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diff --git a/30358.txt b/30358.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d71f346 --- /dev/null +++ b/30358.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13230 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A History of Horncastle, by James Conway +Walter + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A History of Horncastle + from the earliest period to the present time + + +Author: James Conway Walter + + + +Release Date: October 29, 2009 [eBook #30358] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF HORNCASTLE*** + + +Transcribed from the 1908 W. K. Morton & Sons edition by David Price, +email ccx074@pglaf.org + + [Picture: SEAL OF SIMON DE ISLIP. Vicar of Horncastle, 1349; Archbishop + of Canterbury, 1349-1366] + +We are indebted for the engraving of this seal to the courtesy of Miss G. +M. Bevan, author of _Portraits of the Archbishops of Canterbury_, +published by Messrs. Mowbray & Co., London. + + + + + + A + HISTORY OF HORNCASTLE, + FROM THE + EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME. + + + _ILLUSTRATED_. + + BY + JAMES CONWAY WALTER, + AUTHOR OF + _Records of Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood_, _Parishes around + Horncastle_, + _The Ayscoughs_, _The Coitani_, _&c._, _&c._ + + HORNCASTLE: + W. K. MORTON & SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, HIGH STREET, + 1908. + + [Picture: Market Place and Stanhope Memorial] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following pages may truthfully be said to be the result of labours, +extending over many years, and of researches in directions too many to +tell. + +Born within almost a mile of Horncastle, and only by a few months +escaping being born in it, since his father, on first coming to the +neighbourhood, resided for a time in Horncastle, {0} the author, from his +earliest years (except for periodical absences) has been connected with +the life, social or civil, of the place, probably more closely and more +continuously, than any other person living, in like circumstances. + +The notes on which this compilation is based were begun more than 30 +years ago. While writing a volume of _Records of more than_ 30 _Parishes +around Horncastle_, published in 1904; and, before that, while describing +about as many more, in a volume, _Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood_, +published in 1899, he had constantly in view the crowning of the series, +by the history of the old town, round which these sixty, or more, +parishes cluster; the haunt, if not quite the home, of his boyhood, and +familiarized to him by a life-long connection. + +For this purpose sources of information have been tapped in every +possible direction; of public institutions, the official records, and +title deeds, where available, have been carefully consulted; especially +should be here mentioned various deeds and charters, which are quoted in +Chapter II, from the archives of Carlisle Cathedral, which have not +hitherto been brought before the public, but of which the author has been +allowed free use, through the courtesy of the librarian. These are of +special value, from the long connection of the Manor of Horncastle with +the See of Carlisle. + +In other cases the author has been allowed the privilege of more private +testimony; for instance, his old friend, the late Mr. John Overton (of a +highly respectable family, for generations connected with the town and +county), has most kindly given him the use of various family MS. notes, +bearing on parish and other matters. Mr. Henry Sharp has freely assisted +him with most varied information, derived from long years of connection +with the town, in public or private capacity. The late Mr. Henry +Boulton, ancestrally connected with various parts of the county, was +remarkable for a mind stored with memories of persons and things, in town +and neighbourhood, which he freely communicated to the author, who saw +much of him in his later years. While, last but not least, the late Mr. +William Pacey, whether in his "Reminisences of Horncastle," which he +contributed to the public newspapers, or in his personal conversations, +which the present writer enjoyed for many years, yielded up to him +treasure, collected by an indefatigable student of local lore, who +entered into such work _con amore_. + +To all these the author would now fully, and gratefully, acknowledge his +indebtedness; but for them this work could not have been produced in +anything like its present fulness. In some of the matters dealt with, as +for instance in the accounts of the Grammar School, as well as in other +portions, he may fairly say, in the language of "the pious AEneas" +(slightly modified), "quorum pars (ipse) fui," (AEneid ii, 6); and in +these he has drawn not a few of the details from his own recollections. + +In stringing these records together, of such varied character, and on +subjects so numerous, he cannot but be conscious that, in the endeavour +to give all possible information, and to omit nothing of real interest, +he may, on the other hand, have laid himself open to the charge of being +too diffuse, or even needlessly prolix. Others not sharing his own +interest in the subjects treated of, may think that he has occasionally +"ridden his hobby too hard." If this should be the judgment of any of +his readers, he would crave their indulgence out of consideration for the +motive. + +These are the days of historic "Pageants," drawn from life, and with +living actors to illustrate them. We have also our "Gossoping Guides," +to enable the tourist to realize more fully the meaning of the scenes +which he visits. From both of these the author "has taken his cue." He +had to cater for a variety of tastes; and while, for the general reader +he has cast his discriptions in a colloquial, or even at times in a +"gossoping," form, he believes that the old town, with its "Bull Ring," +its "Maypole Hill," its "Fighting Cocks," its "Julian Bower," and other +old time memories, can still afford _pabulum_ for the more educated +student, or the special antiquary. + +Like the composer of a Pageant play, his endeavour has been rather to +clothe the scenes, which he conjures up, with the flesh and blood of +quickened reality, than in the bare skin and bones of a dry-as-dust's +rigid skeleton. How far he has succeeded in this he leaves to others to +decide; for himself he can honestly say, that it has not been from lack +of care, enquiry, or labour, if he has fallen short of the ideal aimed +at. + + [Picture: Signature of J. Conway Walter] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER I. PAGE + +PART I--PREHISTORIC. Horncastle--its infancy 1 + +PART II--THE DIMLY HISTORIC PERIOD 3 + + CHAPTER II. + +RECORDS OF THE MANOR, &c., FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST 11 + + CHAPTER III. + +ST. MARY'S CHURCH 33 + + CHAPTER IV. + +THE CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY 57 + + CHAPTER V. + +NONCONFORMIST PLACES OF WORSHIP. + + The Wesleyans 64 + + The Primitive Methodists 71 + + The Independents 77 + + The Baptist Chapel 84 + + The New Jerusalem Church 86 + + CHAPTER VI. + +EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS--THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL 91 + + CHAPTER VII. + +WATSON'S FREE SCHOOL 108 + +THE LANCASTERIAN AND THE BELL SCHOOLS 111 + +THE SCIENCE AND ART SCHOOL 112 + + CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DISPENSARY 119 + + CHAPTER IX. + +THE CANAL 126 + +THE RAILWAY 130 + + CHAPTER X. + +WORKHOUSE OR UNION 133 + +THE COURT HOUSE 135 + +THE STANHOPE MEMORIAL 136 + +THE CLERICAL CLUB 137 + +THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE 139 + +THE CORN EXCHANGE 140 + +THE WHELPTON ALMHOUSES 142 + +THE DRILL HALL 145 + + CHAPTER XI. + +HORNCASTLE WORTHIES, &c. 151 + +ODDITIES 160 + +PUBLICHOUSES 161 + + APPENDIX. + +THIMBLEBY 165 + +WEST ASHBY 176 + +HIGH TOYNTON 180 + +MAREHAM-ON-THE-HILL 183 + +LOW TOYNTON 185 + +ROUGHTON 188 + +HALTHAM 190 + +MAREHAM-LE-FEN 192 + +MOORBY 198 + +WOOD ENDERBY 201 + +CONINGSBY 203 + +WILKSBY 207 + +LANGRIVILLE 209 + +THORNTON-LE-FEN 210 + + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + PAGE + +Mammoth Tooth 5 + +Hammer Head 7 + +North-east corner of the Castle Wall 9 + +Plan of Horncastle, 1819 15 + +Plan of Horncastle, 1908 23 + +St. Mary's Church 35 + +Brass of Sir Lionel Dymoke in St. Mary's Church 42 + +Ancient Scythes in St. Mary's Church 48 + +The Old Vicarage 55 + +Holy Trinity Church 59 + +Wesleyan Chapel 65 + +Wesleyan Day Schools 69 + +Interior Congregational Chapel 79 + +The New Jerusalem Church 87 + +Rev. Thomas Lord 90 + +The Grammar School 93 + +Lord Clynton and Saye 97 + +Successive Head Masters of the Grammar School, from 1818 101 +to 1907 + +The Seal of the Grammar School 105 + +The Market Place 109 + +St. Mary's Square 113 + +Bridge Street 117 + +High Street 121 + +The Bull Ring 123 + +The Canal 127 + +On the Canal 129 + +The Court House 135 + +The Stanhope Memorial 137 + +Watermill Road during the Flood, Dec 31, 1900 141 + +West Street during the Flood, Dec. 31, 1900 143 + +Conging Street during the Flood, Dec. 31, 1900 145 + +The Stanch 147 + +Old Thatched Inn in the Bull Ring 163 + +St. Margaret's Church, Thimbleby 171 + +The Manor House, West Ashby 177 + +All Saints' Church, West Ashby 179 + +St. John the Baptist's Church, High Toynton 181 + +St. Peter's Church, Low Toynton 187 + +St. Helen's Church, Mareham-le-Fen 193 + +Wesleyan Chapel, Mareham-le-Fen 197 + +St. Michael's Church, Coningsby 205 + +CHAPTER I. + + +PART I--PREHISTORIC. HORNCASTLE--ITS INFANCY. + + +In dealing with what may be called "the dark ages" of local history, we +are often compelled to be content with little more than reasonable +conjecture. Still, there are generally certain surviving data, in +place-names, natural features, and so forth, which enable those who can +detect them, and make use of them, to piece together something like a +connected outline of what we may take, with some degree of probability, +as an approximation to what have been actual facts, although lacking, at +the time, the chronicler to record them. + +It is, however, by no means a mere exercise of the imagination, if we +assume that the site of the present Horncastle was at a distant period a +British settlement. {1a} Dr. Brewer says, "nearly three-fourths of our +Roman towns were built on British sites," (Introduction to _Beauties of +England_, p. 7), and in the case of Horncastle, although there is nothing +British in the name of the town itself, yet that people have undoubtedly +here left their traces behind them. The late Dr. Isaac Taylor {1b} says, +"Rivers and mountains, as a rule, receive their names from the earliest +races, towns and villages from later colonists." The ideas of those +early occupants were necessarily limited. The hill which formed their +stronghold against enemies, {1c} or which was the "high place" of their +religious rites, {1d} and the river which was so essential to their daily +existence, of these they felt the value, and therefore naturally +distinguished them by name before anything else. Thus the remark of an +eloquent writer is generally true, who says "our mountains and rivers +still murmur the voices of races long extirpated." "There is hardly +(says Dr. Taylor {2a}) throughout the whole of England a river name which +is not Celtic," _i.e._ British. + +As the Briton here looked from the hill-side, down upon the valley +beneath him, two of the chief objects to catch his eye would be the +streams which watered it, and which there, as they do still, united their +forces. They would then also, probably, form a larger feature in the +prospect than they do at the present day, for the local beds of gravel +deposit would seem to indicate that these streams were formerly of +considerably greater volume, watering a wider area, and probably having +ramifications which formed shoals and islands. {2b} The particular names +by which the Briton designated the two main streams confirm this +supposition. In the one coming from the more distant wolds, he saw a +stream bright and clear, meandering through the meadows which it +fertilized, and this he named the "Bain," {2c} that word being Celtic for +"bright" or "clear," a characteristic which still belongs to its waters, +as the brewers of Horncastle assure us. In the other stream, which runs +a shorter and more rapid course, he saw a more turbid current, and to it +he gave the name "Waring," {2d} which is the Celtic "garw" or "gerwin," +meaning "rough." Each of these names, then, we may regard as what the +poet Horace calls "nomen praesente nota productum," {2e} they are as good +as coin stamped in the mint of a Cunobelin, or a Caradoc, bearing his +"image and superscription," and after some 17 centuries of change, they +are in circulation still. So long as Horncastle is watered by the Bain +and the Waring she will bear the brand of the British sway, once +paramount in her valley. + +These river names, however, are not the only relics of the Britons found +in Horncastle. Two British urns were unearthed about 50 years ago, where +is now the garden of the present vicarage, and another was found in the +parish of Thornton, about a mile from the town, when the railway was +being made in 1856. The latter the present writer has seen, although it +is now unfortunately lost. {2f} + +These Britons were a pastoral race, as Caesar, their conqueror, tells us, +{2g} not cultivating much corn, but having large flocks and herds, living +on the milk and flesh of their live stock, and clad in the skins of +these, or of other animals taken in the chase. The well-watered pastures +of the Bain valley would afford excellent grazing for their cattle, while +the extensive forests {2h} of the district around would provide them with +the recreations of the chase, which also helped to make them the skilled +warriors which the Romans found them to be. {3} Much of these forests +remained even down to comparatively recent times, and very large trees +have been dug up, black with age, in fields within four or five miles of +Horncastle, within very recent years, which the present writer has seen. + +Such were some of the earlier inhabitants of this locality, leaving their +undoubted traces behind them, but no "local habitation" with a name; for +that we are first indebted to the Romans, who, after finding the Briton a +foe not unworthy of his steel, ultimately subjugated him and found him +not an inapt pupil in Roman arts and civilization. Of the aptitude of +the Briton to learn from his conquerors we have evidence in the fact, +mentioned by the Roman writer Eumenius, that when the Emperor Constantius +wished to rebuild the town Augustodunum (now Antun) in Gaul, about the +end of the 3rd century, he employed workmen chiefly from Britain, such +was the change effected in our "rude forefathers" in 250 years. + +We may sum up our remarks on the Britons by saying that in them we have +ancestors of whom we have no occasion to be ashamed. They had a +Christian church more than 300 years before St. Augustine visited our +shores. They yet survive in the sturdy fisher folk of Brittany; in those +stout miners of Cornwall, who in the famed Botallack mine have bored +under the ocean bed, the name Cornwall itself being Welsh (_i.e._ +British) for corner land; in the people who occupy the fastnesses of the +Welsh mountains, as well as in the Gaels of the Scottish Highlands and +the Erse of Ireland. Their very speech is blended with our own. Does +the country labourer go to the Horncastle tailor to buy coat and +breeches? His British forefather, though clad chiefly in skins, called +his upper garment his "cotta," his nether covering his "brages," scotice +"breeks." Brewer, _Introduction to Beauties of England_, p. 42. + + + +PART II--THE DIMLY HISTORIC PERIOD. + + +The headquarters of the Roman forces in our own part of Britain were at +York, where more than one Roman Emperor lived and died, but Lindum, now +Lincoln, was an important station. About A.D. 71 Petillius Cerealis was +appointed governor of the province by the Emperor Vespasian, he was +succeeded by Julius Frontinus, both being able generals. From A.D. 78 to +85 that admirable soldier and administrator, Julius Agricola, over-ran +the whole of the north as far as the Grampians, establishing forts in all +directions, and doubtless during these and the immediately succeeding +years, a network of such stations would be constructed in our own +country, connected by those splendid highways which the Romans carried, +by the forced labour of the natives, through the length and breadth of +their vast empire. + +Coins of nearly all the Roman Emperors have been found at Horncastle; one +was brought to the present writer in the 1st year of the 20th century, +bearing the superscription of the Emperor Severus, who died at York A.D., +211. + + +NOTE ON ANCIENT COINS FOUND AT HORNCASTLE. + + +The following list of Roman and other coins found at Horncastle, has been +supplied by the Rev. J. A. Penny, Vicar of Wispington, who has them in +his own possession. + +Consular, denarius, silver. +OEs grave, or Roman as, heavy brass. +Augustus, quinarius (half denarius). B.C. 27-A.D. 14. +Claudius, brass, of three different sizes. A.D. 41-54. +Vespasian, denarius, silver. A.D. 69-79. +Domitian, brass. A.D. 81-96. +Nerva, brass. A.D. 96-98. +Trajan, brass, of two sizes. A.D. 98-117. +Hadrian, brass. A.D. 117-138. +Antoninus Pius, denarius, silver. A.D. 138-161. +Faustina I., his wife, brass. +Lucius Verus, brass. A.D. 161-169. +Marcus Aurelius, brass. A D. 161-180. +Faustina II., his wife, brass. +Caracalla, denarius, silver. A.D. 211-217. +Julia Saemias, mother of Emperor Heliogabalus, denarius, silver. A.D. +218-222. +Gordian III., denarius, silver. A.D. 238-244. +Philip I., brass. A.D. 244-249. +Hostilian, denarius, silver. A.D. 249-251. +Gallienus, brass. A.D. 253-268. +Salomia, his wife, brass. +Victorinus, brass (Emperor in West). A.D. 253-260. (10 varieties). +Marius, brass (Emperor in West). A.D. 267. +Claudius II. (or Gothicus), brass. A.D. 268-270. +Tetricus I., brass (Emperor in Gaul). A.D. 270-273. +Tetricus II., brass (Emperor in Gaul). A.D. 270-274. +Probus, brass. A.D. 276-282. +Diocletian, copper, a new kind of coin named a "follis." A.D. 284-305. +Maximian, copper, a "follis." A.D. 286-305. +Alectus, brass (Emperor in Britain). A.D. 293-296. +Constantius Chlorus, brass. A.D. 305-306. +Maxentius, copper, a "follis." A.D. 306-312. +Constantine the Great, brass. A.D. 306-337. +Crispus, brass. A.D. 326. +Magnentius, brass (Emperor in Gaul and Britain). A.D. 350-353. +Constantine II., brass (struck in London). A.D. 337-340. +Constans, brass. A.D. 337-350. +Constantius II., brass. A.D. 337-361. +Valens, brass. A.D. 364-378. +Gratian, brass. A.D. 375-383. +Theodosius I., brass. A.D. 379-395. +Arcadius, brass (Emperor in East). A.D. 395-408. +Honorius, brass (Emperor in West). A.D. 395-423. +Byzantine coin, bronze, date not known exactly but later than Honorius, +so showing that the Romans held Horncastle against Saxon invaders. + + [Picture: Mammoth Tooth from gravel of River Bain, south of Horncastle. + Weight 2-lbs 6-oz., length 5.25-in., breadth 6.5-in., thickness 2-in.] + +A Roman milestone was discovered in the Bail, at Lincoln, in 1891, {5a} +inscribed with the name of Marcus Piavonius Victorinus, who commanded in +Gaul and Britain, and which must have been set up during his period of +office, about A D. 267. The site of this was the point of intersection +of the two main streets, which would be the centre of the Roman Forum at +Lindum, one of these streets leading to Horncastle; from Horncastle also +there branched off, as will be hereafter noted, several main Roman roads. + +As Horncastle stands on the banks of the river Bain it has been taken by +Stukeley, the antiquarian, and by others following him, {5b} to have been +the Roman Banovallum or "Fort on the Bain," mentioned by the Roman +geographer of Ravenna; {5c} although, however, most probably correct, +this is a mere conjecture. On the road between Horncastle and Lincoln we +have the village of Baumber, also called Bamburgh, and this latter form +of the name might well mean a "burgh," or fort, on the Bain, the river +running just below the village. The two names, however, might well exist +at different periods. It may be here mentioned that this form, Bamburg, +is found in _Harleian Charter_ 56, c. i, B.M., dated at Wodehalle, +December, 1328. + +Tacitus, the Roman historian, {5e} tells us that the Romans "wore out the +bodies and hands of the Britons in opening out the forests, and paving or +fortifying the roads," and we can well imagine that those skilled +generals would see the advantageous position for a stronghold in the +angle formed by the junction of the two rivers, and would employ the +subjugated Britons of the locality in constructing, it may be, at first +only a rude fort, protected on two sides by the streams and in the rear +by a "vallum," or embankment, and that on the site thus secured and +already a native stronghold, they would, at a later period, erect the +"castrum," of which massive fragments still remain, testifying to its +great strength. + +These remains, indeed, in almost their whole course can be traced through +present-day gardens and back premises, shewing the four sides of an +irregular parallelogram. Their dimensions, roughly speaking, are on the +north and south sides about 600-ft., by about 350-ft. at the eastern, and +300-ft. at the western end, their thickness being about 16-ft. The +material employed was the Spilsby sandstone, obtainable within five +miles, cemented by course grouting poured into the interstices between +the massive blocks. These walls inclose a portion of the High Street as +far eastward as the site of the present Corn Exchange, westward they +include the present manor house and form the boundary of the churchyard +in that direction. On the north they run at the back of the houses on +that side of the Market Place, and on the south they extend from St. +Mary's Square, past the Grammar School, and through sundry yards, +parallel with the branch of the canal, which is the old Waring river. +The masonry of these walls, as now seen, is very rude. It is supposed +that, originally as built by the Romans, they had an external coating of +neat structure, but this has entirely disappeared, it is still, however, +to be seen in the wells, which are next to be described. + +In a cellar, south of the High Street, at a baker's shop, and close to +the eastern wall of the castle, is a Roman well; there is another close +to the north-east angle of the castle walls, in what is called Dog-kennel +Yard, and a third just within the western wall, near the present National +Schools. Thus, although the two rivers were without the castle walls, +the Roman garrison was well supplied with water. + +The Roman roads branching from the town were (1st) the "Ramper," {6a} as +it is still called, running north-west, and connecting it with the Roman +station Lindum; from this, at Baumber, {6b} distant about 4 miles, a +branch running northwards led to the Roman Castrum, now Caistor; (2nd) +north-eastwards _via_ West Ashby, being the highway to Louth, the Roman +Luda; (3rd) eastwards, by High Toynton, Greetham, &c, to Waynflete, the +Roman Vain-ona; (4th) southward, by Dalderby, Haltham, &c., to Leeds +Gate, Chapel Hill, and there crossing the river Witham to Sleaford and +Ancaster, the Roman Causennae, situated on the great Roman Ermin Street. +This also was continued to another Roman Castrum, now Castor, near +Peterborough; (5th) south-west, by Thornton, &c., to Tattershall, locally +supposed to have been the Roman Durobrivae, and where traces of a Roman +camp still remain. + +Besides these Roman _viae_ and Roman coins, quite an abundance of Roman +pottery has from time to time been unearthed, and fragments are +continually being found in gardens in the town. A collection of these, +probably cinerary urns, was preserved until quite recently in the library +of the Mechanics' Institute, where the writer has frequently seen them, +{7a} they varied in height from 8 inches to 18 inches. Unfortunately, +for lack of funds, that institution was broken up about 1890, the books +were stowed away in a room at the workhouse, a valuable collection, and +the urns were sold by the late Mr. Joseph Willson, who acted as sole +trustee. Other Roman relics have been fragments of mortars of white +clay, found on the site of the present union, one bearing the word +"fecit," though the maker's name was lost. Portions also of Samian ware +have been found, one stamped with a leopard and stag, another bearing +part of the potter's name, ILIANI; with fragments of hand-mills, fibulae, +&c. {7b} The present writer has two jars, or bottles, of buff coloured +ware, of which about a dozen were dug up when the foundations of the +workhouse were being laid in 1838, they are probably Samian, a friend +having exactly similar vessels which she brought from Cyprus. The writer +has in his possession the head of a porphyritic mallet which was found in +a garden in the south of the town a few years ago, it is probably Roman; +the handle, which would be of wood, had entirely disappeared; it is much +"pitted" through damp and age, is 6.5 inches long and weighs 3-lb. 9-oz. + + [Picture: Hammer Head, found near the Wong, length 6.625-in., width + 3.875-in. weight 3.5-lb.; of porphyry from the Cheviot region, Neolithic + period. The stone was probably part of a large boulder] + +A discovery of further interesting Roman relics of another kind was made +in 1896. The owner of a garden near Queen Street, in the south-eastern +part of the town, was digging up an apple tree when he came across a fine +bed of gravel. Continuing the digging, in order to find the thickness of +this deposit, his spade struck against a hard substance, which proved to +be a lead coffin. After this had been examined by others invited to +inspect it, without any satisfactory result, the present writer was +requested to conduct further investigation. The coffin was found to be +5-ft. 2-in. in length, containing the skeleton, rather shorter, of a +female. A few days later a second coffin was found, lying parallel to +the first, 5-ft. 7-in. in length, the bones of the skeleton within being +larger and evidently those of a male. Subsequently fragments of decayed +wood and long iron nails and clamps were found, showing that the leaden +coffins had originally been enclosed in wooden cases. Both these coffins +lay east and west. A description was sent to a well-known antiquarian, +the late Mr. John Bellows of Gloucester, and he stated that if the lead +had an admixture of tin they were Roman, if no tin, post-Roman. The lead +was afterwards analysed by Professor Church, of Kew, and by the +analytical chemist of Messrs. Kynoch & Co., of Birmingham, with the +result that there was found to be a percentage of 1.65 of tin to 97.08 of +lead and 1.3 of oxygen, "the metal slightly oxidised." It was thus +proved that the coffins were those of Romans, their "orientation" +implying that they were Christian. It should be added that three similar +coffins were found in the year 1872, when the foundations were being laid +of the New Jerusalem Chapel in Croft Street, within some 100 yards of the +two already described; and further, as confirmatory of their being Roman, +a lead coffin was also found in the churchyard of Baumber, on the +restoration of the church there in 1892, this being close to the Roman +road (already mentioned) between the old Roman stations Banovallum and +Lindum. Lead coffins have also been found in the Roman cemeteries at +Colchester, York, and at other places. {8} + +As another interesting case of Roman relics found in Horncastle, I give +the following:--In 1894 I exhibited, at a meeting of our Archaeological +Society, some small clay pipes which had recently been dug up along with +a copper coin of the Emperor Constantine, just within the western wall of +the old castle, near the present Manor House. They were evidently very +old and of peculiar make, being short in stem with small bowl set at an +obtuse angle. They were said at the time to be Roman, but since tobacco +was not introduced till the reign of Elizabeth that idea was rejected. +In the year 1904, however, a large quantity of fragments of similar clay +pipes were found in the ruins of the Roman fort of Aliso, near Halteren +on the river Lippe, in Western Germany, some of rude structure, some +decorated with figures and Roman characters. They were lying at a depth +of 9 feet below the surface, and had evidently lain undisturbed since the +time of the Roman occupation. From the marks upon them it was manifest +that they had been used, and it is now known from the statements of the +Roman historian Pliny, and the Greek Herodotus, that the use of narcotic +fumes was not unknown to the Romans, as well as to other ancient nations; +the material used was hemp seed and cypress grass. In the Berlin +Ethnological Museum, also, vessels of clay are preserved, which are +supposed to have been used for a like purpose. This discovery, then, at +Horncastle is very interesting as adding to our Roman remains, and we may +picture to ourselves the Roman sentinel taking his beat on the old castle +walls and solacing himself, after the manner of his countrymen, with his +pipe. (An account of this later discovery is given in a German +scientific review for August, 1904, quoted _Standard_, August 12, 1904). + +Of what may be called the close of this early historic period in +connection with Horncastle there is little more to be said. The Roman +forces withdrew from Britain about A.D. 408. The Britons harried by +their northern neighbours, the Picts and Scots, applied for assistance to +the Saxons, who, coming at first as friends, but led to stay by the +attractions of the country, gradually over-ran the land and themselves in +turn over-mastered the Britons, driving them into Wales and Cornwall. +The only matter of interest in connection with Horncastle, in this +struggle between Saxon and Briton, is that about the end of the 5th +century the Saxon King Horsa, with his brother Hengist, who had greatly +improved the fort at Horncastle, were defeated in a fight at Tetford by +the Britons under their leader Raengeires, and the British King caused +the walls to be nearly demolished and the place rendered defenceless. +(Leland's _Collectanea_, vol i, pt. ii, p. 509). + + [Picture: North-east corner of the Castle Wall, in Dog-kennel Yard] + +The Saxons in their turn, towards the close of the 8th century, were +harassed by marauding incursions of the Danes, {9} which continued, +though temporarily checked by Kings Egbert and Alfred, through many +years, both nations eventually settling side by side, until both alike in +the 11th century became subject to their Norman conquerors. The traces +of these peoples are still apparent in Horncastle and its soke, since of +its 13 parish names, three, High Toynton, Low Toynton and Roughton have +the Saxon suffix "ton"; three, Mareham-on-the-Hill, Mareham-le-Fen and +Haltham terminate in the Saxon "ham," and six, Thimbleby, West Ashby, +Wood Enderby, Moorby, Wilksby and Coningsby have the Danish suffix "by." +The name of the town itself is Saxon, Horn-castle, or more anciently +Hyrne-ceastre, _i.e._ the castle in the corner, {10} or angle, formed by +the junction of the two rivers; that junction was, within comparatively +modern times, not where it is now, but some 200 yards eastward, on the +other side of the field called "The Holms," where there is still a muddy +ditch. + +So far our account of the town has been based mainly upon etymological +evidence, derived from river and place names, with a few scanty and +scattered records. As we arrive at the Norman period we shall have to +deal with more direct documentary testimony, which may well form another +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER II. +RECORDS OF THE MANOR, &c., FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST. + + +A recent historian {11a} has said "In the 13th century the northern +counties of England were so unsettled that there was little security +north of the Humber, and in 1250 the powerful Bishop of Carlisle found it +necessary to buy the manor of Horncastle (his own residence in the north, +Rose Castle, having been destroyed by marauders), and the Pope granted +him the Parish Church (of Horncastle) for his use;" {11b} but we can +carry our history back to a considerably earlier period than this. As a +former Roman station, doubtless, and of even earlier origin than that, +Horncastle had become a place of some importance, and so, even before the +Norman conquest the manor was royal property, since _Domesday Book_ +states that King Edward the Confessor bestowed it upon his Queen, Editha. +Edward died January 5, 1066, and his possessions naturally passed to his +successor, the Conqueror. Its subsequent history for a few years we do +not know, but in the reign of Stephen the manor was held by Adelias, or +Adelidis, (Alice or Adelaide) de Cundi, daughter of William de Cheney +{11c} (a name still known in the county), who was Lord of Glentham and +Caenby, two parishes near Brigg. She had a castle in this town, the site +of which is not now known, but it was probably a restoration in whole, or +in part, of the old fortress. She took part against the King in his +quarrel with the Empress Maud, and her estates were confiscated by +Stephen, they were, however, subsequently restored to her on condition +that she should demolish her castle. + +On her death the manor reverted to the crown and was granted by Henry II. +to a Fleming noble, Gerbald de Escald, who held it for one knight's fee. +{12a} He was succeeded by his grandson and heir, Gerard de Rhodes, {12b} +whose son, Ralph de Rhodes, sold it to Walter Mauclerk, {12c} Bishop of +Carlisle, and Treasurer of the Exchequer under Henry III. In the reign +of Richard II. Roger la Scrope and Margaret his wife, with Robert Tibetot +and son, his wife, as descendants of Gerbald de Escald, {12d} put in a +claim for the manor and obtained letters patent, by which the episcopal +possessor was bound to do them homage, but this was only for a brief +period, and they then disappear from the scene. + +The manor remained a possession of the bishops of Carlisle until the +reign of Edward VI., when, by licence of the King, it was sold by Bishop +Aldrich in 1547 to Edward, Lord Clinton. {12e} In the reign of Mary he +was compelled to re-convey it to the see of Carlisle. {12f} Queen +Elizabeth took a lease of it under the then possessing bishop, in which +she was succeeded by James I. He assigned it to Sir Edward Clinton, +knt., but through neglect of enrolment this became void. {12g} In the +reign of Charles II. the former charters were renewed, {12h} and the +bishops of Carlisle remained lords of the manor until 1856, when it was +transferred, with the patronage of some of the benefices within the soke, +to the Bishop of Lincoln. Thus from the reign of Edward the Confessor to +that of Charles II., a period of about 600 years, broken by brief +intervals of alienation, Horncastle was connected with royalty. + +The lease of the manor was held, under the bishops of Carlisle by Sir +Joseph Banks and his ancestors for nearly a century, the lease of Sir +Joseph himself being dated 21 March, 1803, and renewed 1 June, 1811. He +died in 1820 and was succeeded by his relative the Honble. James Hamilton +Stanhope and, three years later, by James Banks Stanhope, Esq., then a +minor, who, at a later period (in 1885) transferred all his rights to his +cousin, the late Right Honble. Edward Stanhope, whose widow became lady +of the manor and at whose death, in 1907, the lordship reverted to the +Honble. Richard Stanhope, son of the present Earl Stanhope. Mr. Banks +Stanhope died January 18th, 1904, aged 82, having been a generous +benefactor to Horncastle and the neighbourhood. + +We have here given a very condensed account of the ownership of this +manor from the reign of Edward the Confessor to the present time, a +period of nearly 840 years. Having had access to the episcopal archives +of Carlisle, so long connected with Horncastle, we are able to confirm +several of the above details from documents still existing, which we now +proceed to do. + +It has been stated that the manor of Horncastle was conferred upon Queen +Editha by her husband, Edward the Confessor. In confirmation of this we +find the following: In the reign of Charles I. the Vicar of Horncastle, +Thomas Gibson, presented a petition claiming tithe for certain mills +called "Hall Mills," with a close adjoining called "Mill Holmes," as +belonging to the glebe. The tenant, William Davidson, resisted, arguing +that he had paid no tithes to the previous vicar, Robert Holingshed, that +the mills were erected before the conquest and were part of the jointure +of Queen Editha, as stated in _Domesday Book_, and were therefore part of +the manor, not of the vicar's glebe. The result is not recorded, but +doubtless the tenant was right. {13a} The passage here quoted from +_Domesday Book_ is the following: "In Horncastre Queen Editha had 3 +carucates of land, free of gelt. This land is now 4 carucates. The King +has there 2 carucates in demesne (_i.e._ as his manor), with 29 villeins +and 12 bordars, who have (among them) 3 carucates. There are 2 mills +worth 26s. yearly, and 100 acres of meadow. In King Edward's time the +annual value was 20 pounds, now it is 44 pounds." {13b} These two mills +and the meadow were doubtless those in dispute between the vicar and +tenant in the reign of Charles I., the date of _Domesday_ being about +1085, or 540 years earlier. They were plainly part of the royal manor +and not at all connected with the glebe. + +All this, however, proves that the manor of Horncastle belonged to King +Edward the Confessor before the conquest, and 360 acres of it were +assigned to his consort, Queen Editha. The expansion of the 3 carucates +into 4, mentioned in _Domesday Book_, was probably (as in many other +recorded cases) due to the reclamation of land hitherto waste in flood or +forest. + +On the death of King Edward in 1066 the royal demesnes naturally passed +to his successor and kinsman, William the Conqueror, and in due course to +the successive Norman kings of his line. + +The connection of Horncastle with the sovereign is shown in various ways. +Documents relating to the earlier kings are naturally rare, since for +many years law courts were hardly yet established, the royal power being +rather that of "might" than of "right." {13c} Even the sale, or +devising, of property could only be legally effected by the king's +licence. Among the Carlisle papers connected with Horncastle is one +which shows that a matter which in modern times would be settled by the +parish overseers, or more recently by the Urban Council, was to be +formerly carried out only by the royal sanction. There is a Patent Roll +of the 13th year of King Richard II. (pt. 1, m. 3) entitled "Concerning +the paving of Horncastre," and running as follows:--"The King to the +Bailiff and proved men of the vill of Horncastre, greeting. Know, that +in aid of paving your said vill, of our special grace we have granted to +you, that from the day of the making of these presents to the end of 3 +years, you may take, for things coming to the said vill for sale, the +customs underwritten." Then follows a long list of articles for sale, of +which we can only specify a few here, viz.: "For every horse load of +corn, 0.25d., for every dole of wine, 2d.; for every pipe of ditto, 1s.; +for every hide, fresh, salt, or tanned, 0.25d.; for 100 skins of roebucks +(it seems that there were wild deer in those days), hares, rabbits, +foxes, or squirrels, 0.5d.; for every horse load of cloth, 0.5d.; for +every cloth of worstede, called 'coverlyt,' value 40s., 1d.; for every +100 of linen web of Aylesham, 1d.; for every chief of strong cendal +(silk) 1d.; for 100 mullets, salt or dry, 1d.; for every cart of fish, +1d.; for every horse load of sea fish, 0.25d.; for every salmon, 0.25d.; +for every last of herrings (12 barrels), 6d.; for every horse load of +honey, 1d.; for every wey of tallow (256 lbs.), 1d.; for every milstone, +0.5d.; for 1,000 turfs, 0.25d. For every other kind of merchandise not +here specified, of value 5s. and over, 0.25d.; and the term of 3 years +being ended, the said customs shall cease. Witness the King, at +Westminster, 9 Nov., 1389." + +Truly the kingly government was a paternal one to take cognizance of such +petty local matters. The "coggle" pavement of Horncastle is often +complained of, but at least it had the royal sanction. + +A Roll of the 18th year of Edward III. (m 8), dated Westminster, 28 June, +1344, is directed "to his very dear and faithful John de Kirketon, Fitz +Hugh de Cressy," (and others) assigning them "to choose and array 100 men +at arms in the County of Lincoln," and (among others) "6 hoblers in the +vill of Horncastre, to be at Portsmouth, to set out with the King against +Philip VI., de Valesco (Valois)." This was the beginning of the campaign +of Edward and his son the Black Prince, which terminated with the +glorious battle of Cressy and the capture of Calais. "Hoblers" were a +sort of yeomanry who, by the terms of their tenure of land were bound to +keep a light "nag" for military service. + +A Domestic State Paper of Queen Elizabeth (Vol. 51, No. 12, III) contains +the "Certificate of the town and soke of Horncastle to the artycles of +the Queen's Majesty's most Honorable Pryvye Councell," dated 27 June, +1569, shewing what "soldiers were furnished and went forth under Captaine +Carsey." These were formerly the well-known local troops called +"trainbands." The paper contains, further, accounts of payments for +"towne common armour, jerkyns, swords, daggers, corslettes, 1 caline +(piece of ordnance), conduct money (_i.e._ hire money), pioneers, +victuals," &c. Accounts rendered by Thomas Hamerton, Arthur Patchytt, +Thomas Raythbeake (all formerly well known names in the town), and +others. + +The head of the Carsey family was the owner of the Revesby Abbey Estate, +and as such was lesse of the manor of Horncastle under the Bishop of +Carlisle. They sold their property, in 1575, to Thomas Cecil, son of +Lord Treasurer Burleigh. + +There is another Carlisle document in connection with these trained bands +among the same Domestic State Papers of Queen Elizabeth (Vol. 199, No. +7), in which the Earl of Rutland writes to Anthony Thorold, sheriff, that +he has instructions "from the Lords of the Counsaile to put in strength +the power of the realme for the maritime counties," and he asks him to +"choose captaines for the yet untrained companies, and to supply the +place of Mr. John Savile for Horncastle." N.B.--The Saviles owned +Poolham Hall in Edlington. On this (State Papers, Eliz., Vol. 199, No. +72) the Earl writes to Mr. Valentine Brown that he thinks him "meete to +supply the place for Horncastle," dated London, 29 March, 1586-7. Sir +Valentine Brown was of Croft and East Kirkby, and Treasurer of Ireland; +he married the daughter of Sir John Monson, ancestor of the present Lord +Oxenbridge. + +Among the Domestic State Papers of Charles I. (Vol. 376, No. 123), is a +petition from the inhabitants of Horncastle to Sir Anthony Irbie, Knt., +sheriff of the county, complaining that the town was over-rated for the +payment of "ship-money," and praying for a reduction of the same. The +county was charged 8,000 pounds. This rate, levied to maintain the navy, +created widespread dissatisfaction and eventually led to the revolution. +It was included among the grievances against which public protests were +made in 1641. The five judges who pronounced in its favour were +imprisoned, and Hampden received a wound in a skirmish with Prince +Rupert, from which he died, June 24, 1643. Petitions were also presented +to Sir Edward Hussey, sheriff, 1636-7, as given in Domestic State Papers, +Charles I., Vol. 345, No. 42. + + [Picture: Horncastle map] + +It has been already stated that in the reign of Stephen this manor was +held by Adelias, or Adelidis, de Cundi. How this came about is not quite +clear, whether it was inherited from her father, William de Cheney, who +was probably among the Normans invited to immigrate by Edward the +Confessor, since it would seem that at the time of the conquest he was +already a large owner in the county, or from her husband, Robert de +Cundi, a Fleming, probably named from the town and fortress of Conde on +the frontier of France, situated on the Scheldt, in the department du +Nord. There is, however, evidence to show that she had other possessions +of considerable value apparently in her own right in Nottinghamshire and +Kent, as well as Lincolnshire. {16a} She is described by the old +chronicler, Geoffrey Gairmar, {16b} as a great patroness of learning and +literature. + +The Cheneys, or Chesneys, were apparently of foreign extraction, as +implied by their appellation "de Casineto." They had considerable +influence at various periods, one of them being knighted, another made a +baron by Queen Elizabeth. {16c} One, Robert de Cheney, was a powerful +Bishop of Lincoln (A.D. 1147-67) and built one of the finest castles in +England, the ruins of which still remain in the Palace grounds at +Lincoln. {16d} The Cheney pedigree is given in _The Genealogist_ of +July, 1901. They seem to have settled in Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, +as well as in Lincolnshire. Sir Thomas Cheney, K.G., was Lord Warden of +the Cinque Ports in the latter part of the 16th century. The Cheneys +fell into decay towards the end of the 17th century, and at the beginning +of the 18th century we find them in trade at Boston. About 1750 William +Garfit of Boston married Mary, daughter of Thomas Cheney, and the name, +as a Christian name, still survives in that family. The Cheneys, we may +add, were among the ancestors of the Willoughbys, {16e} and the parish of +Cheneys, in Bucks., doubtless named after them, is now the property of +the Duke of Bedford. + +The granddaughter of Adelias de Cundi, Agnes, {16f} married Walter, son +of Walter de Clifford of Clifford Castle, Hereford. Walter Clifford is +named in the first great charter of Henry III. (A.D. 1216), along with +the great nobles Walter de Lacy, William de Ferrars, Earl of Derby, +William, Earl of Albemarle, and others. + +William de Cheney, already mentioned as father of Adelias de Cundi, was +"Lord of Caenby and Glentham," and Walter de Clifford also is mentioned +in the charters of Barlings Abbey as giving to that monastery lands in +Caenby and Glentham, along with the above Walter de Lacy. The great +feature of the reign of Stephen was the large number of castles erected +by lords who were almost more powerful than their sovereign, and Adelias +built her castle at Horncastle, where she resided in great state until, +on her favouring the cause of the Empress Maud, daughter of the previous +king, Henry I. (whereas Stephen was only his nephew), her lands were +confiscated, and, as we have already seen, only restored on condition +that her castle was demolished. {17a} This restoration was, however, +only for life and on her demise the manor reverted to the crown. + +The manor was next granted by Henry II. to Gerbald de Escald, a Flemish +noble. {17b} This is shewn by a record still preserved at Carlisle, +dated 1274-5. In the reign of Edward I. an inquisition was made at +Lincoln, before 12 jurors of the soke of Horncastle, among the +Commissioners being John de Haltham, Anselm de Rugthon (Roughton), Thomas +de Camera (_i.e._ Chambers) of Horncastre, the King's Justices and +others, when it was declared that "the Lord Henry III., the father of +King Edward who now is, once had the manor of Horncastre, and he +enfeoffed Gerbald de Escald, a knight of Flanders, thereof, for his +service, viz., by doing one knight's fee for the Lord the King." + +Gerbald was succeeded by his grandson and heir, Gerard de Rhodes. This +is shewn by a Carlisle document. {17c} A dispute arose between Hugh, son +of Ralph (surname not given) and Gerard de Rhodes, concerning the manor +and soke of Horncastle, the advowson of the church, &c., which were +claimed by the said Hugh; but a compromise was effected, 400 marks being +paid to Hugh, and Gerard de Rhodes left in undisputed possession. + +It has been thought probable that this Ralph, father of Hugh, was +Ranulph, Earl of Chester, who was lord of the manors of Revesby and +Hareby, and had other possessions in the neighbourhood. He, it is +supposed, held the manor of Horncastle, as trustee, during the minority +of Gerard. Gerard was, in due course, succeeded by his son and heir, +Ralph de Rhodes, in the reign of Henry III. This again is proved by a +Feet of Fines, {17d} which records an "agreement made in the court of the +Lord King at Westminster (3 Feb., A.D. 1224-5), between Henry del Ortiay +and Sabina his wife on the one part, and the said Ralph de Rhodes on the +other part," whereby the former acknowledge certain lands and +appurtenances in Horncastle and its soke to be the property of the said +Ralph, and he grants to them, as his tenants, certain lands; they, in +acknowledgement, "rendering him therefor, by the year, one pair of gilt +spurs at Easter for all service and exactions." + +We have now reached another stage in the tenure of this manor and find +ourselves once more at the point where the present chapter opened. +Hitherto the manor had been held "in capite" (or "in chief") of the king +by lay lords, or, in the two cases of Queen Editha and Adelias de Condi, +by a lady; but in this reign Walter Mauclerk, the third Bishop of +Carlisle, purchased the manor from Ralph de Rhodes. He was himself a +powerful Norman and held the office of Treasurer of the Exchequer (a +common combination of civil and ecclesiastical duties in those days), but +now he and his successors were bound "to do suit and service to Ralph and +his heirs." This purchase is proved by a Lincoln document called a "Plea +Quo Warranto," which records a case argued before the Justices Itinerant, +in the reign of Edward I., when it was stated that Ralph de Rhodes +"enfeoffed Walter Mauclerk to hold the church, manor and appurtenances in +Horncastre, to him and his heirs, of the gift of the said Ralph." {18a} +That the Bishop, although an ecclesiastic, was bound to do service to the +heirs of Ralph is shown by another document, {18b} in which John, son of +Gerard de Rhodes, a descendant of Ralph, makes a grant to certain parties +of "the homage and whole service of the Bishop of Carlisle, and his +successors, for the manor (&c.) of Horncastre, which Gerard, son of +Gerard my brother, granted to me." This is dated the 13th year of Edward +I., 1285, whereas the actual sale of the manor took place in the reign of +Henry III., A.D. 1230, and was confirmed by the king in the same year. +{18c} + +We have called this another stage in the tenure of this manor and for +this reason, an ecclesiastic of high rank, with the authority of the Pope +of Rome at his back, was a more powerful subject than any lay baron, and +this influence soon shewed itself, for while the lay lords of the manor +had been content with doing their service to the king, and exacting +service from those holding under them, the Bishop of Carlisle, in the +first year of his tenure, obtained from the king three charters, +conferring on the town of Horncastle immunities and privileges, which had +the effect of raising the town from the status of little more than a +village to that of the general mart of the surrounding country. The +first of these charters gave the bishop, as lord of the manor, the right +of free warren throughout the soke {18d}; the second gave him licence to +hold an annual fair two days before the feast of St. Barnabas (June 11), +to continue eight days; the third empowered him to hang felons. An +additional charter was granted in the following year empowering the +bishop to hold a weekly market on Wednesday (die Mercurii), which was +afterwards changed to Saturday, on which day it is still held; also to +hold another fair on the eve of the Feast of St. Laurence (Aug. 10th), to +continue seven days. {18e} + +We here quote a few words of the original Carlisle charter, as shewing +the style of such documents in those days: "Henry to all Bishops, +Bailiffs, Provosts, servants, &c., health. Know that we, by the guidance +of God, and for the health of our soul, and of the souls of our ancestors +and descendants, have granted, and confirmed by this present charter, to +God, and the church of the blessed Mary of Carlisle, and to the Venerable +Father, Walter, Bishop of Carlisle," &c. It then goes on to specify, +among other privileges, that the bishop shall have "all chattells of +felons and fugitives, all amerciaments and fines from all men and tenants +of the manor and soke; that the bishop and his successors shall be quit +for ever to the king of all mercies, fines (&c.), that no constable of +the king shall have power of entry, but that the whole shall pertain to +the said bishop, except attachments touching pleas of the crown, and that +all chattells, &c., either in the king's court, or any other, shall be +the bishop's." Then follow cases in which chattells of Robert Mawe, a +fugitive, were demanded by the bishop, and 24 pounds exacted from the +township of Horncastle in lieu thereof; also 40s. from William, son of +Drogo de Horncastre, for trespass, and other fines from Ralph Ascer, +bailiff. Robert de Kirkby, &c., &c. The same document states that the +bishop has a gallows (furcae) at Horncastle for hanging offenders within +the soke; and, in connection with this we may observe that in the south +of the town is still a point called "Hangman's Corner." + +These extensive powers, however, would hardly seem (to use the words of +the charter) to have been "for the good of the souls" of the bishop or +his successors, since they rather had the effect of leading him to the +abuse of his rights. Accordingly, in the reign of Edward III., a plea +was entered at Westminster, before the King's Justices, {19a} by which +John, Bishop of Carlisle, was charged with resisting the authority of the +king in the matter of the patronage of the benefice of Horncastle. That +benefice was usually in the gift of the bishop, but the rector, Simon de +Islip, had been appointed by the king Archbishop of Canterbury and, in +such circumstances, the crown by custom presents to the vacancy. The +bishop resisted and proceeded to appoint his own nominee, but the +judgment of the court was against him. + +A somewhat similar case occurred a few years later. {19b} Thomas de +Appleby, the Bishop of Carlisle, and John de Rouseby, clerk, were +"summoned to answer to the Lord the King, that they permit him to appoint +to the church of Horncastre, vacant, and belonging to the king's gift, by +reason of the bishopric of Carlisle being recently vacant." It was +argued that John de Kirkby, Bishop of Carlisle, had presented Simon de +Islip to that benefice, afterwards created Archbishop of Canterbury, and +that the temporalities (patronage, &c.) of the Bishopric of Carlisle +therefore (for that turn) came to the king by the death of John de +Kirkby, bishop. The said bishop, Thomas de Appleby, and John de Rouseby +brought the case before the court, but they admitted the justice of the +king's plea and judgment was given for the king. + +We have said that although Walter Mauclerk, as Bishop of Carlisle, bought +this manor from Ralph de Rhodes, he and his successors were still bound +to "do suit and service" to Ralph and his heirs, and in the brief summary +with which this chapter opened we named Roger le Scrope and Margaret his +wife, with Robert Tibetot and Eva his wife, among those descendants of +Ralph de Rhodes. We have fuller mention of them in documents which we +here quote. In a Roll of the reign of Edward I., {19c} John, son of +Gerard de Rhodes, says "Know all, present and future, that I, John, son +of Gerard, have granted, and by this charter confirmed, to the Lord +Robert Tibetot and Eva his wife (among other things) the homage and whole +service of the Bishop of Carlisle, and his successors, for the manor of +Horncastre, with appurtenances, &c., which Gerard, son of Gerard my +brother, granted to me, &c., to have and to hold of the Lord the King . . +. rendering for them annually to me and my heirs 80 pounds sterling." +While in another Roll {20a} of the reign of Richard II., the king states +that having inspected the above he confirms the grants, not only to the +said "Robert Tybetot and his wife Eve," but also "to our very dear and +faithful Roger le Scrope and Margaret his wife," recognizing them, it +would seem, as descendants of the earlier grantee, Gerbald de Escald, +from whom they all inherited. + +Of these personages we may here say that both Tibetots and Le Scrope were +of high position and influence. The name of Thebetot, or Tibetot, is +found in the Battle Abbey Roll, as given by the historians Stow and +Holinshed; {20b} with a slight variation of name, as Tibtofts, they were +Lords of Langer, Co. Notts., and afterwards Earls of Worcester. {20c} +According to the historian, Camden, John Tibtoft was Lord-Lieutenant of +Ireland under Henry VI., created by him Earl of Worcester, but executed +for treason. {20d} His successor, John, was Lord Deputy under Edward IV. +{20e} The last of the Tibetots, Robert, died without male issue; his +three daughters were under the guardianship of Richard le Scrope, who +married the eldest daughter, Margaret, to his son Roger. This is the one +named above in connection with Horncastle. The Tibetot property of +Langer, Notts., thus passed to the Le Scropes, and continued in that +family down to Emanuel, created Earl of Sunderland by Charles I., AD. +1628. {20f} Castle Combe in Wiltshire was one of their residences, {20g} +but their chief seat was Bolton in Richmondshire. {20h} William le +Scrope was created Earl of Wiltshire by Richard II., but beheaded when +that king was dethroned and murdered, in 1399. {20i} Richard le Scrope +was Archbishop of York, but condemned by Henry IV. for treason. {20j} +The name Le Scrope also appears in the Battle Abbey Roll of the +Conqueror. Thus in both Tibetots and Scropes Horncastle was connected +with families who played a considerable part in public life. + +In the reign of Edward VI. there was a temporary change in the ownership +of this manor. Among the Carlisle Papers is one {20k} by which that king +grants permission to Robert Aldrich, Bishop of Carlisle, to sell "to our +very dear and faithful councellor, Edward Fynes, K.G., Lord Clinton and +Saye, High Admiral of England, the lordship and soke of Horncastre, with +all rights, appurtenances, &c., to hold to himself, his heirs and assigns +for ever," and that he, the said Edward, "can give and grant to the said +Robert, bishop, an annual rent of 28 pounds 6s. 8d." We have, however, +in this case an illustration of the instability even of royal decrees, in +that on the demise of that worthy prince, to whom the realm and Church of +England owe so much, his successor, Queen Mary, in the very next year, +A.D. 1553, cancelled this sale, and a document exists at Carlisle {21a} +showing that she "granted a licence," probably in effect compulsory, to +the same Lord Clinton and Saye, "to alienate his lordship and soke of +Horncastle and to re-convey it to Robert Aldrich, Bishop of Carlisle." + +His Lordship would, however, appear to have continued to hold the manor +on lease under the bishop, and to have acted in a somewhat high-handed +manner to his spiritual superior, probably under the influence of the +change in religious sentiment between the reigns of "the bloody Mary," +and her sister Elizabeth of glorious memory. For again we find a +document {21b} of the reign of the latter, in which the Bishop of +Carlisle complains to Sir Francis Walsingham, the Queen's Commissioner, +of a "book of Horncastle," which the Earl of Lincoln (the new title of +Lord Clinton and Saye) had sent to him "to be sealed," because (he says) +the earl, by the words of the grant, had taken from him "lands and tithes +of the yearly value of 28 pounds 6s. 8d.," the exact sum, be it observed, +above specified as the rent to be paid by Lord Clinton and Saye to the +bishop, Robert Aldrich. Of this, he asserts, "the see of Carlisle is +seized and the earl is not in legal possession by his lease now 'in +esse.'" {21c} He wages his suit "the more boldly, because of the +extraordinary charges he has been at, from the lamentable scarcity in the +country, the great multitude of poor people, and other charges before he +came had made him a poor man, and yet he must go on with it . . . the +number of them which want food to keep their lives in their bodies is so +pitiful. If the Lord Warden and he did not charge themselves a great +number would die of hunger, and some have done so," dated Rose Castle, 26 +May, 1578. + +His lordship, however, did one good turn to the town of Horncastle in +founding the Grammar School, in the 13th year of the reign of Elizabeth, +A.D. 1571, although (as we shall show in our chapter on the school) this +was really not strictly a foundation but a re-establishment; as a grammar +school is known to have existed in the town more than two centuries +earlier. + +We have one more record of Lord Clinton's connection with the town, from +which it would appear that the Priory of Bullington, near Wragby, and +Kirkstead Abbey also had property in Horncastle. A Carlisle document +{21d} shows that in the reign of Edward VI. Lord Clinton and Saye +received a grant of "lands, tenements and hereditaments in Horncastle, +late in the tenure of Alexander Rose and his assigns, and formerly of the +dissolved monastery of Bollington; also two tenements, one house, two +'lez bark houses' (Horncastle tanners would seem even then to have +flourished), one house called 'le kylne howse,' one 'le garthing,' 14 +terrages of land in the fields of Thornton, with appurtenances lying in +Horncastle, &c., and once belonging to the monastery of Kyrkestead." + +As in other places the Clinton family seem to have been succeeded by the +Thymelbys, of these we have several records. An Escheator's Inquisition +of the reign of Henry VIII., {22a} taken by Roger Hilton, at Horncastle, +Oct. 5, 1512, shewed that "Richard Thymylby, Esquire, was seized of the +manor of Parish-fee, in Horncastre, held of the Bishop of Carlisle, as of +his soke of Horncastre, by fealty, and a rent of 7 pounds by the year." +He was also "seized of one messuage, with appurtenances, in Horncastre, +called Fool-thyng, parcel of the said manor of Parish-fee." {22b} The +said Richard died 3 March, 3 Henry VIII. (A.D. 1512). This was, however, +by no means the first of this family connected with Horncastle. Deriving +their name from the parish of Thimbleby, in the soke of Horncastle, we +find the first mention of a Thymelby in that parish in a post mortem +Inquisition of the reign of Edward III., {22c} which shews that Nicholas +de Thymelby then held land in Thimbleby under the Bishop of Carlisle, +A.D. 1333; but nearly a century before that date a Lincoln document {22d} +mentions one Ivo, son of Odo de Thymelby, as holding under the Bishop in +Horncastle, in the reign of Henry III., A.D. 1248. + +Further, in the reign of Edward I., as is shewn by a Harleian MS., in the +British Museum, {22e} Richard de Thymelby was Dean of Horncastle; Thomas, +son of the above Nicholas de Thymelby, presented to the benefice of +Ruckland in 1381, John de Thymelby presented to Tetford in 1388, and John +again to Somersby in 1394, {22f} and other members of the family +presented at later periods. The family continued to advance in wealth +and position until in the reign of Edward VI. it was found by an +Inquisition {22g} that Matthew Thymelby, of Poolham (their chief +residence in this neighbourhood), owned the manor of Thymbleby, that of +Parish-fee in Horncastle and five others, with lands in eight other +parishes, and the advowsons of Ruckland, Farforth, Somersby and Tetford. +He married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Hussey. Other influential +marriages were those of John Thymelby, "Lord of Polum" (Poolham), to +Isabel, {22h} daughter of Sir John Fflete, Knt. (circa 1409); William +(probably) to Joan, daughter of Sir Walter Tailboys (circa 1432), {22i} a +connection of the Earl of Angus; Matthew's widow marrying Sir Robert +Savile, Knt. {22j} + + [Picture: Plan of Horncastle, 1908--from the Ordnance Survey] + +In connection with the marriage of William to Joan Tailboys we may +mention that the base, all that now remains, of the churchyard cross at +Tetford bears on its west side the Thimbleby arms "differenced" with +those of Tailboys, the north side having the Thimbleby arms pure and +simple. {24a} + +Another important marriage was that of Richard Thimbleby (A.D. 1510) to +Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Godfrey Hilton of Irnham Manor near +Grantham, through which alliance that property passed to the Thimblebys. +It had been granted to Ralph Paganel by the Conqueror, afterwards passed +to Sir Andrew Luterel, Knt., and later to Sir Geoffrey Hilton, Knt. +Richard Thimbleby built Irnham Hall; he was succeeded by his son and +heir, Sir John Thimbleby, who thus became the head of the family, which +has in later times become almost extinct. This fine mansion, in the +Tudor style of architecture, standing in a deer park of more than 250 +acres, was destroyed by fire, Nov. 12, 1887, being then owned by W. +Hervey Woodhouse, Esq., who bought it of Lord Clifford's son. {24b} + +Turning again to the Carlisle documents we find one of the reign of +Edward III., {24c} giving an agreement made in the King's Court at +Westminster (20 Jan., 1353-4), "between Thomas, son of Nicholas de +Thymelby, plaintiff, and Henry Colvile, knt., and Margaret his wife, +deforciants," whereby, among other property, the latter acknowledge that +certain "messuages, one mill, ten acres of land (_i.e._ arable), two +pastures, and 7 pounds of rent, with appurtenances, in Horncastre, +Thimilby, and Bokeland (_i.e._ Woodhall), are of the right of the said +Thomas; and for this the said Thomas gives to the said Henry and Margaret +200 marks of silver." + +Another document of the same reign, {24d} of date 1360-1, states that +Gilbert de Wilton, Bishop of Carlisle, "gives 60s. for the King's licence +to remit to Thomas son of Nicholas de Thymelby, and John his younger +brother, the service of being Reeve (_i.e._ Bailiff) of the Bishop, and +other services, which are due from him to the said Bishop for lands and +tenements held of the said Bishop in Horncastre," and elsewhere. Another +document, {24e} dated a few years later, shews an agreement made at +Westminster, between Thomas Thymelby and his brother John, on the one +part, and Frederick de Semerton and Amice his wife, deforciants, +concerning four tofts, certain land, and 7 pounds of rent, with +appurtenances, in Horncastre and contiguous parts, by which "the said +Frederick and Amice acknowledge these (properties) to be of the right of +the said Thomas and his brother," and for this Thomas pays them 100 marks +of silver. Two other Carlisle documents of considerably later date refer +to members of this same family of Thymelby, but are chiefly of value as +introducing to us a new name among Horncastle owners of land. + +A Chancery Inquisition {24f} taken at Horncastle, 24 Sept., 1612, shews +that "John Kent, of Langton, was seized in his manor of Horncastell, with +the appurtenances, called Parish-fee, and certain messuages, cottages, +land and meadows in Horncastell (and elsewhere), lately purchased of +Robert Savile and Richard Thymelby," and "held under the Bishop of +Carlisle by fealty," . . . that "the said John Kent died 19 Sept., 1611, +and that William Kent, his son, is next heir." + +We have already seen that, about 60 years before, the widow of Matthew +Thymelby had married Sir Robert Savile; he belonged to an old and +influential family now represented by Lord Savile of Rufford Abbey, +Notts., and the Earl of Mexborough, Methley Park, Yorkshire. By the +aforesaid marriage the bulk of the Thymelby property passed to the +Saviles, and like the Thymelbys they had their chief residence, in this +neighbourhood, at Poolham Hall, owning among many other possessions the +aforesaid sub-manor of Parish-fee in Horncastle, which, as we have seen, +was sold by their joint action to John Kent of Langton. We have already +had mention of a John Savile who was apparently captain of the "trained +band" connected with Horncastle in the reign of Elizabeth, A.D. 1586 (see +p. 14); Gervase Holles mentions this John Savile as joint lord of +Somersby with Andrew Gedney, and lord of Tetford in the same reign. +(_Collectanea_, vol. iii, p. 770). + +From another document {25a} it would seem that, some 10 or 11 years +later, Richard Thymelby and Robert Savile were involved in a more than +questionable transaction with regard to the property thus transferred. +Among the Carlisle papers is a Petition in Chancery, of which we here +give the text, slightly abridged, as it is remarkable, and fittingly +brings to a close our notices of the Thymelbys in connection with +Horncastle. + +To the Right Honble. Sir Francis Bacon, Knt., Lord Chancellor of England. +Complainant sheweth, on the oath of your petitioner, Evan Reignolds, of +St. Catherine's, Co. Middlesex, gent., and Joan his wife, that, whereas +Richard Thymelby, some time of Poleham, Co. Lincoln, Esq., deceased, was +seized of the manors of Poleham, Thimbleby, Horsington, Stixwold, +Buckland, Horncastle, Edlington (&c.), and tenements in Langton, +Blankney, Baumber, and in one pasture inclosed for 1000 sheep, called +Heirick (High-Rig, in Woodhall, near Poolham) pasture, &c., whereof +Robert Savile was seized for life, conveyed the same to his father-in-law +Robert Savile . . . the said Richard Thymelby, going up to London, +negotiated to sell the property to one Richard Gardiner, and for 2,300 +pounds engaged, at his desire, to convey all to John Wooton, the 2,300 +pounds was paid to Richard Thymelby and bargain settled July 15, 6 +Elizabeth (A.D. 1564). {25b} A dispute arose in the following year +between Richard Thymelby and Robert Savile, which was submitted to +arbitrators (Feb. 15, 7 Elizabeth), who ordered Richard Thymelby to pay +Robert Savile 1,500 pounds, and Robert Savile should then convey all to +Richard Thymelby. The 1,500 pounds was paid and afterwards the two +"confederated to defraud the said Richard Gardiner and conveyed the said +manors to John Kent." The judgment of the court is not given, but +neither of the defendants, surely, cut a very creditable figure, and +Richard Thymelby, suitably, we must admit, passes from the scene. + +Of the Saviles we may here give a few more particulars. Gervase Holles, +the antiquary, mentions in his _Collectanea_ (vol. iii, p. 770) John +Savile, Esq., as Lord of the Manor of Tetford, in this neighbourhood, in +the reign of Elizabeth, and as joint Lord of Somersby with Andrew Gedney, +Esq. (of the latter and his wife there is a very fine sepulchral monument +in the church of the adjoining parish of Bag Enderby). The most +distinguished literary member of the family was Sir Henry Savile, a +learned mathematician, Fellow and Warden of Merton College, Oxford, and +Provost of Eton; a munificent patron of learning, founding Professorships +of Astronomy and Geography at his University; he wrote a _Treatise on +Roman Warfare_, but his great work was a translation of the writings of +St. Chrysostom, a monument of industry and learning; he was knighted by +James I., and his bust is carved in stone in the quadrangle of the +Bodleian Library at Oxford, among those of other benefactors. Charles I. +conferred the Earldom of Sussex on Thomas, Lord Savile of Pontefract. +Several members of the family were Seneschals, or Stewards, of Wakefield. +George was created Marquis of Halifax, another was Baron of the +Exchequer. The name is given in the Conqueror's Roll of Battle Abbey +(A.D. 1066), Hollinshed's version, as Sent Ville, in Stow's version as +Sant Vile, while a Chancery Inquisition (of 18 Henry VII., No. 46, +_Architectural Society's Journal_, 1895, p. 17) gives it as Say-vile, and +on the analogy of Nevill, formerly de Nova-villa, we may perhaps assume +that the original form was de Sancta-villa (or "of the Holy City"); which +may well have been adopted by one who had made a pilgrimage to +Canterbury, Rome, or Jerusalem itself. + +I should, however, add that a member of the family, Miss Elizabeth J. +Savile, who has herself dug to the roots of the genealogical tree, gives +a different version of their origin. According to her they are descended +from the Dukes de Savelli, who again trace their lineage from the still +more ancient Sabella in Italy. When John Savile, 2nd son of Sir John +Savile, travelled in Italy in the time of James I., the then Duke de +Savelli received him as a kinsman. Of this family were the Popes +Honorius III. and Honorius IV. A MS. Visitation in the British Museum +says "It is conceived, that this family came into England with Geoffrey +Plantagenet, rather than with the Conqueror, because there are two towns +of this name on the frontiers of Anjou, both of which were annexed to the +crown of England when the said Geoffrey married Maud, sole daughter and +heir of Henry I." This is said to have been taken from the Savile +pedigree in the keeping of Henry Savile of Bowlings, Esq., living in +1665. The Saviles of Methley trace their descent, in the male line, from +this Sir John Savile of Savile Hall. One branch, the Saviles of +Thornhill, are now represented in the female line by the Duke of +Devonshire, and the Savile Foljambes, one of whom is the present Lord +Hawkesbury. The Saviles of Copley, now extinct, are represented by the +Duke of Norfolk, and a younger branch by the Earls of Mexborough. The +opinion that they came from Anjou is generally accepted, the authorities +being _Yorkshire Pedigrees_, _British Museum Visitations_, Gregorovius, +uno frio, Panvinio, and other chroniclers. + +We now proceed to notice the other persons, of more or less repute, who +were at various periods owners in Horncastle. In the 3rd year of King +John we find Gerard de Camville paying fees for land in Horncastle by his +deputy, Hugo Fitz Richard, to the amount of 836 pounds, which was a large +sum in those days. {26a} He was sheriff of the county, A.D. 1190, along +with Hugo. {26b} The name, however, is more known for the celebrated +defence of Lincoln Castle by Nicholaia de Camville against the besieging +forces of King Stephen in 1191, and again in her old age against Henry +III., assisted by Louis, Dauphin of France. An ancestor of William de +Camville is named in the Battle Abbey Roll, among those Normans who came +over with the Conqueror. + +William de Lizures and Eudo de Bavent are also named as paying similar +fees, though to smaller amounts. The de Lizures were a powerful +Yorkshire family, who inter-married with the De Lacys of Pontefract +Castle and inherited some of their large estates. {27a} Among these, one +was the neighbouring manor of Kirkby-on-Bain, which would seem to have +passed to the Lady Albreda Lizures; {27b} they probably derived their +name from the town of Lisieux, near Harfleur in Normandy. We soon lose +sight of this family in England, and they seem to have migrated northward +and to have acquired lands in Scotland. The name De Lizures is common in +Scottish Cartularies, for instance in the Cartulary of Kelso, p. 257 +(_Notes & Queries_, series 2, vol. xii, p. 435). In 1317 William and +Gregory de Lizures were Lords of Gorton, and held lands near Roslyn +Castle, Edinburgh (_Genealogie of the Saint Claires of Roslyn_, by Father +Augustin Hay, re-published Edinburgh, 1835), [_Notes & Queries_, 3rd +series, vol. i, p. 173]. + +The De Bavents were also a distinguished family, their connection with +Horncastle survives in the name of a field in the south of the parish, on +the Rye farm, which is called "Bavent's Close." A few particulars of +this family may not be without interest. The earliest named are Richard +de Bavent in 1160, {27c} and Eudo de Bavent in 1161, {27d} as holding the +manor of Mareham-le-Fen, in the extreme south of the Horncastle soke, +under Henry II., "by service of falconry." {27e} Eudo (about 1200) gave +"to God, the Cathedral, and Chapter of Lincoln," his lands in the north +fen of Bilsby. {27f} The family seem to have gradually increased their +possessions in this neighbourhood. In 1290, under Edward I., we find +Jollan de Bavent holding lands in Billesby and Winceby, as well as +Mareham. {27g} In 1319, under Edward II., Robert de Bavent holds his +land in Billesby of the King by the service of supplying "3 falcons for +the royal use," {27h} and, under Edward III., certain trustees of Peter +de Bavent, by his will, transfer the manor of Mareham to the convent of +Revesby, to provide a monk who shall daily throughout the year say masses +"for the souls of the said Peter and Catherine, his wife, for ever." +{27i} Truly "L' homme propose, et Dieu dispose," for from this time +forward we hear little of the Bavents. They may "call their lands after +their own names," "Bavent's Close" survives, but of the whilom owner we +can only say, in the words of Coleridge: + + The knight's bones are dust, + And his good sword rust, + His soul is with + The saints, we trust. + +Another family of distinction connected with Horncastle was that of the +Angevines. Among the Carlisle documents is one {27j} shewing that a +trial was held at Horncastle (A.D. 1489-90), in which Sir Robert Dymoke, +Knt., and William Angevin, Esq., recovered possession of 400 acres of +land, with tofts and appurtenances, in Horncastle and its soke, from John +Hodgisson and his wife, John Cracroft, Gervase Clifton (of Clifton) and +others. This family probably acquired their name thus: William the +Conqueror brought to England from Normandy a body of troops called the +"Angevine auxiliaries" (from the province of Anjou), and their +descendants were granted lands in various parts of the kingdom. One +family especially seems to have adopted this name, which was variously +spelt as Angevine, Aungelyne, Aungeby, &c.; they settled in various parts +of this county at an early period, and Horncastle being a royal manor +they naturally were located in this neighbourhood. We find traces of +them at Whaplode in the south, Saltfleetby in the north, and +Theddlethorpe midway, in the 12th and 14th centuries. {28a} Among +Lincoln records is the will of Robert Angevin, Gent., {28b} of Langton by +Horncastle, dated 25 April, 1545, in which he requests to be buried in +the Church of St. Margaret (then a much larger edifice than the present); +he leaves to his son land in Hameringham, and to his widow, for life, and +his four daughters, lands in Burnsall, Hebden, Conyseat and Norton, in +the County of York. His brother, John Angevin, resided at West Ashby, +then a hamlet of Horncastle. William Angevin, Gent., of Theddlethorpe +{28c} is named in the official list of Lincolnshire freeholders made in +1561, and the name also appears in the Visitation of 1562, but all traces +of the family disappear before the time of the commonwealth. + +The same Carlisle document {28d} mentions Thomas Fitz-William as +concerned in the said dispute, as being a Horncastle proprietor; while, +further, another Carlisle document of the time of Henry VIII., shows that +Thomas Fitz-William, Esq., was seized of one capital messuage, 6 other +messuages, 4 tofts and 100 acres of land in Horncastle, held of the Prior +of Carlisle, and John Fitz-William was his heir. {28e} The Fitz-Williams +again were a very ancient and distinguished family, the name is found in +the Battle Abbey Roll of William the Conqueror. The family claim descent +from Sir William Fitz-Goderic, cousin of King Edward the Confessor. His +son, Sir William Fitz-William, has been said (as the name might imply) to +have been really a natural son of William the Conqueror himself, {28f} +but the more generally accepted version is that Fitz-Goderic was his +father. Sir William Fitz-William accompanied the Duke of Normandy to +England as Marshal of his army, and for his bravery at the battle of +Hastings the Conqueror gave him a scarf from his own arm. A descendant, +in the reign of Elizabeth, was thrice Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; he was +also Governor of Fotheringhay Castle when the unfortunate Queen Mary of +Scotland was imprisoned there, and before she was beheaded she gave him a +portrait of herself, which is still preserved at Milton House, near +Peterborough, one of the seats of the Earls Fitz-William, who now +represent the family, Baron of Milton being their second title. A Patent +of Edward IV. (A.D. 1461) {28g} shows that Richard Fitz-William had the +privilege granted to him by that King of "free warren" at Ulceby, near +Alford. + +An Inquisition in the reign of Henry VII. {29a} (A.D. 1502) shows that +Thomas Fitz-William held the manors of Mavis Enderby, Maidenwell and +Mablethorpe. The list of magistrates for the county in the reign of +Henry VIII. {29b} contains the name of George Fitz-William along with +Lionel Dymoke, Lord Willoughby, and others; while an Inquisition held +five years later {29c} shews that Thomas Fitz-William held the +aforementioned manor of Ulceby, by the "service of 1 falcon annually to +the King." Sir William Fitz-William in the same reign {29d} was Lord +High Admiral. John Fitz-William is named in the Herald's list of county +gentry in the 16th century as residing at Skidbrook, a hamlet of +Saltfleet Haven, {29e} and William Fitz-William, Esq., supplied "one +lance and two light horse" when the Spanish Armada was expected to invade +England, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. {29f} William Fitz-William of +Mablethorpe {29g} married, in 1536, Elizabeth daughter of Sir Robert +Tyrwhitt, of Kettlethorpe, a member of a very old Lincolnshire family, +still owning property in this neighbourhood; and in 1644 Sir William +Wentworth, {29h} a scion of a younger branch, married Elizabeth, daughter +and co-heir of Thomas Savile, of Wakefield, whose family we have already +mentioned as connected with Horncastle. + +In 1620 the head of the Fitz-William family was created an Irish Peer; in +1742 the 3rd Baron was made Baron Milton in the peerage of Great Britain; +and, 4 years later, Earl Fitz-William. In 1782, on the death of his +uncle, the last Marquis of Rockingham, the Earl of that day succeeded to +the Yorkshire and Northamptonshire estates of the Wentworths, and in 1807 +they took the name of Wentworth as an affix. In the early part of the +19th century the name became again connected with Horncastle, when Earl +Fitz-William, grandfather of the present Earl, hunted the local pack of +foxhounds, which were kept in Horncastle, in what is still called +Dog-kennel Yard, at the back of St. Lawrence Street. An old friend, +formerly practicing as a Doctor in Horncastle, but lately deceased, has +told the writer that he remembered seeing the Earl's hounds breaking +cover from Whitehall Wood, in the parish of Martin. + +There is one more Carlisle document deserving of quotation as it is of a +peculiar nature. A Patent Roll of the reign of Elizabeth, {29i} A.D. +1577, records that a "pardon" was granted to "Sir Thomas Cecil, Knt., for +acquiring the manor of Langton (by Horncastle) with appurtenances, and 30 +messuages, 20 cottages, 40 tofts, 4 dove-cotes, 40 gardens, 30 orchards, +1,400 acres of (cultivated) land, 100 acres of wood, 100 acres of furze +and heath, 200 acres of marsh, 40s. of rent, and common pasture, with +appurtenances, in Horncastle, Thimbleby, Martin, Thornton and Woodhall, +from Philip Tylney, Esq., by fine levied without licence." This was a +somewhat extensive acquisition. We have already recorded a more than +questionable transaction in the transfer of land by Richard Thymelby and +Robert Savile, A.D. 1564, and this transaction of Sir Thomas Cecil, 13 +years later, seems also to have been in some way irregular, since it +needed the royal "pardon." + +There is nothing to show who this Philip Tylney was, who acted on this +occasion as vendor, but Sir Thomas Cecil was the son of the great Lord +Treasurer Burghley, who was Secretary of State under Edward VI., and for +40 years guided the Councils of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Thomas himself was +a high official under Elizabeth and King James I.; he was knighted in +1575, received the Order of the Garter in 1601; under James I. he was +made Privy Councillor, and having succeeded his father as Baron Burghley, +was created by James Earl of Exeter. His brother Sir Robert also held +high office and was made in 1603 Baron Cecil, in 1604 Viscount +Cranbourne, in 1605 Earl of Salisbury. Thomas Cecil died Feb. 7, 1622, +aged 80, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. He married 1st Dorothy, +daughter of John Nevil, Lord Latimer, and 2nd, Frances, daughter of Lord +Chandos. He was, doubtless, a man of large ideas and great ambition, his +royal mistress was herself Lady of the manor of Horncastle, and +Horncastle having thus been brought under his notice, he may have been +too grasping in compassing his purposes. The Revesby Charters {30a} show +that he purchased that estate in 1575. + +We may add that the Cecils were descended from an ancient family located +in Wales soon after the Norman Conquest, and acquired large possessions +in the reign of King Rufus; the 14th in descent was David Cecil of +Stamford, Sergeant at Arms to King Henry VIII., he was grandfather to the +1st Lord Burghley. {30b} The present representatives of this old family +are the Marquis of Exeter of Burghley House, Stamford, and the Marquis of +Salisbury of Hatfield House, Herts. + +We have now reached the end of a somewhat lengthy series of owners +formerly connected with Horncastle, its manor, and its soke, bringing us +down to the early part of the 17th century, and we think that few towns, +of its size, could show such a record of distinguished names. The +information available as to more recent periods is more meagre. The +Bishops of Carlisle continued to hold the manor down to the year 1856, +and various parties held leases of it under them, they themselves +residing here from time to time, {30c} until the episcopal palace was +demolished in 1770, when the present Manor House was erected on its site. + +We have already stated that Queen Elizabeth leased the manor from the +Bishop of Carlisle of that date, she was succeeded in the lease by King +James I., who transferred it to Sir Henry Clinton, but owing to a legal +error in that transaction, it proved void. One of the said Bishops in +the next reign was Dr. Robert Snowden, whose family were located in this +neighbourhood, his son being Vicar of Horncastle. Abigail Snowden +married Edward, son of Sir Edward Dymoke, Knt., in 1654, and Jane Snowden +married Charles Dymoke, Esq., of Scrivelsby Court; the former belonged to +the, so called, Tetford branch of the Dymokes, who have of late years +also succeeded to the Scrivelsby property. Bishop Robert Snowden granted +a lease of the Horncastle manor to his kinsman, Rutland Snowden, and his +assignees for three lives; but this would appear to have been afterwards +cancelled, owing to the "delinquency" of the first grantee. {31a} The +name of this Rutland Snowden appears in the list of Lincolnshire Gentry +who were entitled to bear arms, at the Herald's Visitation of 1634. {31b} + +A break in the continuity of the sub-tenure of the manor here occurs, but +not of long duration. The family of Banks are next found holding the +lease, under the said bishops; the most distinguished of them being Sir +Joseph Banks, the eminent naturalist, and patron of science in almost +every form; who visited Newfoundland in pursuit of his favourite study; +accompanied Captain Cook in his voyage to the South Seas; visited Iceland +with Dr. Solander, the pupil of Linnaeus; made large natural history and +antiquarian collections; {31c} became President of the Royal Society; and +was largely instrumental in forming the schemes for the drainage and +inclosure of the fens; and other works of public utility. His family +acquired the Revesby Abbey estates in 1714, and were closely connected +with Horncastle for more than a century, as he died in 1820. + +One of his ancestors, also Joseph, was M.P. for Grimsby and Totnes; +another, also Joseph, had a daughter, Eleonora, who married the Honble. +Henry Grenville, and was mother of the Countess Stanhope. Through this +last connection, on the demise of Sir Joseph, the leased manor passed, as +the nearest male relative, to Col. the Honble. James Hamilton Stanhope, +who served in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. He died three years +later, in 1823, and was succeeded by the late James Banks Stanhope, Esq., +then a minor, and afterwards M.P. for North Lincolnshire; who, some years +ago, transferred all his manorial rights to the Right Honble. Edward +Stanhope, 2nd son of the 5th Earl Stanhope, and M.P. for the Horncastle +Division. He died 22 December, 1898, and his widow, the Honble. Mrs. +Stanhope of Revesby Abbey, became Lady of the Manor; this, on her decease +in 1907 reverting to the family of the Earl Stanhope, of Chevening Park, +Sevenoaks, Kent, in the person of his son, the Honble. Richard Stanhope, +now residing at Revesby Abbey. + +In 1856 the manoral rights of the Bishops of Carlisle were transferred to +the See of Lincoln, and the Bishop of Lincoln is now _ex officio_ Patron +of the Benefice. The head of the Stanhope family is still the chief +owner of property in Horncastle; other owners being the Vicar with 92 +acres, the representatives of the late Sigismund Trafford Southwell with +67 acres, representatives of the late W. B. Walter (now Majer Traves) +with 58 acres; while Coningtons, Clitherows, Rev. Richard Ward, and about +100 other proprietors hold smaller portions. We have mentioned the +influence of Sir Joseph Banks in the drainage and enclosure of the fens, +and on the completion of that important work in Wildmore Fen, in 1813, +some 600 acres were added to the soke of Horncastle, about 80 acres being +assigned to the manor, while the glebe of the Vicar was increased so that +it now comprises 370 acres. + +We conclude this chapter with another record of the past, which should +not be omitted. It is somewhat remarkable that although Horncastle has +been connected with so many personages of distinction as proprietors, and +for about 600 years (as already shewn) with royalty itself, as an +appanage of the crown, it has only once been visited by royalty in +person. History tells {32a} that "on Sep. 12, 1406, Henry IV. made a +royal procession" from this town (probably coming hither from Bolingbroke +Castle, his birthplace), "with a great and honourable company, to the +Abbey of Bardney, where the Abbot and monks came out, in ecclesiastical +state, to meet him," and he was royally entertained by them. We may +perhaps assume that as his father, John of Gaunt, had a palace at +Lincoln, {32b} he was on his way thither, where also his half brother, +Henry Beaufort, had been Bishop, but was promoted two years before this +to the See of Winchester. + +The nearest approach to another royal visit was that of the Protector, +Oliver Cromwell, which however was of a private character. Although +historians do not generally relate it, it is locally understood that, +after the Battle of Winceby, on Oct. 11, 1643, Cromwell personally came +to Horncastle to see that proper honours were paid, by the churchwarden, +Mr. Hamerton, to the body of Sir Ingram Hopton, slain on that eventful +day in single combat with Cromwell himself, who pronounced him to be "a +brave gentleman," he having, indeed, first unhorsed Cromwell. This visit +would seem to be further proved by the fact that a man, named John +Barber, died in Horncastle, aged 95, A.D. 1855 (or 1856), whose +grandfather remembered Cromwell, on that occasion, sleeping in the house +now called Cromwell House, in West Street (or rather an older house on +the same site); while in the parish register of West Barkwith there is an +entry of the burial of Nicholas Vickers, in 1719, with the additional +note that he "guided Cromwell over Market Rasen Moor," in his journey +northward after the battle. He may well, therefore, have taken +Horncastle on his way. