Haxey

The Haxey Hood   Haxey Old Photo's

St Nicholas Church 

Haxey is a large parish on the southern border of the Isle of Axholme. It now consists of the two large villages of Haxey and Westwoodside with the hamlets of Burnham (High and Low), Eastlound and Graizelound. In earlier days Westwoodside was divided into Park, Newbigg, Nethergate and  Upperthorpe

                                                                                                        The Church from Upperthorpe

The  church tower from Church Lane
The parish is situated on one of a series of low-lying hills reaching  to about 200 feet which would have  protruded from the marsh surrounding them, until the beginning of the drainage by Vermuyden in 1626. This swampy area was supposedly caused by the Romans, who are reputed to have cut down the surrounding forest areas to prevent raids by the Coritani, based on higher ground. Up until the time of the drainage, the main occupations of the parish were wild-fowling, fishing and pasturage with some arable farming on the higher land. The inhabitants, with those of the neighbouring parishes were referred to by Abraham de la Pryme as "being little better than heathens", and the independent spirit shown during the drainage disputes continues to the present day.

   Haxey Parish has many miles of footpaths                                         It is a very rural area

Grenhill on a cold february morning

Haxey is famous for its annual Hood game held on the 6th of January and is one of the most ancient traditions of its kind in the country.

 The Chief Boggin, Fool, holding the Hood and the Lord                       Between pubs before the game  

Traditional songs are thirsty work 

The Haxey Hood