Chapter VII: Preface (7)

Among the deeds connected with property in East Kirkby, now in the possession of Porter Wilson, Esq., of Louth, is one, by which Beatrix, wife of William Wriht of Mythingesby, quitclaims to Robert de Silkeston, and Robert, son of Isabella Skells (Scales), all her right in the lands and tenements in Mythingesby, which they held of the gift of the said William her late husband. Given at Kyrkeby juxta Bolingbrok, on Thursday next before the feast of St. Michael, 1 Edw. III. (A.D. 1327.)

By another Deed, “Robert de Menynggesby, chaplain,” with “Thomas de Marketon, Rector of Harreby,” and another, “give to Robert de Silkeston of Kyrkeby,” certain lands “in Menyngesby, Kirkby, Bolynbrok, &c.” Given at Kirkeby, 26 Dec., 29 Edw. III. (A.D. 1355.)

Among charters of the Ipré family, it is shewn that Sir John de Ipré acquired “lands in Est Kerkeby, Mithyngesby, &c., of Sir John de Nevill, knight, Lord of Raby; which property descended to his son Thomas Ipré, who granted the said lands for the use of Robert Grynne, and Richard Grynne his son.” Date, 31 December, 1392.

N.B.—Sir Robert Sylkeston, knyght, of Est Kyrkeby, had issue “Alicia maryed unto Robert Grynne”; whose great great granddaughter “Audrya maryed unto Ric. Skepper,” a member of the family already mentioned. (“Linc. N.& Q,” v., pp. 73–4.)

By a Deed, dated 19 May, 24 Henry VI. (1446), Henry the King orders that certain rents for lands in Est Kirkby, Menyngesby, &c., which had been unlawfully withheld by Alice Browne, shall be duly paid to John Grynne, and Richard, his son, “they being at the time of acquisition, men (_i.e._ bond-tenants) of our manor.” “Given under our seal of our Duchy of Lancaster at our palace of Westminster.” (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. v. p. 89.)

According to Liber Regis, there was formerly a charge of 1_s._ 6_d._ annually on certain lands in Miningsby, towards the repairs of the church windows.

The Church, dedicated to St. Andrew, consists of nave, chancel and a double bell-gable at the west end. It was restored at the expense of J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., in 1878, when nearly the whole fabric was taken down by the architect, the late Mr. James Fowler, of Louth, and carefully reconstructed so as to preserve its most interesting features. The stone then employed is already (1901) showing signs of decay. The south wall of the nave retains portions of an earlier Norman building, viz., one Norman window and a semi-circular headed doorway, set flush with the wall, enclosing a later pointed arch, also set flush. {142a} The chancel is early English, with lancet windows, in the east end and side walls; there is also a lancet window in the north wall of the nave. There was formerly a chantry in the north side of the church, the arch of which is now blocked. In the west wall are two tall trefoil windows. The font is perpendicular, with octagonal embattled bowl, supported by four columns with square flowers in the capitals. The chancel is separated from the nave by a good open rood screen, containing portions of the original. The whole interior presents a well-ordered church appearance. {142b} The object, however, of special interest here, is a so-called “Runic” stone, covered with the involuted “knot,” or “figure of eight” pattern. Not many years ago it formed the threshold of a door, but was rescued by the Rev. G. Maughan, rector of East Kirkby, when he had charge of this parish, who had it placed against the north wall of the chancel. It is fortunately still in a very fair condition, with the exception of a portion gone from one end, and a crack towards the other end. There are, or were recently, two other specimens in the neighbourhood, one, a fragment at Lusby, and the other at Mavis Enderby. The Lusby fragment is said to have been Norman. (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. iv. p. 225). That at Mavis Enderby, now used as a church door step, and the pattern, consequently much defaced, is, like this at Miningsby, said to be of pre-Norman style, though not necessarily pre-Norman date. The former, however, is coped, while the latter is flat. The Rev. G. Maughan believed that there was another similar stone within the same chancel wall, but, as that part of the fabric was not taken down by the architect, it was not exposed to view. (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. iii. p. 157.) The frill border of the Miningsby stone is decidedly Saxon in character. It is 44 inches long, by 19½ wide, and 6in. thick. These stones are specially interesting and far from common. Interlaced work was an ancient Hittite ornament, as shewn in a seal, engraved in the “Archæological Journal,” vol. xliv. p. 348. Specimens are found, however, in Italy, Greece, France, as well as similar patterns in Saxon, Lombardic, and Spanish MSS. The stones are more common in Ireland than in England. Several are found like the Iona cross in Scotland, probably imported from Ireland, by the missionaries of St. Columba. There is an excellent sketch of the Miningsby stone, by the Rev. J. A. Penny, vicar of Wispington, in “Lincolnshire Notes and Queries,” vol. iv., p. 225.

After the Reformation, the earliest presentation which we find to this benefice is that of William Clerke, by King Edward VI. (as Duke of Lancaster); he was instituted as rector, 4, Edwd. VI., A.D. 1550–1. (“Architect. S. Journal,” 1897, p. 23.)

Recent rectors have been the Rev. E. Repton, in the earlier years of the century; the Rev. W. Nevins, later; and the Rev. H. Caukwell, appointed in 1878. The register dates from 1688, earlier records being lost. The children have a right to go to the free school of East Kirkby.

There is a modern commodious house, occupied by the present rector, who has 170 acres of glebe; but it is remarkable that about 100 acres of glebe are missing; the award made by the commissioners in lieu of tithe being largely in excess of the land now attached to the benefice. This parish also contains about 100 acres of charity land belonging to Stamford school.

OXCOMBE.