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Having, so far, dealt with the more or less conjectural, prehistoric +period of Horncastle's existence in Chapter I, and with the Manor and its +ownership in Chapter II, we now proceed to give an account of the town's +institutions, its buildings, and so forth. Among these the Parish +Church, naturally, claims precedence. + + + +ST. MARY'S CHURCH. + + +This is probably not the original parish church. There is no mention of +a church in _Domesday Book_, and although this is not quite conclusive +evidence, it is likely that no church existed at that date (circa 1085 +A.D.); but in Testa de Nevill (temp. Richard I.) we find "Ecclesia de +Horncastre," named with those of (West) Ashby, High Toynton, Mareham +(-on-the-Hill), and (Wood) Enderby, as being in the gift of the King; +{33a} while at an Inquisition post mortem, taken at Horncastle, 8 Richard +II., No. 99, {33b} the Jurors say that "the Lord King Edward (I.), son of +King Henry (III.), gave to Gilbert, Prior of the alien Priory of +Wyllesforth, and his successors, 2 messuages, and 6 oxgangs (90 acres) of +land, and the site of the Chapel of St. Laurence, with the appurtenances, +in Horncastre," on condition that they find a fit chaplain to celebrate +mass in the said chapel three days in every week "for the souls of the +progenitors of the said King, and his successors, for ever." This chapel +probably stood near the street running northwards from the Market Place, +now called St. Lawrence Street, though, a few years ago, it was commonly +called "Pudding Lane." It is said to have formerly been a main street +and at the head of it stood the Market Cross. Bodies have at various +times been found interred near this street, indicating the vicinity of a +place of worship, and, when a block of houses were removed in 1892, by +the Right Honble. E. Stanhope, Lord of the Manor, to enlarge the Market +Place, several fragments of Norman pillars were found, which, doubtless, +once belonged to the Norman Chapel of St. Lawrence. {34} + +The date of St. Mary's Church, as indicated by the oldest part of it, the +lower portion of the tower, is early in the 13th century. "It is a good +example of a town church of the second class (as said the late Precentor +Venables, who was a good judge) in no way, indeed, rivalling such +churches as those of Boston, Louth, Spalding or Grantham; nay even many a +Lincolnshire village has a finer edifice, but the general effect, after +various improvements, is, to say the least, pleasing, and it has its +interesting features. The plan of the church (he says) is normal; it +consists of nave, with north and south aisles; chancel, with south aisle +and north chantry, the modern vestry being eastward of this; a plain low +tower, crowned with wooden spirelet and covered with lead. Taking these +in detail: the tower has two lancet windows in the lower part of the west +wall, above these a small debased window, and again, above this, a +two-light window of the Decorated style, similar windows on the north and +south sides, and at the top an embattled Perpendicular parapet. The +tower opens on the nave with a lofty arch, having pilaster buttresses, +which terminate above the uppermost of two strings; the base is raised +above the nave by three steps, the font being on a projection of the +first step. This lower portion of the tower is the oldest part of the +church, dating from the Early English period. The chamber where the +bells are hung is, by the modern arrangement, above this lower +compartment, and is approached by a winding staircase built on the +outside of the southern wall, a slight disfigurement." + +There are six bells, with the following inscriptions:-- + +(1) Lectum fuge. Discute somnum. G. S. T. W. H. Penn, Fusor, 1717. + +(2) In templo venerare Deum. H. Penn nos fudit. Cornucastri. + +(3) Supplicem Deus audit. Daniel Hedderley cast me. 1727. + +(4) Tho. Osborn fecit. Downham, Norfolk. 1801. Tho. Bryan and D. Brown, +Churchwardens. + +(5) Dum spiras, spera. H. Penn, Fusor, 1717. Tho. et Sam. Hamerton +Aeditivi. + +(6) Exeat e busto. Auspice Christo. Tho. Loddington, LL.D., Vicar H P. +1717. + +Near the south Priest's door, in the chancel, a bell, about 1 ft. in +height, stands on the floor, unused; this was the bell of a former clock +in the tower. The "Pancake Bell" is rung on Shrove Tuesday, at 10 a.m.; +the Curfew at 8 p.m., from Oct. 11 to April 6, except Saturdays, at 7 +p.m., and omitting from St. Thomas's Day to Plough Monday. The "Grammar +School Bell" used to be rung daily, Sundays excepted, at 7 a.m., but of +late years this has been discontinued, the Governors refusing to pay for +it. + +The fabric of the nave is of the Decorated style, though modern in date, +with Perpendicular clerestory, having five three-light windows, on the +north and south sides. The arcades are of four bays, with chamfered +equilateral arches, springing from shafted piers; the capitals of the two +central ones being ornamented with foliage of a decorated character; the +others being plain. Each aisle has three three-light windows, of +decorated style, in the side wall, and a fourth at the west end; these +are modern, the north aisle having been re-built in 1820 and the south +aisle in 1821. There are north and south porches. + +The chancel arch is modern, the carving of its caps being very delicate. +On the north side the outline of the doorway, formerly leading to the +rood loft, is still visible, and below, on the west side of the chancel +wall, is a well-carved statue bracket of floriated character, which was +transferred from the chancel, and on the south side a still older one, +much plainer. + + [Picture: St. Mary's Church] + +The east window of the chancel is said to be an enlarged copy of the east +window of the neighbouring Haltham Church. It has five lights, with +flamboyant tracery above, and is filled with rich coloured glass, by +Heaton, Butler & Bayne; the subjects being, on the north side, above "The +Annunciation," below "The Nativity;" 2nd light, above "The Adoration," +below "The Flight into Egypt;" central light, above "The Crucifixion," +below "The Entombment;" next light, on south, above "Women at the +Sepulchre;" below "Feed my Lambs;" southernmost light, above "The +Ascension," below "Pentecost." In the upper tracery are "Censing Angels" +and "Instruments of the Passion." This window cost about 280 pounds and +is dedicated to the memory of the late Vicar, Prebendary W. H. Milner, +who was largely instrumental in the restoration of the church, in 1861, +and died Oct. 3, 1868. In that restoration the architect was the late +Mr. Ewan Christian, and the contractors for the work Messrs. Lea & Ashton +of Retford. The cost of the restoration of the chancel was defrayed by +J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., as Lord of the Manor and Lay Rector, the rest +being done by subscriptions amounting to about 4,000 pounds. + +The present organ was originally designed by Mr. John Tunstall, and built +by Messrs. Gray & Davidson, of London, at a cost of about 400 pounds. As +re-constructed by Mr. Nicholson, of Lincoln, it contains 3 manuals, a +fine pedal organ with 45 stops, and more than 2,500 pipes. It cost more +than 2,000 pounds, 1,350 pounds of which was contributed by the late +Henry James Fielding, Esq., of Handel House, Horncastle. At a later date +a trumpet was added, costing 120 pounds, the result being probably as +fine an instrument as any in the county. For many years the organist was +Mr. William Wakelin, whose musical talent was universally acknowledged; +on his unfortunate sudden death, on March 1st, 1908, he was succeeded by +Mr. Hughes, recently Assistant Organist of Ely Cathedral. + +Beneath the east window is a handsome carved Reredos of Caen stone, +somewhat heavy in style, having five panels, two on each side containing +figures of the four evangelists, the central subject being "The Agony in +the Garden." In this the figure of the Saviour is exquisitely designed; +below are the three sleeping disciples, while above are two ministering +angels, one holding a crown of thorns, the other the "cup of bitterness." +The panels have richly crocketed canopies, the central one being +surmounted by a floriated cross. They are filled with diaper work, and +the supporting pilasters are of various-coloured Irish marbles. The +whole was designed by C. E. Giles, Esq., cousin of the late Vicar, +Prebendary Robert Giles. + +In the jamb, south of the Communion Table, is a Piscina; in the north +wall a square aumbrey and a curious iron-barred opening, which was +probably a Hagioscope for the Chantry behind. The present Vestry in the +north-east corner is modern, built on the site where there was formerly a +coalhouse, and, at a later date, a shed for the town fire-engine. + +The Chancel has an arcade of three bays on the south side, filled with +good 14th century carved oak screen work, separating it from the +south-side chapel, said to have been anciently called "The Corpus Christi +Chapel," and has two bays on the north, the easternmost being occupied by +the organ, separating it from St. Catherine's Chantry; {36} the other +having similar screen work. In the south wall of the chancel are a +Priest's door and three four-light Perpendicular windows, with a fourth +in the east wall. Gervase Holles states that he saw in this south-east +window figures of St. Ninian, with lock and chain, and of Saints +Crispinus and Crispinianus with their shoe-making tools. {37a} It is +probable, therefore, that the old glass of the window was supplied by a +shoemaker's guild. The window is now filled with good coloured glass by +Heaton, Butler & Bayne, dedicated to the memory of the late Vicar, Rev. +Arthur Scrivenor, who died 27 August, 1882, aged 51 years. It is of +peculiar design, the subjects being chosen to represent his life of +self-denying labour. There are four lights with eight subjects taken +from St. Matthew's Gospel, arranged in two tiers, as follows--(1) "Come +ye blessed of my Father;" (2) "I was an hungred and ye gave me meat;" (3) +"I was thirsty and ye gave me drink;" (4) "I was a stranger, and ye took +me in;" (5) "Naked, and ye clothed me;" (6) "I was sick, and ye visited +me;" (7) "I was in prison, and ye came unto me;" (8) "These shall go into +life eternal." There are eight compartments in the upper tracery, +containing the emblems of the four evangelists, and two angels, and the +Alpha and Omega. + +In the north chancel wall are a Priest's door, two five-light windows, +and one of three lights, with, at the east end, a two-light window, all +modern. Here, externally, the parapet of St. Catherine's Chantry is +embattled and enriched with panel work, and rises above the level of the +rest of the wall. The clerestory of the chancel has six three-light +windows on the south side, and five on the north. The easternmost on the +north was inserted and made larger than the others in 1861, and, at a +later date, was filled with good coloured glass by Heaton, Butler & +Bayne, as a public memorial "To the glory of God, and in memory of +Barnard James Boulton, M.D., who died March 15 1875." He was an active +member of the restoration committee in 1861. The subjects are, in the +western light, "The cleansing of the leper" in the centre, "Letting down +the paralytic through the roof," in the eastern light, "The healing of +blind Bartimaeus." + +In the nave the second window from the west end of the south clerestory +is a memorial of the late Mr. W Rayson, builder, filled with good +coloured glass. In the south aisle of the nave, the easternmost window +is a good specimen of coloured glass by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, erected +by public subscription in January, 1901, "To the glory of God, and in +grateful commemoration of the 18 years' ministry of Canon E. F. +Quarrington," who resigned the Vicarage in 1900. The cost of this window +was about 80 pounds , the subject is "The Sermon on the Mount." The +Saviour is represented as addressing the people, grouped around Him, of +all classes, soldiers, Pharisees, disciples, travellers, young men, +women, and children, with the city in the background. In the tracery +above are angels, with rich ruby wings, in attitudes of adoration. + +The window next to this is filled with coloured glass, by Clayton & Bell, +to the memory of Mrs. Salome Fox. In the upper tracery are the Alpha and +Omega, with the date of erection "Anno Dm'ni MDCCCXCVII." In the central +light below is the risen Saviour, seated on a throne, holding the emblem +of sovereignty, with the inscription over His shoulders "Because I live +ye shall live also." In each side light are three angels in adoration. +An inscription runs across the three lights, "I am he that liveth and was +dead, and, behold, I am alive for evermore." Beneath are three square +compartments, representing (1) three women, (2) three soldiers, (3) the +apostles SS. John and Peter at the sepulchre, with the inscription "Who +shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?" and again, +below all, "To the glory of God, and in loving memory of Salome Fox, who +died June 26, 1883, aged 65." This cost about 85 pounds. + +The window at the west end of this aisle, by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, was +filled with coloured glass, by the late Mr. Henry Boulton, in memory of +his first wife, being partly paid for by a surplus of 40 pounds remaining +from what was collected for the chancel east window, and the rest (about +40 pounds more) by Mr. Boulton himself. The subject is the Saviour's +baptism in the Jordan. + +In the north aisle of the nave, the easternmost window was erected in +1902, at a cost of 98 pounds, from a bequest of the late Mr. Charles Dee, +as a memorial of his friend the late Mr. Robert Clitherow. The subject +is "The good Samaritan," who, in the central light, is relieving the +wounded wayfarer; while, in the side lights, the Priest and Levite are +represented as passing him by. In the two upper quatrefoils are angels +holding scrolls, with the inscriptions (1) "Let your light so shine +before men," (2) "That they may see your good works." An inscription +runs across the three lights, "Blessed is he that provideth for the sick +and needy, the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble;" and, below +all, "To the glory of God, and in memory of Robert Clitherow, a truly +Christian gentleman, by his faithful servant." {38} The artists were +Messrs. Clayton & Bell. + +The next window to this, also by Messrs. Clayton & Bell, is considered +the best specimen of coloured glass in the church. It was erected by +public subscription, largely through the exertions of the late Mrs. +Terrot, then of Wispington Vicarage, near Horncastle, her husband, the +Rev. Charles Pratt Terrot, a clever artist and learned antiquary, +supplying the design. It is inscribed "To the glory of God, and in +memory of Frederick Harwood, formerly churchwarden, who died March 12, +1874, aged 51 years." Mr. Harwood was an indefatigable church worker, +and died suddenly, after attending a Lent service, when he occupied his +usual seat, near this window. It is of three lights, the subjects being +six, (1) the centre light illustrates "Charity;" a female figure above, +holding one child in her arms and leading others; while below is "Joseph +in Egypt, receiving his father, Jacob." (2) The west light illustrates +"Faith," a female above, holding a cross and bible, and below "Abraham +offering his son Isaac." (3) The east light illustrates "Hope," a female +above, leaning upon an anchor, and below "Daniel in the den of lions." +The grouping of the subjects and arrangement of the canopies are +admirable. + +The west window in the same aisle contains a handsome memorial, by +Preedy, of the late Vicar, Prebendary Robert Giles. It is of three +lights, the subjects being from St. Peter's life: (1) the south light +shewing "The net cast into the sea," "Depart from me, &c."; (2) the +central light, Peter's commendation by the Saviour, "Thou art Peter, +&c."; and (3) the north light, Peter's release from prison, "Arise up +quickly, &c." The tabernacle and canopy work are good. The cost of this +was about 140 pounds. Mr. Giles succeeded Prebendary Milner, as Vicar, +and died 12 July, 1872. + +The two lancet windows in the lower part of the west wall of the tower, +which were enlarged at the restoration, are filled with good coloured +glass. They bear no inscriptions but are memorials of deceased younger +members of the families of the late Dr. B. J. Boulton, and of the late +Mr. Richard Nicholson. The southern one represents "The Good Shepherd," +carrying a lamb in his arms; the northern, "Suffer the little children to +come unto me," shewing the Saviour receiving little children into his +arms. Within the tower is also placed a List of Benefactors of the town; +also a frame containing the Decalogue, supported by two painted figures, +life-size, representing Aaron with his censer, and Moses with his rod; on +one side of this is the Lord's Prayer, on the other the Apostles' Creed. +{39a} + +The roof of the nave, for some years hidden by a flat whitewashed +ceiling, is of Spanish chestnut, with finely carved figures of angels, +which support the intermediate principals. In front of the tower arch +stands the Font, of caen stone, on octagonal base; the bowl has 8 +elaborately carved panels, in three of which are engraved, on scrolls, +the words "One Lord," "One Faith," "One Baptism." {39b} The Pulpit, at +the north-east corner of the nave, is also of Caen stone, in similar +style, with four decorated panels, having, beneath the cornice, the +inscription "He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully;" the +book-rest is supported by the figure of an angel, with outspread wings. +The Reading Desk, on the opposite side, consists of open tracery work, +carved in modern oak. The Lectern, an eagle of brass, was presented, in +1901, by the Misses Walter, in memory of their father, Mr. Joseph Walter, +for many years church warden. {39c} The seats in the chancel have +handsomely carved poppy heads, and are placed east and west, instead of, +as formerly, north and south, facing west. + +On the south side of the chancel arch, in the west face of the wall, is a +small stone, bearing the names of "Thomas Gibson, Vicar. John Hamerton +and John Goake, Churchwardens, 1675." On the south wall of the chancel +south chapel is also an illuminated sheet of iron bearing the following +inscription to the same Vicar:--"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Mr. +Thos. Gibson, A.M., 44 years Vicar of this parish. He lived in such +times when Truth to the Church, and Loyalty to the King met with +punishment due to the worst of crimes. He was by the rebellious powers +carried away prisoner four times from the garrison of Newark for a +dissenting teacher, afterwards sequestrated, and his family driven out, +by the Earl of Manchester. He survived the Restoration, and was brought +back at the head of several hundreds of his friends, and made a +Prebendary in the Cathedral Church of Lincoln. As his enemies never +forgave his zeal to the Church and Crown, so nothing but the height of +Christian charity could forgive the insults he met with from them. He +died April 22, 1678." {40a} Above this is a shield, containing three +storks, proper, on an argent field; and with a stork, as crest. + +On the north clerestory wall of the nave are tablets in memory of Jane, +wife of Thomas Taylor, to the east; in the centre to Thomas Taylor, +Surgeon, and Margaret his wife, to Mary Anne, wife of Thomas Hardy +Taylor; and to the west of these, to Anne, wife of Erasmus Middleton, to +Erasmus Middleton, and to their daughter, Grace, wife of James Weir, and +to James Weir, who died Dec. 15, 1822. On the south clerestory wall, +westward, is a tablet to the memory of Thomas Bryan, Hannah his wife, and +their son Edward, all interred at Scrivelsby; another, to the east, is in +memory of Edward Harrison, M.D., his wife, and his brother, erected by +his nephew. + +In the north aisle of the chancel is a modern, canvas, lozenge-shaped, +framed copy of an older memorial, formerly painted on the south wall, on +which are depicted the arms of Sir Ingram Hopton, with this +inscription:--"Here lieth the worthy and memorable Knight, Sir Ingram +Hopton, who paid his debt to nature, and duty to his King and country, in +the attempt of seizing the arch rebel (Cromwell) in the bloody skirmish +near Winceby, Oct. 6, 1643." {40b} The motto is Horatian (the first +lines from Odes iii., xiv., 14-16; the other two from Odes iv., ix., +29-30). + + Nec tumultum, + Nec mori per vim, metuit, tenente + Caesare terras. + Paulum sepultae distat inertiae, + Celata virtus. + +Close to this, and above the arch leading into the nave, are a number of +scythes, some with straight wooden handles, attached to the wall, which +are said to have been used at the Winceby fight. {41a} + +On the wall of the north aisle, nearest the archway into the chancel, on +a small slab of Purbeck marble, is a brass of Sir Lionel Dymoke, kneeling +on a cushion; on either side were formerly small shields displaying the +arms of Dymoke, Waterton, Marmyon, Hebden and Haydon; {41b} and on small +brasses were the figures of two sons and three daughters. Parts of these +are now lost. The figure of Sir Lionel is in the attitude of prayer, +from his left elbow issues a scroll with the inscription "S'cta Trinitas, +unus Deus, miserere nob." Beneath is another inscription, "In Honore +s'cte et individue trinitatis. Orate pro a'i'a Leonis Dymoke, milit' q' +obijt xvij die me'se Augusti, Ao D'ni Mo cccccxix. Cuj' a'i'e p' piciet, +de.' Amen." Below this monument, in the pavement, is a brass, now +mutilated, of the same Sir Lionel Dymoke, wrapped in a shroud, with two +scrolls issuing from the head, the lettering of which is now effaced. +Beneath is an inscription also now obliterated, but which Mr. Weir gives +as follows:-- + + Leonis fossa nunc haec Dymoke capit ossa. + Miles erat Regis, cui parce Deus prece Matris, + Es testis Christe, quod non jacet hic lapis iste, + Corpus ut ornetur, sed spiritus ut memoretur. + Hinc tu qui transis, senex, medius, puer, an sis, + Pro me funde preces, quia sic mihi sit venie spes. + +The actual suit of armour worn by this Sir Lionel Dymoke was formerly in +the church, since in the evidence taken after the "Lincolnshire Rising," +in 1536, it was shewn that "one Philip Trotter, of Horncastle," took it +from the church, and himself wore it, while carrying the standard at the +head of the insurgents (State Papers Domestic, Henry VIII., vol. xi, No. +967) {42a} + + [Picture: Brass of Sir Lionel Dymoke, in St. Mary's Church] + +In the Harleian MS. in the British Museum, among his "Lincolnshire Church +Notes," Gervase Holles (circa 1640) mentions several other arms and +inscriptions, as then existing, which are now lost. {42b} + +In the pavement of the former vestry, in the south chancel aisle, is a +slab with the inscription running round it, "Here lyethe the boyddes of +Thomas Raithbeck & Arne his wyf, ye founders of the Beid hous. Departed +thys world, in ye fayth of Christ, ye last day of October, in ye yere of +our Lord, MDLXXV." In the pavement at the east end of the south aisle of +nave is a slab bearing the names of William Hamerton and his wife +Elizabeth, and westward of this another slab, in memory of "Sarah +Sellwood, wife of Henry Sellwood, Esq., {42c} who died Sep 30, 1816, aged +28 years." The late Poet Laureate, Alfred, afterwards Lord Tennyson, +married Mr. Sellwood's daughter Emily Sarah, the marriage being +solemnised at Shiplake after the family had left Horncastle. The +Laureate's elder brother, Charles Tennyson, married another daughter, +Louisa, afterwards taking the additional name of Turner. He held the +vicarage of Grasby near Caistor. + +Other monuments are, on the wall of the south aisle, a tablet inscribed +"To the memory of Elizabeth Kelham, only surviving child of Richard +Kelham, Rector of Coningsby. She was pious, virtuous, and charitable, +and died 26 Feb., 1780, aged 58. Reader, imitate her example. Erected +by Robert Kelham, her nephew, as a grateful acknowledgment of her regard +towards him." On the north wall of the chancel is a marble tablet in +memory of "George Heald, Armiger, e Consultis Domini Regis, in Curia +Cancellaria. Obiit 18 May, 1834." Inscriptions below are to his wife +and daughter. Another tablet, of black marble, records the death of +Elizabeth, first wife of the Rev. John Fretwell, Curate, Dec. 4, 1784, +and of his son, Matthew Harold, Sept. 11, 1786. {44a} Another tablet is +in memory of "Clement Madeley, DD., 42 years Vicar, who died Good-Friday, +1845, aged 73;" also of his wife Martha, who died 1807, and of his son +Houghton, who died 1838, erected by his daughter, M. A. Dymoke, {44b} +wife of Rev. John Dymoke, Champion. + +In a glass covered case in the north aisle of the chancel are three +volumes of Foxe's _Book of Martyrs_, 1632 edition, these were formerly +chained to a desk, and parts of the chains remain. They were given by +Nicolas Shipley, gentleman, in 1696, who also presented a brass +chandelier of 24 sockets; he was among the benefactors to the poor of the +town. The present glass case and desk on which the case rests, were +given by the late Vicar, the Rev. A. Scrivenor. Along with these vols. +are "The History of the Old and New Testaments, gathered out of sacred +scripture and writings of the fathers, a translation from the work of the +Sieur de Royaumont, by several hands. London, printed for R. Blome, I. +Sprint, John Nicholson and John Pero, 1701." There are some good old +engravings of "The Work of Creation," "The Temptation and Fall of Man," +"The Expulsion from Paradise," "The Murder of Abel," "Ishmael Banished," +&c. The first of these is dedicated to "Her sacred Majesty, Mary, by the +grace of God, Queen of England, Scotland, France, Ireland, &c., by Her +Majesty's most obedient servant Richard Blome." The next is dedicated to +"Her sacred Majesty Katherine, Queen Dowager of England," by the same; +another is dedicated to "Her Royal Highness Ann, Princess of Denmark;" +and other plates are dedicated to various Lincolnshire worthies, some of +these are rather damaged, and the fine old bible is imperfect. + +Various old documents may here be quoted, which give items of interest +connected with this church. In _Lincolnshire Wills_, 1st series, edited +by Canon A. R. Maddison, F.S.A., 1888, is that of James Burton of +Horncastle, of date 9 June, 1536, which mentions the lights burnt in the +church at that time before different shrines; these were in all 23, of +which 7 were in honour of the blessed virgin, one was called "The light +of our Lady of Grace," another "Our Lady's light at the font." Mention +is also made of a "St. Trunyan's light;" this last saint is connected +with a well at Barton-on-Humber, but nothing further is known of him +under that name. It has been suggested that it is a corruption of St. +Ninian (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. i, 149), and in connection with +this it is interesting to refer to the fact that Gervase Holles, whose +description of Horncastle windows we have already quoted, states that +there was a window to St. Ninian placed in the chancel south aisle, by +the Guild of Shoemakers. Here, then, it is possible, the "St. Trunion's" +or St. Ninian's "light" may have been burned, as the emblem of some +whilom Horncastrian's faith. + +A Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 19 Richard II., No. 83 (11 Dec., +1395), shows that Albinus de Enderby and others assigned a messuage, with +appurtenances, in Horncastle, to pay a chaplain to say daily masses in +the church of the blessed Mary, for the soul of Simon de Dowode, and +other faithful deceased. Wood Enderby was at that time a chapelry +attached to Horncastle Church. + +The right of sanctuary, enjoyed by felons, who sought refuge in a church, +was a very ancient institution, dating from Saxon times, and only +abolished by James I., in 1621, because the great number of churches in +the country rendered it so easy a matter for highwaymen, then very +numerous, to avail themselves of the privilege, that justice was too +often defeated and crime encouraged. According to custom, if the +offender made confession before a coroner, within 40 days, and took the +prescribed oath at the church door, that he would quit the realm, his +life was spared. A Close Roll, 13 Henry III., Aug. 22, 1229, states that +the King, at Windsor, commands the Sheriff of Lincolnshire (Radulphus +filius Reginaldi) to send two coroners to see that a robber who keeps +himself in the church at Horncastle abjures the kingdom, (_Lincs. Notes & +Queries_, vol. i, p. 49). It is a somewhat curious coincidence, that a +similar document, of date 16 Henry III., Aug. 22, 1232, only three years +later, records a similar incident; and the malefactor is ordered to "make +the assize, and abjuration of the kingdom, according to the custom of the +land and according to the liberties granted to Walter, Bishop of +Carlisle," (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv, p. 58). We have the +explanation of this later instruction in a Memoranda Roll of 4 Ed. III., +1330, which states that Henry III. granted, by charter dated 16th July, +in the 15th year of his reign, to Walter, Bishop of Carlisle, and his +successors, that they should claim "all chattels of felons and fugitives +within their manors," the crown giving up all claim to the same in their +favour; and the case is added of Robert Mawe, a fugitive, whose chattels +were demanded by the Bishop, and 34 pounds exacted on that account "from +the township of Horncastre." + +It is remarkable that the two cases, above quoted, should have occurred +at the same date, August 22. An explanation of this has been suggested +in the fact that an old calendar shows that August 22 was a day sacred to +St. Zaccheus; and as that saint set the example of restoring four-fold +what he had unlawfully taken, that day may have been selected for the +robber to surrender his chattels in reparation of his offence. A not +improbable explanation, however, may be found in the fact that the great +August fair, established by Royal Charter, closed on August 21st, and +unruly characters were often left, as dregs of such gatherings in the +place, murders even being not uncommon. By charter of the same king the +Bishop of Carlisle had power to try felons at Horncastle, and a spot on +the eastern boundary of the parish is still known as "Hangman's Corner," +where those who were capitally convicted in his court were executed. + +We give elsewhere a list of the Incumbents of St. Mary's, but we may here +refer to probably the most distinguished of them all. A Patent Roll, of +date 11 June, 1344 (18 Edward III.), states that Thomas, Bishop of +Lincoln (N.B. This was Thomas Bec, consecrated July 7, 1342, died Feb. +1, 1346, buried in the north transept of the Cathedral), "by command of +the Most Holy Father, Pope Clement VI., reduces the taxation of the +church at Horncastle, with the chapels of Askeby (West Ashby), Upper +Tynton (High Toynton), Maring (Mareham-on-the-Hill), and Wod Enderby, to +the same church annexed, to the sum of 50 marks (33 pounds 6s. 8d.), +which were previously taxed at the immoderate sum of 77 pounds sterling." +This is stated to be done "of the sincere love with which we value our +very dear clerk, Master Simon de Islep, parson of the church aforesaid." +This is also confirmed to "his successors, parsons or rectors, of the +said church. Witness the King, at Westminster." The merits of this +worthy, so valued by the Holy Father, not long afterwards received +further recognition, since in 1350, only 6 years later, he was promoted +to the highest dignity in the land, next to the sovereign himself, as +Archbishop of Canterbury. {46} An earlier Rector, John de Langton, had +been made Bishop of Chichester, A.D. 1305. These are the only incumbents +of Horncastle who have attained the Episcopal Bench, (_Horncastle +Register Book_, edited by Canon J. Clare Hudson, 1892). + +The promotion of the Rector, Simon de Islep, led to more than one +lawsuit. The Bishop of Carlisle, being at that time heavily in debt, as +Lord of the manor, to which, as has already been stated, the advowson of +the church of St. Mary was attached, had in January, 1347-8 granted the +manor to Hugh de Bole, and others, on their annual payment of 129 pounds +19s. 2.5d, for three years. On the vacancy thus occurring the Bishop was +summoned to appear at Westminster, before Justice John de Stonor, and +others, to answer to William Widuking, of Saundeby, executor of the will +of the said Hugh de Bole, who claimed, as tenant of the manor, the right +to nominate to the vacant benefice. The Bishop resisted this claim, and +the case was argued before the King's Bench, in Hilary term, 1350, when +the Bishop was defeated, the claim of William Widuking being allowed. +(County Placita, Lincoln, No. 46. Pleas at Westminster, 24 Ed. III., +roll 104.) + +Seventeen years later, on the death of John de Kirkby, Bishop of +Carlisle, who had presented Simon de Islep to Horncastle, the +temporalities of the bishopric for the time lapsed to the King; and +Thomas de Appleby, the succeeding Bishop, with John de Rouceby, clerk +(who afterwards became Rector of Horncastle), were summoned to answer to +the King, that the King be allowed, through the said lapse, to appoint to +the vacant Benefice of St. Mary. The Bishop and John de Rouceby brought +the case before the court, but they admitted the justice of the King's +plea, and judgment was given for the King. (De Banco Roll, 41 Ed. III., +in. 621.) Apparently, as a compromise, the King appointed John de +Rouceby. This John de Rouceby, while Rector of Horncastle, was murdered +on the high road to Lincoln in 1388, (_Horncastle Register Book_, p. 2). + +We may here observe, that in the above documents, the Incumbent of St. +Mary's Church is styled "Parson" or "Rector," not, as he is at the +present day, "Vicar." On this change of status we are able to give the +following particulars. Among the Bishop "Nicholson MSS.," which are in +the custody of the Dean and Chapter of Carlisle, and consist of extracts +from the old "Bishops' Registers," it is stated (vol. iv, p. 349) that +Bishop Stern of Carlisle, under agreement with the Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. +Robert Sanderson) in 1660, appropriated the Rectorial appurtenances of +the Benefice of St. Mary to the See of Carlisle. This, however, would +seem to be only a confirmation, or renewal, of what had been done long +before, since as far back as 1313, the Bishop of Carlisle petitioned the +Pope, to allow the church revenues of St. Mary, Horncastle, to be +appropriated to that See, which had been "wasted by war and other +calamities;" the Rector of the day only stipulating for a _pensio +congrua_ being reserved to him for his lifetime. (Carlisle Episcopal +Registers, xix, p. 181 b). This was repeated about 1334 (_Ibid._, p. +187, a. Quoted _Horncastle Register Book_, p. 2). The title Rector +accordingly disappears and from about 1400 only that of Vicar is used, +the Bishops of Carlisle themselves having become the "Rectors." Early in +the 19th century (21 March, 1803) the Bishop of Carlisle leased the +manor, with appurtenances, to Sir Joseph Banks, and his representatives +are now Lay Rectors. + +The appointment of one of the early Rectors is a sample of the abuses +connected with Papal supremacy in those times. Peter de Galicia was +nominated Rector in May, 1313, he was a foreigner and probably drew his +income without ever residing at Horncastle. Having influence at the +Papal Curia, he negociated for the Bishop of Carlisle the transfer of the +Rectorial appurtenances of Horncastle to that See; only, as has been +stated, taking care that he had his own _pensio congrua_. Becoming +dissatisfied with the benefice he ultimately exchanged it for the Rectory +of Caldbeck in the diocese of Carlisle. These proceedings are given at +length in Bishop de Kirkby's Register; his Italian name was Piero de +Galiciano. He was succeeded in 1334 by Robert de Bramley, Rector of +Caldbeck. (Carlisle Episcopal Registers, quoted _Lincs. Notes & +Queries_, vol. v, pp. 244-5). + +Horncastle was one of the centres of disturbance at the time of the +"Lincolnshire Rising" (already referred to) or "Pilgrimage of Grace," in +1536, and St. Mary's Church was the main cause of the local agitation. +William Leche, brother of the parson of Belchford, was a ringleader in +the town. The plundering of churches, by the King's "visitors," for the +"valor ecclesiasticus," on the plea of regulating ceremonial, but more +really with a view to replenishing the royal coffers, was the great +grievance with the people. Much evidence on the subject is found among +State Papers Domestic, vol. xi, 28 Henry VIII. One witness, Edward +Richardson of Thimbleby, states that William Leche, on Tuesday, 2nd Oct., +"stirred the people to rise to save the church jewels from the Bishop's +officers," who were acting by the King's orders, the Bishop being the +King's confessor. Robert Sotheby of Horncastle, being sworn before Sir +Anthony Wyngffeld and Sir Arthur Hopton, says that "David Benet, a wever, +rang the comon bell," to rouse the people. The said Robert stated that +he and William Bywater, being churchwardens, were going to see the work +of the plumbers, and in the meantime the said Davy rang the common bell; +and that "William Leche was the first begynner and sterer of the whole +rysinge there." The mob marched about with a standard, carried by Philip +Trotter, clad in the armour of Lionel Dymoke, which he had taken from the +church of St. Mary. The devices on the standard were "a plough," to +encourage the husbandmen; the "challice and Host," because the church +plate and jewellery were to have been taken away; the "wands" were to +encourage the people "to fight in Cristis cause;" the "horn" betokening +Horncastle. + +About 100 persons marched to Scrivelsby, and threatened to drag out +Edward Dymoke, the sheriff, and other gentlemen. The sheriff, Thomas +Dymoke, Robert Dighton, and one Saundon, afterwards went into the field, +and conversed with Leche, who said the Rising was because the Visitors +would take the church goods. The mob took the old gentleman, Sir William +Saundon, and "harried him forth by the arms towards Horncastell, till +from hete and weryness he was almost overcum." A horse was brought for +him by one Salman of Baumbrough, but one of the rebels strake the horse +on the head, so that both horse and rider fell to the ground, and they +then said he must "go afote as they did." He was afterwards confined in +the "Moot Hall," at Horncastle, and "they sware him, whether he woll, or +no." Many witnesses testified to the activity of Leche, in going to +private houses and inducing the men to join, and that the gentlemen only +joined from fear of violence. Richard Mekylwhite of Horncastle was +accused by Thomas Lytellbury, that he was "a great procurer" (of men), +and was "one of the causers of George Wolsey's death," (a servant of the +late Cardinal Wolsey). + +William Leche, with a great company, went to Bolingbroke, to take the +Bishop's Chancellor, Dr. John Rayne, who was lying there, sick; he was +brought on horseback to Horncastle amid cries of "kill him! kill him!" +He begged Philip Trotter to save him, who said he would do what he could; +the Chancellor gave him xxs., but he in effect did the reverse of helping +him. On reaching the outskirts of the town, "many parsons and vicars +among" the rebels cried "kill him!" whereat William Hutchinson and +William Balderstone, of Horncastle, "pulled him viantly of his horse, +kneling upon him, and with their staves slew him." The Vicar of Thornton +gave xvs. to the rebels. The Vicar of Horncastle, at that time John +Haveringham, seems to have avoided being mixed up with this movement, as +many of his brethren were. The whole affair barely lasted a week, and it +does not appear that the church plate suffered. The King issued a +proclamation from Richmond, 2 December following, that he pardoned all +except the wretches in ward at Lincoln, T. Kendal the Vicar of Louth, and +William Leche of Horncastle. + +For a final notice of old records connected with the church, we may +mention a matter of less importance, but one which we can hardly realise, +in these days of religious liberty, when everyone is "a law unto himself" +in matters of faith, and even largely in practice. The parish book of +the adjoining Thimbleby, which is in the soke of Horncastle, shews that, +as late as the year 1820, the parish officials ordered all paupers, in +receipt of parish relief, to attend the church services, on pain of +forfeiting the aid granted; and cases are named where the payment was +stopped until the offender had given satisfaction. The State Papers +Domestic of 1634 show that, at Horncastle, there was a like strictness. +Luke Burton of this town was fined 1s. for being "absent from divine +service," and again a like sum as "absent from prayers." Even "a +stranger, a tobacco man," was fined 1s. for the same offence; and 3s. 4d. +for "tippling in time of divine service." John Berry, butcher, was fined +1s. "for swearing." Simon Lawrence, for selling ale contrary to law, was +fined 20s.; the same "for permitting tippling, 20s.;" while for "selling +ale without a licence," William Grantham and Margaret Wells were +"punished upon their bodies." (State Papers Domestic, vol. 272, No. 23, +Chas. I.) + + [Picture: Ancient Scythes in St. Mary's Church] + + + +RECTORS AND VICARS. + + +We here give a list of these as compiled by Canon J. Clare Hudson, in his +1st volume of the _Horncastle Parish Register Book_, 1892. + +A.D. RECTORS. + +1236-7 Geoffrey de Leueknor by the Bishop of Carlisle + (admitted on condition it be found the same church with + the churches of [Wood] Enderby, and [High] Toynton and + another, which Osbert the last rector held, be one + benefice). + +1239-40 (Delegates of the Pope in a dispute between G. parson + of the church of Horncastre and Francis, parson of the + church of [West] Askeby, concerning the church of + Askeby, decide that G[eoffrey] and his successors, are + to hold the church of Askeby, and pay to Francis + annually for life 27 marks sterling, and the bishop + confirms this ordinance) + +1246 Adam de Kirkby. + +12-- Ralph Tulgol. + +1275 Hugh de Penna (otherwise Hugh de la Penne, Assize Roll, + 4 Ed. I. _Lincs._ _Notes & Queries_, iv, p. 220). + +1295 John de Langton. + +1305 Gilbert de Haloughton. + +1313 Peter de Galicia. + + VICARS. + +1334 Robert de Bramley. + +13-- William de Hugate. + +1349 Simon de Islep, _resigned_ in 1349, on becoming + Archbishop of Canterbury. + +1357 William de Hugate, presented by Gilbert, Bishop of + Carlisle, on exchange. + +1369 John de Rouceby. + +1388 William Stryckland. + +1401 Thomas Carleton, Chaplain. + +1445 Robert Somercotes. + +14-- John Eston. + +1492 John Ffalconer. + +1517 Richard Denham. + +1524 Barnard Towneley. + +1531 Robert Jamys, Chaplain. + +1535 John Havringham. + +15-- Arthur Layton. + +1538 Peter Wallensis. + +1557 Henry Henshoo, or Henshaw. + +1560 Clement Monke. {50} + +1584 Francis Purefey. + +1587 Richard Foster. + +1593 John Jackson. + +1595 Robert Hollinhedge. + +1634 Thomas Gibson. + +1678 John Tomlinson. + +1678-9 Thomas Loddington. + +1724 James Fowler. + +1779 Joseph Robertson. + +1802 Clement Madely. + +1845 Thos. James Clarke. + +1853 Wm. Holme Milner. + +1868 Robert Giles. + +1872 Arthur Scrivenor. + +1882 Edwin Fowler Quarrington. + +1900 Alfred Edgar Moore. + +For some of the earlier details I am indebted to the Rev. W. O. +Massingberd. + +The Parish Registers of Horncastle are of some interest. They date from +1559, the year following the "Injunction" issued by Queen Elizabeth (the +3rd of its kind) ordering the regular keeping of such records; similar, +earlier, though less stringent, orders having been made in 1538, 1547 and +1552. Besides the records of baptisms, marriages and burials, there are +occasional notes on peculiar passing events, which we may here notice. +One of these occurs in 1627, "Upon Monday, beinge the xxviijth day of +January was a great Tempest of Winde, the like hath not often been in any +age; like wise upon Friday the 4th of November 1636 in the night time +there happened a more fearful (wind than) before. + +Mr. Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, quotes a note (folio 42 b of +the Register): "On the vth daie of October one thousand six hundred and +three, in the ffirst yere of oure Sov'aigne Lord King James was holden in +Horncastell Church a solemnn fast from eight in the morning until fower a +clock in the after noone by five preachers, vidz. Mr. Hollinghedge, Vicar +of Horncastell, Mr. Turner of Edlington, Mr. Downes of Lusbye, Mr. +Philipe of Solmonbye, Mr. Tanzey of Hagworthingha', occasioned by a +generall and most feareful plague yt yere in sundrie places of this land, +but especially upon the Cytie of London. p'r me Clementem Whitelock." +(Parish Clerk.) + +We may observe that at this time there perished in London more than +30,000 persons; but the great plague, or "black death," occurred 61 years +later (1664-5), which carried off from 70,000 to 100,000 persons. +Between these periods, and previously, various parishes in our +neighbourhood suffered from this visitation; for instance at Roughton, +which is in the soke of Horncastle, there were 43 burials, including +those of the Rector and two daughters, in the year 1631-2; while in the +adjoining parish of Haltham (also in the soke) although there was no +increase of mortality at that date, there had been 51 deaths in the year +1584; there being a note in the register for that year, "This yeare +plague in Haltham." The turn, however, for Horncastle came in the year +1631, when the register shows that between May 3 and Sep. 29, there were +no less than 176 deaths; in one case 7 in a family (Cocking), 5 in a +family (Halliday), in other cases 4 (Joanes), and again (Hutchinson) 4, +(Fawcitts) 4, (Cheesbrooke) 4, &c. In August alone there were 86 deaths, +and not a single marriage through all these months, whereas the following +year there were only 25 deaths in the whole twelve months. Truly +Horncastrians were, at that dread time, living with the sword of Damocles +hanging over them. A note in the margin in this year is as follows, +"Oct. 5th, buryalls since July 23, 144; burialls since Easter 182." + +We have already given the history of the Vicar, Rev. Thos. Gibson, he is +referred to in the two following notes in the Register. At the end of +folio 81a (1635) we find, after the signature of himself and +churchwardens, "Thomas Gibson, Clerk, Master of the free school of +Newcastel uppon Tine, one of the Chapleins of the Right Reverend Father +in God Barnabas, by Divine P'vidence Lo. Bpp. Carliel, presented by the +said Lo. Bpp., was inducted into this Vicarage of Horncastel April xiiij, +1634." At the end of folio 85a (1639) after similar signatures is this: +"The sd Mr. Thomas Gibson, being outed of Horncastle by Cromwell's +Commissioners, removed to Nether Toynton, lived there one yeare, after +restored againe, taught some Gentlemen sonnes in his owne house, was +afterward called to ye scole at Newark, where he continued one yeare, +then was importuned to Sleeford, whether he went ye week after Easter +1650, continued there until May ye first 1661; then, the King being +returned, he returned to his Vicaridge, and was by Doctor Robert +Sanderson, Bishop of Linkcoln made Preban of Saint Mairie Crakepoule in +the Church of Linkcoln." + +It may be observed that the spelling in those times, the entries +doubtless being often made by the parish clerk, was rather phonetic than +orthographic. Many names occur which still survive, but here spelt +variously, for instance Fawssett has been a name well known in Horncastle +in modern times in a good position, in town and county, here we find it +in generation after generation as Fawcet, Fawset, Faucitt, &c. The name +Raithbeck is of continual occurrence, it is now probably represented by +Raithby. Castledine occurs several times, being probably the phonetic +form of the modern Cheseltine. The present name Chantry appears as +Chauntry. Palfreyman, or Palfreman, occurs on several occasions, they +were of a respectable family in the county, William Palfreyman being +Mayor of Lincoln in 1534; Ralph Palfreyman, clerk, was presented to the +Benefice of Edlington, by his brother Anthony, merchant of the Staple, +Lincoln, in 1569. + +In folio 69a (1628) is the entry "Tirwhitt Douglas, daughter unto Mr. +George Tirwhitt, christened Jan. 8." Her father George Tyrwhitt was a +scion of the old county family of the Tyrwhitts of Kettleby, Stainfield, +&c., by Faith, daughter of Nicholas Cressy of Fulsby, who married +Frances, daughter of Sir Henry Ayscough, of another very old county +family. She was named Douglas, though a female, after her kinswoman, +Douglas, daughter of William, first Lord Howard of Effingham. Her sister +married Sir Edward Dymoke of Scrivelsby. She herself is mentioned among +the benefactors to the poor of Horncastle, as leaving a charge of 10s. on +a farm at Belchford, as an annual payment, on her death in 1703. + +Another name of frequent occurrence, though now extinct, is that of +Hamerton. John Hamerton (as already stated) is mentioned, with John +Goake, on a tablet inserted in the wall on the south side of the chancel +arch, as being churchwarden in the vicariate of Thomas Gibson, in 1675, +and throughout the early registers successive generations of this family +are recorded. They may have been humble scions of the Hamertons, of +Hamerton, Yorkshire, a branch of whom were among the landed gentry near +the Scottish border; but at Horncastle they were engaged in trade. John +Hamerton, christened Dec. 10, 1575, whose probable father, another John +Hamerton, was buried Sep. 3, 1584, married Feb. 2, 1613, Grace Broxholme, +whose father John Broxholme is described as "Gent" in 1611. Thomas +Hamerton in 1603 was a draper, another Thomas Hamerton in 1613 was a +"yoman," John in 1615 was a tanner, Thomas in 1606 and 1617 was a tanner, +Robert son of Thomas in 1619 was a tanner, William in 1620 was a glover. +In 1630, Thomas, buried Jan. 24, is designated "Mr." On June 16, 1633, +Katherine Hamerton is married "by Licence" to George Colimbell. A rise +in status is indicated by the two latter entries, and accordingly, in the +records of the neighbouring parish of Edlington we find "Geo. Hamerton, +gent., and Sarah Hussey married July 21, 1699;" the Husseys being +probably connected with the county family, the head of which was Lord +Hussey of Sleaford. The John Hamerton, churchwarden in 1675, was born +Jan. 22, 1636, son of John and Dorothy Hamerton. The marriage of the +parents is not given in the register, the father therefore probably +married an "outener," as they are provincially termed. The interesting +point however in connection with this family is, that although they have +long ago been extinct, they have left their mark behind them still +surviving in the town. Near the junction of East Street with South +Street there still exists at the back of the second shop, in the former +street (a repository for fancy needlework), a room lined with good oak +wainscoting, with finely carved mantelpiece, over which is an +inscription, richly carved in relief, with the letters "Ao Di" to the +left, and to the right the date "1573;" while above, in the centre, are +the initials "J H" and "M H;" separated by a floriated cross and +encircled by a wreath. This would doubtless be John Hamerton and his +wife Mary (or Margaret) Hamerton, the original builders of the house. +Two doors beyond is Hamerton Lane, and the title deeds, which the present +writer has inspected, show that the whole of this block of buildings now +forming five shops and two private residences, once formed one large +dwelling place, belonging to the Hamerton of that day, with a frontage in +East Street of more than 20 yards, and in South Street of 70 or 80 yards, +with extensive back premises and gardens attached. The J.H. and M.H., of +whom we have here such interesting relics, were probably the grandfather +and grandmother of the John Hamerton of the time of the Commonwealth and +Charles II., and the extent of the buildings occupied by them show that +they were wealthy. + +Tanning was at one time the chief trade of the town, there being within +the writer's recollection several tan yards, now no longer existing. The +Bain water was said to be specially suited for this purpose. We have +seen that several of the Hamertons were tanners, and they had evidently +prospered in their calling. + +One more name in the register deserves a brief notice, that of Snowden +(spelt there Snoden). We have, at various dates, from 22 Oct. 1629, +onwards, the baptisms of the whole family of Mr. Rutland Snowden, and the +burials of some of them. The Snowdens were originally a Notts. family, +of the smaller gentry class, but Robert Snowden, third son of Ralph +Snowden, of Mansfield Woodhouse, became Bishop of Carlisle, and, ex +officio, Lord of the Manor of Horncastle. The Bishops of Carlisle had, +as has been already stated, a residence in Horncastle, near the present +Manor House, and the Bishop's widow, Abigail, probably resided there. In +her will, dated 15 April, 1651, and proved 7 May in the same year, she +mentions her sons Rutland and Scrope; there was also another son Ralph. +Rutland married on Xmas day, 1628, Frances, widow of George Townshend, +Esq., of Halstead Hall, Stixwould, and Lord of the Manor of Cranworth, +Norfolk, by whom he had a large family. His granddaughter, Jane Snowden, +married Charles Dymoke, Esq., of Scrivelsby; she died childless and +founded and endowed the village school and almshouses at Hemingby. +Another granddaughter, Abigail, married Edward Dymoke, younger son of Sir +Edward Dymoke, of Scrivelsby, as shewn by the register there, on 18 July, +1654, and she thus became ancestress of the Tetford branch of the +Dymokes, now also of Scrivelsby. + +Rutland Snowden, who graduated B.A. at Christ's College, Cambridge, +1617-8, took his M.A. degree at St. John's College, Oxford, 1623, and was +admitted a member of Gray's Inn in the same year. He was buried at +Horncastle, 1654 (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv, pp. 14-16). That +was a period of national disturbance, and the people of Horncastle, with +the Winceby fight of 1643, were more or less drawn into the vortex. +Abigail Snowden, widow of Bishop Robert of Carlisle seems to have been +brought into much trouble, owing to her son, Rutland, having espoused the +Royalist cause. Among Exchequer Bills and Answers (Chas. I., Lincoln, +No. 86) is a petition shewing that Francis, Bishop of Carlisle, leased to +Rutland Snowden and his assignees, for three lives, the manor, lands, +parsonage, and other premises at Horncastle, on payment of 120 pounds. +Subsequent proceedings would seem to imply that this lease was previously +granted to the said Abigail herself, as shewn by the following: "To the +Honourable the Commissioners for compounding with delinquents. The +Humble Petition of Abigail Snowden, widow, sheweth that Richard Milborne, +late Bishop of Carlisle, did, 22 Sep., 1623, for valuable consideracions, +demise the manor and soke of Horncastle (parcel of ye lands of ye +Bishopricke) unto your petitonr, during the lives of Rutland Snoden, +Scroope Snoden, and George Snoden, and for the life of the longest of +them; that the said demise being allowed good unto her by the trustees . +. . yet hath bene, and is, sequestrated, for the delinquensie of the said +Rutland Snoden . . . the petitioner prayeth . . . that your petitioner +may have releife . . . as to you shall seem meet. And yr petitioner will +praie, &c. Abigail Snoden, 24 Nov., 1650." A note adds that the matter +was "Referred to Mr. Brereton, to examine and report." + +It was reported on by Peter Brereton, 31 Jan. following (Royalist +Composition Papers, 1st series, vol. 58, No. 515). As this is a fair +sample of the treatment by the Parliamentary officials of Royalist +"delinquents" and their friends, we here give further particulars. + +A similar petition was presented by "John Bysse, gent." (given in +Royalist Composition Papers, 1st series, vol. 8, No. 167). Further, +Abigail Snowden bequeathed her interest in the above lease to Thos. +Toking, who was of Bucknall and of Ludgate Hill, London. Accordingly, +two years later, we have another attempt at recovery, as follows: "To the +Honourable Commissioners for compounding with Delinquents. The humble +petition of Thomas Toking, of Co. Lincoln, gent., sheweth, that a lease +was made to him by Abigail Snowden, widow, deceased, of the manor, &c., +&c., which had been sequestered many years, for the delinquency of +Rutland Snowden . . . and that he (T. Toking) has more to offer, for the +clearing of his title. He prays therefore for a commission of enquiry. +21 Oct., 1652." Reply: "not sufficient proof." + +The said Thos. Toking again petitions, stating, that he is willing, to +avoid further trouble, to submit to "a reasonable composition." This is +again "referred to Mr. Brereton," 7 Feb., 1653. On 21 Sep., 1653, the +order was issued that "the Petitioner be admitted for compounding." +Again "Referred to Mr. Brereton." The result, however, was that Mr. +Thomas Toking died before obtaining the "relief" petitioned for. + +N.B. Besides the "delinquency" of having "adhered to, and assisted, ye +forces against the Parliament," it was charged against Rutland Snowden +that he had "more wives than one." He "rendered his estate in fee" at +Horncastle, in Nov., 1645, for which his fine, at one-tenth was 188 +pounds (Royalist Composition Papers, 1st series, fol. 113). His son, a +second Rutland Snowden, was among the Benefactors of Horncastle, as he +bequeathed to the poor of the town, 1682, "one house of the yearly rent +of 26s.," to be "paid in bread, 6d. every other Sunday;" a considerably +larger sum at that time than now. + +We find the names of Rutland Snoden of Horncastle, and Scrope Snoden of +Boston, in the list of Lincolnshire Gentry, entitled to bear arms, made +by the Heralds, at their Visitation in 1634; along with other well known +names in the neighbourhood, such as Dymoke, Heneage, Laugton, +Massingberd, Tyrwhitt, &c. (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. i, p. 106). +The Snowden arms are said, in Yorke's _Union of Honour_, to have been +"Azure a lion rampant, or." (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv, p. 16). + + [Picture: The Old Vicarage] + +The Vicarage of St. Mary's Church formerly stood at the north-east corner +of the churchyard, forming part of a block of small houses. It was a +poor residence, but occupied until his death in 1845, by the Vicar, +Clement Madely, DD. The whole block was, about that time, taken down, +the space being, later on, covered with the present substantial +buildings. His successor, Rev. T. J. Clarke, rented a good house in +South Street, now occupied by Mrs. Howland. Mr. Clarke was succeeded by +the Rev. W. Holme Milner, in 1853, and he built the present vicarage. + +St. Mary's Churchyard was closed, for burials, in 1848, when the +churchyard of Holy Trinity was consecrated. + +We here give a list of the Church Plate, which is more than usually +valuable. + +1. Paten, silver, 15 oz. 2 dwt., given by Mrs. Hussey, 1718. * + +2. Paten lid, silver, 2 oz. 2 dwt., old, no date. + +3. Paten, pewter, no date. + +4. Chalice, silver gilt, 7 oz., old, no date. + +5. Chalice, silver gilt, 13 oz. 4 dwt. In memoriam, J.H., 1879. + +6. Chalice, silver gilt, 13 oz. 2 dwt. * + +7. Flagon, silver, 59 oz., given by Susannah Lascells, 1741. + +8. Flagon, silver, 58 oz. 2 dwt., given by Susannah Lascelles, widow, +Christmas, 1743. * + +9. Alms basin, silver, 6 oz. 6 dwt., given by Thomas Hargreaves, Esq., +1735. T.M.H. on handle. + +10. Alms Basin, silver, 7 oz. 6 dwt., given by Clement Madely, vicar, +1835. + +11. Paten, silver gilt, 13 oz. In Memoriam, J.H. 1879. + +12. Paten, silver. 4 oz. 2 dwt., no date. * + +13. Cruet with silver stopper, H.T.C. 1872. + +Those marked with asterisk are used at Holy Trinity Church. + +We cannot here omit our tribute to the energy, liberality, and taste of +the various parties connected with the restoration of St. Mary's Church, +begun in 1859, and happily completed in April, 1861. With a persevering +vicar, in Prebendary W. H. Milner, undaunted by difficulties, to head the +movement; a working committee, no less resolute, to support him (among +whom figured foremost the late Dr. J. B. Boulton and Mr. F. Harwood); +with an architect of cultivated taste and wide experience, in Mr. Ewan +Christian; and with the able contractors, Messrs. Lee & Ashton, to carry +out his designs; and with a body of subscribers, headed by the Lord of +the Manor, J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., all doing their best; the work was +bound to be a marked success, of which all might be proud. St Mary's now +probably approaches nearer to its original conception (if it does not, +indeed, surpass it) than it has ever done in recent times. Erected, as +it first was, in an age marked by "zeal" for church construction, even if +sometimes "without knowledge;" stimulated, perhaps in an unwholesome +degree, by the prevalent superstition and mariolatry, we yet feel bound, +considering the noble structures which those builders have transmitted to +us, (as Prior the poet says) to be "To their virtues very kind, and to +their faults a little blind." But, as to the restoration in the present +instance, few, save the older ones among us, who remember the condition +into which the fabric had lapsed, can realise the great changes which +were effected, or the advantages secured to present worshippers. The +space formerly wasted by a western vestibule, with its boarded partition, +and baize-covered doors, leading into nave and aisles, reducing by +several feet the length of sitting space; the basement of the tower shut +off, and occupied only by the bell ringers, who are now removed to the +chamber above; the chancel aisles unused for seats and partially blocked +up; the high square pews, rising in tiers westwards, roomy enough for +undisturbed slumber; above all, the heavy galleries, with pews, made by +faculty private property; all these arrangements so curtailed the +accommodation, that the congregation, at its best, could be little more +than half what it has been in recent years; while the _tout ensemble_, +not omitting the flat whitewashed ceiling, put up, it has been said, by a +kind lady, because the vicar, sensitive to cold, felt the draughts +through the fine wooden roof thus hidden above, had an effect the very +opposite of stimulating devotion, bad alike for minister and people. +Under the restored condition, with sixty additional seats provided in the +tower, the south chancel aisle also seated, and every available space +utilized, there is now ample accommodation for some 800 worshippers, and +on special occasions more than 1,200 have been seated (the late Mr. W. +Pacy counted about 1,250 passing out at the evening service at the +re-opening in April, 1861); while the services, and the surroundings, are +alike calculated to inspire feelings of reverence, with hearty +earnestness of worship; this is the result mainly due to the "decency and +order" effected through the care and self-denying efforts of the +restorers, for which all should be grateful. + +We should here add that in the year 1892, it being found that decay had +occurred in the walls and other parts of the church, about 150 pounds was +raised by subscription, and once more the fabric was put into a complete +state of repair. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. +THE CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY + + +Was built in the years 1847 and 1848, as a Chapel of Ease to St. Mary's +Church, in the vicariate of the Rev. T. J. Clarke, at a cost of about +2,500 pounds; 500 pounds having been bequeathed towards that purpose by +his predecessor, Dr. Clement Madely, and the rest being raised by public +subscriptions. The foundation stone was laid April 6, in the former +year, by Sir Henry Dymoke, Bart., the Queen's Champion. The roof of the +nave was reared Oct. 12, and the cross on the east end of the chancel +erected Nov. 25, in the same year. The church and churchyard were +consecrated by Dr. Kaye, Bishop of Lincoln, April 27, 1848; his Lordship +preaching at the opening service in the morning, and Dr. Percy, Bishop of +Carlisle (as Patron {57a} of the Benefice) in the afternoon. The +architect was Mr. Stephen Lewin, of Boston (author of _Churches of the +Division of Holland_, 1843, &c) Mr. Hind, of Sleaford, being the +contractor for the work. + +It was a condition of Dr. Madely's bequest that the church should be +commenced within two years of his death, which occurred on Good Friday, +March 21, 1845. This fortunately was just (but only just) effected {57b} +in time to secure the bequest. + +When the churchyard of Holy Trinity was consecrated that of St. Mary's +was closed, with the exception of some private vaults; both these burial +grounds being closed in 1888, when the public cemetery was opened; the +church part of which was consecrated on Nov. 7th, in that year, by the +Bishop of Lincoln, Dr. King. + +The church is in the Early English style, consisting of nave, chancel, +north and south aisles, north porch, high open belfry with one bell, and +has sittings for 400 persons. The materials of the structure are white +brick, with dressings of Ancaster stone. It was considerably improved in +1887, and, more recently, in 1895. + +The windows in the north and south aisles are plain small lancets, in +pairs; 5 pairs on the south side, and 4 pairs, with porch door, on the +north. The north and south arcades have 5 bays, with narrow +perpendicular arches, except the easternmost, on both sides, which are +wider, with a view to future transepts; the octagonal columns of brick +have nicely carved stone capitals. The clerestory windows above, 5 on +each side, are alternately quatrefoils and inverted triangles. The roof +is of a very high pitch, slated externally, and internally of deeply +stained deal. The principals of the chancel roof are ornamented with +deeply cut dog-tooth pattern. The choir is rather narrow, and without +aisles. At the east end of the north aisle is the vestry, the doorway +leading to it having a richly carved arch, supported by twin pilasters, +with carved capitals; the porch doorway has also a richly carved arch, +with dog-tooth moulding, and clusters of pillars below. + +The east window in the chancel is of 3 lights, and is an enlarged copy of +the beautiful Early English east window of Kirkstead Abbey Chapel; with +triple columns between, and, on either side of the lights, having richly +carved capitals; the wall space above being also elaborately carved with +floriated pattern. It was fitted with coloured glass, by an anonymous +donor, in memory of the Rev. T. J. Clarke, in whose vicariate, as has +been stated, the church was built. The subjects are, running across and +in the centre, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, and Transfiguration; above +being the Resurrection, and Christ sitting in glory; and in the lower +row, our Lord as the Good Shepherd, the Man of sorrows and the Light of +the world. + +In the chancel walls, north and south, are triple windows in the same +style, but with plain columns and white glass. Below the east window is +a stone Reredos, having four panels with decorated arches on each side, +north and south; with a central canopy of 3 compartments, nicely carved, +and plain cross in the centre. This was carved and designed by Messrs. +F. Bell & Son, of Horncastle. The Reredos was due to a movement +originating with the Girls' Club, then under the management of Miss Agnes +Armstrong; assisted by contributions from members of the choir, a +considerable sum of money being raised by them, for altar frontals and +other fittings in the chancel. These, and other additions, were +dedicated by the late vicar, Prebendary E. F. Quarrington, on All Saints' +day, Nov. 1, 1895. + +The Organ, on the north side of the choir, is a good instrument. In the +early days of the church an old organ was transferred from St. Mary's +Church and placed at the west end, but this was sold in 1869, and for +some years a harmonium was used in the choir. The present instrument was +the work of Messrs. Foster & Andrews, of Hull, and has one manual, with +pedals. + +The Pulpit, on the south of the lofty chancel arch, is of stone, having 5 +panels with dog-tooth borders, illuminated in gold and various colours; +and having, within central circles, figures of SS. Matthew, Mark, Luke +and John, the fifth having the cross with the inscription "Feed my +sheep." The Reading Desk, on the north, is part of the chancel sedilia; +this, with the Lectern, slightly carved, in front of it, and all the +sittings, are of pitch pine, stained. + +At the west end of the south aisle is a plain lancet window of one light. +The window corresponding to this, in the north aisle, has good coloured +glass, in memory of the late Hugh George, M.D., who died in 1895. It has +two subjects (1) The healing of the lame man by SS. Peter and John, at +the beautiful gate of the temple, and (2) Luke, the beloved physician, +ministering to St. Paul, in prison at Rome. + +The west window is of two lights, narrow lancets with circular window +above, having quatrefoil tracery. These are filled with coloured glass, +given by the late Miss Lucy Babington of The Rookery, Horncastle, in +memory of her parents, brothers and sister. The subject in the upper +"Rose" window is the Holy Dove descending; those in the window below are +(1) our Lord's Baptism, (2) His commission to the disciples, "Go ye, and +baptize all nations;" (3) The baptism of a Jew (St. Paul), and (4) The +baptism of a Gentile (Cornelius). {59} + + [Picture: Holy Trinity Church] + +Below this window, and in keeping with the subjects above, stands the +Font, on a plain octagonal base. The bowl is circular and larger than +that in St. Mary's Church. It is supported by 8 carved pilasters at the +angles, with a central one; rising from these are narrow arches with +dog-tooth moulding. + +In the eastern part of the churchyard lie the remains of four successive +vicars of Horncastle, and the wife of a fifth. A coffin-shaped stone, +adorned with a full-length floriated cross, has this inscription: "Thomas +James Clarke, M.A., Vicar of Horncastle, died 14th May, 1853. Is any +among you afflicted, let him pray." This stone was put down by the Rev. +Edmund Huff, who was curate at the time of Mr. Clarke's death, and +afterwards Rector of Little Cawthorpe near Louth. + +An upright stone, the head forming an inverted overhanging arch, +ornamented with dog-tooth pattern (copied from a panel in the church +pulpit), has the inscription: "W. H. Milner, Vicar of Horncastle, died +October 3rd, 1868, aged 64." Within the arch is a Calvary Cross, on the +steps of which are these words "He that believeth in Me hath everlasting +life." On the base of the stone is a quotation from the Burial Service, +"Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, &c." Near this a massive +decorated cross bears the inscription: "Robert Giles, Vicar of +Horncastle, died July 12th, 1872. Jesu, Mercy." This is an exact +reproduction of a granite cross in Willoughby churchyard, erected to the +memory of the late Archdeacon Giles, the vicar's brother. + +A grass grave, surrounded by a kerb, has resting upon it a full-length +plain Latin cross, along the arms of which is inscribed "Jesu Mercy." +Surrounding the kerb is the inscription "Arthur Scrivenor, M.A., Vicar of +Horncastle, born January 13th, 1831, died August 27th, 1882." "Never +resting, never tiring, in the endless work of God;" the latter words +being a quotation from Dr. Mansel's _Life of Bishop Wilberforce of Oxford +and Winchester_. + +Very near the last tomb is the grave of the wife of the late Vicar of +Horncastle, Prebendary E. F. Quarrington, now Rector of Welby, near +Grantham; the plain slab bears the inscription "At rest, Nov. 25, 1888." + +The following biographical notes may not be without interest. The Rev. +T. J. Clarke was a remarkable man; born in this neighbourhood, in a +humble rank of life (his widowed mother occupying a cottage in Woodhall, +where, to his honour, he frequently visited her, and supported her, +during his vicariate), he was apprenticed as a boy to a tradesman in +Leeds. A lady upon whom he attended, as she made purchases in the shop, +noticed his intelligence; the result being that she sent him, at her own +expense, to be educated at a good school, and, in due time, assisted him +to enter at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he took Double Honours, +and obtained a Fellowship. He was afterwards appointed to the Vicarage +of Penrith, Cumberland, thus coming under the notice of the Bishop of +Carlisle, who, as Patron, presented him to the Vicarage of Horncastle, on +the death of Dr. Madely in 1845. With Mr. Clarke's arrival in Horncastle +it was felt that a new era in church life had begun. He threw himself +with characteristic energy into every kind of work, and at one time had 3 +curates. To him was due the erection of Holy Trinity Church, and a great +multiplication of Church services. The old vicarage, a poor house close +to St. Mary's churchyard, was pulled down, and he rented the house in +South Street, with extensive gardens, which afterwards became the +residence of Major Armstrong and now occupied by Mrs. Howland. +Notwithstanding his heavy parochial work Mr. Clarke (as the present +writer can testify) kept up his classical and mathematical studies. He +was also devoted to music, and a very skilful performer on the flute. +Although these were relaxations from his more serious parochial labours, +the amount of mental work involved eventually told upon his health, and +in the 8th year of his vicariate it became perceptible, even in his +pulpit utterances, that his mind was affected. He had married a +Cumberland lady, but all her care and attention was unavailing; he +gradually collapsed into a condition of melancholy, scarcely roused by +anything except the music of his piano. {60} The end inevitable was seen +to be approaching, but unfortunately Mr. Clarke by his own act +anticipated it. Being accidently left alone for a few moments he took a +pistol, which he had concealed in a drawer, walked out into the garden +and shot himself, the overwrought brain rendering him no longer +accountable for his actions. + +Of his successor, the Rev. Prebendary W. H. Milner, who, like Mr. Clarke, +had held preferment in the diocese of Carlisle, we have only to say that +he was an able man of business, carried on the work of the church with +great energy, and introduced many reforms. He built the present +vicarage. He was the last vicar nominated by the Bishop of Carlisle. Of +the next two vicars it may be said that their tenure of office was all +too short, hard faithful labour cutting off the Rev. Robert Giles (as we +have before stated) in 1872, after a vicariate of only 4 years; while the +Rev. Arthur Scrivenor died, after 10 years work in the parish, in his +51st year, in 1882. Canon E. Fowler Quarrington succeeded him, and held +the vicarage during 18 years, when he was transferred, in 1900, to the +Rectory of Welby, near Grantham. The Rev. Prebendary Alfred Edgar Moore, +formerly Vicar of Messingham, near Brigg, began his vicariate in 1900, +being inducted into the benefice on August 24, in that year. + +Horncastle, we may here add, has been well served by its Curates. +"Comparisons are (proverbially) odious," we will not therefore refer to +any of these in recent years; but we may take three typical cases of men +whose memory is still green and redolent of good work. + +In the latter years of the amiable vicar, Dr. Madely, he needed an active +assistant, and such was the Rev. William Spranger White, of Trinity +College, Cambridge, a member of a family of position, the head of which +was his uncle, Sir Thomas Wollaston White, of Wallingwells Park, Worksop, +High Sheriff 1839, and formerly of the 10th Hussars. Mr. White possessed +independent means and was very generous. He was of a most sympathetic +nature, and became greatly beloved by all classes. He worked hard in the +parish from his ordination in 1833 to 1849. {61} In that year he was +selected by the Marchioness of Lothian, to take charge of an Episcopalian +Church, which her Ladyship built and endowed at Jedburgh, Roxburghshire. +The church was opened with an octave of services, which were attended by +the great Doctor Hook of Leeds, who had recommended Mr. White to her +Ladyship. The father of the present writer, and many leading clergymen +from this neighbourhood, and various parts of England and Scotland, +attended the opening services. Mr. White remained there for some years, +and married the eldest daughter of Lord Chancellor Campbell, who resided +at Hartrigg House, near Jedburgh. This marriage led to his subsequent +return to England, being appointed by the Lord Chancellor to the Rectory +of St. Just, near Land's End, Cornwall; at a later date promoted to the +Vicarage of Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, Worcestershire; and +finally in 1859 to the Rectory of Potterhanworth, near Lincoln, of which +cathedral he was made an Honorary Canon, in recognition of his generous +gifts towards cathedral improvements. Here he did excellent work until +his death in 1893. {62} + +We next take two of the well chosen curates of the Vicar, T. J. Clarke, +who were contemporaries at Horncastle; Charles Dashwood Goldie of St. +John's College, Cambridge, where he took Mathematical Honours in 1847, +was ordained as Curate of