Willingham House - Original painting by Emily Beatrice Bland (1867-1954), a Lincolnshire artist born in Coleby, Lincolnshire.
Many thanks to my partner Becky Devlin for a wonderful Christmas present!
The Boucherett family had land in North Willingham since around the 1670s through inheritance to Matthew Boucherett, with the original family house being on the other side of North Willingham. This was until Ayscough Boucherett commissioned the construction of the new Willingham House in 1790 to be designed by Architect Robert Mitchell and built between Market Rasen and North Willingham.
The house remained with the Boucherett family until the death of the last member Emelia Jessie Boucherett in 1905. Through inheritance, the house then became the property of Captain Barne. This appears to be a short acquisition as by 1907 Charles Wright was the owner (also related to the Boucheretts).
The Wright family owned the house until the entire Willingham estate went up for auction in May 1942, the house to be bought by the Ministry of Security Civil Defence Reserve.
During WWII the estate held German POWs and in 1947 the house became a sanctuary for Ukrainian DPs (Displaced Persons) one of which was my grandfather. Following the war it became a Civil Defence Training Centre
The house fell into a state of disrepair and it was decided that it should be condemned and demolished. On 7th June 1967, explosives were placed throughout the building and it was blown to rubble as reported in the Market Rasen Mail.
You can read more about the Boucherett family and Willingham House at www.willinghamhouse.co.uk
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