[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 totell. 

Born within almost a mile of Horncastle, and only by a few monthsescaping being born in it, since his father, on first coming to theneighbourhood, resided for a time in Horncastle, {0} the author, from hisearliest years (except for periodical absences) has been connected withthe life, social or civil, of the place, probably more closely and morecontinuously, than any other person living, in like circumstances. 

The notes on which this compilation is based were begun more than 30years ago. While writing a volume of _Records of more than_ 30 _Parishesaround Horncastle_, published in 1904; and, before that, while describingabout 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, andfamiliarized to him by a life-long connection. 

For this purpose sources of information have been tapped in everypossible direction; of public institutions, the official records, andtitle deeds, where available, have been carefully consulted; especiallyshould be here mentioned various deeds and charters, which are quoted inChapter II, from the archives of Carlisle Cathedral, which have nothitherto been brought before the public, but of which the author has beenallowed free use, through the courtesy of the librarian. These are ofspecial value, from the long connection of the Manor of Horncastle withthe See of Carlisle. 

In other cases the author has been allowed the privilege of more privatetestimony; for instance, his old friend, the late Mr. John Overton (of ahighly respectable family, for generations connected with the town andcounty), has most kindly given him the use of various family MS. Notes, bearing on parish and other matters. Mr. Henry Sharp has freely assistedhim with most varied information, derived from long years of connectionwith the town, in public or private capacity. The late Mr. HenryBoulton, ancestrally connected with various parts of the county, wasremarkable for a mind stored with memories of persons and things, in townand neighbourhood, which he freely communicated to the author, who sawmuch of him in his later years. While, last but not least, the late Mr. William Pacey, whether in his “Reminisences of Horncastle, ” which hecontributed to the public newspapers, or in his personal conversations, which the present writer enjoyed for many years, yielded up to himtreasure, collected by an indefatigable student of local lore, whoentered into such work _con amore_. 

To all these the author would now fully, and gratefully, acknowledge hisindebtedness; but for them this work could not have been produced inanything like its present fulness. In some of the matters dealt with, asfor instance in the accounts of the Grammar School, as well as in otherportions, he may fairly say, in the language of “the pious Æneas”(slightly modified), “quorum pars (ipse) fui, ” (Æneid ii, 6); and inthese he has drawn not a few of the details from his own recollections. 

In stringing these records together, of such varied character, and onsubjects so numerous, he cannot but be conscious that, in the endeavourto 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 beingtoo diffuse, or even needlessly prolix. Others not sharing his owninterest in the subjects treated of, may think that he has occasionally“ridden his hobby too hard. ” If this should be the judgment of any ofhis readers, he would crave their indulgence out of consideration for themotive. 

These are the days of historic “Pageants, ” drawn from life, and withliving actors to illustrate them. We have also our “Gossoping Guides, ”to enable the tourist to realize more fully the meaning of the sceneswhich he visits. From both of these the author “has taken his cue. ” Hehad to cater for a variety of tastes; and while, for the general readerhe 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 otherold time memories, can still afford _pabulum_ for the more educatedstudent, or the special antiquary. 

Like the composer of a Pageant play, his endeavour has been rather toclothe the scenes, which he conjures up, with the flesh and blood ofquickened reality, than in the bare skin and bones of a dry-as-dust’srigid skeleton. How far he has succeeded in this he leaves to others todecide; for himself he can honestly say, that it has not been from lackof care, enquiry, or labour, if he has fallen short of the ideal aimedat. 

 [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 101to 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, weare often compelled to be content with little more than reasonableconjecture. Still, there are generally certain surviving data, inplace-names, natural features, and so forth, which enable those who candetect them, and make use of them, to piece together something like aconnected outline of what we may take, with some degree of probability, as an approximation to what have been actual facts, although lacking, atthe time, the chronicler to record them. 

It is, however, by no means a mere exercise of the imagination, if weassume that the site of the present Horncastle was at a distant period aBritish settlement. {1a} Dr. Brewer says, “nearly three-fourths of ourRoman towns were built on British sites, ” (Introduction to _Beauties ofEngland_, p. 7), and in the case of Horncastle, although there is nothingBritish in the name of the town itself, yet that people have undoubtedlyhere left their traces behind them. The late Dr. Isaac Taylor {1b} says, “Rivers and mountains, as a rule, receive their names from the earliestraces, towns and villages from later colonists. ” The ideas of thoseearly occupants were necessarily limited. The hill which formed theirstronghold against enemies, {1c} or which was the “high place” of theirreligious rites, {1d} and the river which was so essential to their dailyexistence, of these they felt the value, and therefore naturallydistinguished them by name before anything else. Thus the remark of aneloquent writer is generally true, who says “our mountains and riversstill murmur the voices of races long extirpated. ” “There is hardly(says Dr. Taylor {2a}) throughout the whole of England a river name whichis not Celtic, ” _i. E. _ British. 

As the Briton here looked from the hill-side, down upon the valleybeneath him, two of the chief objects to catch his eye would be thestreams which watered it, and which there, as they do still, united theirforces. They would then also, probably, form a larger feature in theprospect than they do at the present day, for the local beds of graveldeposit would seem to indicate that these streams were formerly ofconsiderably greater volume, watering a wider area, and probably havingramifications which formed shoals and islands. {2b} The particular namesby which the Briton designated the two main streams confirm thissupposition. In the one coming from the more distant wolds, he saw astream bright and clear, meandering through the meadows which itfertilized, 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 runsa shorter and more rapid course, he saw a more turbid current, and to ithe gave the name “Waring, ” {2d} which is the Celtic “garw” or “gerwin, ”meaning “rough. ” Each of these names, then, we may regard as what thepoet Horace calls “nomen præsente notâ productum, ” {2e} they are as goodas coin stamped in the mint of a Cunobelin, or a Caradoc, bearing his“image and superscription, ” and after some 17 centuries of change, theyare in circulation still. So long as Horncastle is watered by the Bainand the Waring she will bear the brand of the British sway, onceparamount in her valley. 

These river names, however, are not the only relics of the Britons foundin Horncastle. Two British urns were unearthed about 50 years ago, whereis now the garden of the present vicarage, and another was found in theparish of Thornton, about a mile from the town, when the railway wasbeing made in 1856. The latter the present writer has seen, although itis now unfortunately lost. {2f}

These Britons were a pastoral race, as Cæsar, their conqueror, tells us, {2g} not cultivating much corn, but having large flocks and herds, livingon the milk and flesh of their live stock, and clad in the skins ofthese, or of other animals taken in the chase. The well-watered pasturesof the Bain valley would afford excellent grazing for their cattle, whilethe extensive forests {2h} of the district around would provide them withthe recreations of the chase, which also helped to make them the skilledwarriors which the Romans found them to be. {3} Much of these forestsremained even down to comparatively recent times, and very large treeshave been dug up, black with age, in fields within four or five miles ofHorncastle, within very recent years, which the present writer has seen. 

Such were some of the earlier inhabitants of this locality, leaving theirundoubted traces behind them, but no “local habitation” with a name; forthat we are first indebted to the Romans, who, after finding the Briton afoe not unworthy of his steel, ultimately subjugated him and found himnot an inapt pupil in Roman arts and civilization. Of the aptitude ofthe Briton to learn from his conquerors we have evidence in the fact, mentioned by the Roman writer Eumenius, that when the Emperor Constantiuswished to rebuild the town Augustodunum (now Antun) in Gaul, about theend of the 3rd century, he employed workmen chiefly from Britain, suchwas 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 haveancestors of whom we have no occasion to be ashamed. They had aChristian church more than 300 years before St. Augustine visited ourshores. They yet survive in the sturdy fisher folk of Brittany; in thosestout miners of Cornwall, who in the famed Botallack mine have boredunder the ocean bed, the name Cornwall itself being Welsh (_i. E. _British) for corner land; in the people who occupy the fastnesses of theWelsh mountains, as well as in the Gaels of the Scottish Highlands andthe Erse of Ireland. Their very speech is blended with our own. Doesthe country labourer go to the Horncastle tailor to buy coat andbreeches? His British forefather, though clad chiefly in skins, calledhis 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 atYork, where more than one Roman Emperor lived and died, but Lindum, nowLincoln, was an important station. About A. D. 71 Petillius Cerealis wasappointed governor of the province by the Emperor Vespasian, he wassucceeded by Julius Frontinus, both being able generals. From A. D. 78 to85 that admirable soldier and administrator, Julius Agricola, over-ranthe whole of the north as far as the Grampians, establishing forts in alldirections, and doubtless during these and the immediately succeedingyears, a network of such stations would be constructed in our owncountry, connected by those splendid highways which the Romans carried, by the forced labour of the natives, through the length and breadth oftheir vast empire. 

Coins of nearly all the Roman Emperors have been found at Horncastle; onewas 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 beensupplied by the Rev. J. A. Penny, Vicar of Wispington, who has them inhis own possession. 

Consular, denarius, silver. Œs 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 Sæmias, 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 5¼-in. , breadth 6½-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 inGaul and Britain, and which must have been set up during his period ofoffice, about A D. 267. The site of this was the point of intersectionof the two main streets, which would be the centre of the Roman Forum atLindum, one of these streets leading to Horncastle; from Horncastle alsothere 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 byStukeley, the antiquarian, and by others following him, {5b} to have beenthe Roman Banovallum or “Fort on the Bain, ” mentioned by the Romangeographer of Ravenna; {5c} although, however, most probably correct, this is a mere conjecture. On the road between Horncastle and Lincoln wehave the village of Baumber, also called Bamburgh, and this latter formof the name might well mean a “burgh, ” or fort, on the Bain, the riverrunning just below the village. The two names, however, might well existat 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 thebodies and hands of the Britons in opening out the forests, and paving orfortifying the roads, ” and we can well imagine that those skilledgenerals would see the advantageous position for a stronghold in theangle formed by the junction of the two rivers, and would employ thesubjugated Britons of the locality in constructing, it may be, at firstonly a rude fort, protected on two sides by the streams and in the rearby a “vallum, ” or embankment, and that on the site thus secured andalready a native stronghold, they would, at a later period, erect the“castrum, ” of which massive fragments still remain, testifying to itsgreat strength. 