Horncastle in 1848. An able preacher and +indefatigable worker in the parish, he at once made his mark, not only in +the town, but in the neighbourhood; he and his beautiful wife being +welcome guests in many a rectory and vicarage. He was also a man of good +social position and private means, and occupied a good house with large +garden on the north side of West Street (then called Far Street), +belonging to the late Mrs. Conington, within some 120 yards of the +railway station, now occupied by Mr. Sills, and named "The Chestnuts." +Mr. Goldie being curate at the time when Holy Trinity Church was built +presented the carved oak chairs within the communion rails. After +leaving Horncastle he was appointed to the vicarage of St. Ives, in the +diocese of Ely. The Goldies were an old Manx family; Col. Goldie, his +brother, of the Scotts Guards Regiment, being President of the House of +Keys, the local parliament. Their residence in that island is "The +Nunnery," near the town of Douglas, so called from the ruin close at hand +of an ancient priory, said to have been founded by St. Bridget in the +sixth century. Mr. Goldies' nephew is the present Sir George Dashwood +Tanbman Goldie, Privy Councillor, K.C.M.G., F.R.G.S., &c, formerly of the +Royal Engineers, but latterly holding various Government appointments, +director of several expeditions in West Africa, having travelled in +Egypt, the Soudan, Algiers, Morocco, &c., and attended the Berlin +Conference in 1884, as an expert on questions connected with the Niger +country, where he founded the Royal Chartered Company of Nigeria. His +latest honour (1905) is the Presidency of the Royal Geographical Society, +in succession to Sir Clements P. Markham, K.C.B., &c. + +The Rev. Thomas Castle Southey (a relative of the poet) was Fellow of +Queen's College, Oxford, where he took Classical and Mathematical Honours +in 1847. He was ordained in the same year, and held the curacy of +Horncastle from that year till 1849. He was an able and scholarly +preacher and persevering worker in the parish. On leaving Horncastle he +became Incumbent of the Episcopal Church at Montrose, N.B., which he held +for six years, when he became Assistant Curate of St. Paul's Church, +Brighton, under the Rev. Arthur Wagner; then Curate of the church of St. +Thomas the Martyr at Oxford; then Vicar of Wendron, Cornwall, and +afterwards of Newbold Pacey, near Leamington, in 1868. After leaving +Horncastle he was invited by the Governors, as an able scholar, to +examine the Horncastle Grammar School, then a considerably larger school +than it has been in later years, with a large number of day boys, and +also boarders from London, many distant parts of the country, and even +from Jersey and the continent. + +As this is the last chapter in which we shall deal with church matters, +we may here say that a Clerical Club, with valuable library and news +room, was established in the town in the year 1823. At that time there +was a numerous community of country clergymen living in the town; a +dozen, or more, villages in the neighbourhood having no official +residence in their parishes; thus a Clerical Club became a convenient +institution for social intercourse, and valuable papers were often read +at their meetings. This ceased to exist at the close of the 19th +century, when the books were transferred to the Diocesan Library at +Lincoln. In order to enable these country incumbents to maintain a town +residence, they, in several cases, held a plurality of benefices, which +would hardly be allowed in the present day. Even the Vicar of +Horncastle, Dr. Madely, also held the Vicarage of Stickford, distant more +than a dozen miles; another clergyman was Rector of Martin, Vicar of +Baumber, and Rector of Sotby, several miles apart; while a third held the +Perpetual Curacy of Wood Enderby, 4 or 5 miles to the south-east of the +town, with the Curacy of Wilksby adjoining, and the Chapelry of +Kirkstead, 5 or 6 miles to the west. Further, to eke out the family +income, his daughter found employment of a somewhat novel kind in the +service of the late Queen Victoria. Being in figure the exact size of +the Queen, her Majesty's dresses were all tried on this lady by the royal +dressmaker; and, as a portion of her remuneration, the cast-off clothing +of the Queen became her perquisite. On the occasion of the wedding of +one of her friends at Horncastle, the bride and her bridesmaids were all +attired in Queen's dresses. + +In connection with the church is the "Young Churchmen's Union," of which +the Vicar is President. They have fortnightly meetings, in the Boys' +National School, at 8.15 p.m. There is also a Church Lads' Brigade, No. +1951, attached to the 1st Battalion, Lincoln Regiment, B 51. This was +enrolled Oct. 1st, 1901. The members are youths between the ages of 13 +and 19; the present Lieutenant being H. W. Sharpe; Chaplain, the Vicar; +Assistant Chaplain and Correspondent, the Senior Curate. Entrance fee +1/6, subscription 1d. per week. + +The Church National Schools are good substantial buildings, erected at +various periods, the Girls' School in 1812, the Infants' in 1860, and the +Boys' (at a cost of 1,000 pounds) in 1872; the total accommodation is for +300 children, the average attendance being about 250. The schools were +taken over by the Lindsey County Council, on April 1st, 1903. + + + + +CHAPTER V. +NONCONFORMIST PLACES OF WORSHIP. + + +There are in Horncastle five Nonconformist religious communities, the +Wesleyan, Congregational, Primitive Methodist, Baptist, and New Church or +Swedenborgian, each now having substantially built chapels, resident +ministers, with Sunday, and, in one case, Day Schools. Through the +courtesy of the Rev. John Percy, late Head Minister of the Wesleyan +Society, we are enabled to give a fairly full account of its origin and +growth, down to the present 20th century. As this is the most important +religious body in the town, next to the Church of England, although it is +not the oldest, we take the Wesleyans first. As will be seen in the +following account, this Society arose from a very small beginning, but at +the present time, with perhaps the exception of the Baptists, it is the +most numerous and influential body among Nonconformists. Although, +locally, rather fewer in numbers in recent years, than formerly, it is +generally growing, and in the year 1904, as published statistics show, it +acquired in the United Kingdom an addition of 10,705 full members, with +11,874 members on trial, and junior members 4,367; a total increase of +26,946. + + + +THE WESLEYANS. + + +The founder of this Society was, as its name implies, John Wesley, +probably of the same stock as the great Duke of Wellington, whose family +name was variously written Wellesley, or Wesley. {64} We take the +immediately following particulars mainly from the _History of England_, +by Henry Walter, B.D. and F.R.S., Fellow of St. John's College, +Cambridge, Professor in the East India College, Hertford, Chaplain to the +Duke of Northumberland, &c., &c., himself a Lincolnshire man. + +John and Charles Wesley were the second and third sons of Samuel Wesley, +Rector of Epworth, near Gainsborough; {65} John being born in 1703 (June +17), and Charles in 1708 (Dec. 18). John was educated at the +Charterhouse, and Charles at Westminster School. In due course they both +entered at Oxford University; John eventually being elected to a +Fellowship at Lincoln College, and Charles to a Studentship at +Christchurch. In 1725 John was ordained deacon of the Church of England. +He left Oxford for a time to act as his father's curate, Charles remained +as Tutor to his college. He, with some of his undergraduate pupils, +formed a custom of meeting on certain evenings every week for scripture +study and devotion, they carefully observed the Church's fasts and +festivals, and partook of the Holy Communion every Sunday. From the +strict regularity of their lives the name was given to them, by those who +were laxer in conduct, of "Methodists." + + [Picture: Wesleyan Chapel] + +In 1729 the Rector of Lincoln College summoned John Wesley to resume +residence at Oxford, and he became Tutor of the College. In this +capacity he was careful to look after the souls, as well as the +intellectual training, of those under his influence. The brothers began +missionary work in Oxford, about the year 1730, in which they were +assisted by a few other kindred spirits. They visited the sick and +needy, with the permission of the parish clergy, as well as offenders +confined in the gaol. This continued for some time, but gradually John +began to long for a wider field for his spiritual energies. He had +gathered about him a small band of equally earnest associates, and they +went out to Georgia, North America, in 1735, to work among the English +settlers and North American Indians. After two years John returned to +England, in 1737, and then began the work of his life. + +It is said that he was a good deal influenced by the _De Imitatione +Christi_ of Thomas a Kempis (of which he published an abridged edition in +1777), {66a} also by Jeremy Taylor's _Holy Living and Dying_; and he +imputed his own conversion to his study of Law's _Serious Call_. His +"first impression of genuine Christianity," as he called it, was from the +Moravian sect, with whom he came in contact at Hirnuth in Saxony, which +he visited in 1738, after his return from America; but his complete +"conversion," he was wont to say, occurred at a meeting of friends, in +Aldersgate Street, London, where one of them was reading Luther's +_Preface to St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans_, the exact time being 8.45 +p.m., May 24, 1738. + +Though taking an independent course, and appointing only lay workers as +his agents, he regarded himself to the end of his days as an ordained +minister of the Church of England, and his society as still being a part +of it, and he urged all faithful Wesleyans to attend church service once +on Sunday, and to receive the Holy Communion at church, it being only +after his death that the society's secession became complete. {66b} + +The first Wesleyan congregation of about 50 members, some of them +Moravians, was formed in London, where they met in Fetter Lane, once a +week; the first meeting being on May 1st, 1738, and from that day the +society of "Methodists" may be regarded as having begun. {66c} The birth +of the sect in Lincolnshire may be said to date from his visit to +Epworth, in 1742. + +In 1743 he divided the whole county into two sections, or circuits, the +eastern and western. Of the eastern Grimsby was the head; this included +Horncastle, and gradually comprised some 15 other subsidiary centres, +extending from Grimsby and Caistor in the north, to Holbeach in the +south. + +His earliest recorded visit to Horncastle was in 1759, when he addressed +a large concourse of people in a yard, supposed to be that of the Queen's +Head Inn, near the Market Place, on April 4th and 5th. On July 18th, +1761, he again preached here, and on July 18th, 1774, he addressed, as +his journal states, "a wild unbroken herd." On July 6th, 1779, he says +"I took my usual stand in the Market Place, Horncastle, the wild men were +more quiet than usual, Mr. Brackenbury, J.P., of Raithby Hall, standing +near me." This Mr. Robert Carr Brackenbury remained his firm friend +through life; and we may here add that he granted to Wesley the use of +his hay loft at Raithby for religious services, further securing the use +of it in perpetuity, by his will, to the Wesleyan body, so that the +curious anomaly has occurred that, when the hall was bought in 1848, by +the Rev. Edward Rawnsley, the house became the residence of an Anglican +clergyman, yet bound to allow the loft over his stable to be used for +nonconformist worship. In recent years the stable has been unused as +such and the loft made more comfortable, being furnished with seats, +pulpit, &c + +Wesley, throughout his life, generally visited Horncastle every two +years, his death occurring on March 2nd, 1791. There is in Westminster +Abbey a mural memorial of John and Charles Wesley, having within a +medallion, the bust-sized effigies of the two brothers, beneath which is +inscribed the saying of Wesley, "The best of all is God with us." Below +this, within a panel, is a representation of John Wesley, preaching from +his father's tomb in Epworth churchyard. Beneath are two more quotations +from his own words, "I look upon all the world as my parish," and "God +buries His workmen, but carries on His work." At the head of the slab is +the inscription "John Wesley, M.A., born June 17th, 1703, died March 2nd, +1791. Charles Wesley, M.A., born December 18th, 1708, died March 29th, +1788." + +The growth of the society was not rapid, and for some years was subject +to fluctuations. In 1769 Grimsby had 56 members and Horncastle 42, +including such well-known local names as Rayson and Goe. In 1774 Grimsby +had fallen to 32 members and Horncastle to about the same. In 1780 +Horncastle had only 31 members, but the numbers had increased in the +neighbourhood; Kirkby-on-Bain having nearly as many as Horncastle, viz. +29, Wood Enderby 10, Hemingby 7, and Thimbleby 18; there being evidently +a greater readiness to accept the new teaching among the simpler rural +population. + +In 1786 Horncastle was made the head of a circuit to itself, and in that +year the first chapel in the town was built, the whole circuit then +numbering 620 members. This chapel was near the site of the present +Baptist place of worship. A few years later the opposing barrier among +the upper class seems in some degree to have given way, as, in 1792, we +find the name of Joseph Bass, a "physician," as "leader." In 1800 there +was further growth in the country, Greetham having 21 and Fulletby 26; +among the latter occurring the still well-known names of Winn (Richard +and Elizabeth), 5 Riggalls, and 5 Braders. By this time there were 6 +circuits formed in Lincolnshire, and congregations at Newark and +Doncaster. + +Although there was a chapel at Horncastle there was no minister's +residence until after 1786. At that date John Barritt rode over from +Lincoln to preach, and finding no Wesleyan minister's house, he was taken +in and hospitably entertained by a Mr. Penistoun, who was "a great +Culamite." After staying the night with him he rode on next day to +Alford, for Sabbath duty. On the death of John Wesley (1791) his mantle +fell, and indeed, had already fallen, in several cases, on shoulders +worthy of the commission which he conferred upon them. The first +resident ministers were the Rev. Thomas Longley, Superintendent; the +above John Barritt was the second, and Richard Thoresby the third. + +Hitherto it had not been a service free from difficulty, or even danger. +Itinerary ministers had to make their journeys on duty, often long and +wearying, on horseback, over bad country roads, even occasionally +incurring hardship and peril. In 1743 Mr. John Nelson was sent by Wesley +to Grimsby, and his journals describe severe labour and even persecution. +Another pioneer, Thomas Mitchell, was thrown by a mob into a pool of +water, and, when drenched, was painted white from head to foot. He was +afterwards thrown into a pond more than 12 feet deep, rescued and carried +to bed by friends, he was thrice dragged out of his bed because he would +not promise not to visit the place (Wrangle) again. Wesley himself, in +his journal (May 10, 1757) says "I preached to a mixed congregation, some +serious, others drunk;" but on the other hand, in 1764, he preached, when +the chapel "though having its galleries, was too small." + +We have named John Barritt among the early Horncastle ministers. He was +preaching on one occasion at Boston, when a band of roughs forced their +way into the chapel and interrupted the service, driving some of the +congregation away. He had, however, a more serious experience, from +exposure to the roughness of the elements. He was riding to Boston, +apparently by a somewhat circuitous route, and a violent storm arose at +sea. When he was not far from the coast the sea bank gave way, the +country was inundated, vessels were even carried some distance inland, +Boston itself was deluged, and he might have been drowned, but that he +managed to reach some high ground, and arrived safely at Sibsey. + +About this date, we are told, the progress of Wesleyanism excited the +jealousy of the clergy, not so tolerant as they are now, and a meeting +was held at the Bull Hotel, Horncastle, at which it was argued that the +"spread of Methodism was one of the causes of the awful irreligion" +prevalent, that the ministers were "raving enthusiasts, pretending to +divine impulse, and thus obtained sway over the ignorant." + +John Barritt was re-appointed to Horncastle in 1801, as Superintendent, +his colleagues being Thomas Rought, John Watson, and Squire Brackenbury +as supernumerary, the latter was also, about this time, appointed head of +the society in Spilsby. {68a} J. Barritt was grandfather of Robert +Newton Barritt, who was very popular in Horncastle, 1882-1884. Wesley's +characteristic advice to him had been "When thou speakest of opinions, or +modes of worship, speak with coolness, but when thou speakest of +Repentance, Faith and Holiness, then, if thou hast any zeal, show it!" +and to these principles he was ever true. + +Other ministers of note at different periods were George Shadford, a name +still surviving in the town; Charles Atmore, who wrote sundry Wesleyan +hymns; Thomas Jackson, a great scholar, twice elected President of the +National Conference; Digory Joll, grandfather of the present Mr. Watson +Joll (to whom the writer owes much of the information here utilized); and +to these we may add Benjamin Gregory, 1817; Robert Ramm and Robert +Bryant, 1830; {68b} Bryant was called a "son of thunder," from his great +energy. + +In 1835 Leonard Posnet was a popular minister, not only in the town but +in the country around, being much appreciated by the farmers from his +intimate acquaintance with their avocation. He was followed (1838-1840) +by Joseph Kipling, grandfather of the now well-known Rudyard Kipling. +Joseph Clapham was a faithful minister from 1843 to 1845, and was +succeeded by (1845-1848) "Father" Crookes, "Preacher" Wood, and the +"saintly" Fowler, who was said to have made 900 converts. + +Then followed Wright Shovelton, Martin Jubb, Peter Featherstone, Henry +Richardson, and others, among whom it would be invidious to make +distinctions. We may add that a famous missionary of this sect was +Thomas Williams, son of John Williams, a cabinet maker of Horncastle, the +latter being an active member of the Wesleyan Sunday School Committee. +His first wife, mother of the missionary, was Miss Hollingshead, who, +with her mother, kept a girls' school, near the Bow Bridge. A _History +of the Fiji Mission_, issued in 1858, says "The good ship Triton sailed +from England, Sep. 14, 1839, carrying out the Rev. T. Williams, and his +wife, to Lakamba, Fiji." They arrived there July 6, 1840. He there +built a mission house and chapel, where he laboured several years, the +mission growing in extent, until it was beyond his strength. In June, +1852, Mr. Moore was appointed as a colleague to relieve him of some of +the work, but again his health broke down, and he was obliged to leave, +after 13 years' hard labour, in July, 1853. He went to Australia and +took various charges in that country, being chosen President of the +Mission at Ballarat in 1873. He re-visited England in 1861, and again in +1881, returning to Ballarat, as a supernumerary, but still officiating. +The present writer well remembers the impression made by a lecture, given +by Rev. T. Williams, at the Bull Hotel, Horncastle. + + [Picture: Wesleyan Day Schools] + +Among the latest ministers of note has been the Rev. John Percy, who gave +up his charge as Superintendent in 1904, and was succeeded by the Rev. E. +Hayward, who left Horncastle on Thursday, Aug. 29, 1907, for work at +Bridlington; he was succeeded by Rev. John Turner, of Colchester, who was +6 years ago in Louth Circuit, {70a} the Rev. G. German Brown continuing +as assistant. He was succeeded by the Rev. M. Philipson, B.A., coming, +with his wife, since deceased (March 14, 1906), from Stanley, near +Durham, where they were the recipients of valuable presents on their +departure. + +In recent years no member of the society has been more valued than the +late octogenarian, Mr. John Rivett, J.P., who died Sept 4, 1906. For +nearly 70 years he was a generous supporter of the cause; he represented +the district at no less than 13 Conferences, in various parts of the +country, and at the Leeds Conference, in 1882, he spoke for an hour and a +quarter in advocacy of its principles. Mr. Henry Lunn, of Horncastle and +West Ashby, is also well known, as, for many years, an able local lay +preacher and practical man of business; he was a representative at +Conferences in London and at Burslem. + +Of the buildings in Horncastle, connected with this society, we have +gathered the following details. As already stated the first chapel was +erected in Cagthorpe about the year 1786. It stood a few yards to the +north of the present Baptist place of worship, which is close to the +north-west corner of the Wong. The early history of this first erection +is little known, but a letter written by Rev. T. Williams of Ballarat, +dated May 10, 1889, to the late Mr. W. Pacy, states that, after some +years, it was replaced by a larger building, of which the dimensions are +elsewhere given, as being length 54-ft., by width 36-ft., with 4 large +windows, having pointed heads, on the north side, and single windows on +the south and west; a small porch at the south-east corner, facing the +Baptist Chapel, giving entrance to the body and galleries; a door at the +south-west end for the use of the minister, opening near the pulpit, +which was at the west end; the eastern gable being the roadway boundary. +Of these "pointed" windows the Rev. T. Williams says, "the lancet +windows, with quarry panes, were a whim of Mr. Griggs Lunn and of my +father. Of this building some remains are still visible, to the height +of about 3 feet, in the south wall of Mr. Scholey's garden, about 50 +yards to the north of the Baptist Chapel. Towards its erection a number +of masons, joiners, and others, who could not afford subscriptions, gave +their labours gratuitously. Two houses for ministers were also built +close by. + +In 1836 a third chapel was begun, on a new site in Union Street (now +Queen Street), and was opened on Good Friday in the following year, the +interior fittings being transferred from the second building in +Cagthorpe. + +In 1866 a movement was commenced, with a view to the erection of a still +larger chapel, and the present fine building was the result; opened in +1869, with accommodation for over 1,000 persons (1024), at a cost of +5,876 pounds. {70b} The Sunday School adjoining, with large class rooms +and infant school being built in 1875, at a further outlay of 2,578 +pounds. The fittings of the chapel are of stained polished deal, the +gallery front and pulpit are white, picked out with gold, the latter +standing upon 4 round-headed arches of light and graceful design. A new +organ was erected soon after the opening of this chapel, at a cost of 300 +pounds, and in 1883 the instrument was enlarged and improved. + +In 1886 the Centenary of Wesleyanism was celebrated and the occasion was +marked by a strenuous effort to clear off the debt from the Horncastle +Circuit. This effort was supplemented by "Ye olde Englyshe Fayre, +houlden in ye Exchange Hall, Nov. 20, 21 and 22, MDCCCLXXXVIII;" and at a +tea gathering on March 12, 1889, it was stated that the original debt +had, in the previous two years, been reduced to 60 pounds, and since then +the whole had been cleared off, the exact sum raised being 1,526 pounds +2s. 4d.; while, as an evidence of the general prosperity of the Society, +the Chairman stated that in the last 24 years debts had, throughout the +country, been paid to the total amount of no less than 1,226,245 pounds. +{71a} + +In 1860 a former foundry show room, in Foundry Street, built by the late +Mr. Tupholme, was acquired through the generosity of Mr. J. Rivett, to be +used as a mixed day school; it had one large general room, four +classrooms, and two large yards, and afforded accommodation for more than +400 scholars. The premises cost 450 pounds, but before the school was +opened some 1,300 pounds had been spent in adapting them to educational +purposes. This has now been superceded by an even more commodious +building in Cagthorpe, on the south branch of the canal, at the corner +near the Bow Bridge, opposite St. Mary's Square, at a cost of 2,500 +pounds. It has a very large room for a mixed school, another for an +infant school, with classrooms and everything required, in accordance +with the latest conditions by Act of Parliament. The foundation stone +was laid June 22, 1904, and the school was formally opened Jan. 4, 1905. + +A Young Men's Institute was established in the beginning of 1889, by the +Rev. G. White, then Superintendent Minister, for which the classroom of +the Sunday School was to be available for their use, every evening except +Sunday, supplied with daily papers, magazines, &c.; classes also being +held for the consideration of important subjects and for mutual +improvement; these are still continued. There is also a Wesley Guild, +which meets every Friday evening, in the band room, Queen Street, at 8 +o'clock, during the winter months, and on the first Friday evening in the +month during the summer. Marriages are celebrated in this chapel. {71b} + + + +THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS. + + +We have given an account of the rise and progress of Wesleyanism, but, as +that society eventually made a complete separation from the Church of +England, of which its founder remained through life an ordained minister +and communicant, so the seeds of disruption spread in itself. At +different periods it threw out off-shoots, amounting in all to some eight +different daughter societies; such as those which are named "The Original +Connection," "The New Connection," "The Primitive Methodists," &c. Of +these the last alone is represented in Horncastle. More than 50 years +ago {71c} the Primitives had, in this country, 2,871 places of worship, +with 369,216 sittings; with the exception of the "Original Connection," +none of the other off-shoots had then as many as 100,000 sittings. + +In Horncastle the first chapel, opened in 1821, was a small building, +situated on the left side of what is now Watermill Yard, to the north of +the town. This proving too small for the growing congregation, a larger +structure, an oblong building, with front gable at the east end and a +gallery, was erected in 1837; the minister's house being at the west end. +This was about half way up Watermill Road, on the north side, now a +stable, but still retaining a pointed window. This building was of the +date of the superintendency of the Rev. John Butcher. The residence was +found to be too damp to be comfortable, and a house was taken for him in +Prospect Street. In the early days of this chapel Mary Crossley, a +Revivalist, occasionally preached here. Possibly the services at this +time were rather too demonstrative, as they were not unfrequently +interrupted by roughs, and the sect acquired the name of "The Ranters." +{72} An amusing anecdote is related of Mr. Butcher; he was a somewhat +eccentric character, and in the discharge of his intinerant ministrations +he usually rode on a donkey, sometimes accompanied by her foal; and a +waggish passer-by on the road is said, on one occasion, to have saluted +them with the greeting "Good morning, ye three," adding _sotto voce_, +"donkeys." + +After a few years this second chapel was found lacking in accommodation +and a third building, the present edifice, was erected in Prospect +Street, in the year 1853, with sittings for 380, at a cost of about 1,100 +pounds. As this is a substantial structure, likely to last for many +years, we may here describe it. It is of red brick, except the arch of +the western door, which has a band of white bricks; the bricks are larger +than usual, being 3.25 inches in thickness. The entrance has a double +door opening into a lobby, at each end of which is a staircase, leading +to the north and south galleries. There is a window on each side of the +door, three windows above, and over them, in the gable, a stone, with the +inscription "Primitive Methodist Chapel, 1853." At the east end of the +interior is a Rostrum, 12-ft. long, divided into two stages, the front +one being 8 inches above the floor, the second, behind it, about 4.5-ft. +high, with access by steps at both ends. The front of this platform has +slender piers, supported by lancet arches, with trefoils and quatrefoils +between, giving a graceful effect, and painted white, gold, and grey, +with a background chocolate in colour. At the back of the rostrum are +eight arches in the pannelling. This is said to have been a copy of the +arrangement in Bardney Chapel. Over the rostrum is a recess in the east +wall, containing the harmonium, which cost 40 gs., and seats for the +choir. The sittings in the body of the chapel are of stained and +varnished deal. At the rear of the chapel, entered by doors at each side +of the rostrum, is a large room for the Sunday School, with two smaller +class rooms above it. The erection of this building was due to the +exertions of the Rev. J. Haigh, who was appointed minister in 1850, and +as an exception to the usual custom, he was requested to continue his +ministry for four years. We may add that, at the opening service of this +third chapel the ministers present were Rev. J. Haigh, as Superintendent; +Rev. T. Fletcher; Rev. R. Pinder, then at Coningsby; Rev. J. Garbutt, +Supernumerary, from West Ashby. The Rev. T. Fletcher was appointed as +Second Minister in Horncastle, at that time, for two years; he became in +1872 Superintendent Minister for three years, and again 1884 for four +years, leaving for Market Rasen in 1888. During the ministry of Rev. J. +Haigh in Horncastle, several chapels were built in the neighbourhood. + +Horncastle was at first included in the Lincoln Circuit, but in 1837, at +the building of the second chapel it was constituted a separate circuit, +and when the third chapel was erected, in 1853, Coningsby was made a +branch of Horncastle. + +The first preacher who visited Horncastle was a female, Jane Brown by +name, who is said to have walked from Lincoln to Horncastle on a Sunday +morning, giving an address in the Market Place in the afternoon, and in +the evening holding a service in a house, now forming part of the back +premises of the Red Lion Hotel. The first local preachers were also +females, Mary Allen and Mary Clarke. The first two female members were +Mary Elwin and Martha Belton. + +Mr. Butcher having been the first resident minister, was succeeded by the +Rev. C. Smith, who worked here and in various other places during 50 +years, and then retired to York as supernumerary. The Rev. William Rose, +who had been Second Minister in 1850, was appointed Superintendent in +1875, and remained two years. A few years later the Rev. J. Pickwell +(1888-90) was Superintendent, with Rev. W. Whitaker as Second Minister; +the former first joined the society as a scholar in 1849, being numbered +among the local members, he afterwards removed to Lincoln, and acted as +Itinerant Minister for 33 years before returning to Horncastle in 1888. +Mr. Pickwell was succeeded by Rev. William Kitson as Superintendent, with +Rev. R. H. Auty as Second Minister. Mr. Kitson retained his post during +four years, when he left for Market Rasen. Mr. Auty was followed, as +Second Minister, by Rev. John Bowness, and he, in turn, by Rev. Thomas +Stones. + +In 1894 the Rev. John Featherstone succeeded to the ministry, with Rev. +W. J. Leadbetter as Second Minister, both these stayed to their second +year, Mr. Featherstone dying in 1896. In that year the Rev. John Worsnop +was appointed, with Rev. A. W. Bagnall as Second Minister; the former +retained his post during five years; Mr. Bagnall two years, being +succeeded in 1898 by Rev. Walter Tunley, and he, in 1899, by the Rev. +George H. Howgate, who stayed two years. In 1900 Rev. J. Worsnop retired +to Newcastle-on-Tyne, and died there in Dec., 1904. + +In 1901 the Rev. Matthew H. Chapman became Superintendent Minister, with +Rev. J. A. Kershaw as Second, both remaining during two years. In 1903 +the Rev. Robert B. Hauley succeeded, with Rev. J. Cousin as assistant, +both remaining two years. In 1905 (July) the former left for Kirkby +Stephen, Westmoreland, the latter for a circuit in Shropshire. They were +followed by the Rev. E. Allport, from Skegness, as Superintendent, Sept. +1905; and Rev. E. J. Hancox from Doncaster. In June of that year the +annual Conference was held at Scarborough. + +We will now put together a few details of the origin of this society. +Hugh Bourne was born at Stoke-upon-Trent, April 3, 1772. {73} Although +his family was said to be ancient, his ancestors having come to England +at the Norman Conquest, he belonged to a humble rank in life, living at +Ford Hays Farm. He was in early life educated by his mother, a godly +woman, and while very young he learnt by heart the Te Deum, the Litany, +and much of the prayers of the Church of England. He worked for his +father, and an uncle who was a millwright, but found time to study +hydrostatics, pneumatics, natural philosophy, as well as Hebrew, Greek +and Latin. His mother's influence had given him a serious bent of mind, +and he early acquired strong religious convictions. His biographer says +of him "He tells, in child-like simplicity, how, when only four or five +years old, he pondered over thoughts of heaven and hell, the last +judgment, and other solemn subjects. During the next 20 years his inner +life was one of hopes and fears, doubt and faith, conflict and victory." + +His mother, going to Burslem on business, borrowed of a Wesleyan friend, +some religious books, among them being Baxter's _Call to the +Unconverted_, Allen's _Alarm_, and a sermon by Wesley on _The Trinity_. +Her son Hugh naturally read these, and Wesley's sermon made a great +impression upon him. One Sunday morning he was sitting in his room, +reading Fletcher's Letters on _The Spiritual Manifestation of the Son of +God_, when he declares that he was led "to believe with his heart unto +righteousness, and with his mouth to make confession unto salvation." +This was in his 27th year, A.D. 1799. He joined the Wesleyan society in +June of that year, the special occasion being a love feast at Burslem, to +which he was taken by an aged neighbour, a farmer near Bemersley, named +Birchenough, at whose house services were conducted, who offered him a +ticket which constituted him a member, and thus in his own words I was +"made a member without knowing it." + +As we shall presently see Hugh Bourne became one of the two originators +of the Primitive community, the other was his friend and neighbour +William Clowes, a sketch of his career was published some years ago, {74} +from which we cull the leading particulars. He was born at Burslem 12th +March, 1780, his mother, a daughter of Aaron Wedgewood, being a near +relation of Josiah of that name, the inventor of the famous Wedgwood +pottery. At ten years of age (1790) he began work in his uncle's +pottery, which he continued for several years. At that time dancing, +gambling and pugilism were the chief amusement of the factory men and +colliers of Staffordshire, and for some years he led a wild life of +dissipation, yet this was accompanied, at times, with a sense of +self-condemnation and spiritual consciousness. "When I was ten years +old," he says, "I remember being at a prayer meeting conducted by Nancy +Wood, of Burslem, in her father's house, when, convinced of the sin of +disobedience to my parents, I wept bitterly." Conflicts between good and +evil continued to disturb him for several years. When a young man, at a +dance in Burslem, he was so suddenly convicted of sin, that he abruptly +withdrew. Shortly afterwards he married, but he and his wife quarralled +so violently that he left her, and went off, taking with him only his +mother's prayer book. After some wandering, without a penny in his +pocket, he returned and begged his wife to attend the Wesleyan Chapel +regularly with him, but she refused. He then, prayer book in hand, took +an oath that he would serve God and avoid dissipation. This oath, +however, was broken; but once more in the early hour of a cold January +morning he went forth, and seeing a faint light burning in a window, he +entered the house, to find a few humble methodists gathered for an early +prayer meeting. There, he says, he knelt unnoticed, but there he "died +to sin, and was born of God. This, I said, is what they call being +converted. I was fully persuaded that I was justified by faith, and had +peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." From that day, Jan. +20th, 1805, he began a new life. + +The time now approaches when the two, Hugh Bourne and William Clowes +began the great work of their life. At the beginning of the 19th century +Bourne, being much employed at Harriseahead, near Bemersley, was shocked +at the general lack of the means of grace, and he endeavoured in 1800 and +1801 to promote a revivalist movement. Daniel Shubotham, a boxer, +poacher, and ringleader in wickedness, was brought, through Bourne's +influence, to the Saviour, on Christmas day 1800, and with his natural +energy of character took up the cause. Matthias Bailey, another of +Bourne's old associates was also won over, and cottage prayer meetings +were begun among the colliers. A meeting upon Mow Cop was proposed for a +day given to prayer. At this time Lorenzo Dow, an American Wesleyan +visited the Black Country, as the coal district of Staffordshire was +called. He spoke of the American camp meetings, himself preaching at +Congleton, when Hugh Bourne, with his brother James, was present; William +Clowes being also a hearer. They bought books of Lorenzo Dow, which had +a marked effect on the future. On May 31st, 1807, a camp meeting was +held on Mow Cop, a hill in the neighbourhood, Bourne and Clowes being +present. Stands were erected and addresses given from four points. +Bourne organized two companies, who continued by turns praying all the +day; others giving accounts of their spiritual experiences, among whom +Clowes was prominent, and his words are "The glory that filled my soul on +that day exceeds my powers of description." Persons were present on this +occasion from Kilham in Yorkshire and other distant places, one, Dr. Paul +Johnson, a friend of Lorenzo Dow, coming from Ireland. + +The movement had now taken definite form and substance. Another camp +meeting followed at the same place on July 19, lasting three days; a +third on August 16th, at Brown Edge; a fourth on August 23rd, at +Norton-in-the-Moors. At this time was held the Annual Wesleyan +Conference, at which handbills were issued denouncing this separate +movement. For a brief moment Bourne, Clowes and Shubotham hesitated; but +the question was seriously considered at a meeting at the house of a +friend, Joseph Pointon, when it was "revealed" to Bourne that the camp +meetings "should not die, but live;" and from that moment he "believed +himself to be called of God" for the new work; and shortly his brother +James, James Nixon, Thomas Cotton, and others, gave themselves to the +cause. + +For some years the labours of these men and their associates were chiefly +devoted to the pottery and colliery districts of Staffordshire, where a +remarkable change was brought about in the moral condition of the +hitherto almost brutalized people. The area of work was then gradually +enlarged, extending throughout the whole country, and even, as we shall +presently see, beyond it. The following are a few personal details of +Hugh Bourne's subsequent career. + +In 1808, on his way to Bemersley from Delamere Forest, an impression +forced itself upon him that he would shortly be expelled from the +Wesleyan connexion; on reaching home he found that a rumour to this +effect was being circulated, and in June of that year the formal sentence +of expulsion was carried out. He continued to devote himself to the work +of evangelization, urging however all others to join whatever +denomination they were themselves most inclined for. + +He preached his first sermon at Tunstall, on Nov. 12, 1810, in a kitchen +which had been licensed for preaching three years before. It was not +plastered or ceiled, so that if not required at any future time, it might +be converted into a cottage, which took place in 1821, when a chapel was +erected. At the Conference held at Newcastle-on-Tyne, in 1842, he was +most regretfully placed on the retired list, on account of his impaired +health, a yearly pension of 25 pounds being assigned to him. He was +still, however, to be at liberty to visit different parts of the +connection; and during the next ten years of his superannuation he kept +up a very wide correspondence on religious matters, and made a missionary +visit to America. The last conference which he attended was at Yarmouth, +in 1851. For several years he had felt a premonition that the year 1852 +would be his last. The last sermon which he preached was at Norton +Green, on Feb. 22, 1852; and on Oct. 11, in that year, he surrendered his +happy spirit into the hands of God, who gave it, when "the weary wheels +of life stood still." His chief residence would appear to have been at +Bemersley, where it was long felt that they had lost in him "a man of +great faith and mighty prayer." + +We now pass over a period of several years. Clowes received a call to +Hull. He had crowded the work of a life-time into some 17 years, and his +health was now far from good. At a meeting in December, 1827, he +exhibited such weakness as showed that he had done his best work. +However, he continued to reside in Hull and visited other places from +there, as his strength allowed. It is certain that he visited +Horncastle, for an old lady, Mrs. Baildham, who died in May, 1900, having +been a member of the connection more than 70 years, frequently asserted +that she had heard both Clowes and his wife preach in, presumably, the +second chapel in Mill Lane. + +At the Conference in 1842, 35 years after the first camp meeting on Mow +Cop, both Clowes and Bourne were present; but the assembly was saddened +to see the original founders, of what was now a thoroughly established +and wide-spread community, both shattered in health and broken by toil. +Nine years later Clowes said to a friend "I feel myself failing fast, I +am fully prepared." He spoke of the glories of heaven, and said "I shall +possess it all through the merits of Christ." His speech began to fail, +but he got downstairs, and once more led his class. On the Saturday he +attended a committee meeting; on Sunday he was too weak to go to chapel; +on Monday there was further weakness; early on Tuesday slight paralysis; +and on March 2, 1851, he quietly passed to his rest, aged 71. The people +of Hull were greatly moved, and many thousands lined the streets as the +funeral procession passed to the grave, at which the Rev. William Harland +briefly recited the story of the good man's work. + +Of the general progress of the connexion, we may say, that down, to 1870 +it was simply a Home and Colonial body, but, in that year, the Norwich +branch sent out the missioners, Burnett and Roe, to the island of +Fernando Po, on the west coast of Africa. This was in response to an +appeal from the Fernandians, who had been converted by a member of the +connexion, Ship Carpenter Hands, of the ship Elgiva, who, with his godly +Captain, Robinson, had in the course of trade visited that country. The +same year also saw a mission established at Aliwal North, in the eastern +province of Cape Colony. + +In 1884 the Primitive Methodists of Canada formed themselves into an +independent community, although with expressions of mutual good will on +both sides; their numbers at that time were 8223, with 99 travelling and +246 local ministers, and 237 chapels. + +From the middle of the 19th century to its close was a period of great +expansion, a return in 1888 reporting the existence in Great Britain of +4,406 chapels, there having been in 1843 only 1278. In 1864 Elmfield +College was opened at York, as a middle class school, one of their best; +John Petty being first Warden; in 1876 a college was opened at +Birmingham, named after the great founder, "Bourne College." At +Sunderland a Theological College was opened in 1868, the former Infirmary +building being bought; and here, from that date till 1881, Dr. William +Antliff, assisted, and afterwards, succeeded by Mr. T. Greenfield, +trained candidates for the ministry. The college was afterwards +transferred to a new building at Alexandra Park, Manchester. + +In 1889, at the 70th Annual Conference, held in Bradford, the membership +of the society numbered 194,347, with 1,038 itinerant and 16,229 local +preachers; 430,641 Sunday School scholars, 4,436 chapels and 1,465 +smaller places of worship; the value of the connexion's property being +estimated at over 3,218,320 pounds. + +For these details I am largely indebted to the notes of the late Mr. +William Pacy, of the Wong, Horncastle, and to the courtesy of the Rev. R. +B. Hanley, Minister 1903-5. + + + +THE INDEPENDENTS. + + +Next in size to the Wesleyan Chapel and its Sunday Schools, on the west +side of Queen Street, are the Chapel and Sunday Schools of the +Independent, or Congregational, community, which stand nearly opposite, +on the east side of the same street; the former being a handsome +substantial building of brick, enclosed by a high wall, and tall iron +rails and gate, to the precincts in front, at the north end. Its +dimensions are 50-ft. by 36-ft., with schools behind, of the same solid +structure, as will be seen hereafter, erected at a later date. + +Like the Baptists this society dates from the time of the Commonwealth, +or even earlier, though at first known by a different name. They arose, +indeed, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The persecutions of +Protestants, under Queen Mary, drove many to take refuge in Germany and +in Geneva, where they became familiar with the worship of the sects +established there, which, as an unchecked reaction from the superstitious +and elaborate ceremonies of Roman Catholicism, took a more extreme form +than the carefully developed Reformation of the English Church allowed. +These persons, returning to England in the reign of Elizabeth, found, as +it seemed to them, too much Romish doctrine and practice still retained; +the Reformation, according to their ideas, had not gone far enough. + +The Queen, as head of the English Church, was not disposed to listen to +their demands for further change, and they were themselves too much +divided to have the power to enforce them; dissension and disruption were +the consequence. A chief mover in this process of disintegration was +one, Robert Brown, who founded a sect called the "Brownists." He was the +son of a Mr. Anthony Brown, of Tolethorpe near Stamford, in Rutlandshire, +whose father, a man of good position, had obtained the singular privilege +(granted only to others of noble birth) by a Charter of Henry VIII., of +wearing his cap in the presence of Royalty. Robert Brown was educated at +Cambridge, graduating from Corpus Christi College, and became a +Schoolmaster in Southwark. About 1580 he began to put forward opinions +condemnatory of the established church. He held, as opposed to the +uniformity of worship by law established, that each minister, with his +congregation, were "a law unto themselves;" that each such small +community had a right to be independent of all others; that it was not +ordination which gave a minister authority to preach, but the fact that +he was the nominee of a congregation; that councils or synods might be +useful in giving advice, but that they could not enforce their decisions, +and had no punitory power of censure, or excommunication, against any who +chose to adopt an independent course. + +Such opinions, put forward in somewhat intemperate language, aroused much +opposition and bitter feeling, which Brown was too impetuous to avoid, or +to mitigate. He continued his teaching and presently formed a +congregation at Norwich, holding his views. + +An Act of Parliament had been recently passed (23 Eliz., c. 2) which made +anyone guilty of felony who should write, or set forth, seditious matter; +and the Queen, as supreme head of the Church, regarded Brown's action as +an interference with the Royal prerogative. Severe measures were adopted +in order to restrain this new teaching. Two preachers, Elias Thacker and +John Copping, who embraced and proclaimed these tenet, were tried at the +Bury Assizes in 1583, condemned, and shortly afterwards hanged. Brown +was himself thrown into prison, but released through the intercession of +Lord Burghley, with whom he was connected. + +He now left England, and, with a number of followers settled, by +permission of the state, at Middlebourg, in Zealand, where they formed a +congregation. There, however, freed from all restraint, their principles +of independence carried them so far that differences arose among +themselves, which broke up the community. Brown presently returned to +England, and for a time conformed to the Church, which he had so freely +abused, being allowed even to hold the Benefice of Thorpe Achurch, in +Northamptonshire. But again and again his independence asserted itself, +and it is said that he incurred imprisonment no less than 32 times, +finally ending his days in Northampton jail. While at Middlebourg he had +published, in 1582, a book entitled _A Treatise of Reformation_, of which +he sent many copies to England, and it was for distributing these, and +other of his pamphlets, that the two above-named offenders were executed. +{78} (Collier's _Ecclesiastical History_.) + +The movement which Brown originated did not die with himself, and in 1593 +a congregation of Brownists was formed in London, which numbered some +20,000 members. A few years later their obnoxious tenets again provoked +persecution, and once more they had to take refuge on the continent. +Churches were established by them at Amsterdam and elsewhere, the +principal one being at Leyden, under the Rev. John Robinson, who +afterwards came to be regarded as the founder of Independency. He was a +man of considerable attainments; of more genuine piety than the impetuous +Brown; and while equally with him, holding that each congregation was in +itself a perfect and independent church, under Christ, he would avoid all +bitter invective against other communities, who, with different +regulations, might still be regarded equally as churches. + +Although the Brownists had no regularly ordained ministry; as newly +constituted under Robinson, there were a number of ministers elected by +the congregations, and no one was allowed to teach publicly until, after +due examination, he had been pronounced qualified for the work. The +Independents differ chiefly from other religious societies, in that they +reject all creeds of fallible man, their test of orthodoxy being a +declaration that they accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and adhere to +the scriptures as the sole standard of faith and practice. + +In 1616 a number of the society again returned to England under the +leadership of Henry Jacobs, who had served under Robinson, and once more +established a meeting house in London; while others, in charge of a Mr. +Brewster, who had been a lay Elder, also under Robinson, went out, in +1620, to North America, in the good ship Mayflower, and another vessel, +and founded a colony at Massachusetts. + +Although, as has been already stated, under the influence of Robinson +sectarian bitterness was much modified, yet throughout the reigns of +James I. and Charles I., the Independents were in frequent conflict with +the Presbyterians; nor was there only sectarian strife, for both parties +had numerous supporters in Parliament, as well as partizans in the army. +Preaching Generals and praying Captains abounded; but Cromwell favoured +the Independents, as against Presbyterians, and this gradually paved the +way for toleration. + + [Picture: Interior Congregational Chapel] + +At the "Savoy Conference" in London (so called because held at the palace +of that name), in 1658, the Independents published an epitome of their +faith, and henceforth, with occasional interruptions, they held on their +way; although it was not till 1831 that the "Congregational Union of +England and Wales" was finally and fully constituted. They again +published, in 1833, a more definite "Declaration of Faith, Order, and +Discipline," which continues still to be the charter of the community. + +We have seen that in the early annals of this society the name of John +Robinson stood high in general estimation, but his was by no means the +only honoured name. Among early members of mark was Dr. John Owen, of +Queen's College, Oxford, a learned writer, and Chancellor of the +University in 1652; he became Chaplain to Protector Cromwell, as an +Independent. The Rev. Isaac Watts, who had been tutor to the sons of Sir +John Hartop, became the popular minister of a Congregational Chapel, in +Mark Lane, London, in 1693. Dr. Philip Doddridge was also a valued +member, as Minister at Norwich, Northampton, Kibworth near Market +Harborough, and other places. From his candour and learning he held +friendly relations with the highest dignitaries of the established +church; he is chiefly known for his two great works, _The Rise and +Progress of Religion in the Soul_, and his _Family Expositor_. To the +regret of many he died of consumption, at a comparatively early age, in +1751, at Lisbon, whither he had been ordered by his doctors for the +milder climate. The friend and biographer of the last-named, Mr. John +Orton, was another esteemed member, who published several valuable works, +he died in 1783. + +Another was Robert Hall, who ministered at Cambridge, Leicester and +Bristol, where he died in 1831. He was a great writer and very eloquent +preacher. Professedly he was a Baptist, but he frequently occupied +Independent platforms, and admitted that he had more feeling of +fellowship with an Independent than with a strict Baptist. {80a} None of +these, however, was more highly esteemed than Dr. Isaac Taylor, of +Norwich and Colchester, author of several instructive works, and commonly +called "the glory of the Independents." He died in 1829. + +By the year 1851 this community had grown to such dimensions that it had, +in England and Wales, 3,244 chapels, with a membership of 1,002,307. +{80b} + +The connection of the Congregationalists with Horncastle is of +comparatively recent date, and the evidence on this subject is somewhat +conflicting. Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, published in 1820, +does not name them, in his list of Nonconformists, as existing here at +that time, but Saunders' _History_, published in 1836, gives them with +the others. Hence they would appear to have established themselves in +the town somewhere between those two dates; yet there exists a curious +small publication, entitled "The Confession of Faith of the Society of +his Majesty's Protestant subjects (dissenting from the Church of England) +called Independents, in Horncastle, in the County of Lincoln, and places +adjacent, Framed in the year of Christ, 1781, by W. R. Lincoln, printed +by S. Simmons." {80c} + +The inference from these facts would seem to be, that, at that date, +1781, there was an Independent congregation in the town, probably small, +consisting of "W.R." and his personal adherents; as the wording of the +confession is said {80d} to be very remarkable, and indeed unique, "W.R." +was evidently rather of an eccentric turn of mind, which led him to +publish this authoritative statement of Faith. + +The society, probably, in a few years became extinct, and it is not till +the year 1820 that we find any sign of their revival. _The Church Book_ +supplies the following details: In 1820 certain worshippers in the +Wesleyan Chapel of that day, finding their religions views not in accord +with general Wesleyan sentiment, decided to erect a chapel of their own; +and for this purpose they selected a site in East Street, at the north +west corner of Foundry Street, where now stands the house, 42, East +Street. This building was opened for public worship on March 22, 1821; +the morning preacher being the Rev. B. Byron of Lincoln, the Rev. John +Pain, a Hoxton student, preaching in the afternoon, and the Rev. Thomas +Hayes of Boston, in the evening. + +Mr. Pain officiated for a few weeks and then returned to Hoxton to +complete his education for the ministry. He had, however, left a +pleasing impression behind him, and he was afterwards invited, in an +address signed by 130 of the townsfolk, to come and settle among them as +their first permanent minister. He commenced his labours, in that +capacity, in July of the same year. Under his ministry the congregation +rapidly increased, and the first chapel was soon found to be too small; +and in September of the same year a new site was purchased at the +north-east corner of Union Street, now Queen Street. While this chapel +was being built (which is still their place of worship) they were allowed +by the Wesleyans to make use of their chapel, at stated times; some of +their services also being, for the time, held at the British Schools, on +the site of which the 1st Volunteer Drill Hall was afterwards erected, +now the carriage repository of Messrs. Danby & Cheseldine. + +At the opening of this chapel, on March 28, 1822, the Rev. George +Waterbourne, of Dewsbury, preached in the morning, and the Rev. Joseph +Gilbert, of Hull, in the evening. On Thursday, May 9th, following, seven +persons formally announced themselves to be a church on Independent +principles, viz., William Barton and his daughter Mary, John Jackson and +Elizabeth his wife, William Parker (Solicitor), Mary Ball and Rebecca +Brown. The Rev. John Pain was duly ordained to the ministry on May 10, +those officiating on the occasion being the Rev. W. Harris, LL.D., +Theological Tutor of the Hoxton Academy, the Rev. B. Byron of Lincoln, +and Rev. J. Gilbert of Hull. In July of that year three members were +added to the church, in 1823 eight more were enrolled, in 1824 three +more, and in 1825 six joined. + +During this year a vestry was built at the back of the chapel; in May of +the same year a Sunday School was commenced, which at the end of the year +numbered 60 scholars; and the congregation gradually grew, year by year, +until Mr. Pain died in 1844 (April 11). He was much beloved, and had +brought into the fold about 150 members. He was interred in the chapel +yard, a large stone on the west side marking his grave, while a tablet on +the south wall, at the east end of the interior of the chapel bears this +inscription, "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. John Pain, who was +ordained Pastor over this church and congregation, Anno Domini 1821. As +a minister he was talented, zealous and useful, his chief desire being to +bring men unto God. As a man he was amiable and affectionate, his +private life bearing testimony to the truth of those counsels he publicly +taught. He departed this life April 11th, 1844, aged 44 years." The +inscription on the tombstone is a long one, in verse, to which is added +an epitaph to "Esther, Relict of the above," who "died in London, Feb. 1, +1868, aged 64. With Christ." + +Of all the ministers of this chapel Mr. Pain was probably the most +valued, and his memory is still cherished. We may add that he was born +in Gloucester, a descendant, on his mother's side, of the old and +honourable family of the D'Oyleys, whose seat is at Adderbury, +Oxfordshire. His father was many years Pastor of the Independent Church +of Forest Green, Gloucestershire, his mother being daughter of a Church +of England clergyman. An engraving of him is still preserved, framed, in +the vestry of the chapel. + +Mr. Pain was succeeded in the ministry of the chapel by the Rev. J. +Kelsey in 1844; he died in Adelaide, South Australia; and from 1845 to +1848 the Rev. W C. Fisher held the post. The Rev. Samuel Gladstone +succeeded him, and officiated from 1848 to 1853. He afterwards went to +Sleaford. + +The Rev. J. G. Roberts was Minister from 1853 to 1856. He married a +daughter of the late Mr. T. Meredith; there being a tablet to the memory +of the latter, on the west side of the south wall of the chapel, with +this inscription, "In affectionate remembrance of Mr. Thomas Meredith, +who departed this life July 30, 1858, aged 66 years. As for me I will +behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with +thy likeness." + +The Rev. Thomas Betty succeeded in 1857, and held office till 1863, when +his health broke down; his last entry in the books was written on Feb. +19, 1863, "God bless them all, church and congregation, Amen." He +returned and died at Knottingley, March 26, 1865. During his ministry a +debt of 75 pounds on the chapel was paid off, and in 1859 a minister's +house was purchased for 250 pounds, and some 30 pounds spent in repairs, +the money being raised by a bazaar. + +The Rev. Thomas Lord followed in 1863, and ministered till 1866. He +succeeded in paying off the debt on the British School, and on leaving +the town was presented with a handsome timepiece by the Committee of the +School. He had as a youth attended the chapel of Dr. Doddridge (already +named) in Northampton, but left there in 1834. His first pastorate had +been at Wollaston, from 1834 to 1845; then removing to Brigstock, where +he ministered from 1845 until his transfer to Horncastle in 1863. {82} + +He was succeeded by the Rev. J. E. Whitehead, from 1867 to 1871. During +his ministry several improvements were effected in the interior of the +chapel, including the erection of a commodious platform; oak furniture +and elegant fittings being added, and the seats of the choir re-arranged. + +The Rev. W. Rose followed from 1872 to 1878. He had been stationed at +Portsea, but visited Horncastle in July, 1872, to preach for Home +Missions, and was afterwards invited to undertake the ministry here. +Being a native of Boston, and having resided for some time in Spilsby, he +was glad to return to his native county, and commenced his ministry in +January, 1873. During his pastorate the old seats in the body of the +chapel were removed, and modern open benches substituted. In 1874 a plot +of land was offered by the late Mr. W. A. Rayson for new school premises. +Mr. Rose and the late Mr. J. E. Ward, as Treasurer and Secretary, took up +the matter, and the present schools were erected on the south of the +chapel. On the ground floor is a spacious room, 39-ft. long by 24-ft. +wide; there is a vestry for the minister, an infant classroom, and a +kitchen with convenient arrangements for tea meetings; above are six +large classrooms for boys and girls. These were opened April 29, 1875; +among the contributors being Mr. Samuel Morley of London, at one time +President of the Society, and Sir Titus Salt, who both, with Mr. W. A. +Rayson, gave 50 pounds each. + +After Mr. Rose's retirement both he and Mrs. Rose still continued to take +a kindly interest in matters connected with the chapel. She was a member +of a highly respectable family in the neighbourhood, being a daughter of +Mr. Searby of Wainfleet. Her health, however, was latterly precarious, +and she died May 16, 1879, her husband dying Dec. 10, in the same year. +They were both interred at Spilsby. Mr. Rose was highly esteemed among +all denominations; was on cordial terms of intimacy with the Rev. Arthur +Scrivenor, then Vicar of Horncastle; and, among other duties, he acted on +a committee at Woodhall Spa, in connection with a Cottage Hospital for +the poor, in which he took great interest, and which was carried on by +the writer of these pages, then Vicar of Woodhall Spa. + +Mr. Rose was succeeded by the Rev. W. T. Poole, of Paulers' Pury, +Northants; a former Scripture Reader at Reading, who ministered here from +1878 to 1880, when he was transferred to Bracknall, Berks. He was +followed by a Nottingham student, the Rev. W. Archer, from 1881 to 1885. +Then came the Rev. J. H. Dingle, of Ruskington, near Sleaford, from 1885 +to 1886, when he left for a charge at Patricroft, near Manchester. +During his pastorate a very successful Bazaar was held in November, 1886, +from the proceeds of which the manse was further improved, and the chapel +again renovated, with decorations from the designs of Mr. C. H. Stevens. + +Then followed an interval of two years, during which the chapel was +served by students of the college at Nottingham. In 1888 the Rev. G. +Luckett succeeded, coming from Long Sutton, and held office till Sept., +1893, when he was transferred to Curry Rivell, Somerset. An interval +here again occurred, during which Mr. J. T. Whitehead and other +Nottingham students took the duties, Mr. Whitehead afterwards accepting a +pastorate in Lancashire. + +In January, 1894, the Rev. Sidney Benjamin Dixon began his ministry, +which he continued till December, 1897, when he was transferred to +Tetsworth, Oxfordshire. For more than a year Nottingham students again +performed the duties; and in November, 1899, the Rev. John Pogson, B.D., +entered on his ministry, which he continued until 1905, when he was +transferred to Whitworth, near Rochdale. Early in 1907 (Feb. 13) the +Rev. J. H. Dingle, who had held the office in 1886, was re-appointed, +having served, as above, 12 years at Patricroft, and afterwards at +Newmarket and Sheffield. + +There is one more tablet in the chapel, which we have not mentioned; it +is on the west wall, "In affectionate remembrance of Jane, the beloved +wife of William Wood, who died May 12, 1853, aged 48 years. Precious in +the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Mr. Wood was a draper +in the High Street, and a pillar of the church; he afterwards removed to +Southampton, and died there. + +We have only to add that there are a considerable number of tombstones, +with inscriptions, in the chapel yard, but burials ceased to take place +there by Act of Parliament in 1855. Marriages are here solemnized. The +Services are morning and evening on Sunday, with sermon in the evening of +Thursday. A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour Meeting on +Tuesday at 8 p.m. A Ladies' Sewing Meeting on the first Wednesday of +every month, and choir practice on Friday evening at 8, there being a +good American organ. + +For the above details I am largely indebted to the notes "On the Wong," +of the late Mr. W. Pacey, supplemented by the _History of England_, in +seven volumes, of the Rev. H. Walter, B.D., F.R.S., Professor in the East +India College, Hertford, Chaplain to the Duke of Northumberland, &c., &c. + + + +THE BAPTIST CHAPEL. + + +This is the oldest nonconformist building in Horncastle. It is generally +supposed that there was a still earlier chapel, situated near what is +called the Bow Bridge, which spans the southern branch of the canal, +between Cagthorpe and St. Mary's Square, but we have no definite proof of +this beyond a vague tradition. + +The Baptist community date their origin from the time of the +Commonwealth. The earliest person of note connected with this religious +body being John Bunyon, author of _The Pilgrim's Progress_, {84a} who +espoused the cause of the Parliament against Charles I. He first +preached in Bedford, where he was a tinker by trade, in the year 1655, +visiting various other parts of the country in succeeding years, until he +died, August 31st, 1688, and was buried in Bunhill Fields. + +An old document shows that at a meeting held at Bedford, in the spring of +1655, over which he presided, it was decided to send one of the members, +"Mr. Brown to Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, to a few persons of the +belief, seeking help to guide them in forming a society." Before the +"Toleration Act" was passed in 1689, nonconformist places of worship were +not allowed to exist within five miles of a market town. {84b} In +Asterby, about six miles from Horncastle, there is a Baptist chapel, +locally reputed {84c} to be the oldest in the kingdom. At Coningsby is a +Baptist Chapel, with a school, dating from nearly the same period, with +an endowment of 26 acres of land. The Baptists of Horncastle mostly, in +those days, worshipped at Asterby. At Donington-on-Bain there is also a +very ancient chapel, where the Baptists of Louth worshipped. The two +chapels of Asterby and Donington have a joint endowment of 20 pounds a +year, and are now affiliated to Northgate Chapel in Louth. + +The Foundation Deed of the Chapel in Horncastle is dated Sept. 19, 1767; +and the names of the founders are given as William Bromley, Vicars Keal, +Hamlet Dabney, William Taylor, William Storr, William Dawson, Thos. +Hollingshed, Charles Bonner, George Gunnis, James Coates, John Blow, and +William Tenant. + +The Chapel was originally a structure of one story, having its entrance +in the centre of the north wall, and the pulpit opposite. Until the +early part of the 19th century it had no baptistry, immersion being +performed in the water-mill pit, {84d} in the north of the town. + +Considerable structural alterations were made in the year 1843, when the +walls were heightened and upper windows inserted; a gallery was erected +at the east end; the north door was bricked up, and the present entrance +at the east end opened; the pulpit being removed to the west end, facing +the door. A further enlargement was made by a small vestry on the west +being added, thus providing sitting accommodation for 250 worshippers. + +On the north side of the building is a graveyard, but only three +inscriptions are legible, they are "Mary Markwell, died March 28th, 1776, +aged 29. Prepare to meet thy God." This was, doubtless, one of the +earliest interments. The second is "In memory of Thomas Lamb, who +departed this life June 7th, 1811, aged 82. + + Here rests that lately animated clod, + Who self despised, and glorified his God; + And when that great decisive day shall come, + He'll rise triumphant from the silent tomb. + +Also of Frances, his wife, who departed this life April 2nd, 1810, aged +79. He was a watchmaker. The third is as follows: "Sacred to the memory +of Eliza, daughter of William Parker, Solicitor, and Elizabeth, his wife, +who died 1st April, 1835, aged 20 years. Them that sleep in Jesus will +God bring with Him." Mr. Parker occupied part of the premises now +forming the shop and residence of Mr. Bryant, shoemaker, in the High +Street. + +There is little doubt that the house adjoining the chapel, on the north +west, was once the minister's residence. On the stairs leading to the +present rostrum there is still a doorway, which evidently led to the +house. There is a stone tablet over this door, and in 1892 an exact copy +of this was made, and placed on the north wall. The inscription reads +"John Hill, departed this life Oct. 16th, 1779, aged 48, Pastor of this +Church 13 years." + +There are some tablets on the wall within, but the Rev. F. Samuels, who +was Pastor when the Chapel was renovated, about 1882, unfortunately +allowed the inscriptions to be obliterated. + +It is interesting to know that the Mint Lane Baptist Chapel, at Lincoln, +was founded in 1767, by worshippers at Horncastle. {85a} Curiously it +was not till 1892 that the Horncastle Chapel was "registered" as a place +of worship, the omission being only then discovered, when application was +made for a licence to solemnize marriages. + +In 1893 the Chapel was thoroughly restored, at a cost of 80 pounds; the +interior being modernised, the walls painted, the old high pews removed +and replaced by neat seats, the old box-shaped pulpit taken down, and a +rostrum and platform erected. There is a good organ, with special seats +for the choir. + +We may add that the Baptists are now a very numerous and influential +body. At the Baptist World Conference, held at Exeter Hall, London, July +10 and following days, 1905, the first ever held as an united community, +Dr. Maclaren of Manchester presiding, a message was received from the +King and Queen, thanking for a loyal address from the Conference. The +President also stated that he had informally received a greeting of good +will from the Established Church, as well as from the Free Churches. + +On that occasion ministers and delegates attended from various parts of +Great Britain and the Colonies, from America, France, and other +countries. A meeting was held under "The Reformer's Tree," in Hyde Park, +Miss Burroughs, a coloured lady, being on the platform, also Mr. Britto, +a coloured vocalist, and the singing being led by a coloured choir. The +President, Dr. Clifford of London, stated that there were present 4,000 +delegates, from all parts of the world, representing some seven millions +of Baptists, {85b} and 5,700,000 communicants; but besides these there +are 14 or 15 millions of "adherents" to the cause, so that the whole body +numbers over 20 millions. + +The Rev. W. E. Pearson was appointed August, 1905, but left in Feb., +1907, to pursue his studies at college. + + + +THE NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH. + + +The Croft Street Chapel, or New Jerusalem Church, is both structurally +and intellectually, the most recent developement of Nonconformity in +Horncastle. The founder of this community was a personality so +remarkable that it may be well here to give a brief sketch of him. + +Emanuel Swedenborg, son of a Lutheran bishop, was born at Stockholm, in +1689. During more than the first half of his life he was distinguished +as a hard worker in the field of science, and from his many clever +inventions, and valuable public services, he was ennobled by his +sovereign. But in the year 1743, after a serious illness, accompanied by +brain fever, the result of excessive mental labour, he threw up all work +of this kind, declaring that he had received a "call" from the Lord, who +manifested Himself to him, by personal appearance, and commissioned him +to devote further life and strength to holier purposes. + +Being a man of strong will, albeit, not improbably, with a touch (as was +thought by several) of mental aberration, the result of his illness, he +threw himself, with characteristic energy, into the work of religious +proselytism, in support of the special views with which he was now +inspired. He became a kind of religious clairvoyant, living an ecstatic +existence in communion with angels and spirits. He printed accounts of +various "Arcana," as he termed them; visions granted to him of heaven and +hell; the state after death, the true worship of God, the inner spiritual +sense of the scriptures; and so forth. He held spiritual intercourse +with the dwellers in other planets, conversing with Apostles, with +Luther, Calvin, Melancthon, &c. "Things hidden since the days of Job (he +declared) were revealed to himself." + +Followers gradually gathered round him, inspired by his own enthusiasm. +He visited England frequently; and before his death, in London, A.D. +1772, he had established congregations in England, Ireland, Wales, +France, Holland, Sweden, Russia, and even in Turkey and America. It is +said that several Anglican clergy adopted his views, though still +retaining charges in their own church. + +The special tenets of the sect, which he founded, seem to have been, +that, while believing in one God, they held that He was the Christ; that +Christ always existed in human form, but not in human soul; and that in +His Person there was a real Trinity; that the bible was to be understood +in a spiritual sense, which was first revealed to Swedenborg. Their +ritual, which was based on that of the Anglican Church, included a +splendid priesthood and an elaborate ceremonial. + +Swedenborg's very numerous writings included a number of mystic works, +especially connected with what he called the "Spiritual Influx," which +was not limited to locality but pervaded everywhere. Translations of all +his works have been issued by the Swedenborg Society, located at No. 1, +Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C., and at Horncastle they may be borrowed +from the New Church Free Library in Croft Street. The Horncastle branch +has also its own monthly magazine, _The New Church Advocate_. + +The following is a brief account of the Society's origin and progress, in +Horncastle, from particulars furnished to the present writer, by the +esteemed minister, Rev. R. Mayes, in 1903 (the second year of his +ministry), and by Mr. Edwin Townell, who has been secretary for a quarter +of a century. The Society was inaugurated on August 9, 1869, when +Messrs. Bogg, Moore, Hall, Cook, Austin, and Bellamy, met at the house of +Mr. E. J. Moore, 19, Queen Street; Mr. Moore being appointed Secretary +and Treasurer, Mr. Bogg and Mr. Hall Trustees, and Mr. Bogg nominated as +first Leader. Mr. Cook offered the use of a room in his house, rent +free, and the first service was held on the following day, Sunday, the +10th of the same month. + +As Mr. Bogg resided at Benniworth, nine miles from Horncastle, he could +not undertake a service every Sunday; and, at first there was only an +evening meeting, weather permitting. + + [Picture: The New Jerusalem Church] + +There was a good deal of opposition for a time, especially from the +Congregationalists, under their minister, Mr. J. E. Whitehead; this, +however, served rather to increase the general interest in the new +movement, and the evening congregations grew in numbers. The first tea +meeting (which ultimately became an established monthly institution) was +held March 14, 1870, in a room in the alley named "Tinker's Entry," there +being then 14 members on the roll; when addresses were given by Mr. J. S. +Bogg, Chairman; and by Messrs. Cook, Moore, T. Wemyss Bogg, and others. + +In May of the same year Mr. Richard Gunton, of the Lincolnshire New +Church Association, visited them, followed by Rev. John Hyde in October, +Mr. Gunton coming again in December of the same year. We may here +observe that this connection with Mr. Richard Gunton became, as will be +hereafter shewn, a most valuable asset in the Society's favour, in more +ways than one. He took up his residence in London, first in Oseney +Crescent, Camden Road, N.W., and afterwards in Tufnell Park Road, N., but +he never lost his interest in the Horncastle branch; visiting the town +year after year, to preach or give lectures, in the Corn Exchange, on +behalf of the Society. His last visit was in October, 1896; his death +occurring on the 5th of the December following, after (as was fitly +stated) "40 years of faithful service as Superintendent Missionary," as +well as having been Treasurer of the New Church Conference. + +In 1871 Mr. Moore left Horncastle, the room in Tinker's Entry was given +up, and the meetings were held in the house of Mr. W. Hall, where a +library was also opened for the members. Subsequently, with a view to +the erection of a suitable place of worship, Mr. Hall bought a piece of +land in Croft Street and presented it to the Society, the project being +also warmly supported by Mr. R. Gunton. A subscription list was opened, +plans and estimates obtained, and the foundation stone of a fabric was +laid, Sep. 16, 1872. The appeal for support concluded with these words: +"This will be the first house of worship constructed in the County of +Lincoln, for the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only God." This +was signed by W. Hall, Treasurer, and Edwin Dawson, Secretary. + +The Chapel was opened Jan. 29, 1873, being dedicated by the Rev. Dr. +Bayley, Minister of the Chapel in Argyle Square, London; who had given a +series of lectures in aid of the Society four years before (November, +1869) in the Corn Exchange; and, after the dedication, he again gave +addresses, which were continued by Revs. P. Ramage, R. Storry, C. H. +Wilkins, Mr. R. Gunton, and others, usually morning and evening. + +We will now describe the Croft Street fabric, opened under these +favourable auspices. It consists of a square oblong, standing north and +south, 40-ft. by 20-ft.; the architect was Mr. Gosling of London, the +builder Mr. Chas. Blyton of Horncastle, the material being red and white +brick. There is accommodation for 150 persons; the cost of the structure +was 350 pounds. The fittings, which had formerly belonged to a chapel in +Cross Street, Hatton Gardens, London, were presented by Mr. William +Pickstone. At the south end there is an apsidal recess with three lancet +windows, the central one having coloured glass, with the figure of the +Good Shepherd and an inscription at the bottom stating that it was +"Presented by J. W Fishleigh and Fanny his wife, in memoriam, Feb., +1901," being in memory of their only daughter, who died in London, the +mother having been brought up in this connection. + +Within this apse there is a platform, with polished oak rail in front, +resting on carved pillars. On this is a Reading Desk and Communion +Table. The carpet and communion cushion were presented by the late Mr. +T. Tapling, carpet manufacturer, of London, who was a native of +Lincolnshire. In the centre of the apse is a carved oak chair, having +the monogram I.H.S., which was given by Mr. C. Blyton. In front, +standing on the Chapel floor, is a harmonium by Alexandre & Sons, of +Paris; it is a fine instrument, having four sets of vibrators and 14 +stops. It was obtained partly at the cost of the congregation, and +partly by a donation of the late Mr. John Jobson, from Mr. Thomas Gunton +(son of Mr. Richard Gunton of London), who resided at Bunnyfield House, +Hatfield Park, and was for many years private secretary to the late +Marquis of Salisbury. The instrument originally cost 84 pounds. Mr. +William Hall presided at this harmonium from the first. + +We have mentioned Dr. Bayley of London as the earliest preacher in the +new chapel; there was no resident minister till 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Hall +entertained during the whole of the first year (1873) the preachers above +named. Others of note who followed were Mr. Layland of Nottingham, +Leader of the Society in 1876; followed, 1877-8, by Mr. J. R. Boyle; to +whom succeeded, 1878-9, Mr. W. A. Bates (afterwards of Brisbane, +Queensland, Australia); Mr. W. J. Adcock, 1879-80; Mr. A. E. Beilby, +1880-1; Mr. W. Hall, 1882; and Mr. William Robinson, October of that +year. At various dates the preachers were Rev. R. Storey of Heywood near +Manchester, Rev. Mr. Wilkins of Nottingham, Mr. Skelton of London, Mr. +Pulsford of Leicester, Mr. Cameron of Edinburgh, Mr. Fairweather of +London, Mr. Ashby of Derby, Mr. Best of Hull, Rev. T. Prestland of +London, Rev. Joseph Deans in 1899, and Rev. J. R. Rendell, President of +the Conference; Rev. Lewis A. Slight of Northampton, 1900; Rev. J. T. +Freeth of Bolton, President, 1901. From time to time preachers were sent +by the New Church Conference, and later by the East Midland and +Lincolnshire Association. + +Three marriages were solemnized in the Chapel by Rev. L. A. Slight, viz., +that of Miss Townell and Mr W. Chapman of Oundle, Dec. 11, 1900; Miss +Elizabeth Hall and Mr. Edwin White, both of Horncastle, May 21, 1901; and +Miss Florence Smith to Mr. Alfred Storton of London, July 9, 1901. + +The Rev. Richard Mayes, the first resident Minister, came from Leicester, +first preached here Feb. 23, 1902, and entered on his ministry in October +of that year. Other preachers during that interval were Mr. Fairweather +of Loughborough, Mr. L. A. Slight, Mr. Layland, Mr. W. Hall and Mr. H. +Deans. + +A Sunday School was opened with the Chapel in 1873; this was, at a later +date, temporarily closed, but re-opened by Mr. Mayes. Under him, ably +supported as he is by members the Townell and Blyth families, and others, +the services, which are short, bright, and musical, are being attended by +increasing numbers. Mr. Edwin Townell is still Secretary, as he was in +1880; and with Mr. Mayes' ministry Mr. H. Freeman succeeded Mr. W. Hall +as Treasurer. + + + +THE REV. THOMAS LORD. + + +The subject of this notice, no longer holding a ministerial charge, is by +many years the doyen among Nonconformist preachers in Horncastle, being +the oldest Congregational Minister in England. He completed his +hundredth year on April 22, 1908; on which occasion he received a +congratulatory telegram from His Majesty the King; while a public fund +was instituted for a presentation to be made to him in recognition of the +occasion, which he desired to be given in his name to the local +Institution of Nurses. + +Mr. Lord was born at Olney, Bucks., in 1808; and began his ministry in +1834, as pastor of a chapel at Wollaston, Northants, which he held for +eleven years; thence removing to Brigstock, in the same county, where he +laboured during 17 years. He subsequently held pastorates in Horncastle, +Deddington (Co. Oxford), and Great Bridge, Staffordshire. He gave up +permanent charge in 1878, continuing, however, to assist other ministers +in that neighbourhood, until 1899, when, in consequence of failing +eyesight, he removed once more to Horncastle, taking up his abode with +his married daughter, Mrs. C. M. Hodgett, on the Wong (No. 7). + +Mr. Lord has been an active worker in the temperance cause during more +than 70 years; a member of the Liberation Society since its formation; a +warm advocate of the Peace Society, of the United Kingdom Alliance; the +inaugural meeting of which he attended at Manchester. He was one of the +founders of the Congregational Total Abstinence Association; and has +always been a warm supporter of the London Missionary Society. + +Mr. Lord still preaches occasionally in Horncastle. He has officiated +more than once recently in the Lincoln Mission Hall, and not unfrequently +occupies the pulpit at the Presbyterian Chapel, Kirkstead, to assist the +local minister, Rev. Robert Holden, who is his junior by some 16 years. +On Sunday, May 31, 1908, Mr. Lord preached at Alford, in the +Congregational Chapel; and on Sunday, June 7, 1908, at Boston, in the +Chapel of the United Methodists. + + [Picture: Rev. Thomas Lord, 100 years old, April 22, 1908] + +Notwithstanding his age Mr. Lord's voice is still clear, deep-toned, and +resonant; his manner is full of vigor, his language simple, yet eloquent +and earnest. His step is firm and elastic. In habit he is an early +riser. