Scampton’s historic character is shaped by several distinct points of interest: the architecture of St John the Baptist, the history of RAF Scampton, and the commemoration of members of various air forces. For visitors interested in cultural and architectural history, this combination offers different periods rather than a single narrative. The church, the war graves, the surviving gateway of Scampton Hall and the hangars each provide their own perspective. Dates and dedications help distinguish these themes and place the site in context more precisely.
RAF Scampton: Hangars and 617 Squadron
RAF Scampton opened in the 1930s. Hangars 1–4 were built in 1936–1937 to designs by J. H. Binge of the Air Ministry’s Directorate of Works and Buildings. They comprise four large halls with continuous steel doors at both ends. This records not only when they were built, but also their specific design: four halls with doors that extend across both ends. While the opening of the airfield and construction of the hangars date to the 1930s, RAF Scampton was home to 617 Squadron during the Second World War. This sequence makes the construction history and wartime connection legible as distinct historical periods.
St John the Baptist: Building Phases and Dedications
St John the Baptist has a different building history. The bell tower dates from the 14th century. The chancel arch dates from the 16th century; there is also a north arcade with octagonal piers. The tower and chancel arch can therefore be attributed to two different centuries, while the arcade’s pier design is a distinctive architectural feature in its own right. Two stained-glass windows created by Claire Williamson are dedicated to the region’s RAF heritage and 617 Squadron. Scampton Church is also on the West Lindsey Aviation Heritage Trail. The church thus brings together older architectural features and an explicitly named dedication to aviation history. St John the Baptist is open to visitors daily. If you are making a special trip to the church, it is advisable to check the opening information before setting out.
War Graves and Remembrance
The Commonwealth war and service graves at Scampton Church are divided between two areas connected by a footpath. The air forces represented there include the Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the German Air Force. This gives the memorial site an international composition that can be seen in the specific forces represented. According to the War Graves Project, hundreds of visitors come to Scampton Church each year; they walk between the rows of headstones and read the names. The division into two areas and the connecting footpath give the site a clear spatial layout, while the names of the air forces indicate its distinctive historical context.
Scampton Hall and Lincolnshire Edge
Among the surviving remains of Scampton Hall is an ornate stone gateway dating from the early 17th century. Its date adds to the sequence of buildings: after the church tower from the 14th century and the chancel arch from the 16th century come the gateway, followed later by the RAF hangars of the 1930s. Scampton can therefore be understood not only through its RAF history, but also through its different building phases. Geographically, Scampton lies on the Lincolnshire Edge, a limestone escarpment that runs from Grantham to the Humber. The gateway adds another building phase to the history of the church and hangars; the Lincolnshire Edge shifts the perspective from individual buildings to regional geography.
Discover more destinations: Broughton, Skegness, Timberland, East Barkwith, Saltfleet, Wainfleet All Saints, Saleby, Carlton-le-Moorland
For the main travel overview: Lincolnshire.