These remains, indeed, in almost their whole course can be traced throughpresent-day gardens and back premises, shewing the four sides of anirregular parallelogram. Their dimensions, roughly speaking, are on thenorth and south sides about 600-ft. , by about 350-ft. At the eastern, and300-ft. At the western end, their thickness being about 16-ft. Thematerial employed was the Spilsby sandstone, obtainable within fivemiles, cemented by course grouting poured into the interstices betweenthe massive blocks. These walls inclose a portion of the High Street asfar eastward as the site of the present Corn Exchange, westward theyinclude the present manor house and form the boundary of the churchyardin that direction. On the north they run at the back of the houses onthat 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 supposedthat, originally as built by the Romans, they had an external coating ofneat 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 tothe eastern wall of the castle, is a Roman well; there is another closeto the north-east angle of the castle walls, in what is called Dog-kennelYard, and a third just within the western wall, near the present NationalSchools. 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} asit is still called, running north-west, and connecting it with the Romanstation Lindum; from this, at Baumber, {6b} distant about 4 miles, abranch running northwards led to the Roman Castrum, now Caistor; (2nd)north-eastwards _via_ West Ashby, being the highway to Louth, the RomanLuda; (3rd) eastwards, by High Toynton, Greetham, &c, to Waynflete, theRoman Vain-ona; (4th) southward, by Dalderby, Haltham, &c. , to LeedsGate, Chapel Hill, and there crossing the river Witham to Sleaford andAncaster, the Roman Causennæ, situated on the great Roman Ermin Street. This also was continued to another Roman Castrum, now Castor, nearPeterborough; (5th) south-west, by Thornton, &c. , to Tattershall, locallysupposed to have been the Roman Durobrivæ, and where traces of a Romancamp still remain. 

Besides these Roman _viæ_ and Roman coins, quite an abundance of Romanpottery has from time to time been unearthed, and fragments arecontinually being found in gardens in the town. A collection of these, probably cinerary urns, was preserved until quite recently in the libraryof 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 bookswere stowed away in a room at the workhouse, a valuable collection, andthe urns were sold by the late Mr. Joseph Willson, who acted as soletrustee. Other Roman relics have been fragments of mortars of whiteclay, found on the site of the present union, one bearing the word“fecit, ” though the maker’s name was lost. Portions also of Samian warehave been found, one stamped with a leopard and stag, another bearingpart of the potter’s name, ILIANI; with fragments of hand-mills, fibulæ, &c. {7b} The present writer has two jars, or bottles, of buff colouredware, of which about a dozen were dug up when the foundations of theworkhouse were being laid in 1838, they are probably Samian, a friendhaving exactly similar vessels which she brought from Cyprus. The writerhas in his possession the head of a porphyritic mallet which was found ina 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 6½ inches long and weighs 3-lb. 9-oz. 

 [Picture: Hammer Head, found near the Wong, length 6⅝-in. , width 3⅞-in. Weight 3½-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 madein 1896. The owner of a garden near Queen Street, in the south-easternpart of the town, was digging up an apple tree when he came across a finebed of gravel. Continuing the digging, in order to find the thickness ofthis deposit, his spade struck against a hard substance, which proved tobe a lead coffin. After this had been examined by others invited toinspect it, without any satisfactory result, the present writer wasrequested to conduct further investigation. The coffin was found to be5-ft. 2-in. In length, containing the skeleton, rather shorter, of afemale. A few days later a second coffin was found, lying parallel tothe first, 5-ft. 7-in. In length, the bones of the skeleton within beinglarger and evidently those of a male. Subsequently fragments of decayedwood and long iron nails and clamps were found, showing that the leadencoffins had originally been enclosed in wooden cases. Both these coffinslay 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 leadhad an admixture of tin they were Roman, if no tin, post-Roman. The leadwas afterwards analysed by Professor Church, of Kew, and by theanalytical chemist of Messrs. Kynoch & Co. , of Birmingham, with theresult that there was found to be a percentage of 1. 65 of tin to 97. 08 oflead and 1. 3 of oxygen, “the metal slightly oxidised. ” It was thusproved that the coffins were those of Romans, their “orientation”implying that they were Christian. It should be added that three similarcoffins were found in the year 1872, when the foundations were being laidof the New Jerusalem Chapel in Croft Street, within some 100 yards of thetwo already described; and further, as confirmatory of their being Roman, a lead coffin was also found in the churchyard of Baumber, on therestoration of the church there in 1892, this being close to the Romanroad (already mentioned) between the old Roman stations Banovallum andLindum. Lead coffins have also been found in the Roman cemeteries atColchester, York, and at other places. {8}

As another interesting case of Roman relics found in Horncastle, I givethe following:—In 1894 I exhibited, at a meeting of our ArchæologicalSociety, some small clay pipes which had recently been dug up along witha copper coin of the Emperor Constantine, just within the western wall ofthe old castle, near the present Manor House. They were evidently veryold and of peculiar make, being short in stem with small bowl set at anobtuse angle. They were said at the time to be Roman, but since tobaccowas not introduced till the reign of Elizabeth that idea was rejected. In the year 1904, however, a large quantity of fragments of similar claypipes were found in the ruins of the Roman fort of Aliso, near Halterenon the river Lippe, in Western Germany, some of rude structure, somedecorated with figures and Roman characters. They were lying at a depthof 9 feet below the surface, and had evidently lain undisturbed since thetime of the Roman occupation. From the marks upon them it was manifestthat they had been used, and it is now known from the statements of theRoman historian Pliny, and the Greek Herodotus, that the use of narcoticfumes was not unknown to the Romans, as well as to other ancient nations;the material used was hemp seed and cypress grass. In the BerlinEthnological Museum, also, vessels of clay are preserved, which aresupposed to have been used for a like purpose. This discovery, then, atHorncastle is very interesting as adding to our Roman remains, and we maypicture to ourselves the Roman sentinel taking his beat on the old castlewalls and solacing himself, after the manner of his countrymen, with hispipe. (An account of this later discovery is given in a Germanscientific review for August, 1904, quoted _Standard_, August 12, 1904). 

Of what may be called the close of this early historic period inconnection with Horncastle there is little more to be said. The Romanforces withdrew from Britain about A. D. 408. The Britons harried bytheir northern neighbours, the Picts and Scots, applied for assistance tothe Saxons, who, coming at first as friends, but led to stay by theattractions of the country, gradually over-ran the land and themselves inturn over-mastered the Britons, driving them into Wales and Cornwall. The only matter of interest in connection with Horncastle, in thisstruggle between Saxon and Briton, is that about the end of the 5thcentury the Saxon King Horsa, with his brother Hengist, who had greatlyimproved the fort at Horncastle, were defeated in a fight at Tetford bythe Britons under their leader Raengeires, and the British King causedthe 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, wereharassed by marauding incursions of the Danes, {9} which continued, though temporarily checked by Kings Egbert and Alfred, through manyyears, both nations eventually settling side by side, until both alike inthe 11th century became subject to their Norman conquerors. The tracesof these peoples are still apparent in Horncastle and its soke, since ofits 13 parish names, three, High Toynton, Low Toynton and Roughton havethe Saxon suffix “ton”; three, Mareham-on-the-Hill, Mareham-le-Fen andHaltham 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 ancientlyHyrne-ceastre, _i. E. _ the castle in the corner, {10} or angle, formed bythe junction of the two rivers; that junction was, within comparativelymodern times, not where it is now, but some 200 yards eastward, on theother side of the field called “The Holms, ” where there is still a muddyditch. 

So far our account of the town has been based mainly upon etymologicalevidence, derived from river and place names, with a few scanty andscattered records. As we arrive at the Norman period we shall have todeal with more direct documentary testimony, which may well form anotherchapter. 

CHAPTER II. RECORDS OF THE MANOR, &c. , FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST. 

A recent historian {11a} has said “In the 13th century the northerncounties of England were so unsettled that there was little securitynorth of the Humber, and in 1250 the powerful Bishop of Carlisle found itnecessary to buy the manor of Horncastle (his own residence in the north, Rose Castle, having been destroyed by marauders), and the Pope grantedhim the Parish Church (of Horncastle) for his use;” {11b} but we cancarry our history back to a considerably earlier period than this. As aformer Roman station, doubtless, and of even earlier origin than that, Horncastle had become a place of some importance, and so, even before theNorman 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 hissuccessor, the Conqueror. Its subsequent history for a few years we donot know, but in the reign of Stephen the manor was held by Adelias, orAdelidis, (Alice or Adelaide) de Cundi, daughter of William de Cheney{11c} (a name still known in the county), who was Lord of Glentham andCaenby, two parishes near Brigg. She had a castle in this town, the siteof which is not now known, but it was probably a restoration in whole, orin part, of the old fortress. She took part against the King in hisquarrel with the Empress Maud, and her estates were confiscated byStephen, they were, however, subsequently restored to her on conditionthat 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 ofCarlisle, and Treasurer of the Exchequer under Henry III. In the reignof Richard II. Roger la Scrope and Margaret his wife, with Robert Tibetotand son, his wife, as descendants of Gerbald de Escald, {12d} put in aclaim for the manor and obtained letters patent, by which the episcopalpossessor was bound to do them homage, but this was only for a briefperiod, and they then disappear from the scene. 

The manor remained a possession of the bishops of Carlisle until thereign of Edward VI. , when, by licence of the King, it was sold by BishopAldrich in 1547 to Edward, Lord Clinton. {12e} In the reign of Mary hewas compelled to re-convey it to the see of Carlisle. {12f} QueenElizabeth took a lease of it under the then possessing bishop, in whichshe was succeeded by James I. He assigned it to Sir Edward Clinton, knt. , but through neglect of enrolment this became void. {12g} In thereign of Charles II. The former charters were renewed, {12h} and thebishops of Carlisle remained lords of the manor until 1856, when it wastransferred, with the patronage of some of the benefices within the soke, to the Bishop of Lincoln. Thus from the reign of Edward the Confessor tothat of Charles II. , a period of about 600 years, broken by briefintervals of alienation, Horncastle was connected with royalty. 

The lease of the manor was held, under the bishops of Carlisle by SirJoseph Banks and his ancestors for nearly a century, the lease of SirJoseph himself being dated 21 March, 1803, and renewed 1 June, 1811. Hedied in 1820 and was succeeded by his relative the Honble. James HamiltonStanhope and, three years later, by James Banks Stanhope, Esq. , then aminor, who, at a later period (in 1885) transferred all his rights to hiscousin, the late Right Honble. Edward Stanhope, whose widow became ladyof the manor and at whose death, in 1907, the lordship reverted to theHonble. Richard Stanhope, son of the present Earl Stanhope. Mr. BanksStanhope died January 18th, 1904, aged 82, having been a generousbenefactor to Horncastle and the neighbourhood. 

