Help us to rediscover treasures in ... Bathley
If you older motorists think Muskham Lane and Norwell Lane are not as wide as they used to be, spare a thought
for the main route out of Bathley a couple of centuries ago. Fillingate Road and Shackley Dike Road took
villagers from Bathley – and from further up the Debdale and Caunton Hills – to the Great North Road, whence the
world was their oyster. And the beauty of it is that it’s still there. Fillingate Road is now the bridle way
that runs from the south end of Hopyard Lane to Moor Lane (which, in turn, used to be called Shackley Dike
Road). Have you, like one or two members of the Muskham Vale Heritage Group, ever wondered what kind of
community used to live alongside those roads? What happened (such as changes in water levels) to make them
disappear? Are you intrigued enough to help us find out more about the area – either by answering the questions
for us or helping us find the answers?
And where was Bathley’s Chapel of Ease? Not the Methodist Chapel that is currently being converted into a house
but the Church of England building that was erected so that the God-fearing folk of Barlow (as Bathley was
called centuries ago) could pray when they were too busy farming to walk or ride to North Muskham or when the
roads were blocked by snow or floods. If you know where it was, please let us know! If you don’t know but would
like to find out, come and help us with the research!!
In addition, if you have a question about Bathley’s past that you’d like us to help answer, get in touch. The
Muskham Vale Heritage Group Committee members are anxious to receive suggestions as to how we can encourage more
people to value the qualities of our environment, generate more community spirit and enhance the area.