This parish is situated about 7 miles, in a north-easterly direction from Horncastle, and about the same distance south-west from Louth. It is interesting to notice that in the name of this parish we have one of the few survivals in the county of its former British inhabitants. The old writer, William Camden, Clarenceaux King of Arms, in his “Remaines concerning Britain,” p. 116, A.D. 1657, says “Combe, a word in use both in France and England, for a valley between high hills.” It is, in fact, the term still common in the south of England for a secluded valley, as in such names as Pyecombe, in Sussex, a village nestling in a hollow at the base of the south Downs; Combe Pyne, and Combe Martin, in Devonshire, and many another similar name, as well as in the old Welsh (or British) “cwm,” which occurs in many a name in Wales, of places situated in like hill-locked positions. And this exactly describes the situation of Oxcombe, a valley almost cup-shaped, surrounded by steep hills, the whole parish now forming one estate, of something over 1,000 acres in extent, lying in a ring fence.

In Domesday Book it is also called Oxetune, in which the suffix “tune,” or “ton,” is the later Saxon for inclosure, implying a secluded farmstead, where some Saxon Thane’s cattle were housed. In that record of the Norman Conqueror, of which the date for Lincolnshire is about 1085 A.D., this parish is mentioned twice, once, as connected with the manor of Fulletby, which was among the lands conferred by William the Conqueror, on the Bishop of Durham, William de Karilepho, a Norman, who was a favourite with that king, and was appointed by him Chief Justice of England; and once among the possessions of the Norman noble, Hugh de Abrinchis (or Avranches), who was nephew of the Conqueror, and, besides being endowed by him with the Barony of the whole county of Chester, held also nearly one hundred and fifty manors in this County and elsewhere. He was surnamed Lupus or “The Wolf” (as has been stated in other of these records) from the many deeds of violence, for which he was famed; and for which he endeavoured to atone in the closing years of his somewhat lawless life, by becoming a monk in the Abbey of St. Werberg, at Chester, which he had himself founded.

The part of this manor, held by the Bishop of Durham, was combined with Fulletby, the adjoining parish westward, and was, under the Bishop, farmed by socmen, or free tenants. The portion belonging to Lupus was held by him, as in the soke of Farforth, another adjoining parish eastward, and was also farmed by socmen.

Hugh de Abrincis left one son, who succeeded to his estates; but, as we have elsewhere observed, the tenure of land was, in those unsettled times, very precarious, and we have evidence that lands in Oxcombe, at an early date, passed into other hands. The land became in part the property of Bullington Priory, which was an off-shoot of the Gilbertine Priory, of Sempingham, famous for the severity of its monastic rules. Bullington Priory was founded by Simon Fitzwilliam, {145a} in the reign of Stephen, and endowed with various lands in the neighbourhood. These endowments were augmented by William de Kyme, a member of another powerful family in the county, who had also lands at Sotby, and elsewhere; and further additions were made by the Crevecœurs, {145b} a family of much importance from the time of the Norman Conquest, Sir Hamon de Crevecœur succeeding to the barony of the Abrincis, located in Kent, with the title of Barons of Folkstone; while in this immediate neighbourhood, they held the lands in Somersby and Bag Enderby. A few old records exist showing ownership in Oxcombe, at an early date, by several other parties.

By an agreement made under date, 15 June, 1202, between Matilda, wife of Richard de Ormsby, on the one part, and Walter Futenglaz, tenant of certain lands in Oxcombe, the said Walter, on his part, acknowledged the said lands to be the right and inheritance of Matilda; and in return Matilda granted them to Walter, to hold to him and his heirs, of the said Matilda, and her heirs for ever, by the service of 12_d._ by the year; and for this grant, the said Walter gave her ½ mark. (“Final Concords.”)

We next get a connection of this parish with the Priories of Sempringham and Bullington, already referred to. By an agreement, dated 20 April, 1203, between Roger, Prior of Sempringham, and William de Oxecumbe, touching lands in the parish, the said William “warranted to the said prior and his successors, the charters which the same prior had of William, father of the said William, and all the said lands; and he granted them to hold to the said prior and his successors, and to the church of the blessed Mary of Bulinton, and to the Nuns and the Brethren serving God there, in pure and perpetual alms, free of all secular service and exaction.” And for this grant and warrant, the prior gave the said William 2 marks.

Another document introduces a member of an important family holding considerable possessions in Yorkshire and elsewhere. It is an agreement, dated 26 April, 1214, between Robert de Malo Lacu and Emma his wife, on the one part, and Robert de Oxecumbe and others, among them being Walter Bec, on the other part, concerning the right to certain lands which Walter Bec “acknowledges to be the right of the said Robert de Malo Lacu, and Emma, his wife,” &c. In return for which they grant to the said Walter, 12 oxgangs of land, here and elsewhere, “to have and to hold to him and his heirs for ever, doing the service of five parts of a knight’s fee.” This Walter Bec would appear to have been a member of the wealthy family who are mentioned in the Records of Spilsby and Lusby, as holding large property in those parishes and elsewhere, and as being ancestors of the Lords of Willoughby. The de Malo Lacu family, otherwise de Mauley were powerful Normans; the head of the race, Peter de Malo Lacu being born at Poictou in France. He, coming over to England in the reign of Henry III., built the castle of Mountgrace, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Camden, states that there were eight Peters in succession who held these estates, the last of them leaving two daughters, one of whom married Bigot, a member of the family of the Earl Marechal, of England; the other married a member of the knightly family of Salvain, and the de Mauley estates were divided between these two families. The arms of the Lords de Malo Lacu were a bend, sable, on an escutcheon, or. (“Hist. of Meux Abbey,” quoted Camden’s “Britannia,” pp. 751, &c.)