We have here given a very condensed account of the ownership of thismanor from the reign of Edward the Confessor to the present time, aperiod of nearly 840 years. Having had access to the episcopal archivesof Carlisle, so long connected with Horncastle, we are able to confirmseveral of the above details from documents still existing, which we nowproceed to do. 

It has been stated that the manor of Horncastle was conferred upon QueenEditha by her husband, Edward the Confessor. In confirmation of this wefind the following: In the reign of Charles I. The Vicar of Horncastle, Thomas Gibson, presented a petition claiming tithe for certain millscalled “Hall Mills, ” with a close adjoining called “Mill Holmes, ” asbelonging to the glebe. The tenant, William Davidson, resisted, arguingthat he had paid no tithes to the previous vicar, Robert Holingshed, thatthe mills were erected before the conquest and were part of the jointureof Queen Editha, as stated in _Domesday Book_, and were therefore part ofthe manor, not of the vicar’s glebe. The result is not recorded, butdoubtless the tenant was right. {13a} The passage here quoted from_Domesday Book_ is the following: “In Horncastre Queen Editha had 3carucates of land, free of gelt. This land is now 4 carucates. The Kinghas there 2 carucates in demesne (_i. E. _ as his manor), with 29 villeinsand 12 bordars, who have (among them) 3 carucates. There are 2 millsworth 26s. Yearly, and 100 acres of meadow. In King Edward’s time theannual value was £20, now it is £44. ” {13b} These two mills and themeadow were doubtless those in dispute between the vicar and tenant inthe reign of Charles I. , the date of _Domesday_ being about 1085, or 540years earlier. They were plainly part of the royal manor and not at allconnected with the glebe. 

All this, however, proves that the manor of Horncastle belonged to KingEdward the Confessor before the conquest, and 360 acres of it wereassigned to his consort, Queen Editha. The expansion of the 3 carucatesinto 4, mentioned in _Domesday Book_, was probably (as in many otherrecorded cases) due to the reclamation of land hitherto waste in flood orforest. 

On the death of King Edward in 1066 the royal demesnes naturally passedto his successor and kinsman, William the Conqueror, and in due course tothe 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 formany years law courts were hardly yet established, the royal power beingrather that of “might” than of “right. ” {13c} Even the sale, ordevising, of property could only be legally effected by the king’slicence. Among the Carlisle papers connected with Horncastle is onewhich shows that a matter which in modern times would be settled by theparish overseers, or more recently by the Urban Council, was to beformerly carried out only by the royal sanction. There is a Patent Rollof the 13th year of King Richard II. (pt. 1, m. 3) entitled “Concerningthe paving of Horncastre, ” and running as follows:—“The King to theBailiff and proved men of the vill of Horncastre, greeting. Know, thatin aid of paving your said vill, of our special grace we have granted toyou, that from the day of the making of these presents to the end of 3years, you may take, for things coming to the said vill for sale, thecustoms underwritten. ” Then follows a long list of articles for sale, ofwhich we can only specify a few here, viz. : “For every horse load ofcorn, ¼d. , for every dole of wine, 2d. ; for every pipe of ditto, 1s. ; forevery hide, fresh, salt, or tanned, ¼d. ; for 100 skins of roebucks (itseems that there were wild deer in those days), hares, rabbits, foxes, orsquirrels, ½d. ; for every horse load of cloth, ½d. ; for every cloth ofworstede, called ‘coverlyt, ’ value 40s. , 1d. ; for every 100 of linen webof Aylesham, 1d. ; for every chief of strong cendal (silk) 1d. ; for 100mullets, salt or dry, 1d. ; for every cart of fish, 1d. ; for every horseload of sea fish, ¼d. ; for every salmon, ¼d. ; for every last of herrings(12 barrels), 6d. ; for every horse load of honey, 1d. ; for every wey oftallow (256 lbs. ), 1d. ; for every milstone, ½d. ; for 1, 000 turfs, ¼d. For every other kind of merchandise not here specified, of value 5s. Andover, ¼d. ; and the term of 3 years being ended, the said customs shallcease. Witness the King, at Westminster, 9 Nov. , 1389. ”

Truly the kingly government was a paternal one to take cognizance of suchpetty local matters. The “coggle” pavement of Horncastle is oftencomplained 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, FitzHugh de Cressy, ” (and others) assigning them “to choose and array 100 menat arms in the County of Lincoln, ” and (among others) “6 hoblers in thevill of Horncastre, to be at Portsmouth, to set out with the King againstPhilip VI. , de Valesco (Valois). ” This was the beginning of the campaignof Edward and his son the Black Prince, which terminated with theglorious battle of Cressy and the capture of Calais. “Hoblers” were asort of yeomanry who, by the terms of their tenure of land were bound tokeep a light “nag” for military service. 

A Domestic State Paper of Queen Elizabeth (Vol. 51, No. 12, III) containsthe “Certificate of the town and soke of Horncastle to the artycles ofthe Queen’s Majesty’s most Honorable Pryvye Councell, ” dated 27 June, 1569, shewing what “soldiers were furnished and went forth under CaptaineCarsey. ” 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), andothers. 

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 ofCarlisle. They sold their property, in 1575, to Thomas Cecil, son ofLord Treasurer Burleigh. 

There is another Carlisle document in connection with these trained bandsamong the same Domestic State Papers of Queen Elizabeth (Vol. 199, No. 7), in which the Earl of Rutland writes to Anthony Thorold, sheriff, thathe has instructions “from the Lords of the Counsaile to put in strengththe power of the realme for the maritime counties, ” and he asks him to“choose captaines for the yet untrained companies, and to supply theplace of Mr. John Savile for Horncastle. ” N. B. —The Saviles owned PoolhamHall in Edlington. On this (State Papers, Eliz. , Vol. 199, No. 72) theEarl writes to Mr. Valentine Brown that he thinks him “meete to supplythe place for Horncastle, ” dated London, 29 March, 1586–7. Sir ValentineBrown was of Croft and East Kirkby, and Treasurer of Ireland; he marriedthe daughter of Sir John Monson, ancestor of the present Lord Oxenbridge. 

Among the Domestic State Papers of Charles I. (Vol. 376, No. 123), is apetition from the inhabitants of Horncastle to Sir Anthony Irbie, Knt. , sheriff of the county, complaining that the town was over-rated for thepayment of “ship-money, ” and praying for a reduction of the same. Thecounty was charged £8, 000. 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 weremade in 1641. The five judges who pronounced in its favour wereimprisoned, and Hampden received a wound in a skirmish with PrinceRupert, from which he died, June 24, 1643. Petitions were also presentedto 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 washeld by Adelias, or Adelidis, de Cundi. How this came about is not quiteclear, whether it was inherited from her father, William de Cheney, whowas probably among the Normans invited to immigrate by Edward theConfessor, since it would seem that at the time of the conquest he wasalready a large owner in the county, or from her husband, Robert deCundi, a Fleming, probably named from the town and fortress of Conde onthe frontier of France, situated on the Scheldt, in the department duNord. There is, however, evidence to show that she had other possessionsof considerable value apparently in her own right in Nottinghamshire andKent, as well as Lincolnshire. {16a} She is described by the oldchronicler, Geoffrey Gairmar, {16b} as a great patroness of learning andliterature. 

The Cheneys, or Chesneys, were apparently of foreign extraction, asimplied by their appellation “de Casineto. ” They had considerableinfluence at various periods, one of them being knighted, another made abaron by Queen Elizabeth. {16c} One, Robert de Cheney, was a powerfulBishop of Lincoln (A. D. 1147–67) and built one of the finest castles inEngland, the ruins of which still remain in the Palace grounds atLincoln. {16d} The Cheney pedigree is given in _The Genealogist_ ofJuly, 1901. They seem to have settled in Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, as well as in Lincolnshire. Sir Thomas Cheney, K. G. , was Lord Warden ofthe Cinque Ports in the latter part of the 16th century. The Cheneysfell into decay towards the end of the 17th century, and at the beginningof the 18th century we find them in trade at Boston. About 1750 WilliamGarfit of Boston married Mary, daughter of Thomas Cheney, and the name, as a Christian name, still survives in that family. The Cheneys, we mayadd, were among the ancestors of the Willoughbys, {16e} and the parish ofCheneys, in Bucks. , doubtless named after them, is now the property ofthe Duke of Bedford. 

The granddaughter of Adelias de Cundi, Agnes, {16f} married Walter, sonof Walter de Clifford of Clifford Castle, Hereford. Walter Clifford isnamed in the first great charter of Henry III. (A. D. 1216), along withthe 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 mentionedin the charters of Barlings Abbey as giving to that monastery lands inCaenby and Glentham, along with the above Walter de Lacy. The greatfeature of the reign of Stephen was the large number of castles erectedby lords who were almost more powerful than their sovereign, and Adeliasbuilt her castle at Horncastle, where she resided in great state until, on her favouring the cause of the Empress Maud, daughter of the previousking, Henry I. (whereas Stephen was only his nephew), her lands wereconfiscated, and, as we have already seen, only restored on conditionthat 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 Flemishnoble. {17b} This is shewn by a record still preserved at Carlisle, dated 1274–5. In the reign of Edward I. An inquisition was made atLincoln, before 12 jurors of the soke of Horncastle, among theCommissioners being John de Haltham, Anselm de Rugthon (Roughton), Thomasde Camera (_i. E. _ Chambers) of Horncastre, the King’s Justices andothers, when it was declared that “the Lord Henry III. , the father ofKing Edward who now is, once had the manor of Horncastre, and heenfeoffed Gerbald de Escald, a knight of Flanders, thereof, for hisservice, viz. , by doing one knight’s fee for the Lord the King. ”

Gerbald was succeeded by his grandson and heir, Gerard de Rhodes. Thisis shewn by a Carlisle document. {17c} A dispute arose between Hugh, sonof Ralph (surname not given) and Gerard de Rhodes, concerning the manorand soke of Horncastle, the advowson of the church, &c. , which wereclaimed by the said Hugh; but a compromise was effected, 400 marks beingpaid to Hugh, and Gerard de Rhodes left in undisputed possession. 

