The name
In the Doomsday Book of 1086 Haxey is listed as "Acheseia". Later variants include Axaia in 1285 and Hakesay in 1373. These all suggest that the name comprises elements of British origin - "ak" or "ay" meaning river, "ke" meaning a mooring site thus together meaning "athe mooring site of the river". Another suggestion however is that the name is pre-conquest in origin and comes form the Old Scandanavian Hakey meaning "Hak's island".
More detailed information can be found in:
Colin Ella Around the Isle of Axholme. 1993
T.B.F. Emerson The Place and River Names of the West Riding of Lindsey Lincolnshire. 1934
(Both available in North Lincolnshire Local Studies Library).
The place
Haxey is the largest village in the Isle of Axholme today and has existed as a settlement from pre-Coonquest times. The church of St Nicholas dates from the 11th century but the building also reflects many later styles of architecture as well. The surrounding agricultural area was vital to Haxey and from medieval times the production of flax and the textile industry becoame prominent. In the 1740s a fire destroyed many of the houses and nearby farms.
Haxey is famous for the "Haxey Hood" game which takes place on 6th January every year. It is a traditional rough game in which opposing teams fight for the "hood" in a local field with the victorious team then carrying the hood to their favourite public house.