By deed, dated 25 November, 1218, in a dispute between the same Matilda, wife of Richard Ormesby, and William, Prior of Bolinton, concerning the advowson of the church of Oxecumb, the said Prior recognised the advowson to be the right of Matilda, and for himself and his successors surrendered it to the said Matilda and her heirs for ever, an unusual act of grace, as it was rarely that any property passing into the possession of a religious house left their grasp again, until the time came when they had finally and for ever to disgorge their acquisitions, not seldom questionably obtained. On 12 May, 1240, in a dispute between Robert, son of Osbert, and Matilda de Marton, concerning land in Oxecumbe, Matilda admitted the said land to be the right of Robert, “to have and to hold to him and his heirs for ever, he rendering 4_s._ by the year, and doing foreign service.” Truly, it would seem, from these various disputes all occurring within less than the first half of the 13th century, {147} there must have been something in the atmosphere of Oxcombe which rendered its people peculiarly litigious. Could the confined position, we are almost inclined to ask, have narrowed their ideas, and, shut out as they were from the larger world beyond, the “combe,” have given them an undue sense of their own importance?

A gap now occurs of many years before we find further records of this little lordship.

Among the Chancery Inquisitions in the reign of Richard III. and Henry VII., is one (No. 246), held at Lincoln Castle, 28 January, 1504–5, by which it appears that Thomas Welby, a member of another prominent Lincolnshire family, who held the manor of Halstede, in Stixwould, in this neighbourhood, and manors or lands in nearly 30 other parishes in various parts of the county, had lands in Oxcomb, and the adjoining Ruckland. He, by charter, granted these possessions to Edward Burgh, knight, George Taylbois, knight, and others, to administer his will, on behalf of his son and heir, Thomas Welby, then of the age of 16. (“Architect. Soc. Journal,” 1895, p. 68.)

After the dissolution of the monasteries, in the following reign, the lands connected with the priories of Sempringham and Bullington, in Oxcombe, would pass into other hands, and accordingly we find new names among the owners. By will, dated 14 June, 1535, John Gedney, of Bag Enderby, Esquire, leaves lands in Bag Enderby, Oxcombe, Winceby, Langton, and Somersby, to his sons John and Andrew, a witness to the will being George Musgrave, parson of Oxcombe. Oxcombe evidently fell to the share of the latter of these two sons, since a few years later, Andrew Gedney of Bag Enderby {148} (in 1562) presented Robert Brown to the benefice of Oxcombe, vacated by the death of Roger Barry, (“Architect. S. Journal,” 1897, p. 8.)

The tenure of the Gedneys, however, in due course went “the way of all flesh.” They had apparently inherited considerable property from the old family of the Crevecœurs, already mentioned. They had made good connections, this Andrew himself having married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Skipwith, of South Ormsby, but they probably got into difficulties at the time of “the Lincolnshire Rising” in 1536, in which Andrew was involved. In 1579, Andrew Gedney sold Oxcombe Grange to John Copledyke, who obtained Queen Elizabeth’s pardon for making the purchase without her license, which was then required by law, as a royal prerogative and source of revenue; and the following is the next notice we find of the family:—By will, dated 1 April, 1613, Richard Gedney, of Bag Enderby, Esq., leaves 10_s_. to the poor of Oxcombe; but William Morton, of Oxcombe, and Thomas Cheales of Hagworthingham, are requested to manage his manor of Oxcombe, and pay his debts out of it. This was the beginning of the end, and the Gedneys in due course disappeared from the landed gentry of Lincolnshire. The name, for a time, revived in the second half of the 19th century, in the person of a relative of the present writer, who owned Candlesby Hall, but it was only “a flash in the pan,” and they are gone.

Another name now comes to the fore. Henry VIII. granted extensive lands, which had been connected with the rich monasteries, to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who was grandson of William Brandon, standard bearer to Henry VII., who was slain at the battle of Bosworth. The Duke died leaving two sons by his 4th wife, Catherine, who was daughter and heiress of the Lord Willoughby d’ Eresby of that day. (Dugdale “Baronage,” ii., 300.) These both died of “the sweating sickness,” while quite young, and thereupon the descendants of Sir William Brandon’s daughters were declared to be the heirs. One of these, Eleanor, married John Glemham, of Glemham Parva, Co. Suffolk. Their descendants, by marriage, or otherwise, acquired the manors of Burwell, Calceby and Mareham-le-Fen, and at later periods, lands in Goulceby, Donnington-on-Bain, Belchford, Walmsgate, Fairforth, and several other parishes, and in 1641, Sir Thomas Glemham sold most of these to Matthew Lister, Esq., of St. Martins-in-the Fields, Co. Middlesex; among the lands then disposed of, Oxcombe is named with the above neighbouring parishes, though we do not find it specified before. It is supposed that Sir Thomas, who was a warm supporter of the unfortunate King Charles I., effected this sale in order to aid his sovereign. Be that as it may, Oxcombe passed from the Glemhams to the Listers. For nearly 200 years this family continued to hold the bulk of this property, but, in their turn, the Listers also fell upon evil times, and their estates gradually came under the hammer. The patronage of the benefice was vested in the Langtons, of Langton-by-Spilsby, in 1677, 1717, and 1762 (Liber Regis), and, according to Noble’s “Gazetteer,” also as late as 1833, and they were probably owners in part, of the soil. In 1799, John Grant died lord of the manor, and three members of his family held it in succession. In 1842, the benefice was held jointly with that of Belchford, by the Rev. Egremont Richardson, B. Grant, Esq., being patron. Since then it has been held singly by three successive incumbents, the Rev. John Chalmers, the Rev. Goulding Saunders, and the Rev. James Clarke, but since 1898 the two have been again held together by the Rev. R. H. Domenichetti. In 1863, David Briggs, Esq., was lord of the manor. On his death, in 1876, it was bought by T. Ross, Esq., who died in 1885, when it was again sold to the late Spedding Whitworth, Esq., of Wath-upon-Dearne, Co. Yorke, whose son, Harrie Whitworth, is the present owner. The whole parish is now occupied and farmed by Mr. Henry Meanwell, who resides in the manor house, a substantial residence, built in Elizabethan style, in 1845–6, surrounded by extensive grounds, well-kept, and a well-wooded park of some 50 acres.