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. +EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. + + +Having dealt with the places of worship in the town, we now proceed to +give an account of its schools; and among these the Grammar School, from +its antiquity, as well as for other reasons, claims precedence. + +This Institution, on its present foundation, dates from the reign of +Elizabeth, {91} one of whose special characteristics was her warm +interest in education, which led her to encourage her nobles, and more +wealthy subjects, to promote the cause. The Reformation had given an +impetus towards emancipation from the ignorance which prevailed in Popish +times, when the monasteries were almost the only centres of +enlightenment--if so it could be called. + +Henry VIII. did little or nothing towards relighting the torch, which had +been held up by the monks, whom he abolished. His successor, Edward VI., +founded a few grammar schools; among them being, in our own +neighbourhood, those at Spilsby, Louth, and Grantham. During the brief +reign of the Popish Mary, the movement was again checked; but Elizabeth, +herself a cultivated scholar, rekindled the general interest in +educational progress. + +The title deeds of the school are unfortunately lost, which would have +shewn to what extent it was then endowed, but documents exist belonging +to the school, which prove the conveyance of certain lands, by John Neale +of Horncastle, in the 17th year of Elizabeth (A.D. 1575); he being one of +the first 10 Governors appointed in accordance with the rules of the +foundation. + +A useful little volume was published in 1894 by the late Dr. Robert +Jalland, then Senior Governor of the school, containing its history, from +the date of the Elizabethan foundation, gathered from various documents +and minute books, preserved in the office of the Clerk of the Governors; +from which we cull the following particulars: + +In the 13th year of her reign (1571), by Letters Patent dated at +Westminster, June 25, Elizabeth granted to her "well-beloved and faithful +counsellor, and subject, Edward Fynes, Knight of the most noble Order of +the Garter, Lord Clinton and Saye, High Admiral of England," that, at his +prayer, "a Grammar School should be established in the town of +Horncastle, for the good education of boys and youths, living there, and +about the neighbouring parts, habitants and comerants." {92a} This was +to be called "The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, in the Town and +Soke of Horncastle of the foundation of (the said) Edward, Lord Clynton," +&c., {92b} "to continue for ever." It was to consist of "a Master and +Sub-Master, or Usher," and the "lands, tenements, revenues, reversions, +and other hereditaments, for the support of the school, were granted, +assigned, and appointed," for their better management, "to 10 discreet +and honest men, who (should) be styled Governors." + +The first Governors appointed were Clement Monk, clerk; John Smith, +clerk; John Sackeverill, gent.; Thomas Litter, gent.; Geo. Hargrave, +gent.; Thos. Raithbecke, yeoman; John Neale, yeoman; Thos. Hamerton, +yeoman; Willm. Ward, yeoman; Willm. Harrison, yeoman. They were +constituted "a body corporate," having a "common seal, to hold, to manage +the revenues of the school, and empowered to spend, and invest, the +income at their discretion," to appoint the teachers, and successors in +the governing body, as vacancies should, by death, occur. + +The property of the school, either from the original, or later, {92c} +endowments, consists of lands, tenements, ground and quit rents, in +Horncastle, or in the Wildmore Fen allotment of the same, land and +tenement in Hemingby, lands in Winthorpe, Huttoft, Sutton, and in +Thornton a payment of 12 pounds a year in lieu of former land, {92d} with +certain moneys invested in Government Consols and Indian Stock. + +The rental of the school property has varied at various periods. At the +time of the civil war, when the neighbourhood was more or less in a state +of anarchy, there is no record, for some years, of the Governors having +even met to dispense payments; and the Head Master's salary was only 10 +pounds. In 1735 it amounted to 42 pounds, and that of the Usher to 21 +pounds; but in 1753 there was a reduction to 30 pounds for the Head +Master, and 15 pounds to the Usher, owing to money having to be "borrowed +for the exigenceys of the school." In 1786 the income of the school rose +to 529 pounds; the highest point which it seems ever to have attained was +877 pounds, in 1854. In that year the Head Master's stipend is not +specified, but two years later it was 235 pounds, with capitation fees +amounting to 251 pounds odd. + +In 1780 the Head Master was the Rev. C. L'Oste; he was also Rector of +Langton by Horncastle, and a good scholar. He published a translation, +in verse, of Grotius on _The Christian Religion_. It was printed at the +Cambridge University Press, dedicated to the Bishop of Lincoln, with a +very distinguished list of subscribers. {93} Differences arose between +him and the Governors, and in Sept., 1782, he was served with a notice to +quit, at the end of six months, for neglect of his duties. He refused to +give up office, counsel's opinion was taken by the Governors, Mr. L'Oste +pleaded in his own defence. The Governors gave notice of a trial at the +assizes. No result, however, is recorded, and Mr. L'Oste retained office +until his death in 1818. + + [Picture: The Grammar School] + +The year 1854 marked the close of the career of the most remarkable Head +Master who ever ruled the school. The Rev. John Bainbridge Smith, D.D., +had entered on his duties April 10, 1818, succeeding Mr. L'Oste. Coming +to the post as an entirely unknown man, of comparatively humble origin, +but of great energy, he soon acquired a leading position in the town and +neighbourhood; becoming Rector of Martin, Rector of Sotby, and Vicar of +Baumber. He was the author of several standard works on Divinity. Under +him the school achieved such a reputation that, besides the day scholars, +he had a large number of boarders coming from Scotland, Ireland, +Devonshire, London, and even Jersey and France. His end was +unfortunately as remarkable as his career. Returning by train from +Lincoln he fell asleep, and being roused at Kirkstead by the porter +giving the name of the station, and the night being dark, he did not +perceive that the train was again in motion, and springing out of the +carriage, he fell a few yards beyond the platform and broke his neck. +The porter found him lying helpless, but alive, on the line. He was +carefully conveyed to his residence at Horncastle, and lingered alive +several weeks, retaining his mental faculties, but having no sense of +feeling below his neck. At length he recovered slight feeling in his +legs and feet, and probably tempted by this to make an effort to move, he +was found one morning dead in his bed. + +The Duke of Newcastle, who owned property in Baumber (where, as we have +said, Dr. Smith was Incumbent), appointed him his private chaplain; and +the Doctor's youngest daughter, Sarah Katherine, married the Rev. Henry +Fiennes Clinton, a near relative of the Duke, and a descendant of the +founder of the school, Lord Clinton and Saye. + +The school building has not always occupied the site on which it now +stands. As shewn in Stukeley's plan of the town, printed in 1722, it +stood in the north-east corner of the school yard. In 1772 that +structure was found to be in a ruinous condition, and the present +building was erected, being opened for use at Midsummer 1778. A +classroom was added at the south end in 1855, and more recently another +small room put up at the north end. The residence of the Head Master was +formerly a small low cottage, but it was considerably enlarged in the +early part of the 19th century, and in 1858 a new wing was added at the +north end. + +In 1847 two "Clinton" Exhibitions were founded by the Governors, of 50 +pounds a year, to be held for four years, by scholars going to the +University. For lack of such scholars this was granted to Clement Madely +Smith, youngest son of Dr. Smith, the Head Master, who studied for the +medical profession, in London. No further appointment however was made, +as in 1848 the Governors decided that they had no authority so to employ +the funds at their disposal. + +On the death of Dr. Smith, in 1854, a new scheme of education, more +suited to the requirements of the time, was drawn up by a committee +appointed for that purpose, which received the sanction of the Charity +Commissioners, and was approved by the Master of the Rolls in the same +year. + +The attendance at the school, however, gradually fell off, until, in the +year 1886, there were only 16 scholars; and further reforms were needed. +Since then changes in the system have, from time to time, been +introduced, to render the school more generally useful: the more recent +being the admission of female pupils in 1903, for whom was appointed a +resident lady teacher, Miss E. Gibson, who had matriculated, 1st class, +at London University. + +Small Scholarships also, not exceeding six in number, were established +for needy pupils; and application was made to the Lindsey County Council, +for a grant of 80 pounds, in aid of scientific lectures, {94} under the +Technical Instruction Act of Parliament; so that a general middle-class +English education was provided, along with Latin, French, book-keeping, +and other technical subjects; an examination being held annually by some +one unconnected with the school, who should be approved of by the Charity +Commissioners. The school has thus, under the tenure of the Head +Mastership by Dr. Madge, of late years, been considerably improved, and +the area of the subjects taught, widened; assisted as he has been by the +able Second Master, Mr. C. W. Gott, B.A., London, and Miss Gibson. But +it has also been increasingly recognised that there was room for still +further development, if the institution was to take its proper position +among the endowed educational establishments of the county. This, +however, is a subject to which we shall recur hereafter. + +In 1855 a school Library was commenced, the Governors granting 10 pounds +for the purchase of books; 20 pounds being given in the following year, +and this has been further enlarged in later years, until the books now +number nearly 500. + +In March, 1893, a Magazine entitled _Banovallum_ was established, to be +mainly carried on by the scholars, the Editor being J. G. Meanwell, +Sub-Editor J. R. Cowburn. It was a monthly record of school work and +sports, with various other matters of interest. It was intended also to +be a link of connection between "old boys" and new; and with this view +former pupils of the school were invited to contribute. {95a} The +outside support, however, of such a publication was not sufficient to +render it a paying venture, and after an existence of rather more than +two years, it expired with the July No. of 1895. + +Here we may fittingly introduce some personal reminiscences of the +school, and those connected with it, in its palmiest days, under the +regime of Dr. Smith, and first we may mention members of his own family. + +Although, as before stated, himself of humble origin, {95b} he married +the daughter of a General Sandwith, a lady who was highly esteemed by all +who knew her. She bore him three sons and three daughters, and +predeceased him. His eldest son, Bainbridge, graduated at Cambridge +University, took Holy Orders, was at one time English Chaplain at Smyrna, +and succeeded his father in the Rectory of Sotby. He married a daughter +of Judge Haliburton of Nova Scotia, the author of _Sam Slick_, _The +Watchmaker_ (1839) and other works, which were popular in their day. The +eldest daughter, Frances, married a member of a then well-known +Horncastle family, the Rev. John Fawssett, a graduate of Cambridge, who +afterwards became in turn Rector of Minting and Vicar of Baumber with +Stourton. A second son, Joseph Coltman, became a Solicitor in Hull, but +died early in life. A second daughter, Isabella, married the Rev. W. +Affleck Peacock (named after his relative Sir Robert Affleck, of Dalham +Hall, Newmarket), Rector of Ulceby near Alford. The youngest daughter, +as already stated, married the Rev. Henry Fiennes Clinton, Rector of +Cromwell, near Newark, a near relative of the Duke of Newcastle, to whom +he was appointed domestic Chaplain. The third and youngest son, Clement +Madely, so named after his godfather, the esteemed former Vicar of +Horncastle, adopted the medical profession and went out to India, where +he became known as a keen sportsman among big game; a group of two tigers +shot by him, and stuffed by Ward the great taxidermist, being exhibited +in the Crystal Palace several years ago. + +Of the scholars at the school, under Dr. Smith, we recall a few names, as +samples of the class of pupils whom he received. There were three +Sandwiths, Humphrey, Godfrey, and Henry, who were his nephews on his +wife's side. Humphrey became a surgeon, and having a taste for foreign +travel, went out to Constantinople to practice there. Having good +introductions he was kindly received by Sir Stratford Canning, the +English Ambassador, and making the acquaintance of Layard, he was invited +to travel with him to Mecca, Mosul, and Nineveh, at two of which places +excavations were conducted; as Hakim, or Doctor, he was visited by crowds +of Arabs, suffering from various ailments; and his quinine wrought +wonderful cures among them. When at home he sometimes surprised his +friends by suddenly appearing among them dressed in Arab costume. In +1855 he was at the famous siege of Kars, under General Fenwick Williams; +when a force of 15,000 English were shut in by an army of 50,000 +Russians. The English had three months' provisions and three days' +ammunition; they suffered greatly from cholera, and after five months +surrendered, only when overcome by famine. Humphrey wrote a history of +the siege. + +Of Godfrey we remember little; Henry graduated at Cambridge, took Holy +Orders and became Vicar of Thorpe Salvin, near Worksop. There were three +Inveraritys, Duncan, Henry, and William; the first of these went out to +India, and became a Judge in the Supreme Sudder Court. Henry devoted +himself to yachting, and died early. William held a commission in a +Highland Regiment of foot. Roseville Brackenbury, whose father, a former +Peninsular officer, and member of an old Lincolnshire family, resided +temporarily at Horncastle, in order to place his son under Dr. Smith, +entered the East India Company's service, in the Bengal Presidency. + +There were three Buchanans, sons of an old Indian officer, Major +Buchanan, a Scotchman, but residing in Maida Vale, London. These were +James, Alexander, and Robert. James was a dashing, chivalrous, +high-spirited fellow, who took service in a Madras regiment of cavalry; +his brother "Alick" was of a different fibre, being chiefly remarkable +for the amount of treacle tarts which he could consume, at the shop of +the once well-known "Sally Dickinson;" the third brother, Robert, entered +the navy. + +We may here mention, as evidence of the hard work which was done under +Dr. Smith's system, a feat of memory performed by two brothers among the +senior boys, Thomas and Alfred Cammack, which the present writer well +remembers, as he was present as a small boy when it occurred. +"Repetition," of one kind or another, was required of all boys; but these +two repeated to the Master from memory, the whole of the first book of +Milton's _Paradise Lost_ (798 lines), Thomas with only three promptings, +and Alfred with five. Another boy, Sidney Bousfield, did the same with +nine or ten promptings. Thomas Cammack walked his hospital in London, +and eventually became a consulting physician of some eminence, residing +at Boston; Alfred died early. Sydney Bousfield went out to India, and +died some years ago. + +Two pupils, Holland and Forge, who came to study with the Doctor, of more +mature years than the ordinary scholars, were "crack shots," and welcomed +at many of the shooting parties in the neighbourhood. A third, Frank +Richardson, who was an ardent fox hunter, had his horse brought to the +door weekly, on the day when the meet was nearest, and was always among +the foremost in the field. He was, further, a great athlete, and would +follow the hounds on foot, and not seldom be in at two deaths in the day, +several miles apart; of him, it is related, that he leapt the school-yard +wall, nearly 7-ft. high. There were many more who were trained by the +Doctor to serve their generation worthily in various capacities, but let +these suffice as a sample of his influence. + +The Under Masters whose services he enlisted were, further, not unworthy +of him. We will name one or two. + +The first Under Master of whom the present writer has any knowledge was +Thomas Myddelton. He was by birth a gentleman, being connected with the +very old family of the Myddelton Biddulphs of Chirk Castle, North Wales, +who have now dropped the latter name, retaining only the Myddelton. +Thomas Myddelton's father, John M. (then dead), had been Rector of +Bucknall, in this neighbourhood, 1804-34; his grandfather, also named +Thomas, having been Vicar of Melton Mowbray; he (John M.) having been an +Exhibitioner of St. Paul's School, London, graduated B.A. at Sidney +Sussex College, Cambridge, 1782, and gained a Fellowship. + + [Picture: Lord Clinton and Saye, Founder of the Grammar School] + +Thomas also graduated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. While serving +as Under Master at the Grammar School he was ordained to the Curacy of +Bucknall, under his father's successor, the Rev. John Fendall. On the +occasion of his ordination he begged a whole holiday of Dr. Smith, and +treated the whole school to a day at Tattershall Castle; hiring carriages +to take them all, there being yet no railway; and he gave them a +substantial meal at the "Fortescue Arms" Hotel. He was naturally very +popular with the boys of the school, although he was rather a strict +disciplinarian, and made them work hard. He was commemorated in the +"Breaking up Song" of the school in the following lines:-- + + Mr. Myddelton now comes in, + With his nose above his chin; (two prominent features) + With pleasant smile he waves his cane, + As though to say, "I would fain refrain; + It grieves me sore to give a thwack + Upon the shrinking truant's back." + + (CHORUS) + + We're breaking up, and going away, + All for the sake of a holiday. + Jack's a dull boy without his play; + So, Hurrah, again, for a holiday! + +He remained at the Grammar School about two years, afterwards taking the +Curacy of Langton with Wildsworth, near Gainsborough. He presently moved +to West Stockwith, holding the Curacy of Wildsworth with East Ferry. He +never held a benefice; but, having some private means, he continued to +reside, in retirement, at West Stockwith, until his decease, about 1880. +He was buried at Misterton, the adjoining parish, where he had also taken +occasional duty. + +After Mr. Myddelton the next Under Master was William Hutchinson. He was +the son of the landlord of the principal inn in the neighbouring town of +Wragby, and had been educated at the small grammar school there. He was +appointed about 1845. He graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, as B.A., +in 1848, keeping his terms there by permission, while acting as Usher at +Horncastle. In that year he left Horncastle, and was elected Master of +Howden Grammar School in Yorkshire, where he was also appointed Curate in +1848, being ordained Deacon in 1848 and Priest in 1849. While at +Horncastle he had married Miss Caroline Dixon, daughter of a corn +merchant; there were five daughters, all clever, the youngest being Miss +Annie Dixon, who became distinguished as a miniature painter, exhibiting +in the Royal Academy, and becoming a favourite of the late Queen +Victoria. He held the Head Mastership at Howden for several years; +holding also the Perpetual Curacy of Laxton near Howden from 1850 to +1855, the Perpetual Curacy or Vicarage of Airmyn from 1855 to 1862, when +he was appointed Vicar of Howden, which benefice he held till his death +in 1903. + +It was somewhat remarkable that he began professional life in Horncastle, +famed for its great horse fairs, and passed the rest of his life at +Howden, also noted for its great horse fair. His wife is buried, with +two sisters, in the cemetery at Horncastle. + +The next Under Master to be mentioned about this period was Francis +Grosvenor. He was the son of a respectable tradesman in the town, and +had been educated at the Grammar School. At first he was employed by Dr. +Smith as a supernumerary teacher of the junior boys, and became useful in +the temporary absences of Mr. Hutchinson, at Dublin University. He was a +conscientious and dependable youth, thoughtful beyond his years, and was +much valued by the Head Master, who was a shrewd judge of character. He +also graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, taking honours; and was +ordained Deacon in 1847, and Priest in 1848. He remained as Second +Master for some years at the Grammar School, being much esteemed among +neighbouring clergy for his unostentatious manners and general worth. He +frequently officiated in the Parish Church. Eventually he went to +Chester, as Curate of St. John's Church in that city, where he remained +many years, taking pupils. There was probably a talismanic attraction in +the name of Grosvenor; Eaton Hall, the seat of Lord Grosvenor (now Duke +of Westminster) being in the immediate vicinity. He was consequently +very successful in obtaining pupils; and made money, whereby he acquired +considerable house property there and elsewhere. He was devoted to +archaeological pursuits, and published a learned paper (of 16 pp.) on +"The early connection between the County Palatine of Chester and the +Principality of Wales," which he read before the County Antiquarian +Society. {99a} After many years' residence in Chester, he retired on a +competency to Epsom, in Surrey, where his mother, brother and sister +resided with him; and where he acted as Chaplain to the Union, until his +decease, about 1880. + +The last Assistant Master, under Dr. Smith, whom we may name was John +Burton, born of humble parents in Peterborough. He was appointed about +1848, and served Dr. Smith faithfully about three years. He was not, +however, a strong man, either physically or mentally. His weakness of +character was shewn in an incident which might have had a tragic +termination. Having formed an attachment for a young lady, living near +the schoolhouse, and being rejected, he declared that he would commit +suicide; and he fired off a pistol under her window at night, taking +care, however, not to wound himself. On leaving the school he entered at +Jesus College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1853, dying soon afterwards. + +On the appointment of the Rev. Samuel Lodge, to the Head Mastership in +1854, Thomas White, a graduate of St. John's College, Cambridge, became +Under Master. He had taken classical honours, and was an efficient +teacher, and rather strict disciplinarian. He was the first Under Master +allowed to take private pupils as boarders. He continued at his post six +years, taking Holy Orders, and in 1860 was presented by the Bishop of +Lincoln to the Vicarage of Scamblesby, which he held until his death in +1891. + +It may be of interest if we here give some of the customs of the school +at this period, as samples of a state of things which is now past and +gone. The morality of some of them might be questioned in these days of +advanced ideas on civilization, but, under the guidance of a man of Dr. +Smith's mental calibre, their effect was the rearing of a generation of +manly youths, capable of much intellectual, as well as physical, activity +and endurance. + +The Head Master was himself a remarkable instance of this. Punctually at +7.30, without fail, he was every morning in his desk at the school, to +open proceedings with prayer, it being frequently a race between himself +and his boarder pupils, as to who should arrive first, his residence +being some quarter mile from the school. When he closed the school, with +"abire licet," {99b} in the afternoon, he as regularly went for his +"constitutional" walk. Furious indeed must be the weather if Dr. Smith +was not to be seen on Langton Hill, summer and winter, rain or fair; if +the former he would brave the elements, wrapt in a large blue cloth +cloak, waterproof as his leather gaiters. If the latter, he would often +saunter slowly, rapt in meditation, or composing verses, an occupation of +which he was very fond, leaving behind him at his death several vols. of +MS. poetry. {99c} + +The school hours were from 7.30 to 9, before breakfast; 10 to 12.30 +midday; afternoon 3 to 5; while the boarders at his own house worked with +the Assistant Master from 7 to 9; the day boys, in the town, preparing +exercises and repetition for the next morning, at their own homes. It +was an amusement, for some of the more active, to get up some quarter of +an hour earlier than the others, and hurry down to St. Mary's Church, to +help old Dawson, the sexton, to ring the Grammar School bell. {100a} As +the Doctor was very active in his movements, any boarders who were late +in starting, could only reach the school in time, by running across the +fields between the two branches of the canal, called "The Holms." Woe +betide those who were late! + +From the Doctor's energy of character it would be expected that he would +encourage active healthy recreations. The days of cricket were not yet, +{100b} although "single wicket" was sometimes practiced. Nor was +football popular, as it is now. The game was indeed played, but we had, +in those days, no Rugby rules, and the ball was composed of a common +bladder, with a leather cover made by the shoemaker. In the school yard +the chief game was "Prisoner's Base," generally played by boarders +against day boys; in this swiftness of foot was specially valuable. +There was also a game named "Lasty," in which one boy was selected to +stand at the upper end of the yard, while the rest gathered at the lower +end. After a short interval, the one boy darted forward towards the +others, who all tried to avoid him; his object was to catch one of the +other boys, and when he succeeded in this, the boy whom he caught took up +the running to catch another, and this could go on for any length of +time. There was another exciting game called "Lug and a Bite." In the +fruit season a day boarder, from the country, frequently brought his +pocket full of apples; he would throw an apple among the other boys, one +of whom would catch it, and run away biting it; the others would chase +him, and seize him by the lug (ear), when he would throw it away, and +another would catch it, and continue the process, he being, in his turn, +caught by the ear, and so on. This afforded much amusement, and many +apples would in this way be consumed. There were large slabs of stone +laid down in the yard, on which marbles were played with, and peg tops +were spun. Hockey, or shinty, as it was commonly called, was also a +favourite game; but these amusements were chiefly confined to the sons of +tradesmen in the town. + +Among the boarders archery was practised, and by some of them with a +skill almost rivalling that of Locksley in Sir Walter Scott's novel of +_Ivanhoe_. A carpenter in the town made for us bows of lancewood, and +arrows of poplar, tipped with spikes of iron. With these we could not +only split our "willow wand" at 80 yards distant, but the more skilful +deemed an arrow hardly worth having until it had been baptized in the +blood of blackbird or pigeon, and some of the neighbouring pigeon cotes +suffered accordingly. The writer was presented with a bow made of +bamboo, and arrows said to be poisoned, which a great traveller, then +residing in Horncastle, had brought from the South Sea Islands. He lent +these to a brother archer, who by mistake shot another boy in the calf of +the leg. Great alarm was the result, but the poison must have lost its +power, for no evil consequences ensued, except that the wounded party +almost frightened himself into a state of fever. + + [Picture: Successive Head Masters, from 1818 to 1907] + +These, however, were among the less hardy of our sports. The good old +Doctor's great aim was to get us healthily engaged in the country. With +this object he would say on a Monday morning to the bigger boys of the +two highest classes, "Now, lads, if you will translate this book of +Virgil, or Homer, or this Greek play, as quickly as you can, you shall +have the rest of the week to spend as you like." Put upon our mettle by +such a challenge the work would be completed, by us perhaps on the +Wednesday, and three days of varied enjoyment in country rambles would +follow. In these days, when bird-nesting is forbidden as being "cruelty +to animals," it may horrify some of our readers to learn that the Doctor +encouraged his pupils to collect eggs. On our excursions in early summer +every hedge was carefully examined for many miles round, the tallest +trees were climbed, or, as it was then called "swarmed," in search of the +eggs of hawk, carrion crow, woodpecker, &c.; those of the owl were found +in the thick fir plantations, or those of the jackdaw in old ruins; the +rarest specimens being presented to the Doctor himself, while commoner +kinds were hung in festoons from the ceiling of our study at his +residence. The two chief holidays at this season were the Queen's +Birthday, May 24th, and "Royal Oak Day," May 29th. On these two days the +boys were expected to decorate the school in the early hours of the +morning; a _sine qua non_ being, that, on the Doctor's arrival at 7.30 +a.m., he should find his desk so filled with floral and arboreal +adornments, that he could not enter it; whereat he would make the remark, +repeated annually, "Well, boys! you have shut me out of my desk, so we +must give up work for the day." He also, on these occasions, often +brought with him a daughter, and the two carefully looked into the +decorated desk, when they were rewarded by finding the nest and eggs of a +"feather-poke" (long-tailed tit), or some other rare bird, which he +always took home and preserved in his study, as a trophy till the +following year. No questions were asked as to _how_ the decorations were +obtained, but in practice the process was as follows. On the day before, +between school hours, certain of the younger boys were sent round the +town to beg flowers, and then, later on, followed what, as we should have +said, the present hypercritical generation would call, at the very least, +"dishonest pilfering." After retiring to rest, and when the final visit +of the Assistant Master had been made to the dormitories, all became +excitement; boots and caps had been carefully concealed under the beds. +The elder boys were quickly re-clothed, booted and bonneted; and we crept +down, by back stairs, to the kitchen, with the connivance of the cook and +housekeeper; those good souls also providing some refreshment for us, to +be taken either before we went out, or after we returned; and then, +stealthily emerging by the back door, we separated into small companies +of twos and threes; some re-visiting gardens in the town, and taking +without permission further flowers; others going into the country; +sometimes even taking a light cart from one yard and a pony or horse from +another, and then visiting gardens or parks in the neighbourhood, and +returning laden with branches of horse-chesnut flowers, pink may, &c., +which were quietly conveyed to the school; and by the appointed hour the +work of decoration would be completed; and we, having returned to our +dormitories, refreshed through the cook's kindness the inner man, and +washed the outer, were ready to greet the good Doctor and his daughter on +their arrival. The only difference between the decorations on the 24th +and 29th was, that on the latter day oak leaves and acorns were a +distinguishing feature, some of the sprays having been gilded on the +previous day for presentation to the young lady. + +There was another great day called the "Treasurer's holiday." Once a +year the one of the Governors, who held that office, was entitled to ask +the Head Master to give us a whole holiday, which he was always pleased +to grant. The custom was for one of the senior boys to call upon, or +write to, the Treasurer, usually after some period of extra hard +scholastic work, asking him to exercise this privilege. The way in which +these holidays were spent varied. Sometimes we had a "Paper Chase," or +"Fox and Hounds." One boy was sent out as fox, sometimes accompanied by +another boy, both carrying in bags a supply of paper, torn into small +shreds, which formed the scent. In this sport the Doctor sometimes +offered a reward of five shillings to the "fox" who should manage to +elude his pursuers until he had reached the bank of the river Witham, a +distance of about six miles, but increased to 10 or more miles by the +different ruses practised to escape capture; a similar reward being +offered to the "hound" who should effect his capture after a run of a +stipulated number of miles. + +Sometimes we had a picnic to the Tower-on-the-Moor, going there on foot, +through "the Wilderness," and other woods, and having our luncheon +brought to the Tower in the carrier's cart, which passed daily on its way +to Kirkstead wharf. This was usually a bird-nesting excursion. More +than one of us accomplished the hazardous feat of climbing to the top of +the tower, whence a fine view could be obtained, on a favourable day, +across the Wash into Norfolk. On one of these occasions we extended our +ramble to Kirkstead wharf, some adventurous spirits took forcible +possession of the ferry boat, and carried over women returning home, with +their marketings, free of charge. The owner of the boat was, however, +compensated by our calling at his small hostel close by, and patronising +his lemonade, bread and cheese. Sometimes the excursion was to +Tattershall Castle, and if this was in the winter we skated there in the +morning, along the canal, returning on our "runners" by moonlight; the +Doctor being himself a good skater, encouraged it in his boys. On these +occasions we sometimes amused ourselves on the return journey by firing +pistols, to disturb the inhabitants of houses near the canal; when, if +anyone put his head out of a bedroom window, some one of us would shout, +"your money or your life;" the usual response being "Go along, ye +bulldogs," the name by which we were commonly known throughout the +country side. + +On one of these return journeys, while skating in single file, we +approached the third lock, and the boy in front forgetting that there +would be no ice for a few yards below the lock, because the water there +was kept in agitation by the stream always falling from the lock, +suddenly found himself floundering in an icy cold bath, while himself in +a state of great heat. The shock, and the fact that he was cumbered by +his skates, made him almost helpless, and he would probably have been +drowned, but that a fine fellow (I give his name, Edward Sharpe, for he +has long ago put "off this mortal coil"), who was a great athlete, +plunged in, skates and all, regardless of the risk, and like a +Newfoundland dog, panting brought his friend to shore, with no worse +effects than the drenching to both. And here I may say that one of the +accomplishments specially encouraged by the Doctor was that of swimming; +the very youngest were taught to swim by the Under Master, in a small +pool in the river Bain, called "Dead Man's Hole," about 100 yards from +the first lock of the canal. After gaining proficiency we bathed in the +canal and lockpit itself. The Doctor gave a reward of 5/- to any boy who +could dive across the canal, the same sum when he could swim 100 yards on +his back. + +On one occasion a bully, among the bigger boys, threw a timid little +fellow into the lockpit when full, saying "Now, you'll learn to swim, or +sink." The little fellow did sink, rose to the surface, and sank again; +and would certainly have been drowned, but a shout from other indignant +youngsters, looking helplessly on, brought the same Edward Sharpe to the +rescue (he was bathing below the lock, not aware of what was going on), +and he at once plunged into the lock, dived to the bottom (18 or 20 +feet), and brought up the poor half-conscious boy, who would otherwise +have perished. + +It may here be mentioned that the present writer once swam from the +junction of the two branches of the canal (close to the present bathing +place) to the first lock, then passed on and swam to the second, and so +continuing, swam to the third lock, his clothes being carried by a school +fellow who accompanied him; this being a distance of some two miles, for +this the Doctor rewarded him with 10/- and a whole holiday. He also, it +may be added, as a reckless feat, when bathing, leapt stark naked across +the first lock; a performance which the slightest slip might have made +fatal. + +Many are the anecdotes which could be here told of our adventures; as of +policemen or keepers eluded, or put off the scent, by various ruses, &c., +&c., on our various marauding expeditions, but I will mention only two +more incidents. + +From the same feelings of jealousy, doubtless, which produce the "Town +and Gown" antagonism at the University, there was much ill-feeling among +the lower class of boys in the town towards ourselves, and free fights +occasionally occurred between them and the hated "bull-dogs." At dusk +stones were thrown at us, which it was difficult to avoid in the then +badly lighted streets. Sudden sorties were made from alleys, to take us +unawares, and send us sprawling on the coggles. Especially in snowy +weather we were assailed with snowballs on our way from school to the +Doctor's house, and although we stood shoulder to shoulder and made a +spirited resistance, it not uncommonly occurred that these missiles were +(doubtless purposely) made to contain a piece of ice, or even a sharp +flint. In one of these skirmishes the writer himself was struck on the +temple, his eye only just escaping, by a snowball, which a comrade picked +up, on seeing that the wound was bleeding, and a fragment of glass was +found inside it; this, surely, an extreme illustration of the principle +that "all is lawful in war." + +One great event, of yearly re-occurrence, was our bonfire with fireworks, +on the 5th of November. Pocket money was hoarded up several weeks +beforehand, to provide for the latter; some boys even made their own +squibs and crackers, and these were considerably larger and more +formidable than those which were bought. The scene was usually a field +on Langton Hill, which belonged to the school. Subscriptions were raised +to purchase 100 faggots, locally called "kids;" but here again our custom +would, in strictness, have been condemned, for, in addition to the +purchased fuel, for sometime beforehand, we had been searching the hedges +around, armed with axes, and so had got together probably as much to +which we had no right, as that which had been bought. The bonfire was +thus doubled in size, and made a blaze which, on the hill, would be seen +for many a mile. We had a whole holiday to give us time to pile up the +heap; and in the evening parents and many other friends crowded to the +field as spectators. Sometimes a lighted balloon or two, of varied +colours, would be sent up, which were watched by the bright eyes of +sisters and cousins, until they were lost in the distance. + +At length the conflagration was reduced to smouldering ashes, and all +retired; but on our way back to the school house there were often rough +doings, between the town boys and bull-dogs; free vent was given to +spite, and a broken or bruised head, or body, might be the result; but we +made no complaint; as loyal subjects we had done our duty in protesting +against all such underhand doings as "Gunpowder Plot;" and, after a +hearty supper, given by our kind Head Master, we enjoyed the rest, well +earned by the exertions and trials of the day. + +We have now said enough of the school, its institutions and customs, +under a regime which has passed away, doubtless never to return; _tempora +mutantur_. + +Of the modern school we may here say that it is now doing useful work, +although with a different class of pupils to those above referred to; and +in the near future, it is hoped, that further changes will give it a +still higher position in educational work. Under Dr. A. G. Madge, who +retired and accepted church preferment in 1907, the school was made to +meet the requirements of the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations, the +London University Matriculation, and the South Kensington Science and Art +Departments. + +In late years boys from the school have filled posts in various parts of +the world with credit. A considerable number have obtained clerkships in +banks, or in the Civil Service; one boy, Richard Gordon Healey, passed +7th among more than a hundred candidates for the General Post Office +service, London, and is now in the excise service. Another, Fairburn, is +Assistant Inspector of Police at Singapore. Another, Isle, is a Civil +Engineer, and has taken the B.Sc. degree. A summary of successes at the +school, kindly supplied to the writer by Dr. Madge, shows that in the +last seven years (1906) five boys have passed the London University +Matriculation, 19 the Cambridge local examination, 34 the South +Kensington examination, while four have qualified for the public Civil +Service; a creditable result for a town of the size of Horncastle. + + [Picture: The Seal of the Grammar School] + +A recent change has been the admission of pupil teachers to classes +specially adapted to their requirements, and with this accession to the +numbers receiving instruction, there are now more pupils in the school, +male and female together, than at any period within the last 30 years. + +The latest changes, in the direction of progress, have been as follows: A +new governing body has been created by the Board of Education, consisting +of 13 members; the Lord of the Manor, the Honble. R. Stanhope, being _ex +officio_ one of them; eight representative Governors holding office for +three years; two being appointed by the Lindsey County Council, three +(one of them a female) by the Urban Council, two by the Guardians, one by +the Justices of the Peace at the Lindsey Quarter Sessions. There are +also four co-optative Governors (among them one female at least), +appointed by the Governors for five years. It is further ordered that +the Head Master need not be in Holy Orders; under which rule has been +appointed the present Head Master, Mr. Arthur N. Worman, B.A., London, +late Assistant Master at King Edward VII. Grammar School, King's Lynn, +who was selected by the Governors from 150 candidates for the post. + + + +Addendum I. + + +It will have been observed that we have so far adopted the prevalent +nomenclature, and spoken of this school as an Elizabethan institution, +founded in 1571. It must now be added that, venerable as that date of +origin would make it, it has a higher claim to our veneration still. +_Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona_. There were grammar schools before that +date. Edward VI. is said to have established several, in various parts +of the country, and we have already named two such in our own +neighbourhood, viz., those of Spilsby and Louth; but it is now known that +even these were, strictly speaking, revivals of still other institutions. +It is now known that not a few of the charities, or public institutions, +supposed to have been founded by Queen Elizabeth, were really of older +date, but revived, confirmed, or augmented, under her wise rule. In a +published account of the old grammar school of Giggleswick, Yorkshire, +{106a} commonly reputed to be a foundation of Edward VI., is the +following statement, "a large number of schools bear the name of Ed. VI., +who undoubtedly desired to strengthen the grammar school system. His +good intentions were, however, frustrated by the Commissioners; and very +few of the so-called Edward VI. grammar schools had their origin in his +reign, being older foundations with a new name." {106b} + +It seems certain that Horncastle Grammar School is an analogous case. +Documents have recently been brought to light in the archives of the Dean +and Chapter of Lincoln, which prove that, acting for the Chancellor (who +was _ex officio_ "Magister Scholarum"), during a temporary vacancy of +that office, they appointed Masters to the grammar schools of Boston, +Partney, Horncastle, and elsewhere, in the year 1329; the Horncastle +Master, so appointed, being one John of Beverley. This mode of +appointment being exceptional, was only to be valid for one year; but the +Chancellorship continuing vacant, the Masters were confirmed in their +positions by the Dean and Chapter, in the following year 1330, and again +in 1331; and so on, in successive years. {106c} + +Now this mode of appointment being only in lieu of appointment by the +Chancellor, while his office was in abeyance, it follows that these +schools were in existence, as public institutions under the Chancellor, +before the dates named. Although, therefore, we are unable to fix the +exact period of the school's existence, it may be satisfactory for +Horncastrians to know that, in addition to the various interesting +associations which we have already given as connected with the school, +there is proof that before Shakespeare had composed one of his immortal +plays, before Spenser had written a line of his _Faerie Queen_, before +Bacon had even thought of his _Advancement of Learning_, there had +existed a "seat of learning" in the small provincial town of Horncastle, +which had then attained to the respectable age of more than two +centuries. + +We have been accustomed to consider the foundation of William of Wykeham, +at Winchester, in 1373, as one at least of our very oldest, but +Horncastle Grammar School may even be of still earlier date than that. +The oldest school of all is King's School, Canterbury, attributed to +Archbishop Theodore, A.D. 670, but which may probably be traced to St. +Augustine. St. Peter's School, York, is the next oldest. + + + +Addendum II. + + +The Governors of the Grammar School are about to erect, in this year, +1908, new and more commodious premises for the school, in the grounds of +what is now called "The Chestnuts," near the west end of West Street. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. +WATSON'S FREE SCHOOL. + + +Next in importance to the Grammar School, and prior to the existence of +the two well appointed National Schools, Church and Wesleyan, possibly +even of greater utility than at present, is Watson's Free Infant School; +the founder of which placed it under the control of the Grammar School. + +The title deeds of this Institution are in the keeping of Mr. H. Tweed, +Solicitor, who is Clerk to the Governors; and from these we gather the +following particulars of its history. Richard Watson in the latter half +of the 18th century was a resident in, and a native of, Horncastle, being +the son of James Watson, who had made money by tanning, at that time a +staple business in the town. Although engaged in trade he ranked with +the resident gentry, his sister, Frances, marrying James Conington, Esq., +belonging to a family of good position, not only in the town, but in the +county; members of which have also distinguished themselves at the +Universities, the name still surviving. She is referred to in an +Indenture of date 22nd Sept., 25 George III. (1785), as "Frances +Conington, of Boston, widow, formerly Frances Watson, spinster, surviving +sister and heir of Richard Watson, late of Horncastle, gent., deceased, +tanner, and his wife Elizabeth." By her marriage she had a son Francis +Conington, who as nephew of Richard Watson, was the sole executor of his +will and testament. The principal deed has the following external +inscription: "Title deeds of the school, signed, sealed and delivered, by +Benjamin Handley (afterwards called "of New Sleaford"), {108a} in the +presence of Williom Swallow, {108b} supervisor, and Abraham Hanson, of +Horncastle." + +The following is the heading within, "Sealed and delivered by Frances +Conington, being first duly stamped, in the presence of Caleb Preston, +and Bowlin Kelsey of Boston." This is further confirmed, as follows: +"Sealed and delivered by Frances Conington, in the presence of William +Swallow, supervisor, and Abraham Hanson, of Horncastle." + +Then follows a "Release of lands in Lincolnshire to found a school (dated +22nd Sept., 1785), inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery, the +8th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1786, being first duly stamped +according to the tenor of the statutes made for that purpose." (Signed) +Thomas Brigstock. + + [Picture: The Market Place] + +The seals attached to this are those of Frances Conington, James +Conington and Benjamin Handley. There is a note in the margin that +"James Conington came before me this day, and acknowledged this to be his +deed, and prayed the same might be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court +of Chancery. Robert Chapman, Master in Chancery." Dated 6th March, +1786. + +The actual terms of Richard Watson's will are these: "I am very desirous +of establishing a small school within the town of Horncastle, wherein the +children of such poor persons, as the Governors of the Grammar School +shall think objects of charity, may be taught to read, knit, spin, and +plain needlework, or sewing. I do therefore hereby earnestly request, +will, and direct, my nephew and executor, after my decease, by deed, +conveyance (&c.), to convey, and assure, to the said Governors, and their +successors, for ever, all the lands situate in Croft, and all those +messuages, cottages, or tenements, within the yards and pingle adjoining, +situate in Far Street (now called West Street), Horncastle; and also that +part of now inclosed arable, meadow, and pasture ground, lying in +Wigtoft, containing 6 acres, 28 perches, now in the occupation of my +cousin, William Watson, with appurtenances, upon the Trusts following, +viz.: (1) to keep the house (school) in good repair, and the residence +(2) for the maintenance of a proper master or mistress, to be from time +to time nominated by them, to teach such poor children, &c." + +It is then added that "the said Richard Watson dying on Sept. 30 (1784), +the said Frances and James Conington, desirous to fulfil his bequest, +agree to convey to the use of the said Governors, the said messuages, +&c." An Indenture is added, witnessing "that on payment by Benjamin +Handley of ten shillings to Frances and James Conington, they have +granted, sold, and released" the aforesaid property, and "appointed by +these presents from the day next before the date of the Indenture, all +the said messuages, &c., called by the name of the 'ffoal thing,' {110a} +and that plot commonly called 'Backside,' the closes in Croft abutting on +the highway, and lands near the old sea bank; and land called the 'bridge +plot' in Wigtoft (6 acres), assigned to Richard Watson, by the award of +the Commissioners appointed by Parliament, in the 12th year of His +Majesty, for enclosing common and open fields (No. 40 in award map), with +houses, barns, curtilages, and woods, to be held by the Governors of the +Grammar School, the reversions, rents, &c., to the use of John Thorold +(and the Governors), {110b} on trust, that the said Governors collect the +rents, &c., and apply them as shall be required, from time to time, for +poor children; and shall have power to erect a new school house, or +alter, enlarge, &c., and to mortgage, &c., in order to provide suitable +(premises), spinning wheels, &c., and to make rules for management, as +shall to their judgment seem needed, agreeing with the said Benjamin +Handley, and his heirs, &c., subject in all things to the Court of +Chancery at Westminster." + +The present status of the school is as follows: The original premises are +still in use, standing in a retired position, in "Watson's Yard," about +50 yards from West Street; they consist of school buildings, play yard, +and teacher's residence. In 1835 the school was enlarged and repaired. +In 1895 it was further improved by the removal of bedrooms above, when it +was opened up to the roof; at the same time a commodious classroom was +added at the east end. Accommodation was thus provided for 120 children. +The increase in scholars necessitated an increase in the teaching staff, +and the Head Teacher, Mrs. Robert Marshall, who was appointed in 1885, +has, since these alterations, been assisted by an Under Mistress and two +Monitors. + +The scholars are of both sexes, and between the ages of three years and +seven. The school is conducted on Church of England principles, and +examined by both Diocesan and Government Inspectors; a Government Grant +being earned to supplement the funds of the Watson bequest. The scholars +are taught reading, writing and arithmetic, with the various kindergarten +subjects. The Secretary to the Charity, H. Tweed, Esq., Solicitor, of +Horncastle, pays half the rents to the Lincoln County Council, for +teachers' salaries, and retains the other half for repairs and incidental +expenses. All the other tenements in Watson's Yard are the property of +the Charity. + + + +THE LANCASTERIAN & THE BELL SCHOOLS. + + +Beside the endowed schools, already described, the Grammar School for the +middle and upper class, and Watson's School for the children of the +poorer classes; there were two other schools before the present National +Schools came into existence, the history of which is of some interest. +Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, says "a school, on the +Lancasterian, or British system, was established at a public meeting, +held in October, 1813; and, a few days later, a meeting was held at the +church, when it was resolved to establish a school on the plan of Dr. +Bell. Both buildings were erected in 1814, supported by voluntary +contributions, each for about 200 children." {111} + +This needs some explanation. Dr. Andrew Bell was an East Indian +Company's Chaplain, stationed at Fort St. George, Madras, in 1789. He +noticed, in the course of his duties, that in the native schools, beside +the regular paid teachers, the more advanced pupils were also employed to +instruct younger scholars; each pupil thus having a tutor, and each tutor +a pupil; a system by which both were enabled to learn faster, and led to +take more interest in their work, than would otherwise have been +generally possible. Being an enthusiast in educational matters, he +resigned his chaplaincy, with its good stipend, to inaugurate, and +himself carry on, a school for the children of Europeans in the +Presidency, on the same principles. The result was so satisfactory that +on his return to England, in 1797, he published an account of what he +called the "Madras, or Monitorial System," and endeavoured to introduce +it in this country. Little progress, however, was made for some time, +beyond the establishment of a charity school, on these lines, at St. +Botolph's, Aldgate, London, and a school at Kendal, Co. Cumberland. + +About the same date Joseph Lancaster, a young Quaker, set up a school for +poor children, before he was 19 years of age, in a room lent to him by +his father, in the Borough Road, Southwark, and in a very short time he +had nearly 100 under his charge. He also adopted the monitorial method, +but, as a Quaker, omitting the Church teaching of the Bell schools. +Persevering in the work, he was received in audience by the King, George +III., who gave him encouragement. He then travelled over the kingdom, +giving lectures on the new mode of instruction; which in consequence +spread with rapidity. In 1798 he taught about 1,000 boys, between the +ages of 5 and 12 years, his sisters teaching some 200 girls. + +Objections were made to the indefinite character of the religious +teaching of a Quaker, by Professor Marsh, and others, and the Bell +schools, with their Church instruction, had by the year 1818 become +numerous. The services of Dr. Bell himself, in the cause of education +had been recognised, and rewarded by a Canonry of Westminster. By the +year 1828 upwards of 200,000 children were being taught on his system, +and at his death, a few years later, he bequeathed 120,000 pounds to +carry on the work which he had so much at heart. {112a} + +These two systems, the Lancasterian or unsectarian schools, and the Bell +or church schools, continued to increase in number; there having been +established in 1805 "The Royal Lancasterian Institution," otherwise +called "The British and Foreign School Society," while the Bell system +was represented by "The Church of England National School Society." + +The first Lancasterian or British School founded in Horncastle, in 1814, +was located in premises adjoining the Wong, on the site afterwards +occupied by the first Volunteer Drill Hall. It was afterwards +transferred to what is now called Dog-Kennel Yard, occupying a building +which had previously been a theatre, and which was partly fitted up with +sittings removed from St. Mary's Church, giving accommodation for 200 +children. Neither in its internal structure, however, nor in its +situation in an out-of-the-way back yard, was the former theatre well +adapted for school purposes; and although the late Mr. Samuel Goe had in +1869 bequeathed a legacy to the school, which rendered it almost +independent of annual subscriptions, the establishment of a much more +commodious school by the Wesleyans, in Foundry Street in 1860, affected +it unfavourably, the number of scholars gradually decreased, and it was +finally closed in 1876. {112b} + +The Bell, or Church School, also built in 1814, and accommodating about +200 scholars of both sexes, formed the nucleus of the present Church +National Schools. These two schools, the Lancasterian or British, and +the Bell or Church School, are the only public elementary schools, named +in the _Gazetteers_ for many years, except the Watson Charity School, +already described. + +Of the present Church National Schools, that for infants was erected in +1860, that for boys in 1872, at a cost of about 1,000 pounds, the +original building being now the girls' school; the whole affording +accommodation for 300 children. These were, a few years ago, taken over +by the Lindsey County Council (in 1893), and are now under both Diocesan +and Government Inspection. {112c} + + + +THE SCIENCE & ART SCHOOL. + + +With the establishment of Technical Schools this country may be said to +have entered on a new era, in national education, which, in its +development, may lead to results, the importance of which can hardly yet +be realized. The possibilities are almost unlimited. A wide-spread +network has been created, which may bring even the humblest members of +our artisan families within its deneficial meshes, while also working at +intervals, as opportunities offer, in our remotest villages. + +This great movement, curiously, originated from dissension in Parliament, +a remarkable illustration of the old adage, "'Tis an ill wind that blows +no one any good." In the year 1890 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in +Lord Salisbury's ministry, {113a} introduced what was called "The Local +Taxation (customs and excise) Bill," {113b} intended to empower County +Councils to buy up the licences of superfluous public houses, and to +compensate the publicans by grants of money. The funds for this purpose +were not to be a charge upon the local rates, but to be provided by an +increase of the duty on spirituous liquors. Strange to say, this measure +was so persistently opposed by the temperance party, aided by others, who +for the moment acted with them, that the proposed use of the money, thus +raised, was at length abandoned, a considerable surplus, however, being +thus at the Chancellor's disposal, after the reduction of several other +taxes, the remainder was handed over to the County Councils, to be +employed in the furtherance of technical education. The money thus set +apart was called "the ear-marked money," and the measure enacting it was, +somewhat unworthily, termed "The Whiskey Bill." Horncastle benefitted by +a sum being placed to the credit of the local authorities for the +establishment of a school of science and art; all such institutions in +the county being under the general direction of the organizing secretary, +Mr. S. Maudson Grant, residing in Lincoln. + + [Picture: St. Mary's Square] + +At first classes were held in the Masonic Hall, Bank Street; and in 1891 +an efficient teacher, Mr. Mallet, was engaged to give commercial +instruction in arithmetic, shorthand, &c., {114a} and he was very +successful in getting pupils. In 1892 larger accommodation was required, +and two rooms were rented, over what is now the Bicycle Depot of Mr. +Sorfleet, at 14, East Street; and Mr. Switzer was engaged as teacher of +science and art, at a salary of 100 pounds a year, being allowed further +to augment his income by taking private pupils in certain other subjects. +About the same time 100 pounds was spent on models, and other requisites; +and by the close of 1892, Tetford, Wragby, and Woodhall Spa having been +included in a general scheme for the district, it was found that the +pupils attending the classes already numbered 219; of whom 76 were under +Mr. Mallet's instruction, 101 under Mr. Switzer, including 39 school +teachers in the neighbourhood, attending on Saturdays; while 42 received +special instruction from a qualified teacher in dressmaking. Operations +were also, in the same year, extended to rural parishes, a meeting being +held at Woodhall Spa, on Feb. 10, presided over by the Rev. T. Livesey, +County Councillor, when a district embracing 20 parishes was formed; Mr. +Livesey being _ex officio_ Chairman of Committees, Canon J. Clare Hudson, +Vicar of Thornton, appointed as acting Chairman, and the Rev. J. Conway +Walter, Rector of Langton, Hon. Secretary. + +This was followed by other meetings at Horncastle, at which, in due +course, plans were matured for both town and country classes in various +subjects. On the death of Mr. T. Livesey, in 1894, Mr. Robert Searby, of +Edlington, succeeded him as County Councillor, and took a great interest +in the school; the late Mr. W. Brown, of the Capital and Counties Bank, +was elected Chairman, and for several years he rendered most valuable +service to the schools, being followed, on his decease in 1901, by Mr. R. +W. Clitherow, Solicitor, who had previously acted as Treasurer. So far +the whole scheme had been attended by the most marked success in all +departments. + +In the year 1894 the numbers of pupils, and of the subjects taught, had +further increased; and it became necessary again to move into more +commodious premises. The large building in Queen Street, which had been +erected by the late Mr. F. Stevens, of Gordon Villa, and was then +occupied by Miss Morris, as a school for young ladies, was rented, having +two large classrooms and a smaller one. + +Among the teachers who followed was Miss Annie Foster, who succeeded Mr. +Switzer in July, 1895, and continued as head of the Institution for +nearly six years. She was a most enthusiastic and energetic worker, and +under her the schools attained the highest point of success, both as +regards the number of pupils attending and the variety of subjects +taught. The school at this time had attained to the highest degree of +efficiency which it is ever likely to reach. Not only had Horncastle +pupils taken more prizes than those of any other technical school in the +Parts of Lindsey, but on the visit of the Government Inspector, Mr. +Minton, at the prize-giving in September, 1896, he stated that the school +occupied the third place in all England. {114b} + +In the year 1899 again the Inspector, on his examination in October, +reported its state as being "very satisfactory," and in that year grants +were earned of 140 pounds from the County Council, 35 pounds from South +Kensington Science and Art department, 50 pounds from the Whitehall +department, 12 pounds from fees for science and art teaching, 10 pounds +from the evening continuation classes, a total of 247 pounds. Miss +Foster was assisted by Miss M. E. Edgar. A former pupil, Mr. C. H. +Stevens, a native of Horncastle, was also appointed Assistant Master, +until he was promoted to take charge of a technical school at Folkestone. +Mr. A. Blades, of the London University, Junior Master of the Grammar +School, was for a time an Assistant. At the end of 1900 (Nov. 15) Miss +Foster resigned, being promoted to the head teachership of the Camden +School of Art, in London. Miss M. E. Edgar, who had been assistant +teacher for several years, was at this date appointed Head Teacher, in +the Science and Art department, Mr. C. W. Gott, of the Grammar School, +B.A. of London University, becoming Head Master of the evening +continuation school, and Mr. H. J. Haddock teacher of shorthand. + +It would not be possible, nor is it desirable, here to go into full +details as to all the work done; but as, in future years, it may be +interesting to have some record of the progress in the earlier days of +this Institution, and as the writer of these pages has been closely +connected with the school, from its first inception, a summary of the +more important particulars is here given. + +In the spring of the year 1896, a course of public lectures, illustrated +by lantern views, was given by himself, descriptive of his own travels in +Egypt, which were attended by full audiences of junior pupils, and many +adults. In 1897 he gave a similar series of lectures on his travels in +Palestine, and these proving equally popular, a third supplementary +course was given by him in 1898. + +In 1898 illustrated lectures were also given by the Rev. J. A. Penny, +Vicar of Wispington, on "The Abbeys and Castles of England," and as being +very instructive on the subject of architecture, these were largely +attended. They were followed by a course, which proved very interesting, +given by Mr. R. W. Clitherow, the Treasurer, descriptive of a walking +tour made by himself, among the scenery of the English lakes. He also +gave an instructive lecture on Canada. + +In the spring of 1898 the Head Teacher, Miss Foster, gave a series of +lectures on "Physiography," being an account, the result of most careful +study and practical investigation, of the various geological formations +and fossils of the earth, illustrated by specimens largely of her own +collecting. {115} These were very instructive, and attended by a fairly +numerous class of pupils. + +Other valuable courses of lectures were given during this early period of +the school's existence. In the autumn of 1896 Dr. R. McLay, of +Horncastle, was engaged by the Committee to give lectures in the Masonic +Hall, on "First Aid to the Injured," under the St. John's Ambulance +regulations. The pupils, numbering 25, were afterwards examined by Dr. +G. M. Lowe, of Lincoln, when 23 of them passed as entitled to St. John's +Ambulance Certificates. So much interest was shewn in these lectures (to +which policemen were specially invited), that it was resolved, in the +following year (1897), that the services of Dr. McLay should be secured +for a repetition of them, with increased remuneration. They were again +given in the autumn of that year (beginning Oct. 18), when 24 persons +attended, of whom 16 presented themselves for examination, which was +again held by Dr. Lowe, all of whom passed with credit, and gained +ambulance certificates. We give these particulars as shewing the value +of the work done at this period. + +Similarly valuable instruction has been given in later years, but, with +diminished funds available, and classes smaller, owing doubtless to the +exhaustion in some degree of the stream of candidates for instruction, +compared with its flush at the outset of the school's existence, fewer +lectures on these extra subjects have been given; and instruction has +been confined to more ordinary, but not less useful, work, in drawing, +geometric and from models; modelling in clay, painting in water colours +and oils, book-keeping, arithmetic, shorthand, French, and so forth. + +To show that the school has continued to do good work, we may state that +on January 25, 1906, a meeting was held for the annual prize giving, when +close upon 70 pupils, of both sexes (69), received rewards, several of +them for success in four or five different subjects. For the year 1905-6 +the school received a grant of 100 pounds from the County Council, 25 +pounds from the Horncastle Urban Council, and the fees of pupils paid +about half the expenses. + +We now give a brief account of the more important of the work carried on +during the same period in the country parishes. In March, 1892, the +first "pioneer" lecture was given at Woodhall Spa, on Horticulture, by +Mr. Horace Huntly, lately in charge of the Duke of Bedford's gardens at +Woburn Abbey, Beds. This was well attended, and the instruction given +was most useful, for the better cultivation of cottagers' gardens. This +was followed by a course of three lectures on the same subject, in March +of the succeeding year. In April of the same year (1892), a series of +six lectures were given at Stixwould and Horsington, by Miss Kenealy, of +the National Health Society, on the subject of home nursing, and +treatment in cases of accident, fevers, &c. These also proved so +instructive that she was engaged to repeat them in the summer of the +following year; and they were given in eight different parishes, +beginning with Langton on June 5th; the attendances being very large, in +one case 70 being present. + +Mr. Robert Jalland, Surgeon, of Horncastle, also gave a lecture at +Kirkby-on-Bain, in April of the same year, on the subject: "How to secure +healthy homes," which was very instructive and well attended, over 40 +being present. In the autumn of that year a series of five lectures on +Cookery were given by Mrs. Pierce, of the National Health Society, at +four centres, Roughton, Thimbleby, Horsington, and Minting, beginning on +Oct. 10th, and continued weekly. These were considered so instructive +that the Secretary, having made notes of them, was requested to have 500 +copies printed, for free distribution, which was done. + +In January of 1893 lectures on butter-making, with practical +demonstrations, were given by Miss Carter, a professional teacher with +certificate of the B.D.F.A., in nine parishes, from Jan. 12th to 24th. +Lessons in sheep shearing were given in May, at eight centres, Roughton, +Kirkstead, Woodhall, Langton, Wispington, Stixwould, Bucknall, and +Thimbleby, the teachers being Mr. S. Leggett of Moorhouses, Boston, and +Mr. R. Sharpe of Horsington; prizes of 1 pound and 10/- being given to +the most proficient pupils. + +In 1894 lessons were given in hedge plashing, on Mr. Gaunt's farm at +Waddingworth, in November, the teacher being Mr. H. Butler of Greetham, +money prizes being given. Lessons in under-draining were given on Mr. +Carter's farm at Bucknall, in December, the teacher being Mr. W. Scott of +Hatton, money prizes being also given. + +In 1895 lectures on poultry keeping were given in February, by Mr. E. +Brown, F.L.S., and Mr. F. Parton, at five centres; and they also visited +various farmyards in the neighbourhood to give practical advice; these +lessons were well attended. Lessons in horse shoeing were given at +Horncastle, for the neighbourhood, by Mr. J. B Gresswell, M.R.V.C., of +Louth, in May and June, at which nine blacksmiths attended; certificates +of the National Association of Farriers being awarded. Lessons on sheep +shearing were given at Thimbleby, Kirkstead, and Bucknall, in June, the +teacher being Mr. R. Sharpe of Horsington. Dairy lessons on butter +making and stilton cheese production were given by Miss Carter, at +Woodhall Spa, Kirkby-on-Bain, Minting, and Reed's Beck, in October and +November. Lessons in under-draining were given on Mr. F. W. Scott's +farm, at Bucknall, in December, the teacher being Mr. W. Scott of Hatton, +and money prizes given. Two lectures on bee keeping were given at +Woodhall Spa, in November, 1895, by Mr. W. J. Banks of the Grammar +School, Wragby, which were well attended; the same gentleman also giving +a practical demonstration of the same, by request, at the Manor House, +Woodhall Spa, in August of the following year (1896). + + [Picture: Bridge Street] + +In 1896 Hedge Plashing lessons were given, in January, at Stixwould, +Bucknall, and Horsington, the teacher being Mr. W. Scott of Hatton. The +Head Secretary, Mr. S. Maudson Grant, was present and said he was "much +pleased with the work done." Lessons in stack thatching were given, in +September, in the yards of Mr. H. N. Coates, of Langton, Mr. R. Roberts, +of Thimbleby, and Mr. S. Harrison, of Roughton, to ten candidates, the +teacher being Mr. Isaac Storey, of West Ashby. These extended over four +days, and were pronounced by the General Secretary, Mr. S. Maudson Grant, +of Lincoln, to be "highly satisfactory." In November lessons in +under-draining were again given by Mr. W. Scott, of Hatton, on the farm +of Mr. Joseph Clifton, of Horsington, to two classes of candidates, those +over and those under 24 years of age, and were well attended. + +In 1897 hedge plashing lessons were given in February, on the farm of Mr. +S. Harrison, of Roughton, also by Mr. W. Scott, on three days, to two +classes, over and under 24 years of age, being also well attended; prizes +of 25/-, 20/-, and 15/- being given to each class; and two extra prizes +of 7/6. + +Poultry lectures were given, also in February, extending over six days, +at Mr. Bates Leedale's farm, at Woodhall, and at Mr. W. H. Holmes', of +Minting House, by Mr. W. Cook, the well-known chicken breeder, and +originator of the breed named "Orpingtons," of Orpington House, St. Mary +Cray, Kent (since deceased). These lectures created the greatest +interest; the audiences were crowded, at one lecture there being 127 +present; and as he visited many farmyards to give advice, and several +farmers bought valuable chickens from him, his visit may be said to have +materially improved the breed of fowls in the neighbourhood. + +In May of this year, 1897, it was decided at head-quarters to make a +change in the process of operations. Hitherto instruction in the country +parishes had been provided through the Committee of the Science and Art +School, at Horncastle, but from this date each parish was to have its own +Technical Education Committee, elected annually, with the other parish +officials; and these were to apply direct to the Head Secretary, at +Lincoln, for such instruction as they might think desirable, parishes +uniting for this purpose if they chose to do so. More money than +heretofore was now being expended on the Science and Art School in +Lincoln, and the grants for the country lessons were now greatly reduced. +Of this country instruction no record was henceforth kept at Horncastle, +and no detailed account can therefore be given here; the lessons have +been mainly confined to hedge plashing, ploughing, under-draining, and +such other practical subjects as suited the farmer, or agricultural +labourer. + +In conclusion it may be said that although it is yet too early to +prophecy, it would seem that a great future lies before us in the +development of education. Co-ordination of work between (as we have at +Horncastle) the endowed Infant School, the National Schools, Technical +Schools, and the "secondary" Grammar School, with higher-grade colleges, +should furnish a kind of educational ladder, by which the child of the +artizan, or rustic, may rise from the humblest position to the highest, +if he has the ability, and the will, to avail himself of the +opportunities thus placed within his reach. It is hardly too much to say +that the result may well be, that in the keen rivalry of nations, which +characterizes the present age, England should thus be enabled to more +than hold her own in the struggle of industrial life. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +THE DISPENSARY + + +May well be said to be the most important charity in the town, not only +from the valuable services which it has, through many years, rendered to +the suffering poor, but because it was a pioneer institution of its kind; +while the area of its usefulness has probably been more extensive than +that of any similar charity in the county. + +Dispensaries were established at Louth in the year 1803, at Lincoln in +1826, at Grantham in 1838, at Boston in 1852, at Market Rasen in 1857; +but Horncastle was in advance of the earliest of these by more than a +dozen years. Further, the records of the charity shew, that, in the +early years of its existence, patients were here treated from places so +distant as Spilsby, Friskney, Wainfleet, Trusthorpe, Theddlethorpe, +Alford, Fotherby, Marsh Chapel, Saltfleetby, Boston, Lincoln, Sleaford, +Grantham, and even beyond the county, from Loughborough, Hull, and +Beverley. + +This, it may be explained, was mainly due to the fact that it was +virtually the creation of a man who was, in many matters, in advance of +his time, that great public benefactor, Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., of +Revesby Abbey, who held the Manor of Horncastle, and took the greatest +interest in the welfare of the town and neighbourhood. + +At a preliminary meeting held at the Bull Inn, Horncastle, on Wednesday, +Oct., 28, 1789, it was resolved, apparently on his initiative, to +establish a dispensary; and this took formal shape on Dec. 3rd following, +when the governing body was elected, consisting of Sir Jos. Banks, +President, with Vice-Presidents the Honble. Lewis Dymoke, King's +Champion, Thomas Coltman, Esq., William Elmhirst, Esq., Treasurer, and +Richard Clitherow, Gent., legal adviser; the Honorary Physicians being +Edmund Laycock, M.D., and Edward Harrison, M.D., with Mr. John Chislett +as Surgeon and Apothecary. + +A code of rules was drawn up, which, with occasional revisions, to suit +changing circumstances, remain substantially the same to the present day. +A donation of 10 guineas constituted a life Governor, a legacy of the +like amount gave the trustee paying it the same privilege. An annual +subscription of one guinea made the subscriber a Governor during the +year. Church or chapel collections of two guineas secured governorship +for the year to the minister, and an additional Governor for each two +guineas so collected. The officials were to be a President, +Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer, elected annually at a special meeting of +the Governors. Other regulations, as to patients and their attendance, +numbered between 40 and 50. + +The institution was to be open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. +till noon, when the medical officers would prescribe for patients, +attending with a governor's nomination. Those unable to attend should be +visited at their homes. As a small practical beginning the wooden +framework of a shop was bought at Wainfleet, for the small sum of 5/5; +and drugs were ordered from the firm of Wallis & Stockton, of York; and a +further supply obtained from Messrs. Skeen & Peale, of London. + +The first building, which was used from 1789 till 1867, was No. 2 on the +south side of St. Mary's Churchyard, being rented for the sum of five +guineas a year, until it was purchased in Feb., 1810, for the +institution, jointly by Dr. Harrison and the Rev. John Fretwell, {120a} +for 111 pounds 2s. 8d., the conveyance being effected by Mr. Clitherow at +a charge of 13 pounds 15s. 8d. Improvements were made in this building, +at a cost of 13 pounds 5s., in 1812, and of 27 pounds 15s. 7d. in 1821. + +Of the first physicians, Dr. Laycock resigned office in his first year, +on Sept. 29th, 1790; but Dr. Harrison continued his duties for many +years, only retiring on Oct. 11th, 1821, shortly before his death. +Although that gentleman carried on a private asylum, for patients +mentally affected, at his own residence in West Street, {120b} he took a +great interest in the Dispensary, and was indefatigable in his +attendances, often at his own inconvenience. Moreover his pecuniary +assistance was not small; as, besides sharing in the purchase of the +premises in St. Mary's Churchyard, the accounts shew that in 1820 he paid +27 pounds, and in the following year 19 pounds 14s. 4d., for Dispensary +expenses, which sums were afterwards repaid to him by the Governors; and +(as will be shewn hereafter) he bequeathed at his death 100 pounds to the +funds. A vote of thanks was passed to him at the annual meeting of the +Governors in September of 1821, for a further gift of 21 pounds, with the +expression of their regret that his valuable services could no longer be +given. Associated with Dr. Harrison, in dispensary work, was Dr. +Fawssett, appointed on the resignation of Dr. Laycock, who loyally +co-operated with that gentleman for 33 years, and only survived him two +years, dying on Oct. 16th. 1823. + +Since that time almost all the medical men of the town have, in their +turns, rendered useful service to the Dispensary. It would be invidious +to single out any of these as being more capable, or more devoted to the +work, than others; but we may mention one exceptional case, which all +will recognize. From an early period medical pupils were allowed to +visit the Dispensary, in order to study special cases, and the treatment +they received from qualified practitioners. Among these was a young man, +Mr. E. P. Charlesworth, who virtually here received the early part of his +medical education. He afterwards, for some years, practised in +Horncastle; and in Dec., 1807, a resolution of the Governors was passed, +conveying to him their warm thanks for his generosity in relieving poor +patients, often at his own expense, and for his readiness to receive +them, for consultation, at his own residence, and to make up drugs for +them at all hours. He subsequently removed to Lincoln, and became a +noted physician, whose reputation extended considerably beyond the +county. During 33 years he was one of the most active medical advisers +and patrons of the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum; and, after his death in 1853, +a statue of him, in white marble, was erected in the grounds of that +institution. + + [Picture: High Street] + +All these medical attendants at the Dispensary gave their services +gratuitously until, at a general meeting, held on April 23rd, 1878, a +resolution was passed, that henceforth the two doctors should each be +paid 30 pounds a year, which has been the rule ever since. At that date +the late Dr A. E. Boulton resigned, and Mr. Robert Jalland and Dr. Haddon +were the first to receive this well-merited remuneration, attending to +their duties in alternate months. + +Scattered about the minute books of the institution are various notes, of +some interest, from which we here give a selection. On Feb. 23rd, 1790, +the Rev. John Fretwell, "sensible of the distresses of the sick poor, +gave one and a half guineas from the communion money, to be laid out in +salop sago and Bowen's sago powder, to be distributed at the discretion +of the faculty." Nov. 27th, 1790, cases of small pox having occurred in +the town, it was resolved to inoculate all poor persons, free of charge; +and thereafter many names are given of those who underwent the operation. +With this we may compare the following entry as indicating the progress +of medical science during 12 years. June 8th, 1802, an epidemic of small +pox having occurred, and "inoculation becoming general, the Governors +recommend vaccination." A statement was printed for circulation, that in +100,000 cases of vaccination, not one death had ensued; that it was now +practised in all parts of the world, and favourably received, and that +the National Institution of France had pronounced it to be the greatest +discovery of the last century. {122} + +Feb. 4th, 1792, has an entry, in no way bearing upon dispensary work, but +interesting as a memento of an old mode of conveyance. The proprietors +of the sedan chair asked permission for it to be kept at the Dispensary, +for which they were willing to pay one guinea annually; and this was +agreed to at the next meeting of the Governors. This chair was let out +to convey ladies to evening parties in the town. It was borne by two +men, and was in use within living memory, as late as "in the sixties." + +April 21st, 1792. A gift of apparatus for the recovery of drowned +persons, with a drag, was received from the Royal Humane Society of +London. A water bed was afterwards purchased, which was let out for a +small fee to poor patients, temporarily bed-ridden. + +On Nov. 28th, 1809, at a special meeting of the Governors, the usefulness +of the Dispensary was further extended by the appointment of a midwife, +to attend upon poor women in labor, both in town and country, being paid +from the funds of the charity, a fee of 3/6 for each case; and from the +year 1810 to 1829, inclusive, Mrs. Elizabeth Southwell is mentioned, from +time to time, as acting in that capacity. In the years 1829, 30 and 31, +owing to the increase in the number of patients, special appeals were +made to the landowners of the district for increased support. + +In July, 1834, a resolution was passed that doctors attending patients at +the Dispensary, might introduce pupils, to study cases under their +treatment; and, in one case, a lady applied for permission to attend a +course of instruction, in order that she might be enabled to assist her +husband in making up medicines. From 1840 to 1894 drugs were supplied by +Messrs. Herring & Co., of London, but since that they have been supplied +by local chemists, who are subscribers. + +In the autumn of 1840 there was an epidemic of scarlatina, and of the 237 +patients on the books, 50 were suffering from that complaint. In +consequence of the additional work thus caused, the salary of the +dispenser was raised from 40 to 60 pounds a year. + +Again, with regard to a new source of income, among early notices we find +the following: that on Sept. 29th, 1790, the first anniversary of the +Dispensary's formation, a sermon was preached, on its behalf, at a +service in the parish church, by the Rev. John Dymoke, Rector of +Scrivelsby, and Chaplain to his grace the Duke of St. Albans. This +became an annual observance, and has continued so ever since, the +preachers being selected with special care, and often from a considerable +distance. For instance, at the following anniversary, in 1791, the Rev. +Everard Duckworth, LL.D., Prebendary of Canterbury, was invited to +preach, and he being unable to undertake that office, the Rev. Peter +Bulmer, Vicar of Thorpe, officiated in his stead. Among other preachers +named we find the Rev. Basil Beridge, well-known for his works of +charity, Rector of Algarkirk, near Boston; the Rev. W. Goodenough, +Archdeacon of Carlisle; the Rev. E. R. Mantell, Vicar of Louth, and other +prominent clergy of the county. + +How widely the institution was appreciated is shewn by the number of +leading persons who gave it their patronage. Sir Joseph Banks was its +warmest supporter, through life, regularly attending the committee +meetings, either as a Governor or President, until his decease, June 19, +1820; and his example brought to the meetings members of the Chaplin, +Massingberd, and Heneage families, Lord Yarborough, and others, at no +small inconvenience, from considerable distances. + + [Picture: The Bull Ring] + +Among other Presidents have been the widowed Lady Banks; Lord Yarborough, +on several occasions; the Honble. and Rev. John Dymoke; to whom succeeded +the Honble. Henry, afterwards Sir Henry Dymoke, Bart.; Lord Worsley; the +Right Honble. E. Stanhope, M.P.; J. Banks Stanhope, Esq. After the death +of Mr. Stanhope, Jan. 18th, 1904, it was resolved, at a special meeting +of the Governors, Jan. 28th, that the Secretary should record, among the +minutes, their regret at his death, and their high appreciation of his +long and generous support. The chairman was requested to send a copy of +this to the Honble. Mrs. Stanhope; and at a meeting held on March 31st, +following, a very kind letter in reply was read from Mrs. Stanhope, +promising her support in the future, in lieu of that of the deceased +gentleman. The chairman was again requested to convey to her the thanks +of the Governors, and Mrs. Stanhope was elected and continued to be +President until her death, October 25th, 1907. + +Among Vice-Presidents have been two Earls Fortescue (father and son); +Lord Worsley: Sir Joseph Hawley, Bart.; J. Hassard Short, Esq.; Earl +Manvers; C. H. Massingberd Mundy, Esq.; General Sir E. Brackenbury, +Knight of Hanover; J. Lewis Ffytche, Esq.; Capt. Dallas York, Lord +Willoughby d'Eresby; Sir H. M. Hawley, Bart. + +For many years a ball was given in aid of the funds, in the Assembly +Room, Bull Hotel, Horncastle, which (with the exception perhaps of the +"stuff" ball at Lincoln) was the most fashionably attended of any such +gathering in the county. Among the stewards of this ball we find the +names of G. M. Alington, Esq., of Swinhope Hall; Joseph Livesey, Esq., +Stourton Hall; C. Waldo Sibthorpe, Esq., Canwick Hall; G. F. W. +Sibthorpe, Esq.; Col. Sibthorpe, M.P.; the Right Honble. C. T. +d'Egremont, M.P.; E. Heneage, Esq., M.P.; Capt. Mansell, of Well Hall; G. +B. Langton, Esq., of Langton Hall; J. Banks Stanhope, M.P.; Sir Montague +Cholmondly, Bart.; Sir Charles H. J. Anderson, of Lea, Bart.; Sir William +Ingilby, Bart., Ripley Castle, Yorks; Lord Yarborough; H. Handley, M.P., +Sleaford; Lord Amelius Beauclerk; Capt. Boucherett, North Willingham +Hall; Honble. Capt. Monson; Capt. Lionel Dymoke. + +Among the lady patronesses were Lady Worsley, the Duchess of St. Albans, +Lady Mary Christopher, Mrs. G. W. Sibthorpe, Lady Anderson, Mrs. Livesey, +Lady Nelthorpe, Lady Dymoke, Lady Albinia Pye. + +These balls were discontinued, to the general regret, and to the loss of +the dispensary, after the year 1871; and to make up for the loss Mr. J. +Banks Stanhope in that year presented the institution with a cheque for +20 pounds. + +We close this list of officials, with a brief account of the dispensers, +on whom the efficiency of the institution largely depended. They were +usually qualified chemists, or surgeons and apothecaries; and generally +also acted as secretaries. The first of these we have already named, Mr. +John Chislett, to him succeeded Mr. Lewis Bilton, secretary and +compositor, 1793-1799; L. Barton, compositor, 1799-1801; G. Lunn, +compositor, 1801-1807; John Lenton, compositor, 1807-1809; William +Morley, compositor, 1809-1810; Thomas Taylor, surgeon apothecary, +compositor, 1811-1826; Thomas Snaith, Surgeon, 1826-1834; William Ward, +surgeon and apothecary, 1834-1839; W. Shepherd, 1839-1840 (ad interim); +Francis Macarthur, {124} dispenser, 1840-1865; William Caunt, dispenser, +1865-75; William Betts, Chemist and Druggist, 1875, Lady-day; elected +secretary Nov. 2nd, 1882; his services have extended over a longer period +than those of any previous dispenser. + +On the death of the Champion, Sir Henry Dymoke, Bart., April 28th, 1865, +the Governors resolved to erect a new dispensary, as a memorial of his +long connection with the charity. Circulars were issued inviting +subscriptions, and, among other donors, Robert Vyner, Esq., of Gautby +Hall, gave 200 pounds; the site of 52, North Street, was purchased, and +the present building was erected in 1866. In 1867 the old house in the +churchyard was sold for 142 pounds 11s. 4d., and the new premises were +occupied in the autumn of that year. It was built from the designs of +Messrs. Bellamy & Hardy, Architects, of Lincoln, the contractor for the +work being Mr. Robert Carter, Builder, of North Street, Horncastle. The +original contract was for 765 pounds, but the ultimate cost, with +furniture, lawyer's expenses, &c., amounted to 1,026 pounds 10s. 11d. It +is subject to a ground rent of 1 pound to the Stanhope estate. + +Of late years the support, by subscriptions, has on several occasions +been inadequate. In January, 1899, there being a deficit of 70 pound, +the late Mr. J. Banks Stanhope gave the Governors a cheque for that +amount. In the year 1905, there being again a serious deficit, +application was made to the trustees of the Hurstcroft and Snowden +charity, and they contributed 20 pounds on condition that 25 poor +children should receive medical treatment free of charge. A further sum +of 53 pounds 14s. remaining as a surplus, in the hands of the Soup +Kitchen Committee, was also given to the funds. Canon Quarrington, +formerly Vicar of Horncastle, also contributed 20 pounds; and other +donations made up a relief fund of 106 pounds (see Report for the year). +The debt was thus wiped out, but death having carried off many former +subscribers, increased support will be needed in the future. + +Legacies have been bequeathed to the institution by various persons, at +different times, as follows: Dr. Harrison, by will dated Feb. 5th, 1820, +left 100 pounds; the late H. J. Fielding, Esq., who died Aug. 10th, 1879, +left by will 100 pounds; in 1884 the late Mr. T. Garfit bequeathed 100 +pounds; ten 10 pounds shares in the railway were bequeathed by Mrs. Fox +Marshall in 1897; 100 pounds was bequeathed by Mr. J. W. Hart, of +Tetford, in 1900; Mr. John Bancroft left 50 pounds in 1905; 357 pounds +were invested in Consols and 200 pounds in railway shares, in 1899; a +portion of this was sold in 1902, and 300 pounds were invested in the +Corn Exchange; the Dispensary premises were also insured for 800 pounds, +instead of 600 pounds, in the County Fire Office, in 1902. + +It will thus be seen that although the operations of the institution no +longer embrace the extended area of the early years of its existence, it +is still doing a most valuable work in the alleviation of suffering among +the poor and needy, in both town and country for many miles round, and is +thoroughly deserving of the increased support, which is required, to +continue its efficiency. We trust that this will be recognized by the +land owners and others, and that such assistance will be forthcoming. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +THE CANAL. + + +The Horncastle Canal, connecting for commerce the town with the river +Witham, and so with Lincoln, Boston, and the sea, though now a derelict, +was formerly of much value. Its history is here given from its earliest +inception. + +Horncastle having been for some centuries the chief market of an +important agricultural district, an association was formed towards the +close of the 18th century, with the title "The Company of Proprietors of +Horncastle Navigation, in the County of Lincoln." This was, in the year +1792, incorporated by an Act of Parliament, which gave a list of the +names of the original members, and secured to them, and to their +successors, perpetual possession of the same, and a common seal. The +canal was to be 11 miles long, extending from the junction of the two +rivers, Bain and Waring, which traverse the town and meet at the point +where now stands the public swimming bath, to the Witham at Tattershall; +and passing through the parishes of Thornton, Martin, Dalderby, Roughton, +Haltham, Kirkby, Coningsby, and Tattershall. + +The company had at first a capital of 15,000 pounds in 50 pound shares, +no member being allowed to hold less than one share or more than 20. The +surveyors for the undertaking were Messrs. Robert Stickney and Samuel +Dickinson. + +When about two-thirds of the work was completed this capital was +exhausted; and in the year 1800 a second Act of Parliament was obtained, +which authorised the raising of a supplementary sum of 20,000 pounds in +shares of 50 pounds; additional members being enrolled, and mortgages +raised on the tolls. The whole profits of the concern, for several +years, were absorbed in paying off the debt thus contracted, so that no +dividend accrued for the shareholders until the year 1813. The channel, +from Horncastle to Dalderby, was an entirely new cut, the rest being the +river Bain deepened and straightened in its course. It was adapted for +the passage of vessels of 50 tons burden; and in the whole length of 11 +miles there was a fall of 84 feet. + +The original rate of charges was 2/- per ton for the whole length of the +canal, 1/9 to the seventh lock, and 1/3 to the fourth lock; vessels laden +with lime, manure, or material for roads, were granted free passage. +{127} By the second Act of Parliament, in 1800, the charges were raised +to 3/3 per ton for the whole length of the canal, 2/7 to the seventh +lock, and 1/6 to the fourth lock; lime, manure, and road material being +exempted, as before. + + [Picture: The Canal] + +The whole structure was completed in the autumn of 1802, and the canal +was formally opened on Friday, Sept. 17th of that year. The occasion was +observed as a general holiday by the towns-folk. At one o'clock the +boats the Betsy of Horncastle, and the Martha of Dalderby, the property +of Messrs. Gilliat & Wilson, and the British Queen, owned by Mr. Boyers, +were hauled into the two basins of the canal, elaborately decorated with +colours, amid the cheers of spectators, who are said to have numbered +more than 2,000. The vessels having been brought to, several salutes +were fired, and a band of music, on the pleasure boat of Mr. Lane, played +"God save the King," "Rule Britannia," "Hearts of Oak," &c. Having +traversed some distance on the canal the company afterwards landed at the +wharfs on the two branches, and a large number of the shareholders +partook of a festive repast at the Greyhound Inn, East Street, near the +south basin. The navvies and other workmen who had been employed in the +construction of the canal, were also regaled on the boats, and afterwards +feasted at the Greyhound. + +In following years an excursion was made annually by the Directors, +conveyed down the canal, in a fine barge, which was their own property, +named "The Lady Banks," in order to inspect its condition; and this was +followed by a public dinner at the Bull Hotel, which continued to be an +established institution during the period of the canal's prosperity. + +The shares quickly rose considerably in value; a great number of barges +came to the town, and it was no uncommon occurrence to see the whole +distance from the South bridge to the Bow bridge packed closely with +heavily laden vessels, carrying coals, grain, or other merchandise. In +1836 it was computed that about 30,000 quarters of wheat, and 3,000 packs +of wool, passed through the canal annually; and in 1850 the profits of +the traffic amounted to about 2,000 pounds a year. + +Consequent on the opening of the railway in August, 1855, the canal, as a +means of goods conveyance, gradually became disused, until, of late +years, it has become worse than a mere derelict, since it forms an +obstruction to the free passage of the water brought down by the two +rivers, and after heavy rain it has led to temporary inundations of the +town, to the great inconvenience of those residing near it, as well as +interfering, as might in some circumstances be serious, with the sanitary +arrangements. + +A few years ago an attempt was made to restore the canal traffic, but the +railway monopoly had become too thoroughly established, and the project +failed; yet the competition, could it have been maintained, might have +had a salutary effect upon the cost of railway conveyance, to the +advantage of the general public. + +Our canals, it should be remembered, are a time-honoured institution; the +Lincolnshire Cardyke and Fossdyke date from the period of the Roman +occupation of this country. The Magna Charta of the early 13th century +took cognizance, not only of the roads, called "The King's Highway," but +also of inland navigation, under the term "Haut streames de le Roy." The +latter half of the 18th century was remarkable for great achievements as +regards internal waterways, notably in the Bridgewater Canal, and the +Grand Junction Canal of London; and to this period, as we have seen, the +Horncastle Canal belongs. + +In this twentieth century, again, notwithstanding the great railway +facilities, there is a wide-spread movement in favour of extended water +traffic, headed by the very successful Suez Canal; with a prospect of the +sister channel of Panama. Berlin is said to owe its prosperity largely +to its well-organized system, connecting the rivers Oder, Elbe, Spree, +&c., which have an annual traffic of some million and half tons. Our own +Manchester Ship Canal is another instance; the most recent case being +fresh developments of the Aire and Calder Navigation, in South Yorkshire. +The canals, too, which have been recently constructed in India, are +yielding, by the latest reports, {128} a handsome revenue to the +Government, as well as greatly benefiting the native population. + +It is acknowledged that a more general use of waterways, throughout the +kingdom for the cheaper transport of our heavier and more bulky produce, +would be a national boon; and a Royal Commission was engaged in +considering the subject of the acquisition of all canals as Government +property. {129a} + +It is now being more and more recognised that, on the establishment of +railways, everyone jumped too hastily to the conclusion that the days of +canals were over; whereas, in truth, there is still a large field, +probably an increasing field, for the cheaper traffic in heavy goods, +which canals can provide for. The Belgian town of Bruges, though +situated several miles inland, is now to be converted into a port by the +government of that country, through the creation of a canal, which is +expected to increase the prosperity of that city. Similarly it is +suggested that our own town of Nottingham could be made a great inland +port, if water carriage were provided; and Sir John Turney, before the +Royal Commission, has recently (July, 1907) stated that the trade of that +town might thus be greatly increased. These, be it remembered, are not +isolated cases. + + [Picture: On the Canal] + +As to our own local interests, we may reasonably regret that, after so +much money being invested in the Horncastle Canal, and the serious losses +incurred by so many investors, no further effort should be made to +utilize it. The trade of Horncastle is not so satisfactory but that we +might welcome every adjunct, which could in any way contribute to its +furtherance; while, even from an aesthetic point of view, it were +desirable that, with the present dilapidated locks, and the banks in some +places broken, the channel, which is in parts little more than a shallow +bed of mud, befouled by garbage and carrion, or choked by a matted growth +of weeds, should be superceded by a flow of water, pure and emitting no +pestiferous exhalations. + + + +THE RAILWAY. + + +In few things has there been more remarkable evolution, or we might even +say, revolution, than in our methods of locomotion. In these days of +historic pageants we might well conceive of a series of scenes passing +before us, shewing the means adopted at different periods, or under +different conditions, in this respect. The war-chariot of Queen +Boadicea, charging the legions of Caesar, or (in our own neighbourhood) +that of the British warrior Raengeires, routing his Saxon foes, at +Tetford, with their wheels of solid wood and other massive carpentry, +would form a, then inconceivable, contrast to the future taximeter cab, +to be evolved in this 20th century. + +The lumbering "wain" of the Saxon churl, though still surviving in the +name of a constellation, befitted only an age little advanced beyond +barbarism. + +The primitive "shout" (Dutch "schuyt"), or "dug-out" boat, hollowed by +Celtic flint-axe from the bole of a mighty oak, and slowly propelled by +the almost wild Girvian, through the tangle of fen morass, had but a +remote connection with the steam packet which, within living memory, +plied on the neighbouring Witham, between Boston and Lincoln. Although +the speed of the latter was so slow, that (as a friend of the writer has +done) a pedestrian, travelling by road, could reach either of those +places, from our town of Horncastle, in less time than it took to go by +carrier's van to Kirkstead wharf, and thence by the said steamer. + +While, again, both these would provoke only a smile of contempt in the +voyager who now crosses the atlantic, at a rate of 20 knots or more in +the hour. Then, again, compare with these the cyclist, who now flashes +past us with the speed of lightning; or the motorist, who vanishes from +our sight, almost before the dust he has raised is blown away. + +Another humbler mode of progress, again, was a familiar sight in our +boyhood, when the farmer's wife jogged contentedly to market, seated on a +pillion, behind her husband, and carrying her butter, eggs, or chickens, +in roomy market baskets by her side. Even the gig, to carry two, of the +better bucolic class, has now become obsolete, as the train pours out, at +the station, its living stream of market folk, male and female, within a +few minutes of leaving their own doors several miles away. + +As to our country roads we are, it is true, well supplied with them, but +a pageant view of the past, such as we have here conceived, would reveal +to us our British forefathers, toiling, in wearied gangs, under Roman +task-masters, at the forced labour of road making; by which the town's +markets and chartered fairs were to be accessible, from all directions, +for generations yet unborn. In our present iron ways, we might well +suppose that we have attained the highest evolutionary stage in +expeditious traffic; but who, indeed, shall venture to gainsay, that as a +sequel to our wireless telegraphy, we may one day eschew the mundane +altogether, and become a race of aeronauts. + +The Great Northern loop line, connecting Boston and Lincoln with +Peterborough and Grantham, and so with the further north and south, was +opened in October, 1848. At that date, except the "Navigation" for heavy +goods, such as corn, coal, &c., there were only coaches, once a day, for +public conveyance to Boston, Lincoln, Market Rasen, and Louth. But +through the enterprise of Mr. Samuel Sketchley, of Horncastle, Solicitor, +of the old firm of Selwood and Conington, an Act of Parliament was, not +without difficulty, obtained, July 10th, 1854, for the construction of a +branch line, running from Kirkstead to Horncastle; the importance of this +event being recognised by a joyous peal of the parish church bells being +rung, and crowds parading the streets, at 10 o'clock at night, at which +hour the news arrived. The next day the rejoicings were continued, the +bells of St. Mary's Church being again rung, while the tower of the +church was adorned with a tricolour flag, bearing the inscription "God +speed the railway," and crowds again passed through the streets, headed +by the town band and a large tricolour standard. + +The construction of the line was begun in April of the following year, +1855; the contractors being Messrs. Smith & Knight. The original capital +of the company was 48,000 pounds, in 10 pound shares, but the ultimate +cost was about 60,000 pounds. The G.N.R. Company undertook the working, +paying half the receipts to the shareholders; and as, for the distance +(about 7.5 miles), the expenditure was, compared with that of many such +undertakings, small, so, as an investment, the enterprise proved a +profitable one, few lines yielding so good a return for the outlay; the +10 pound shares still (in 1907) sell at nearly half as much again (14 +pounds 17s. 3d., July, 1907). + +A brief account may well here be given of the opening ceremony of this +important event in the town's history, condensed from the public journals +of the day. The line was examined by the Government Inspector, Colonel +Wynn, and a few days later Mr. Seymour Clarke, the G.N.R. manager, stated +that it could not be in a more efficient condition. The opening ceremony +was fixed for Aug. 12th, 1855. At an early hour the town was crowded +with visitors and shops were closed. At 7 a.m. 2,500 lbs. of beef were +distributed among the poorer people. Peals of bells were rung, the +Horncastle and Spilsby bands added their music of popular airs. The +streets and station were profusely decorated, under the direction of Mr. +Crowder, florist, Mr. John Osborne, parish clerk, Mr. Archbould, head +gardener to Sir H. Dymoke, Mr. Nelson from Stourton Hall, and a local +committee. Flags displayed the arms of the town, those of Sir H. Dymoke, +Mr. J. Banks Stanhope, the Bishop of Carlisle, then lord of the manor, +the Rose of England, and the Union Jack. About noon a procession was +formed in the Bull Ring, to meet the Directors of the G.N.R., by Mr. F. +Harwood, master of the ceremonies, in the following order: + + + + Navvy bearing bronzed pickaxe and shovel. + + Banner. + + Navvies, four abreast. + + Banner. + + Two navvies, bearing silver-gilt wheelbarrow. + + Banners. + + Horncastle Brass Band. + + + +Contractor. Engineer. + +Secretary. Solicitor. + +Auditor. Auditor. + + + +Banners. Directors, two abreast. Banners. + + Churchwarden, Dr. B. J. Boulton. + + The Vicar, Rev. W. H. Milner. + +Banners. Shareholders and their friends, four Banners. + abreast. + + Spilsby Brass Band. + + Parish Clerk, Mr. J. C. Osborne, in his + robes, preceded by his Standard Bearer. + +Banner. Members of the various Clubs, with Banner. + Banners. + +Banner. 1,000 School Children, 4 abreast. Banner. + + The Public. + +The procession marched from the Bull Ring to the Railway Station, where +the elders of the party on the platform, and the children, with their +banners, ranged on the opposite side, awaited the arrival of the train +bringing the G.N.R. Directors, and as it drew up the bands played "See +the Conquering Hero comes." + +The procession, augmented by the directors, then re-formed, and marched +through the town; in the Bull Ring the National Anthem was sung. A large +marquee was erected in the grounds of Mr. R. C Armstrong (now Mrs. +Howland's garden), adjoining South Street, in which the contractors, +Messrs. Smith & Knight, provided for the directors and shareholders, and +other guests, in all over 200, a splendid dinner, served in excellent +style, by Messrs. Wilson and Serpell, of the Bull Hotel. The Honble. Sir +H. Dymoke presided, as Chairman of the Horncastle and Kirkstead Railway +Co.; being supported on his right by Mr. Hussey Packe and Mr. C. Chaplin, +Directors of the G.N.R., Major Amcotts and Sir M. J. Cholmeley, and on +his left by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., M.P., Director of the Horncastle +Railway, and Rev. W. H. Milner, Vicar. Congratulatory speeches were +made, and the day closed with a fine display of fireworks. + +Opened under such favourable auspices, and supplying a felt need, the +railway has continued to be a success; improvements have been made, from +time to time, in the stations at Horncastle and Woodhall Spa. The line +continues to be a single one, but it is sufficient for the local +requirements, and the shares, as before mentioned, at the present time +(1907) find a ready sale at an advance of about 50 per cent. on their +original price. We might add that if the railway could be continued to +Spilsby, and then connected with the different lines running to the +Skegness, Mablethorpe and other health resorts on the coast, its utility, +and doubtless its paying value, would be largely increased, as it would +shorten the distance by many miles. + + + + +CHAPTER X. +WORKHOUSE OR UNION. + + +We now notice the chief of those public institutions, and the buildings +connected therewith, which have been established in the town, within more +recent times, for its welfare, or its adornment; in order to bring its +corporate efficiency into more complete accord with the advanced +requirements of what may be called modern municipal life. Among these +the foremost place, from its general importance, is naturally due to the +Union, or Workhouse; and here it is necessary to make some preliminary +remarks. + +The workhouse, or union, for a large district is a comparatively recent +creation. "The poor" we have had "always with" us, but they have not +always been dealt with as they now are. By statute 23 Edward III. +(1349), it was enacted that "none should give alms to a beggar who was +able to work." By common law the really deserving poor were to be +assisted "by parsons and parishioners, so that none should die for +default of sustenance." By Act, 15 Richard II. (1392), impropriators +(_i.e._ laymen holding church property) were bound to contribute a +certain yearly sum to the poor of the parish, but no compulsory law was +passed till 27 Henry VIII. (1536). The present poor law system dates +from 43 Eliz. (1601); successive amendment acts being passed from 1836 to +1847, and again in 1861; and a further relief act in 1862. + +At first parishes regulated their own methods and amounts of relief. For +a long period, indeed, the labouring class were subject to strict legal +rules, both as to service, and in their individual movements. It was +quite an innovation when, in 23 Henry VI. (1445), a servant was permitted +to change masters after giving due notice; and when moving, or, as it is +locally called, "flitting," from one parish to another, for employment, +he had to produce a certificate of settlement from his last abode. In +such matters the overseers were paramount, until their powers were +transferred to the newly constituted guardians of the poor, by Act of +Parliament, in 1839. {133} + +The "workhouse" preceded the "union," which latter term was adopted when +parishes, throughout a large district, were _united_ for the purposes of +poor relief. {134a} In some cases a country parish had its own +workhouse. For instance, old parish books of Thimbleby, {134b} show that +in 1819 20 pounds was spent upon the village workhouse, which was insured +for 200 pounds. + +Among some old churchwardens' records, in the possession of Mr. John +Overton, of Horncastle (members of whose family have frequently held that +office), it is mentioned that early in the 18th century a "public oven" +was erected in the town to enable the poor to cook their meals, or to +bake the "black bread," then in common use, {134c} more conveniently than +they could at home. {134d} At a later date (1780) a spinning school was +established by public rate, to help the poor to earn a livelihood by a +home industry. {134e} + +An important advance was made in poor relief, in 1735, when, as the same +records state, "on April 17 a committee was appointed, {134f} in +Horncastle, to build a workhouse," and on May 7th in the following year a +brief note gives the cost of the building as being 175 pounds 13s. 4d. +This was situated on the east side of St. Mary's Square, separated by a +few yards from the Grammar School, the site being now (1908) occupied by +a common lodging house. It continued to be the public workhouse for over +100 years; and that the poor, who needed relief, were generally expected +to enter as inmates, is shewn by another brief note, in the same records, +to the following effect: "May 2nd, 1781. Out payments discontinued, +except in sickness." + +It was not till 1838 that the present workhouse, in Foundry Street, was +built, from the designs of Mr.--afterwards Sir--Gilbert Scott, being one +of his earliest undertakings {134g} It is a commodious structure, +capable of accommodating 260 inmates; and, with grounds attached, covers +an area of between four and five acres. It is now known as "The Union," +and the union district embraces 69 parishes, represented by 76 guardians, +to whom, as already stated, the former duties of the overseers were +transferred in 1839. + +The Rev. Canon A. E. Moore is the present Chaplain. + + + +THE COURT HOUSE. + + +The majesty of the law has not always been so worthily domiciled in +Horncastle as during the last forty years. In Stukeley's map of the +town, dated 1722, the Sessions House is placed at the south-east corner +of the "Mercat Place," where there now (1908) stands a small refreshment +house. The cells for prisoners probably formed the basement of this +building, as there is no known record of their being confined elsewhere, +until the year 1821, when what was called the "Round House" was built, at +the north-east corner of the Market Place, opposite the present Lord +Nelson Inn. This was a small circular building, having two cells, with a +colonnade running round it, which formed a shelter for market women +selling butter, eggs, &c. The foundations of this structure were so +shallow that it is on record that a prisoner, in the course of one night, +scratched a passage under the wall and effected his escape. {135} This +prison was demolished in 1853, when the present police station was built, +facing the Wong, at a cost of 500 pounds, having four cells, for 12 +prisoners, and a residence for a superintendent and constable. + + [Picture: The Court House] + +Some years later fresh premises were rented for the magistrates, on the +south side of the High Street, adjoining the George Hotel, now extinct, +though then a leading establishment. That site is now occupied by the +Lincoln and Lindsey Bank. + +In 1843 the magistrates' office was transferred to what is now 19, Bull +Ring, part of the shop of Messrs. Robinson, Drapers. All these premises +proving inadequate for their purpose, the present Court House was built +in 1865, on the site of the former parish stocks, the site, a slight +rising ground, being called "Stocks' Hill," at a cost of 3,000 pounds. +The architect was Mr. C. Reeves, of London, the builder Mr. Huddleston, +of Lincoln. The furniture was supplied by Messrs. Pike & Wright, of +Horncastle; gas fittings by Mr. Murrell, of Chelsea. + +In this handsome building, of white brick, there is accommodation for +many branches of public, local and county business. As a possession the +Court House is the property of the Board of Works, in London, the county +authorities paying to them a rent of 10 pounds, for the use of it by the +magistrates. + + + +THE STANHOPE MEMORIAL. + + +This handsome structure was erected under the following circumstances. +The Right Honble. Edward Stanhope, who had represented the Horncastle +Division in Parliament, with much distinction, from the year 1874, died +rather suddenly, as the result of hard work, in his official capacity, on +Dec. 22, 1893, to the great grief of the entire constituency; when it was +universally felt that his services merited some public recognition. +Various meetings were held, and at length, on Jan. 22nd, 1897, at a +gathering in the Masonic Hall, a committee was appointed to carry out the +scheme. The design of the Memorial was intrusted to the architect, Mr. +E. H. Lingen Barker, of Hereford, Messrs. Walter & Hensman, of +Horncastle, being the contractors for the work. + +The ceremony of inauguration was performed by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., +formerly M.P. for the Division, on Feb. 2nd, 1899, in the presence of the +Earl and Countess Stanhope, and other distinguished persons on the +platform, and a vast crowd from the neighbourhood filling the entire +Market Place. This was followed by a public luncheon in the Corn +Exchange. + +The site chosen was the centre of the Market Place, as that, along with +the market dues, had been made over to the town as a free gift, by the +Right Honble. gentleman, as Lord of the Manor. The following is the +official description of the monument, as published at the time of its +erection. The structure is 31-ft. 6-in. in height. It stands on a +massive foundation of concrete; with three tiers of Yorkshire stone +steps, each 15-in. wide, running round the base leading up to the +monument proper, their shape being octagonal. With the exception of two +strings of Dumfries' red stone, the lower part is of Monk's Park stone. +Above this is a moulded string course, and on each face are shafts of +Aberdeen red granite, with moulded caps and bases. The panels are filled +with diaper work; and in each alternate panel are arms of the Stanhope +family, and the arms of the town, with an inscription to the memory of +the Right Honble. E. Stanhope, and a medallion, with bust, in relief, of +the same. These panels are surmounted by moulded and carved cinquefoil +panels, surmounted by carved finials. Above these, again, are eight +columns of polished granite, supporting the superstructure, and these +also have eight trefoil dormers, simpler than those below, each finished +with a finial of gun metal. Above these are eight gun metal columns, +having trefoiled heads, with foliated finials and moulded cornice; and on +these rests the spirette, constructed of oak and covered with lead, with +eight other dormers, which complete the whole. The total cost was 552 +pounds 12s. 3d., raised by subscriptions, a small balance being handed +over to the public Dispensary. + + + +THE CLERICAL CLUB. + + +The Clerical Club was founded in 1822; a room was rented on the premises +of Mr. James Babington, Bookseller, in the High Street (now occupied by +Mr. J. S. Balding, Butcher), where the members met for discussion, and +gradually established a good library. + + [Picture: The Stanhope Memorial] + +The first members enrolled were the Rev. the Hon. the King's Champion, +John Dymoke, Rector of Scrivelsby; the Revs. J. B. Smith, Head Master of +the Grammar School; C. N. L'Oste, Rector of Claxby; Francis Rockliffe, +Rector of Fulletby; Robert Spranger, D.D., Rector of Low Toynton (and of +Grosvenor Street, Grosvenor Square, London); John Mounsey, Rector of +Gautby; Thomas Roe, Rector of Kirkby-on-Bain; E. Brackenbury, Rector of +Aswardby; W. Dodson, Rector of Well; F. Swan, Rector of Sausthorpe; and +others holding benefices scattered over a wide area, but several of them +living in Horncastle. + +The Club was formally opened in the following year, when several more +members were added; the Honble. John Dymoke being elected President, Dr. +Clement Madeley, Vicar of Horncastle, Vice-President, with Dr. J. B. +Smith as Secretary, in which capacity he did valuable service, in +increasing the membership and adding to the efficiency of the +institution, which flourished for many years. + +In later times, especially on the lamented death of Dr. Smith, and the +creation of circulating libraries, such as that of Messrs. Mudie, in +London, the numbers of subscribers fell off considerably. The books were +transferred to various quarters; at first to the house of the late Mr. +John Osborne, parish clerk, himself no mean scholar and student, +afterwards to the residence of the head master of the Grammar School, +where they remained for some years, under successive masters, still +available for members of the club. + +On June 8th, 1892, Canon Quarrington, Vicar of Horncastle, Revs. J. C. +Hudson, Vicar of Thornton, and J. Conway Walter, Rector of Langton, were +appointed a sub-committee, with instructions to find a permanent club +room, or to give the books to the Lincoln Diocesan Library. In September +of that year Dr. Madge, Head Master, offered to keep the books, to act as +Librarian, and admit members to them two or three days a week in his +house. + +In January, 1893, the present writer was commissioned with Dr. Madge, to +examine the books, when there was found to be 799 in good condition, 69 +missing. The Secretary of the Lincoln Diocesan Library was communicated +with, and at a meeting of the committee of that library, held on Feb. 24, +1893, the offer of the books was accepted, and they were in due course +transferred to that institution. + +On May 17th, 1894, the Rev. J. Conway Walter, with three others, was +commissioned to obtain a supply of books from a circulating library at +Lincoln. Eventually Mudie's library was established at the shop of Mr. +H. Willson, Bookseller, Horncastle; Mr. W. K. Morton opened a +subscription library, and Messrs. W. H. Smith opened a book stall at the +station. These three still continue: the original Clerical Club books +being still available, with others, at the library in the Chapter House +of Lincoln Cathedral. + +There was at one time a _Literary Society_ in Horncastle, which used to +meet at the Bull Hotel, in a small room, now the bar, beneath the large +ball room, on a level with the street. Among the most active members of +this was John Brown, the late, so-called, Horncastle "Poet Laureate," +whose poems were published in 1890, by the Rev. J. Conway Walter, in a +volume entitled _Literae Laureatae_, dedicated to Lord Tennyson. Another +prominent member was the late Mr. Thomas Baker, who was an amateur actor +and clever ventriloquist, as well as a great cricketer. In his early +years he was engaged by the father of Sir Evelyn Wood to teach the +village boys cricket in Essex. His bowling was of the old roundhand +style; in which he bowled to Fuller Pilch, the greatest batsman of his +day; and also to Dr. W. G. Grace, now of the Crystal Palace; and, many +years ago, in a match against a crack 11, including three University +players and one professional, he bowled them all out for 11 runs. He +also bowled out the captain of the All England Eleven with his first +ball. He died Feb. 12th, 1903, aged 88. + + + +THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. + + +Mechanics' Institutes were first established in the earlier half of the +19th century. The first known was that founded in London by the famous +Dr. Birkbeck in 1823; another being opened in the same year in Glasgow; +after which they became general. As Horncastle was in advance of other +towns in the county in its valuable Dispensary (see p. 119), so it would +seem to have preceded other towns, with the exception of Lincoln, in +catering for the growing taste for literature. The Mechanics' Institute +was founded in the year 1834. It was first located in Union Street, now +called Queen Street, and soon received the support of all classes. The +building, which consisted of one large room, was situated on the west +side of the street, on the site where now stands the private residence, +No. 18. + +Soon after the erection of the Corn Exchange, in 1856, the Mechanics' +Institute was transferred to that building; two upper rooms being +occupied, as library and reading room; the former premises in Queen +Street being sold to the late Mr. Joseph Parish, who used them for sales, +public meetings, dances, and so forth, until in 1866 he erected on the +site a private residence for himself. + +After some years the introduction of the above named branch of the +popular London Library of Messrs. Mudie & Co., at the shop of Mr. Hugh +Willson, Bookseller, in the Bull Ring, followed by the subscription +library of Mr. W. K. Morton, in the High Street, and that of Messrs. W. +H. Smith & Sons, at the Railway Station, reduced the numbers of the +subscribers to "The Mechanics," and it was removed to smaller premises in +Bank Street; and eventually this same cause led to the Institute being +closed. On January 14th, 1886, a meeting was held in the library to +determine its future, the result being that the Secretary, Mr. W. Betts, +and the members of the committee resigned, Jan. 21st, and the books, &c., +were removed to a small chamber at the Gas House, in Foundry Street, +another small room there being used as a temporary reading room. These +were closed about the year 1894, the books remaining stowed away. About +the year 1899 an effort was made by the late W. Brown, of the Capital and +Counties' Bank, to get the books transferred to the Technical School in +Queen Street, of the committee of which he was chairman; with the object +that they might be once more rendered available for public use; but this +project fell through. + +In 1905 the library was finally broken up by the late Mr. Joseph Willson, +the last survivor of the Managing Committee, who sold the less valuable +among the books by auction in Lincoln, the rest being divided between the +permanent subscription library of Mr. W. K. Morton, Bookseller, High +Street, and that of the Grammar School. + +It is much to be regretted that a valuable collection of books thus +ceased to be public property. A catalogue of the library, published by +Mr. W. Johnson, Bookseller, High Street, in 1865, shows that the number +of volumes was at that date 1,468, with annual additions; while in 1879 a +bequest was made by the late Henry James Fielding, Esq., of Handel House, +South Street, of about 230 volumes of standard works, bringing the total +up to about 1,750 volumes. (Classified List, published by W. K. Morton, +1879.) + +The first librarian was Mrs. Wood, assisted by her daughter (afterwards +Mrs. Panton). She was succeeded by Miss South, who was followed by Miss +Stephenson, and she was succeeded by Mrs. W. Johnson. + +The late Mr. Henry Nicholson acted as secretary, and for several years +took a great interest in all that concerned the Institute, until his +prolonged serious illness, which ended fatally in June, 1900. Mr. C. +Hensman was treasurer while the library was at the Corn Exchange, +resigning when it was removed to Banks Street. During the same period +the late Mr. Berridge, Master of the Union, acted as Secretary, and was +succeeded by Mr. W. Betts, of the Dispensary, who only held that post two +years, before the Institute was closed. + +There were in the library, besides the books, a quantity of weapons of +war from the South Sea Islands, some cases of objects of natural history; +valuable sepia paintings by the late Rev. C. P. Terrot, of Wispington, an +almost unrivalled artist in his own line; and several fine Roman vases +exhumed in the town; all these were disposed of by Mr. Joseph Willson, +only surviving trustee, now deceased. + + + +THE CORN EXCHANGE. + + +The Corn Exchange is a spacious and lofty building of brick, with stone +facings, capable of holding 500 persons, situated on the south side of +the High Street, and standing on what was formerly the eastern wall of +the old Roman castle; a well of pure water, still in use, under the +adjoining house, having been just within the wall of that fortress. It +was opened on July 5th, 1856. From the terms of the original deed of +settlement of the company we may give the following items. + +The Indenture, dated July 18th, 1855, was registered the 31st of the same +month; the agreement being, on the first part, between Thomas Armstrong, +Merchant; Henry Turner, Land Agent; George Wright, Merchant; Henry +Nicholson, Draper; William Preston Carlton, Chemist; and others, all of +Horncastle; with certain residents in the neighbourhood on the second +part; and Frederick W. Tweed, of Horncastle, Gentleman, as trustee to +give effect to the covenant, on the third part. The said parties agree +to form themselves a Joint Stock Company, within the meaning of the Act 7 +and 8 Victoria, c. 110, to provide a building for the purposes, according +to these presents, viz., a Corn Exchange, which can also be used for +concerts, exhibitions, and other public objects, on such terms as the +committee may think fit. + +The capital of the company to be 3,000 pound, in 600 shares of 5 pounds +each; annual meetings of shareholders to be held on May 2nd; any five, or +more, owning 25 shares, may require the directors to convene an +extraordinary meeting. The capital may be increased by additional shares +of 5 pounds, not exceeding 300; money may be borrowed on mortgage, not +exceeding at any one time 1,500 pounds. {140} One-third of the original +directors to retire in May, 1856, being eligible for re-election. In +May, 1857, one-half of the remaining original directors to retire; and +similarly in succeeding years one-third to retire in rotation, according +to seniority. Any director to forfeit office on ceasing to hold five +shares; anyone intending to apply for directorate, to give at least 10 +days' notice. Directors to meet at least once every three months; any +two directors may require the secretary to convene a meeting, at any +time, for any desirable special object. + +The Court of Directors to apply to the Privy Council (Board of Trade) for +permission to purchase, or rent, land or buildings, as may seem to be +needed; or to let, or lease, buildings, offices, &c., as they may think +fit; or to make mortgages, conveyances, &c., for the purposes of the +company. A reserve fund (by clause 67) to be established, by setting +apart one per cent of the profits in any year; the accumulation to be +employed for the benefit of the company, as may seem to them desirable. +Shares to be sold (by clause 68) for the benefit of the company, by a +vote of a majority at a general meeting. No sum beyond 400 pounds, at +any one time, to be negotiated by promissory note or bill of exchange. + + [Picture: Watermill Road during the Flood, Dec., 31, 1900] + +That a report be presented, and dividend declared, at an annual meeting, +on March 25th, with seven days' notice to each shareholder. A common +seal to be kept in a place of safety, and affixed to all legal documents, +by the secretary, in the presence of three directors. Henry Nicholson, +Draper, to be the first auditor, paid as committee of directors decide. +Samuel Sketchley to be the first solicitor; and the Lincoln and Lindsey +Bank the company's bank. Thomas Armstrong, Timothy Collinson, and Robert +Edwin Kemp to be the first trustees of the company. + +The books may be inspected by any shareholder, between 10 a.m. and 4 +p.m., in the presence of the secretary, or other person nominated in +accordance with Act 7 and 8 Victoria, c. 110. By clause 89 it was +provided that, in case of the company being wound up, the chairman should +declare the company to be dissolved with all convenient speed; all +property to be sold, and converted into ready money, to meet all claims; +a final distribution of assets to be made; no sale by private contract to +any shareholder being allowed. This deed was signed, sealed, and +delivered by the said F. W. Tweed, and witnessed by J. S. Cropper, +Horncastle, July 18th, 1855. + +On Nov. 6th, 1889, a meeting was held to consider whether the company +should be wound up; but it was decided to continue it, and of late years +the financial position of the company has improved; the report for 1906 +shews total receipts for the past year, 145 pounds 13s. 1d.; expenditure +87 pounds 2s. 10d.; leaving balance 58 pounds 10s. 3d.; allowing a +dividend of 1 pound 10s. per cent., the sum of 6 pounds 0s. 3d. being +still in hand. Offices on the same premises are rented by Mr. Reuben +Roberts, Corn Merchant. + + + +THE WHELPTON ALMSHOUSES. + + +The Whelpton Almshouses are situated in Queen Street, on its east side, +being six small residences, for the reception of deserving poor persons, +natives of the town. They were established in the year 1861, under the +following circumstances. + +The late Mr. Geo. Whelpton was a shoemaker, occupying a small shop, one +of several then standing in the Market Place, on or near the site of the +present Stanhope Memorial; {142a} the whole of these being cleared away +when the late Honble. Edward Stanhope presented that piece of ground to +the town, for the enlargement of the Market Place. He resided in a small +house in Stonewell Row, but afterwards removed into better premises in +Queen Street. While living in Stonewell Row he purchased some furniture +cheap, at an auction, and in a drawer of one of the articles purchased he +found a recipe, said to have been written by a Boston doctor, for the +medicine eventually to become known universally as "Whelpton's Pills" (a +powerful stomachic, for kidney diseases, &c.), and from the sale of which +he and other members of his family realised large fortunes. {142b} His +wife had been for some time in a bad state of health, and after she had +consulted various doctors without deriving any benefit from their +treatment, he decided to try for her the prescription which had thus +accidentally come into his possession. The result was so satisfactory +that other sufferers applied to him for the pills, which for a time he +freely gave to his neighbours; ultimately, however, these applications +became so numerous that he was obliged to make a charge. + +As he began to realise a considerable income from this source, he gave up +the shoemaking business, and left Horncastle; his first move being to +Derby, {142c} where he occupied a residence known as "St. Anne's House," +afterwards moving to London, where he, at first, lived in Crane Court, +Fleet Street, which still continues to be the depot of the pill business. +He subsequently moved to a better part of the metropolis, taking up his +residence at 1, Albert Road, Regent's Park, where he remained for several +years, until he finally settled in Warrior Square, Hastings. + +While residing in London his wife {143a} had another illness, from which +she eventually died, in 1859; and feeling her loss very acutely he +decided, after a time, to erect the almshouses to her memory. {143b} + + [Picture: West Street during the Flood, Dec. 31, 1900] + +Among the documents preserved in connection with this charity, is the +original letter of George Whelpton, dated March 18, 1861, giving +instructions that the building of the almshouses should be immediately +taken in hand. The Indenture itself is dated March 21st, 1861, and among +its terms are the following: "This agreement is between Richard +Clitherow, of Horncastle, Gentleman, surviving trustee and executor of +the will of Samuel Curtis Lomas, late of Blencogo, Co. Cumberland, +Surgeon, of the first part; George Whelpton, of No. 1, Albert Road, +Regent's Park, Middlesex, of the second part; and William Thompson +Whelpton, of No. 69, Gloucester Crescent, Regent's Park, Middlesex, +Gent., and Rev. Henry Robert Whelpton, of Upton Park, Slough, Bucks., on +the third part." In accordance with this agreement certain lands +comprising, with others, the future site of the almshouses, situated on +the east side of what was then called Union Street, the property of the +said Samuel Curtis Lomas, were acquired through the said Mr. Richard +Clitherow, for Mr. G. Whelpton, for the purposes of the charity, with the +above relatives as co-trustees. The sum of 1,000 pounds was also +conveyed as endowment of the charity, to the trustees. + +It was provided by the agreement that the inmates of the houses should be +selected from persons who were fit and deserving subjects of the charity, +indigent, but of good character, not recipients of parish relief, and not +under 45 years of age; and that any, becoming guilty of immorality, +should forfeit their privileges. The power of selection of inmates was +vested in the trustees, assisted by the vicar and churchwardens of the +parish; a clause being added, that, in case of the trustees being +incompetent, by reason of infancy or idiocy, the vicar and churchwardens +should select. The weekly allowance to the inmates was to be 3s. 6d. + +The agreement to this effect was signed, sealed, and delivered, by the +said George Whelpton, in the presence of Richard Clitherow, Solicitor, +and Charles Dee, Solicitor, both of Horncastle. It was further signed by +George Whelpton and William Thompson Whelpton, in the presence of Robert +Cunliffe, Solicitor, of 43, Chancery Lane, London; and by Henry Robert +Whelpton, in the presence of John Adams Cree, Clerk in Holy Orders, of +Upton Park, Slough, Bucks. Appended is a receipt, signed by Richard +Clitherow, and witnessed by Charles Dee, shewing that, at the date of the +Indenture, the sum of 101 pounds 5s. was paid by George Whelpton for the +purchase of the site of the almshouses. + +This agreement was examined on Feb. 7th, 1888, in the Court of Justice, +London, before Mr. Justice Chitty, on an enquiry being made as to the +estate of William Thompson Whelpton, deceased, at the instance of the +Rev. Henry Robert Whelpton, and Stephen Whelpton; when the Court declared +that the direction in the will of the testator, as to the endowment of +the charity, was a "valid charitable bequest of 1,000 pounds," and the +money "invested in three per cents. Consols, for the following +purposes": (1) for the repair of the alms-houses; (2) to pay each +occupant 3s. 6d. per week; (3) in case of there being any surplus, to pay +them so much more as the trustees should think fit. A clause was added, +empowering the Charity Commissioners, from time to time, to order any +part of the income to be applied to special purposes, as they might think +desirable. + +We may add that while residing at Hastings, Mr. George Whelpton secured +two acres of land, at Eastbourne, from the Duke of Devonshire, the owner +of the whole town, as he is also of Buxton; and at a cost of about 20,000 +pounds, erected and endowed the church and vicarage of St. Saviour's, +which was held by his youngest son, Henry Robert, who graduated at St. +John's College, Cambridge, and was afterwards made Canon of Chichester. +This benefice is private property, and is now held by his son, Henry +Urling Whelpton, of Pembroke College, Cambridge. + +The head of the Whelpton family may now be considered to be the Rev. +George Whelpton, at one time residing in France, but now of Trinity +House, Abington, Berks. The original George Whelpton died in 1903. + +For these details the present writer is indebted to several members of +the Whelpton family, with some of whom he was a fellow pupil at the +Horncastle Grammar School. + + + +THE DRILL HALL. + + +The present building is not the first structure erected in connection +with the Volunteers, any more than the present Volunteers themselves are +the first institution of the kind formed in Horncastle. In the early +years of the 19th century, when there was a general feeling abroad that +one great project, nurtured in the ambitious mind of the first Napoleon, +was an invasion of England, volunteers were organized throughout the +country, with a view to self-defence. As an instance of this, in the +town of Pontefract a corps was formed, of which the Earl of Mexborough +was Colonel Commandant, and George Pyemont, Esq., of Tanshelf House, +Pontefract (grandfather of the present writer), was Major; {145} the +records of which are preserved, among other public documents, in +Pontefract Castle. + + [Picture: Conging Street during the flood, Dec. 31, 1900] + +Similarly, a corps was raised in Horncastle at the same period, of which +we have somewhat curious evidence in the following. There exists a small +pamphlet, which the writer has recently (July, 1908) perused, entitled +"An address delivered to the Horncastle Volunteers, on Feb. 26, 1804, by +their chaplain, in consequence of the resignation of some of the members. +Published by desire of the corps. Printed by James Weir, Horncastle, +1804." In this address he expresses his great regret that so many +volunteers are resigning "after putting the country to the expense of +supplying them with clothing and arms, having also pledged themselves to +the country's defence, and received in return exemption from militia +service," this too at a time when (as he says) "we are in danger of being +reduced to a French province." "No resignations (he continues) have +taken place in London, in Boston, or in Spilsby." He reminds them that +they (the Horncastrians) had been "among the first in the county to offer +their services," and he urges them still to "maintain their character" +for loyalty. + +In consequence of this appeal a public meeting was called together, at +which was formed a "Court of Enquiry," consisting of "9 members, 3 +elected from the officers of the corps, and 6 from the non-commissioned +officers and privates, to whom all proposals of resignation should be +submitted." In subsequent pages regulations are added as to keeping +their weapons in proper condition, orders as to loading their guns, &c., +which are described as "firelocks" with "flints." This we may regard as +an interesting item of past local history, evidencing the spirit in which +the first Horncastle Volunteers were formed. + +The modern volunteer movement originated in the year 1859, under somewhat +similar circumstances to the earlier movement. Notwithstanding our +ultimate victory in the Crimean war, it was felt that our blunders had +been most serious, and our military organization far from complete. War, +as a science, was assuming new forms; steam was giving to navigation an +independence of wind and tide, which might lead to invasion unawares. +The state of our defences was considered most unsatisfactory. France was +our ally, but the Emperor Napoleon III. only ruled by popular suffrage, +and the memories of Waterloo still affected the sentiments of his people +towards England. The facility with which England might be invaded was a +subject of discussion in parliament in the course of the session of that +year. Lord Palmerston held the view that France could, within a few +hours, bring together an army, which could land on our shores and march +upon London, before we were awake to the danger. It was our duty to be +ready for defence against any such surprise, and it was said that "our +friend" Napoleon would himself welcome such preparedness on our part, as +giving him the best arguments with his own subjects against any such +enterprise. + +Strengthened by such reasoning, the Earl of Ripon, Under Secretary for +War, announced that volunteer corps would be enrolled throughout the +country. The government plans were published on the first of July, were +warmly accepted by all parties, and a circular was issued, dated July +13th, to all the Lieutenants of counties, urging immediate action; and +forthwith the "nation of shopkeepers" were, as by magic, transformed into +an armed camp. So rapid was the progress that by June of the following +year the cry was "Ready, aye! ready;" and on the 23rd of that month the +Queen held a review in Hyde Park, at which some 20,000 volunteers passed +before her. We are told, as a curious incident, that at that review +there was present as a newly enrolled private, a Mr. Tower, of Wealdhall, +Essex, who had also been present, as a private, at a review held under +the former system in 1803. {146} + +The loyal town of Horncastle was not behindhand; a public meeting was +held in the Bull Hotel, on Aug. 10th, 1859, for the purpose of organizing +a Rifle Corps, for the district, at which the Deputy Lieutenant attended. +Among those present were Major Smart, of Tumby, J. Wadham Floyer, of +Martin Hall, H. F. Conington, Clarence House, Horncastle, Dr. B. J. +Boulton, Dr. W. Ward, Messrs. W. S. Clitherow, R. C. Armstrong, E. +Babington, F. Gilliat, F. W. Tweed, J. R. Banks, and most of the chief +tradesmen and residents in town and neighbourhood. + + [Picture: The Stanch] + +The Muster Roll, which is still preserved, of the corps then formed, and +designated the "G Company of the 1st Battalion of the Lincolnshire +Regiment of Volunteers," has at its head the name of Henry Francis +Conington, as Captain, March 9th, 1860, with Richard W. Clitherow and +Robert Jalland, as officers under him, at the same date; then follows a +long list of non-commissioned officers and privates, numbering, in the +course of a few years, more than 2,000 names. Captain Conington, +promoted Major in 1870, was succeeded in due course, on his going abroad, +by Captain, afterwards Major, Robert Clifton Armstrong, who had begun +service as Sergeant, and then Lieutenant; having under him, as +Lieutenants, Messrs. W. Jeffery and W. S. Clitherow, who were succeeded +by Richard W. Clitherow and Robert C. Isle; with Dr. Hugh George as +surgeon. + +Mr. Arthur Ellwood, of Mareham-le-Fen, who had joined the corps in 1865, +succeeded to the command in 1891, with Dr. Keogh, of Coningsby, and F. S. +Dymoke, Esq., as Lieutenants, Dr. Hugh George still acting as Surgeon; +Ellwood was promoted as Captain in 1891, succeeded to the Colonelcy of +the head-quarters staff in 1894, and is now Hon. Colonel of the +Battalion, entitled to wear the regimental uniform. + +In 1894 Mr. H. Tweed succeeded to the command as Captain, with Messrs. T. +Levett and Granville Sharpe acting as Lieutenants (Mr. F. W. S. Heywood, +of Holbeach Hall, being temporarily attached). In 1899 Granville Sharpe +succeeded to the command, but his health failing, he resigned after a +year's service. He was succeeded in 1900 by Dr. J. W. Jessop as Captain, +who had joined in 1895, and was in 1906 promoted Major of the Battalion; +A. A. Ellwood becoming Lieutenant. Dr. Herbert A. Howes, who had joined +in 1900, succeeded in 1906 to the command, which he still holds, 1908. + +Senior officers in command of the Battalion have been Col. Amcotts +(deceased), Col. Seddon (deceased), Col. Preston (deceased), Col. J. G. +Williams of Lincoln, and at present Col. J. Ruston of Lincoln. Clergy +who have served as Chaplains have been Revs. S. Lodge; C. Reginald +Blathwayt, Vicar of West Ashby; A. Scrivenor, Vicar of Horncastle; H. +Benwell; and at the present time (1908) Paul O. Ashby, Incumbent of +Revesby. + +Among those who have done good service in the corps, we should mention +the first Drill Sergeant Beeton, who had previously served in the 22nd +Regiment of the Line (the Old Cheshire), and afterwards in the South +Lincolnshire Militia, as Colour Sergeant. He drilled the corps during +about 20 years; dying in Horncastle, after about 40 years service. He +was followed by Sergt. Major Bartlett; then by Sergeant Doggett, who had +been Colour Sergeant in the 1st Royal Sussex, and previously to that in +the 2nd Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment (the old 98th). He +still resides in Horncastle. In later years the post has been held by +Sergeants Towne, Ashley and Bamber. + +As to the buildings connected with the volunteers, their history is +briefly this: In the early years of the corps' existence drill was +carried on in the Corn Exchange. After a time the building adjoining the +north-east corner of the Wong, which had been a British School, was +secured; and this, after structural renovation, was used for several +years as the head-quarters. It is now in the occupation of Messrs. Danby +and Cheseldine, Coach Builders; as in 1901 a new site was obtained at the +south-east corner of the Wong, and here on the 13th day of June in that +year the foundation stone of the present Drill Hall was laid, with much +ceremony, by the Earl of Yarborough, supported by other public +functionaries. We here give, in full, the official programme of the +proceedings, which may be worthy of preservation, in memory of this +important occasion. + + PROGRAMME OF THE CEREMONIAL + TO BE OBSERVED IN + LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE + OF THE + NEW VOLUNTEER DRILL HALL, THE WONG, HORNCASTLE, + On Thursday, the 13th day of June, 1901. + + THE STONE WILL BE LAID BY THE + RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF LINCOLNSHIRE, + THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF YARBOROUGH, P.C., D.L., + Past Grand Warden of England, R.W. Provincial Grand Master; + ASSISTED BY THE + WORSHIPFUL THE DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER, BRO. W. H. SISSONS, D.L., + J.P., + And Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge. + + CEREMONIAL. + + The Members of the Provincial Grand Lodge and Visiting Brethren will + assemble at the + Wesleyan Schoolroom, Horncastle, at 12 o'clock. + + A Procession will be formed at 12-15 precisely, in the following order: + Two Tylers, with drawn Swords. + Visiting Brethren. + The Lodges of the Province, according to their numbers, Juniors going + first. + The W. Masters of the Olive Union and Shakspeare Lodges, with Trowel and + Gavel. + + Prov. Grand Steward. Cornucopiae with Corn Prov. Grand Steward. + and Salt, + borne by Masters of + Lodges + + Prov. Grand Steward. Ewers with Wine and Prov. Grand Steward. + Oil, + borne by Masters of + Lodges. + + Past Provincial Grand + Officers. + + The Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works, with the Plate bearing the + inscription for the Foundation Stone. + Provincial Grand Officer. + Provincial Grand Deacons, with Wands. + Acting Provincial Grand Treasurer, with Phial containing Coins to be + deposited in the Stone. + The Corinthian Light, borne by the Master of the Franklin Lodge. + The Column of the Junior Provincial Grand Warden, borne by the Master of + the Witham Lodge. + The Junior Provincial Grand Warden, with Plumb Rule. + The Doric Light, borne by the Master of the Doric Lodge. + The Column of the Senior Provincial Grand Warden, borne by the Master of + the Pelham Pillar Lodge. +The Senior Provincial Grand Warden, with the Level. The Provincial Grand + Chaplains, bearing the Volume of the Sacred Law. + The Provincial Grand Secretary, with Book of Constitutions. + The Provincial Grand Standard Bearers, with Banner of Provincial Grand + Lodge. + Provincial Grand Sword Bearer. + The W. Deputy Provincial Grand Master, with Square. + The Ionic Light, borne by the Master of the Yarborough Lodge. + + Prov. Grand Steward The R.W. Provincial Prov. Grand Steward. + Grand Master. + + Provincial Grand Tyler, with Sword. + +On arrival at the site, the Brethren will divide right and left, allowing + the R.W P.G.M. preceded by the Sword Bearers followed by the Acting + Officers, to pass to their positions, and the brethren will then file + round the Acting Officers. + The W.M. of the Olive Union Lodge will then request the Provincial Grand + Master to lay the Foundation Stone. + The Deputy Provincial Grand Master will deliver the Ancient Opening + Address. + + HYMN-- + + Hail! Eternal! by whose aid + All created things were made, + Heaven and earth Thy vast design, + Hear us, Architect Divine! + + May our work, begun in thee, + Ever blest with ORDER be; + And may we, when labours cease, + Part in HARMONY and PEACE. + + By Thy glorious Majesty-- + By the TRUST we place in Thee-- + By the badge and Mystic sign-- + Hear us, Architect Divine! So mote it be. + + The Provincial Grand Chaplin will offer Prayer. + + The Architect will then present the Plans for Inspection. + + The Acting Provincial Grand Treasurer will then deposit the Coins, &c., + in the cavity of the stone. + + The Provincial Grand Secretary will read aloud the inscription on the + Stone and Plate, which + will then be placed in position. + +The W. Master, 1304, will then present the Trowel to the P.G.M., who will + adjust the cement, + and the upper stone will be lowered, with three distinct stops. + + The R.W. the P.G.M. will now prove the just position and form of the + stone by the Plumb Rule, Level, and Square, which will be successively + handed to him by the P.G. Junior Warden, the P.G. Senior Warden, and +Deputy Provincial Grand Master. Being satisfied in these particulars, he +will give the stone three knocks with the Mallet, which will be delivered + to him by the Grand Superintendent of Works. + + The Cornucopiae, containing the Corn and Salt, and the Ewers, with the + Wine and Oil, will next be handed to the R.W. the P.G.M., who will strew + the Corn and Salt, and pour the Wine and Oil over the stone, with the + accustomed ceremonies. + + Invocation by the P.G. Chaplain. + + The R.W. the P.G.M. having inspected the Plan of the intended building, + will deliver the same to the Architect, together with the several tools + used in proving the position of the stone, and desire him to proceed + without loss of time to the completion of the Work, in conformity with + the Plan. + + The following Hymn will then be sung:-- + + God of Light! whose love unceasing + Doth to all Thy works extend, + Crown our Order with Thy blessing. + Build--sustain us to the end. + + Humbly now we bow before Thee, + Grateful for Thine aid Divine; + Everlasting power and glory, + Mighty Architect, be Thine. So mote it be + + The Procession will return in inverse order to the P.G. Lodge Room. + +This hall is a spacious and lofty building, well adapted for its purpose, +and also (as it is frequently used) for theatricals, and other +entertainments; having a permanent stage, dressing rooms, lavatories, +&c., with a commodious kitchen attached, and every convenience for +cooking, &c. The cost of the whole was about 2,000 pounds, raised by +public subscriptions. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. +HORNCASTLE WORTHIES, &c. + + +MISS ANNIE DIXON. + + +Miss Annie Dixon, the artist, was a native of Horncastle of whom the town +may well be proud. She was the eldest daughter of a corn chandler, +living on the Spilsby Road, now called East Street; he had two sons and +five daughters. We know nothing of the sons, but Miss Annie early +developed great taste in water-colour painting; and among her early +productions was a miniature of a near relative of the present writer, +done in 1855. Another of Miss H. A. Palmer, eldest daughter of Captain +Moffat Palmer, of Horncastle, and widow of the late George Storer, Esq., +of Thoroton Hall, Notts., late M.P. for S. Notts., was done about the +same time. She afterwards removed to London, and became the first +miniature painter of her day; was a frequent exhibitor in the Royal +Academy, and a favourite with Queen Victoria and the Royal family, of +most of whom she painted miniatures. She died unmarried Feb 15th, 1901, +aged 83, and was buried in the Horncastle cemetery. + +Another daughter, Leonora, married a Mr. F. Stapleforth, of Holbeach. +Two other sisters, Fanny and Emily, unmarried, carried on a ladies' +school at Spalding; and another, Charlotte, married a former Under Master +of the Horncastle Grammar School, Rev. W. Hutchinson, who in 1862 was +appointed by the Lord Chancellor Vicar of Howden, in Yorkshire. Of these +Emily, died unmarried, May 28th, 1903, aged 80, and was also buried in +the cemetery; as well as Charlotte (Mrs. Hutchinson), who died Oct. 19th, +in the same year, aged 73. Their graves are situated to the east of the +chapel. + + + +LORD ALLERTON. + + +Lord Allerton, formerly Mr. William Lawnes Jackson, is a member of a +Horncastle family. A near relative was a well-known object, a few years +ago, in our streets as a cripple, going about on a donkey, lying flat on +a large saddle or "pad," his only means of locomotion. Lord Allerton's +father, William Jackson, left Horncastle for Leeds, somewhere in the +"thirties," or the "forties," going it is said, with only half a +sovereign in his pocket, given by an aunt, and a spare shirt given by an +uncle. At Leeds he found employment in the tanyard of a Mr. Robert +Barker, where he presently became foreman. He afterwards returned to +Horncastle and worked in the tanyard of the late Mr. Hawling; but went +back to Leeds and commenced tanning on his own account, at Meanwood near +Leeds, and afterwards on a still larger scale at Buslingthorpe. He +speedily began to prosper, and in due course was succeeded by his son; +who made a large fortune in the same business. He became a magistrate of +Leeds, and was elected to the Mayoralty in 1895. He represented North +Leeds in Parliament for many years, as a conservative, being first +elected in April, 1880, and re-elected five times, with ever increasing +majorities. He was for many years a Director and Chairman of G.N.R. +Company, and held other public offices. In 1896 he succeeded Mr. A. J. +Balfour, under Lord Salisbury's administration, as Chief Secretary for +Ireland, being also, for several years, Financial Secretary of the +Treasury; and was raised to the peerage in June, 1902. He was born in +1840, married in 1860, Grace, the only daughter of George Tempest, Esq. +He owns, as his country seat, Allerton Hall, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, and +27, Cadogan Square, as his town residence. His uncle, Mr. John Green, +still lives in Horncastle, on the Edlington Road. + + + +EDWARD GILLIAT. + + +Edward Gilliat was the eldest son of the late Mr. George Gilliat, of the +Manor House (now called "Banovallum"), by his second wife. He was +educated partly at the Grammar School, being afterwards a pupil of Canon +Sanderson, at Seaford, Sussex. He entered at Pembroke College, Oxford, +where he obtained a scholarship in 1861. In 1862 he took a 1st class in +Classical Moderations, and 1st Literae Humaniores, 1864. In 1867 he was +_Proxime accessit_ for the Latin essay. He was appointed Assistant +Master at Westminster School, Sept., 1867, holding the post to Dec., +1870. He was ordained deacon in 1870 and priest in 1871, by the Bishop +of London. In Sep. 1871, he was appointed Assistant Master at Harrow, +where he remained till 1900. He has been a voluminous writer, publishing +his first work, _Asylum Christi_, 3 vols., in 1875; _On the Wolds_, 1879; +_Under the Downs_, 1882; _Forest Outlaws_, 1886; _John Standish_, 1889; +_In Lincoln Green_, 1893; _Wolf Head_, 1898; _The King's Reeve_, 1899; +_Romance of Modern Sieges_, 1907; and _God save King Alfred_, in the same +year. He also published, for the S.P.C.K., _Dorothy Dymoke_, and +_Champion of the Right_. He has now retired from scholastic work and +resides at St. Catherine's Hill, Worcester. + + + +FREDERICK GROSVENOR. + + +We have already in our notice of the Grammar School (p. 98) given an +account of the Rev. Francis Grosvenor, son of an ironmonger in the town; +there was also another son, Frederick, educated under Dr. J. Bainbridge +Smith, at the school, who graduated at Oxford, and was ordained deacon in +1860, and priest in 1861. He held a curacy at Basford, Notts, 1860-62; +was travelling Chaplain to the Bishop of Brisbane, 1862-65; Curate of +Holy Trinity, Westminster, 1866-67; of St. Mary's, Hulme, Manchester, +1867-69; of St. Gabriel's, Canning Town, London, 1869-73; at Dudley, +1874-76; and at Hornsea, near Hull, 1876-85; when he, like his brother +Francis, retired to Epsom, and succeeded him as Chaplain to the Union +there, until his decease. + + + +WILLIAM BARTON CAPARN. + + +Mr. John Caparn, Chemist, having a shop in the High Street (now occupied +by Mr. Herbert Carlton), had a son, William Barton Caparn, who graduated +at Brazenose College, Oxford, taking honours, in 1843. He was ordained +deacon in 1843, and priest in 1845, in the diocese of Ripon. He became +Vicar of East and West Torrington, near Wragby, in 1846, which he held +till 1859. He held the benefice, as Vicar, of Drayton, Somersetshire, +from 1866 to 1875. Having private means, he gave up that benefice, and +became Curate of Angersleigh, in the same county, 1877-79; which he then +gave up, and undertook the Chaplaincy of the Taunton Union, and local +hospital. These he resigned after a few years, and resided at Taunfield +House, Taunton, until his death, April 10th, 1892. He published various +minor works; the first being a small volume on _Epitaphs_, later +productions were _Meditations to be used in Church before Divine +Service_; _Councils and warnings before and after Confirmation_, &c. + +George Gilliat, Esq., late of The Wharf, Horncastle, married, as his +first wife, Miss Caparn, a sister. Miss Helen Caparn, another sister, +married Mr. William Sharples, Surgeon, a partner of the late Mr. T. +Snaith, of Horncastle, and one of the first doctors at Woodhall Spa. Mr. +Sharples left Horncastle for Wisbech, being appointed by the trustees +first resident physician at the hospital founded in that town by Miss +Trafford Southwell. Losing an only daughter while there, the shock was +so great, that he resigned the post, and removed to Taunton, and took up +there the practice of a deceased brother, which he carried on until his +death, Feb. 8th, 1897. At Horncastle he resided for some years in the +old vicarage, south of the churchyard, afterwards moving to the house +next the "Fighting Cocks" Inn, called "Westholme House." For some years +he was a very popular Secretary to the Southwold Hunt. + + + +W. H. BENSON BROWN. + + +Among more recent natives of Horncastle, who have distinguished +themselves, is the son of the late Mr. Robert Brown, of the Market Place. +He graduated at University College, Durham, as Licentiate in Theology, +1887, and was ordained deacon in 1890, priest in 1891, holding the curacy +of North Ormsby, near Middlesborough; and was appointed Rector of +Bucknall, near Horncastle, in 1898, by the patron his father-in-law, the +late Mr. James Dunham, Merchant, of Horncastle. He was appointed +Inspector of Schools, 1899. Mr. Benson Brown is an energetic worker, has +restored his church, adding a carved reredos of oak, a handsome lectern, +and filling the east window with good stained glass. He has also +introduced various reforms and improvements in the parish. + + + +WILLIAM HENEAGE SHARP. + + +Another native of Horncastle, who has already done credit to the town is +the son of Mr. Henry Sharp, Saddler, in the Bull Ring; of a very old +firm, established in 1760, and doing an European business. William +Heneage Sharp was educated at the local Grammar School, 1885-9, where he +gained the first scholarship granted by the Governors, under the reformed +system. He then went to the college at Framlingham, Suffolk, 1889-90, a +county institution founded as a memorial of the late Prince Consort, and +there gained several prizes. He then became a Junior Master in a private +school at Devizes; and during his stay there took the 2nd and 4th prizes +at the College of Preceptors. He next accepted a Mastership at John +Ellis's endowed school in South London (Gospel Oak). After which he +studied at King's College, London, 1899-1901, where he gained the Jelf +prize for Dogmatic Theology, the Senior Wordsworth prize for Latin, and +the Barry Divinity Prize. He was also appointed Precentor, and +afterwards Dean, of the college, being senior student of his year, and +taking a first-class in the final examination. He was ordained by the +Bishop of London, in St. Paul's Cathedral, in 1901, being appointed +"Gospellor" on the occasion. He was Curate of Staines, Middlesex, +1901-3, removing afterwards to St. John the Evangelist, Holborn, 1903-8; +and was then appointed Theological Tutor and Sub-Warden at the College of +the Resurrection, Mirfield, in the Diocese of Ripon. + + + +ALFRED H. HEALEY. + + +A youth of Horncastle who has distinguished himself, though chiefly in +another line, is Alfred H. Healey, son of the late Mr. Alfred Healey, +Brewer and Merchant, of Horncastle, Branston and Lincoln. He was +appointed to a Mastership of Ardingly College, Sussex, but removed to +Alnwick College more recently. A member of a family remarkable for their +ability; a brother, though still young, being high up in the Civil +Service; he is specially distinguished as an athlete. Among his +performances are the following: + +Olympic Games, at Athens, 1906, 2nd in 110 metres hurdle race. + +English Championship, 120 yards hurdle race, at Manchester, 1907, 2nd. + +Northern Counties' 100 yards Championship, hurdle race, Darlington, 1905, +2nd. + +Northern Counties' Champion, 100 yards, at Batley, 1907, 1st. + +Northern Counties' Champion, 120 yards, at Batley, 1907, 1st. + +Northern Counties' Champion, 220 yards, at Darlington, 1907, 1st. + +Northern Counties' Champion, long jump, at Darlington, 1907, 1st. + +A record, no one before having won more than two events. His "bests" +have been: 100 yards in 10 seconds; 120 yards (hurdles) 16 and +three-fifth seconds; 220 yards (hurdles) 23 seconds; high jump, 5-ft. +8-in.; long jump, 22-ft. 4-in. He was also selected to represent England +in the foot races at the Franco-British Exhibition, at Shepherd's Bush, +1908. + + + +WILLIAM MARWOOD. + + +Horncastle had, for some years, the dubious honour of being the home of +the public hangman. William Marwood was born at Goulceby, about six +miles from Horncastle, and afterwards lived some years in Old +Bolingbroke, coming to Horncastle about 1860; where he was a shoemaker, +having a small shop in Church Street, now occupied by Mr. Joseph Borrill, +of the same trade. Before being himself appointed hangman he assisted +his predecessor in that office, Calcraft, and succeeded him in 1872; +continuing the duties until his death, Sept. 4th, 1883; when he in turn +was succeeded by Bartholomew Binns. He was rather short in stature, with +large square head and large hands, indicative of firmness of character. +His first official act was to hang a man named Francis Horry, at Lincoln, +who murdered his wife at Boston, in 1872; his last was to hang a man, +James Burton, at Durham, who murdered his young wife, aged only 18, from +jealousy. On this occasion the man fainted on the scaffold, and got +entangled with the rope under his arm, and Marwood had to lift him in his +arms to get him disentangled, and then drop the unconscious man down--a +painful scene. {155} This was only about a fortnight before his own +death. Among his last executions was that of Charles Peace, a notorious +burglar, who shot a man at Banner Cross, near Sheffield. In May, 1882, +he went to Dublin to execute the perpetrators of the Phoenix Park +murders, three Fenians, who shot Lord E. Cavendish, and his secretary, +Mr. Burke. In his last illness, which was short, it was suspected that +his health had been in some way injured through Fenian agency, and a post +mortem examination was held by order of the Home Secretary, but a verdict +was returned of "natural death." Mr. Henry Sharp, Saddler, of the Bull +Ring, was one of the jury on this occasion. + +Marwood's wife was, for some years, ignorant of her husband's official +occupation, as he generally accounted for his absence by saying that he +had to go away to settle some legal question. Visiting the +slaughter-house of a neighbouring butcher, he observed to him that he +could "do" for men as the butcher did for cattle, because the men whom he +had to deal with were themselves "beasts." + +Some of Marwood's official paraphernalia are still preserved at the +Portland Arms Inn, Portland Street, Lincoln, where he generally stayed at +an execution. The late Mr. Charles Chicken, who resided in Foundry +Street, Horncastle, had a rope 1.25-in. thick, given him by Marwood, with +which he had hanged six or seven criminals. Other ropes used by him are +in Madam Tussaud's exhibition, in Baker Street, London, where there is +also a bust of himself. He used to exhibit his ropes to foreign +horse-dealers, who attended the great August Fair at Horncastle, at a +charge of 6d. each. There was recently a portrait of Marwood, in +crayons, in a barber's shop, 29, Bridge Street, drawn by J. S. Lill, +postman, but this has now disappeared. Marwood's favourite dog, Nero, +and other effects were sold by auction, after his death in 1883, by Mr. +W. B. Parish. + + * * * * * + +Other Horncastrians whose lives, or circumstances, were more or less +exceptional, may be here also briefly noticed. + + + +HENRY TURNER. + + +Mr. Henry Turner, about the middle of the 19th century, was a corn and +coal merchant, and also land agent for Sir Henry Dymoke, Bart., of +Scrivelsby Court. He occupied the house at the corner of South Street, +next the water side, then a private residence, but now the shop of Mr. F. +Stuchbery, Ironmonger. He married the widow of Arthur Thistlewood, a +native of Horsington, noted, in his later years, as the leader of the +"Cato Street Conspiracy," which proposed to assassinate the ministers of +the government, in London, when attending a dinner at Lord Harrowby's +residence, in February, 1820. The plot was discovered and frustrated, +and Thistlewood, with others of his guilty confreres, was executed on May +1st in that year. Mrs. Turner was the daughter of a butcher, named +Wilkinson, whose shop was situated in the High Street, where is now the +shop of Mr. Uriah Spratt. + + + +MARTIN BROWN. + + +Mr. Martin Brown, grandfather of Mr. W. H. Brown, Plumber and Glazier, of +Church Lane, was in the early part of the 19th century captured by the +press gang in Horncastle, and made to serve in H.M.S. Mars, in the war +with Napoleon. In one contest his ship was lashed to a French +man-of-war, to fight it out, and his captain was killed. He survived to +tell the story till 90 years of age, with scarcely a day's illness, until +his death, Nov. 9th, 1866. He lies buried in Holy Trinity churchyard, +his wife, who predeceased him by several years, being buried in St. +Mary's churchyard, on the south-east side. + + + +CAPTAIN SHEPHERD. + + +Captain Shepherd, an old naval officer, lived many years, and died, in +Union Street, now called Queen Street. He had had many voyages and +experiences, which he was fond of recounting to his many friends. He had +brought home many trophies and curiosities; among other things he gave an +Indian bow, made of sugar cane, and poisoned arrows, to the present +writer, when a boy. + + + +MISS FRANKLIN. + + +In the next house to Captain Shepherd resided Miss Franklin, sister of +the great arctic navigator, Sir John Franklin. Much interest was taken +in Horncastle in the fate of Sir John, when absent on his last polar +voyage, and considerable sums were raised, more than once, among the +residents in the town, to assist Lady Franklin in sending out vessels in +search of her husband, under the command of Captain Leopold MacClintock +and others. We have mentioned elsewhere that a public dinner was given +to Sir John, at the Bull Hotel, just before he sailed for the last time +to the north. + +In connection with this it may be added that the son of another great +arctic explorer, Sir John Ross, used to visit friends in Horncastle, and +is still remembered. Sir John Ross sailed in search of Sir John Franklin +in 1848, but was unsuccessful. + + + +EDMUND KEANE. + + +Edmund Keane, the Tragedian visited Horncastle with his company, in the +first half of the 19th century, and acted in a large building, which is +now the warehouse of Mr. Herbert Carlton, Chemist. The mother of Mr. +Henry Sharp, Saddler, and the late Mr. Henry Boulton, of St. Mary's +Square, among others, witnessed these performances. In connection with +this, it may be added, that Mr. Charles Keane, Actor, son of the above, +sent two nieces to be educated at a ladies' school, kept by Mrs. +Nicholson, Bank Street, Horncastle, and on their leaving he made her a +present of a valuable pianoforte. + + + +AMBROSE LANGLEY. + + +About 30 years ago Robert Langley kept an inn in South Street, called the +"Coach and Horses," on the premises now occupied by Mr. Crowson, Grocer. +His son, Ambrose Langley, became a noted footballer, in Horncastle and +neighbourhood. He afterwards left the town and joined the Grimsby Town +Football Club; subsequently he went to Middlesborough, Yorkshire, playing +for the Ironopolis Football Club. He afterwards joined the Sheffield +Wednesday Football Club, which team he was with eight years, being +captain three years; playing in the final for the English Cup, for that +team, when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers by two goals to one, in +1896. Leaving Sheffield Wednesday he became manager of the Hull City +Football Club, which position he now (season 1907-8) holds. + + + +CAPTAIN SURGEON SMITH. + + +Captain Surgeon Smith, son of a draper, Mr. Walker Smith, who occupied, +about 25 years ago, the shop near the Post Office, on the south side of +the High Street, now occupied by Mr. Redmore, enlisted as a private in +the Army Hospital Corps; and, afterwards, passing all examinations with +credit, he rose from the ranks to become medical officer in the corps; an +exceptional instance of such promotion. + + + +HENRY ALLENBY. + + +Henry Allenby, son of a fellmonger, Mr. Richard Allenby, residing near +the Wong, and having a tanyard on the Lincoln Road, became an assistant +chemist at St. Albans. Afterwards coming under notice, in a chemist's +shop in London, he was selected to accompany the Duke of Edinburgh in his +tour round the world, in H.M.S. Galatea, as dispenser to the expedition. +This was in 1866; and in this capacity he visited India, Japan, China, +Australia, &c. + + + +JOHN SCHOFIELD. + + +Mr. Robert Schofield, Landlord (in the middle of the last century) of the +Saracen's Head Inn, Bridge Street, Horncastle, had a son, John, who left +Horncastle for London, and became a member of the Stock Exchange, where, +from small beginnings, he became so successful in business, that he +eventually married a daughter of Bishop Blomfield, of London. + + + +MISS ROBINSON. + + +The Rev. W. Robinson, Vicar of Wood Enderby and Wilkesby, in the middle +of the 19th century, like several other clergy, who at that time had no +country residences, lived in Horncastle. His daughter, happening to be +of the same size and figure as Queen Victoria, was for several years +engaged in the Queen's service, as a living model, on whom were "tried" +all dresses intended for the Queen. In return for this she received, as +a perquisite, her Majesty's cast-off dresses, from the sale of which she +realised an acceptable income. It is said that, through her, on the +marriage of a lady friend, the dresses of both bride and bridesmaids were +all royal attire. It was generally understood that this appointment was +due to the representations, in her favour, of Miss Annie Dixon, the +artist (herself a native of Horncastle, mentioned elsewhere), who was at +that time a _grata persona_ with the royal family. + + + +JOHN CUSSONS. + + +Mr. John Cussons, son of the late Mr. John Cussons, Baker, in the Bull +Ring, and nephew of the late Mr. David Cussons, Printer and Bookseller, +High Street, Horncastle, ran away before his apprenticeship had expired, +and went to America, settling in the Confederate States. He there +espoused the Confederate cause against the Federals, and took a leading +part in the civil war, commanding Confederate forces in several important +engagements. Since that time he has visited Horncastle, and has +published a history of his military operations. He now resides on his +own property, at Forest Lodge, Glen Allen, Virginia. His last +publication, in 1908, is _Jack Sterry_, _the Jessie Scout_. He is also +the author of _A Glance at Current History_, _The Passage of the +Thoroughfare Gap_, _Some Modern Pillars of State_, _Principles of +Cryptiography_, _Assimilating the Indian_, &c. + + + +HENRY ALLISON. + + +Henry Allison, son of Mr. Allison, Miller, formerly residing in West +Street, married a daughter of Mr. David Cussons, and leaving the town +about 1848, settled in Hull, where he established a large business as +paper manufacturer. He was elected Mayor of Hull; and died some years +ago, leaving a widow, who resides in a large mansion, which he built on +the outskirts of the town, Marlborough House, Anlaby Road. The business, +with several branches, is still carried on by members of his family. + + + +JOHN BROWN. + + +John Brown, the "Poet Laureate" of Horncastle, has already been +mentioned; he is chiefly known by the volume _Literae Laureatoe_, +published in 1890, dedicated to Lord Tennyson, by permission, and +containing most of his poetical productions. These are remarkable for +his knowledge of Lincolnshire dialect and local folk-lore. The volume +was published, after his death, on behalf of his widow. + +He was born in the first workhouse, adjoining St. Mary's churchyard, his +parents being in charge of that institution. Being first apprenticed to +a cabinet maker, Mr. J. Williams, when only just "in his teens," he ran +away to Hull, and took service on a vessel, the Margaret, bound for +Cronstadt. His first voyage, however, was sufficient to disgust him with +marine life. When about 15 he found employment with a theatrical scene +painter from London, who settled in Horncastle. He afterwards went to +London to learn his trade as a house decorator. He married in 1833 a +Miss Gainsborough, of Alford. In 1838 he went to Lincoln, and for some +years carried on his trade there. In 1848 he returned to Horncastle, and +still carrying on his trade, became a member of a literary coterie, who +used to hold meetings in the coffee room of the Bull Hotel. In 1860 he +bought a house on the Louth Road, which he opened as the Globe Inn, and +which became the resort of his literary friends. Literature, however, +did not conduce to business. In 1872 his health failing, and his savings +having evaporated, he was granted a residence in the Whelpton Almshouses, +where he continued to employ his pen, in comfort, until his death in +1890. {159} + + + +THOMAS BAKER. + + +The late Mr. Thomas Baker has already been referred to, but is worthy of +a fuller account. He was not a native of Horncastle, but lived in the +town more than 60 years, and became so identified with its interests, in +many ways, that he may well be regarded as one of its "worthies." Born +in 1814, at Braintree, in Essex, he was the son of a veterinary surgeon +in that town, his family having previously there owned the once +well-known coaching house, named The Horn Inn; although earlier members +of his family had occupied a higher position; one of them, named +Thorowgood, having founded the Grammar School at Oxford. + +Before coming to Horncastle, in 1841, Mr. Baker was known on more than +one county cricket ground, and had distinguished himself on the +University ground at Cambridge, "Parker's Piece." On coming to +Horncastle he immediately made his mark in cricket as a round-hand +bowler; and the leading young men of the neighbourhood became his pupils. +One of his feats was, in a match between an 11 of All England and 22 +gentlemen of the county; when he bowled out, with his first ball, +Iddison, Captain of the All England team. The great matches in which he +took part for many years were too many to tell. Among other things he +had the distinction of being employed by Sir Evelyn Wood to train a +village club in his parish. + +Besides his cricketing skill he was remarkable for his ventriloquial +powers; and the story was told, that, while sitting in conversation with +two strangers, at the Bull Hotel, he threw his voice under the table. +The two sprang up to catch the supposed eavesdropper, when he at once +calmed them by throwing his voice in another direction, and then letting +them into the secret. He was also, in his way, a fair actor; and, with +the late Mr. John Brown, the Horncastle Laureate, and others, he helped +to amuse considerable audiences, in town and neighbourhood. In comedy he +could take all the parts himself, rapidly changing his dress, and at one +moment adopting the high falsetto tones of an old crone, and the next +moment speaking in the deeper accents of a strong man. It is greatly to +his credit that, only having for many years a small shop, famed chiefly +for his two specialites, "bull eyes" and "Grantham ginger-bread," he +brought up a large family, who have taken good positions in various parts +of the country. He was a staunch conservative and churchman. + +In his later years he was often visited by strangers, who were +entertained by his fund of anecdote and cricketing reminiscences. Among +these we may name the novelist, Miss Marie Corelli, who, while staying at +Woodhall Spa, sought his acquaintance, as being one of the "characters" +of the neighbourhood, and to his delight she gave him her autograph. Mr. +J. J. Hissey, the author of _A Driving Tour in Lincolnshire_, also +visited him at his house in Horncastle, and says of him "although wearing +a shabby garb, he struck me with his perfect self-possession, and +superior manners. . . . I have met many characters, but Mr. Baker struck +me as being the most remarkable." He died Feb. 12th, 1903, aged 88; and +in his last illness letters poured in upon him from old friends and +pupils, expressing their sympathy and their pleasant recollections of his +company. + + + +ODDITIES. + + +To these "worthies" of the town we here add two or three of its +"oddities." About 1844 Billy Boulton, who kept an inn in Millstone +Street, now called North Street, named the Tom Cat, was noted for his +great strength; for a wager he dragged a "dung cart" on the turnpike +road, from Lincoln, to his own yard in Horncastle, a distance of over 21 +miles. It is said, however, that he suffered from rupture for the rest +of his life, as a consequence of the great and continued exertion +involved in this feat. The inn is now named The Cricketers' Arms, but it +may be noticed that the figure of a cat is still engraven on a pane of +the front window. + +The same man bought the wife of a man named Rogers, a boatman, who put +her up for auction, standing on a tub, with a halter round her neck, in +the public street; the price paid being 20 pounds. She had a son and +daughter by Boulton, who both lived to be married, but died early. In +after years, having lost her (so called) husband, Boulton, she removed to +Lincoln, and there meeting her former husband, Rogers, she became +reconciled to him, and both again lived together, as man and wife, until +death. {160} + +A man, known as Aty Rushton (short for Horatio), who lived in Horncastle, +on the West Ashby Road, about the same period, and let out horses on +hire, being in Lincoln, laid a wager that he would set off from Lincoln, +above hill, just after the moon rose, and ride to Horncastle, 21 miles, +before the moon should rise there; which would be later, the town being +in a hollow, with a steep hill in the west to hide the moon for some +time; while Lincoln is on a hill, with a view to the west over low +county, where the moon would be seen earlier. He rode a swift animal of +his own. and strained all its powers in the effort. Unfortunately there +was then a toll bar on the Lincoln road about a mile from Horncastle, +where he found the gate closed, and was delayed two or three minutes +before the keeper could pass him through. He pressed on with all speed, +galloping through the town, shouting in his excitement "Now me! now +moon!"; but as he dashed into his own yard, he saw the moon shining in a +bucket of water, standing by the stable door. The delay at the toll-bar +had lost him his wager. + +A son of the above, Thomas Rushton, was a great fisherman, and not always +particular where he followed his sport. Walking in the night to a +certain lake in a park, about 6 miles from Horncastle, he fished it and +landed two or three brace of good trout, and then about eight o'clock in +the morning, he called at the hall, and sold them to the squire for his +breakfast. He used to tell this anecdote to his confidants, with his +well-known chuckle of satisfaction, as a satisfactory stroke of business. +Many other stories of his performances with "the angle" could be also +related, but this may suffice. + +The following relates not to a native of Horncastle, but to one whom we +may call an "intruder," although he was to play his part (not a very +creditable one) in the town. We avoid, for obvious reasons, giving names +and dates. There had occurred a number of petty thefts, which made, +those who possessed anything of value, uneasy about their treasures, lest +their turn for spoliation might come next. The police arrangements for +the town were still of a very primitive character, and quite inadequate +for due protection of the householder. The days of the "bobby" and +"peeler" were not yet, at least in country districts; although Sir Robert +Peel had done away with the old watchman, and established the present +police system in the metropolis; and some other of our larger towns had +followed suit. But in Horncastle the constable, by way of setting a +thief to catch a thief, had, it was said, himself in his earlier years +been a great smuggler, while in his age he was a spindle-shanked old man, +whom a boy could knock down. Roused by the insecurity of property, the +authorities decided to import a London detective, disguised in plain +clothes. He came, and for a while marauders, among whom the secret soon +leaked out, carefully stayed their hands. After a time, however, +robberies began to recur; especially a corner shop near "the far bridge," +was the scene of considerable pilfering. The detective was called in to +investigate. He took up the matter, but did not succeed in making any +arrests. + +It was noticed by someone that a brass button was missing from the sort +of gamekeeper's velveteen coat which he wore; and, strange to say, a +button of the exact kind was found behind the counter of the shop where +the thefts occurred. No public action was taken in the matter, but it +came to be strongly suspected that the professional thief-taker had +himself been guilty of thieving. Other suspicious circumstances +occurred, but he was a clever man, and nothing was brought home against +him. It was believed, however, that something of the truth had become +known at head quarters, as his appointment was a few months later +cancelled, and he was not appointed elsewhere. He continued to reside in +Horncastle and, having no employment, he accepted the post of water +bailiff to the local angling association, which he filled for some time, +until he eventually disappeared from the scene of his labours, which were +thought by not a few to be somewhat "fishy" in the unfavourable sense of +being at least questionable in their nature. + +He had not left the town very long when it became known that certain +parties had received from him some of the goods which had disappeared +from the grocer's shop, which had been robbed. Sundry hams were found +concealed in a hay loft, and it was generally believed that the robbery +of an inn in the town, not far from the shop in question, as well as +other thefts in the country around, had been perpetrated by him. + + + +PUBLICHOUSES + + +One of the remarkable features of Horncastle is the number of its +publichouses, and these were far more numerous formerly than at the +present day. This was, of course, mainly due to the great number of +dealers who attended the horse fairs, not only from all parts of England +and Ireland, but from most countries on the continent; especially the +great August fair, which formerly lasted no less than three weeks. The +present facilities for rapid travel, by rail, and quicker means of +communication, which now enable dealers to hear of horses for sale, and +to visit them in their owners stables, before they are brought to the +fair, has altered all this, and the fairs now last only a few days at the +most. + +These publichouses had also generally attached to them large yards, and +extensive stabling (as may still be seen), where the best horses were +shewn and tried, without appearing in the streets. In consequence of the +reduced need for such accommodation many of these publichouses have +disappeared. Among the names of those which have been lost, are the +Royal Oak, the Peal of Bells, Cock and Breeches, Chequers, Hammer and +Pincers, Dolphin, Pack Horse, Woolpack, Fox and Goose, Marquis of Granby, +Blue Bell, Horseshoes, Axe and Cleaver, Three Maids' Heads, Queen's Head, +the George, and others which are only traditionally remembered. {162} + +Several of these were almost contiguous. For instance, on the west side +of the market, on the site of No. 1, now (1908) occupied by Mr. R. W. +Clitherow, formerly stood a good-sized publichouse, which was destroyed +by fire. Being rebuilt, it became the private residence of Mr. H. +Sellwood, Solicitor, father-in-law of the late Poet Laureate, Lord +Tennyson. Separated from this, northward, by only two houses, was the +Black Horse Inn, still existing, and next to this, on what is now part of +the shop of Messrs. Lunn and Dodson, was the Peal of Bells, and not more +than half-a-dozen yards distant, on the opposite side of the street, was +the very old Saracen's Head, still existing. + +On the north side of the Market Place, next to what is now Mr. Cammack's +cycle depot, was the Queen's Head Inn, now gone; and at the north-east +corner of the Market Place, one door removed from St. Lawrence Street, +was the Nelson Inn, still existing; while at the south-east corner stood +the large George Inn, no longer existing; and near the churchyard, under +the same roof with the old vicarage, was a much patronized dram shop, +kept by a Mrs. Clayton, long since removed. + +Of some of these we are able to give particulars, not without interest. +The Cock and Breeches was kept by Roland Oliver, a breeches maker, whose +daughter migrated to London, and, as Mrs. Hibbert, kept an inn, the +Elephant, in Fenchurch Street, City. At the Queen's Head were, early +last century, barracks for volunteers or soldiers, with their drill +sergeants; who performed their drill and practiced with "Brown Bess" in a +chalk pit, on the west side of the Edlington Road, now disused, but still +represented by a deep depression in the field below the footpath to +Thimbleby, and at the back of the gardens of Mr. Frank Heane, of the +Garth House, and other adjoining residents. + +At this same inn, the Queen's Head, some 20 years or more ago, on +removing the bricks of the kitchen floor, the workmen found a skeleton, +probably that of a man who had been murdered for his money at the August +fair, and in connection with this, it was remembered that a farmer living +at Stourton, who used to frequent this inn, had some years before +attended the fair, but never returned home, nor could enquiring friends +find any trace of him. + +The Nelson Hotel, on the same side of the Market Place, was formerly kept +by an old man named Vesey, who was said to have been, in his earlier +years, a great smuggler on the coast, but coming to Horncastle, he +reformed, and was appointed constable. The sign of this inn is a +portrait of the great hero of Trafalgar and the Nile, originally well +painted by the artist, Northouse, but it has recently been repainted in +the worst style, and almost "improved" out of recognition. + +The George stood on the sites now occupied by the Post Office, and the +adjoining shop of Messrs. Salter, Shoemakers, the original archway of the +inn yard still remaining between them. This was formerly one of the +principle inns of the town, equal in size to the Bull and the Red Lion; +and from it, before the railway line was opened to Horncastle, the +landlord, Mr. Hackford, ran a coach, to meet the train at Kirkstead. An +incident, in connection with the George may here be mentioned, which is +not likely to occur again. A wealthy lady, Miss Heald (who had also a +house in London, where the writer, as a boy, visited her), occupied in +those days the old hall (now demolished) in Edlington Park. She was of +the family of Chancellor Heald, to whose memory there is a marble tablet, +on the north wall of the chancel of St. Mary's Church. She had a nephew, +who was an officer in the fashionable regiment of the Guards. He became +enamoured of the once famous courtesan, Lola Montez, who had been +mistress to the King of Bavaria, attracted by her beauty, it was said, as +she drove, and he rode, along Rotten Row, the resort of fashion, in Hyde +Park, London. She wished to make the most of the opportunity to regain a +respectable position, and pressed her attentions of the young officer too +persistently. She was a woman of daring and reckless temperament; and +his love and admiration gradually, on closer acquaintance, gave way to +fear. At length he did all he could to avoid her, which roused her +bitter resentment, and at length he became in daily terror of her +revengeful nature. Coming down from London to Horncastle, to collect his +rents, he put up at the George, and was there found, by a friend who +called upon him, sitting at his luncheon, but with a brace of pistols +lying on the table, fully expecting that she would follow him, and force +him into matrimony. It is said that she ended her days in an American +prison, after perpetrating a murder in a railway carriage. + + [Picture: Old Thatched Inn in the Bull Ring] + +Another inn worthy of mention here is the Fighting Cocks. Here this once +fashionable but cruel sport used to be practised, until it was made +illegal by Act of Parliament, in 1849, and it is said to have been +clandestinely continued for some time longer, although a penalty of 5 +pounds was imposed. An old man working on the premises in 1902 could +remember the last fight. The "pit" was in the present garden, at the +rear of the inn yard. + +In the Fighting Cocks yard were formerly the kennels of the South Wold +hounds, and the writer can well remember going frequently, as a boy, +while he attended the Grammar School, to see them fed, as well as +occasionally being mounted by the whips on one of the horses of the hunt, +when, after the hunting season, they went out for exercise. Mr. "Jack" +Musters, the whilom rival of Byron for the hand of Miss Chaworth, was at +that time Master. + +In the yard of this inn there still remain two large scythe blades +affixed to the wall of an outhouse. The history of these is that they +were formerly on the front of the inn, facing the street, because was +annually held, on August 21st, what was called the Scythe Fair, when the +county blacksmiths gathered to purchase scythes, to supply the Irish, and +other reapers, for the coming harvest. This was discontinued when the +machinery for reaping came into use. + +The Three Maids' Inn was situated in the High Street, on part of the site +now occupied by the Corn Exchange, and was demolished when that building +was erected. A small inn, on the east side of North Street, now called +the Cricketer's Arms, was formerly named the Tom Cat, because here was +sold the strong old gin of the well-known distillers, Swagne and Borde, +whose trademark was a cat. Hence gin took its name of "Old Tom." There +is still the figure of a cat engraven on the front window, with the words +"Unrivalled Tom" beneath it. + +Opposite the Bull, the leading hotel in the town, replete with all modern +requirements, stands the King's Head, an old "public," still remarkable +for its low thatched roof; the reason for which is said to be, that by +the forms of the will of a former owner, it was bequeathed to his +successor, with the condition attached, that it should continue to be +thatched: a condition which the advance of civilization may, in a few +years' time, make it difficult to fulfil. + +And here we may make the concluding remark that 100 years ago most of the +houses in Horncastle were thatched. It is on record (Overton MS.) that +the first slated house in the town was built for a Mr. Storr, a gardener, +in what is now the back passage from the Bow Bridge to the Wong, near the +Baptist Chapel. This was afterwards occupied (1790-1800) by Mrs. L'Oste, +widow of a former Rector of Langton. The next house to be slated was +that of Mr. Titus Overton, lately the residence of Mr. John Overton, +Grocer. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +THIMBLEBY. + + +This parish is contiguous to Horncastle, but the village and church are +distant about 1.25 miles from the town, in a north-westerly direction. +Letters arrive at 8.30 a.m., from Horncastle, where are the nearest money +order and telegraph office and railway station. + +As to the name Thimbleby, given in _Domesday Book_ as Stimbelbi, it +doubtless meant originally the Bye (scotice "Byre"), or farmstead, of a +thane, or owner, in pre-Norman times named stimel. {165} In the survey +made by the Conqueror, A.D. 1085, there are two mentions of this parish, +(1) It is included among the 1,442 lordships, or manors, of which King +William took possession on his own behalf, ejecting the previous owners; +none of whom, in this instance, are named. Under him it was occupied by +22 soc-men, or free tenants, and 18 villeins, or bondsmen, who cultivated +4.5 carucates (540 acres), with 240 acres of meadow. This, however, did +not comprise the whole parish, for (2) another mention gives Thimbleby +among the lands granted by the Conqueror to Odo, Bishop of Baieux, who +was half brother to King William, on his mother's side, and was created +by him Earl of Kent. His brother was Earl of Moretaine, and his sister +Adeliza was Countess of Albermarle. He had been consecrated Bishop of +Baieux before William's conquest of England, in 1049. He was +subsequently made Count Palatine and Justiciary of England. The old +historian, Ordericus Vitalis, says "he was reputed to be the wisest man +in England, and 'totius Angliae Vice-comes sub Rege, et . . . Regi +secundus'"; and this was hardly an exaggeration, since he was granted by +William 76 manors in Lincolnshire, besides 363 in other counties. But we +have observed in several other instances how insecure was the tenure of +property in those unsettled times, when might was deemed right, and this +ambitious Prelate was no exception. He aspired to the Papacy, the +highest ecclesiastical office in Christendom, and was about to start for +Rome, with the view of securing it through his wealth, when he was +arrested and imprisoned by his royal kinsman, and his estates +confiscated. + +The portion of Thimbleby granted to this Odo comprised 250 acres of +cultivated land, with 12 acres of meadow and 30 acres of underwood. This +was worked for him by three free tenants and five bondmen. {166a} On the +attainder of Odo, this land passed again into the King's hands, to be +bestowed doubtless upon some other favourite follower. Accordingly we +find that, shortly after this, the powerful Flemish noble, Drogo de +Bevere, who had distinguished himself greatly at the battle of Hastings, +along with many other manors in Lincolnshire, held that of Thimbleby. He +was, by Royal Charter, Lord of all Holderness, and took his title de +Bevere from Beverley, the chief town in that division. As is also +related elsewhere, {166b} the Conqueror gave him his niece in marriage; +but, being of a violent temperament, Drogo got rid of her by poison, and +then, having thus incurred the anger of William, he fled the country. +His estates, in turn, were probably confiscated, for we find that a few +years later Stephen, Earl of Ambemarle, {166c} had five carucates (_i.e._ +600 acres) of land between Thimbleby, Langton and Coningsby. + +This noble was distinguished for his piety, as well as his other great +qualities. The chronicler describes him as "praeclarus comes, et eximius +monasteriorum fundator," an illustrious earl and distinguished founder of +monasteries. Among other such institutions he founded, on the feast of +St. Hilary, A.D. 1139, the Priory of Thornton, in North Lincolnshire. +This Stephen also received the lordship of Holderness, which had been +held by Drogo. He was succeeded by his son William, who was surnamed +Crassus, or "The Gross," from his unwieldy frame. His +great-granddaughter, Avelin, succeeding to the property in her turn, +married Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, surnamed Gibbosus, or humpback. But +they had no issue, and so, as the "Book of Meux Abbey" says, "for want of +heirs the Earldom of Albemarle and the Honour of Holderness were seized +(once again) into the King's hands." What became of the demesne of +Thimbleby is not specified; but we find from the survey, already quoted, +that in the same century Walter de Gaunt, son of Gilbert de Gaunt, {166d} +held Thimbleby and other neighbouring parishes 24 carucates, or in all +2,880 acres of land. We have traced elsewhere {166e} the descent of the +Willoughby family from the Gaunts, and about 100 years later (circa 1213, +Survey, as before) William de Willoughby succeeded to these estates, +including the demesne of Thimbleby. He was ancestor of the present Earl +of Ancaster, and Lord Willoughby de Eresby, who now represents this +division in Parliament. How long the estates, in whole or in part, +remained with the Willoughbys is not clear; but we have evidence of their +connection with Thimbleby nearly 100 years later, in a document dated +1302, {167a} concerning a dispute as to lands in Thimbleby, Langton, +Woodhall, and several other parishes, between John de Bec and Robert +Wylgherby, the two families being related; in which the said Robert +surrenders to the said John all property in dispute, for his lifetime, on +condition that, after his decease, the whole shall revert to the said +John Willoughby, and his heirs, for ever. {167b} + +From this time we find other names connected with the parish. Indeed +prior to this, in a charter of Bardney Abbey, dated "at the Chapter of +the Convent, on Sunday next after the Ascension of our Lord" (22nd May) +1281; we have among the witnesses, along with others belonging to +Edlington, Wispington, and Baumber, "Master Bartholomew of Thimbleby," +and John Crayck of the same, the former being probably the Rector. {167c} +This charter refers to certain lands and tenements, the gift to the abbey +of "Walter, son of Gilbert, de Bolingbrog," _i.e._ Walter, the son of +Gilbert de Gaunt, already named. In another Bardney charter, dated four +years later (30th Sept., 1285), we find again the same Thimbleby +witnesses, with Alured of Woodhall, and others. {167d} + +Three years later than this, in an official inquiry, held at Lincoln, as +to certain knights' fees, which belonged to Elyas de Rabayn and his wife +Matilda (12th Nov., 1288), the jurors declare that "Robert de Rothwell +holds in Thymelby and Horncastre," certain "rents of assize, to be paid +at the Feast of St. Michael, the Nativity of the Lord, Easter, and St. +Botulph" (June 17), amounting to 12s. + +A more interesting record is the following. We may premise that the +Norman noble, St. Quintin (so named from a town of France, in the +department of Aisne, the Augusta Veromanduorum of the Romans), came over +among the followers of William the Conqueror, and his name appears in the +famous "Battle Roll" of 1066. A Final Concord, of date A.D. 1293, states +that on the Quindene of the purification of the Blessed Mary (_i.e._ the +5th day after), a dispute having arisen between Herbert de St. Quintin on +the one part, and Ascelina de Waterville and Matilda de Diva on the other +part, the two latter being tenants of 3.5 carucates of land (_i.e._ 420 +acres) in Thymeleby; it was settled that the said Ascelina and Matilda +should acknowledge the said land to be the right of Herbert; and for this +Herbert granted them, as his tenants, all the said lands, except six +oxgangs (_i.e._ 90 acres) which were occupied in separate parcels, by +Baldrick, Hogge, Alfsi, Godric, Walfric, and others; and for this the +said Ascelina and Matilda gave him, in acknowledgment, 40 marks. + +A few years after this date it would appear that the Bishop of Carlisle +exercised a kind of ecclesiastical lordship over this parish. Thimbleby +was in the soke of Horncastle, and Ralph de Rhodes, the former Lord of +the demesne of Horncastle, with its appurtenances, West Ashby, High +Toynton, &c., had granted these (by charter confirmed by Henry III., A.D. +1230) to Walter Mauclerk, Bishop of Carlisle, and his successors. + +Accordingly in an old document of the early 14th century, we find that +John de Halghton, Bishop of Carlisle, gave consent for William de Foletby +to convey certain lands in Thimelby, Langton, and Horncastle, to the +Abbot and Convent of Kirkstead, to provide two monks, to celebrate daily +services for the souls of the faithful deceased. The witnesses were +Richard de Wodehall, William de Polam (Poolham), and others. "Dated at +Horncastre, on this day of St. Barnabas, 5 Ed. II., 11 June, A.D. 1312" +{168a} This shows a connection with the monastery of Kirkstead, to which +we shall refer hereafter. + +We next come to a record of special interest, of rather later date. The +family of Thimbleby, Thymelby, Thimoldby, &c., doubtless took their name +from this parish, at a period lost in hoar antiquity. They acquired in +course of time extensive property in various parts of the county. The +chief branch of the family resided at Irnham Park, near Grantham, which +was acquired (about 1510) by Richard Thimbleby, through his marriage with +the heiress of Godfrey Hilton, whose ancestor, Sir Geoffrey Hilton, +Knight, had obtained it by marriage with the heiress of the Luterels, a +very ancient family, several members of which were summoned to Parliament +as Barons, in the 12th century. + +The earlier members of the Thimbleby family are called, expressly, Thomas +de Thymelby, Nicholas de Thymbylby, and so forth, shewing their +connection with this parish. The family name of Thimelby still survives +in the neighbourhood of Spilsby. + +The first mention of a Thimbleby, as an owner in Thimbleby, occurs in a +Post Mortem Inquisition, held at Holtham (Haltham), on Friday next after +the Feast of St. Matthew (Sept. 21), A.D. 1333; where the jurors say that +Nicholas de Thymelby held, with certain other lands in the neighbourhood, +two messuages and four acres of land in Thymelby, of the Bishop of +Carlisle, and that the said Nicholas died on the Feast of the +Purification (Feb. 2nd); and that his son Thomas, aged 19, was heir. +{168b} + +Then follow a grant of land and other privileges, by the Bishop of +Carlisle, in Horncastle and Upper Toynton, to Thomas, son of Nicholas de +Thymelby. Thomas presented to the Benefice of Ruckland in 1381. His son +John married Joan, daughter of Sir Walter Taillebois; whose mother was +daughter and heir of Gilbert Burdon (or Barradon), whose wife was sister +and heir of Gilbert Umfraville, Earl of Angus. Thus the family kept +growing in importance. {168c} + +Our last mention of this family, in connection with Thimbleby, shows a +still greater expansion. An Inquisition taken 12th August, 4 Ed. VI. +(1550), after the death of Matthew Thimbleby, of Polam, Esq., shows that +he married Anne, daughter of Sir John Hussey, and that he was seised of +six manors besides that of Thimelby; also of lands in eight other +parishes, with the advowsons of the churches of Tetforde, Farrafford, +Ruckland, and Somersby. {168d} His widow married Sir Robert Savile, Knt. + +Soon after the first mention of a Thymelby of Thimbleby, we find another +family of some note connected with this parish. In an agreement made at +"Langton near Horncaster, 8 August, A.D. 1370, Peter Skynner of Ely, and +Alice his wife, for some consideration not named, surrender to William de +Atherby and his heirs, all their rights in certain lands and tenements in +Woodhall, Langton, Thymelby, Horncastre, Thornton," &c. {169a} These +lands had evidently been held by the said Peter Skynner and his wife. + +The Skynners were a family of wealth and position. In 1315 Robert and +Richard Skynner held the manor of Pinchbeck, near Spalding. {169b} They +were also land owners in Hareby and Bolingbroke. Henry Skynner, by will, +dated 29th May, 1612, leaves to his daughter Judith, all his copyhold in +Harebie, to his brother, Sir Vincent Skynner, Knight, lands in Hareby and +other places, with the advowson of the Benefice. Sir Vincent Skynner was +Lord of the Manor of Thornton Curtis; he was in 1604 appointed by the +crown Keeper of East Kirkby Park, as part of the Royal manor, or +"Honour," of Bolingbroke. His son William married a daughter of Sir +Edward Coke, Knight, and was buried at Thornton Curtis, August 17th, A.D. +1626. + +We find mention of another owner of land in Thimbleby, in the 15th +century, whose apparent love of pelf would seem to have tempted him to +defraud the king of his dues. A certain Thomas Knyght, of the City of +Lincoln, Esquire, died in the 10th year of the reign of Henry VII. (A D +1495), seized of lands and tenements "in Thembleby," and other places. +At the Inquisition then held, the jurors found that he had alienated +certain parts of the property, "the Royal license therefor not being +obtained, to the prejudice and deception of the lord the King," and the +property passed to his son and heir William, who took possession, with "a +like evasion of dues, to the King's prejudice." What penalty was imposed +is not stated; but it was a somewhat remarkable coincidence, that, as +shewn in another Inquisition made the following year (A.D. 1496), certain +witnesses deposed that on the 20th day of June, A.D. 1476 (_i.e._ 19 +years before his decease), the said Thomas Knyght, and his servants, +about the middle of the night "broke and dug the soil of the parlour of +his house, and found 1,000 pounds, and more, of the coinage of the +Treasury . . . there placed and hidden," which as "tresour-trove, by +reason of the prerogative of the lord the King, ought to come to his use, +&c." This has all a very suspicious look, Knyght would not have ordered +this search for the money if he had not himself known of its being there. +It looks like a previous attempt at concealment, in some way to defraud +the revenue, which Knyght himself afterwards felt was a failure, and that +it was safer to exhume the hoard himself, rather than that public +officials should do it. Altogether it would seem that "Thomas Knyght, of +the City of Lincoln, Esquire," was somewhat of a sordid character, and +not a proprietor for Thimbleby to be proud of. + +We now proceed to records more ecclesiastical. We have already noted +that, with the consent of the Bishop of Carlisle, William de Foletby, in +the 14th century conveyed lands in Thimbleby to the Abbot of Kirkstead. +This would seem to imply a previous connection of this parish with that +monastery, to attract the Thimbleby proprietor to it. Accordingly we +find that, among the various properties of the Abbey, granted by Hugh +Brito, its founder (A.D. 1139), and other benefactors, were 90 acres of +land in Thimbleby, with the advowson of the Benefice. In those days +there was only a very limited number of resident clergy in the country +parishes, {170a} the churches being served largely by the monks of the +monasteries. In some cases these were "itinerant clerks," in other cases +there was a "grange," or dependency, of the monastery in the parish, +having a "cell," or "hermitage," for a priest. + +Thimbleby was not among the number of parishes which had a church before +the conquest, as Edlington and several other neighbouring parishes had; +but there is no doubt that a church was erected here soon after that +period, which, like the neighbouring Woodhall, was connected with +Kirkstead, and here, as at Woodhall, there are traces of a moated +enclosure eastward of the church, which doubtless was the site of the +grange. + +The Abbot of Kirkstead exercised the powers of a superior lord here in a +somewhat arbitrary fashion; it being complained against him before Royal +Commissioners as early as the reign of Edward I., that he had erected +here "furcoe," or a gallows, on which various criminals had been +executed; and that he had appropriated to himself the assize of bread and +beer here, and at Horncastle. {170b} But "blessed are the peacemakers," +and the abbots, with wholesome influence, were able, when occasion +served, to produce harmony out of discordant elements; as the following +records show (quoted from Final Concords): "In three weeks from the day +of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, 10 Henry III. (28th Sept., A.D. +1226)," a dispute arising between Reginald, Rector of Thymelby, and +Peter, son of John, tenant of a certain messuage and toft in Thymelby. +Peter was induced to give up his claim, in favour of Reginald and his +successors; and for this the said Reginald gave him one mark, in +recognition of the concession. Which agreement was made in the presence +of Henry, Abbot of Kirkstead, who himself gave to the church of Thymelby +all right which he had in rent, which he was wont to receive; not however +without an equivalent, which--being wise in his generation--he was +careful to secure; for Reginald, in return, gave him a certain sum "to +buy a rent in another place." + +The worldly wisdom of the same abbot appears again in the following +Concord: On the morrow of St. Michael, 10 Henry III. (30th Sept. A.D. +1226); a dispute between Sarah, the wife of Alan de Tymelby, and Henry, +Abbot of Kirkstead, about a certain meadow in Tymelby, was happily +settled (it being to the soul's peril to incur an abbot's anathema!) by +the said Sarah giving up all claim to the meadow in favour of the said +Abbot, and his successors; in recognition of which he gave her one mark. + +A gap now occurs in our history, which can only be filled in, for a time, +by conjecture. On the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII., the +possessions of Kirkstead Abbey were granted by him to Charles Brandon, +Duke of Suffolk; on whose death without issue, they reverted to the +sovereign, and were re-granted to the Earl of Lincoln, of the Fiennes +Clinton family, subsequently Dukes of Newcastle. The Abbey lands in +Thimbleby are not, so far as we know, specially named in this grant, and +therefore we are unable to say positively whether that family acquired +property in Thimbleby or not; but they had undoubtedly property in +Horncastle and neighbourhood. For instance the manor of Baumber remained +in their hands, and Baumber Church continued to be the family burial +place, until the 3rd Duke of Newcastle, late in the 18th century, sold +that estate to T. Livesey, Esq. + +A few years later, however, we have official evidence that the manor and +advowson of Thimbleby were vested in the sovereign. By a deed (a copy of +which is in the Rector's possession) dated 10th April, 7 Edward VI. (A.D. +1553), of the Court of Augmentations, a toft and messuage in Thimbleby +were granted by the King to John Welcome; also "the lordship and manor of +Thimblebye, with all its rights, &c., lately belonging to the monastery +of Kirkstead;" also "the advowson and right of patronage of the Rectory +and Church of Thymmelbie, aforesaid." In the next reign, of Mary, the +benefice was presented, by the Queen herself, to William Brantinghame, +being admitted on her nomination 19th Sept., 1554. {171a} + +A deed of that reign, dated 6th Feb., 1 and 2 Philip and Mary (1554), +grants certain lands belonging to the manor of Thimblebie, to Anthony +Kyme, for 21 years, at 10s. per annum + + [Picture: St. Margaret's Church, Thimbleby] + +Next, in the reign of Elizabeth, a deed dated 9th March, 4 Elizabeth +(1562), grants certain tofts and lands to John Porter, for 21 years, at a +rent of 18s. per annum; and finally, by deed dated June 30th, 1564, +Elizabeth in consideration of the sum of 609 pounds 5s. 2d., confirms the +above grants and leases to William Conyers and William Haber, both of the +Middle Temple, the patronage of the Rectory, "to be held with the manor +of Est Grenwich, in the countie of Kent, free of all duty or military +service." + +After a further hiatus in the parish history, we find another link in the +records. The former property of the Thimblebys, of Poolham, and +elsewhere, had been sold to a member of the Bolles family, in 1600; and +Mr. Weir {171b} tells us that in the reign of Charles II. the manor of +Thimbleby belonged to Sir Robert Bolles, of Scampton. From Liber Regis +we find that Sir John Bolles presented to the benefice of Thimbleby in +1697, and doubtless was Lord of the Manor. This Sir John sold his +property, and according to the antiquarian, Browne Willis (Ecton's +Thesaurus), in the reign of Queen Anne, the patronage of the benefice +belonged to "Mr. Kercheval" + +In 1719 and 1725 John Hockin, Clerk, presented. + +In 1720 the manor and advowson were bought by John Hotchkin, Esq., of +Tixover; and a Thimbleby record, preserved with the registers, shows that +the Hotchkins have presented from about that time till recently. In 1767 +(Sept. 10th), Allen Corrance was admitted on the cession of John +Kercheval, by Thomas Hotchkin, Esq., of Alexton, Co. Leicester. In 1778 +William Holmes, M.A., was admitted to the rectory by John Hotchkin, Esq., +of South Luffenham, on the death of Allen Corrance. In 1831 (Sept. 21st) +Robert Charles Herbert Hotchkin, B.A., was instituted at the rectory, on +the death of William Holmes, on the nomination of Thomas Hotchkin, Esq., +of Tixover. The late T. J. Stafford Hotchkin, Esq., of Woodhall Manor, +sold his property in Thimbleby and some other parishes in 1872; and the +advowson of this benefice, then in his gift, was subsequently sold to the +father of the present Rector, the Rev. C. A. Potter. + +There is another name on record, connected with Thimbleby, which we have +not yet mentioned. Among a list of the gentry of Lincolnshire, made on +the Royal Herald's Visitation of the County, in 1634, which is still +preserved at the Heralds' office, is the name of "Robert Frieston, of +Thimbleby." What position he held, or whether he was a land owner, in +the parish, is not stated, but he ranked with Thomas Cressy (of a very +old family), of Kirkby-on-Bain; the Dymokes of Scrivelsby, Haltham, and +Kime; Heneage of Hainton, &c. {172a} + +There is a smaller manor in this parish called the Hall-garth, the +residence attached to which is a picturesque old thatched mansion, with +an old-time garden, enclosed within high and thick hedges of yew, trimmed +in Dutch fashion. It has also a large "stew," or fish-pond, from which, +doubtless, in Roman Catholic times, the owners drew their supply of carp +and tench, for the numerous fast-days then observed. Old title deeds +show that this was at one time crown property. {172b} At a later date it +was owned by a family named Boulton, who also held land in Stixwould, +where there is still the slab of a Boulton tomb in the pavement of the +aisle of the church. + +A slab, on the south side of Thimbleby Church, bears the inscription: +"Here lyeth the body of Michael, the son of Mr. Michael and Elizabeth +Boulton, buried the 7th of Septemr, 1692, aetatis suae 7. His mother the +28th of May, Anno Dom. 1725, aetat suae 61." The Register has the +following entries, "1725, Mrs. Boulton, ye wife of Mr. Mich. Boulton, +buried May 28th." "1738, Michael Boulton buried May 8th." The last +entry connected with this family is that of "Michael, son of Michael and +Mary Boulton," who was baptized in 1726 and buried in 1767. + +These were the ancestors of the late Mr. Henry Boulton, of St. Mary's +Square, Horncastle. Michael Boulton, in 1719, left 40s. a year, from the +Hall estate, at Bransby near Stow, for the education of poor children at +Thimbleby; leaving also a bequest for the poor at Bransby. + +At the beginning of the 19th century this manor was held jointly by +Richard Elmhirst, Esq., of Usselby, and Mr. Thomas Kemp, the latter of +whom resided at the Old Hall. {173a} There is a field at the west end of +the village, now the property of H. N. Coates, Esq., traversed by mounds +and ditches, which was formerly divided into three separate plots, +belonging to Elmhirst, Kemp, and Hotchkin. The Kemps were of an old +stock. In the Thimbleby Registers the first mention of them is in 1723, +{173b} but their name implies a much greater antiquity. One theory has +been that they were a Huguenot family, who came over to England at the +time of the French massacre of Protestants, on St. Bartholomew's day, +1572. Those refugees, in their enforced poverty, prosecuted various +kinds of useful industries; and the Kemps, it is suggested, acquired +their name from being kempsters, or comb makers. + +But it is probable that the name had a much earlier origin. Kemp (Saxon +Cempa) meant a soldier {173c} being connected with the Norman-French and +modern English "Champion;" and although we might look back with pride to +forefathers who suffered for their religion, it is pleasanter, if only in +imagination, to regard them as having been a race of doughty warriors, +sufficiently distinguished to win a name by their deeds. {173d} + +Mr. Thomas Kemp, in the first half of the 19th century, was a wealthy +bachelor, and added to the Hall-garth estate by the purchase, from time +to time, of adjacent property. He lived in some style, with two maiden +sisters to keep house for him. By his will the land at Thimbleby passed +into the possession of his great nephew, Robert Edwin Kemp; another +nephew, Samuel Harrison Kemp, inheriting most of the personal estate. +But alas! liveried servants, crests and arms, and other emblems of wealth +have become things of the past; for when this Robert died the property +passed to his son, Thomas Kemp, in whose hands the patrimony speedily +evaporated; and other members of the family are now dispersed, "their +places knowing them no more," save as a lingering memory, which will soon +be gone. + +The interesting old hall and the manor were then bought by Reuben +Roberts, Esq., of Linden House, Horncastle, who resides there in the +summer. He also owns other land in the parish. Other owners are E. +Hassard, Esq., of Edlington Park; H. N. Coates, Esq., of Langton Manor; +the trustees of the late Mr. Samuel Goe, and several smaller proprietors. +Mrs. Tebbutt, of Horncastle, a relict of an old Thimbleby family, whose +name appears frequently in the parish books, is now Lady of the Manor. + +Some 200 yards east of the church and on the south side of the main road +is a large field, the property of Mr. Henry N. Coates of Langton, which +is known as "The Butts." It has some fine trees, apparently the remains +of an extensive avenue, which have been more numerous even within living +memory. It has been sometimes called "The Park Close," but the title +"The Butts" is interesting, as probably indicating that it was formerly +the site on which (in the words of a rhymer, it may be said): + + England's archers of old, + Village wights true and bold, + Unerring in hand and in eye, + Learned skill in their craft + With yew-bow and shaft, + Wand to splinter, or pierce the bull's-eye. + + And while the youth gay, + Rough rivals, essay + To rive and riddle each butt, + Sage sires stand by, + And coy maidens cry, + To welcome the winning shot. + + Full many such scene + Has been witnessed, I ween, + In that whilome time-honoured spot, + 'Neath the wide-spreading shade + Of the green wood glade + Which is still named the "Thimbleby Butt." + +In this "Butts" field rises a spring, which is the source of a small +runnel, called "Daubeny's Beck." This bearing westward, for some +distance forms the boundary between the parishes of Thimbleby and +Langton, then flowing through Woodhall falls into the "Monk's Beck," at +Poolham. The name "Daubeny" is doubtless a corruption of D' Albini. The +D' Albinis held the Barony, and built the castle of Belvoir, and had +other large possessions in this county and elsewhere; the name is not +uncommon as a field name, &c. There is a field in Langton called +"Daubeny's (_i.e._ D' Albini's) Walk." + +In the grounds of Mr. W. A. Crowder, further to the east, near the +Lincoln "Ramper," as the highway is locally called, there was found, a +few years ago, a so-called "Roman" tomb, somewhat rudely constructed of +blocks of Spilsby sandstone. Within it was a human skeleton, with bones +of a dog, a sword, and the head of a spear. In connection with this, we +may also mention, that in the Rectory grounds there is an ancient well, +of great depth, lined also with Spilsby sandstone, and said to be Roman; +which in the immediate proximity of the Cornucastrum, or Roman fort of +Banovallum, would not seem to be at all improbable. + +An old parish book of Thimbleby, recently shown to the writer, proves the +care which was taken by the parish officials, before the present poor law +system was established, to secure the comfort and maintenance of poorer +parishioners. + +At a parish meeting, Nov. 1st, 1819, Thomas Kemp, Churchwarden, in the +chair, it was ordered that John Sharp's daughter was to have a gown and +pettycoat, worsted for two pairs of stockings, and one blue apron. Four +boys were to have two smocks each, and eight old people a strike of coals +each per week. At another meeting Margaret Day was to have worsted for +two pairs of socks for her two boys, herself to spin it; and one pair of +shoes for her daughter. Robert Kemp, and his son Richard, in order to +find them work were to be paid 2s. per day, to "gether" stones for the +parish. + +Again, Maria Day's shoes were to be mended; Mary Atkin to have a pair of +blankets, and her chamber window put in and thatched. Benj. Benton one +pair of shoes, Willm. Adkin a waistcoat. Mary King's family four shirts, +two pairs of shoes, three frocks, three petticoats, and three dabs +(_i.e._ pinafores). A pair of breeches for George Skipworth; Willm. +Skipworth to have a spade. + +Again, Mr. Thos. Kemp was "to be allowed 20 pounds for the use of the +poor-house, to be insured for 200 pounds by the parish, and, when given +up to be left in the same state." + +At a meeting on 7th August, 1820, Robert Dixon in the chair, it was +ordered that all paupers receiving assistance should regularly attend +Divine Service, and on their non-attendance the assistance should be +stopped. Mary Todd was to receive her money (which had been stopped) +having given satisfaction to the vestry for not attending the church. +Mary Hobbins' boy to be put to school. "To get the Lord's Prayer, and +the 'I believe,' put in the church at the parish expense." + +At a meeting held 27th August, 1830, Thomas Kemp in the chair, it was +agreed that 75 pounds be borrowed of Mr. Thos. Kemp, to pay Mrs. Farmer's +expenses to America, to be repaid by the parish, 30s. weekly, with legal +interest. Church rates are now among the "has beens," but in 1843 a rate +was passed of "1d. in the pound for the support of the church, and 10d. +in the pound for the highway repairs." + +In the churchyard, along the south side of the church, are a group of +gravestones of the Kemp family. Eastward are several of the Marshall +family, formerly numerous here, and in the neighbourhood, holding a +respectable position, but now extinct. {175} There are also a number of +tombs of the Todd family, respectable small farmers, resident in the +parish, from the first notice of a burial, June 24th, 1738, down to +recent years. The Tebbuts and Dixons were also resident, as tenants or +small owners, for many years. + +Among the marriage registers, which date from 1695, is the following +note: "March 23, 1779, a marriage was attempted to be solemnized; but the +intended bridegroom, to the great surprise of the congregation assembled, +remaining away, the ceremony, &c. . . ." The rest is illegible. + +We have now to speak of the church. The present edifice stands on the +site of a former 14th century church, which, judging by the remains that +have been found, must have been of much larger dimensions, and consisted +of nave, two aisles, chancel, and bell tower; the total breadth having +been 52-ft. Several fragments of stained glass have, at various times, +been found in digging graves, showing that this early church, like +several others in the neighbourhood, had good coloured windows. This was +taken down in 1744, and from the materials remaining a small fabric was +erected in its place, consisting of nave and apsed chancel, with no +pretensions whatever to architectural beauty. This (as has been +generally the case with badly constructed edifices of that period) became +also, in turn, so decayed that the present Rector, on entering on the +benefice, decided to rebuild the church once more; and in 1879 the +present structure was completed at a cost of over 1,000 pounds, in the +best early Decorated style. + +It consists of nave, chancel, organ chamber on the south, and an +octagonal bell turret, designed by the late Mr. James Fowler, the +Architect, and containing one small modern bell, graven with the date and +initials of W. Carey, Churchwarden in 1744, {176a} who demolished the old +church. The nave has three two-light windows, of the decorated style, in +the north and south walls; there is a square-headed two-light window in +the organ chamber; the chancel has a single-light window in the north and +south walls, with a good east window of three lights, trefoiled, and with +a triangle of trefoils above. In the north wall is a credence recess, +and in the south wall are two stone sedilia. The tiles within the +chancel rails are copied from ancient tiles, which were found some years +ago, at Revesby Abbey. In the west front, over the door, is a large +two-light window, and above it a clock, the only village church clock in +the neighbourhood, by Smith of Derby. Within the west doorway, let into +the north wall of the tower basement, is a fragment of an old battlement, +having a shield in the centre, probably a relic from the original church. +The font is modern, having a plain octagonal bowl, shaft, and pediment. +The roof is of pitch pine, the timbers being supported by plain corbels. +The lectern, chancel stalls, and communion table are of good modern oak + +Used as a stile in the south fence of the churchyard is a large slab, on +which, above ground, is the matrix of a former brass, representing one +figure, with a broad transverse bar for an inscription, and connecting it +with other figures, which are now below the ground. {176b} + +The church plate includes an interesting paten, presented to the church +in 1837, by the mother of the late Rector, but bearing hall-marks of +1727-8, with the letter M and a five-pointed star below. The chalice is +still more interesting, as it bears an old Lincoln hall-mark, of date +about 1570; there are only eight other known examples of this period in +the county. + +The rectory is a commodious house, built in 1839, doubtless on the site +of the former monastic grange; it stands in an extensive garden, +embowered among trees of goodly growth. A fine oil painting at the +present time adorns the entrance hall. It is reputed to be by +Spagnoletto, and was formerly in the monastery of St. Jerome, in Lisbon. +Its size is 5-ft. by 4-ft., the subject being St. Jerome translating the +Vulgate scriptures. + + + +WEST ASHBY. + + +This parish, like High Toynton, Mareham-on-the-Hill and Wood Enderby, was +formerly a hamlet of Horncastle, of which it adjoins the northern +boundary. We find them all coupled together in an extract from the Testa +de Nevill [folio 348 (556), quoted _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iii, p. +215] as follows: "The church of Horncastre, and of Askeby, and of Upper +Thinton, and of Meringes, and of Hinderby, are of the gift of the Lord," +_i.e._ the Lord of the Manor. In _Domesday Book_ it is called Aschebi. +Queen Editha, wife of Edward the Confessor, who owned various lands in +this neighbourhood, was Lady of this Manor, as well as that of +Horncastle. She held here six carucates of land (or about 720 acres), +besides which there were 45 soc-men, 5 villeins, and 13 bordars, with +eight carucates (or about 960 acres), and 500 acres of meadow and +pasture. (_Domesday_, "Soke of Horncastle.") + + [Picture: The Manor House, West Ashby] + +_Domesday_ also mentions that the Saxon thane, Chetelburn, who had +property in Coningsby, Keal, Candlesby, Friskney, and other places in the +county, had at Ashby "a mill worth 12s. yearly," a very considerable sum +in those days. The manor was afterwards held by the Conqueror himself +(_Domesday_, "Property of the King"); and it would seem, although there +is no direct evidence of it, that he bestowed the manor on one of his +chief favourites, Ranulph de Paganall, who received from his sovereign +extensive grants in the counties of Somerset, Devon, York, Northampton, +and Lincoln, {177} including all the lands formerly held by the Saxon +Merleswain, in this county and elsewhere. Ranulph Paganall founded (A.D. +1089) the Priory of the Holy Trinity in York, said to have been built on +the site of a former Roman heathen temple; one of his family, Helias +Pagnall, being subsequently Prior of this institution, and Canon of +Selby. When the present Church of the Holy Trinity was restored in 1904, +among other ancient monuments, was found the slab of the tomb of Ralph +Ranulph, which is still preserved in the church, along with sculptures +commemorative of St. Benedict, St. Martin of Tours, Prior Helias, and +others. {178a} + +Ranulph, by charter of that date, endowed the abbey with two-thirds of +the tithes of Ashby; which was further confirmed by charters of 1100, +1125, and 1179. This Ranulph Paganall was Sheriff of Yorkshire. The +last known representative of his family was William Paganall, summoned to +Parliament as a Baron in the reign of Edward III. Dugdale states {178b} +that the Priory of the Holy Trinity was made, by its founder, a +dependency or cell of the greater monastery (marmonstier) of the above, +St. Martin in Touraine; and by the Inquisition, taken at York, 34 Ed. I., +it was found that he claimed no portion of the temporalities of the +Priory, beyond the right to place an official there, during the vacancy +of the priorate, as temporary custodian. The name Paganall became in +later times softened into Paynell; they were at one time Lords of +Bampton. + +At a later period the manor of Ashby, probably with that of Horncastle, +belonged to Gerard de Rhodes and his descendant, Ralph; since in a +Charter Roll of 14 Henry III. (pt. i, M. 12), we find that King's +confirmation of a grant, made by the said Ralph, to Walter, Bishop of +Carlisle, of "the manor of Horncastle, with the soke, and the advowsons +of the churches, and all other things pertaining to the same in all +places," evidently including the churches of the hamlets as well as that +of the town. Among the witnesses to this are Gervase, Archdeacon of +Carlisle; and Henry de Capella; the latter name being noticeable because, +as will be seen below, Ashby was called "Capella." {178c} + +The Abbey of Kirkstead had a grange in Ashby, which after the dissolution +of the monasteries, was granted in the 5th year of Edward VI., to William +Cecil, Lord Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England; this is now part of +the Ashby Thorpe estate. {178d} In 1820 this was the property of Mr. +Joseph Rinder. It is now partly owned by the Booth family, and partly by +the Smedley trustees. + +The parish is still divided into Far Thorpe, Church Thorpe, and Middle +Thorpe. Far Thorpe included the farms held by the late Mr. Griffin and +Mr. Addison. Mr. Wattam's house, which is moated, was the old Midthorpe +Hall. As being a hamlet of Horncastle, the benefice was formerly called +Ashby "Capella," or the Ashby Chapelry; and like Horncastle, Wood +Enderby, High Toynton, and Mareham is given in "Liber Regis" as in the +patronage of the Bishop of Carlisle. Until recently it was a perpetual +curacy, in value about 50 pounds a year; but about 30 years ago, on the +enfranchisement of certain episcopal lands, the Ecclesiastical +Commissioners endowed it to the extent of 300 pounds a year, and built a +substantial vicarage. The patronage is now with the Lord Chancellor by +exchange with Kirk Oswald, Cumberland. + +The church, All Saints, is of considerable size, being one of the largest +village churches in the neighbourhood, mainly in the Perpendicular style, +and substantially built, consisting of tower, nave, and chancel, the two +latter of the same elevation throughout. The tower has three old bells, +and a peal of eight tubular bells. Gervase Holles gives the inscriptions +on the bells as being: + +1. Sit nomen Domini benedictum. + +2. Intonat e caelis vox campana Michaelis. + +3. Sum rosa pulsata Mundi Maria vocata. + +One of these was, some years ago, re-cast; and now bears the inscription +"voco ad templum, date 1759." + +The main features of the church are as follows: the porch arch is +semi-circular, Norman, the west window in the tower is unusually high, +12-ft. by 4-ft. in width, of three lights. The north aisle has four +bays. The nave, in the south wall, has two three-light windows, the +western one perpendicular and having pointed arch, the eastern square +headed. In the north wall there is a three-light debased decorated +window. In the west wall of the north aisle is a two-light window of +coloured glass, in memory of Augustus Elmhirst; and in its eastern wall +is a three-light memorial window to his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Ruck +Keene. In the south wall of the chancel are two late four-centre +two-light windows; and in the north wall a three-light flamboyant window. +Gervase Holles mentions a north chancel window having "sa. a crosse +between 4 cinquefoyles arg. . . .," {179} but this has disappeared. The +east window is modern, with three lights. A new window was erected, in +1907, in the north aisle (corresponding to a window inserted in 1905, in +memory of General and Mrs. Elmhirst), by Mr. H. R. Elmhirst, to the +memory of his late wife, Lilian Frances, nee Hatfeild; the artists were +Powell and Sons; the subject Faith, Hope and Love represented by three +figures. + + [Picture: All Saints' Church, West Ashby] + +The communion table has a very handsome cover, with red frontal, +elaborately embroidered with old Roman work. A carved wooden reredos has +recently been presented by Col. and Mrs. Stack. On a tablet on the north +wall is an elaborate inscription, in memory of Lieutenant Richard +Calthrop, who was killed at the siege of Algiers; erected by his mother +and 10 surviving brothers and sisters; who are said to have lived to the +remarkable average age of 85 years. There are various tablets +commemorative of the families of Rockliffe, Drewry, Pierce and Elmhirst. +There is a north door, as well as south, to the nave. The font is a +plain octagonal one, perpendicular in style. + +The church was restored and reseated in 1873; the tower being renovated +in memory of Mrs. Barnard, otherwise known as "Claribel," a well-known +musical composer, connected with the Elmhirst family. It is lofty and +massive, surmounted by four high pinnacles and large gurgoyles at the +angles. + +The register dates from 1561. {180a} The communion plate consists of a +cup, with inscription "Ashby Chappell, 1758;" a paten presented by +"Elizabeth Pierce, Christmas Day, 1841," and flagon, given by the same, +in 1859. She was the wife of the Vicar of that day, the Rev. W. M. +Pierce, and an authoress. In the churchyard are the tombstones of John +Thistlewood and his wife; he was brother of the Cato Street conspirator, +and died at Louth, having formerly resided at Ashby and Wispington. + +The late William Elmhirst, Esq., bought the lands here formerly belonging +to the Bishops of Carlisle, and erected a handsome and substantial +residence, in well-wooded grounds; which in later years passed by +purchase to the Booth family, by whom it, and the estates attached, are +now owned. It is at present occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Newstead. The +Elmhirsts are at present represented by H. R. Elmhirst, Esq., son of the +late General Charles Elmhirst, C.B., who resides at The Grove. + + + +HIGH TOYNTON. + + +High Toynton is situated about 1.5 miles from Horncastle, in an easterly +direction, on the road to Partney and Spilsby. It would seem to have +been formerly, like West Ashby, an appendage to the Manor of Horncastle. +The old record {180b} says (as already quoted under West Ashby) "The +church of Horncastre, and of Askeby, and of Upper Thinton, and of +Maringes (Mareham), and of Hinderby, are of the gift of the lord," _i.e._ +the Lord of the Manor. As thus not being a separate manor, it is barely +more than mentioned in _Domesday Book_, where it is called Todintune, and +Tedingtone. Queen Editha, wife of Edward the Confessor, would be Lady of +the Manor; but William the Conqueror took possession and held lands here, +in demesne, with tenants and dependants. + +That the manor afterwards, along with that of Horncastle, became the +property of Gerard de Rhodes, is shewn by the following peculiar +circumstances. In a Feet of Fines, at Lincoln, 9 Henry III., No. 52, it +is recorded that an agreement was arranged in the King's Court at +Westminster, (3 Feb., A.D. 1224-5), between Henry del Ortiay and Sabina +his wife, plaintiffs, and Ralph de Rhodes, a descendant of Gerard, +defendant, whereby certain lands in Upper Tynton, Mareham, and other +places, were recognized by the plaintiffs as the property of Ralph de +Rhodes; they receiving, in lieu thereof, 100.5 acres of land, and 11 +acres of meadow, with appurtenances, all in Upper Tynton. These lands +are further specified by name, as 24 acres next Graham (_i.e._ Greetham), +12 acres in culture called "Hethoten acre" (_i.e._ Heath of ten acres), 9 +acres of land in "Pesewang" (_i.e._ Peas-field), 5.5 acres in "Sex acre," +7 acres in Leir-mewang (or low mead-field), 4 acres in culture of Lange +landes, 6 acres in Whetewang (_i.e._ wheat-field), and 10 acres in +Kruncewang (_qy._ crown's-field?); and further plots not specially named. +The peculiar feature however of their tenure was, that they and their +heirs were "to have and to hold the said lands for ever . . . rendering +therefor by the year one pair of gilt spurs, or 6d., at Easter, for all +service and exaction." + + [Picture: St. John the Baptist's Church, High Toynton] + +A Pipe Roll (14 Henry III., Lincoln) states that "Walter, Bishop of +Carlisle, holds certain lands hereditarily of the aforesaid Ralph de +Rhodes;" and in a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 34 Edward III., 2nd +Nrs., No. 29 (1360), mention is made of "Thomas, son of Nicholas de +Thymelby, and John his younger brother, and their heirs," as tenants of +the Manor of Horncastle, "and of lands in Over Tynton," which they "hold +of the said Bishop." These were scions of the wealthy family of the +Thimblebyies, Lords of Poolham, and other estates. One of them married a +daughter and co-heir of Sir William Fflete, Knt.; another married a +daughter of Sir Walter Tailboys; this Sir Walter being the son of Henry +Tailboys and his wife, Alianora, daughter and heir of Gilbert Burdon and +his wife, Elizabeth, sister and heir of Gilbert Umfraville, Earl of +Angus. + +By a Close Roll, 20 Henry VII. (part 2 [No. 367] No. 33), it appears that +Sir Thomas Dymmok, Knight, had recently purchased lands in Over Tynton, +Nether Tynton, Maring next Horncastle, and other parishes; which he +granted to his son Leo, and his heirs for ever. + +Further, by a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 24 Henry VII., No. 61, it +is found that Humphrey Conyngesby, Sergeant at Law, and others instituted +a suit on behalf of William Stavely, and others, by which he recovered to +them the Manor of (apparently Upper) Taunton, the advowson of the church +of Nether Taunton, about 2,700 acres of various land, and the rent of 4.5 +quarters of salt in Over Taunton, Nether Taunton, Tetford, and other +parishes. + +The Manor, with that of Horncastle, continued for a long period in the +hands of the Bishops of Carlisle; who were patrons of the benefice until +the creation of a bishopric of Manchester, in 1848, when their patronage +in this neighbourhood was transferred to that See. The Manor, however, +with that of Horncastle, had previously passed to Sir Joseph Banks, and +came eventually to his successors, the Stanhopes. The benefice, until +late years, was a very poor one, being a perpetual curacy, annexed to +Mareham-on-the-Hill; their joint annual value being 160 pounds, without a +residence. But when the episcopal property (the Bishop being Rector) was +transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, they, with the aid of +Queen Anne's Bounty, raised the joint benefices to 300 pounds a year; and +in 1869 erected a good residence at Toynton, now occupied by the Vicar, +the Rev. W. Shaw. + +The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, was formerly a very mean +structure, dating from the 18th century (1772), in the worst of styles, +with wooden-framed windows, of large square panes of glass, and having a +flat whitewashed ceiling. The timbers of this had become so decayed that +a former curate-in-charge, mounting to the false roof, to examine them, +fell through, among the square pews below. This incident led, not too +soon, to the rebuilding of the fabric, at a cost of more than 1,200 +pounds in 1872, on the site of the previous building, as also of an +original 13th century edifice. The present church is a substantial and +neat structure in the early English style, thoroughly well kept, and with +several pleasing features. It consists of nave, chancel, and porch, with +tower and low spire. The nave has, in the north wall, two single-light +narrow pointed windows, and at its eastern end a two-light window, having +a quatrefoil above. In the south wall there is one single-light and one +two-light window, corresponding to the above; the porch, taking place of +a window at its western end. + +The two-light window in the north wall has coloured glass, with various +devices, one being a small copy of the famous Descent from the Cross, by +Rubens, in Antwerp Cathedral; another the Royal Arms, with the initials +V.R. below, and date 1848. The corresponding two-light window in the +south wall has coloured glass "In memory of Eliza, wife of the Rev. T. +Snead Hughes, late Vicar, she died March 9, 1872, aged 57." The subjects +in the two lights are the Ascension of our Lord, and the three women at +the sepulchre, with an angel pointing upward. In the west wall of the +nave are two pointed windows beneath a cusped circlet, all filled with +coloured glass; the lower subjects being John the Baptist preaching in +the wilderness, and the baptism of our Lord by John in the Jordan; the +upper subject is the angel appearing to Zachariah; all three having +reference to the patron saint of the church. An inscription states that +these are a memorial to the late Mark Harrison and his wife Ann, erected +by their family. + +The font is of stone, octagonal, having four different kinds of crosses +on the alternate faces, a circular shaft ending in octagon, and on +octagonal pediment. Within the south porch, over the outer and inner +doorways are old fragments of massive zigzag pattern, all that remains of +a whilom Norman structure. The modern doorway arch, externally, has a +dog-tooth moulding, with floriated finials. The tower, over the porch, +is square below, octagonal above, with small lancet windows in each face, +and is surmounted by a low spire; it contains one bell. The roof and +sittings are of pitchpine. + +The chancel arch is of massive stone, plain, and of wide span. In the +east wall of the chancel are three narrow windows, the central higher +than the other two; they have good coloured glass by Clayton and Bell. +Beneath is a handsome reredos of Caen stone, erected in memory of the +late Mr. Thomas Terrot Taylor. It has one large central device, the +Agnus Dei within a circle, and on each side four divisions, containing a +dove with olive leaf, Fleur de Lys, ears of corn, a passion flower, vine +leaves and grapes, a crown, a rose, and a conventional flower. On each +side are memorial tablets of the Ball family. In the south wall is a +brass tablet in memory of Mr. Taylor, and a small pointed window. In the +north wall is a doorway leading to the vestry. Within the vestry, +lighted by a similar small pointed window, are three more Ball tablets, +and a priest's door. In the centre of the nave floor, close to the +chancel step, is a large slab "In memory of the Rev. William Robinson, 22 +years Incumbent, who died May 8, 1830, aged 56." The register only dates +from 1715, and contains no entries of special interest. + +In a List of Institutions to Benefices, preserved at Lincoln, it is shewn +that in 1562, on the resignation of the then Vicar, one John Howsone, +Michael West, Clerk, was appointed to this vicarage, along with that of +Nether Toynton, by Richard Bertie, Esq., the ancestor of the present Earl +of Ancaster. This was probably by some private arrangement with the +Bishop of Carlisle, as the Berties (as the Willoughbys are now) were +patrons of Low Toynton, but not of Upper, or High, Toynton. He was +instituted to the two benefices on July 9th of that year. + + + +MAREHAM-ON-THE-HILL. + + +Of this parish, ecclesiastically annexed to High Toynton, little can be +said. The name was anciently written Maringes, {183a} or Marun {183b}; +the former probably from the low "marish," or marsh, "ings," _i.e._ +meadows, the suffix being the Saxon "ham," a homestead. It lies about +two miles south-east from Horncastle, connected with High Toynton by +footpath, and bridle road, across the fields barely a mile in length, but +for carriages a detour of more than double that distance has to be made. + +This parish, like High Toynton and West Ashby, is in the soke of +Horncastle. In _Domesday Book_ it is stated that the manor comprised 3 +carucates, or about 360 acres of land, with 21 soc-men and 11 bordars, +{183c} who had four carucates, or about 480 acres; there were further 60 +acres of meadow, and, what no longer exists, 300 acres of underwood; +which was a very large proportion, considering that in Scrivelsby, now a +well wooded estate, closely adjoining, there were at that time only six +acres of underwood. + +Sir Lionel Dymoke, a scion of the Scrivelsby family, once resided in this +parish. His will, dated 15th April, 1512, is a good specimen of the +orthography of the period. The following are portions of it: "I leon +Dymoke of maryng of the hill in the Countie of lincolne knyght being of +good and hoole mynde make and ordigne my testament and Last will in forme +following | First I bequeathe my soule to almyghty god and to the blessid +virgine his mother seint Mary and to all the holy Company of heven | And +forasmoch as no man is certeine of the houre of dethe nor what place he +shall die in and nothyng so certeine as dethe | and for as moch as I by +the kyngl pleasure shall goo in hys warrys in the parties by yonde the +see | Therefore my body to be buryed where it shall please almyghty god | +Also that I will that my Executours for the helth of my soule in as hasty +tyme as they may after my deceas paye or do to be paid all and singler my +detts . . . Also I bequethe and gyve to the Church warke of Maryng of al +halowes vjs viijd and to the highe aulter there for tythes and oblacions +forgoten xxd and to seint Jamys gild of maryng xxd . . . Also I gyve and +bequethe to the Convent of the black Freris of Boston for a trentall +{184a} to be song for me and all Christen Soules xs," &c., &c. On 17th +August, 1519 (when he was apparently on his death bed), witnesses certify +that he added a codicil to be annexed, "saying these words in his mother +tongue. I will that Sr John Heron knyght have my landes in nethertynton +whether I lyve or dye . . . and if my