Chapel St Leonards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chapel St Leonards |
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 The Pullover, Chapel St Leonards |
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 Chapel St Leonards
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| Population | 3,384 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TF5672 |
| • London | 115 mi (185 km) S |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SKEGNESS |
| Postcode district | PE24 |
| Dialling code | 01754 |
| Police | Lincolnshire |
| Fire | Lincolnshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Chapel St. Leonards is a fun seaside village in Lincolnshire, England. It's about 5 miles (8 km) north of Skegness and right by the North Sea.
Many people come here for holidays, staying in caravan parks or campsites. The village has miles of sandy beaches. It is also close to exciting places like Fantasy Island and the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds.
A special spot is Chapel Point, about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the village center. It has a restored part of an old coastal defense line from the Second World War. Next to it is the North Sea Observatory, a cool visitor center built between 2016 and 2018.
Chapel Point has also become a great place for birdwatching. Many different kinds of birds, like the Mediterranean gull, stop here during their long journeys.
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What is the North Sea Observatory?
The North Sea Observatory is the UK's first building made just for watching the sea. People first thought of the idea in 2005. Plans were shown to the public in 2013.
Building started in 2016 and finished in 2018. Most of the money came from Lincolnshire County Council. Some also came from Arts Council England and the Coastal Communities Fund.
What can you do at the Observatory?
The observatory has a modern design with big windows facing the sea. Inside, you'll find spaces for art shows and learning. There's also a local base for Coastwatch volunteers. They help keep an eye on the coast.
You can also enjoy a cafe that is open all year round. The observatory is the first step in a bigger plan. This plan aims to make the Lincolnshire coast a great place for visitors. They want to create a long coastal walk up to Sandilands.
When did the Observatory open?
The observatory was supposed to open on June 22, 2018. But there were some small building problems. It finally opened to the public on July 30, 2018.
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Entrance and the only disabled access via lift (seen to right)
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Outside viewing deck with walkway to the north linking-in to existing paths
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Example of the main viewing windows with coastal path around the Chapel Point promontory
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Car park with old gun emplacement visible to left
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Observatory to rear in elevated position above public toilets and Coastguard building on coast road
The Village Church
The name Chapel St. Leonards comes from an old chapel. This chapel was dedicated to St Leonard. The village's history is linked to a nearby place called Mumby.
The village's Anglican church is also called St Leonard's. It has been rebuilt many times over the years. It was rebuilt in 1572 after a flood. Then again in 1794, but smaller.
More rebuilding happened in 1866 and 1901. In 1901, the church was made longer. A unique red-tiled tower was also added. In 1924, the chapel was made even bigger. A new east window and a special screen called a reredos were added.
Twinned Village
Since 1998, Chapel St. Leonards has been twinned with a village in France. This village is called Cérans-Foulletourte. It is located in the Sarthe area of north-western France. Twinning means the two places have a special friendship.