The Church, dedicated to All Saints, is a small brick structure, adjoining, to the east, the manor house grounds. It was restored in 1884, by T. Ross, Esq., the then owner of the manor, in the decorated style. It consists of nave, and chancel, with apsidal east end. Over the west door rises an octagonal turret of stone, containing one small bell. The pulpit and sittings are of good old oak, with nicely carved poppy heads. Near the pulpit is an old-fashioned square family pew. The north and south walls of the nave have each a couple of two-light trefoiled windows. The font is octagonal, the faces trefoiled, with plain shields in each face, the shaft octagonal, standing on a pediment of two steps. The chancel arch is peculiar as being remarkably low. There are good carved oak altar rails, and a modern east window of three lights. On the south wall of the chancel is a tablet in memory of John Grant, the former lord of the manor, who died in 1799. The inscription formerly stated that he had made “£100,000 by farming, which had never been done before,” but this latter part is now erased. On the north wall is a tablet to Thomas Grant, who died in 1810; also to William Grant, who died in 1817. In the churchyard is a Grant altar tomb and vault; also two tombs of grey granite, in memory of Thomas Ross, and his wife Anne; also a tomb of David Briggs, Esq., former owner of the manor, who died, April 1st, 1876, and two others of Benjamin Briggs, and another David Briggs.

This sequestered place is approached by a road, worn, probably by usage through long ages, to a depth of several feet below the ordinary level of the ground, the high banks on each side of it being covered with neatly-trimmed shrubbery, and the whole has the appearance of a well-cared-for estate, all the buildings being substantial and in excellent order. Some of the fields still retain names which tell of by-gone ages. To the north are fields named “Scotland Deepdales,” and “Scotland Walk,” which may possibly refer to the old parochial taxation, “Scot and Lot” (Saxon, sceat and lot), which was levied upon all subjects according to their ability, for the poor, church expenses, village watchman, &c., the right of voting for members of parliament and other officials, being vested in those who paid “scot and lot.” One field is named “Mill Walk,” indicating where the manorial lord once had that valuable source of revenue, the mill, at which all the bordars and villeins were bound to have their corn ground. One part of the ground is named “Groves’ Walk,” a plantation so-called from a poacher, Groves, who was shot in a night skirmish many years ago. In a wood in the Farford direction, adders are said to have been numerous. There is an extensive pasture named the “Intake,” probably recording its first inclosure from the common land. Two arable fields are called the “Near” and “Far” “Gaire”; gaire, garing, or geira, being a very ancient term for a section of land ploughed in a different direction from the rest, as these are still at the present time. While ploughing a part of this manor in the year 1818, a labourer found a small silver casket, containing 46_s._ of the early part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which were scarcely injured by the lapse of time. (“Hist. Linc.,” by J. Saunders, vol. ii., p. 177.)

Altogether, this parish of some 5 houses, and less than 40 inhabitants, forms a very interesting little estate.

RAITHBY.

Raithby is situated about 2 miles from Spilsby and about 9 miles from Horncastle, on the main road between the two towns, _via_ Hagworthingham. It is within the ancient soke of Bolingbroke, and an appanage of the Duchy of Lancaster. There is a post and money order office, and letters, _via_ Spilsby, arrive at 7.5 a.m., and depart at 5.40 p.m. The nearest telegraph office is at Spilsby. Not much of the early history of this parish is to be found. As is stated in the notes on Mavis Enderby, these two parishes were closely connected, land in both being held by the Saxon, Elnod (Domesday Book), also, in early Norman times, by William de Karilepho, the powerful Bishop of Durham, and by the Conqueror’s favourite, Ivo Taillebois, who, from the vast possessions which he acquired through his wife, the Lady Lucia, seems to have verily suffered from the disease of “land hunger.” Rather later, Eudo, son of Spirewic, the founder of the Tattershall family, held lands in Raithby, as well as at Mavis Enderby. In the reign of Edwd. I. (1402), the manor and advowsons of Raithby and Mavis Enderby were held by Robert de Willoughby, ancestor of the present Lord Willoughby. The descendants of Ivo Taillebois seem to have retained at least some of their property in Raithby for a longer period than they did in some other parishes, as we find that “Thomas Tailbus” of Raithby, by will, dated 7 March, 1556, requested that he might be buried “in our Lady’s Choir.” He states that he made his will while “mighty of mind, whole of witt and understanding.” He makes his wife, Johan, executrix, and desires her to give to their son Roger, and Agnes Harper (presumably a married daughter), “as much as may be conveniently spared.” (“Lincolnshire Wills,” by Canon Maddison).

The pedigree of the Taylbois’ of Raithby is given in the Visitation of 1562.

Again, by will, dated 5 March, 1579, John Taylboys, of Raithby, gent., desires that he may be buried in the church. He leaves everything to his wife, except 10_s._ to his mother, and William Thompson and “Wil Cockson,” executors are to pay £12, “bequeathed by my father to sexe children.”

The Littleburies had also land in Raithby; since by will, dated 1 Sep., 1568, Humphrey Littlebury, of East Kirkby, left land at Raithby, and other places, to his son, John Littlebury, and John Littlebury of Hagworthingham, by will, dated 28 Sep., 1612, left his lands at Raithby to his son John. As I mention in the notes on Salmonby, the Littlebury family were originally located in the Holbeach neighbourhood; Robert and his ancestors held land there, and at Whaplode, of the abbots of Croyland long before the reign of Edw. III. But he began to get in arrear with his rent, as shewn by the following list of omissions recorded against him:—

£ s. d. For his own and his men’s table with the 40 0 0 abbot of Croyland Farms of tithes in Whaplode 9 0 0 Denariis mutuo receptis (_i.e._ money 12 0 0 borrowed) Several horses borrowed and not returned 4 0 0 Other items are given as a set off, as well 40 0 0 as his legacy of But there still remains a debt of 60 0 0

This was a large sum in those days. But John Littlebury gave the abbot “diverse jewels” in payment of this debt. (Appendix to Cough’s “Croyland,” from the Abbey register.)