It has been thought probable that this Ralph, father of Hugh, wasRanulph, Earl of Chester, who was lord of the manors of Revesby andHareby, and had other possessions in the neighbourhood. He, it issupposed, held the manor of Horncastle, as trustee, during the minorityof 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 aFeet of Fines, {17d} which records an “agreement made in the court of theLord King at Westminster (3 Feb. , A. D. 1224–5), between Henry del Ortiayand Sabina his wife on the one part, and the said Ralph de Rhodes on theother part, ” whereby the former acknowledge certain lands andappurtenances in Horncastle and its soke to be the property of the saidRalph, and he grants to them, as his tenants, certain lands; they, inacknowledgement, “rendering him therefor, by the year, one pair of giltspurs at Easter for all service and exactions. ”

We have now reached another stage in the tenure of this manor and findourselves once more at the point where the present chapter opened. Hitherto the manor had been held “in capite” (or “in chief”) of the kingby 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 ofCarlisle, purchased the manor from Ralph de Rhodes. He was himself apowerful Norman and held the office of Treasurer of the Exchequer (acommon combination of civil and ecclesiastical duties in those days), butnow he and his successors were bound “to do suit and service to Ralph andhis heirs. ” This purchase is proved by a Lincoln document called a “PleaQuo 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 inHorncastre, 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 theheirs of Ralph is shown by another document, {18b} in which John, son ofGerard de Rhodes, a descendant of Ralph, makes a grant to certain partiesof “the homage and whole service of the Bishop of Carlisle, and hissuccessors, for the manor (&c. ) of Horncastre, which Gerard, son ofGerard my brother, granted to me. ” This is dated the 13th year of EdwardI. , 1285, whereas the actual sale of the manor took place in the reign ofHenry 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 forthis reason, an ecclesiastic of high rank, with the authority of the Popeof Rome at his back, was a more powerful subject than any lay baron, andthis influence soon shewed itself, for while the lay lords of the manorhad been content with doing their service to the king, and exactingservice from those holding under them, the Bishop of Carlisle, in thefirst year of his tenure, obtained from the king three charters, conferring on the town of Horncastle immunities and privileges, which hadthe effect of raising the town from the status of little more than avillage to that of the general mart of the surrounding country. Thefirst of these charters gave the bishop, as lord of the manor, the rightof free warren throughout the soke {18d}; the second gave him licence tohold an annual fair two days before the feast of St. Barnabas (June 11), to continue eight days; the third empowered him to hang felons. Anadditional charter was granted in the following year empowering thebishop to hold a weekly market on Wednesday (die Mercurii), which wasafterwards changed to Saturday, on which day it is still held; also tohold another fair on the eve of the Feast of St. Laurence (Aug. 10th), tocontinue seven days. {18e}

We here quote a few words of the original Carlisle charter, as shewingthe style of such documents in those days: “Henry to all Bishops, Bailiffs, Provosts, servants, &c. , health. Know that we, by the guidanceof God, and for the health of our soul, and of the souls of our ancestorsand descendants, have granted, and confirmed by this present charter, toGod, and the church of the blessed Mary of Carlisle, and to the VenerableFather, Walter, Bishop of Carlisle, ” &c. It then goes on to specify, among other privileges, that the bishop shall have “all chattells offelons and fugitives, all amerciaments and fines from all men and tenantsof the manor and soke; that the bishop and his successors shall be quitfor ever to the king of all mercies, fines (&c. ), that no constable ofthe king shall have power of entry, but that the whole shall pertain tothe said bishop, except attachments touching pleas of the crown, and thatall chattells, &c. , either in the king’s court, or any other, shall bethe bishop’s. ” Then follow cases in which chattells of Robert Mawe, afugitive, were demanded by the bishop, and £24 exacted from the townshipof Horncastle in lieu thereof; also 40s. From William, son of Drogo deHorncastre, for trespass, and other fines from Ralph Ascer, bailiff. Robert de Kirkby, &c. , &c. The same document states that the bishop hasa gallows (furcæ) at Horncastle for hanging offenders within the soke;and, in connection with this we may observe that in the south of the townis still a point called “Hangman’s Corner. ”

These extensive powers, however, would hardly seem (to use the words ofthe charter) to have been “for the good of the souls” of the bishop orhis successors, since they rather had the effect of leading him to theabuse of his rights. Accordingly, in the reign of Edward III. , a pleawas entered at Westminster, before the King’s Justices, {19a} by whichJohn, Bishop of Carlisle, was charged with resisting the authority of theking in the matter of the patronage of the benefice of Horncastle. Thatbenefice was usually in the gift of the bishop, but the rector, Simon deIslip, had been appointed by the king Archbishop of Canterbury and, insuch circumstances, the crown by custom presents to the vacancy. Thebishop resisted and proceeded to appoint his own nominee, but thejudgment of the court was against him. 

A somewhat similar case occurred a few years later. {19b} Thomas deAppleby, the Bishop of Carlisle, and John de Rouseby, clerk, were“summoned to answer to the Lord the King, that they permit him to appointto the church of Horncastre, vacant, and belonging to the king’s gift, byreason of the bishopric of Carlisle being recently vacant. ” It wasargued that John de Kirkby, Bishop of Carlisle, had presented Simon deIslip to that benefice, afterwards created Archbishop of Canterbury, andthat the temporalities (patronage, &c. ) of the Bishopric of Carlisletherefore (for that turn) came to the king by the death of John deKirkby, bishop. The said bishop, Thomas de Appleby, and John de Rousebybrought the case before the court, but they admitted the justice of theking’s plea and judgment was given for the king. 

We have said that although Walter Mauclerk, as Bishop of Carlisle, boughtthis manor from Ralph de Rhodes, he and his successors were still boundto “do suit and service” to Ralph and his heirs, and in the brief summarywith which this chapter opened we named Roger le Scrope and Margaret hiswife, with Robert Tibetot and Eva his wife, among those descendants ofRalph de Rhodes. We have fuller mention of them in documents which wehere quote. In a Roll of the reign of Edward I. , {19c} John, son ofGerard de Rhodes, says “Know all, present and future, that I, John, sonof Gerard, have granted, and by this charter confirmed, to the LordRobert Tibetot and Eva his wife (among other things) the homage and wholeservice of the Bishop of Carlisle, and his successors, for the manor ofHorncastre, with appurtenances, &c. , which Gerard, son of Gerard mybrother, granted to me, &c. , to have and to hold of the Lord the King . .. Rendering for them annually to me and my heirs £80 sterling. ” While inanother Roll {20a} of the reign of Richard II. , the king states thathaving inspected the above he confirms the grants, not only to the said“Robert Tybetot and his wife Eve, ” but also “to our very dear andfaithful Roger le Scrope and Margaret his wife, ” recognizing them, itwould 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 wereof high position and influence. The name of Thebetot, or Tibetot, isfound in the Battle Abbey Roll, as given by the historians Stow andHolinshed; {20b} with a slight variation of name, as Tibtofts, they wereLords of Langer, Co. Notts. , and afterwards Earls of Worcester. {20c}According to the historian, Camden, John Tibtoft was Lord-Lieutenant ofIreland under Henry VI. , created by him Earl of Worcester, but executedfor treason. {20d} His successor, John, was Lord Deputy under Edward IV. {20e} The last of the Tibetots, Robert, died without male issue; histhree daughters were under the guardianship of Richard le Scrope, whomarried the eldest daughter, Margaret, to his son Roger. This is the onenamed above in connection with Horncastle. The Tibetot property ofLanger, Notts. , thus passed to the Le Scropes, and continued in thatfamily 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 leScrope was created Earl of Wiltshire by Richard II. , but beheaded whenthat king was dethroned and murdered, in 1399. {20i} Richard le Scropewas Archbishop of York, but condemned by Henry IV. For treason. {20j}The name Le Scrope also appears in the Battle Abbey Roll of theConqueror. Thus in both Tibetots and Scropes Horncastle was connectedwith families who played a considerable part in public life. 

In the reign of Edward VI. There was a temporary change in the ownershipof this manor. Among the Carlisle Papers is one {20k} by which that kinggrants permission to Robert Aldrich, Bishop of Carlisle, to sell “to ourvery dear and faithful councellor, Edward Fynes, K. G. , Lord Clinton andSaye, High Admiral of England, the lordship and soke of Horncastre, withall rights, appurtenances, &c. , to hold to himself, his heirs and assignsfor ever, ” and that he, the said Edward, “can give and grant to the saidRobert, bishop, an annual rent of £28 6s. 8d. ” We have, however, in thiscase an illustration of the instability even of royal decrees, in that onthe demise of that worthy prince, to whom the realm and Church of Englandowe 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 thatshe “granted a licence, ” probably in effect compulsory, to the same LordClinton and Saye, “to alienate his lordship and soke of Horncastle and tore-convey it to Robert Aldrich, Bishop of Carlisle. ”

His Lordship would, however, appear to have continued to hold the manoron lease under the bishop, and to have acted in a somewhat high-handedmanner to his spiritual superior, probably under the influence of thechange in religious sentiment between the reigns of “the bloody Mary, ”and her sister Elizabeth of glorious memory. For again we find adocument {21b} of the reign of the latter, in which the Bishop ofCarlisle complains to Sir Francis Walsingham, the Queen’s Commissioner, of a “book of Horncastle, ” which the Earl of Lincoln (the new title ofLord 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 tithesof the yearly value of £28 6s. 8d. , ” the exact sum, be it observed, abovespecified 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 andthe earl is not in legal possession by his lease now ‘in esse. ’” {21c}He wages his suit “the more boldly, because of the extraordinary chargeshe has been at, from the lamentable scarcity in the country, the greatmultitude of poor people, and other charges before he came had made him apoor man, and yet he must go on with it . . . The number of them whichwant food to keep their lives in their bodies is so pitiful. If the LordWarden and he did not charge themselves a great number would die ofhunger, and some have done so, ” dated Rose Castle, 26 May, 1578. 

His lordship, however, did one good turn to the town of Horncastle infounding 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) thiswas really not strictly a foundation but a re-establishment; as a grammarschool is known to have existed in the town more than two centuriesearlier. 

