In 1885 Kelly's noted that the parish was of 1,862 acres (7.54 km2) with chief agricultural production being of wheat, oats, barley and seeds, and an 1881 population of 165.[3]
Landmarks
All Saints' Church is a Grade I listed Anglican church.[4]Kelly's mentions that it comprises a chancel, nave, aisles and south porch, and a square tower containing three bells, with the chancel incorporating richly painted frescoes and a carved oak screen separating the chancel from the nave. Benches were carved by a Mr Swaby of Marsh Chapel when the chancel was rebuilt in 1851 by a Mr Nicholson of Lincoln.[3] The church was restored in 1859-60 and 1870-74 by George Gilbert Scott, who rebuilt the north arcade and added, according to Pevsner, a "glittering mosaic reredos... made, according to Canon Binnal, by a Catholic Italian who insisted on smoking his pipe while doing it". Also noted was a chalice and paten cover dated 1569[5] Scott also repaired both aisles, and rebuilt a mortuary chapel and the whole roof.[3]
Other listed buildings are early 18th-century Holton Hall[6] and late 17th-century Abbey Farm House.[7]
Culture
The amateur dramatic society was originally known as the Holton Players. Following a move to Wickenby, in 1970, they were renamed the Lindsey Rural Players.[8]
Academy Award-winning actor Jim Broadbent was born in the village in 1949; his parents, Roy and Dee Broadbent, were founder members of the Holton Players.[9][10]
BBC documentaries
The village was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 documentary Conchies of Holton-Cum-Beckering on 7 May 2007. Presented by Billy Bragg, it interviewed the surviving members of a group of Second World War conscientious objectors who formed themselves into farming communities and an amateur dramatic society.[11]
A documentary on BBC Radio 4 ExtraThe Holton Players was broadcast on 1 September 2014 (and repeated on 21 June 2017). It was presented by Jim Broadbent.[12]