Sir Martin Littlebury was Chief Justice of England, A.D. 1243. His wife was Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Rochford. They intermarried with several other families of position and influence. Their pedigree is given in the Herald’s Visitation of Lincolnshire, in 1562–64, coming down to Humphrey Littlebury, of Stainsby, named above, as holding land in Raithby. (“Notices on Holbeach,” by G. W. McDonald).

By will, dated 4 March, 1599, Anne Skipwith, of Hanney, left legacies to Thomas and Robert Raithby, and this patronymic is not uncommon in the neighbourhood still.

In later years the manor of Raithby was the property of the Brackenburies, who had a handsome residence, Raithby Hall, which was, in 1848, purchased by the Rev. E. Rawnsley, who is now lord of the manor. A curious circumstance connected with the Hall is that during the time when it was owned by Mr. Robert Carr Brackenbury, he, being a friend of John Wesley, granted him the use of the hay loft for religious services, and subsequently by will provided that all future owners of the property should fulfil this condition, and these services are still occasionally held there, so that we have now the anomaly of the Hall being owned and occupied by a clergyman of the church of England, while the loft over his stables is used by a Wesleyan minister.

The benefice formerly paid a pension to the abbots of Croyland of £1 6_s._ 8_d._ At the Reformation the tithes were seized by “the Merry Monarch,” and the patronage of the benefice now belongs to the crown. The late Geo. Walker, Esq., of Offord House, Spilsby, owned an estate in this parish, also Admiral Buckle, who now resides at Gunby Hall. There is a free school here for the poor children of Raithby, Mavis Enderby, Hundleby, and Sausthorpe, founded and endowed by Thomas Lawford, in 1683, and besides his endowment, the teacher has the dividend of £204 1_s._ 8_d._ left by Elizabeth Kirkbridge, of Hull, in 1813, and the interest of £100 left by John Dawson, in 1839.

The Church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It consists of tower, nave, with south porch, north and south aisles, and chancel. The tower is of 3 tiers, and has 3 bells. The church was thoroughly restored in 1873, the chancel and nave wholly rebuilt, the architect being Mr. G. G. Scott. The porch has a very curious stoup in the western corner, with 3 Norman columns as supports. The north and south aisles have 3 bays, the columns being transitional Norman. In the north wall is a door and two square-headed, perpendicular windows with coloured glass; one of these has for its subjects St. George and St. Andrew, the other, St. David and St. Patrick. There is also a two-light window in the east wall of the north aisle. In the south wall, west of the porch, is a coloured two-light window, the subjects being, above, the Good Shepherd and the Presentation in the Temple, and below, Christ blessing little children, and our Lord’s baptism. Next to the porch, eastward, is a memorial two-light window to John Coleridge Kennard, the subjects being, the Resurrection, and the Ascension. The window at the east end of the south aisle is a two-light one, with coloured glass, by Kemp, the subjects being, Works of Mercy; it was put in in memory of Mrs. Rawnsley, by friends. The font is modern, also the lectern and the rood screen, which is coloured red, gilt, and blue. The east, north, and south windows in the chancel were given by the late Mrs. Rawnsley, who lengthened the chancel to its original dimensions, and gave the screen. The east window has three lights, the subjects being, in the centre, the Crucifixion, in the northern light, Gethsemane, in the southern light, the Saviour’s baptism. The walls of the chancel are painted with various devices. The reredos has three compartments, the centre, showing the Crucifixion; on the right (south), the Saviour and the Magdalen, Noli me tangere; on the left (north), the angel appearing to Mary, Ave Maria. Two other windows have the following subjects:—In one, in the centre, is the Lord in glory, with St. Michael, on the one side, St. Gabriel, on the other, by Milner; in the other, of four lights, put in by members of the Rawnsley family, in memory of their mother, the subjects are, in the lower part, one scene throughout, the birth at Bethlehem; above, the compartments show the Annunciation, with the Presentation and Visitation on either side. The south chancel window of three lights, with coloured glass, has the three subjects, St. Alban, St. Agnes, and St. Catherine. There is a piscina in the south wall of the chancel. The material of the structure is Spilsby green sandstone. The tower is of the Perpendicular period, other parts being a mixture of the Perpendicular, Decorated, and Transitional styles. The church is unusually rich in coloured glass, although all of it modern. The benefice, a rectory, is held by the Rev. George Ward, who lives at Mavis Enderby, of which parish he is also rector. Of the church plate, the chalice is of the date of Cromwell; the paten and former cover of chalice are of the date of Elizabeth. A modern paten has been presented by the Rev. E. Rawnsley. The register dates from 1558. It contains a note by a former rector, stating that a number of pages had been lost in the waste paper basket of his predecessor, but that, from other sources, he had himself supplied the deficiency. Then follows a long series of entries, all in one handwriting, the curious part, however, is that his own death is recorded in the same handwriting. We leave it to the reader to solve this puzzle of a posthumous record. The sandstone, which prevails generally throughout this district, disappears at Raithby, but about half-a-mile north-east of Raithby church, numerous phosphatic nodules are found scattered about the surface. The nodule bed can be traced across the fields to the south-west, and the phosphates lie generally in patches. The hill, south of Raithby, consists of the formation known as Tealby clay, capped with chalky boulder clay, blue clay appearing on its western slope. These clays rest upon a floor of hard calcareous ferruginous rock, full of brown oolitic grains.

RANBY.

Ranby is situated on the old Roman road to Caistor, northward, rather more than 7 miles from Horncastle. The vicar, the Rev. G. S. Lee, resides at Benniworth, rather more than 3 miles distant, of which he is rector. Letters, _via_ Lincoln, arrive at 10.30. Ranby is probably a contraction of Ravenby; as we have near Louth, two parishes, Ravendale, east and west, and the hamlet of Raventhorpe, in the north of the county, in the parish of Appleby, near Brigg. Ravendale is contracted into the patronymic Randell; and so Ravenby becomes Ranby.