We have one more record of Lord Clinton’s connection with the town, fromwhich it would appear that the Priory of Bullington, near Wragby, andKirkstead Abbey also had property in Horncastle. A Carlisle document{21d} shows that in the reign of Edward VI. Lord Clinton and Sayereceived a grant of “lands, tenements and hereditaments in Horncastle, late in the tenure of Alexander Rose and his assigns, and formerly of thedissolved monastery of Bollington; also two tenements, one house, two‘lez bark houses’ (Horncastle tanners would seem even then to haveflourished), one house called ‘le kylne howse, ’ one ‘le garthing, ’ 14terrages of land in the fields of Thornton, with appurtenances lying inHorncastle, &c. , and once belonging to the monastery of Kyrkestead. ”

As in other places the Clinton family seem to have been succeeded by theThymelbys, of these we have several records. An Escheator’s Inquisitionof the reign of Henry VIII. , {22a} taken by Roger Hilton, at Horncastle, Oct. 5, 1512, shewed that “Richard Thymylby, Esquire, was seized of themanor of Parish-fee, in Horncastre, held of the Bishop of Carlisle, as ofhis soke of Horncastre, by fealty, and a rent of £7 by the year. ” He wasalso “seized of one messuage, with appurtenances, in Horncastre, calledFool-thyng, parcel of the said manor of Parish-fee. ” {22b} The saidRichard died 3 March, 3 Henry VIII. (A. D. 1512). This was, however, byno means the first of this family connected with Horncastle. Derivingtheir name from the parish of Thimbleby, in the soke of Horncastle, wefind the first mention of a Thymelby in that parish in a post mortemInquisition of the reign of Edward III. , {22c} which shews that Nicholasde 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 inHorncastle, in the reign of Henry III. , A. D. 1248. 

Further, in the reign of Edward I. , as is shewn by a Harleian MS. , in theBritish Museum, {22e} Richard de Thymelby was Dean of Horncastle; Thomas, son of the above Nicholas de Thymelby, presented to the benefice ofRuckland in 1381, John de Thymelby presented to Tetford in 1388, and Johnagain to Somersby in 1394, {22f} and other members of the familypresented at later periods. The family continued to advance in wealthand position until in the reign of Edward VI. It was found by anInquisition {22g} that Matthew Thymelby, of Poolham (their chiefresidence in this neighbourhood), owned the manor of Thymbleby, that ofParish-fee in Horncastle and five others, with lands in eight otherparishes, and the advowsons of Ruckland, Farforth, Somersby and Tetford. He married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Hussey. Other influentialmarriages were those of John Thymelby, “Lord of Polum” (Poolham), toIsabel, {22h} daughter of Sir John Fflete, Knt. (circa 1409); William(probably) to Joan, daughter of Sir Walter Tailboys (circa 1432), {22i} aconnection of the Earl of Angus; Matthew’s widow marrying Sir RobertSavile, Knt. {22j}

 [Picture: Plan of Horncastle, 1908—from the Ordnance Survey]

In connection with the marriage of William to Joan Tailboys we maymention that the base, all that now remains, of the churchyard cross atTetford bears on its west side the Thimbleby arms “differenced” withthose of Tailboys, the north side having the Thimbleby arms pure andsimple. {24a}

Another important marriage was that of Richard Thimbleby (A. D. 1510) toElizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Godfrey Hilton of Irnham Manor nearGrantham, through which alliance that property passed to the Thimblebys. It had been granted to Ralph Paganel by the Conqueror, afterwards passedto Sir Andrew Luterel, Knt. , and later to Sir Geoffrey Hilton, Knt. Richard Thimbleby built Irnham Hall; he was succeeded by his son andheir, Sir John Thimbleby, who thus became the head of the family, whichhas in later times become almost extinct. This fine mansion, in theTudor style of architecture, standing in a deer park of more than 250acres, 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 ofEdward III. , {24c} giving an agreement made in the King’s Court atWestminster (20 Jan. , 1353–4), “between Thomas, son of Nicholas deThymelby, plaintiff, and Henry Colvile, knt. , and Margaret his wife, deforciants, ” whereby, among other property, the latter acknowledge thatcertain “messuages, one mill, ten acres of land (_i. E. _ arable), twopastures, and £7 of rent, with appurtenances, in Horncastre, Thimilby, and Bokeland (_i. E. _ Woodhall), are of the right of the said Thomas; andfor this the said Thomas gives to the said Henry and Margaret 200 marksof silver. ”

Another document of the same reign, {24d} of date 1360–1, states thatGilbert de Wilton, Bishop of Carlisle, “gives 60s. For the King’s licenceto remit to Thomas son of Nicholas de Thymelby, and John his youngerbrother, the service of being Reeve (_i. E. _ Bailiff) of the Bishop, andother services, which are due from him to the said Bishop for lands andtenements held of the said Bishop in Horncastre, ” and elsewhere. Anotherdocument, {24e} dated a few years later, shews an agreement made atWestminster, between Thomas Thymelby and his brother John, on the onepart, and Frederick de Semerton and Amice his wife, deforciants, concerning four tofts, certain land, and £7 of rent, with appurtenances, in Horncastre and contiguous parts, by which “the said Frederick andAmice acknowledge these (properties) to be of the right of the saidThomas and his brother, ” and for this Thomas pays them 100 marks ofsilver. Two other Carlisle documents of considerably later date refer tomembers of this same family of Thymelby, but are chiefly of value asintroducing to us a new name among Horncastle owners of land. 

A Chancery Inquisition {24f} taken at Horncastle, 24 Sept. , 1612, shewsthat “John Kent, of Langton, was seized in his manor of Horncastell, withthe appurtenances, called Parish-fee, and certain messuages, cottages, land and meadows in Horncastell (and elsewhere), lately purchased ofRobert Savile and Richard Thymelby, ” and “held under the Bishop ofCarlisle 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 MatthewThymelby had married Sir Robert Savile; he belonged to an old andinfluential family now represented by Lord Savile of Rufford Abbey, Notts. , and the Earl of Mexborough, Methley Park, Yorkshire. By theaforesaid marriage the bulk of the Thymelby property passed to theSaviles, and like the Thymelbys they had their chief residence, in thisneighbourhood, at Poolham Hall, owning among many other possessions theaforesaid 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 alreadyhad mention of a John Savile who was apparently captain of the “trainedband” connected with Horncastle in the reign of Elizabeth, A. D. 1586 (seep. 14); Gervase Holles mentions this John Savile as joint lord ofSomersby 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 yearslater, Richard Thymelby and Robert Savile were involved in a more thanquestionable transaction with regard to the property thus transferred. Among the Carlisle papers is a Petition in Chancery, of which we heregive the text, slightly abridged, as it is remarkable, and fittinglybrings to a close our notices of the Thymelbys in connection withHorncastle. 

To the Right Honble. Sir Francis Bacon, Knt. , Lord Chancellor of England. Complainant sheweth, on the oath of your petitioner, Evan Reignolds, ofSt. Catherine’s, Co. Middlesex, gent. , and Joan his wife, that, whereasRichard Thymelby, some time of Poleham, Co. Lincoln, Esq. , deceased, wasseized 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, calledHeirick (High-Rig, in Woodhall, near Poolham) pasture, &c. , whereofRobert Savile was seized for life, conveyed the same to his father-in-lawRobert Savile . . . The said Richard Thymelby, going up to London, negotiated to sell the property to one Richard Gardiner, and for £2, 300engaged, at his desire, to convey all to John Wooton, the £2, 300 was paidto Richard Thymelby and bargain settled July 15, 6 Elizabeth (A. D. 1564). {25b} A dispute arose in the following year between Richard Thymelby andRobert Savile, which was submitted to arbitrators (Feb. 15, 7 Elizabeth), who ordered Richard Thymelby to pay Robert Savile £1, 500, and RobertSavile should then convey all to Richard Thymelby. The £1, 500 was paidand afterwards the two “confederated to defraud the said Richard Gardinerand conveyed the said manors to John Kent. ” The judgment of the court isnot given, but neither of the defendants, surely, cut a very creditablefigure, and Richard Thymelby, suitably, we must admit, passes from thescene. 

Of the Saviles we may here give a few more particulars. Gervase Holles, the antiquary, mentions in his _Collectanea_ (vol. Iii, p. 770) JohnSavile, Esq. , as Lord of the Manor of Tetford, in this neighbourhood, inthe 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 monumentin the church of the adjoining parish of Bag Enderby). The mostdistinguished literary member of the family was Sir Henry Savile, alearned mathematician, Fellow and Warden of Merton College, Oxford, andProvost of Eton; a munificent patron of learning, founding Professorshipsof Astronomy and Geography at his University; he wrote a _Treatise onRoman Warfare_, but his great work was a translation of the writings ofSt. Chrysostom, a monument of industry and learning; he was knighted byJames I. , and his bust is carved in stone in the quadrangle of theBodleian 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 theExchequer. 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 asSant Vile, while a Chancery Inquisition (of 18 Henry VII. , No. 46, _Architectural Society’s Journal_, 1895, p. 17) gives it as Say-vile, andon the analogy of Nevill, formerly de Novâ-villâ, we may perhaps assumethat the original form was de Sanctâ-villâ (or “of the Holy City”); whichmay well have been adopted by one who had made a pilgrimage toCanterbury, 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, givesa different version of their origin. According to her they are descendedfrom the Dukes de Savelli, who again trace their lineage from the stillmore ancient Sabella in Italy. When John Savile, 2nd son of Sir JohnSavile, travelled in Italy in the time of James I. , the then Duke deSavelli received him as a kinsman. Of this family were the PopesHonorius III. And Honorius IV. A MS. Visitation in the British Museumsays “It is conceived, that this family came into England with GeoffreyPlantagenet, rather than with the Conqueror, because there are two townsof this name on the frontiers of Anjou, both of which were annexed to thecrown of England when the said Geoffrey married Maud, sole daughter andheir of Henry I. ” This is said to have been taken from the Savilepedigree in the keeping of Henry Savile of Bowlings, Esq. , living in1665. The Saviles of Methley trace their descent, in the male line, fromthis Sir John Savile of Savile Hall. One branch, the Saviles ofThornhill, are now represented in the female line by the Duke ofDevonshire, and the Savile Foljambes, one of whom is the present LordHawkesbury. The Saviles of Copley, now extinct, are represented by theDuke of Norfolk, and a younger branch by the Earls of Mexborough. Theopinion that they came from Anjou is generally accepted, the authoritiesbeing _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, whowere at various periods owners in Horncastle. In the 3rd year of KingJohn we find Gerard de Camville paying fees for land in Horncastle by hisdeputy, Hugo Fitz Richard, to the amount of £836, which was a large sumin those days. {26a} He was sheriff of the county, A. D. 1190, along withHugo. {26b} The name, however, is more known for the celebrated defenceof Lincoln Castle by Nicholaia de Camville against the besieging forcesof King Stephen in 1191, and again in her old age against Henry III. , assisted by Louis, Dauphin of France. An ancestor of William de Camvilleis named in the Battle Abbey Roll, among those Normans who came over withthe Conqueror. 

