Welcome to Metheringham or Medrichesam as it was referred to in 1086 in the Domesday Book. This name is probably Saxon in origin relating to 'Medrich', a first name used by the Alamanni peoples from Germany. Medrich, made his homestead here - 'ham' with his companions in about 500AD, 'es' being plural - Medrich(es)ham - Medrich's homestead.
Mederichesham was already an established settlement when the Domesday Book was compiled and had a church, homestead, manor, watermills and farms with many people involved in working the land and caring for livestock. Earl Hugh of Chester was Lord of the manor and his under tenant was Walter D'Aincourt who lived at Blanchene (Blanca's Island) or Blankney as it is known today.
There is some evidence that the area may have been settled by the Romans. It is suggested that the nearby village of Nocton stood between the sites of two of seven forts which the Romans built to protect their waterway, the Carr Dyke, which runs from Lincoln to Peterborough.
A map has indicated a Romano - British site suggesting that the villa or settlement site was taken over after the Romans had gone. Roman coins found here support this view. A moated area, now developed for housing, also suggests the existence of a medieval manor house.
The village became 'Metheringham' sometime in the second half of the 13th century during the reign of Edward I. The earliest surviving document relating to Metheringham is dated 24th June 1314, when Edward II ruled England. Even today the name is undergoing evolution as locals refer to their village as Meg.
Metheringham was almost destroyed by a great fire in July 1599 with only a few dwellings surviving. The fire is reported as having started in a 'kennel' or street gully which ran the length of the village and raged out of control for several days.
The main village church, St Wilfrid's, dates from around 1600 although parts of the tower are Norman in origin dating from around 1180-1200.
This is an old map of Metheringham