Timeline

Key dates in the history of the Parish of Newton.

1st / 2nd C

The Romans constructed earthworks to reduce flooding from the sea - More -

The old sea bank is still known as Roman Bank and numerous artefacts from the period have been discovered here

1210

First documented mention of Newton - More -

Newton was not listed in the Domesday Book

c1240

Colvile family came into possession of the manor of Newton - More -

Sir Roger de Colvile married Desiderata, the daughter and heiress of Sir Stephen de Marisco

c1270

First St James Church built - More -

Formerly known as the Church of St Katherine

c1297

John de Drax appointed as first Rector

14th Century

Church aisles and porch built and tower erected

1403

Sir John Colvile rebuilt the Chapel of St Mary in the Marsh and founded a College there for four chaplains, four clerks and ten poor men - More -

The Chapel is believed to be in the grounds of the old Rectory in Chapel Lane

1432

Newton Church and the Chapel and College of St Mary in the Marsh were formally united

1582

Roger Pinchbeck appointed as Schoolmaster of Newton Church School - More -

The school was in the vestry of the church

1632

Richard Colvile commissioned Henry Dereham of London to drain 3000 acres of marshland - More -

Dereham carried out the work at his own expense in return for a rent of 40 shillings per acre on two-fifths of the land

c1633

The narrow twisty river from Wisbech to the Wash was replaced with a wider man-made channel - More -

The former course of the river is still visible as a curvy field boundary between the A1101 and the River Nene

1635

Henry Dereham completed the drainage works

1665

Marshlands of Newton were first enclosed - More -

Claimed by William Colvile, as Lord of the Manor

1667-68

The marsh was first ploughed

1750

Earthquake in Newton! - More -

On 23rd August, an earthquake centred under the North Sea was felt throughout the Fens

1786

The six church bells were cast by Thomas Osborn of Downham Market - More -

These new bells replaced the earlier set at a cost of £98 6s 9d and remain in use today

1792

Robert Colvile sold the Newton Hall Estate to James Redin, ending the Colvile family's 550-year connection with the village - More -

The estate comprised manorial rights in Newton, Walpole, and West Walton, the Hall, and nine farms comprising 1,682 acres and sold for £47,532

1793

James Redin demolished Newton Hall

1807

Newton Hall was re-built by James Redin as a home for his son, also named James - More -

The current Hall was built over the cellars of the previous building

1851

Dr G E Corrie, Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, was appointed rector

1853

Dr Corrie paid for the building of a new school - More -

The new school was designed to accommodate 100 children. This building is now our Village Hall

1853-79

Restoration of the Church including new roof

1866

Wisbech to Sutton Bridge railway line opened, with station in Ferry Lane - More -

On the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Company's Peterborough to King's Lynn line

1868

Free Methodist Chapel built - More -

Now a private house on the corner of Hogens Lane

1869

Primitive Methodist Chapel erected - More -

Opposite the Woadman's Arms

1871

Bishop of Ely sold all his rights to enclosed marshes to local tenants

1900

Primitive Methodist Chapel closed and converted into two cottages

1912

Church bells re-hung in steel frame

1920

G F Hoyles purchased Newton Hall

1930

Colvile School opened on the corner of Church Lane and Goodens Lane - More -

The first state funded school in Newton

1931

Old school building purchased by Newton Women's Institute

1934

Parish boundary moved east to River Nene, increasing its size by 551 acres - More -

From old course of the Well Stream, the natural river before the drainage cuts were dug

1937

Wisbech Rural District Council built houses on the east side of Goodens Lane

1950

Further properties constructed in Goodens Lane

1959

Wisbech to Sutton Bridge railway line closed - More -

Closed as part of the early rationalisation by British Railways before the Beeching Report

1965-66

Westfield Road housing development built

c1970

Remainder of Goodens Lane and Colvile Road properties constructed

1978

Newton Village Hall charity created by Newton Parish Council - More -

To run the Hall for the benefit of the local community

1987

Colvile School closed

1993

White Lion Public House closed - More -

The White Lion was an Elgood's pub in Rectory Road at the junction with Church Lane. It is now a private house

1998

Village Hall received lottery funding for refurbishment - More -

£20,776 for rewiring and new kitchen

2008

Village Hall received lottery funding for improvements - More -

£65,968 for disabled access and new toilets

2011

Parish Council received lottery funding for the playing field - More -

£9,919 for play equipment for younger children

If you are aware of events we have not mentioned, or can assist us in clarifying any of the dates or events above, please - click here - to e-mail us.