William de Lizures and Eudo de Bavent are also named as paying similarfees, though to smaller amounts. The de Lizures were a powerfulYorkshire family, who inter-married with the De Lacys of PontefractCastle and inherited some of their large estates. {27a} Among these, onewas the neighbouring manor of Kirkby-on-Bain, which would seem to havepassed to the Lady Albreda Lizures; {27b} they probably derived theirname from the town of Lisieux, near Harfleur in Normandy. We soon losesight of this family in England, and they seem to have migrated northwardand to have acquired lands in Scotland. The name De Lizures is common inScottish Cartularies, for instance in the Cartulary of Kelso, p. 257(_Notes & Queries_, series 2, vol. Xii, p. 435). In 1317 William andGregory de Lizures were Lords of Gorton, and held lands near RoslynCastle, Edinburgh (_Genealogie of the Saint Claires of Roslyn_, by FatherAugustin Hay, re-published Edinburgh, 1835), [_Notes & Queries_, 3rdseries, vol. I, p. 173]. 

The De Bavents were also a distinguished family, their connection withHorncastle survives in the name of a field in the south of the parish, onthe Rye farm, which is called “Bavent’s Close. ” A few particulars ofthis family may not be without interest. The earliest named are Richardde Bavent in 1160, {27c} and Eudo de Bavent in 1161, {27d} as holding themanor 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 northfen of Bilsby. {27f} The family seem to have gradually increased theirpossessions in this neighbourhood. In 1290, under Edward I. , we findJollan de Bavent holding lands in Billesby and Winceby, as well asMareham. {27g} In 1319, under Edward II. , Robert de Bavent holds hisland in Billesby of the King by the service of supplying “3 falcons forthe royal use, ” {27h} and, under Edward III. , certain trustees of Peterde Bavent, by his will, transfer the manor of Mareham to the convent ofRevesby, 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 timeforward we hear little of the Bavents. They may “call their lands aftertheir own names, ” “Bavent’s Close” survives, but of the whilom owner wecan 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 theAngevines. Among the Carlisle documents is one {27j} shewing that atrial was held at Horncastle (A. D. 1489–90), in which Sir Robert Dymoke, Knt. , and William Angevin, Esq. , recovered possession of 400 acres ofland, with tofts and appurtenances, in Horncastle and its soke, from JohnHodgisson and his wife, John Cracroft, Gervase Clifton (of Clifton) andothers. This family probably acquired their name thus: William theConqueror brought to England from Normandy a body of troops called the“Angevine auxiliaries” (from the province of Anjou), and theirdescendants were granted lands in various parts of the kingdom. Onefamily especially seems to have adopted this name, which was variouslyspelt as Angevine, Aungelyne, Aungeby, &c. ; they settled in various partsof this county at an early period, and Horncastle being a royal manorthey naturally were located in this neighbourhood. We find traces ofthem at Whaplode in the south, Saltfleetby in the north, andTheddlethorpe midway, in the 12th and 14th centuries. {28a} AmongLincoln records is the will of Robert Angevin, Gent. , {28b} of Langton byHorncastle, dated 25 April, 1545, in which he requests to be buried inthe 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, andhis four daughters, lands in Burnsall, Hebden, Conyseat and Norton, inthe 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 in1561, and the name also appears in the Visitation of 1562, but all tracesof the family disappear before the time of the commonwealth. 

The same Carlisle document {28d} mentions Thomas Fitz-William asconcerned in the said dispute, as being a Horncastle proprietor; while, further, another Carlisle document of the time of Henry VIII. , shows thatThomas Fitz-William, Esq. , was seized of one capital messuage, 6 othermessuages, 4 tofts and 100 acres of land in Horncastle, held of the Priorof Carlisle, and John Fitz-William was his heir. {28e} The Fitz-Williamsagain were a very ancient and distinguished family, the name is found inthe Battle Abbey Roll of William the Conqueror. The family claim descentfrom Sir William Fitz-Goderic, cousin of King Edward the Confessor. Hisson, Sir William Fitz-William, has been said (as the name might imply) tohave been really a natural son of William the Conqueror himself, {28f}but the more generally accepted version is that Fitz-Goderic was hisfather. Sir William Fitz-William accompanied the Duke of Normandy toEngland as Marshal of his army, and for his bravery at the battle ofHastings the Conqueror gave him a scarf from his own arm. A descendant, in the reign of Elizabeth, was thrice Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; he wasalso Governor of Fotheringhay Castle when the unfortunate Queen Mary ofScotland was imprisoned there, and before she was beheaded she gave him aportrait of herself, which is still preserved at Milton House, nearPeterborough, one of the seats of the Earls Fitz-William, who nowrepresent the family, Baron of Milton being their second title. A Patentof Edward IV. (A. D. 1461) {28g} shows that Richard Fitz-William had theprivilege granted to him by that King of “free warren” at Ulceby, nearAlford. 

An Inquisition in the reign of Henry VII. {29a} (A. D. 1502) shows thatThomas Fitz-William held the manors of Mavis Enderby, Maidenwell andMablethorpe. The list of magistrates for the county in the reign ofHenry VIII. {29b} contains the name of George Fitz-William along withLionel Dymoke, Lord Willoughby, and others; while an Inquisition heldfive years later {29c} shews that Thomas Fitz-William held theaforementioned manor of Ulceby, by the “service of 1 falcon annually tothe King. ” Sir William Fitz-William in the same reign {29d} was LordHigh Admiral. John Fitz-William is named in the Herald’s list of countygentry in the 16th century as residing at Skidbrook, a hamlet ofSaltfleet Haven, {29e} and William Fitz-William, Esq. , supplied “onelance and two light horse” when the Spanish Armada was expected to invadeEngland, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. {29f} William Fitz-William ofMablethorpe {29g} married, in 1536, Elizabeth daughter of Sir RobertTyrwhitt, of Kettlethorpe, a member of a very old Lincolnshire family, still owning property in this neighbourhood; and in 1644 Sir WilliamWentworth, {29h} a scion of a younger branch, married Elizabeth, daughterand co-heir of Thomas Savile, of Wakefield, whose family we have alreadymentioned as connected with Horncastle. 

In 1620 the head of the Fitz-William family was created an Irish Peer; in1742 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 hisuncle, the last Marquis of Rockingham, the Earl of that day succeeded tothe Yorkshire and Northamptonshire estates of the Wentworths, and in 1807they took the name of Wentworth as an affix. In the early part of the19th century the name became again connected with Horncastle, when EarlFitz-William, grandfather of the present Earl, hunted the local pack offoxhounds, which were kept in Horncastle, in what is still calledDog-kennel Yard, at the back of St. Lawrence Street. An old friend, formerly practicing as a Doctor in Horncastle, but lately deceased, hastold the writer that he remembered seeing the Earl’s hounds breakingcover from Whitehall Wood, in the parish of Martin. 

There is one more Carlisle document deserving of quotation as it is of apeculiar nature. A Patent Roll of the reign of Elizabeth, {29i} A. D. 1577, records that a “pardon” was granted to “Sir Thomas Cecil, Knt. , foracquiring the manor of Langton (by Horncastle) with appurtenances, and 30messuages, 20 cottages, 40 tofts, 4 dove-cotes, 40 gardens, 30 orchards, 1, 400 acres of (cultivated) land, 100 acres of wood, 100 acres of furzeand heath, 200 acres of marsh, 40s. Of rent, and common pasture, withappurtenances, in Horncastle, Thimbleby, Martin, Thornton and Woodhall, from Philip Tylney, Esq. , by fine levied without licence. ” This was asomewhat extensive acquisition. We have already recorded a more thanquestionable transaction in the transfer of land by Richard Thymelby andRobert Savile, A. D. 1564, and this transaction of Sir Thomas Cecil, 13years later, seems also to have been in some way irregular, since itneeded the royal “pardon. ”

There is nothing to show who this Philip Tylney was, who acted on thisoccasion as vendor, but Sir Thomas Cecil was the son of the great LordTreasurer Burghley, who was Secretary of State under Edward VI. , and for40 years guided the Councils of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Thomas himself wasa high official under Elizabeth and King James I. ; he was knighted in1575, received the Order of the Garter in 1601; under James I. He wasmade Privy Councillor, and having succeeded his father as Baron Burghley, was created by James Earl of Exeter. His brother Sir Robert also heldhigh office and was made in 1603 Baron Cecil, in 1604 ViscountCranbourne, 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 LordChandos. He was, doubtless, a man of large ideas and great ambition, hisroyal mistress was herself Lady of the manor of Horncastle, andHorncastle having thus been brought under his notice, he may have beentoo grasping in compassing his purposes. The Revesby Charters {30a} showthat he purchased that estate in 1575. 

We may add that the Cecils were descended from an ancient family locatedin Wales soon after the Norman Conquest, and acquired large possessionsin the reign of King Rufus; the 14th in descent was David Cecil ofStamford, Sergeant at Arms to King Henry VIII. , he was grandfather to the1st Lord Burghley. {30b} The present representatives of this old familyare the Marquis of Exeter of Burghley House, Stamford, and the Marquis ofSalisbury of Hatfield House, Herts. 

We have now reached the end of a somewhat lengthy series of ownersformerly connected with Horncastle, its manor, and its soke, bringing usdown 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. Theinformation available as to more recent periods is more meagre. TheBishops of Carlisle continued to hold the manor down to the year 1856, and various parties held leases of it under them, they themselvesresiding here from time to time, {30c} until the episcopal palace wasdemolished in 1770, when the present Manor House was erected on its site. 

