The name of the village derives from the name for a local river and the Old English words ing and tun giving ‘River Beane farm/settlement'. At the time of the Domesday survey the village was recorded as Belintone, Beninton and Benintone. In the 2001 Census the population was 580.

For the last seven hundred years there has been a fair held at the village on 10th July (even ignoring the change to the calendar in 1750 when eleven days were lost). The fair started in 1305 when John de Benstede, the Lord of the manor, was granted permission to hold a yearly fair on the feast of St Peter and St Paul. He did profit from the arrangement as the fair, and a weekly market which was also granted, brought hoards of people to the village and a considerable increase in his income.

Benington

The Bell

At one time the owners of the Bell, Greene King, were having some work done on the building and the front door had been removed. When this was done a strong and repulsive smell was noticed that seemed to start near the door and which flooded the whole bar. When the landlady went upstairs to the sitting room she discovered that every picture and mirror had been moved out of place. Realising everything may have been connected with the door it was replaced very quickly.

To view a map of the area click on the button below

_____________________________________________________________________
Local House

At a house in Benington the smell of rotting flesh pervades the air of the front room every few days. The smell is overpowering and usually lasts for between fifteen minutes and one hour mainly on an afternoon or early evening though it has occasionally happened in the morning. In addition the owners cat keeps staring at one corner of the room.

To view a map of the area click on the button below