Doncaster Scientific Society at Hatfield and Hatfield Woodhouse – 28 July 1898
(From a correspondent)

On Thursday, the 28th inst., the members of the above Society held their third excursion for the present session, the district visited being Hatfield and Hatfield Woodhouse. Owing to numerous other attractions on the same day, the number that took part in the outing was smaller than usual, only ten members and friends – five on foot and five on cycles – being present.

The walking party took the 2.45 p.m. train to Stainforth, and walked to Hatfield. The hedgerows on the way were very flowery – the brambles, in many different forms and colours, in particular making a grand show, and giving promise of a fine crop of blackberries in the future.

On arrival at Hatfield, the outside of the church was inspected with much interest. The western door is of Romanesque style, with volute ornament on the caps of the pillars, very suggestive of derivation from Ionic columns. The nave appears to have been the original part of the building, and from its broad plan, was probably all Romanesque at one time, though but little of the old masonry remains now. Some of the windows in the nave are of the Decorated Gothic style, characteristic of the fourteenth century work; but others, as well as the clerestory of the nave, the lantern tower, the chancel, and both transepts, are of the Perpendicular or Tudor style, and probably date back to about 1450.

Leaving Hatfield, the walk was continued towards Woodhouse, a sharp look-out being kept for rare and interesting plants by the way. But, although flowers were seen in great quantities, they were, for the most part, of common kinds. One exception was noted in the very beautiful and rare grass, Agrostis spica-venti. This appears to be a troublesome weed in the corn fields about Hatfield.

Arriving at Woodhouse, the walkers deposited some luckily unneeded umbrellas, etc. at the Robin Hood Inn, and pursued their ramble towards the Moor. Here, the botanists found much to their liking in the corn-fields bordering the Moor. Rarely does one see in one locality so many characteristic corn-field weeds as were to be found here. Most conspicuous, from its tall and purple flowers was the Corn Cockle (Lychnis githago). Along with it and growing very luxuriantly was the much rare Great Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus major). This plant is parasitic on the roots of growing crops.

The brilliant yellow starry flowers of the Corn Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum segetum), were seen here and there, and the delicate blue minute flowered Lambs Lettuce (Valerianella olitoria) was common. Perhaps the palm of beauty should be awarded to the Bee Nettle (Galeopsis speciosa), with its heads of large yellow and purple flowers. This, and its less showy relative, the Red Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis landanum), were both abundant.

Of more humble growth and less conspicuous were to be found in the Corn Mint (Metha arvensis) and the Cow Cress (Lepidium campestre), while along with them was the rare Small Campion (Silene anglica). Many other more common weeds grew along with these, making the land very rich to botanists, though probably not to the farmer.

Returning to the Inn for tea at six p.m., the ramblers were joined by the cyclists. These latter had ridden to Lindholme in the centre of the moor. Hatfield Moor, like all peatbogs, in low lying and comparatively level country, is the remains of a shallow lake or morass. The vegetation that grew and accumulated in the shallow waters left a slowly-thickening deposit of partially decomposed moss, and reeds, the greater part being the remains of the common aquatic moss known as Sphagnum. Year by year the moss grew thicker until the whole of the lake was converted into peat as it is seen in the present day.

In the middle of Hatfield Moor is Lindholme. This place consists of a slightly raised piece of land composed of sand and gravel and was no doubt formerly an island in the lake. It would make a safe place of refuge in troublesome times, and probably was often resorted to for such a purpose. From one of its inhabitants of past days have arisen the local legends of the Hermit of Lindholme. Among other feats attributed to him is that of throwing some stones that are to be found on the borders of the moor, and are really ice-borne erratics, at the starlings that come to steal his grain. Some human bones that are on view at Lindholme are said to be his. They are only the bones of an ordinary sized and fairly muscular man.

After enjoying a vert good tea, the walking party returned to Stainforth, and the cyclist rode home by way of Sand Bramwith, a very enjoyable and instructive day having been spent by all.