We have already stated that Queen Elizabeth leased the manor from theBishop of Carlisle of that date, she was succeeded in the lease by KingJames I. , who transferred it to Sir Henry Clinton, but owing to a legalerror in that transaction, it proved void. One of the said Bishops inthe next reign was Dr. Robert Snowden, whose family were located in thisneighbourhood, his son being Vicar of Horncastle. Abigail Snowdenmarried Edward, son of Sir Edward Dymoke, Knt. , in 1654, and Jane Snowdenmarried Charles Dymoke, Esq. , of Scrivelsby Court; the former belonged tothe, so called, Tetford branch of the Dymokes, who have of late yearsalso succeeded to the Scrivelsby property. Bishop Robert Snowden granteda lease of the Horncastle manor to his kinsman, Rutland Snowden, and hisassignees for three lives; but this would appear to have been afterwardscancelled, owing to the “delinquency” of the first grantee. {31a} Thename of this Rutland Snowden appears in the list of Lincolnshire Gentrywho 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, butnot of long duration. The family of Banks are next found holding thelease, under the said bishops; the most distinguished of them being SirJoseph Banks, the eminent naturalist, and patron of science in almostevery form; who visited Newfoundland in pursuit of his favourite study;accompanied Captain Cook in his voyage to the South Seas; visited Icelandwith Dr. Solander, the pupil of Linnæus; made large natural history andantiquarian collections; {31c} became President of the Royal Society; andwas largely instrumental in forming the schemes for the drainage andinclosure of the fens; and other works of public utility. His familyacquired the Revesby Abbey estates in 1714, and were closely connectedwith 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 thislast connection, on the demise of Sir Joseph, the leased manor passed, asthe nearest male relative, to Col. The Honble. James Hamilton Stanhope, who served in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. He died three yearslater, in 1823, and was succeeded by the late James Banks Stanhope, Esq. , then a minor, and afterwards M. P. For North Lincolnshire; who, some yearsago, transferred all his manorial rights to the Right Honble. EdwardStanhope, 2nd son of the 5th Earl Stanhope, and M. P. For the HorncastleDivision. He died 22 December, 1898, and his widow, the Honble. Mrs. Stanhope of Revesby Abbey, became Lady of the Manor; this, on her deceasein 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 tothe See of Lincoln, and the Bishop of Lincoln is now _ex officio_ Patronof the Benefice. The head of the Stanhope family is still the chiefowner of property in Horncastle; other owners being the Vicar with 92acres, the representatives of the late Sigismund Trafford Southwell with67 acres, representatives of the late W. B. Walter (now Majer Traves)with 58 acres; while Coningtons, Clitherows, Rev. Richard Ward, and about100 other proprietors hold smaller portions. We have mentioned theinfluence 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 beingassigned to the manor, while the glebe of the Vicar was increased so thatit now comprises 370 acres. 

We conclude this chapter with another record of the past, which shouldnot be omitted. It is somewhat remarkable that although Horncastle hasbeen connected with so many personages of distinction as proprietors, andfor about 600 years (as already shewn) with royalty itself, as anappanage of the crown, it has only once been visited by royalty inperson. History tells {32a} that “on Sep. 12, 1406, Henry IV. Made aroyal procession” from this town (probably coming hither from BolingbrokeCastle, his birthplace), “with a great and honourable company, to theAbbey of Bardney, where the Abbot and monks came out, in ecclesiasticalstate, to meet him, ” and he was royally entertained by them. We mayperhaps assume that as his father, John of Gaunt, had a palace atLincoln, {32b} he was on his way thither, where also his half brother, Henry Beaufort, had been Bishop, but was promoted two years before thisto 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. Althoughhistorians do not generally relate it, it is locally understood that, after the Battle of Winceby, on Oct. 11, 1643, Cromwell personally cameto Horncastle to see that proper honours were paid, by the churchwarden, Mr. Hamerton, to the body of Sir Ingram Hopton, slain on that eventfulday in single combat with Cromwell himself, who pronounced him to be “abrave gentleman, ” he having, indeed, first unhorsed Cromwell. This visitwould seem to be further proved by the fact that a man, named JohnBarber, died in Horncastle, aged 95, A. D. 1855 (or 1856), whosegrandfather remembered Cromwell, on that occasion, sleeping in the housenow called Cromwell House, in West Street (or rather an older house onthe same site); while in the parish register of West Barkwith there is anentry of the burial of Nicholas Vickers, in 1719, with the additionalnote that he “guided Cromwell over Market Rasen Moor, ” in his journeynorthward after the battle. He may well, therefore, have takenHorncastle on his way. 

CHAPTER III. 

Having, so far, dealt with the more or less conjectural, prehistoricperiod of Horncastle’s existence in Chapter I, and with the Manor and itsownership in Chapter II, we now proceed to give an account of the town’sinstitutions, its buildings, and so forth. Among these the ParishChurch, naturally, claims precedence. 

ST. MARY’S CHURCH. 

This is probably not the original parish church. There is no mention ofa church in _Domesday Book_, and although this is not quite conclusiveevidence, it is likely that no church existed at that date (circa 1085A. D. ); but in Testa de Nevill (temp. Richard I. ) we find “Ecclesia deHorncastre, ” 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 RichardII. , No. 99, {33b} the Jurors say that “the Lord King Edward (I. ), son ofKing Henry (III. ), gave to Gilbert, Prior of the alien Priory ofWyllesforth, and his successors, 2 messuages, and 6 oxgangs (90 acres) ofland, and the site of the Chapel of St. Laurence, with the appurtenances, in Horncastre, ” on condition that they find a fit chaplain to celebratemass in the said chapel three days in every week “for the souls of theprogenitors of the said King, and his successors, for ever. ” This chapelprobably stood near the street running northwards from the Market Place, now called St. Lawrence Street, though, a few years ago, it was commonlycalled “Pudding Lane. ” It is said to have formerly been a main streetand at the head of it stood the Market Cross. Bodies have at varioustimes been found interred near this street, indicating the vicinity of aplace of worship, and, when a block of houses were removed in 1892, bythe Right Honble. E. Stanhope, Lord of the Manor, to enlarge the MarketPlace, 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, thelower portion of the tower, is early in the 13th century. “It is a goodexample of a town church of the second class (as said the late PrecentorVenables, who was a good judge) in no way, indeed, rivalling suchchurches as those of Boston, Louth, Spalding or Grantham; nay even many aLincolnshire village has a finer edifice, but the general effect, aftervarious improvements, is, to say the least, pleasing, and it has itsinteresting features. The plan of the church (he says) is normal; itconsists of nave, with north and south aisles; chancel, with south aisleand north chantry, the modern vestry being eastward of this; a plain lowtower, crowned with wooden spirelet and covered with lead. Taking thesein detail: the tower has two lancet windows in the lower part of the westwall, above these a small debased window, and again, above this, atwo-light window of the Decorated style, similar windows on the north andsouth sides, and at the top an embattled Perpendicular parapet. Thetower opens on the nave with a lofty arch, having pilaster buttresses, which terminate above the uppermost of two strings; the base is raisedabove the nave by three steps, the font being on a projection of thefirst step. This lower portion of the tower is the oldest part of thechurch, dating from the Early English period. The chamber where thebells are hung is, by the modern arrangement, above this lowercompartment, and is approached by a winding staircase built on theoutside 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. HamertonAeditivi. 

(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. Inheight, stands on the floor, unused; this was the bell of a former clockin 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 7p. M. , and omitting from St. Thomas’s Day to Plough Monday. The “GrammarSchool Bell” used to be rung daily, Sundays excepted, at 7 a. M. , but oflate years this has been discontinued, the Governors refusing to pay forit. 

The fabric of the nave is of the Decorated style, though modern in date, with Perpendicular clerestory, having five three-light windows, on thenorth and south sides. The arcades are of four bays, with chamferedequilateral arches, springing from shafted piers; the capitals of the twocentral ones being ornamented with foliage of a decorated character; theothers being plain. Each aisle has three three-light windows, ofdecorated style, in the side wall, and a fourth at the west end; theseare modern, the north aisle having been re-built in 1820 and the southaisle 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 therood loft, is still visible, and below, on the west side of the chancelwall, is a well-carved statue bracket of floriated character, which wastransferred 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 eastwindow of the neighbouring Haltham Church. It has five lights, withflamboyant tracery above, and is filled with rich coloured glass, byHeaton, Butler & Bayne; the subjects being, on the north side, above “TheAnnunciation, ” 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 theSepulchre;” below “Feed my Lambs;” southernmost light, above “TheAscension, ” below “Pentecost. ” In the upper tracery are “Censing Angels”and “Instruments of the Passion. ” This window cost about £280 and isdedicated to the memory of the late Vicar, Prebendary W. H. Milner, whowas largely instrumental in the restoration of the church, in 1861, anddied Oct. 3, 1868. In that restoration the architect was the late Mr. Ewan Christian, and the contractors for the work Messrs. Lea & Ashton ofRetford. 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 beingdone by subscriptions amounting to about £4, 000. 

The present organ was originally designed by Mr. John Tunstall, and builtby Messrs. Gray & Davidson, of London, at a cost of about £400. Asre-constructed by Mr. Nicholson, of Lincoln, it contains 3 manuals, afine pedal organ with 45 stops, and more than 2, 500 pipes. It cost morethan £2, 000, £1, 350 of which was contributed by the late Henry JamesFielding, Esq. , of Handel House, Horncastle. At a later date a trumpetwas added, costing £120, the result being probably as fine an instrumentas any in the county. For many years the organist was Mr. WilliamWakelin, whose musical talent was universally acknowledged; on hisunfortunate 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 containingfigures of the four evangelists, the central subject being “The Agony inthe Garden. ” In this the figure of the Saviour is exquisitely designed;below are the three sleeping disciples, while above are two ministeringangels, one holding a crown of thorns, the other the “cup of bitterness. ”The panels have richly crocketed canopies, the central one beingsurmounted by a floriated cross. They are filled with diaper work, andthe supporting pilasters are of various-coloured Irish marbles. Thewhole 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 northwall a square aumbrey and a curious iron-barred opening, which wasprobably a Hagioscope for the Chantry behind. The present Vestry in thenorth-east corner is modern, built on the site where there was formerly acoalhouse, 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 withgood 14th century carved oak screen work, separating it from thesouth-side chapel, said to have been anciently called “The Corpus ChristiChapel, ” and has two bays on the north, the easternmost being occupied bythe organ, separating it from St. Catherine’s Chantry; {36} the otherhaving similar screen work. In the south wall of the chancel are aPriest’s door and three four-light Perpendicular windows, with a fourthin the east wall. Gervase Holles states that he saw in this south-eastwindow figures of St. Ninian, with lock and chain, and of SaintsCrispinus and Crispinianus with their shoe-making tools. {37a} It isprobable, therefore, that the old glass of the window was supplied by ashoemaker’s guild. The window is now filled with good coloured glass byHeaton, Butler & Bayne, dedicated to the memory of the late Vicar, Rev. Arthur Scrivenor, who died 27 August, 1882, aged 51 years. It is ofpeculiar design, the subjects being chosen to represent his life ofself-denying labour. There are four lights with eight subjects takenfrom St. Matthew’s Gospel, arranged in two tiers, as follows—(1) “Come yeblessed of my Father;” (2) “I was an hungred and ye gave me meat;” (3) “Iwas thirsty and ye gave me drink;” (4) “I was a stranger, and ye took mein;” (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 lifeeternal. ” There are eight compartments in the upper tracery, containingthe emblems of the four evangelists, and two angels, and the Alpha andOmega. 

