Tanvats Chapel
(31kb)
Tanvats is a small rural hamlet nestling at the side of Metheringham Delph on
the Fen between Metheringham Village and the River Witham. It consists of a few farms and houses.
Originally a thriving agricultural community, the advent of agricultural
mechanisation drove many people away.
A Methodist chapel was built in 1887 and closed in ???? and has since been
demolished. In 1937 the village
also had a grocer's shop and a Church of England school which was also used for
church services on Sundays. This was closed in 1948. A new school
was built midway between Tanvats and Sots Hole and was opened in 1950. The
school closed in 1985 and was converted into a private dwelling. The Oatsheaf at
Sots Hole closed in 1963 and is now also a private dwelling.
There was a wooden footbridge over the delph giving access to and from Blankney
Fen which added much to the community life of Tanvats. In 1937 the bridge was
replaced by a steel and wire rope bridge which was in use until 1975 when an
infill bridge replaced it.
The road to Tanvats was across fields from Sots Hole on the Metheringham Fen
Road. This dirt road was very difficult to use in winter months and was upgraded
in 1946.
If you have old photos or reminiscences of Tanvats or Sots Hole that you would like to share then we would like to hear from you. Please contact the web team on 323436.
location
map
Tanvats picture gallery
Tanvats & Sots Hole Maps -
1826 / 1891
