen.org.uk/clubs%20and%20societies/other%20groups.htm |title=Clubs and associations, Parish web site |accessdate=16 March 2013}}

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline|Middle Rasen}}

Category:Villages in Lincolnshire

Category:Civil parishes in Lincolnshire

Category:West Lindsey District