Ranby Hall, the seat of the Otter family, who have been located here and at Clayworth, Notts., more than a century, is a handsome residence in well-wooded grounds. One of the family was Bishop of Chichester, and another Archdeacon of Chichester.

In Domesday Book, the manor of Ranby is reckoned among the possessions of Odo, Bishop of Baieux, who was half-brother of William the Conqueror, and Earl of Kent. He became Bishop in 1049, and died at Palermo, on his way to the Holy Land, in 1097. Besides being Earl of Kent, he was Count Palatine and Justiciary of England. His abilities and his influence were so great that writers of the day described him as being, “totius Angliæ, Vice-dominus sub rege.” He was, however, too arrogant, and aspiring to the Papacy, he was about to leave England for Rome, taking with him the wealth he had amassed, when he was apprehended by King William, and sent to prison in Normandy. On the death of the Conqueror, he was liberated by William Rufus, but never acquired his former power, and being concerned in a conspiracy, had to abjure the realm. He held at one time 76 lordships in Lincolnshire, besides many in other counties. Another Norman, Ralph de St. Valery, a town in Picardy, also had a grant of land in Ranby, to the extent of 360 acres with 14 socmen holding 7 oxgangs, and 2 bordars with 240 acres between them. A Saxon thane, Godric, had some 604 acres. The church had a resident priest, owning a mill, worth 10_s._ 8_d._ a year, and 270 acres of meadow. At a later date, Ranby was an appanage of Tupholme Abbey. {156a}

The Church, dedicated to St. German, stands on an elevation, and would be a conspicuous object for several miles, but that it is embowered in lofty trees. {156b} It was restored in 1839 at the expense of Miss Alice Otter, who also presented three bells; and it was further improved in 1862, when the tower was incased with new stone, and the chancel re-built. The old chancel arch was at that time removed, and now forms the arch under the tower, the stone having been re-chiselled. The tower is massive, with four pinnacles, having two-light flamboyant windows in each face, and small lancet windows below them, in the west and south sides. In the north wall of the nave, there is one two-light flamboyant window, and in the south wall, two similar ones. A small north transept forms a vestry, in the west wall of which are preserved some small arches from an earlier fabric, and in its north wall is a two-light flamboyant window. In the north chancel wall there is a small one-light window. The east window has three lights with three trefoils above, and in the south chancel wall there is a two-light window with trefoil above. All the chancel windows have coloured glass. The south window is a memorial of Francis Otter, of Clayworth. The subject of the east window is the Ascension. The pillars of the new chancel arch have richly-carved capitals. The sittings are of plain oak. The font is octagonal, with plain shields and other devices on the faces. There is a Walesby tablet on the south wall of the nave, and large Walesby monuments in the churchyard. Weir, in his “History of Lincolnshire,” mentions a large ancient tumulus as being near the church. {157a}

REVESBY.

Revesby is situated about 7½ miles from Horncastle, in a south-easterly direction; some 12 miles north-west from Boston, 8 miles south-west from Spilsby, and about 7 miles East, from the nearest railway station at Tattershall. Letters, _via_ Boston, arrive at 7 a.m. The nearest telegraph office is at Mareham-le-Fen. One derivation of the name Revesby is from a Danish word meaning a “fox,” the Danes certainly at one time settled extensively in this neighbourhood, and “by” is a very common Danish termination. (Streatfeild “Lincolnshire and the Danes.”) Another and perhaps more likely derivation is from the “reeve,” or public guardian of the fen, {157b} who might well reside here, to look after the means of communication, roads and channels in the great tract of country southward, which was at one time almost a waste of morass, and subject to frequent inundation from the sea, and in connection with this, it may be mentioned that one of the recognised duties of religious houses, {158a} such as the Abbey of Revesby, was to keep roads and bridges in proper repair, and a portion of the Revesby property, named Stickney Wydale, was granted to the abbey, on condition that the monks kept in proper order the “Northdyke Causeway,” then a main road raised above the floods. {158b} And among the charters and deeds of Revesby, is one (No. 7_b_), by which William de Romara undertakes to compel the men of Holland to keep in repair a waggon-road from Sibsey. {158c}

The history of Revesby at that period is lost to us. No Saxon chronicles exist, as they do as regards some other places, to tell us of those early days. Yet we can, in a degree, connect Revesby with a great Saxon family, and one which is represented by a leading family in our county in the present day.

