Bulby

Bulby is a hamlet of a few stone houses clustered around a T-junction on two country roads five miles north west of Bourne. It achieved some prominence during the 17th  century as being the home of several of the gentry who were “obstinate sectarians of the Roman religion” and had been identified in their beliefs through their non-attendance at church in Irnham.

A check on church attendance by the local justices was a common practice at the time to record the names of papists. Today, the people of Bulby are more concerned with agriculture than religion and the most imposing properties are farm houses while others are more recent, although no less attractive. There are also several barn conversions, most of them carried out with due regard to their historic neighbours, and Wood Barn is such an example. 

A pair of Victorian cottages at the entrance to the village (above) and (below) Bulby Hall and the ford over the river.

Bulby Hall is an imposing stone mansion a short distance from the village and approached by a formidable driveway aligned on the house front with an avenue of elms while ornate stone pillars and a gate lodge guard the entrance. The hall was built in 1840-42 for William Watson Smyth in the Tudor-Gothic style and the stables were added in 1864.

There is also ford through the East Glen River to the west of the village and although suitable for farm vehicles in winter, it would be dangerous for cars and so a red brick bridge has been built to give them safe passage across the waterway.