wif or myne executos thynk there be +any thyng expressed in my wille oute of goode ordre I will it be reformed +by Anne my wif as she and they thynke most pleasure to god profytt for my +soule." {184b} + +As to the owners of the demesne nothing further is told us; but since in +Testa de Nevill, already quoted, it is stated that "the churches of +Horncastre, Askeby, Upper Thinton, Maringes, &c., are of the gift of the +Lord." Gerard de Rhodes was, doubtless, at one time, the common Lord of +all those manors, as well as his descendant Ralph de Rhodes. Mr. Weir +states that the manor at a later period belonged to Edward Marsh, +Esquire, of Hundle House, in the county of Lincoln; by a descendant of +whom it was sold to William Hudson, Esquire, of Gray's Inn. In 1659 it +was sold to one Duncombe, of whom it was purchased in 1688 by Sir Edmund +Turnor, of Stoke Rochford, Knight; in whose family it still continues. +Other proprietors are Richard Ward, Esq., and Dr. Parkinson. + +In _Domesday Book_ there is mention of "a church and priest," the latter, +therefore, being doubtless resident in the parish; although for many +years there has been no residence for an incumbent. In 1830 the benefice +was held, with High Toynton, by the Rev. E. R. H. G. Palmer, a relative +of Viscount Halifax, who resided in Horncastle; in 1863 by the Rev. Isaac +Hall, who did the same; and it was not till 1869 that a residence was +erected at High Toynton for the united benefices. + +Of the church, All Saints, we can only say that it stands in a good +position, on high ground; that its walls are substantial, but that its +style is of the meanest; it having been rebuilt in the early part of the +19th century (1813); and beyond a piscina, now in the north wall, it has +no features of interest; having wooden-framed windows, square painted +pews, walls whitewashed within and without, and a flat ceiling. It +greatly needs renovation, being now almost a solitary representative, in +the neighbourhood, of that very worst period of architectural decadence. +With fairly good sandstone in the present walls, and probably more in the +foundations of an earlier church, to be exhumed, and an abundance _in +situ_ not far away, restoration, or even re-erection, might be effected, +at a moderate outlay. + +The one bell hangs in a shabby bell turret. While repairs were being +carried out in 1813 two nobles of Edward IV., two angels of Henry VII., +and several silver coins of different reigns, contained in a leathern +purse, were found concealed in the wall. {185a} + + + +LOW TOYNTON. + + +Low Toynton lies about a mile from Horncastle to the north-east. It is +approached through rich meadows, watered by the river Waring. {185b} The +Rector is the Rev. J. W. Bayldon, M.A., of Sidney Sussex College, +Cambridge. Overseers, G. E. Read and W. Scholey. Letters _via_ +Horncastle arrive at 8.30. + +The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a small structure with no +pretention to architectural beauty, and almost entirely covered with ivy. +It was rebuilt in 1811, a period when architectural taste was at its +lowest ebb, and barbarisms in stone, brick, and mortar were very +generally perpetrated. It was re-seated in 1863, during the incumbency +of the Rev. E. M. Chapman. It consists of chancel, nave, vestry, and +open belfry containing one bell. The chancel arch is the only remnant of +a former Norman structure. The font is apparently a 14th century one, +almost a replica of that in Huttoft Church, which is engraved in _Lincs. +Notes & Queries_, vol. iii, p. 225. The bowl is octagonal, its faces +filled with figures representing the Holy Trinity, the virgin and child, +and the 12 apostles. The bowl is joined to the shaft by angelic figures +round the lower part of it. The octagonal shaft has figures of St. Paul, +Mary Magdalen, a bishop with chalice, another with scourge, and other +subjects much mutilated, at the base are the winged lion, ox, man, and +eagle, emblematical of the evangelists. The walls of the church are +relieved by some coloured designs, and borders of ecclesiastical +patterns, running round the windows, &c., originally executed by that +genuine artist the late Rev. C. P. Terrot, Vicar of Wispington. These +decorations have been recently (1898) renewed by Mr. C. Hensman, of +Horncastle, when the church was thoroughly repaired, both inside and out; +new panelling placed in the nave, and a new window in the vestry; and in +the following year (1899) a new harmonium was purchased from Messrs. +Chappell and Co., London. + +The east window is filled with modern coloured glass, the subjects being +the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, and the Ascension. On the sill of +the east window are placed, over the communion table, two handsomely +carved old oak candlesticks, presented by the Rev. C. P. Terrot. On the +north wall of the nave there is a small oval brass tablet, which was +found in 1888, face downwards in the vestry floor. It bears the +following inscription: "Here lyeth the body of Edward Rolleston, Esquir, +who departed this life the 23rd of July, in the thirtey-fourth year of +his age; interr'd underneath this place the 4th of August, A.D. 1687." +As 12 days elapsed between death and burial it is probable that he died +abroad. The manor and whole parish, except the glebe, still belongs to +the Rolleston family; the benefice being in the patronage of the Earl of +Ancaster. + +In the floor of the chancel are two memorial slabs, one of the Rev. R. +Spranger, D.C.L., late Rector of Low Toynton and Creeton, who enlarged +the rectory house, and was a munificent benefactor to the neighbourhood. +Among other good deeds he built the bridge over the river Waring, on the +road from Low Toynton to Horncastle. {186} He was a member of a family +of some distinction; had a residence in London, as well as his rectory +here; he was popularly said to drive the handsomest pair of horses in +London; and there exists a portrait in oil of an ancestor, Chancellor +Spranger, in one of the great galleries in Florence. Dr. Spranger was an +intimate friend of J. Keble, the author of _The Christian Year_, and his +son the Rev. Robert J. Spranger, Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, spent +the greater part of his life in Mr. Keble's parish, Hursley, Hants, as a +voluntary assistant in his clerical work. + +The companion slab marks the last resting place of another rector, the +Rev. J. Hutchinson, who died in 1788. His history is singular. Although +well educated, he enlisted as a private in the army for foreign service; +a commission however was subsequently obtained for him by his friends. +He presently became attached to a lady who refused to marry a soldier. +He then determined to take holy orders. Chance threw him in the way of a +party of gentlemen at Manchester, one of them being the agent of Lord +Willoughby. The latter stated that he had it in power, at that moment, +to bestow a benefice, and that he would give it to anyone who could solve +for him a particular problem. Mr. Hutchinson succeeded in doing this, +and was eventually appointed Rector of Low Toynton. He held it, however, +only 18 months, dying at an early age. Whether he married the lady is +not stated. + +In the List of Institutions to Benefices, preserved at Lincoln, it is +recorded that in 1562 Michael West, Clerk, was appointed Rector of Nether +Toynton and Vicar of Upper Toynton, by Richard Bertie, Esq., ancestor of +the Earl of Ancaster. This must have been by some private arrangement +with the Bishop of Carlisle, who was patron of High Toynton; the Berties +(as the Willoughbies are now) being only patrons of Low Toynton. From +Liber Regis we learn that the Earl of Lindsey appointed to the benefice +in 1692, the Duke of Ancaster in 1778, Sir Peter Burrell and Lady +Willoughby d' Eresby in 1783. + +The register dates from 1585. Under date 1717, Feb. 2nd, occurs the +following entry: "Robert Willy, of Upper Toynton, did penance in the +parish church of Lower Toynton, for the heinous and great sin of +adultery." A note in the baptismal register states that on July 18th, +1818, Bishop George (Tomline) confirmed at Horncastle 683 candidates, +among them being five from Low Toynton. Confirmations were not held so +frequently then as they now are. In this parish Mr. Thomas Gibson, Vicar +of Horncastle, when turned out of his preferment by the Puritans, lived +for some "two years but poorly, teaching a few pupils." + +Little is known of the early history of this parish or of its +proprietors. In a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 11 Henry VII., No. +123, taken at Partney, after the death of Isabella, wife of Richard +Sapcote, Knight, the said Isabella is declared by the jurors to have died +seized of the Manor of Nether Toynton, and of the advowson; and Joan, +wife of William Nevill, of Rolleston, Notts., and others are declared to +be daughters and heirs of the said Isabella; she herself being kinswoman +and heir of William Plesington, son of Henry Plesington, Knight. {187a} + +In a list of Lincolnshire names contained in the visitation of 1665-6, by +William Dugdale, Esq., are Agnes Goodrick, daughter of Robert Goodrick, +of Toynton, and Bridget and Elizabeth Rolston, daughters of Edward +Rolston, of Toynton. {187b} + + [Picture: St. Peter's Church, Low Toynton] + +By a Chancery Inquisition of 38 Henry VIII. (1546), it was found that +Thomas Dymoke, Esq., was seized of land in Over Toynton, Nether Toynton, +Maring-upon the-Hill, and other parishes; and by an Inquisition of 36 +Elizabeth, it was found that Robert Dymock, Esq., was seized of the +Manors of ffuletby and Belchforde, and lands in Horncastle, Nether +Tointon and Upper Tointon, and several other parishes. He died without +issue 13th Sept., 1594, and his only sister, Anne, widow of Charles +Bolle, of Haugh, succeeded to his property in Nether Toynton and +elsewhere; and thus the connection of the Dymokes with Low Toynton +ceased. {187c} + +There is rather a curious feature in the following record. By a Chancery +Inquisition post mortem, 24 Henry VII., No. 61, it is found that Humphrey +Conyngsby, Sergeant at Law, and others, instituted a suit on behalf of +William Stavely, and others, by which he recovered to them, among other +properties, "the advowson of Nether Taunton, and the rent of 4.5 quarters +of salt, in Nether Taunton, Over Taunton, and other parishes." + +We now find another ancient name connected with this parish. The +Newcomens (originally Le Newcomen, or the newcomer) of Saltfleetby, were +one of our oldest Lincolnshire families. They are named in Yorke's +"Union of Honour," and their pedigrees given in four Lincolnshire +Visitations. The number of branches into which the race spread is +remarkable. {188a} Andrew Newcomen lived in the time of Richard I., +resident at Saltfleetby, where the headquarters of the family continued +for many generations. Robert Newcomen (1304) married Alice, daughter of +Sir William Somercotes, Knight. His son, also Robert, married Margaret, +daughter of Sir William Hardingshall, Knight. Another Robert (1452) +married Joane, daughter of Robert Craycroft, of Craycroft Hall. A +daughter Katharine, of Brian Newcomen, married (1559) George Bolle, of +Haugh, a family already mentioned as, a few years later, connected with +Low Toynton. In 1540 we find Richard Newcomen residing at Nether +Toynton. By his will, dated 3rd Sept., 1540, he requests that he may be +buried in the church of St. Peter, Nether Toynton. He appoints the right +worshipful Edward Dymoke, supervisor. His grandson, Samuel Newcomen, of +Nether Toynton, married Frances, daughter of Thomas Massingberd, of +Braytoft Hall, M.P. for Calais (1552). This branch of the family seems +to have died out in the person of Thomas Newcomen (1592); {188b} but +other branches spread over the neighbourhood, and were established at Bag +Enderby, East Kirkby, Withern, and other places, and flourished +throughout the 17th century. Another Newcomen early in the 18th century +married a daughter of Sir Robert Barkham, Bart. + +A renewal of connection with Low Toynton was made when the widow of +Nicholas Newcomen married, circa 1700, the Honble. Charles Bertie, son of +Robert, 4th Earl of Lindsey, patron of the benefice of Nether Toynton. +Arthur Bocher, Esq., of Low Toynton, was in the Lincolnshire Rebellion of +1536, being brother-in-law of Thomas Moygne, one of the leaders in the +movement. + +Thus the parish of Low Toynton has had residents, proprietors, and +rectors, to whom its present inhabitants may look back with some degree +of pride and pleasure, although "their place now knoweth them no more." + + + +ROUGHTON. + + +This village stands on the west bank of the river Bain, about 4 miles to +the south of Horncastle. It is bounded on the north by Thornton and +Martin, on the east by Haltham and Dalderby, on the south by +Kirkby-on-Bain, and on the west by Kirkstead, Kirkby, and Woodhall. The +area is 1020 acres, rateable value 945 pounds, population 137, entirely +agricultural. The soil is loam, on kimeridge clay, with "Bain terrace" +gravel deposits. + +The nearest railway stations are at Horncastle and Woodhall Spa, each +about four miles distant. There is an award and map of Haltham and +Roughton in the parish, and a copy at the County Council office, Lincoln. +Three roads meet in the middle of the village, one from Horncastle, one +to Woodhall Spa and Kirkstead, one to Kirkby-on-Bain, Coningsby and +Tattershall. + +Sir Henry Hawley, Bart., of Tumby Lawn, in the adjoining parish of +Kirkby, is Lord of the Manor, but Lady Hartwell (daughter of the late Sir +Henry Dymoke, the King's Champion), and the executors of the Clinton +family (now Clinton Baker) and the Rector own most of the soil; there +being a few small proprietors. Roughton Hall, the property of Lady +Hartwell, is occupied by F. G. Hayward, Esq. + +The register dates from 1564. Peculiar entries are those of 43 burials +for the years 1631-2, including those of the Rector and his two +daughters, who died within a few days of each other; this was from the +visitation called "The Plague," or the "Black Death." For some years +before 1657 only civil marriages were valid in law, and Judge Filkin is +named in the register as marrying the Rector of Roughton, John Barcroft, +to Ann Coulen. In 1707 Mary Would is named as overseer of the parish, it +being very unusual at that period for women to hold office. Another +entry, in the overseer's book, needs an explanation. "Simon Grant, for 1 +day's work of bages, 2s. 6d.;" and again, "Simon flint, for 1 day's work +of bages, 2s. 6d." "Bage" was the turf, cut for burning; in this case +being cut from the "church moor," for the church fire. It was severe +labour, often producing rupture of the labourer's body, hence the high +pay. + +There is a charity named the "Chamerlayne Dole," of 10s., given yearly to +the poor, left by Martha Chamerlayn in 1702. It is a charge upon a +cottage and garden owned by Mr. T. Jackson, of Horncastle. + +The National School was established about 1860, in a building erected in +1834 as a Wesleyan Chapel. It was enlarged in 1872 and 1879. It is +supported by a voluntary rate. + +The Church, St. Margaret's, is of no architectural beauty, being built of +brick and sandstone. It consists of nave and chancel, with castellated +tower, having one bell, also castellated parapets at the north and south +corners of the east chancel wall. The font is Norman, circular, with +circular pediment, having an old oak octagonal cover, cupola shaped, +plain except slight carving round the rim. The fabric was newly roofed +in 1870, when it was fitted with good open benches, the chancel paved +with encaustic tiles, and the windows partly filled with stained glass; +there are fragments of a former carved rood screen, the pulpit being of +plain old oak. + +In the chancel is a lengthy inscription, commemorative of Norreys Fynes; +Esq., of Whitehall, in the adjoining parish of Martin. He was grandson +of Sir Henry Clinton, eldest son of Henry, Earl of Lincoln, by his second +wife, daughter of Sir Richard Morrison, and mother of Francis, Lord +Norreys, afterwards Earl of Berkshire. He was a non-juror. He died +January 10th, 1735-6, aged 74. There is a murial tablet to the memory of +the Rev. Arthur Rockliffe, who died in 1798; another to Charles +Pilkington, Esq., who died in 1798, and Abigail, his wife, who died in +1817. + +The benefice is a discharged rectory, united to that of Haltham in 1741, +and now held by the Rev. H. Spurrier, the patron being his son the Rev. +H. C. M. Spurrier. The two benefices together are valued at 450 pounds a +year. There is a good rectory house. The church plate is modern. The +village feast was discontinued about 50 years ago. + +Peculiar field names are the Low Ings, Bottom Slabs, Carr Bottom, Church +Moor, Honey Hole, Wong, Well-syke, Long Sand, Madam Clay, Sewer Close. +{190a} + +As to the early history of Roughton, _Domesday Book_ gives it among the +possessions of William the Conqueror, and also as belonging to Robert +Despenser, his powerful steward, who probably held it under the king. A +Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 22 Richard II., No. 13, A.D. 1399, +shows that Ralph de Cromwell, jointly with his wife Matilda, held the +adjoining Manor of Tumby, with appurtenances in Roughton and elsewhere. +While another Inquisition of 13 Henry VII., No. 34, shows that the said +Matilda died, "seised in fee tail of the same lands." {190b} + +In the reign of Elizabeth a family of Eastwoods resided here, since the +name of Andrew Eastwood, of Roughton, appears in the list (published by +T. C. Noble) of those gentry who contributed 25 pounds to the Armada +Fund. Other documents shew that at different periods the hall has been +occupied by members of various county families, as Fynes (already named), +Wichcote, Heneage, Dymoke, Pilkington, and Beaumont. + +The register has the following entries, probably written by an illiterate +parish clerk, "An the wife of Will. Hennag, was buered ye 9 of Feberery, +1729." "Madame Elizabeth fines was buered May ye 29, 1730." + +Gervase Holles gives the following arms as existing in the church in his +day. + + _Fenestra Australis Cancelli_. + +G. 3 lyons passant gardant, or . . . England + +Verry a fesse G. fretty, or . . . Marmyon + +Argent, a plaine crosse B. . . . + +Or, a lyon rampant purpure. . . . Lacy + +Chequy or and G., a chiefe ermyne . . . Tateshall + + _In Campanili_. + +Arg. a sword sheathed proper, a buckler appt., with +girdle wrapped, hilte pomel, and neuf or. . . {190c} + +HALTHAM. + + +This village is distant from Horncastle between four and five miles in a +southerly direction, lying on the east side of the river Bain. It is +bounded on the north by Dalderby and Scrivelsby, on the south by Kirkby +and its hamlet of Fulsby, on the east by Scrivelsby, Wood Enderby and +Wilksby, and on the west by Roughton. The area is 2380 acres, rateable +value 1198 pounds. The soil is loam, with kimeridge clay below, and +gravel deposits. Population 121, mainly agricultural. + +The main roads lead to Dalderby, Scrivelsby, and Horncastle, to Kirkby, +Mareham-le-Fen, Coningsby, and Tattershall, and to Wood Enderby, Wilksby, +and Revesby. The nearest railway station is at Horncastle. + +The Lord of the Manor was formerly the Champion Dymoke of Scrivelsby +Court, but the late Rev. John Dymoke sold his estate in this parish, and +the manor is now the property of Sir H. M. Hawley, Bart., of Tumby Lawn, +in the adjoining parish of Kirkby; W. H. Trafford, Esq., owning the +remainder, except 150 acres of glebe. + +The benefice was united to that of Roughton in 1741, the two being now of +the yearly value of 450 pounds, and held by the Rev. H. Spurrier. The +patron is the rector's eldest son, the Rev. H. C. M. Spurrier. There is +an award and map of Haltham and Roughton, of date 1775. A village feast +is held on St. Benedict's Day (March 21), he being the patron saint of +the church. + +There are some peculiar field names; as the Far, Middle, and Near +Redlands, arable; the Top and Lower Brock-holes (brock meaning a badger), +arable; the Black Sands, pasture; the Top and Low Malingars, arable; the +East, West, and South High Rimes, arable; the Pingle, meadow; the Croft, +pasture; the Oaks, pasture; Wood Close Meadow, the Old Cow Pasture. + +The register dates from 1561, and contains an entry for the year 1684: +"This yeare plague in Haltham." {191} There is a charity, the interest +of 5 pounds, left by John Dymoke, Esq., of Haltham, who in 1634 is named +among the Heralds' List of Gentry, for yearly distribution by the +overseers among the poor. The children attend the school at Roughton. + +The church is one of the most interesting in the neighbourhood. The +chancel was restored and an open roof put up in 1881, at a cost of 250 +pounds. The nave was restored in 1891, at a cost of 300 pounds. The +sanctuary was paved with Minton tiles by the late Lady Dymoke. The most +remarkable feature is a semi-circular tympanum over the door in the south +porch, which is of early Norman, or possibly Saxon date. It has +sculptured on it in somewhat rude fashion a Maltese cross within a +circle, a second circle running through the limbs of the cross, a square +with three-quarter circles at its corners, and semicircles midway of each +side, which form the extremities of another cross, and between the limbs +are roundels. Below is a figure resembling a fish, also four rows of +triangles, and other complicated devices. The east window is a very fine +flamboyant one, of date about 1350. Some of the sittings have very old +rudely-carved poppy heads of oak. There are very fine carved oak +canopies over two long pews in the north aisle, for the Champion Dymokes +and their servants. There is a piscina with two fronts in the south wall +of the chancel, and a series of three stone sedilia, in the north wall is +an aumbrey. There is an incised slab to one of the Dymokes. The tower +has three bells, and the bell chamber is closed by ancient boarding, on +which are the ten commandments in old characters, and very curious Royal +Arms of Charles I. The church plate consists of pewter paten, silver +flagon and chalice, with date 1764, given by Mr. John Dickinson. + +In the village there is an old hostel, partly of the Tudor style, with +pointed gable ends, projecting upper storey, and constructed externally +of brick and woodwork. + +As to the early history of this parish little is definitely known. +According to _Domesday Book_ it was among the possessions of the +Conqueror, and his steward, Robert Dispenser, held it under him. +Probably like other parishes in the soke of Horncastle, the manor was +held by Gerbald d' Escald, his grandson Gerard de Rhodes, his son Ralph +de Rhodes, sold by him to the Bishop of Carlisle, &c. Of the ownership +of Ralph de Rhodes we have evidence in a Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 9 Henry +III., No. 52, containing an agreement between Henry del Ortiary and +Sabina his wife, on the one hand, and Ralph de Rhodes, on the other hand, +in which the former parties recognise the right of the said Ralph to +certain lands in Haltham, Wood Enderby, Moorby, and other parishes in the +soke. {192a} + +Of other families of distinction once connected with this parish we have +indications in the arms which Gervase Holles found in the church windows +in his time (circa 1630, temp. Chas. I.), which we give here. + + _In Fenestris Cancelli_. + +Verry a fesse G. fretty, d'or . . . Marmyon + +G. a cross sarcely, arg. . . . Beke + +Sa. 2 lyons passant, arg. crowned, or . . . Dymoke + +Or, a lyon rampant, double queue, sa . . . Welles + +Sa. 3 flowres de lize betw. 6 crosse crosslets, +fitchy, arg. . . . + +G. 3 bars ermyne . . . Kirketon + +Barry of 6, or and sa. . . . + + _Fenestrae Boreales_. + +B. a lyon's head erased betw. 6 crosses, botony, Touthby +arg. . . . + +Arg. 2 bars G. a border, sa. . . . + +Dymoke, each lyon charged sur l' espale with an Dymoke +annulet . . . + +Ermyne on a bend G. a cinquefoil, or . . . + +G. crosse crucilly fitchy, a lyon rampant, arg . . La Warre +. + +Or, a lyon rampant, double queue, sa. . . . Welles + + _Fenestrae Australes_. + +G. 3 water-bougets, arg. . . . Ros + +Or on fesse G. 3 plates . . . Huntingfield + +Quarterly or and G. a border sa. bezanty . . . Rochfort + +Rochfort with a garbe in the 2nd quarter, arg. . . Rochfort +. + +Rochfort with an annulet in the 2nd quarter, arg. Rochfort +. . . + +Or, a manche G. . . . Hastings + +G. a bend ermyne . . . Ry + +Rochfort with an eagle displayed in the 2nd Rochfort +quarter, arg. . . . + +Arg. fretty of 6 pieces G. a canton ermyne . . . + + _In Fenestra Borealis Navis_. + +G. crosse crucilly fitchy, a lyon rampant, arg. . La Warre +. . + +Arg. on a bend, G. 3 gryphons heads erased, or . . +. + + _In Campanili_. + +Joh'es Staines W. Jo. {192b} + +MAREHAM-LE-FEN. + + +Mareham-le-Fen lies about six miles south from Horncastle, and five miles +eastward of Tattershall station, with a population of more than 800. +Letters _via_ Boston arrive by mail cart at 7.30 a.m. This is the seat +of a considerable industry, carried on by Mr. Titus Kime, as a grower of +greatly improved varities of potatoes, agricultural seed, and, latterly +on a large scale, of bulbs of different kinds, in which he seems likely +to compete with the Dutch trade. + +The church, which is dedicated to St. Helen, is a fine structure of +oolite stone, probably one of the largest in the neighbourhood, except +the collegiate church of Tattershall. It consists of tower, nave, north +and south aisles, south porch and chancel. The body of the church was +restored in 1873, and re-opened on June 13th of that year, at a cost of +more than 2,000 pounds, by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., Lord of the Manor; +the then rector, the Rev. W. Sharpe restoring the chancel, and the +parishioners and other friends the tower. The latter consists of three +tiers, having a small square window in the south and north walls below, +with a two-light floriated window on the west. In the tier above are +two-light windows on all four faces. At the summit it has battlements +and four tall pinnacles. There are three bells, the date of the largest +being 1627. The body of the church is also battlemented, and has +pinnacles, the westernmost of these having the figures, within a niche, +of St. George and the dragon. + +The south porch has an early English doorway within, the outer one being +modern. In the moulding above the inner doorway is a curiously crowned +head, probably representing the Empress Helena, the patron saint; other +curious devices running down the moulding on each side. To the right of +the inner doorway are initials M.S., date 1681. The font has a large +octagonal bowl, with heads at the angles, and elaborate trefoil devices +on the faces; the shaft is plain, octagonal, the pediment a stone cross. + + [Picture: St. Helen's Church, Mareham-Le-Fen] + +Both aisles have four lofty bays, with early English columns. In the +north aisle is one three-light perpendicular trefoiled window, in its +western wall; in the north wall, on each side of the north door, is a +three-light perpendicular window, with mullions interlacing; and to the +east a four-light round-headed trefoiled window. Over the north door is +a tablet, with a Latin inscription, commemorative of the Rev. H. +Sheppard, a former rector, who died 24th Jan., 1764, aged 62. Beneath it +is a cherub with outspread wings. In the wall, east of the north door, +is a tablet bearing the inscription: "This church was relighted in memory +of Francis Thorpe, who lost his life, by an accident, while working in +the church near this spot, 22nd Sept., 1892." The south aisle, at the +west end, has a three-light broad interlaced window. In the south wall, +west of the porch, is a low doorway, now filled in, with step at its +base, probably formerly leading to a parvis, or priest's chamber. East +of the porch are two round-headed three-light trefoiled perpendicular +windows. In the chancel the east window, of coloured glass, is lofty, +with three lights, and six trefoils above. The subjects are divided into +upper and lower rows; the upper are the Ascension in the centre, with the +Resurrection to the left, and to the right the disciples grouped round +the virgin; the lower are the Crucifixion in the centre, Christ bearing +His cross to the left, and the entombment to the right. This window was +by Lavers, Barrand and Westlake; it was given in memory of the late Mr. +Joseph Corbett, by his son, C. J. Corbett, Architect, of Imber Court, +Surrey. + +The reredos has three compartments; the central device is a cross, with +rays of glory, and the monogram I.H.S.; on the right and left are doubly +pointed, crocheted, arches; the device in the northernmost being a crown +of thorns, with the three nails, surrounded by a circle; next to it three +interlaced circles; on the south side interlaced triangles, and a plain +cross. The east wall, up to the height of the reredos, is faced with +alabaster. + +In the south wall of the chancel is a wide stone seat, and above it a +two-light trefoiled window. In the north chancel wall is a trefoiled +credence table. There is a tablet to the memory of William Goodenough, +formerly rector, Archdeacon of Carlisle (the benefice formerly being in +the patronage of the Bishops of Carlisle), who died 13th Dec., 1854; and +commemorating his wife Mary Anne, daughter of Dr. Samuel Goodenough, +Bishop of Carlisle; she dying 3rd Jan., 1847, aged 75. The memorial was +erected by their only surviving child, Mrs. Hawkins. + +The choir sittings are of carved modern oak; the pulpit is also of the +same, on a stone base, and the lectern. The chancel arch is lofty, the +modern side columns having richly carved capitals. Some of the stones of +the original arch were found built into the chimney of a cottage near at +hand. The sittings in the nave, and the roof timbers, are of pitch pine. +The base of the tower forms a roomy vestry. + +In the churchyard is the lower part of the shaft of a cross, standing on +an octagonal base. Opposite the east end of the south aisle is a +tombstone in memory of James Roberts, "who sailed round the world in +company with Sir Joseph Banks, in the years 1768-71, on board H.M.S. the +Endeavour, Lieut. James Cook, Commander," attending him "also on other +voyages." {194a} The tomb of Archdeacon Goodenough is on the north-east +side of the church. Within a few feet of the south buttress of the tower +is a fragment of an old tombstone, shewing part of a foliated cross on +both sides, and the monogram I.H.S., in old characters, probably Saxon; +Mareham being one of the 222 parishes in the county which had a church in +Saxon times {194b} + +Gervase Holles (temp. Chas. I.) gives the following arms and +inscriptions, as existing in the church in his time. In the east window: + +Empaled Arg' a crosse sa. + + Arg. on a crosse G. a bezant. + + Arg, a crosse sa. + +Empaled Quarterly arg. and G., on the 1st and 4th quarters a + popinjay vert. membred and beked G. + +In the western window on the left of the tower: + + Orate pro a'ia Joh'is Tott, Agnet, et Helene, uxorum ejus, & + specialiter pro Andrea Tott, Artium Baccalaureo, qui istam fenestram + lapidari, necnon vitreari fecit. + +Over the buttress, on the east side: + + Quarterly Ufford and Beke . . . Willoughby + + 3 crosses portate . . . + + 2 chevrons between 3 roses . . . + + A crosse . . . + + A lyon passant . . . + + "Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur, 1591." + {195a} + +The register dates from 1558. An entry records that on 22nd Nov., 1685, +a "Briefe was read and published, for Saresden in Oxfordshire, for loss +valued at 1,449 pounds. Granted June 14th, 1686." Another entry, under +date 23rd Nov., 1685, is as follows: "Thomas Eresby of Revvesby maketh +oath yt Theodosie, his daughter, who was buried in the churchyard upon +Sunday last, was wound and wrapped up in woollen only, according to the +late Act of Parliament, in yt case made." In explanation of this it may +be stated that in 1677 British and Irish woollens were prohibited in +France, which injured the woollen trade very much; and in the next year +(1678) in order to encourage the trade at home, it was enacted by 29 +Charles II., c. 3, that all persons, except those who died of the plague, +should be buried in wool, under a penalty of 5 pounds. {195b} Another +entry states that a collection was made, the amount not known, to afford +relief, after the great fire in London, Sept., 1666. + +The rectory, adjoining the church, stands in a large, well wooded garden. +It is a good substantial residence, rebuilt by Archdeacon Goodenough in +1818-19, and much improved in 1855. In the entrance hall are two old +prints of the church and rectory before their restoration, dated 1785. +They were presented to the late rector, Rev. W. Sharpe, by Alfred +Cobbett, Esq., and they are preserved as heirlooms by the rectors for the +time being. The Rev. F. J. Williamson is the present rector, late of +Lydgate. The Bishop of Manchester is patron of the benefice; the +patronage of this, and several other benefices in this neighbourhood, +formerly held by the Bishops of Carlisle, being transferred to the See of +Manchester some years after its creation, in 1848. + +The national school, built in 1840, is endowed with nearly an acre of +land, given by Archdeacon Goodenough; it was considerably enlarged by J. +Banks Stanhope, Esq., in 1877. Some of the inhabitants are entitled to +the benefits of the almshouses at Revesby. There is a navigable drain +from the Witham, passing near the village, affording communication with +New Bolingbroke and Boston. A former part of the parish is now included +in the district of Wildmoor Fen. + +In Liber Regis this parish is named "Marrow, alias Marym, alias Mareham +in le Fen." It is called in _Domesday Book_ Meringe (or the sea-ing, +_i.e._ sea-meadow). Another form was Marum; the Revesby Charters, Nos. +47 and 48, mention a piece of land, near the boundary of Marum, called +"Mare Furlong," and the grass (Psamma arenaria) which now grows on the +sea banks is commonly called Marrum grass. All these names probably +refer to the marish (Latin, mariscum), or marsh, character of the +locality, caused by its proximity to the sea (le mer), which then came +much nearer than it does now, and frequently flooded the land. + +The manor was given by the Conqueror to the powerful Norman, Robert +Despenser, who, as his name implies, was the King's High Steward. He was +the ancestor of the Despensers, Earls of Gloucester, and he held 15 +manors in Lincolnshire alone, besides 17 in Leicestershire, and several +in other counties. Much of the land of this parish was at a later period +given to Revesby Abbey, and at the dissolution of the monasteries some of +this was granted by Henry VIII, to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. +{196a} In later times it became, by purchase, the property of Mr. Joseph +Banks, M.P. for Grimsby, born in 1681, and eventually came to his +distinguished descendant, Sir Joseph Banks; and on his death some of the +Mareham land passed to the ancestors of the present Sir Henry M. Hawley. +Other proprietors are now Major Gape, Messrs. J. R. Chapman, Joseph Lake, +and other smaller owners. + +Among the Lincolnshire gentry called upon (with the Massingberds, +Heneages, and many others) to furnish "launces and light horse," in the +16th century, when the Spanish armada was expected, was one "John May of +Mairing," who failed to present himself at the muster in 1584, but in +1586 supplied "one light horse." {196b} + +In Notes on Low Toynton mention is made of the old family of Newcomen, +originally "of Salaby," _i.e._ Saltfleetby, where many generations of +them were buried, from the time of Richard I. They married into +influential and titled families, in various parts of the county. Charles +Newcomen lived at Hagnaby in 1634, and bought land in Revesby. A +Newcomen lived in Mareham in the 17th century. They were connected, by +marriage, with the family of Sir Joseph Banks, as Mr. Banks, grandfather +of Sir Joseph, had a house in Lincoln, the adjoining one being occupied +by Newcomen Wallis, Esq., and Mr. Banks married Catherine the widow of +Mr. Wallis (see the Banks monument in Revesby church, north aisle), whose +mother was daughter and co-heir of Nicholas Newcomen, Esq. {196c} + +We here give a few old records in connection with this parish in the +past. The Court Roll of Mareham-le-Fen (preserved among the documents of +the Listers of Burwell) for 2 Elizabeth, shows that, at that date (A.D. +1559), Thomas Glenham, Esq. (variously written Glemham), had the Manor of +Mareham. In the 23rd Elizabeth it is recorded that Charles Glenham, +Esq., by his lawful attorney, Francis Colby, of Glenham Parva, Esq., +granted leases for seven years to divers tenants in Mareham. Thomas +owned also the Manors of Calceby, Belchford, Oxcomb, and Burwell; these +he sold to Sir Matthew Lister, afterwards of Burwell. He married Amye, +daughter of Sir Henry Parker. {196d} + +In a suit, instituted 29th May, 1239, between William de Bavent, +plaintiff, and Walter, Bishop of Carlisle, defendant, regarding the +advowson of the church of "Merum," the said William "quit claimed" all +his right to the said advowson, to the bishop and his heirs for ever; and +in return for this the bishop gave him 10 marks. In the old record, +Testa de Nevill, folio 556 (circa 1326), Walter de Bavent held certain +lands in Marum, "by service of falconry," _i.e._ by providing yearly, in +lieu of rent, one "gay goss-hawk," or more, for the use of the Lord of +the Manor. {196e} + +Robert de Weston, Rector of Marum, by his will, dated 3rd March, 1389, +requested that he might be buried in Marum Church. He bequeathed to the +Mendicant Friars of Boston 6s. 8d. "to remember me in their masses," to +Lady Margaret Hawteyn, Nun of Ormsby, 10s.; to Trinity College, +Cambridge, a book called "Johannes in Collectario," to every fellow there +2s., and every scholar 1s. Among other bequests are to Mgr. Eudo la +Zouch "12 cocliaria nova de argento" (_i.e._ 12 new spoons of silver); to +"John Geune my clerk a missal of the new use of sarum", and "masses for +souls of Walter ffelsted, William Stel, and James de Medringham. +Executors, Eudo la Zouch, John ffoston my chaplin, &c., the residue of my +goods to be sold, as quickly as possible, communi pretio, so that the +purchasers may be bound to pray for my soul." + +William Leych, parson of Mareham, by will dated 11th Aug, 1556, requests +that he may be buried "in the quire of St. Helen." "To my brother Robert +Leych 12 silver spoons, to Sir John Richardson 6 great books, containing +the holle course of the bybyll, and a repetorii, and a concordance"; to +Sir John Morland "Opera Chrisostomi & Sancti Thomas, & Haymo super +epistolas sauli"; to Mr. Lancelot Sawkeld "Deane of Carlyle 20s., praying +him to cause a dirige and masses to be said for me . . . I make Mr. +Arthur Dymok and Mr. Robert Dymok supervisors." + + [Picture: Wesleyan Chapel, Mareham-le-Fen] + +Henry Ayscough, of Blyborough, by will dated 19 Oct., 1611, left lands in +Mareham-le-Fen, and the Manor of Tumby, and other lands, to his +grandsons. In connection with this we may mention that the late Sir +Henry James Hawley married, as his first wife, Elizabeth Askew, a +descendant of the same family. The Ayscoughs (or Askews) were a +distinguished Lincolnshire and Yorkshire family, and have still numerous +representatives. {198a} + +Here is another record of the same family. By will, dated 15th April, +1612, Walter Ayscoughe, of Mareham-le-Fen, left to his wife Bridget 20 +pounds annuity, and other property, for her life; then to his sons Henry +and Walter, and two daughters Margaret and Elizabeth; also 12d. to the +same; and 5s. to Nicholas Cressey, gent, supervisor, witness Clynton +Ayscoughe; proved at Horncastle, 2nd May, 1613. To this family belonged +Anne Askew the martyr, who was the younger daughter of Sir William +Ayscough, Bart., of Stallingborough. Their property eventually came to +the late Ascoghe Boucherett, of South Willingham. + +Next we find one of the old family of Newcomen, already referred to, +"Edward Newcomen of Mareham-le-Fenne, by will, proved at Horncastle, 1st +July, 1614," leaving to his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, 10 pounds +each, the same to his son Robert, and the residue to his wife; the +personality being 120 pounds 3s. 8d., a vastly larger sum in those days +than now. + +Another will is that of Annie Elie, widow, of Mareham-le-Fen, dated 13th +July, 1616, in which she desires "to be buried in the church," so that +she was probably some one of importance. She leaves everything to her +son-in-law John Wymberley, and her daughter Susan Wymberley. {198b} + +Among the deeds and charters of Revesby Abbey, privately printed by the +Right Hon. E. Stanhope a few years ago, No. 24 gives, among the witnesses +to a deed of gift, the name of Eda, wife of Richard, Priest of Mareham +(temp. Henry II., or Richard I). Hence it is evident that celibacy was +not strictly enforced on the clergy at that period. {198c} Among the +witnesses to other deeds are Robert, Priest of Marum, and Richard, Priest +of Marum, A.D. 1172. The deed of gift of certain lands to Revesby Abbey +(No. 29), by a certain John, is stamped with a round seal, having an +equestrian figure, and the legend Sigillum Johannis de Maringe. By +another deed William, son of John of Maring, gives certain lands; the +seal bearing a lion and dog, or fox "contourne regardant," {198d} the +legend of this is Sigill. Will. de Marige. + +With these records and associations with the past, the parish of Mareham +may surely be said to have a history on which its people may well look +back with interest and satisfaction. + + + +MOORBY. + + +Moorby lies about 4.5 miles from Horncastle, and about 1.5 miles beyond +Scrivelsby, in a south-easterly direction. Letters _via_ Boston arrive +at 9.30. + +The registers date from 1561, but contain no entries of any particular +interest. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has undergone several +transformations. This was one of the 222 parishes which possessed a +church before the Norman conquest, and it still contains a fragment (to +be noticed later on) which is apparently of Saxon origin. Both Weir in +his History (1828), and Saunders (1834) agree in stating that in the +early part of the 19th century the church was "totally destitute of +interest." _The Gazetteer_ of 1863 describes it vaguely as a "Gothic +structure." It was rebuilt in 1864, from designs by Mr. James Fowler, +Architect, of Louth, at a cost of 1,100 pounds, defrayed by J. Banks +Stanhope, Esq., Lord of the Manor; and was further repaired in 1891, by +public subscription. It consists of nave, chancel, vestry, north porch, +and small square tower at the north-west angle, with low spire containing +one bell. It is built chiefly of brick with facings of Ancaster stone. + +In the north wall of the nave are a couple of two-light windows, in the +Perpendicular style; in the south wall are three two-light windows; all +these having bands of red and black brick alternately. In the west wall +are two single-light lancet windows, with an ox-eye window above. In the +chancel there is a small lancet window in the north wall, and a square +aumbrey. The east end has a three-light plain lancet window; beneath +which is a stone reredos, having three compartments filled with encaustic +tiles, having, as their designs, in the centre a cross in gilt, and Alpha +and Omega, within ox-eyes, on either side. In the south wall in front of +the vestry is a lancet-shaped doorway, and, west of it, an arcade of two +lancet apertures, supported by four columns of serpentine. Within the +vestry is a two-light lancet window; and let into the eastern wall is a +small slab, having four grotesque figures, one blowing a kind of bagpipe, +the others dancing. This is said to have been a portion of a "minstrel +pillar," it is apparently Saxon, and is probably a relic from the +original fabric. The chancel arch is of red and black bricks, in +alternate bands, the capitals nicely carved in stone, supported by small +serpentine columns. The pulpit is of Caen stone, having a cross within a +circle on the front panel, and one serpentine column. The chancel choir +stalls are of good modern oak; the sittings in the nave and the roof +being of pitch pine. + +The font is the most remarkable feature of the church. It has a large +square bowl; the device on the east side is a skeleton being drawn from +the tomb by two angels, doubtless emblematic of the "death unto sin and +new birth unto righteousness," accomplished in baptism. On the north +face is the virgin and child, with the sun and moon in the corners above. +On the south side is a figure in long vestment, apparently sitting on an +altar, much defaced. On the west are six figures, much defaced, in the +attitude of prayer. At the four angles are quatrefoiled niches, having +at their bases, alternately, a crowned head and a mitre. This may have +been of the 14th century. The shaft is square and modern, with columns +at the angles. + +The communion plate is modern, except the paten, which bears the +inscription "Matthew Sympson, M.A., instituted Rector of Moorby, Feb. 28, +1705, collated Prebendary of Lincoln, June 25, 1718, Rector of Wenington, +May 29, 1728." The present Rector is the Rev. R. C. Oake, late Vicar of +Broughton, Manchester. The rectory of Moorby is consolidated with the +vicarage of Wood Enderby. + +By deed dated Nov. 24th, 1855, the guardians of the poor, by consent of +the ratepayers, gave certain land in Moorby for the site of a parish +school to the minister, churchwardens, and overseers, and their +successors; and more recently a school district has been formed for the +parishes of Moorby, Wood Enderby, Claxby, and Wilksby; the school, which +was built in 1855, being enlarged in 1872, to provide the accommodation +required by this union. + +Moorby was one of the "thousand four hundred and forty-two manors" which +William the Conqueror took as his own portion, when he divided the lands +of England among his Norman followers. Being in the Soke of Horncastle, +it was doubtless granted, along with that manor, and those of West Ashby, +High Toynton, and several others, to Adelias or Alice de Cundi, daughter +of William de Cheney, Lord of Caenby ann Glentham, and wife of Roger de +Cundi. As she took part against King Stephen, in favour of the Empress +Maud, he took the property from her; but eventually restored it to her, +on condition that she should demolish her castle at Horncastle; this +however was only for life, the estates again reverting to the crown. +Henry II. made a grant of them to Gerbald le Escald, a Fleming noble, who +was succeeded by his grandson and heir, Gerard de Rhodes. His son, Ralph +de Rhodes, in the reign of Henry III., sold the manors to Walter +Mauclerke, Bishop of Carlisle, and until recently the patronage of Moorby +benefice belonged to the Bishops of Carlisle. After the creation of the +See of Manchester, the patronage, with that of High Toynton, +Mareham-le-Fen, &c., was transferred to the Bishops of Manchester. + +_Domesday Book_, describing the soke of the Manor of Horncastle, says "In +Morebi there are 3 carucates of land (or about 360 acres). There are 6 +soc-men, and 10 bordars, who have 4 carucates (or 480 acres). There is a +church and a priest (evidently a resident; of whom, according to Sir +Henry Ellis, there were only 130 in the country), and 240 acres of meadow +and 6 acres of underwood." In the old record, Testa de Nevill (circa +1326-1328), the benefice of "Morby" is said to be "of the gift of the +lord the king," _i.e._ Edward II. or III. The original charters of Henry +III., granting these manors to the Bishops of Carlisle, were confirmed by +Henry VI.; but in course of time they passed to the Brandons, and to +various other proprietors, until the ancestor of Sir Joseph Banks became +lessee of the Manor of Horncastle, and also acquired the Manor of Moorby; +to which James Banks Stanhope, Esq., and the late Right Hon. Edward +Stanhope succeeded; although T. Elsey, the Artindale family, and the +trustees of Bardney school, own portions of the parish. + +In the year 1554 (Aug. 6th) Thomas Bewley, Clerk, was admitted to this +benefice by Robert, Bishop of Carlisle, it being "vacant by deprivation." +This was the 2nd year of the reign of Queen Mary, of ill memory. +Doubtless the offence of the ejected predecessor was that he was married, +which was contrary to the papistic ideas, revived in that brief reign. +Numbers of beneficed clergy were deprived at that time for this offence. + +A few old records of some interest are preserved connected with Moorby, +of which we give two or three samples here. First we have a family of +the name of Moreby, of whom more than one mention is made. Roger Moreby, +by will dated Saturday after the Feast of St. Botolph, 1394, commends his +soul to St. Mary and all the saints; he requests that his body may be +buried in Croyland parish church; he leaves 40s. to be given to the poor +on the day of his burial, and money to provide torches and wax for the +church, and the altars of St. Katharine, St. John the Baptist, and Holy +Trinity; he bequeaths 10 pounds of silver to his wife, and other items. +Again, by will dated the Feast of St. Thomas the apostle, 1368, Gervase +de Wylleford bequeaths 100s. to John Moreby his cousin. + +The family of Ayscough, formerly so widely represented in the county, +were connected with Moorby. By will, dated 16th Nov., 1601, Henry +Ascoughe, Gent., desires to be buried in the parish church of "Morebie," +leaving to his sister "Elizabeth Aiscoughe (his) hereditaments in Morebie +for life, then to go to his brother Matthew." His sister is also to have +lands which he had leased to Sir Henry Glenham, Knight. {201a} He +further leaves to her, as executrix, "10 pounds to be good and to my poor +sister Margarette." To his brother Simon he bequeaths "the best +apparrell of my bodie, with riding furniture, and my baie gelding, +rapier, dagger, and pistol," and further bequests. The testator was son +of Christopher Ayscough, of Bliborough, and married, apparently without +issue, Margaret, daughter of Symon Battell, of Denham, Suffolk. + +Like the not very distant Wildmore Fen, in which it now has a modern +allotment of 14 acres of glebe land. The name of Moorby tells of its +condition at the time when it acquired that designation, which means the +"by," _i.e._ "byre," or farmstead on the moor. {201b} The moorland has +now entirely disappeared under the plough, and only young plantations +represent its former wild, woodland character. + + + +WOOD ENDERBY. + + +Wood Enderby lies about four miles south by east from Horncastle. +Letters _via_ Boston arrive at 10.30 a.m. + +The church, dedicated to St. Benedict, consists of nave, north aisle, and +chancel, a low tower, with graceful broach spire, containing one bell, +and small vestry. It is built of a warm-tinted green sandstone, with +free stone dressings; the style of its architecture is a combination of +the early English and Decorated periods. It was almost entirely rebuilt +in 1860, at a cost of about 1,000 pounds. The south door, which is in +the tower, has an Early English arch of five mouldings. There is a plain +trefoiled window above in the tower; the lower part of the spire having +two lancet windows, with a circle above them, and a small single-light +window on each side, half way up. In the west wall of the tower is a +three-light window, with two trefoils and a quatrefoil above. This is +filled with coloured glass, having the texts "I am the way, the truth, +and the life," "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, +there am I in the midst of them," and "No man cometh unto the Father but +by Me." There are similar windows, but without coloured glass, in all +four faces of the tower. At the north-west angle of the tower is a +staircase turret. Within the south door, against the west wall, is an +old stone coffin, with broken lid, ornamented with an incised floriated +cross; this was discovered at the time of the restoration. + +The arcade of the north aisle is of three bays, being part of the old +church, in Early English style, with plain arches, supported on one +octagonal pier and one shafted pier, with dog-tooth ornament, the former +having foliage on the capital. In the north wall of the nave are three +square-headed windows of three lights, with trefoils above, the glass +being plain, except a border of red, purple, and yellow. In the south +wall are three two-light windows, with trefoil and circle above; the +glass being modern, with various coloured scripture texts. + +The sittings are of deal, with plain poppy-heads. The pulpit is of +modern oak, of five panels, each panel being divided into two trefoiled +arched partitions; the central panel having a trefoil above, and below it +a square piece of carved old oak, representing Elijah blessing the cruse +of oil for the widow of Zarephath. The vestry, at the east end of the +north aisle, has one small trefoiled window. The tower and the spire +were added at the restoration. The chancel has a decorated east window +of three lights, with three quatrefoils above. It is filled with modern +coloured glass, the subjects being, in the centre the Saviour risen from +the tomb, on the left an angel seated at the tomb, and on the right the +Magdalen. There is an inscription, "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, +for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say +unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and +your God. John xx, 17." + +The north and south chancel walls have each one two-light trefoiled +window, with quatrefoil above; plain glass, except the coloured band. In +the south wall is a curious square projecting Norman piscina, with fluted +basin, and fluted sides. In the north wall is an arched sepulchral +recess. The chancel arch is plain Early English. The roof, like the +sittings, is of pitch pine. The font has a plain octagonal large bowl of +Barnack stone, its upper rim being modern, the shaft plain quadrilateral, +with plain square columns at the angles; base and pediment octagonal. + +The register dates from 1561. It begins with the note "The Register +booke of Woodenderbye, containing herein ye names of all such as have +been married, burried, and christened, from Michaelmas 1561, to +Michaelmas 1562." The first five or six entries are illegible, and the +others contain nothing of special interest. The benefice, a vicarage, is +consolidated with the rectory of Moorby, and is now held by the Rev. R. +C. Oake. + +As the name of Moorby indicated the character of the locality in former +times, when that name was first acquired, so Wood Enderby means the +"bye," _i.e._ "byre," or farmstead "at the end of the wood," as it +borders on what was once the forest tract of "Tumby Chase"; Haltham wood, +near at hand, being a relic of that former wild region. {202} + +W. H. Trafford, Esq., is Lord of the Manor. The Hon. Mr. Stanhope owns a +large part of the land; and portions belong to the Rev. G. Ward, and +other smaller owners. The late Miss Trafford Southwell founded an infant +school in the village; the older children attending the Moorby school. +The poor parishioners receive 6d. each at Christmas, left by an unknown +donor, out of the farm now owned by Rev. G. Ward, of Mavis Enderby. + +The ancient history of Wood Enderby is much the same as that of Moorby. +It was one of the minor demesnes, within the Soke of Horncastle, and +attached to that manor; as were also West Ashby, High Toynton, +Mareham-on-the-Hill, and other parishes. It would thus also be among the +estates of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and when his main line +became extinct, and the property was divided among collateral branches, +Wood Enderby, with Wilksby and Revesby, fell to the share of Mr. John +Carsey, or Kersey; his wife, the daughter of Sir Thomas Lovell, Knight, +being grand-daughter of Margaret, sister and co-heir of the Duke of +Suffolk. He owned the property from 1552 to 1575, and he and his son +Francis jointly sold it to Thomas Cecil, Lord Treasurer Burleigh. He +held it from 1575 to 1598, when it passed in succession to the 1st and +2nd Earls of Exeter, and to Elizabeth, Lady Howard, wife of the Earl of +Berkshire, in 1640, and so in 1658 to Henry Howard; in 1663 to his cousin +Craven Howard, who built the former residence at Revesby; and, after his +death, the property was sold by the daughters of Henry Howard to the +Banks family; whence the manor has descended to the present proprietors +of Revesby. + +The manor, like that of Moorby and other parishes already named, would at +one time belong to the Bishops of Carlisle, and they were till recently +patrons of the benefice; the patronage, within late years, being +transferred to the Bishops of Manchester, after the creation of that See +in 1848. + +At an earlier date, being an appendage to the Manor of Horncastle, this +demesne would be owned at one period by Gerard and Ralph de Rhodes; and +this is shewn by the following records among the Final Concords, date 3rd +Feb., 1224-5, whereby an agreement was arrived at between Henry del +Ortiay and Sabina his wife, on the one part, and Ralph de Rhodes on the +other part, as to certain lands in Moorby, Enderby, Horncastle, and other +parishes, that the said Henry and Sabina should recognise the said lands +as belonging to the said Ralph; he, on his part, granting to them other +lands there, specially designated, they rendering to him "therefor by the +year, one pair of gilt spurs, at Easter, for all service and exaction." +{203a} This agreement was settled "at the court of the Lord the King at +Westminster on the morrow of the purification of the blessed Mary, in the +9th year of King Henry III. {203b} + +In the old records, Testa de Nevill (circa 1326-28), it is stated that +"the churches of Horncastre, Askeby (West Ashby), Upper Thinton (High +Toynton), of Meringes (Mareham-on-the-Hill), and of Hinderby (Wood +Enderby), are of the gift of the lord; and Osbert, the parson, holds them +of King Richard." + +In _Domesday Book_ it is stated that at the time of the Conqueror, there +were "400 acres of wood pasturage" in the parish, a sufficient reason for +its designation. Like Moorby, it was among the manors seized by the +Conqueror, for his portion of the plunder taken from our Saxon +forefathers. In Saxon times the Thane, Siward, had land here; which was +given by the Conqueror to his steward, Robert Despenser, brother of the +Earl Montgomery. {203c} + + + +CONINGSBY. + + +This is a large village, about 8 miles from Horncastle, in a southerly +direction. It is bounded on the north by Tattershall Thorpe, on the west +by Tattershall, on the south by Wildmore, and on the east by Tumby and +Mareham-le-Fen. Its area is 3,442 acres, including the hamlet of +Hawthorn Hill; rateable value 5,160 pounds; population 1,192. Apart from +a limited number of shops and three inns, the people are engaged mainly +in agriculture. The soil is mostly a light sand, with a subsoil of +gravel deposits and clay. The nearest railway station is at Tattershall, +distant about 1.5 miles. + +The owners of over 50 acres are Lord Willoughby de Eresby, M.P., Lord of +the Manor; Sir H. M. Hawley, Bart., J.P.; F. Sherwin; J. Rodgers; J. +Burcham Rogers, J.P.; Mrs. Evison; the rector, Rev. Canon A. Wright, +M.A., J.P., Rural Dean and Canon of Lincoln. Smaller owners, about 50. +The only gentleman's seat now existing is the hall, the residence of J. +B. Rogers, Esq., J.P. + +The old custom of ringing the pancake bell on Shrove Tuesday is still +kept up. The annual feast is held in the week after St. Michael's Day, +the patron saint. The "Ignitegium," or curfew, was rung within the last +35 years, but has been discontinued, the parish being now lighted by gas. + +There are a few field names, indicating the former "woodland and waste" +{204} character of the locality. The Ings, or meadows, so common +throughout the district; Oatlands; Scrub Hill, scrub being an old +Lincolnshire word for a small wood; Reedham, referring to the morass; +Toothill, probably a "look-out" over the waste; Langworth, probably a +corruption of lang-wath, the long ford; Troy Wood, may be British, +corresponding to the Welsh caertroi, a labyrinth or fort of mounds. The +hamlets are Dogdyke, a corruption of Dock-dyke (the sea having once +extended to these parts); Hawthorn Hill, Scrub Hill. There is an +enclosure award in the possession of the clerk of the Parish Council. + +The parish register dates from 1561. The church plate is modern, chalice +and paten dated 1870; the flagon is older and more massive, but has no +date. The Earl of Ancaster is patron of the benefice, a rectory, with +good house, enlarged about 30 years ago, and 500 acres of glebe. + +The National School was built by subscription and government grant in +1836, at a cost of about 230 pounds, exclusive of the site, which was +given by the late Sir Gilbert Heathcote. It was enlarged in 1875 at cost +of 300 pounds. The master has 3 pound per annum, left by the Rev. R. +Kelham in 1719, also the dividend of 100 pounds 3.5 per cent. reduced +consols, bought by the bequest of the Rev. Mr. Boawre, Rector, in 1784. + +The charities are Banks, _viz._ 2 pounds a year from land in Haltham, for +bread for the poor; Metham's, for poor widows, from houses and land in +Wisbech, left by Geo. Metham in 1685; Lawrence's, for coats for poor men, +from land in Leake, left by Robt. Lawrence in 1721. + +The Horncastle canal traverses the parish, but is now a derelict. + +There was formerly a castle in this parish, the residence of a family of +the name of Coningsby, but no traces of it remain, unless it be in an +ancient dovecote, placed among some fine trees to the east of the +village. + +The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a large, and originally a fine, +church, consisting of nave, with north and south aisles, an apsidal +modern chancel, and a massive western tower. This latter is of +Perpendicular date, very plain, but of excellent ashlar work; it has a +clock and six bells. The ground stage has open arches to the north and +south, with a groined roof above, and a thoroughfare through it. In the +eastern wall of the south porch is a stoup, which was formerly open, both +within the porch and outside it. Over the porch is a parvis or priest's +chamber. Outside the church, near the top of the wall of a cupola-shaped +finial of the rood loft turret is an old sun dial. The interior of the +nave has a massive heavy roof of beams somewhat rudely cut, with traces +of former colouring. + +The four western bays of the arcade are Early English, with low arches, +the easternmost bay seems to have been added at a later date, the arch +higher and wider. The moulding between two of the north arches +terminates in a head, on each side of which an evil spirit is whispering. +Another terminal is the head of a woman wearing the "branks," or "scold's +bridle." On the south side of the chancel arch is a rood loft staircase +turret, of which both the lower and upper door remain. + +At the restoration in 1872 the clerestory windows were spoilt by being +reduced in height; externally their original design remains. In the +centre of the nave are two large sepulchral slabs, once bearing brasses, +which are now gone, representing two civilians and their wives. The +apsidal chancel is quite out of keeping with the rest of the fabric. +There are some remains of the old carved oak screen, and south of the +communion table is an Early English capital, with piscina behind it. + + [Picture: St. Michaels Church, Coningsby] + +The Notes on Churches, by Gervase Holles, shew that in his time (circa +1630) the windows of this church abounded in coloured glass, of which not +a vestige remains. He gives, among the devices, the arms of Marmyon, +Dymoke, Hillary, Welles, Hattecliffe, Umfraville, Willoughby, Ros, +Tateshale, Bernake, Crumwell, Huntingfield, Rochfort, Beke, Boucher, +Waterton, Hebden, Deyncourt, France and England, &c. {205} + +Among the rectors of this parish have been two poets, one the laureate of +his day (1718), the Rev. Laurence Eusden, who died 1730. The other, John +Dyer, was born 1700, appointed to the benefice in 1752, by Sir John +Heathcote, was the author of _Grongar Hill_, _The Fleece_, and _The Ruins +of Rome_; he was honoured with a sonnet by Wordsworth. + +A congregation of Baptists was formed here under the Commonwealth, with +an endowment for a minister. The society still exists, their present +chapel being erected in 1862; they have also a day school, built by Mr. +John Overy in 1845. The Wesleyans have a chapel, built in 1825, and +others at Hawthorn Hill, Haven Bank, Moorside, and Meer Booth. The +Primitive Methodists have a chapel, built in 1854, and others at Reedham +Corner and Scrub Hill. + +Of the early history of this parish we have scattered notices in various +documents. In _Domesday Book_ we find that Sortibrand, son of Ulf the +Saxon, who was one of the lagmen of Lincoln, held a Berewick in +Coningsby. Land here is mentioned among the Conqueror's possessions. +The powerful favourite of the Conqueror, Robert Despenser, laid claim to +a fishery and lands in Coningsby; and the juryman of the wapentake of +Horncastle decided that his claim was good, because Achi, his Saxon +predecessor, had held the same in the time of Edward the Confessor. From +the same source we find that two other powerful Normans held land here, +_viz._ Hugo d' Abrincis, surnamed "Lupus," or "The Wolf," from his fierce +character; and Drogo de Bruere, who had the Conqueror's niece to wife. + +As with other parishes in this soke, we find from a Feet of Fines, 9 +Henry III., No. 52, that Ralph de Rhodes then held lands here. +Subsequently the Marmyons, Dymokes, and Taillebois, all connected in the +blazonry of the former memorial windows (as before mentioned), held +property in the parish. {206a} By a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, +taken 31st May, 10 Henry VII., No. 72 (A.D. 1495), it was found that +Robert Taillebois, Knt., with John Gygour, Warden of the college of +Tateshale, was seized of the manor; while, further, in a Feet of Fines, +19 Henry VII. (1503), John Mordaunt is acknowledged by Sir Edward +Poynings, Sir Thomas Fynes, and others, to be the owner of lands in +Coningsby, and elsewhere in the soke. He held at least four other +manors, and lands in many other parishes. Also a Feet of Fines, 21 Henry +VII. (1505), it was agreed before Humphrey Coningsby, Sergeant at Law, +Sir Giles Daubeney, and others, that the Bishop of Winchester held +certain property here. + +The Dymokes were patrons of the benefice; Sir Charles Dymoke presenting +in 1682, after which the patronage passed to the Heathcote family (Liber +Regis and Ecton's Thesaurus). But an earlier connection with the Dymokes +is shewn by a tombstone commemorative of "Anna, daughter of Thomas +Dymoke, and his wife Margaret, que obijt . . . Ao Dni 1462." + +In connection with the Humphrey Coningsby, named above, we have already +mentioned that a castellated residence in this parish belonged to a +family of that name. This Humphrey was Judge of the King's Bench, and +bought Hampton Court, co. Hereford, of Sir Thomas Cornwall, about 1510; +where was preserved a painting of the old mansion at Coningsby. {206b} +Thomas Coningsby was knighted by Elizabeth in 1591. Sir Fitz-William +Coningsby was Sheriff of the county, 1627; and for his loyalty to Charles +I. his estates were confiscated by the Puritans. His son was rewarded +with a peerage by Charles II.; and saved the life of King William at the +battle of the Boyne; but his two sons dying early, and he having no +further issue, the title became extinct. + +In the List of Gentry of Lincolnshire, made at the Herald's Visitation in +1634, we find the name of Clinton Whichcote, of Coningsby, a member of an +old county family, still occupying a good position. {207a} + + + +WILKSBY. + + +Wilksby lies about halfway between the parishes of Wood Enderby and +Moorby, at a distance of about five miles from Horncastle, in a +south-easterly direction. Letters from Boston _via_ Revesby, arrive +about 10.30 a.m. + +The ancient history of this parish is much the same as that of the +adjoining parish of Moorby on the east, and Wood Enderby on the west. It +is called in _Domesday Book_ Wilchesbi, and Wilgesbi. At the date of +that survey (1086) there were four soc-men and five bordars, who had one +carucate (or 120 acres) of land, and 20 acres of woodland; while the lord +of the manor had one carucate in demesne, and five villeins, with two +oxen in another carucate; with 20 acres of meadow and 40 acres of +underwood; so that, like the neighbouring Moor-by and Wood Ender-by, this +parish also was largely of a forest character. + +In this parish there was also "a Berewick of 1.5 carucates" (or 180 +acres); a Berewick meaning an outlying farm (from "bere" barley, and +"wick" a village) belonging to another manor. + +The parish was one of the estates taken by the Conqueror for himself, +probably then forming part of the great Tumby Chase. He afterwards +granted the manor to his steward, Robert Despenser, a powerful Norman +noble, the ancestor of the Earls of Gloucester, brother of the Earl +Montgomery, and of Urso de Abetot, hereditary sheriff of Worcestershire. +He held 15 manors in Lincolnshire, and 17 in Leicestershire, beside +others elsewhere. + +Being in the Soke of Horncastle, it would be connected with that manor, +as were so many other neighbouring parishes; and doubtless by a similar +process, to the cases of Moorby and Wood Enderby, it belonged +successively to the Brandons, Dukes of Suffolk; the Cecils, Earls of +Exeter; the Howards, Earls of Berkshire; and finally, by purchase, passed +to the Banks family, and through them to the Stanhopes. + +Among the Assize Rolls (No. 319, m. 9 d) is a plea, made at Hertford, +10th May, 1247, in which "Joan de Leweline (with another) offered herself +against Silvester, Bishop of Karlisle," in a suit concerning "20 pounds +of rent in Enderby, Moreby, Wilkesby and Cuningby, and the advowson of +the church Moreby," in which the bishop failed to appear. But in a Feet +of Fines, Lincoln, 32 Henry III., No. 131, an agreement was made (21st +July, A.D. 1248) by which the said Joan de Lewelyn (and others) did +homage to the bishop, for these lands in Enderby, "Welkeby," &c., and the +advowson of "Moresby," the bishop in turn granting to them "the homage +and whole service of Ivo, son of Odo de Tymelby"; and they holding the +land, &c., "in chief of the aforesaid bishop; and doing therefor the +fourth part of the service of one knight." {207b} + +In another document, a Final Concord, dated 27th May, 1240, between Alan +de Dauderby and Alice de Lysurs, it was agreed that Alice should "acquit +him of the service which Robert de Theleby exacts . . . of half a +knight's fee, for which she is mesne." She further agrees that Alan and +his heirs shall hold certain tenements of Alice and her heirs; to wit, 12 +oxgangs and 80 acres of land, two messuages, with a rent of 12s. 8d., and +two parts of a mill in Theleby, Wilkeby, Burton; and a meadow called +Utemyng, for the service a fourth part of a knight's fee; and for this +Alan gave her 10 marks. + +The former of these records shews that, like the other parishes connected +with the Manor of Horncastle, the Bishops of Carlisle were at one period +patrons of the benefice (and probably owners of the manor) of Wilkesby; +but, while in the case of several other parishes, this patronage +continues (only transferred to the Bishops of Manchester) to the present +day, the patronage of Wilksby passed to others. According to Liber Regis +in 1711 and 1720 Lewis Dymoke presented to the benefice. In 1764, by +some arrangement, George Willows, Gent., presented; but again, in 1833, +it was in the patronage of the Hon. the Champion, H. Dymoke, who +appointed to the rectory a relative, the Rev. J. Bradshaw Tyrwhitt, one +of a very old, knightly, Lincolnshire family, the Tyrwhitts of +Stainfield, Kettleby, &c. A tablet to his memory is erected in the +church at Scrivelsby. {208a} The patronage was subsequently acquired by +J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., and is annexed to the chaplaincy of Revesby, +which has no permanent endowment. + +Among the List of Gentry of Lincolnshire, made at the Herald's Visitation +in 1634, and preserved at the Heralds' College, along with the Dymocks of +Scrivelsby, Haltham, Kyme and Lincoln, is Paganell Hartgrave of Wilksby. +{208b} + +The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a mean structure, erected in the +18th century, of brick and Spilsby sandstone, standing on the site of an +earlier church, of which nothing seems to remain except the font. It +consists of nave and chancel, both on a very small scale, and a wooden +bell-turret, with one small bell. The north and west walls are of +sandstone, the former covered with a thick coating of tar to keep out the +moisture; the east wall has alternate layers of brick and sandstone. +Some improvements have been made in recent years, much needed to make it +even a decent place of worship. The two two-light trefoiled windows in +the south wall of the nave have been framed in stone instead of wood, and +filled with green glass. The east window of the chancel has wooden +mullions interlaced, and it has been adorned with paper representations +of, in the centre the Ascension, to the left the Saviour holding an +infant in his arms, to the right the child Jesus sitting among the +doctors in the temple. + +The roof of the chancel is apsidal, externally, as well as the nave, +covered with modern house tiles. Internally the nave has a flat ceiling +of deal boards. The pulpit and seats are painted wainscot; there is a +small modern oak reading desk, and a lectern to match it. The chancel +arch is a plain semicircle, but on its eastern side has a pointed Early +English arch. The chancel rails are of modern oak, slightly carved; and +there is a deal credence table. The 14th century font has a massive +octagonal bowl, with large trefoils in each face, and grotesquely carved +heads at the angles; the shaft being plain octagonal. The improvements +were made in 1896, at the cost of the late Mrs. Stanhope. + +The register dates from 1562. In recent years the incumbency of Claxby +Pluckacre, where the church had gone to ruins, has been annexed to the +rectory of Wilksby, the joint value of the two being about 300 pounds a +year. They are held by the Rev. P. O. Ashby, Chaplain of Revesby. + + + +LANGRIVILLE & THORNTON-LE-FEN. + + +These are modern accretions to the Soke of Horncastle, made in the early +years of the 19th century. They are distant southward from Horncastle +about 13 miles; situated in a tract of land called Wildmore Fen, lying +about midway between Coningsby to the north, and Boston to the south. At +various periods inundated by the sea, this continued, to the end of the +18th century, more or less a region of morass; available in the summer +for grazing, but generally during the winter under water; when all cattle +had to be removed for safety to the lands under cultivation at the +homesteads of the farmers; and if by chance the farmer was behindhand in +removing them, and the floods became frozen, it was a common thing for +his cattle, while slipping about on the ice, to be split up, or, as it +was locally termed, "screeved," and so become helpless, and fit only for +slaughter. {209} + +An Act of Parliament was passed in 1787 or 1788, and commissioners were +appointed, for the drainage of this and adjoining similar tracts; but +little was done until 1800, when the able engineer, Mr. John Rennie, +submitted his plans for the drainage to the commissioners. His first +report, dated April 7th, 1800, estimated the cost of draining Wildmore +Fen alone at 29,702 pounds; the total outlay, for that and adjoining +fens, being put at nearly 215,000 pounds. By 1812 these operations were +completed; and in that year an Act was passed making these lands +parochial, and assigning the two portions above named to the Soke of +Horncastle. + + + +LANGRIVILLE. + + +Langriville, so called because it is near Langrick (or Long Creek) on the +Witham, has an area of 2,514 acres, including Langrick Ferry; rateable +value 3,300 pounds. The population is entirely engaged in agriculture. +The nearest railway station is at Langrick, in the parish. + +It consists of the southern portion of Wildmore Fen, which at the +enclosure was allotted to the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, in lieu of +his manorial rights over Armtree and Wildmore; with other lands sold by +the Drainage Commissioners, early in the 19th century. The Earl's +estates afterwards passed, by purchase, to the late J. Fretwell Bramley +and others. The present Lord of the Manor is Lord Malcolm, of +Poltallock; and he, the Rector of Coningsby, the executors of Lady Ingram +Watkin, J. Linton, Esq., of Stirtcoe, Buckden, Herts., Harrison Hayter, +Esq., W. Goodenough Hayter, Esq., Mr. Jonathan Fox, of Boston, E. +Harrison, Esq., and Mr. William Pepper are the largest land owners. + +A small brick church was erected in 1831, consisting of nave, chancel and +bell turret; and repaired and improved in 1885, by the Ecclesiastical +Commissioners. The Bishop of Lincoln is patron; and the Rev. W. +Fitz-Harry Curtis is the incumbent, who has here a residence, with an +income of 320 pounds a year. + +The Wesleyans have a chapel at Langrick Ferry, also in Armtree Road. By +an order in council, dated 26th August, 1881, Langriville and +Thornton-le-Fen were united, under the title of "The Consolidated +Chapelry of Wildmore." There is a church at each place. At the time of +the enclosure fen allotments were assigned to various of the older +parishes, and these are many of them now included in this modern +district, comprising parts of Fishtoft Fen, of Coningsby, of Kirkstead, +Scrivelsby, Woodhall, Dalderby, and Martin. The entire area is now +10,500 acres, and population 1,470. + +The National School, erected in 1857, is at Gipsy Bridge, now under a +School Board. + + + +THORNTON-LE-FEN. + + +Thornton-le-Fen adjoins Langriville, lying to the east of it, about three +miles from Langrick railway station. The area was originally about 1,425 +acres, including Bunkers Hill, part of Gipsy Bridge, and other scattered +farms, which were sold by the Drainage Commissioners early in the 19th +century, when it was made, by Act of Parliament, a parochial township. +Rateable value 1,979 pounds. It has its name from the former chief +proprietors, the Thornton family; but the chief land owners now are Lord +Malcolm of Poltalloch, the Pepper, Ireland, Creasey, Ward, and Wilcock +families. The soil is clay, and very fertile. + +The church, which was built on the Fen Chapel Estates in 1816, is a small +brick building, containing 200 sittings; the benefice, valued at 100 +pounds a year, is in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln, and by order in +council, dated 26th August, 1881, was consolidated with the chapelry of +Langriville; the two being of the united yearly value of 320 pounds, and +held by the Rev. W. Fitz-Harry Curtis, who resides at the latter place. + +A good school and master's house were erected in 1880, by the School +Board of Wildmore Fen, at a cost of about 1,200 pounds, to accommodate +168 children. The Wesleyans have a chapel at New York and Bunkers' Hill. +The Primitive Methodists have also a chapel. + +The Ecclesiastical Commissioners, to whom the Fen Chapel Estates were +transferred in 1876, pay 120 pounds a year for a curate, who now is the +Rev. Harold E. Curtis. The total area is now 10,500 acres, and +population 1,470. + + * * * * * + +NOTE.