The Abbey of Revesby was founded by William de Romara, A.D. 1143. {158d} He was the son of Roger de Romara, who married (about 1093), as her 2nd husband, the lady Lucia, who was daughter and heiress of Thorold, of Buchenale (now Bucknall in this neighbourhood), Sheriff of Lincolnshire, and that family survives now in Sir John C. Thorold, of Syston Hall, near Grantham. The family of Thorold, or, as it was spelt at that time, Turold, was even then old and distinguished. He was the brother of the Lady Godiva, of Coventry fame, wife of Earl Leofric, and mother of Earl Algar, and descended, according to Camden (“Britannia”, p. 474), and others, {158e} from the Saxon Earl, Egga (and Morcar), who flourished in the 8th century. The first husband of Lucia, was Ivo Taillebois, of Anjou, who came over with the Conqueror, as the leader of his Angevin auxiliaries. After the death of the brave young Saxon nobles, Edwin and Morcar, brothers-in-law, of King Harold, who refused to submit to the Norman yoke, their sister, the Lady Lucia, became entitled to all their possessions, and therefore was an heiress worth securing; and, much against her wish, the Conqueror bestowed her upon his favourite, Ivo (A.D. 1072). With her, this Ivo acquired, among much other property, the manors of Revesby and East Kirkby. We find the first mention of Revesby, in Domesday Book (A.D. 1085), as follows:—“In Churchebi and Resuesbi there are 12 carucates (or about 1440 acres) of land, rateable to gelt;” {159} the land is 12 carucates; 54 sokemen and 14 villeins have these 12 carucates. Ivo has 1 carucate (in demense) and 2 churches, and 180 acres of meadow land. The whole manor, with all that belongs thereto, is 6 miles long and 6 miles broad. Turold was Lord of Spalding, and his daughter Lucia, and conjointly her husband, Ivo, founded the Priory of Spalding. But Ivo, by his acquisitions, became so great a tyrant, to all connected with him, that he was eventually outlawed by King Rufus, and banished the kingdom. He fled to Anjou. After a time he was allowed to return to his wife, the Lady Lucia, who was holding her court at Spalding; but, to her great relief, he shortly afterwards died of paralysis, and, writes the chronicler, Peter de Blois, “hardly had one month elapsed after his death, when she married that illustrious young man, Roger de Romara, and lost all recollection of Ivo Taillebois.” Their son, William, was created first Earl of Lincoln, and, following the example of his mother at Spalding, he gave certain lands to the monks of Riveaux, Co. York, to found a Cistercian Abbey, the lands aforesaid being all Revesby, Thoresby and Sithesby, and, as certain portions of Revesby were held by another lord, he effected an exchange, by giving land commensurate in Miningsby, and by a similar process of exchange, secured other further portions, so as to bring the abbey estates into what would now be termed “a ring fence.” We have not space to go to any extent into the history of the abbey. The original charter describes the property as “totam terram de Revesbiâ, et Thoresbiâ, et Schichthesbiâ.” Of the two churches, one, that of Thoresby, was at the time held by a priest named Ivo, in exchange for which the Earl William, gave him the church of East Kirkby, and appurtenances. This church probably stood on a site of the present church of St. Lawrence, at Revesby. (Howlett’s “Lincolnshire,” Allan’s “Hist. Linc.”) The other church, of St. Sythe, was doubtless in the southern part of the present park, which has retained the name of Sithesby, or St. Scythe’s until recent times. The abbey itself was to the south-east of the present church, at some quarter-of-a-mile distance, and of considerable dimensions, covering some acres of ground. From a lecture, given by the late Right Honble. Edward Stanhope, we gather that the abbey church, built of Ancaster stone, was at least 240ft. long, and over 60ft. wide, with many graceful pillars supporting its roof. The choir was of unusual form, extending some distance down the nave. Beyond it, discovered in making excavations in 1869, 70, was the tomb of the founder, having this inscription: HIC JACET IN TUMBA WIELLIELMUS DE ROMARE, COMES LINCOLNIÆ, FUNDATOR ISTIUS MONASTERII SANCTI LAURENTII DE REIVISBYE. {160} Near this were tombstones inscribed to William de Romara, son of William, Earl of Lincoln, who died before his father, and of William de Romara, son of Lucia, Countess of Lincoln. Three bodies were discovered and re-buried a short distance from this spot, being doubtless those of the founder and his two sons. In his later years, William de Romara himself became a monk, and requested to be buried “before the high aulter;” and the site is now marked by a granite stone, placed here in 1890, by the late Right Honourable Edward Stanhope. The Abbey field, approached by a broad causeway, on the north side, more than 250 yards long, has traces of four mounds, at different points, probably for outlook and defence. One of these, stands in an enclosure to the west, called Saffron Garth, doubtless the favourite resort of the monks, who were skilled gardeners; an enclosure on the other, north side, of the road, opposite this “garth,” is called “Paradise,” supposed to have been the orchard. Fish ponds, to supply the monks with their ascetic diet, are to be traced in various parts around. At Medlam, to the south-east, are the remains of a chapel or oratory. The abbot’s private residence stood in the present park, and some of the outbuildings of his establishment remained until recent years, near the later mansion of the proprietors of Revesby.

We will now give a few peculiar extracts from some of the deeds connected with the abbey. Most of these, until late years, were in the possession of the Marquis of Exeter, at Burghley House, Stamford, whose ancestors, as will be shewn hereafter, once held the property, and in 1881 they were presented to the Right Honble. E. Stanhope, by his lordship.

In celebration of the foundation of the Abbey, William de Romara “manumitted,” or released from serfdom, any of his villeins and dependants who would accept their freedom, “to go where they chose, and, if they remained on the estate, to give them land instead.” Among those who accepted freedom, were William Medicus, or the Doctor, and Roger Barkarius, a name still known in the neighbourhood. {161} The witnesses to the deed of liberty were Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, William Archdeacon, William Chancellor, and others.

By deed No. 8, William gives land in Stickney, and services due to him, from Alan of Stickney and his successors, to which Alan agrees; the money to be spent on wine for the “Masses” of the Abbey services.

To one deed (No. 20), for conveyance of pasturage for 20 cattle, 20 pigs, and 100 sheep, the witness is Thorold, Dean of Horncastle, a scion, doubtless, of the family of the Lady Lucia. He is further designated as “Magister Willelmus Novi Operis,” _i.e._ of Newark.

By deed 24, Matilda daughter of Roger de Huditoft (Huttoft) widow of William of Stickney gives half a bovate of land in Stickney “in the time of my widowhood” _i.e._, when the property became at her own disposal. The witnesses are two women, Christiana, wife of Henry de Claxby, and Eda, wife of Richard, priest of Mareham; not, therefore, a celibate.

By deed 27, Alan Smerehorn of Kirkby (East) gives a sedes molendini, _i.e._ a water mill and premises, with right to draw water through his land from Bolingbroke and Kirkby.

By deed 30, Hamelinus de Jherdeburcg (Jerburg) gives land in Stickney, “quam tenui de hospitalibus de Jerusalem in terretorio de Stickenei” _i.e._ which he had held of the monks of the Hospice of Jerusalem in Stickney, there having been a minor religious house there; of which Robert Picha is named as Preceptor in another Deed (25), temp. Henry II.

