Long Bennington is the largest village in the Saxonwell Group of parishes, with over 1900 residents. It lies 7 miles from the historic market town of Newark and 8 miles from Grantham, on the southern edge of the Lincoln Diocese, bordering Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire and the beautiful Vale of Belvoir. Its position next to the A1 trunk road makes it quickly accessible to most parts of the country. In addition, the electrified London/North Eastern railway line, accessible from Newark and Grantham, makes commuting to London and other major cities a practical proposition. School buses are provided for most Grantham secondary schools.
The village is about a mile long, having developed along the route of the old A1, which has now by-passed us. The church and rectory are at the southern end. A well used playing fields and pavilion and outdoor bowls club are at the north end. In between are: an excellent Church of England Primary School, Methodist Church, three shops, including a Post Office (and a part time fish & chip shop) three pubs, a caring, efficient medical centre/pharmacy and a modern, wellused village hall, children's nursery and after school club. A mobile library visits regularly. The facilities and services make the village almost self-contained.
It is an attractive village, with wide grass verges, a meandering river and many pleasant footpaths: semi-rural, but definitely within civilization.
The village has changed considerably since it was designated as an area of growth and housing development in the 1980's. Most of the new building has been of 4/5 bedroom ‘executive' houses. The population now comprises a high number of professional people who commute. This makes for a highly mobile community as people move frequently with their work. A substantial number of people work from home. There are also a high number of affluent retired people, who are very active in village life. This is mixed with the traditional village population, many of whose names are the same as those found in the census of 1861. There is a small area of council houses, and a council-run old people's complex, but most of the village comprises privately owned property.
The primary school, built in the 1980's, with several additions, is a happy, popular school with an active parent/teacher association. Its excellent Ofsted reports, coupled with the housing expansion, have resulted in its steady growth. There is a good working relationship between the school and church.
Long Bennington is fortunate to have many clubs and social activities, ranging from a Mother and Toddler and Playgroups to a Friendship club for senior citizens. Evening and day classes in several subjects are conducted in the village hall, school and sports pavilion. For the physically active, there are football, hockey, tennis and bowls clubs, and the pubs sport darts and skittles teams.
Long Bennington is a lively and attractive place in which to live and work.
Long Bennington is twinned with a similarly sized village in France and there is an active Twinning group in the village.
Church members in Allington, Foston, Long Bennington and Sedgebrook produce and distribute 3000 copies of the Saxonwell Group Parish News once a month. . Many businesses advertise and both churches benefit from any cash surplus each year.