About Belchford – Belchford and Fulletby Parish Council

Belchford is a vibrant and active village located just south of the Bluestone Heath ridge from which the River Waring chalk stream is sourced. It is situated in the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is an idyllic rural setting for walkers and cyclists.

The village has a history dating back to prehistoric times, with evidence of occupation in the Roman and Viking periods. Hence the reason for the aptly named ‘Viking Way’, a nationally recognised public footpath, which passes through the village (and also through Fulletby) on its way from the Humber Estuary to Oakham in Rutland.

The settlement developed much as the rest of England, but one of the more dramatic episodes occurred at the time of the Lincolnshire Uprising in 1536 when two brothers, one a vicar in Fulletby and the other a vicar in Belchford, were hung, drawn and quartered for their opposition to what they saw as religious suppression by Henry VIII. In more recent times the village saw its heyday about the middle of the 19th Century when the population peaked at 700. Belchford now has approx. 250 residents.

Belchford has an excellent public house, The Blue Bell Inn, which is a great meeting place for the community and a successful restaurant. A pensioners Christmas lunch funded by village charities is held annually at the Blue Bell. Apart from the pub, Belchford has no other formal retail outlet. However a fish and chip van, mobile post office and other grocery deliveries do come weekly to the village. The Church of St Peter and St Paul in the heart of the village is part of the Hemingby Group and has services about 8 times a year.

Belchford was the home of the highly successful Belchford Downhill Challenge, a soapbox cart race which brought entries from all over the country and over 4000 spectators. One day this event will be resurrected! A black tie Midsummer Ball was held for many years in a highly decorated farm barn which was a great fund raiser.

Belchford has had Village Galas, Flower Festivals and Produce Shows in the recent past, and also the the BOx (Belchford and Oxcombe) mountain bike and cross country trail runs which have always been well supported. With the help of the church committee a local farmer hosts a fund-raising Tractor Run which has had up to 65 vehicles participating. The relatively new Village Green Committee have organised a fete and popular sporting events such as a Rounder’s Tournaments.

Both Belchford and Fulletby villages have had defibrillators installed, kindly donated by the British Heart Foundation. Belchford’s unit is installed on the wall of the approach to the Blue Bell Inn car park. Fulletby’s is located in the porch of St Andrews Church.

Ab1