By a charter of Richard I. (Dugdale V. 456) the abbots are confirmed in the possession of lands in Toynton, the grange of Toft (still existing) Fulsby, lands in Miningsby, Kirkby, Claxby, Mareham, Tumby, Hameringham, Wood Enderby, Skegness, and many other parishes.

By deed No. 41, William, son of Roger de Bikinghesbi gives land in Miningsby for gate alms, _i.e._ to relieve beggars at the Abbey-gate, the monks being the great, and almost only, friends of the suffering and needy.

By deed No. 50, Ranulph, Earl of Chester, gives to the Abbey “his servant Roger, son of Thoreword of Sibsey, with all his property and chattells.” Here the man himself is treated as part and parcel with the chattells.

By deed 69, Gaufrid of Kirkby gives certain lands “ad chorum ecclesiæ aspergendum et decorandum,” _i.e._ for washing and decorating the choir.

Deed 75 conveys to the Abbey another servant, Radulph, son of Gamel the Palmer, with goods and chattells. The father here mentioned had evidently made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Deed 78 gives to the Abbey “the homage of Gaufrid Le Neucume of Stickney and all his service.” Here, (temp. Henry III.) is one of the family of Newcome, or Newcomen, who, centuries later, became connected by marriage with the Banks family, in the person of the grandfather of Sir Joseph Banks.

By No. 108, Hugo de Lindsey gives one selion of land to maintain one candle burning before the altar of the blessed Virgin in the Chapel of St. Lawrence, (temp. Henry III. or Ed. I.)

By No. 115, William of Stickney gives land for the maintenance of candles to be kept burning in the Abbey church, one before the altar of the blessed Virgin, in honour of St. Margaret, and the other at the altar of St. Nicholas, in honour of St. James the Apostle.

By No. 141, the Abbot leases land in Wilksby (A.D. 1344) to John Hardegray, who is to pay “unum granum piperis” (pepper corn rent), annually at Christmas.

By No. 144, the Abbot and Convent grant to Richard Cave of Stickney certain land on payment of 8 silver pence annually. (2 Hen. V. Jan. 25, 1415.)

Then follows finally at the Dissolution, deed No. 150A, by which John, Abbot of Revesby, and the convent, grant (Nolentes Volentes) to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and his heirs, and assigns, the office of chief steward of the manors, lands, etc., of the Abbey, with an annuity of £26 3_s._ 8_d._ (Harleyan Charter, 44, Brit. Mus.)

This was the beginning of the end. The monks, who, with all their faults, had preserved for us our Bibles, had been the great patrons of learning, the friends of the poor, the teachers of agriculture, who had maintained our bridges and our roads, were forced to accept pittances smaller than those they had, on a generous scale, dealt out to thousands of others. To Charles, Duke of Suffolk, were granted the Abbey estates in 1539. He died in 1545, and was buried at Windsor. His two sons both died in one day, July 16th, 1551, at the Bishop of Lincoln’s house at Buckden. The Dukedom descended to the Marquis of Dorset, who had married the half-sister of Charles. The estates were divided, in 1552, among the descendants of Sir William Brandon. They were Sir Henry Sidney, Knight; Thomas Glemham, Esq.; John Carsey, Esq.; and Francis his son by Margaret his wife, sister to Charles Brandon; Christian Darnell, widow; Walter Ayscoughe, Esq.; and Henry Ayscoughe his son by Elizabeth his wife; and John Tyre, gentleman, and Elizabeth his wife.

John Carsey (also spelt Kersey) had the Revesby estate, Wilksby and Wood Enderby, and resided at Revesby. His son Francis probably resided at South Ormsby, and in 1575, the father and son jointly sold the estate to Thomas Cecil, Lord Treasurer Burleigh. The property then descended, through the 1st and 2nd Earls of Exeter, and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Howard, Earl of Berkshire, to Henry Howard. He dying without male issue, was succeeded by his nephew, Craven Howard, in 1663. Craven Howard built a mansion here. But the entire property was sold in 1714 to the Banks family for £14,000, by his representatives the daughters of Henry Howard. {164} The last of the Banks family was Sir Joseph Banks, well known for his enclosure of the Fens and other works of public utility in the county, his patronage of science in every form, and his voyages of discovery. He died in 1820, and, by his will, most of the estates were bequeathed to Col. the Honble. James Hamilton Stanhope, who served in the Peninsular War, and at Waterloo, other portions being left to Sir Henry Hawley and his heirs, “with remainder to Sir Edward Knatchbull” (who managed the estates for his widow, Lady Banks). (Weir’s “Hist. Linc.” vol. i., p. 414, Ed., 1828; “Saunders’ Hist.” vol. ii., p. 113). He held them for a very short period, and was succeeded by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., formerly M.P. for N. Lincolnshire (in 1823), who, some years ago, surrendered the estates to his cousin and adopted heir, the Right Honble. E. Stanhope, 2nd son of the 5th Earl Stanhope; and late M.P. for Horncastle Division.

Mr. Banks Stanhope greatly improved, and, indeed, may be said to have rebuilt the mansion of Revesby, from designs by the architect Burns, which now stands in beautiful grounds, and an extensive park, near the site of the former residence of the abbots. Vast sums have also been spent by him on the improvement of the estate; the rebuilding of farmhouses and cottages, so as to make the village a model one in every way. The Abbey, which is constructed throughout of Ancaster stone, and in the style of James I., is the repository of objects of art, of natural history, and of antiquarian interest, collected by Sir Joseph Banks, J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., and more recently by the Right Honble. E. Stanhope, sufficient to form a museum.

A subject of interest which has not yet been noticed is two tumuli, or barrows, in the parish, on the left hand, close to the road, and not many yards south of the Red Lion Inn. They were considered by the antiquarian Stukeley (“Itin Curios,” p. 23) to have been the burial place of two British kings, and probably also connected with the religious services of the Druids. They stand in an enclosure, the breadth of which, he says, “is 100 Celtic feet, and the length 300.”