New Bardney village sign on Horncastle Road depicting Bardney Bridge <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/517511" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/517511">Link</a><img style="padding-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s0.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/> St.Lawrence's Church <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/42589" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/42589">Link</a><img style="padding-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s0.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/> and 9 Squadron Memorial <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/954427" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/954427">Link</a><img style="padding-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="http://s0.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/> .... all viewed through an open door symbolising Bardney's most famous tale, recounted by the Venerable Bede

Bardney Abbey, one of the earliest Christian sites in Lincolnshire was founded AD 672 by the Mercian King Elthelred. The Christian King Oswald of Northumbria had been killed AD 642 by the pagan Mercian King Penda at the Battle of Maserfield (Oswestry), who had his body cut up and impaled on stakes. His body parts were later removed and Oswald venerated as a Saint. His niece Osthryth brought some of his bones to Bardney in AD 675 as holy relics for the Abbey, but the monks refused to accept the bones as Oswald had been their overlord as King of Northumbria as Bardney was in the Saxon Kingdom of Lindsey.

The Saint's relics remained outside the Abbey gates that night and a 'pillar of light' shone skywards so bright that it was visible throughout Lindsey. The following morning, the monks realised their error and accepted St.Oswald's remains to be enshrined in the Abbey church. Thereafter, the gates of the Abbey were always left open and the tradition extended to Bardney village.