The Isle of Axholme is an area located in Lincolnshire, between the three towns of Doncaster, Scunthorpe and Gainsborough. The name Isle is given to the area since, prior to the area being drained by dutchman Vermuyden, each town or village formerly lay on areas of dry, raised ground in the surrounding marshland. The Old River Don flows to the north and west, dividing the Isle from Yorkshire, the River Idle separates the Isle from Nottinghamshire and the River Trent separates the Isle from the rest of the county. There are two main towns: Epworth, birthplace of John Wesley and his brother Charles, and Haxey.
Axholme is taken from two OE words: Hakr (from which comes the town of Haxey) and -holme (island). In this case the island is simply an area of raised ground in marshes.
From Bartholomew's Gazeteer of Britain compiled by Oliver Mason (John Bartholomew, 1833):
Axholme, Isle of Area of slight elevation above flat and formerly marshy tract bounded by the Rivers Trent, Torne (?Don) and Idle. Towns include Crowle, Belton, Epworth and Haxey on higher ground and Owston Ferry and West Butterwick beside the River Trent.
The name Isle is given to the area since, prior to the area being drained by dutchman Vermuyden, each town or village formerly lay on areas of dry, raised ground in the surrounding marshland.
The Old River Don flows to the north and west, dividing the Isle from Yorkshire, the River Idle separates the Isle from Nottinghamshire and the River Trent separates the Isle from the rest of the county.
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