Pictures:
Top - The village pond at Finningley during daffodil season . Middle - The ancient market town of Bawtry. Bottom - Bluebells at Kings Wood near Bawtry.
Finningley & Bawtry - airport and inland port
To the South of Wroot is the former RAF Finningley aerodrome – which has one of Europe’s longest runways. It was closed in 1996, but is now operating as Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Amidst the new developments, hopefully Finningley village's (6M) picturesque village pond and occasional visiting peacocks will remain.
Further South is the market town of Bawtry (9.5M) which, we are told, was the third largest inland port in England during the 12th Century. Bawtry has been a market town since 1213, and after the 1759 Turnpike Act, it became one of the ‘stages’ established by the stagecoaches. But the age of steam eventually overtook both barge and stage when the railway came to Bawtry.
Bawtry Hall was erected in 1785 by a wool-merchant from Wakefield. During the Second World War it became an RAF command centre. Kings Wood (10M) - only a short way down the Doncaster road from Bawtry - is one of the few remaining examples of natural woodland in the area, most of which is carpeted with bluebells in the Spring.
Further locations available via the menu above.