A landmark is Chapel Point, 1 mile (1.6 km) north from the centre of the village. It has a restored part of a major Second World War coastal defence line retaining the viewing platform. The adjacent North Sea Observatory, a visitors' centre providing a facility for year-round use, was constructed between 2016 and 2018.[2][3][4]
In recent years Chapel Point has become a location for birdwatchers, being visited by migrating birds such as the Mediterranean gull.[5]
Governance
An electoral ward of the same name exists. This ward stretches west to Hogsthorpe with a total population taken at the 2011 census of 4,684.[6]
North Sea Observatory
Car park with staircase and newly constructed disabled ramp adjacent to beach chalets leading down to car park level to the right
The UK's first purpose-built marine observatory, it was first conceived in 2005 with plans revealed to the public in July 2013. Planning permission was granted at the end of 2014 with the build between 2016 and 2018 funded mainly from Lincolnshire County Council and additionally from Arts Council England and the Coastal Communities Fund.[note 1][2][7]
It is the first stage of what is envisaged as part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park (LCCP) with an intention to later develop the coastal walk as a visitor attraction northwards to Sandilands. The site is owned by Chapel St Leonards Parish Council and is leased to the County Council.[7]
Included into the futuristic design having main viewing windows orientated towards the sea, the observatory has multi-function spaces allocated for an exhibition gallery and education, together with a local base for Coastwatch and a year-round cafe.[2][4]
Despite a televised press-launch and announcements of opening 22 June 2018, the centre did not open to the public, with several local journals carrying the same information from a Lincolnshire County Council press release citing further delays due to building snagging works.[8][9] The centre finally opened 30 July 2018.[10]
Entrance and the only disabled access via lift (seen to right)
Outside viewing deck with walkway to the north linking-in to existing paths
Example of the main viewing windows with coastal path around the Chapel Point promontory
Car park with old gun emplacement visible to left
Observatory to rear in elevated position above public toilets and Coastguard building on coast road
Chapel and church
The name of the village derives from a chapel at Mumby dedicated to St Leonard; the village history is tied to that of Mumby, both at one time being part of the same ecclesiastical parish.[11]
The village Anglican church, also dedicated to St Leonard, was rebuilt in 1572 after a flood, and again rebuilt in 1794 on a smaller scale. There was further rebuilding in 1866 and in 1901 when the church was lengthened and the red-tiled tower, unique in Lincolnshire, was added. In 1924 the chapel was again enlarged and lengthened, and a new east window and reredos added. The present church holds parish registers dating from 1665, although bishops' transcripts go back as far as 1568.
Kime, Winston, The Book of Skegness, Ingoldmells, Addlethorpe and Chapel St Leonards (Buckingham: Barracuda Books, 1986).
Massingberd, W. O., Court Rolls of the Manor of Ingoldmells in the County of Lincoln (London: Spottiswoode, 1902).
Owen, A. E. B., "Salt, Sea Banks and Medieval Settlement on the Lindsey Coast", N. Field and A. White, eds., A Prospect of Lincolnshire (Lincoln: privately published, 1984), pp. 46–49.
Robinson, David N., The Book of the Lincolnshire Seaside: The Story of the Coastline from the Humber to the Wash (Barracuda, 1981).
Robinson, David N., "The Changing Coastline", Dennis R. Mills (ed.), Twentieth Century Lincolnshire, History of Lincolnshire, no. 12 (Lincoln: History of Lincolnshire Committee of the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, 1989), pp. 155–180.