--Other parishes have once been in the Soke of Horncastle, which no +longer belong to it. _Domesday Book_ gives Scrivelsby, "Langton and +(its) Thorpe" (from which I write; "Thorpe" being doubtless the outlying +district recently known as Langton St. Andrew), and also Edlington. How +these became separated is not known. As suggested by the author of +_Scrivelsby_, _the home of the Champions_, Scrivelsby, as a barony of the +Marmyon and Dymoke families, would probably be separated by payment of a +fine; such powerful families preferring not to be sub-ordinated to +another manor. Several Dymokes, however, were buried at Horncastle, +where are their monuments. + + + + + +INDEX. + + +A + + +Abrincis, Hugo de, "The Wolf," 206. + +Accident, remarkable, of Dr. J. B. Smith, 94. + +Adelias de Cundi, 1, 16, 17, 200. + +Albemarle, Earl of, 166. + +Aldrich, Bishop of Carlisle, 30 and note. + +Allison, Henry, wealthy, in Hull, 158. + +Allenby, Henry, Chemist to H.M.S., 157. + +Allerton, Lord, Horncastrian, 152. + +Ancaster, Earl of, 204. + +Angevine, family of, 27, 28. + +Angus, Earl of, 168, 181. + +Arms of Charles I., 191. +,, temp. Charles I., 192. +,, of Marmyon, Dymoke, Umfraville, Willoughby, &c., in Coningsby Church, +205. + +Ashby, West, 176-180. +,, Church described, 181, 182. + +Ayscough, Clynton, 198. +,, Elizabeth, 201. +,, Henry, 201. +,, Walter, 198. +,, William, 197. + + + +B + + +Babington, Miss, window to, 59. + +Bage, _i.e._ sod, 189. + +Baieux, Bishop of, 165, 166. + +Bain, river name, meaning of, 2. + +Baker, Thomas, cricketer, ventriloquist, &c., 159. + +Banks, Sir Joseph, 31, 181, 194 and note, 196, 209. + +Baptists, sect of, 84-86. +,, Chapel, 84. + +Barkham, Sir Robert, 187. + +Barracks at Queen's Head Inn, 162. + +Bavent, Eudo de, 27, 196. +,, Close, field name, 27. + +Beaumont, family of, 190. + +Bell and Lancastrian Schools, 111, 112. + +Berewick in Coningsby, held by Sortibrand, 206. +,, in Wilksby, 207. + +Bertie, Hon. Charles, 187. +,, Richard, 182, 186. + +Bevere, Drogo de, 166. + +Bishop of Carlisle, 12, 30 and note. + +"Black Death" at Horncastle, 51, 189. + +Bocher, Arthur, Esq., 188. + +Bolle, Charles, 187. +,, George, 187. + +Bolles, Sir Robert, 171. + +Boucherett, Ascoghe, 198. + +Boulton, Dr. Barnard, window to, 37. +,, Henry, window to first wife, 38. +,, "Billy," anecdote of, 160. + +Bourne, The Venerable Hugh, 73-76. +,, College, 77. + +Brackenbury, Mr. Carr, Wesley's friend, 66, 68, and note. + +"Branks," or "scold's bridle," 205. + +Brandon, Charles, Duke of Suffolk, 196, 200, 202, 207. + +British words still used, 3. + +Britons, Caesar's description of, 2, 3 and notes. +,, good workmen, 3. + +Britons, Tacitus account of, 5. + +Brown, Rev. Benson, 153. +,, John, "Laureate," 158, 159. +,, Martin, and press gang, 156. + +Brownists, sect of, 78. + +Bunyon, John, 84. + +"Butts," field name, meaning of, 174. + + + +C + + +Calthrop Lieut. Richard, window to, 180. + +Camville, Gerard de, 26. + +Canal, Horncastle, history of, 126-129. +,, opening ceremony, 127-128. + +Canals recognised by Magna Charta, 128. + +Caparn, Rev. W. B., 153. + +Capella, Henry de, 178. + +Carlisle, Bishops of, 46, 167, 168, 181, 196, 200, 203, 207. + +Carsey (or Kersey), John, 202. + +Catherine, St., altar of, 200. +,, ,, chantry of, 36, 37. + +Cecil, Sir Thomas, 29, 30, 203. + +Chamerlayn dole, 189. + +Chapel, St. Laurence's, 33, 34. + +Charles I., arms of, 191. + +Charters of markets and fairs, 18. + +Chattels of felons granted to bishop, 19, 45. + +Cheney, family of, 16, 17. + +Church, St. Mary's, 33-45. +,, not original, 33. +,, plate, 55, 56. +,, restored, 56. +,, Holy Trinity, 57-59. +,, ,, architect of, 57. +,, Lads' Brigade, 63. +,, Schools, National, 63. +,, service, absence from, fined, 48. + +Clarke, Rev. T. J., Vicar, account, 60. + +Claribel, Mrs. Barnard, 180. + +Clerical Club, 63, 137, 138. + +Clinton, Lord, and family, 12, 20, 21, 92 and note, 188. + +Clinton, Lord, engraving of, 97. +,, Sir Edward, 12. + +Clitherow, Mr. Robert, window to, 38. + +Clowes, William, 75, 76. + +Cock and Breeches Inn, 162. + +Cock-fighting, 164. + +Coins found at Mareham-on-the-Hill, 184. + +Coningsby, 203-207. +,, Church, 204-7. +,, land owners of, 204. +,, Rector of, Poet Laureate, 205, 206. +,, Sir Fitz-William, Sheriff, 206. +,, ,, at battle of the Boyne saved the king's life, 206. + +Coningsby, mansion of, 206. + +Conyngsby, Humphrey 187, 206. + +Constable, an old smuggler, 162. + +Coppuldyke, Thomas and wife, guild of, 42 and note. + +Corn Exchange, 140-142. + +Court House, account of, 135, 136. + +Craycroft of Craycroft, 187. + +Cressey, Nicholas, gent., 198. + +Crispus and Crispinianus, window, 37 and note, 42 and note. + +Cromwell visits Horncastle, 32. + +Cromwell, Ralph de, 190. + +Cussons, John, Confederate General, &c., 158. + + + +D + + +Danish Conquerors, 10. + +Despenser, Robert, 191, 195, 205, 206, 207. + +Despensers, Earls of Gloucester, 195. + +Destructive storms at Horncastle, 51. + +Dispensary, history of, 119-125. +,, balls, 124. +,, dispensers, 124. +,, legacies, 125. +,, present building, 124, 125. +,, presidents, 123, 124. +,, sermons, 122, 123. +,, vice-presidents, 124. + +Dixon, Miss Annie, artist, 151. + +Dogdyke, _i.e._ Dock-dyke, 204. + +Dole, Chamerlayn, at Roughton, 188. + +Drill Hall, 148-150. + +Drogo de Bruere, 206. + +Dymoke, Edward, 188. +,, John, of Haltham, 191. +,, John, Rev., 190. +,, Lionel, curious will of, 183-184. +,, Robert, 187. +,, Sir Henry, 189. +,, Sir Lionel, monument to, 41. +,, ,, engraving, 42. +,, Thomas, 187. + +Dymokes, 205, 206, 208, 210. + + + +E + + +Eastwood, family of, 190. + +Editha, Queen, 180. + +Elmhirst, General Charles, window to, 179. +,, William, Esq., 180. + +Enderby, Wood, 201-203. + +Escald, Gerald de, 11, 17, 200. + +Eusden, Rev. Laurence, Poet Laureate, Rector of Coningsby, 205. + + + +F + + +Fast, solemn, at Horncastle, 51. + +Felons, right to try, of Bishop of Carlisle, 45. + +Fighting Cocks Inn, 164. +,, foxhounds kept at, 164. +,, scythe fair at, 164. + +Fitz-William, family of, 28, 29. + +Forests, extensive, 2, 3 and note, 18 and note, 202 and note, 207. + +Fox, Mrs. Salome, window to, 38. + +Foxe's Book of Martyrs, in church, 44. + +Franklin, Sir John, 156. + +Freshville, Peter, Frances, daughter of, 42 and note. + +Fynes, Norreys, Esq., 189. +,, Thomas, 206. + + + +G + + +Gairmaro, Geoffrey, chronicler, 16 and note. + +Gallows of Bishop of Carlisle, 19. +,, at Thimbleby, of Abbot, 170. + +Gaunt, Walter, 166 and note, 167. + +George, Dr. Hugh, window to, 59. +,, Inn, 162. +,, ,, incident at, 163. + +Gibson, Thomas, Vicar, 39, 40 and note, 51, 52. + +Giles, Prebendary, window to, 39. + +Gilliat, Rev. Edward, author, &c., 152. + +Glenham family, 196, 201. + +Goldie, Rev. C. D., Curate, account of, 62. + +Goodrich, Robert, 187. + +Grace, Pilgrimage of, 47, 48. + +Grammar School, history of, 91-107. +,, distinctions of old boys, 105. +,, distinguished boys, 95, 96. +,, games and customs, 99-104. +,, Governors, 92. +,, Madge, Dr., late Master, 105. +,, Masters, former under, 97-99. +,, modern, 105. +,, new buildings, future, 107. +,, origin of, early, 91, 92, 106. +,, property of, 92. +,, White, Rev. T., 99. +,, Worman, Mr. A. N., 105. + +Grosvenor, Rev. Francis, 98, 99. +,, F., 152, 153. + + + +H + + +Hallgarth, interesting old house in Thimbleby, 172. + +Haltham, 190-192. +,, church, interesting, 191. + +Hamerton, John, Churchwarden, 39. +,, family, 52, 53. + +Hangman's Corner, 19, 46. + +Hardingshall, Sir William, 187. + +Hartgrave, Paganell, of Wilksby, 208. + +Hartwell, Lady, 188. + +Harwood, Mr. F., window to, 38. + +Hawley, Sir Henry M., 189. + +Heald, George, Chancellor, 163. +,, and Lola Montez, incident, 163. + +Healey, A. H., athlete, 154. + +Heathcote, Sir Gilbert, 204. +,, Sir John, 205. + +Heneage family, 190. + +Henry IV., visits Horncastle, 32. + +"Hoblers" for the army, 14. + +Holles, Gervase, description of church windows, 42 and note. + +Holles, Gervase, wife buried at Horncastle, 37 and note. + +Holme, _i.e._ island, Danish, 2. + +Hopton, Sir Ingram, 40, 41. + +Horncastle, British settlement, 1. +,, Manor, owners of, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 22, 24. +,, market tolls, 13, 14. +,, Benefice, King appoints to, 46. +,, Rector murdered, 46. +,, Rector changed to Vicar, 47. +,, Peter de Galicia appointed to, 47. +,, Rectors and Vicars, list of, 50, 51. +,, rectory house, former, 55. + +Hotchkin, family of, connected with Thimbleby, 172. + +Hounds kept at Fighting Cocks, 164. + + + +I + + +Independents, sect of and chapel, 77-83. + +Islep, Simon de, Rector, 19, 46. + + + +J + + +"Jack" Musters kept hounds at Fighting Cocks, 164. + + + +K + + +Keane, Charles, and Horncastle, 156. +,, Edmund, 156. + +Kemp family and Thimbleby, 173, 175. +,, meaning of name, 173 and note. + +Kent, John, owner of Horncastle Manor, 24. + +King's Head Inn, thatched, 164. + +Kirkstead, Thimbleby belonged to Abbot of, 169, 170. +,, Abbot of, arbitrary action of, 170. + +Knyght, questionable action of, 169. + + + +L + + +Lancastrian and Bell Schools, 111, 112. + +Langley, Ambrose, footballer, 157. + +Langton, John de, Rector of Horncastle, Bishop of Chichester, 46. + +Langrick, meaning of, 209. + +Langriville, 209. +,, Church, 209, 210. +,, School, 210. + +Langworth, meaning of, 204. + +Leweline, Joan de, 207. + +Leych, William, curious will of, 197. + +Lincolnshire Rising, 47, 48, 187. +,, William Leche, "begynner" of, 47. + +Lindsey, Earl of, 187. + +Literary Society, 138. + +Lizures, William de, 26, 27. + +Lodge, Canon S., lectern given by, 39 and note. +,, ,, Master of Grammar School, 99. + +Lola Montez, incident, 163. + +Lord, Rev. Thomas, centenarian, 82, 89-90. + +L'Oste, Rev. S., Rector of Langton, 93. + +Lovell, Sir Thomas, Knt., 202. + +Lysurs, Alice de, 207. + + + +M + + +Madely, Dr. Clement, tablet to, in St. Mary's, 44 and note. + +Malcolm, Lord, of Poltallock, Lord of Langriville Manor, 209, 210. + +Malingars, field name, 191. + +Mareham-le-Fen, 192-198. +,, church described, 192-194. + +Mareham-on-the-Hill, 183, 184. +,, Church, 184. + +Marwood, hangman, 154, 155. + +Massingbird, Thomas, 187. + +Mechanics' Institute, 139, 140. + +Milner, Canon, W. H., Vicar, 61. + +Moorby, 198-200. +,, church described, 198. +,, communion plate, 199. +,, minstrel column, 199. + +Mordaunt, John, owner in Coningsby, 206. + +Moyne, Thomas, rebel, 188. + +Murder at Queen's Head Inn, 162. + +Musters, "Jack," kept hounds, 164. + + + +N + + +Newcomen, family, 187, 190, 198. + +New Jerusalem, sect of, 86-89. +,, Chapel, 88. +,, first resident minister, 89. + +Ninian, St., in window of St. Mary's, 37, 42 and note. + +Nonconformist places of worship, 64-90. + +Norman Conquerors, 11, 13. + + + +O + + +Oddities of Horncastle, 160, 161. + +Organ, fine, of parish church, 36. + +Ortiay, Henry del, tenure by spurs, 180, 181, 203. + +Ouseley, Sir F. Gore, of Wesley family, 64 and note. + +Oven, public, 134 and note. + +Overseer, a woman appointed, 188. + + + +P + + +Paganell, Ranulph de, 177. + +Palfreyman, of Horncastle, 52. + +Palmer, Rev. E. R. H. G., 184. + +Pancake bell, 34. + +Paynell, 178. + +Penance done in church, 186. + +Pilgrimage of Grace, 47, 48. + +Pingle, field name, 191. + +Plague, 188, 191. + +Plesington, Henry, Knt., 187. + +Primitive Methodists, sect of, 71, 77. +,, chapel described, 72. + +Publichouses, 161-164. +,, now gone, 162, 163, 164. + + + +Q + + +Quarrington, Canon E. F., late Vicar, window to, 37. + +Queen's Head Inn, murder at, 162. + + + +R + + +Raengeires, British leader, 9. + +Railway, 130-132. +,, opening ceremony of, 131, 132. + +Ravennas, Geographer, 5 and note. + +Rayne, Bishop's Chancellor, slain, 48. + +Rennie, Mr. John, Engineer, 209. + +Rhodes, Gerard de, 184, 203. +,, Ralph de, 12, 17, 18, 19, 180, 184, 191, 192, 200, 203, 206. + +Rinder, Mr. Joseph, 178. + +River names, celtic, 1. + +Rivett, Mr. John, 70. + +Robber taking refuge in church, 45. + +Robinson, Miss, and Queen's dresses, 157, 158. +,, Rev. John, 78-80. + +Rolleston, Edward, Esq., 186. +,, family, 186. + +Rolston, Edward, 187. + +Roman coffins, 7, 8. +,, coins, 4. +,, commanders, 3, 5. +,, milestone, 5. +,, pipes, 8. +,, pottery, 6, 7, 134 and note. +,, roads, 5, 6. +,, tomb at Thimbleby, 174. +,, urns, 6. +,, walls, 6. +,, wells, 6. + +Rose, Rev. W., 82, 83. + +Ross, Sir John, 156. + +Round House, the (prison), 135. + +Roughton, 188. +,, church described, 188. +,, plague at, 188. + +Rushton, "Aty," 160. +,, Thomas, fisherman, 160. + + + +S + + +Salt, a property, 182. + +Sanctuary in church, right of, 45. + +Sapcote, Sir Richard, 186. + +Savile, 22, 25, 26. + +Saxon conquerors, 9. +,, minstrel pillar, 199. + +Schofield, John, marries bishop's daughter, 157. + +Science and Art School, 112. +,, great efficiency of, 114. +,, lectures on special subjects, 115-118. +,, origin of, 112. +,, teachers of, 114, 115. + +Scrope family, 20. + +Scott, Sir Gilbert, at Horncastle, 134. + +Scythes in church, probable history of, 41 and note. +,, engraving of, 48. + +Scythe fair, 164. + +Sessions House, former, 135. + +Sewer, common for drain, 190 and note. + +Sharp, Rev. W. Heneage, 154. + +Shepherd, Capt., "old salt," 156. + +Ship-money, complaint of, temp. Charles I, 14. + +Skynner, family of, 169. + +Slated house, first in Horncastle, 164. + +Smith, Captain, Surgeon, 157. +,, Dr. J. Bainbridge of Grammar School, 93, 95, 99, 101. + +Snowden, Bishop of Carlisle, 30. +,, Rutland, "delinquent," 54. +,, ,, benefactor to Horncastle, 54. +,, ,, among Lincolnshire gentry, 55. + +Socmen, bordars, and villeins, 183 and note. + +Somercotes, Sir William, 187. + +Southey, Rev. T. C., Curate, 62. + +Southwell, Miss Trafford, 202. + +Spinning School, 134 and note. + +Spranger, Dr. R., 186. +,, Chancellor, 186. + +Spurrier, Rev. H., 189. +,, H. C. M., 189. + +Spurs, tenure by, 181, 203. + +Stanhope family, 31. +,, J. Banks, Esq., 192. +,, Memorial, 136, 137. + +Swedenborg, Emanuel, 86. + + + +T + + +Tailboys, Sir Walter, 181. + +Taillebois, family of, 206. + +Tanning formerly chief trade of Horncastle, 53. + +Tennyson, A., and brother married in Horncastle, 44, 162. + +Thatched publichouse, by will, 164. + +Theft from St. Mary's Church, 42 and note, 47, 48. + +Theleby, 208. + +Thief to catch thieves, 161. + +Thimbleby, 165-176. +,, church described, 175, 176. +,, engraving of, 171. + +Thornton-le-Fen, 210. +,, Church, 210. +,, School, 210. + +Thornton family, 210. + +Three Maids' Inn, 164. + +Thymelby family, 24, 25, 168, 181. + +Tibetot, Robert, 12, 19, 20. + +Tom Cat Inn, 164. + +Toynton, High, 180-184. +,, ,, Church, 181, 182. +,, Low, 184-188. +,, ,, Church, 184-186. +,, ,, ,, engraving of, 185. + +Trafford, W. H., Esq., 191, 202. + +Train-bands, arms of, 14. + +Trinity Church Horncastle, 57-60. +,, engraving of, 59. + +Trunyan's, light of, our Lady's light, &c., 44, 45. + +Tumby Chase, 202. + +Turner and Cato Street Conspiracy, 155, 156. +,, Sir Edmund, 184. + +Tymelby, Ivo de, 207. + +Tyrwhitt, Douglas, a lady, 52. +,, old county family, 29, 208. + + + +U + + +Umfraville, Earl of Angus, 168, 181. + +Union, the, or workhouse, 133-135. + +Union, early laws concerning paupers, 133, 134. + + + +V + + +Volunteers, history of, 145-148. +,, Drill Hall, 148-150. +,, practiced on Edlington Road, 162. + + + +W + + +Walter, Rev. H., B.D., _History of England_, 64. + +Waring, river name, meaning "rough," 2. + +Watson's Free School, 108-111. +,, property of, 110. +,, Governors, original, 110 and note. + +Well-syke, field and wood name, 190 and note. + +Wesley, John, 65-67. +,, Charles, 65. + +Wesleyan, sect of, 64-71. +,, Chapel, 70. +,, ,, engraving of, 65. +,, circuits, 66. +,, centenary, 71. + +Whelpton Almshouses, 142-144. + +Whichcote, Clinton, of Coningsby, 207. + +Wildmore Fen added to Horncastle, 209. + +Wilksby, 207. +,, Church, 208. + +Williams, Thomas, missionary, 69, 70. + +Willoughby, William de, and family, 167. +,, de Eresby, Lord, 204. + +Winchester, Bishop of, held land in Coningsby, 206. + +Wood Enderby, 201-203. +,, Church, 201, 202. + +Workhouse, before Union, 134. +,, village, 134. + + + +Y + + +Young Churchmen's Union, 63. + + + +Z + + +Zouch, Eudo la, bequest to, 197. + + * * * * * + + + + Printed by W. K. Morton & Sons, Ltd., 27, High Street, Horncastle. + + + + +Footnotes: + + +{0} His father, for about 12 months, occupied the house in North Street, +of late years known as the "Red House," distinguished, it is said, as +being the only house in the town having a front door of mahogany. + +{1a} Mr. Jeans, in his _Handbook for Lincolnshire_, p. 142, says "the +Roman station (here) probably utilized an existing British settlement." + +{1b} _Words and Places_, p. 13, note. Ed. 1873. + +{1c} There are probably traces of British hill-forts in the +neighbourhood, as on Hoe hill, near Holbeck, distant 4 miles, also +probably at Somersby, Ormsby, and several other places. + +{1d} In the name of the near village of Edlington we have probably a +trace of the mystic Druid, _i.e._ British, deity Eideleg, while in +Horsington we may have the Druid sacred animal. Olivers' _Religious +Houses_, Appendix, p. 167. + +{2a} _Words and Places_, p. 130. + +{2b} The meadow which now lies in the angle formed by the junction of +the Bain and Waring at Horncastle is still called "The Holms," which is +Danish for "islands." + +{2c} The name Bain, slightly varied, is not uncommon. There is the +Bannon, or Ban-avon ("avon" also meaning "river"), in Pembrokeshire; the +Ban in Co. Wexford, Bana in Co. Down, Banney (_i.e._ Ban-ea, "ea" also +meaning water) in Yorkshire, Bain in Herefordshire; Banavie (avon) is a +place on the brightly running river Lochy in Argyleshire; and, as meaning +"white," a fair-haired boy or girl is called in Gaelic "Bhana." + +{2d} The name Waring (G commonly representing the modern W) is found in +the Yarrow, and Garry in Scotland, the Geirw, a rough mountain stream, at +Pont-y-glyn, in North Wales, and in the Garonne in France. + +{2e} _Ars Poetica_, l 59. + +{2f} An account of this urn is given by the late Bishop Trollope, with +an engraving of it, in the _Architectural Society's Journal_, vol. iv, p. +200. + +{2g} _De Bella Gallico_, bk. v, ch. 12-14. + +{2h} Some idea of the extent of these forests, even in later times, may +be formed from the account given by De la Prime (_Philosophical +Transactions_, No. 75, p. 980) who says "round about the skirts of the +wolds are found infinite millions of the roots and bodies of trees of +great size." Pliney tells us that the Britons had "powerful mastiffs" +for hunting the wild boar, and Manwood in an old _Treatise on Forest +Laws_ (circa 1680) states (p. 60) that the finest mastiffs were bred in +Lincolnshire. Fuller, in his _Worthies of England_ (p. 150) mentions +that a Dutchman (circa 1660) coming to England for sport, spent a whole +season in pursuit of wild game "in Lincolniensi montium tractu," by which +doubtless were intended the wolds. A writer in the _Archaeological +Journal_ (June, 1846) says "the whole country of the Coritani (_i.e._ +Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, &c.) was then, and long after, a dense +forest." The name "Coritani," or more properly Coitani, is the Roman +adaptation of the British "Coed," a wood, which still survives in Wales +in such place-names as "Coed Coch," the red wood, "Bettws y Coed," the +chapel in the wood, &c. This was their distinguishing characteristic to +the Roman, they were wood-men. + +{3} To the skill and bravery in war of the Britons Caesar bears +testimony. He says, "They drive their chariots in all directions, +throwing their spears, and by the fear of their horses and the noise of +their wheels they disturb the ranks of their enemies; when they have +forced their way among the troops they leap down and fight on foot. By +constant practice they acquire such skill that they can stop, turn, and +guide their horses when at full speed and in the most difficult ground. +They can run along the chariot pole, sit on the collar and return with +rapidity into the chariot, by which novel mode (he says) his men were +much disturbed." ("Novitate pugnae perturbati.") _De Bella Gallico_, +lib. iv, c, 33, 34. + +{5a} An account of this milestone is given by the late Precentor +Venables, in his _Walks through the Streets of Lincoln_, two Lectures, +published by J. W. Ruddock, 253, High Street, Lincoln. + +{5b} Stukeley, _Itinerarium curiosum_, p. 28; Weir's _History of +Horncastle_, p. 4, ed. 1820; Saunders' _History_, vol. ii, p. 90, ed. +1834; Bishop Trollope, _Architectural Society's Journal_, vol. iv, p. +199, &c. + +{5c} Ravennas, whose personal name is not known (that term merely +meaning a native of Ravenna), was an anonymous geographer, who wrote a +_Chorography of Britian_, as well as of several other countries, about +A.D. 650. These were confessedly compilations from older authorities, +and were, two centuries later, revised by Guido of Ravenna, and doubtless +by others at a later period still, since the work, in its existent form +describes the Saxons and Danes, as well, in Britain. As Gallio, also of +Ravenna, was the last Roman general in command in these parts, it has +been suggested that he was virtually the original author (Horsley's +_Britannia_, 1732, chap. iv., p. 489; also _The Dawn of Modern +Geography_, by C. Raymond Beazley, M.A., F.R.G.S., 1897, J. Murray). +Messrs. Pinder and Parthey published an edition of _Ravennas_, _or the +Ravennese Geographer_, as did also Dr. Gale. + +{5e} _Life of Agricola_ c. xxxi. + +{6a} This is a thoroughly provincial word for highway or turnpike. It +is of course a corruption of "Rampart," a fortified passage. In the +marsh districts the main roads are called "rampires." See Brogden's +_Provincial Words_. + +{6b} The name Baumber, again, also written Bam-burgh, means a "burgh," +or fortress on the Bain, which runs through that parish. + +{7a} These urns are fully described with an engraving of them in vol. +iv, pt. ii, of the _Architectural Society's Journal_, by the late Bishop +Dr. E. Trollope. + +{7b} _Architect. S. Journal_, iv, ii, p. 201. + +{8} Gough, _Sepulchral Monuments_, Introduction, p. 59, says "coffins of +lead and wood are believed to have been used by the Romans in Britain." + +{9} The first Danish incursions into England were in A.D. 786 and 787, +specially in Lincolnshire in 838. In 869 was fought the decisive battle +of Threckingham in this county, which made the Danes paramount. The name +Threckingham is said to be derived from the fact that 3 kings were slain +in this battle, but we believe this to be an error, and that the place +was the residence, the "ham" of the Threcginghas. + +{10} The prefix "Horn" is also found in Holbeach Hurn, an angular +headland on the south coast of Lincolnshire. In the monkish Latin of old +title deeds, we also find the patronymic Hurne, Hearne, &c., represented +by its equivalent "de angulo," _i.e._ "of the corner." + +{11a} Dr. Mansell Creighton, late Bishop of London. _Essays_, edited by +Louisa Creighton, 1904, pp. 278-9. + +{11b} The palace of the Bishop was on the site of the present Manor +House. + +{11c} Dugdale, vol. ii, p. 336. _Monast. Angl._, vol. ii, p. 646. + +{12a} Hundred Rolls, Lincoln, No. 14, m. 1. + +{12b} Hundred Rolls, Lincoln, No 14, m. 1, 3 Edward I., 1274-5. + +{12c} This sale was confirmed by the King, as shewn by a Charter Roll, +14 Henry III., pt. i, m. 12 3 Ed. I., 1274-5. + +{12d} Patent Roll, 14 Richard II., pt. i, m. 3. A.D. 1390. + +{12e} Patent Roll, 6 Edward VI., pt. iii, m. 1. + +{12f} Patent Roll, 1 Mary, pt. 8, m 2, (44) 28 Nov., 1553. + +{12g} Memoirs of Sir Henry Fynes Clinton. _Annual Register_, 1772, p. +2. + +{12h} Coram Rege Roll, Portsmouth, April 20, 14 Chas. II. + +{13a} Exchequer Bills and Answers, 11 Charles V., Lincoln, No. 185. + +{13b} The carucate varied in different parts of the country, in +Lincolnshire it was 120 acres. Gelt was a land tax, first imposed by the +Danes in the reign of Ethelred, about A.D. 991, being 2s. on the +carucate. Villeins and bordars were under-tenants of two different +classes, bordars being superior to villeins. (Introd. _Domesday Book_, +by C. Gowen Smith, 1870). + +{13c} Barristers are said to have been first appointed by Edward I., +A.D. 1291. + +{16a} Among the Lincoln Cathedral Charters is an imperfect one, which +mentions her "Castle of Tornegat (can this be a corruption for +Horncastle?), her land at Wicham in Chent (Kent?), at Carlton and Torleby +(Thurlby) in Lincolnshire," _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1901, p. +22. There is a notice of her in the _Dictionary of National Biography_, +vol. I. + +{16b} This Geoffrey Gairmar is himself rather an interesting figure in +local history. He is mentioned in the Rolls Series, 91, i, ii (Ed. Hardy +and Martin, 1888-9), as the author of _L'estorie des Engles_, a rhyming +chronicle, based chiefly on the _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_, and Geoffrey of +Monmouth (between A.D. 1135 and 1147). He undertook his work at the +request of Custance, wife of Ralph Fitz Gilbert; the latter held the +manor of Scampton near Lincoln, and Geoffrey was probably a Norman who +lived in that parish. He quotes _The Book of Washingborough_ and _The +Lay of Haveloc the Dane_, relating to Grimsby. He does not directly +mention Horncastle, but shews acquaintance with the neighbourhood by +celebrating the burial of King Ethelred at Bardney. + +{16c} Camden's _Britannia_, pp. 45, 288, 529. + +{16d} _History of Lincoln_, 1816, p. 138. + +{16e} Camden, p. 88. A Lincoln Chancery Inquisition (Oct. 31, 1503) +shows that on the death of Anne, daughter and heir of Edmund Cheney, +owning the manors of Tothill, Gayton, Riston, and Theddlethorpe, Robert +Willoughby, Lord Broke, was declared to be her kinsman and heir. + +{16f} Dugdale, vol. ii, p. 336. D. Mon, ii, p. 646. (_Architectural +Society's Journal_, 1895, p. 23). + +{17a} Dugdale _Baronage_, p. 39. + +{17b} Hundred Rolls, Lincoln, No 14, m. 1, 3 Ed. I., A.D., 1274-5. A +Pipe Roll also, 1 Richard I., A.D. 1189-90, mentions "Gerbod de Escalt as +paying a tale of 80 pounds in Horncastre." + +{17c} Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 37 Henry III., No. 36 (3 Nov. 1252), and +ditto, No. 38, same date. Gerard de Rhodes is also named in a +Chancellor's Roll, 3 John, A.D. 1201-1, as paying certain fees for +Horncastle. He is also named in the document above quoted (Hundred +Rolls, Lincoln, 14, m. 1) as succeeding to the manor on the demise of +Gerbald de Escald. + +{17d} Feet of Fines, 9 Henry III., No. 52, Lincoln. + +{18a} Quo Warranto Roll, 9 Ed. I., 15 June, 1281, quoted _Lincolnshire +Notes & Queries_, vol. v, p. 216. + +{18b} Coram Rege Roll, 13 Ed. I., m. 10, 12 May, 1285. _Lincs. Notes & +Queries_, pp. 219-20. + +{18c} The transfer of the manor to the bishop is further proved by a +Carlisle document, a chancery inquisition post mortem, dated Dec. 11, +1395, which states that a certain John Amery, owner of a messuage in the +parish "by fealty and the service of 16d. of rent, by the year, holds of +the Bishop of Carlisle, and the said Bishop holds of the King." + +{18d} The bishops of those days were sportsmen. It is recorded of a +Bishop of Ely that he rode to the Cathedral "with hawk on wrist," and +left it in the cloister while doing "God's service." There it was stolen +and he solemnly excommunicated the thief. Aukenleck MS., temp. Ed. II., +British Museum. The extensive woods in the soke of Horncastle abounded +in game, as we have already shown by the tolls charged on roebuck, hares, +&c., brought into the town. The punishment for killing a wild boar, +without the king's licence, was the loss of both eyes. These ferae +naturae became extinct about A.D. 1620. + +{18e} These and other privileges granted to the Bishop are first +specified in a Cartulary Roll, 14-15 Henry III.; they are renewed in a +Memoranda Roll of 4 Ed. III.; again in the 25th year of Henry VI., and +further in a Roll attested by Charles II., in his court at Westminster, +Feb. 26, 1676. The August Fair was, in late years, altered by the Urban +Council to begin on the 2nd Monday in the month, and to end on the +following Thursday, it really however begins on the previous Thursday. + +{19a} Roll 104, Hilary Term, 24 Ed. III. (1350). County Placita, +Lincoln, No. 46. + +{19b} De Banco Roll, Michaelmas, 41 Ed. III., m. 621, Aug. 3, 1368, +Lincoln. + +{19c} Coram Rege Roll, Trinity, 13 Ed. I., m. 10, Westminster, 12 May, +1285. Given in _Lincolnshire Notes & Queries_, vol. v., p. 220. + +{20a} Patent Roll, 14 Richard II., pt. 2, m. 47, 8 Dec., 1390. _Lincs. +Notes & Queries_, vol. v., p. 221. + +{20b} Fuller's _Church History of Britain_, vol. i, pp. 240, 242. + +{20c} Camden's _Britannia_, p. 484. + +{20d} Camden's _Britannia_, p. 522. + +{20e} _Ibid_, p. 978. The name of Tibetot may possibly still survive in +the family of Tibbot, who till quite recently held the manor of Thimbleby +in the soke of Horncastle. + +{20f} _Ibidem_, p. 489. + +{20g} _Ibidem_, p. 88. + +{20h} _Ibidem_, p. 760. This castle was built by Richard, Baron le +Scrope, Chancellor of England under Richard II. + +{20i} _Ibidem_, p. 99. + +{20j} _Ibidem_, p. 722. + +{20k} Patent Roll 6 Ed. VI., pt. 3, m. 1, 21 Nov., 1552, witnessed by +the king at Westminster. + +{21a} Patent Roll, 1 Mary, pt. 8, m. 2 (44), 28 Nov., 1553. + +{21b} Historical MS. Commission. Calendar of MS. of the most Honble. +the Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., &c., p. 179. + +{21c} This Earl of Lincoln would seem to have been of a particularly hot +temperament. I have mentioned in another volume (_Records of Woodhall +Spa_, pp. 14.0, &c.) several of his actions of gross violence against the +Saviles of Poolham Hall, in this neighbourhood, about the same date +(1578). I will merely state here that he, with a party of followers, +attacked Sir Robert Savile, when on a hunting excursion, seized several +of his hounds and hanged them, as Sir Robert says, "upon my own tree +within my own ground." He forced his way into the parlour at Poolham and +challenged Sir Robert to fight "six to six" of their dependents. After +an entertainment at Horncastle his followers, at his instigation, got +hold of an unfortunate tailor, "drew their swords and sore wounded him," +saying he should "have that and more, for his master's sake," Sir Robert +Savile's son. One Robert Fullshaw, of Waddingworth, prayed the justices +for protection against his "horrible outrages," and it was said that his +conduct "savoured of insanity." (_Illustrations of English History_ by +Lodge. Lansdown MS., Brit. Mus., 27, art. 41.) + +{21d} Patent Roll, 6 Ed. VI., pt. i, m. 11. Date 8 Dec., 1554. + +{22a} Esch. Inquis. post mortem, 3-4 Henry VIII., No. 14. + +{22b} It does not appear where this "Parish-fee" was situated, doubtless +it was subordinate to the main manor of Horncastle, such "fees" were +generally named after the owners once "enfeoffed" of them, as we have at +Spalding Ayscough-fee Hall, once owned by the Ayscoughs, Beaumont-fee at +Lincoln, owned by the Beaumonts, Panell-fee by the Paganels, Nevill-fee +by the Nevills in Middle Rasen, &c. _Architectural Society's Journal_, +1895, p. 19. There is a family named Parish at Horncastle but they are a +modern importation. + +{22c} Inquis. post mortem, 6 Edward III., held at Haltham, Sep. 21, +1333. + +{22d} Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 32 Henry III., 21 July, A.D. 1248. +_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv. p. 120. This is repeated in a Final +Concord of the same date between Silvester, Bishop of Carlisle, and other +parties. _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. vii., p. 114. + +{22e} Cottonian Charter, v., 61, quoted _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. +iii, p. 245. + +{22f} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1896, pp. 254-257. + +{22g} Court of Wards Inquis. post mortem, 3, 4 and 5 Ed. VI., vol. v., +p. 91. _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1896, p. 258. + +{22h} Chancery Inquis. post mortem, 20 Henry VI., No. 25. +_Architectural Society's Journal_, 1899, p. 257. + +{22i} _Ibidem_. + +{22j} _Ibidem_, p. 258. + +{24a} _Lincs. Notes & Queues_, vols. i., p. 183, and ii., p. 219. + +{24b} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. i, p. 47. + +{24c} Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 27 Edward III., No. 158. + +{24d} Originalia Roll, 34 Edward III., m. 35, A.D. 1360-1. + +{24e} Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 41 Edward III., No. 94. + +{24f} Inquis. post mortem, 10 James I., pt. i., No. 11. + +{25a} Chancery B. and A., James I., R., r, 10, 1, 8 October, 1623. + +{25b} These details are all taken from Camden's _Britannia_, Gibson's +Edition, 1695. + +{26a} Chancellor's Roll, A.D. 1201-2. + +{26b} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iii., pp. 244-5. + +{27a} _Ibidem_. + +{27b} Camden's _Britannia_, p. 712. + +{27c} Pipe Roll, 1160-1. + +{27d} Pipe Roll, 1161-2. + +{27e} Testa de Nevill, folio 348. He also held the advowson of Mareham, +which was transferred to the Bishop of Carlisle, as Lord of Horncastle, +in 1239 (Final Concords, p. 304) by his successor, William de Bavent. + +{27f} Cathedral Charters (Calcewaith), folio 106 (a), quoted +_Architectural Society's Journal_, No. xxvii, p. 14. + +{27g} Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 18 Ed. I., No. 34. + +{27h} Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 12 Ed. II., No. 22. + +{27i} Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 44 Ed. III., No. 32. These +trustees were John Amery of Horncastle; Simon, Parson of Wilksby; John of +Claxby Pluckacre; and others. + +{27j} De Banco Roll, 5 Henry VII., Hilary, M., A.D. 1490. + +{28a} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1894, p. 190. _Lincs. Notes & +Queries_, vol. iii., p. 204, vol. vii., p. 3. + +{28b} Maddison's _Wills_, 1st series, p. 360, No. 96. + +{28c} Lansdown MS., British Museum, 54, 62, &c., quoted in _Old +Lincolnshire_, vol. i., p. 118. In All Saint's Church at Theddlethorpe +is a fine brass of an Angevin and his wife of the 16th century. + +{28d} De Banco Roll, 5 Henry VII., Hilary, M., A.D. 1490. + +{28e} Chancery Inquisition post mortem, taken at Alford, April 28, 14 +Henry VIII., A.D. 1522. + +{28f} Bridge's _History of Northamptonshire_, quoted _Architectural +Society's Journal_, 1879, p. 45, note. + +{28g} Patent I Ed. IV., pt. 2, m. 59, quoted _Old Lincolnshire_, vol. +i., p. 124. + +{29a} Chancery Inquisition, 18 Henry VII., No. 34., taken at East Rasen, +26 Oct., 1502. + +{29b} Commission of Peace, 13 July, 1510, quoted _Lincs. Notes & +Queries_, Jan. 1896, p. 15. + +{29c} Inquisition post mortem, 6 Henry VIII., 20 Jan., A.D. 1515. _Old +Lincolnshire_, vol. i, p. 221. + +{29d} Circa A.D. 1536. _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1895, p. 14. + +{29e} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1894, p. 192. + +{29f} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1894, p. 215. + +{29g} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1894, p. 221. + +{29h} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1879. _Pedigree of +Fitz-Williams_, p. 44, &c. A Douglas Tyrwhitt of this family, daughter +of George Tyrwhitt, Esq., in 1703 left a dole of 10/-, charged on land at +Belchford, to the poor of Horncastle. + +{29i} Patent Roll, 19 Elizabeth, pt. iv, m. 13, 2 May, 1577. + +{30a} Privately printed, from Burghley Papers, by Right Hon. Edward +Stanhope of Revesby Abbey, 1892. + +{30b} Works of Thomas Becon, Parker Society, p. 480, note. + +{30c} Bishop Aldrich died at Horncastle in March, 1555, he was a +distinguished graduate of King's College, Cambridge, Provost of Eton, a +correspondent of the great Dutch scholar Erasmus; afterwards made +Archdeacon of Colchester, Canon of Windsor, Registrar of the Order of the +Garter, and consecrated to the See of Carlisle 18 July, 1537. + +{31a} Exchequer Bills and Answers, Chas. I., Lincoln, No. 36. Among the +charges brought against Rutland Snowden (as already stated elsewhere) one +was, that, besides having aided the forces of the Parliament, he had more +than one wife. The Snowden Arms are given in "Yorks. Union of Honour," +_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv., p. 16. + +{31b} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. i., p. 106. + +{31c} The valuable collections of Sir Joseph Banks are still carefully +preserved at Revesby Abbey, and form in themselves almost a museum. + +{32a} Leland's _Collectanea_, 66, p. 300. + +{32b} The stables of John of Gaunt's House still exist adjoining the +High Street. + +{33a} Quoted Weir's _History of Horncastle_, note p. 29, ed. 1820. + +{33b} On Saturday, next the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, 21 +Jan., 1384-5, held by John de Feriby, Escheator of the King, in the +County of Lincoln. + +{34} Most of these fragments were removed by Mr. Stanhope to Revesby +Abbey. Two of them are preserved in the garden of Langton Rectory, near +Horncastle. + +{36} The origin of this Chantry is shewn by the following documents:--In +the archives of Carlisle Cathedral is a copy, in Latin, of a Privy Seal +State Paper, Domestic, vol. i, 5039, of date 5 May, 6 Henry VIII. (A.D. +1514), slightly imperfect, but running thus: "The King to all . . . +greeting. Know that we, of our special grace . . . by these presents do +grant . . . for us, our heirs and successors . . . to the devout woman, +the Lady Margaret Copuldyke, widow, and Richard Clarke, tanner, of +Horncastle, that they found a fraternity, or guild, to the honour of St. +Katharine, and for the extending of divine teaching, in the Parish Church +of the blessed Virgin of Horncastell, and mortain licence to acquire land +of the annual value of 25 marks" (16 pounds 15s. 4d.). Another document, +a Chantry Certificate, Lincoln, No. 33 (55), Ed. VI. (1552), states that +"the Guild of St. Katharine, in Horncastell, was founded by _Joan_ +Copuldyke, widow, and others, with the intention that one Chaplain for +ever, should celebrate divine services in the church, for the souls of +the founder, and others; the profits of the land and possessions are +received by the Alderman of the Guild." They are described as "worth +yearly 13 pounds 8s. 8d., with fees, wages, rents and other reprises, 7 +pounds 15s. 3d. The clear value, reprises deducted, yearly, 5 pounds +13s. 10d.," with "goods, chattels and ornaments worth 1 pounds 10s." It +is to be observed that Gervase Holles says, that at the time of his +visit, she was named "Margaret," in a window then existing in the church. +A Patent Roll, 3 Ed. VI., pt. 5, m. 4, gives various lands and tenements, +with which this chantry was endowed, in Horncastle, Spilsby, Thornton and +Roughton, occupied by about 100 tenants; and states that all these were +granted "by the King to Robert Carr, gent., of Sleaford, and John Almond, +their heirs and assigns." Witness, the King, at Westminster, 15 July, +1549. This is further confirmed by an Inquisition post mortem, 5 Eliz., +pt. 1, No. 67. [This was 'in return for a payment by them of 1,238 +pounds 11s. 10d.'] Among the signatories to a declaration of the Royal +supremacy (Lincoln Chapter Housebook, B. 3, 14, p. 39) are the names of +Robt. James, Vicar of Horncastle Michel Whithed, Curate of Horncastle +Hugh Doddington, "Cantuarista" of Horncastle (probably Chaplain of this +Chantry). It was also served by Robert Geffrey in 1552. Chantry +Certificates, Lincoln 33 (55). + +{37a} Harleian MS. No. 6829, p. 241. In a window in the north aisle was +the inscription "Orate pro ai'a Thomae Coppuldike armig., et D'nae +Margaretae, Consortis suae, fundatoria gildae cantar . . . fenestram +fieri fecit. Ano D'ni 1526." In the eastern window of the south aisle +was the inscription "Orate pro benefactoribus artis sutorum, qui istim +fenestram fieri fecerunt. sc'ae Nemanae cum sera et catena. Item S'ci +Crispinus et Crispinianus cum instrumentis calceariis." Here it is +distinctly stated that a Guild of Shoemakers gave the window, and that +Crispinus and Crispinianus the patron saints of shoemakers, were there +represented. A note in the same MS. states that Frances, wife of Gervase +Holles, died at Horncastle and was buried there. (These passages are +quoted in Weir's _History of Horncastle_, pp. 30, 31, note, edition of +1820). + +{38} Mr. Dee had formerly been a Clerk in Mr. Clitherow's office, as +Solicitor. + +{39a} This was formerly the altar-piece below the east window of the +chancel, before the present reredos was placed there, and dedicated at +the Harvest Festival, 22 Sept., 1870. + +{39b} It may here be stated, that the former font was quite as good as +the present one, octagonal in form, and of perpendicular design, in +harmony with older portions of the church. It was, however, discarded at +the restoration, and, for some time, hidden away among rubbish, but +eventually presented to the restored church of the neighbouring parish of +Belchford. The bowl of the present font is too small to answer the +requirements of the Rubric, and is not in keeping with the architecture +of the church. + +{39c} A Lectern, consisting of a large eagle, of cast iron, bronzed, on +the model of one in St. Margaret's Church, Lynn, was presented by the +late Prebendary Samuel Lodge, Rector of Scrivelsby. This is still +preserved in the south chancel chapel. + +{40a} Walker in his _Sufferings of the Clergy_ (1714) gives an account +of Thomas Gibson, which we here abridge. Born at Keswick (in the diocese +of Carlisle), he went to Queen's College, Oxford, was appointed Master of +the Free School at Carlisle, there promoted to the similar post at +Newcastle, and finally preferred by the Bishop of Carlisle to the +Vicarage of Horncastle in 1634. In consequence of a sermon preached by +him, at the Election for Convocation, he was seized, in 1643, and carried +as a prisoner to Hull. Being released after four month's detention, and +returning to Horncastle, he was charged with teaching "ormanism" +(arminianism), and committed to the "County Jail" at Lincoln, a +Presbyterian minister being appointed in his stead at Horncastle. In +1644 Colonel King, the Governor of Boston under the Parliament, ordered a +party of horse to seize him (apparently having been released from +Lincoln) and to plunder his house, but an old pupil, Lieut. Col. John +Lillburn, interceded for him with his superior officer, Col. King, and +the order was revoked. In the subsequent absence, however, of Lillburn +in London, the order was repeated, and Mr. Gibson was made prisoner, his +house plundered, and his saddle horse, draught horses, and oxen carried +off. He was imprisoned at Boston, Lincoln and "Tattors-Hall Castle," +where he had "very ill-usage for 17 weeks." He was sequestrated from his +benefice and an "intruder," named Obadiah How, put in charge. He was now +accused of defending episcopacy, "refusing the covenant," &c. He retired +to a "mean house," about a mile from Horncastle, supposed to be at +"Nether (Low) Toynton," where he and his family "lived but poorly for two +years, teaching a few pupils." He was then appointed Master of the Free +School at Newark, two years later removed to the school at Sleaford, +being presented by Lady Carr. There he lived until the Restoration, and +then resumed his Vicarage at Horncastle, until he died in 1678, aged 84. +"He was a grave and venerable person (says Walker), of a sober and +regular conversation, and so studious of peace, that when any differences +arose in his parish, he never rested till he had composed them. He had +likewise so well principled his parish that, of 250 families in it, he +left but one of them Dissenters at his death." (Walker's _Sufferings of +the Clergy_, pt. ii, p. 252, Ed. 1714). + +{40b} There is an error in the date, which should be Oct. 11. Further, +the term "arch rebel" is inappropriate, as Cromwell was, at that time, +only a Colonel, far from having attained his later distinction; the term +"skirmish" is also inadequate, as the Winceby battle was a decisive +engagement, with important consequences. + +{41a} The origin of these scythes has of late years been a _vexata +questio_. It has been suggested that they are not, as generally +supposed, relics of the Parliamentary War, but of the earlier so-called +"Pilgrimage of Grace," or "Lincolnshire Rising," a movement intended as a +protest against certain abuses attending the Reformation, in the reign of +Henry VIII. The evidence, however, gathered from various directions, +would seem to be strongly corroborative of the old and more general +opinion. History shows that, for many years, about the period of the +Commonwealth, scythes were among the commonest, rude weapons of war. The +artist Edgar Bundy, in his painting "The morning of Edgemoor," recently +(1905) purchased for the National Gallery by the Chantry Trustees, +represents a soldier armed with a straight wooden-handled scythe. The +battle of Edgemoor was fought Oct. 23, 1642, one year before that of +Winceby. We have also contemporary testimony in the _Memoirs of the +Verney Family_ (vol. i, pp. 109-118 and 315), members of which took part +in the civil war of that period, that King Charles' forces consisted +largely of untrained peasants, "ill-fed and clothed . . . having neither +colours, nor halberts . . . many only rude pikes . . . few a musket." To +such the scythes used in their farm labour would be handy weapons in +emergency. As a parallel to these cases Sir Walter Scott, in his preface +to _Rob Roy_, states that "many of the followers of MacGregor, at the +battle of Prestonpans (Sep. 21, 1745), were armed with scythe blades, set +straight upon their handles, for want of guns and swords." It is not +without interest to note, that about 60 years ago there were exhumed, on +the farm above Langton Hill, in Horncastle, the remains of 6 bodies, +lying buried in a row, with scythe blades beside them. It is known that +skirmishes between Royalists and Roundheads took place in this locality, +and it can hardly be doubted that these also were relics of the Winceby +fight. The then tenant of the farm, Mr. Dobson (as the writer has been +informed by his granddaughter, Mrs. H. Boulton of St. Mary's Square, +Horncastle), carted these remains to the town and they were re-buried in +the south side of St. Mary's Churchyard, while the scythes were added to +those already in the church. An incident, which further confirms their +connection with the Winceby fight, is that the present writer has in his +possession a pair of spurs, which were found on the field of Winceby, +remarkable for the long spikes of their rowels; and he himself once found +the rowel of a spur, with similarly long spikes, within a few yards of +where the bodies were discovered; and in the year 1905 he also examined +several bones, pronounced by a doctor to be human, which were found near +the same spot, while workmen were digging for the foundations of a house +since erected there. On the other hand, as against the theory of the +scythes having been used in the earlier "Pilgrimage of Grace," we are +distinctly told that the mobs concerned in that movement were deprived of +all weapons before they could use them. In the Lincoln Chapter House +books (c. i, 20, f 193) is a letter from Richard Cromwell, dated Oct. 29, +1586, which says that he, and Admiral Sir John Russell, went to Louth, +where "all the harness and weapons were seized, and conveyed to Lincoln," +and that for the same purpose Mr. Bryan had been sent to Horncastle, and +Mr. Brown to Market Rasen. On the whole, therefore, the preponderance of +evidence is strongly in favour of the connection of all these scythes +with the neighbouring Battle of Winceby--the original tradition. + +{41b} Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_ gives the quarterings of +these shields as follows:-- + +(1) Sable, 2 lions passant in pale, ducally crowned, or, Dymoke impaling +Barry of 6 ermines, and gules, 3 crescents, sable, Waterton; a crescent +for difference. + +(2) Dymoke impaling Vaire, on a fess, gules frette, or. Marmyon, in +chief, ermine, 5 fusils in fess, Hebden, a crescent for difference. + +(3) Argent, a sword erect, azure, hilt and pomel gules. + +(4) Dymoke impaling quarterly, gules and argent, a cross engrailed. +Countercharged, Haydon, a crescent for difference. + +{42a} The only other theft from the church of which we have record, was +when the vestry was broken into in December, 1812, and the money +collected for parish purposes was stolen. A reward of 50 pounds was +offered for information of the thief, but without result. (MS. notes by +Mr. T. Overton in possession of Mr. John Overton, of Horncastle.) + +{42b} Details of these are given by Holles as follows:-- + + _In fenestra Insulae Borealis_. + + "Orate pro a'ia Thomae Coppuldike Armig. & D'nae Margaretae Consortis suae fundatoris Gildae + Cantar . . . Fenestram fieri fecit Ano Dni 1526." + + _In superiori fenestra Borealis Cancelli_. + + 'Gules a lion passant guardant. Arg. . . . + + Sable, 3 flowres de lize betw: 6 crosses botony fitchy Arg. . . . + + Gules, a cross sarcelly Arg." . . . Bec. + + _In fenestra Orientali Insulae Australis_. + + "Orate pro benefactoribus artis sutorum, qui istam fenestram fieri fecerunt stae Ninianae cum + cera et catena. Item sti Crispinus et Crispianus cum instrumentis calceariis." (N.B. The + feminine is an error of Holles, as St. Ninian was a man. Collier's _History_, vol. i. p. 100). + + _Fenestra Borealis superior_. + +Empaled: Sa, 2 lions passant arg. crowned or. Dymoke + +Empaled: Or, a lion rampant double queue sa. Welles + +Empaled: Quarterly: Arg. a chevron betw: 3 bulls passant sa. Tourney + +Empaled: Quarterly: B. a fesse betw: 3 goats' heads erased arg. + +Empaled: Quarterly: Arg. a chevron gobony sa. + +Empaled: Quarterly: Arg. on a bend g. 3 roses arg. + +Quarterly: Arg. chevron betw: 3 griphons' heads erased, g. Tilney + +Quarterly: Arg. 3 bars g. over all a bend engrailed, sa. Ros + +Quarterly: Quarterly or and g. a border sa bezanty. Rockford + +Quarterly: Arg. 3 crosses botony fitchy B. semy of flowres de lize + +Quarterly ermine and chequey or. and g. Gipthorpe + +Arg. a chevron betw: 3 roses, g. + +Taylboys &c + + _Fenestra Australis superior_. + +G. a fesse betw. 3 water bougets ermine Meres + +Empaled.: Marchants Mark. + +Empaled.: Arg. on a Bend, G. 3 ferniers of the first + + Hic jacet Francisca filia primogenita Petri Fressheville de Stavely, + in com. Derb. arm [ex priore uxore sua Ehzabetha filia Gervasii + Clifton de Clifton, in com. Nott. Militis] et quondam uxor Gervasii + Holles de Burgh in cum. Lincoln. Militis, cui peperit Freschvillum + Holles, et Margaretam, gemellos, et Franciscum Holles filium + juniorem. Obijt Horncastell. Harleyan MS., No. 6829, p. 241. + +{42c} Mr. Sellwood lived in a house on the west side of the Market +Place, now occupied by R. W. Clitherow, Esq., of a family long +established in Horncastle. + +{44a} Mr. Fretwell was Curate of Horncastle and Rector of Winceby, +(_Directory of Horncastle_, 1791-2). He would appear to have been, for a +time, in sole charge of Horncastle, as we find that on one occasion (Feb. +23, 1790) "sensible of the distresses of the sick poor, he gave 1.5 g. +from the communion money to be laid out in Salop sago and Bowen's sago +powder, to be distributed at the discretion of the Faculty." (See +account of the Dispensary.) + +{44b} The vault of Dr. Madeley is within the chancel rails, beneath the +tablet. His son was an officer in the 68th Regiment of Foot, in which +also a Horncastle man, named Walker, was sergeant. + +{46} There is still, in Westminster Abbey, a chantry named "The Islip +Chapel," which is used as a Robing room, at the consecration of the +Bishops. + +{50} A List of Institutions given in _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. v, +p. 236 has the date of C. Monke's appointment, 24 Oct., 1558, and gives +his predecessor as Henry Henshaw. In a previous notice (_Ibidem_, p. +201) the latter is given as Henry Henshoo. + +{57a} The patronage and manorial rights (as already stated) were +transferred to the Bishop of Lincoln, on the death of the Bishop of +Carlisle in 1856. + +{57b} We may add that Dr. Madely also left a bequest of 50 pounds +towards a much needed church at Woodhall Spa; where through the energy of +the Rev. H. Walter, Vicar of the parent parish of Woodhall St. Margaret, +and Rector of Langton, the Church of St. Andrew was built before that of +Holy Trinity, Horncastle, the foundation stone being laid by Sir H. +Dymoke, April 2, 1846, and the consecration by Bishop Kaye taking place +Sep. 14, 1847; the architect in this case also being Mr. Stephen Lewin, +of Boston, a vicarage being built at the same time. + +{59} All the coloured windows are by Messrs. Clayton & Bell. + +{60} The sister of the present writer, who was a brilliant pianist, +frequently went to play to Mr. Clarke, and, as she touched the piano, he +would rouse himself and take his flute and try to accompany her. It is +not a little remarkable, that Mr. Clarke's widow, after a few years +married again, a Medical Practitioner, near Windsor, and committed +suicide by placing herself on the railway line, near that place, her +mangled remains being afterwards found on the line. Whether her mind had +been affected by her first husband's tragic death, who can say? + +{61} To show Mr. White's energy of character the writer may mention that +he frequently, as a healthy diversion from his professional work, walked +up to Langton Rectory before breakfast, and plied his spade in the +garden, and then enjoyed a hearty breakfast with the Rector, returning to +Horncastle in time for the daily service at 11 a.m. As an instance of +his kindly nature we may give the following: At Horncastle a poor girl +was suffering from a "white swelling" in the knee. The doctor declared +that her life could only be saved by the leg being amputated above the +knee. She dreaded the operation, but consented, if Mr. White would +support her in his arms during the process. He was greatly averse to +painful scenes, but reluctantly consented. Those were not the days of +anaesthetics, when such operations can be performed without the patients +feeling it; but he said to her "Let us pray," and while the doctors were +at work they prayed so fervently that she was too much absorbed to notice +what was done. At length she said, "Dear Mr. White will they never +begin?" His reply was "My good girl, your leg is off, and the Lord has +spared you all the pain." She lived to be a strong healthy woman and +always blessed the curate. + +{62} The writer had the privilege of visiting Mr. White at Jedburgh, and +retaining his valued friendship through life, visiting him a short time +before his death, and receiving many kindnesses from him. + +{64} The _Morning Post_ of April 8, 1889, referring to the death of Sir +F. Gore Ouseley, says "He was a member of an ancient Irish family . . . +which gave to the world the Wellesleys, the Wesleys, and the Ouseleys, +all springing from the same stock;" all three names being only varied +forms of the same. A clergyman, Rev. L. H. Wellesley Wesley, now of +Folkestone, combines the two names. + +{65} Samuel Wesley, the father, was himself originally a dissenter, but +afterwards conformed to the established church. He was appointed to the +benefice of South Ormsby in 1699 and afterwards held the Rectory of +Epworth, and that of Wroot. His eldest son, Samuel, born about 1692, was +an Under Master in Westminster School for several years, and later became +Head Master of the Grammar School at Tiverton, in Devonshire. + +{66a} This has been re-issued by Mr. A. C. Fifield, as No. 16 of "The +Simple Series," 6d., 1905. + +{66b} As a proof of his regard for the church we may quote his remark +(given in _Christian Sects of the_ 19_th century_, W. Pickering, 1850) +"The Church of England is the purest in Christendom." + +{66c} The first Conference was held in London at "The Foundry," June 25, +1744. It consisted of only 10 persons, viz., the two brothers, John and +Charles Wesley, three beneficed clergymen, John Hodges, Rector of Wenvo, +Henry Piers, Vicar of Bexley, Samuel Taylor, Vicar of Quinton, and John +Meriton, with four Methodist preachers, viz., John Downes, John Bennett, +Thomas Richards and Thomas Maxfield. At this gathering "The Rules of a +Helper" were adopted, which form to this day a part of the "discipline" +enjoined on Wesleyan Ministers. + +{68a} Mr. Carr Brackenbury died August 11, 1818, aged 65, and the +_Stamford Mercury_ of the time says of him, "He powerfully and eloquently +preached the glad tidings of the gospel during many years, in numerous +Wesleyan Chapels, in various parts of the kingdom. He had previously to +his intimacy with Wesley been a celebrated character on the turf." + +{68b} The aged son of the last named is still (1905) living at Alford, +and several grandsons are dispersed about the country. + +{70a} _Horncastle News_, August 31, 1907. + +{70b} The first Sunday School was held in the British School (later the +Drill Hall) east of the Wong, from 1812 to 1848. + +{71a} We may add that at the time of writing (1905) a Wesleyan Church +House is about to be erected in Westminster, a fine building in the +Renaissance style of architecture, which is to cost 140,000 pounds, the +firm of Lanchester & Richards being contractors for the work. + +{71b} In addition to the authorities already named, we are indebted for +much of the information here given to an account by Mr. Watson Joll, in +the _Methodist Recorder_ of Aug. 27, 1903, and to an article by the late +Mr. W. Pacy, in the _Lincoln Gazette_ of Aug. 20, 1898. + +{71c} _Religious Worship in England and Wales_, by H. Mann, from the +census of 1851. + +{72} Within comparatively recent times a Primitive Chapel at Thimbleby +was commonly called "The Ranters" Chapel. + +{73} _Life of the Venerable Hugh Bourne_, by Rev. Jesse Ashworth, 1888; +also _History of the Primitive Methodist Connexion_, by Rev. H. B. +Kendall, B.A. + +{74} _The Venerable William Clowes_, a sketch, by Thomas Guttery. + +{78} In connection with Robert Brown's writings it may be of interest to +note, that in the year 1907, an American scholar, Mr. Champlin Burrage, +of the Newton Theological Institution, of Massachusetts, discovered in +the Library of Lambeth Palace, London, a hitherto unpublished work, in +MS., entitled _The Retraction of Robert Brown_; which the author himself +describes as "A reproofe of certeine schismatical persons and their +doctrine touching the hearing and preaching of the Word of God." This +was written about the year 1588. It has now been published by permission +of the Archbishop of Canterbury (Oxford University Press, 2/6 net), and +is described by the editor as "a sane and broad-minded" production. +[_Guardian Newspaper_, June 19, 1907.] + +{80a} These particulars are gathered from the volume _Christian Sects of +the_ 19_th century_, published by W. Pickering, 1850. + +{80b} Mann's _Religious Worship in England and Wales_, from the census +of 1851. + +{80c} Only two copies of this pamphlet are known to exist; one in the +Library at Revesby Abbey; the other is in the possession of Mr. C. M. +Hodgett, of Horncastle, an officer of the chapel, having been given to +him by Miss Frances Robinson, a relative, presumably, of the author +"W.R.," otherwise William Robinson. + +{80d} Letter of Rev. J. G. Crippen, of The Congregational Library +Memorial Hall, London, Dec., 1858. + +{82} A fuller notice of Rev. T. Lord appears on page 89. + +{84a} Written in prison, A.D. 1675. + +{84b} Under what was called "The Five Mile Act." + +{84c} The chapel generally regarded as the oldest in the kingdom is that +at Highthorne, in Kent, which dates from 1650. + +{84d} There is a tradition that there was a chapel near the watermill, +but this was probably only a room retained for the convenience of those +who were "dipped" in the pit. Under date, Aug. 7, 1889, it is recorded, +as though a novel event, that at a special service in the evening, the +Lay Pastor, Mr. W. P. Milns, performed the ceremony of baptism, by +immersion, in the chapel, the baptized being an adult, _Horncastle News_, +August 10, 1889. + +{85a} In 1876 the Horncastle Baptists joined the "Notts., Derby and +Lincoln Union," which proved a great help to them. + +{85b} Among those present were Rev. M. C. Mason from Tura, Assam, +British India, a member of the American Missionary Union; Pasteur +Saillens, of the French Baptist community; Dr. B. D. Gray of Georgia, +U.S.A.; as well as delegates from Russia and Japan. + +{91} For further information as to the origin of the school see +_addendum_ at the end of this chapter. + +{92a} "Comorants," this is the Latin "Commorantes," meaning "temporarily +resident." + +{92b} Lord Clinton was 9th in descent from John de Clinton, of Armington +and Maxlock, Co. Warwick. He was born in 1512; married Elizabeth, +daughter of Sir John Blount, and widow of Gilbert, Lord Tailbois. He was +made Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lincoln, Governor of the Tower of +London, had been already granted the Manor and Castle of Tattershall by +Ed. VI. and was created Earl of Lincoln by Elizabeth in 1572, a title +still held by his descendants, now Dukes of Newcastle. He died January +16, 1584, and was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. + +{92c} It has already been stated that lands were given by John Neale in +1575; and by will dated Feb. 7, 1692, Mr. Nicholas Shipley bequeathed 100 +pounds to assist poor scholars, but this was lost by the Treasurer, in +1703. + +{92d} By an apparently irregular proceeding, the land in Thornton was in +1704, transferred to the Hon. Lewis Dymoke of Scrivelsby, Champion of +England. In 1811 the Governors decided to have their rights in this +matter investigated. Application was made to the Champion for an +explanation of the transaction. The case was submitted to the Charity +Commissioners, no reply however was ever received from the Champion, and +after a delay of 25 years, the matter was allowed to drop. The 12 pounds +a year paid in lieu of the former land does not seem to be an equivalent +for the original gift. + +{93} The present writer has a copy of this work. + +{94} This grant amounted in 1903 to 60 pounds 19s. The income for that +year, apart from the grant, was 256 pounds 11s. 4d.; fees of pupils +amounting to 263 pounds 10s.; school expenses 473 pounds 3s. 8d. + +{95a} Among those, formerly connected with the school, who contributed +to this Magazine, were the late Head Master, Canon S. Lodge; the Senior +Governor, Dr. R. Jalland; A. C. Clapin, a whilome French pupil in the +days of Dr. Smith, who was son of an officer in the army of Napoleon I.; +and the present writer, who wrote School Reminiscences. + +{95b} To the credit and honour of Dr. Smith, he brought his aged father +and mother, the former being blind, to Horncastle, and provided for them +in their old age. They resided in a small cottage, close to his own +house, now adjoining the Great Northern Hotel. + +{99a} The writer possesses a copy of this, given to him by the author. +He has also a 1st class prize, a book, signed by J. B. Smith and F. +Grosvenor as 1st and 2nd masters. + +{99b} His practice was always to close the school with these words. +When the boys were let out for 10 minutes, to freshen up in the school +yard, as was done at 11.30 every morning, the expression was varied to +"exire licet." + +{99c} Among the tasks set us to do by ourselves between Saturday morning +and Monday, were theses on various subjects, or original verses, on some +chosen theme; the writer still possesses several of these, of varied +merit. They taught us, however, the careful use of words. + +{100a} The ringing of this bell was given up a few years ago, as the +Governors decided not to pay for it. + +{100b} The veteran, Mr. Thomas Baker, the friend of the champion +cricketer, Dr. W. G. Grace, and the trainer of Sir Evelyn Wood, had not +yet arrived at Horncastle, which he did a few years later, to put life +and energy into our cricketers. + +{106a} By Rev. T. P. Brocklehurst, Vicar of that parish, 1901. + +{106b} As a similar instance to that named in the text, the school at +Kingston on Thames is now called "Queen Elizabeth's," but it was founded +by Bishop Edington, in 1364. It may here be mentioned that the grammar +school of Bruton, Somerset, which was originally founded in 1519, was +re-established by Edward VI., "by letters patent, dated June 20, 1549, +Corpus Christi day," on which day the Governors, Masters, and Scholars +still attend a special commemoration service in the Parish Church. +(_Guardian_, August 2, 1905, p. 1,287.) + +{106c} Full details of these appointments are given in a Paper, by Mr. +A. F. Leach, author of _English Schools at the Reformation_, for the +_Gazette of the Old Bostonian Club_, which is reprinted in the Journal of +the Lincolnshire Architectural Society, vol. xxvi, pt. ii, pp. 398 et +seq, 1902. + +{108a} The firm of Handley were Solicitors, of Sleaford. Their recent +representative was a member of the Banking Company of Peacock, Handley & +Co. Henry Handley, Esq., represented South Lincolnshire in Parliament +during 9 years, after the passing of the Reform Bill, dying in 1846, much +regretted, after a long illness. As a memorial of his public services a +statue of him was erected in the main street of Sleaford in 1851, costing +upward of 1,000 pounds. + +{108b} The Swallows were a well-to-do family in Horncastle, living in +the same part of the town as Mr. Watson, and the Coningtons. Members of +it, within memory, have been farmers, nurserymen, victuallers, &c. + +{110a} This particular plot of ground, sometimes called "fool thing," is +named in various other ancient documents connected with Horncastle. + +{110b} The Governors at this date were John Thorold, M.D., Horncastle; +Rev. Arthur Rockliffe, Roughton; Rev. William Boawre Coningsby; Robert +Cole, Horncastle, gent; Benjamin Stephenson, Mareham-le-Fen, gent; +Richard Heald, Horncastle, gent; Rev. John Wheeler, Mareham-le-Fen; Simon +Draper and William Hirst Simpson, Horncastle; Francis Conington, +Residuary Devisee; and Joseph Mowbound, Horncastle, clerk. + +{111} Weir's _History of Horncastle_, 1820, pp. 41, 42. + +{112a} Professor Walter's _History of England_, vol. vii., pp. 454-6. + +{112b} This date is definitely fixed by the fact that the fittings of +the school were sold by auction early in the following year (1877), among +them being a desk, still in use, to the present writer's knowledge, in a +neighbouring village school. The premises were afterwards purchased by +the late Mr. Alfred Healy, for a corn store, and they are now the +warehouse of Messrs. Carlton & Sons, Chemists, of High Street. + +{112c} The efficiency of the present church schools is testified to by +the Report of the Government Inspector, in July, 1905, as follows: "Staff +adequate, teaching energetic, boys and girls. The new library should be +a great benefit. Infants, brisk and kind discipline; teaching bright and +thorough." + +{113a} The Right Hon. George Joachim Goschen, afterwards Viscount +Goschen. + +{113b} 53 and 54 Victoria, chap. 60. + +{114a} Mr. Mallet was afterwards assisted by Mr. Sydney N. Hawling, +clerk to Mr. H. W. Kemp, Chemist, and also by Miss M. E. Edgar. + +{114b} _Horncastle News_, Sept. 19, 1896. + +{115} Miss Foster was an enthusiast in all her work, and being a cyclist +she explored the country for many miles round Horncastle to collect +fossils, besides making excursions into other counties, thus obtaining a +valuable collection of specimens. The writer possesses a copy of these +lectures, which are remarkable for their fulness and precision. + +{120a} The Rev. John Fretwell was Rector of Winceby, and began his +ministry in Horncastle, June 24th, 1782, and was Curate under the Vicars, +Revs. James Fowler and Joseph Robinson. He would appear to have +possessed a private income beyond his official stipend. He was probably, +for some time, in sole charge of the cure, as we find him disposing of +some of the "communion money," for the benefit of the Dispensary, as +recorded in a subsequent page of this chapter. There is a tablet of +black marble on the north wall of the chancel, in St. Mary's Church, in +memory of Elizabeth, his first wife, who died Dec. 4th, 1784, and also of +his infant son by his second wife), Matthew Harold, who died Sept. 19th, +1786. + +{120b} This was the house now occupied by Dr. H. A. Howes, 30, West +Street; and the writer may add, that, within his own memory, while the +house was occupied by a later tenant, Mr. Jason Alison, a poor lunatic, +probably a survival of Dr. Harrison's asylum, was kept chained to the +kitchen fireplace. Such treatment would now be impossible, but parallel +cases are on record in the neighbourhood. + +{122} Dr. E. Jenner made his first experiment in 1796, announced his +success in 1798, and the practice became general in 1799. + +{124} Mr. Macarthur was the most indefatigable and efficient dispenser +up to that time; the Governors more than once passing a vote of thanks +for his services, raising his salary, or presenting him with a cheque. + +{127} Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, says that lime, manure, and +road material were charged half rates. This was in 1828. + +{128} We refer to an admirable Paper, read before the Society of Arts, +London, by Mr. Buckley, C.S.I., Feb. 15th, 1906. + +{129a} See a very interesting volume, _Our Waterways_, by Urquhart A. +Forbes and W. H. R. Ashford. Murray, London, 1906. + +{133} Garnier's _Annals of British Peasantry_, 1895. + +{134a} As an instance of this the Horncastle Union comprises 69 +parishes. + +{134b} These books were inspected by the present writer a few years ago, +although now (1906) supposed to be lost. In the account of Thimbleby, +given in the appendix to this volume, instances are given of various +forms of relief to paupers, in coals, shoes, petticoats, &c., but always +on condition that they attended the church services regularly, otherwise +such relief was forfeited. + +{134c} In some parts of the country "black bread," made of oatmeal, was +in use, among the humbler classes, as late as in 1850. + +{134d} This had been forestalled as early as in the reign of Edward I.; +a Pipe Roll dated 12 Edward I. (A.D. 1284) shows that a payment of 60 +shillings was made for a common oven, rented of the Bishop of Carlisle, +as Lord of the Manor. _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv, p. 237. + +{134e} The older ones among us will remember that in the days of our +grandmothers the spinning wheel was usually to be seen in the boudoir, or +drawing room. A common shrub of our hedgerows and copses is the spindle +tree (euonymus europeus), so named because of its compact, yet light, +wood was made the spindle of the spinster. An old MS., kept by Sarah +Cleveland, shows how not only the poor but ladies of all ranks, like the +Homeric Penelope and her maidens, practised spinning; the younger with a +view to providing a marriage portion for themselves; whence, until +marriage, they were called "spinsters," a term still in use. [Berenden +Letters of William Ward and his family, of Berenden, Kent, 1758-1821, +edited by C. F. Hardy. Dent & Co., 1901.] It may be here mentioned that +the ancient building in Boston named Shodfriars' Hall, was formerly a +spinning school. In the Parish Register of Wispington, in this +neighbourhood, not only is the female mentioned as "spinster," but the +male is called "weaver," and in the adjoining parish of Woodhall there is +a "weavers' close," part of which is named "tailors' garth," in the same +connection, and the present parish clerk's grandmother, a Mrs. Oldfield, +had herself a hand loom; and in the parish of Minting weaving is known to +have been carried on extensively, an informant telling the present writer +that his grandmother had a hand loom, see _Records of Woodhall Spa_, &c., +under Minting, by the author. In Horncastle a weaver, named Keeling, +formerly occupied the premises now the bookseller's shop of Mr. Hugh +Wilson; another lived in the house, 3, North Street, now occupied by Mr. +G. Walkley. + +{134f} The members of this committee are given as Rev. Jas. Fowler +(Vicar), Joshua Towne (a well-known clock maker, whose clocks are still +valued), Geo. Heald (gent), James Watson, William Maddison, Robert +Boulton, John Spraggings, Francis Rockliffe, and Joshua Vickers (hatter). + +{134g} In digging to lay the foundations of the building, a considerable +number of ancient jars were exhumed, which passed subsequently into the +possession of the Chaplain, the late Rev. E. M. Chapman, Rector of Low +Toynton. After disappearing for some years, several of these were sold +in 1905. They are supposed to be Cyprus ware. The present writer has +three of them, others have been presented to different museums, &c. + +{135} The only town constable at that time was a feeble old man (it was +said) a former smuggler. He afterwards retired from this post, for which +he was unfitted, and became host of the Lord Nelson Inn, close by the +former scene of his duties. We may add that the sign of this inn, a good +portrait of Nelson, was the work of the artist Northouse. + +{140} 300 pounds was borrowed Nov. 19th, 1901. + +{142a} Robert Whelpton, the father of George, who was also a shoemaker, +used to relate that he made shoes for Sir John Franklin, before he went +out as Governor of Tasmania. Sir John, a native of Spilsby, was +brother-in-law of Mr. Henry Selwood, who lived in the house on the west +side of the Market Place, now occupied by Mr. R. W. Clitherow, which +would be opposite Whelpton's shop. Sir John was Governor of Tasmania +1836-1842. + +{142b} William Thomas Whelpton took as a residence 69, Gloucester +Crescent, Regent's Park, London; and Henry Robert Whelpton resided in +Upton Park, Slough. + +{142c} While at Derby he revisited Horncastle, driving over in a hired +carriage, with pair of horses, and it is said that a local wag, seeing +his carriage in the Bull Hotel yard, wrote upon it with chalk: + + "Who would have thought it, + That pills could have bought it?" + +{143a} His wife's maiden name was Barber. She was, by profession, a +lady's stay maker, and occupied a house standing on the site of the +present Church National School. + +{143b} The inscription on the houses states that they were erected by +George Whelpton, of 1, Albeit Road, Regent's Park, London, in 1861, in +memory of his wife Elizabeth, who died Dec. 11, 1859. + +{145} The present writer still has in his possession, as a cherished +heirloom, the sword and sash of his grandfather, the owner of Tanshelf +House, Pontefract, as well as of residences at Lofthouse and Methley. + +{146} Similarly the present writer has a photograph of an uncle, who was +an officer of yeomanry in 1804, and lived to join the modern yeomanry in +1860. + +{155} _Illustrated Police News_, Aug. 18th, 1883, + +{159} The _Boston Guardian_ in an obituary notice said "all who knew him +esteemed him," and the _Horncastle News_ said "There is gone from among +us one of nature's true gentlemen." + +{160} This ready mode of disolving the bond of wedlock was not uncommon +in former times, but a similar case is recorded as having occurred in or +near Scarborough in recent years, and in November 1898 a case came before +Mr. Justice Kekewich, in the Chancery Court, of a man, before leaving for +Australia, having sold his wife for 250 pounds. + +{162} For these details, as well as many others, I am indebted to family +records in the possession of the late Mr. John Overton, which I have had +the privilege of consulting on many occasions. J.C.W. + +{165} Mr. Isaac Taylor in his _Words and Places_ (p. 201, ed. 1873), +says "I cannot discover any indication of the place where the +Lincolnshire 'Thing' (the Saxon 'County Council') assembled, unless it +was at Thimbleby or Legbourne." There are, however, several parishes +containing the element "thing" in their field names; for instance there +is one in Welton near Lincoln; there is a Candlesby Thyng, a Norcotes +Thyng, and Ravenworth Thyng, named in a Chancery Inquisition, 20 Henry +VII., No. 133, &c. (_Architectural Society's Journal_, 1895, p. 38.) +These were probably the localities where smaller parish meetings were +held. + +{166a} A superior tenant, holding under Bishop Odo, was a rather +important man in the county, frequently mentioned in documents of the +period, as Alan of Lincoln. He also held lands in Langton and other +parishes in the neighbourhood. (Survey of Lindsey, Cotton MS., British +Museum. Claudius, c. 5. A.D. 1114-1118.) + +{166b} Notices of Hagworthingham. + +{166c} Albemarle, or Aumarle, was a town in Normandy, now called Aumale, +whence the Duc d' Aumale, of the Royal family of France, takes his title. +Probably the Earl put in a claim for this demesne indirectly, because (as +already stated) Adeliza, Countess of Albemarle, was sister of Bishop Odo, +the former Lord of Thimbleby. + +{166d} The Gaunts took their name from Gande, now Ghent, in Flanders. +Gilbert was the son of Baldwyn, Earl of Flanders, whose sister was +married to William the Conqueror. He was thus nephew to the Conqueror's +consort. He held 113 manors in Lincolnshire besides many others +elsewhere. Both he and his son Walter largely endowed Bardney Abbey. +The name of Gaunt still survives in our neighbourhood. + +{166e} Notes on Bolingbroke, &c. + +{167a} Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 31 Edward I. + +{167b} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1897, p. 52. + +{167c} It may be nothing more than an accidental coincidence that the +name of Bartholomew occurs in the Thimbleby Register in modern times. + +{167d} These charters belong to the Rev. J. A. Penny, Vicar of +Wispington, by whom they were communicated to _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, +vol. v, No. 38, April, 1897. + +{168a} Harleian Charter, British Museum, 43 G, 52, B.M. _Lincs. Notes & +Queries_, Oct., 1898, p. 244. + +{168b} Chancery Inquisition post mortem 6 Ed. III. + +{168c} Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 34 Ed. III., and notes thereon, +_Architectural Society's Journal_, 1896, p. 257. + +{168d} Court of Wards Inquisition, 3, 4, 5 Ed. VI., vol. 5, p. 91. + +{169a} Harleian Charter, British Museum, 56 B, 49 B.M. + +{169b} Myntlyng MS. of Spalding Priory, folio 7 b. + +{170a} At the time of the Norman Conquest, according to Sir Henry Ellis, +there were 222 parish churches in the county, and only 131 resident +priests. Sharon Turner gives 226 churches, about half without a resident +minister. + +{170b} Hundred Rolls, p. 299. Oliver's _Religious Houses_, p. 78. + +{171a} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, 1898, p. 135. + +{171b} _History of Lincolnshire_, p. 334. + +{172a} _Lincs. Notes & Queues_, vol. ii, p. 38. + +{172b} I have been informed of this by the Rev. Edwin Richard Kemp, of +St. Anne's Lodge, Lincoln, who is a scion of a collateral branch of the +family, to be named next amongst the successive owners of the Hall-garth. + +{173a} Weir's _History of Lincolnshire_, p. 334. + +{173b} Henry Kemp and "Elinor" Panton were married in 1723. They had a +numerous family, including Michael, baptized May 2nd, 1731; Thomas, +baptized 1737, married 1768; and Robert, baptized 1740, married 1766. +Thomas and Robert were family names, which occurred in successive +generations. There were other branches of the family, whose +representatives still survive; including the Rev. Edwin R. Kemp, already +referred to, whose grandfather was first cousin of the last Thomas Kemp +residing at the Hall-garth. When the Kemp property was sold, a portion, +at one time belonging to William Barker, was bought by the Rev. R. E. +Kemp of Lincoln. + +{173c} N. Bailey's _Dictionary_ 1740. + +{173d} The Saxon word "caemban" meant "to comb," whence our words +"kempt" and "unkempt," applied to a tidy, neatly trimmed, or combed, +person, and the reverse; or used of other things, as Spenser, in his +_Faery Queen_, says: + + "I greatly lothe thy wordes, + Uncourteous and unkempt."--Book III, canto x, stanza xxix. + +On the other hand, more than 100 years before the days of the Huguenots, +there was a Cardinal John Kemp, afterwards consecrated Archbishop of +Canterbury, A.D. 1452, born at Wye, near Ashford in Kent. In the old +Rhyming Chronicle "Laweman's Brut," of date about A.D. 1205, we find +"Kemp" used as a parallel to "Knight," or warrior; as + + "Three hundred cnihtes were also Kempes, + The faireste men that evere come here." + + ("Hengist and Horsa," Cottonian MS., Brit. Mus., "Otho," c. xiii.) + ("Morris's _Specimens of early English_," p. 65.) + +In Bedfordshire there is a village named Kempston, which, like Campton in +the same county, is supposed to be derived from the Saxon "Kemp," meaning +"battle." Taylor's _Words and Places_, p. 206. + +{175} One of these Marshalls began life as the owner of property, +hunting in "pink," &c., but ended his days as the clerk of a neighbouring +parish. Another had a public-house and farm in another near parish; his +descendant is a beneficed clergyman in the diocese of Exeter. + +{176a} There were six bells in the original church. These were sold by +the said churchwarden, who would appear to have been a zealous +iconoclast. According to one tradition they went to Billinghay, but as +the church there has only three bells, this is probably an error. +Another version is that they were transferred to Tetford church; had the +removal occurred in the time of the Thimblebys, this might not have been +improbable, as they were patrons of that benefice; but several other +churches claim this distinction, and, further, there are only three bells +in that church, so that this again is doubtless a mistake. + +{176b} Gervase Holles gives the following as the inscription existing in +his time (circa 1640), "Hic jacet Gulielmus Brackenburg et Emmotta ejus +uxor, qui quidem Gulielmus obiit 6 die Januarii, An'o D'ni 1476, quorum +a'iabus p'pitietur Deus. Amen." There are, he adds, "figures of +themselves upon the stone, and ten children, all in brasse." Harleian +MS., Brit. Mus., No. 6,829, p. 177. + +{177} In _Magna Britannia_ it is stated that he held 15 manors in this +county. In connection with the Paganell family it may here be noted that +a daughter, Maud, of Gilbert de Gaunt, married a Norman, Ralph Fitzooth; +their son William Fitzooth married the daughter of Beauchamp Paganell; +from whom sprung Robert Fitz Ooth, commonly known as Robin Hood. +Stukeley, _Palaeol Brit._, vol. ii, p. 115. + +{178a} _Guardian_, Jan. 18th, 1905. + +{178b} _Monasticon_, vol. i, 564-565. + +{178c} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv, pp. 16, 17. + +{178d} Weir's _History of Lincolnshire_, vol. i, p. 335. Ed. 1828. + +{179} Harleian MSS., No. 6,829, p. 342. + +{180a} It contains several entries of baptisms during the Commonwealth, +a period when, frequently, only births were allowed to be registered. + +{180b} Testa de Nevill, folio 248 (536). + +{183a} Testa de Nevill, fol. 348 (556). + +{183b} _Domesday Book_. + +{183c} Soc-men were small tenants who held their lands under the lord, +on the terms of doing certain agricultural service for him. Bordars, +from the Saxon "bord" a cottage, were a lower class of smaller tenants, +who had a cottage and small allotment, supplying to the lord more +continuous labour, and also eggs and poultry. By statute of Queen +Elizabeth (31 Eliz., c. 7), which probably only confirmed old usage, at +that time liable to fall into abeyance, it was enacted that any +proprietor electing a new cottage should be compelled to attach thereto +four acres of land. If something like this were done in these days we +should probably hear less of the rural population migrating to the towns, +to the increase of pauperage. There was a third still lower class of +dependents, not here mentioned, named villeins, who performed the meanest +labours; these were attached either to the land, or to the person of the +owner, and could be transferred from one to another owner, like goods or +chattels. Such a position of serfdom is unknown to the agricultural +labourer of modern times; and their name, as having belonged to the +lowest grade of society, now only survives as a synonym for a dishonest +person, a scoundrel or villain. + +{184a} A "trentall" was thirty masses for the dead to be celebrated on +thirty several days. + +{184b} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol iv, pp. 12-13. + +{185a} Weir's _History_, ed. 1828, p. 335. + +{185b} Mr. Taylor in his _Words and Places_, p. 130, says that "there is +hardly a river named in England which is not celtic, _i.e._ British. The +name Waring is British; garw, or gwarw, is welsh, _i.e._ British, and +appears in other river names, as the Yarrow and Garry in Scotland, and +the Garonne in France. + +{186} This bridge was taken down and a wider and more substantial one +erected in 1899. + +{187a} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iii. p. 218. + +{187b} _Ibid._, pp. 87, 88. + +{187c} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv. pp. 212, 213. + +{188a} Canon Maddison, _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1897, p. l62. + +{188b} In the old Register Book of Burials, &c., of the parish of +"Toynton Inferior," is an entry of the burial of "--- Newcomen ye 17th +November, 1592." The Christian name is undecipherable. + +{190a} Sewer is a common local name for a drain, or even a clear running +stream. Such a stream, called the Sewer, rises at Well-syke Wood in this +parish, and runs into the Witham river, nearly four miles distant, +perfectly limpid throughout its course. As to the name Well-syke, "sike" +is an old term for a "beck," or small running stream. "Sykes and meres" +are frequently mentioned in old documents connected with land. The word +syke is doubtless connected with "soak," and this wood was so named +because the "syke" welled up within a marshy part of it. + +{190b} _Architectural Society's Journal_, vol. xxiii, pp. 122 and 132. + +{190c} Harleyan MS., No. 6829, p. 244. + +{191} It was at Roughton in 1631. + +{192a} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iii, pp. 245-6. + +{192b} Harleyan MS., No. 6829, p. 245. + +{194a} Sir Jos. Banks was Lord of the Manor. + +{194b} Archdeacn Churton's _English Church_; Introd. _Domesday Book_, by +C. Gowen Smith, p. xxxii. + +{195a} Harleyan MS., No. 6829, p. 218. + +{195b} Burn's _Justice_, vol. v, pp. 823-4. + +{196a} _Revesby Deeds & Charters_, published by Right Hon. E. Stanhope, +No. 150. + +{196b} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1894, p. 214. + +{196c} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1891, p. 24, and 1897, pp. +145-163. + +{196d} _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1897, pp. 75, 79. + +{196e} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iii, p. 215. + +{198a} A pamphlet on _The Ayscough family and their connections_, by J. +Conway Walter, 1896. + +{198b} _Lincolnshire Wills_, by Canon Maddison. + +{198c} At this early period, partly perhaps owing to laxity of morals, +but partly because the papal supremacy was not fully recognised, celibacy +of the clergy was not strictly enforced. On the accession of Queen Mary +great numbers of them were found to be married. She issued "Injunctions" +to the bishops in 1553-4, ordering them to deprive all such of their +benefices; although some of them, on doing public penance, were restored +to their position. In the Lincoln Lists of Institutions to Benefices, at +that period, many of the vacancies are stated to have occurred, owing to +the deprivation of the previous incumbent; and in some cases, as at +Knebworth, Herts., and at Haversham, Bucks, (both then in the Lincoln +diocese), it is specified that the incumbent so deprived was married +(sacerdos conjugatus). _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. v, p. 174. + +{198d} One derivation of the name Revesby is from "reeve," a fox, or +rover, and we still call the fox the "little red rover." + +{201a} The Glenham family were at one time located at Miningsby; when +the Revesby estates passed from the Duke of Suffolk, Thomas Glenham, +Esq., with Sir Henry Sidney, and some others, succeeded to different +portions. + +{201b} _Words and Plans_, by J. Taylor. + +{202} This tract of forest probably was very extensive. We know that in +the north-west of the county, and extending to near Doncaster, there was +the forest of Celidon; south of that was Sherwood forest. In Holland +there was the forest of "Haut Huntre" (its Norman name); and there is a +tradition, in our neighbourhood, of a church, not far from Old +Bolingbroke, being called "St. Luke's in the Forest," now known as +Stickney; this name itself probably meaning a "sticken," or staked, +island; a kind of preserved oasis, or clearing, in a wilderness of wood +and morass. _Architectural Society's Journal_, 1858, p. 231. + +{203a} This has also been quoted in the Notes on High Toynton; and +another case of a similar tenure of land is mentioned in the Notes on +Hameringham. + +{203b} _Lincs. Notes & Queues_, vol. iii, pp. 245-6. + +{203c} _Domesday Book_, "Land of Robert Despenser." + +{204} In _Domesday Book_ the chief features are "the woodland" and +"fisheries," no less than 10 of the latter are named as belonging to +Robert Despenser. + +{205} Harleyan MS., No. 6829, pp. 179-182, given in Weir's _History of +Horncastle_, pp. 50-53. + +{206a} In the reign of Mary Sir Edward Dymoke married Anne, daughter of +Sir G. Taillebois. + +{206b} _Gentleman's Magazine_, April, 1826. + +{207a} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. ii, p. 108. + +{207b} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv, pp. 119-120. + +{208a} Mr. Tyrwhitt, like many other clergy in his day, was +non-resident; the duty being performed by a curate, the Rev. W. Robinson, +who held also the rectory of Moorby, but resided in Horncastle. + +{208b} _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. ii, p. 39. + +{209} The writer of these notes in his youth used to visit a farmer, +living in the fen, whose father was among the first to erect his +farmstead in that locality. He had first to solidify the site of his +dwelling by importing soil by boat; and, when that was effected, to +import by boat all the materials for the buildings; the construction of +roads followed; and thus in course of time a waste of morass became one +of the most fertile tracts in the country. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF HORNCASTLE*** + + +******* This file should be named 30358.txt or 30358.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/3/5/30358 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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