The Timberland Pumping Station was built in 1839 to drain 2,500 acres of land in the Fens of Timberland and Thorpe Tilney. This gives Timberland a clear focus in the history of water management. At the same time, the settlement probably dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, while remnants of agricultural land and buildings add evidence of other periods. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Timberland, you can shape your stay around the subjects that interest you most: the history of technology, historic landscapes or architecture.
Getting There and Planning
For travel planning, the Callconnect service 65/66 is relevant: it serves Timberland from Monday to Saturday and stops there on Station Road. If you plan to use this service during your stay, check the timetable in advance and compare it with your travel dates. This way, you can take the stated service into account when planning without assuming fixed times.
Water Management and the Fens
From 1839 to 1881, a steam engine at the station powered a 26-foot-6-inch scoop wheel, which lifted water from the Walcott Delph into the Witham. The figure of 2,500 acres describes the scale of the drainage scheme; the wheel’s dimensions and its period of operation bring the associated technology into focus. The station’s history thus brings together the scale of the landscape and machinery.
The present pump marks a later technical phase: it was made by Gwynnes of Lincoln and installed in 1924. These dates distinguish the construction of the station, the decades of operation of the steam-powered scoop wheel and the installation of the current pump. Anyone interested in industrial heritage will find a clear sequence here, rather than just a single historical date.
Settlement History and Field Remains
The settlement of Timberland probably dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Four entries in the Domesday Book are among the earliest written records of Timberland. Together with its probable early origins, they give the history of the village a time frame reaching far back into the past.
Another historical trace lies between Timberland School and the rectory: medieval field remains with ridge-and-furrow patterns have been identified there. These forms point to medieval use as arable land and add a tangible landscape feature to the settlement’s history.
Architecture at Thorpe Tilney Hall
Thorpe Tilney Hall is a small country house dating from around 1740. It was altered in the early 19th century and restored around 1980. Its architectural details include a central Venetian entrance with Doric pilasters—that is, flat, column-shaped projections on the wall.
The orangery and its associated garden also date from around 1740. The garden wall is two metres high and encloses a garden measuring 110 metres long and 60 metres wide. Alongside the country house, this complex offers a distinct way to explore the area’s architectural and garden history.
The stable building and its attached cottage also date from around 1740. The stable building has a wooden octagonal dome—that is, one with eight sides—with eight round-arched openings. If you would like to see Thorpe Tilney Hall or its associated buildings in person, check visiting arrangements in advance.
Other Historical Connections
The Church of St Andrew in Timberland is listed as a Grade II* building. A joint Anglican-Methodist service is held there in odd-numbered months. If you would like to include the service in your stay, check the latest information in advance. Evans Farmhouse was built for the Whitchcote family.
The parish council describes Timberland Green as an attractive and peaceful place for parishioners and visitors to enjoy. Together with the history of the pumping station, the medieval field remains and the architecture, it offers a range of themes to help plan your stay.
Discover more destinations: Langworth, Spalding, Wrawby, Binbrook, South Witham, Brigg, North Killingholme, Waltham.
For the wider travel guide: Lincolnshire.