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, allmodern. Here, externally, the parapet of St. Catherine’s Chantry isembattled and enriched with panel work, and rises above the level of therest of the wall. The clerestory of the chancel has six three-lightwindows on the south side, and five on the north. The easternmost on thenorth was inserted and made larger than the others in 1861, and, at alater date, was filled with good coloured glass by Heaton, Butler &Bayne, as a public memorial “To the glory of God, and in memory ofBarnard James Boulton, M. D. , who died March 15 1875. ” He was an activemember of the restoration committee in 1861. The subjects are, in thewestern light, “The cleansing of the leper” in the centre, “Letting downthe paralytic through the roof, ” in the eastern light, “The healing ofblind Bartimæus. ”

In the nave the second window from the west end of the south clerestoryis a memorial of the late Mr. W Rayson, builder, filled with goodcoloured glass. In the south aisle of the nave, the easternmost windowis a good specimen of coloured glass by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, erectedby public subscription in January, 1901, “To the glory of God, and ingrateful commemoration of the 18 years’ ministry of Canon E. F. Quarrington, ” who resigned the Vicarage in 1900. The cost of this windowwas about £80, the subject is “The Sermon on the Mount. ” The Saviour isrepresented as addressing the people, grouped around Him, of all classes, soldiers, Pharisees, disciples, travellers, young men, women, andchildren, with the city in the background. In the tracery above areangels, 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 andOmega, with the date of erection “Anno Dm’ni MDCCCXCVII. ” In the centrallight below is the risen Saviour, seated on a throne, holding the emblemof sovereignty, with the inscription over His shoulders “Because I liveye 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 wasdead, and, behold, I am alive for evermore. ” Beneath are three squarecompartments, representing (1) three women, (2) three soldiers, (3) theapostles SS. John and Peter at the sepulchre, with the inscription “Whoshall 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, whodied June 26, 1883, aged 65. ” This cost about £85. 

The window at the west end of this aisle, by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, wasfilled with coloured glass, by the late Mr. Henry Boulton, in memory ofhis first wife, being partly paid for by a surplus of £40 remaining fromwhat was collected for the chancel east window, and the rest (about £40more) by Mr. Boulton himself. The subject is the Saviour’s baptism inthe Jordan. 

In the north aisle of the nave, the easternmost window was erected in1902, at a cost of £98, from a bequest of the late Mr. Charles Dee, as amemorial of his friend the late Mr. Robert Clitherow. The subject is“The good Samaritan, ” who, in the central light, is relieving the woundedwayfarer; while, in the side lights, the Priest and Levite arerepresented as passing him by. In the two upper quatrefoils are angelsholding scrolls, with the inscriptions (1) “Let your light so shinebefore men, ” (2) “That they may see your good works. ” An inscriptionruns across the three lights, “Blessed is he that provideth for the sickand needy, the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble;” and, belowall, “To the glory of God, and in memory of Robert Clitherow, a trulyChristian gentleman, by his faithful servant. ” {38} The artists wereMessrs. Clayton & Bell. 

The next window to this, also by Messrs. Clayton & Bell, is consideredthe best specimen of coloured glass in the church. It was erected bypublic subscription, largely through the exertions of the late Mrs. Terrot, then of Wispington Vicarage, near Horncastle, her husband, theRev. Charles Pratt Terrot, a clever artist and learned antiquary, supplying the design. It is inscribed “To the glory of God, and inmemory 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 hisusual seat, near this window. It is of three lights, the subjects beingsix, (1) the centre light illustrates “Charity;” a female figure above, holding one child in her arms and leading others; while below is “Josephin Egypt, receiving his father, Jacob. ” (2) The west light illustrates“Faith, ” a female above, holding a cross and bible, and below “Abrahamoffering his son Isaac. ” (3) The east light illustrates “Hope, ” a femaleabove, leaning upon an anchor, and below “Daniel in the den of lions. ”The grouping of the subjects and arrangement of the canopies areadmirable. 

The west window in the same aisle contains a handsome memorial, byPreedy, of the late Vicar, Prebendary Robert Giles. It is of threelights, the subjects being from St. Peter’s life: (1) the south lightshewing “The net cast into the sea, ” “Depart from me, &c. ”; (2) thecentral light, Peter’s commendation by the Saviour, “Thou art Peter, &c. ”; and (3) the north light, Peter’s release from prison, “Arise upquickly, &c. ” The tabernacle and canopy work are good. The cost of thiswas about £140. Mr. Giles succeeded Prebendary Milner, as Vicar, anddied 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 colouredglass. They bear no inscriptions but are memorials of deceased youngermembers of the families of the late Dr. B. J. Boulton, and of the lateMr. Richard Nicholson. The southern one represents “The Good Shepherd, ”carrying a lamb in his arms; the northern, “Suffer the little children tocome unto me, ” shewing the Saviour receiving little children into hisarms. 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; onone 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 whitewashedceiling, is of Spanish chestnut, with finely carved figures of angels, which support the intermediate principals. In front of the tower archstands the Font, of caen stone, on octagonal base; the bowl has 8elaborately carved panels, in three of which are engraved, on scrolls, the words “One Lord, ” “One Faith, ” “One Baptism. ” {39b} The Pulpit, atthe north-east corner of the nave, is also of Caen stone, in similarstyle, with four decorated panels, having, beneath the cornice, theinscription “He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully;” thebook-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, in1901, by the Misses Walter, in memory of their father, Mr. Joseph Walter, for many years church warden. {39c} The seats in the chancel havehandsomely 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 asmall stone, bearing the names of “Thomas Gibson, Vicar. John Hamertonand John Goake, Churchwardens, 1675. ” On the south wall of the chancelsouth chapel is also an illuminated sheet of iron bearing the followinginscription 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 suchtimes when Truth to the Church, and Loyalty to the King met withpunishment due to the worst of crimes. He was by the rebellious powerscarried away prisoner four times from the garrison of Newark for adissenting teacher, afterwards sequestrated, and his family driven out, by the Earl of Manchester. He survived the Restoration, and was broughtback at the head of several hundreds of his friends, and made aPrebendary in the Cathedral Church of Lincoln. As his enemies neverforgave his zeal to the Church and Crown, so nothing but the height ofChristian charity could forgive the insults he met with from them. Hedied April 22, 1678. ” {40a} Above this is a shield, containing threestorks, 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 HardyTaylor; and to the west of these, to Anne, wife of Erasmus Middleton, toErasmus Middleton, and to their daughter, Grace, wife of James Weir, andto 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, andtheir son Edward, all interred at Scrivelsby; another, to the east, is inmemory of Edward Harrison, M. D. , his wife, and his brother, erected byhis 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, onwhich are depicted the arms of Sir Ingram Hopton, with thisinscription:—“Here lieth the worthy and memorable Knight, Sir IngramHopton, who paid his debt to nature, and duty to his King and country, inthe attempt of seizing the arch rebel (Cromwell) in the bloody skirmishnear Winceby, Oct. 6, 1643. ” {40b} The motto is Horatian (the firstlines from Odes iii. , xiv. , 14–16; the other two from Odes iv. , ix. , 29–30). 

 Nec tumultum, Nec mori per vim, metuit, tenente Cæsare terras. Paulum sepultæ distat inertiæ, Celata virtus. 

Close to this, and above the arch leading into the nave, are a number ofscythes, some with straight wooden handles, attached to the wall, whichare said to have been used at the Winceby fight. {41a}

On the wall of the north aisle, nearest the archway into the chancel, ona small slab of Purbeck marble, is a brass of Sir Lionel Dymoke, kneelingon a cushion; on either side were formerly small shields displaying thearms of Dymoke, Waterton, Marmyon, Hebden and Haydon; {41b} and on smallbrasses were the figures of two sons and three daughters. Parts of theseare 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 Honores’cte et individue trinitatis. Orate pro a’i’a Leonis Dymoke, milit’ q’obijt xvij die me’se Augusti, A° D’ni M° cccccxix. Cuj’ a’i’e p’ piciet, de. ’ Amen. ” Below this monument, in the pavement, is a brass, nowmutilated, of the same Sir Lionel Dymoke, wrapped in a shroud, with twoscrolls issuing from the head, the lettering of which is now effaced. Beneath is an inscription also now obliterated, but which Mr. Weir givesas follows:—

 Leonis fossa nunc hæc 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 inthe church, since in the evidence taken after the “Lincolnshire Rising, ”in 1536, it was shewn that “one Philip Trotter, of Horncastle, ” took itfrom the church, and himself wore it, while carrying the standard at thehead 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 ChurchNotes, ” Gervase Holles (circa 1640) mentions several other arms andinscriptions, as then existing, which are now lost. {42b}

In the pavement of the former vestry, in the south chancel aisle, is aslab with the inscription running round it, “Here lyethe the boyddes ofThomas Raithbeck & Arne his wyf, ye founders of the Beid hous. Departedthys world, in ye fayth of Christ, ye last day of October, in ye yere ofour Lord, MDLXXV. ” In the pavement at the east end of the south aisle ofnave is a slab bearing the names of William Hamerton and his wifeElizabeth, and westward of this another slab, in memory of “SarahSellwood, wife of Henry Sellwood, Esq. , {42c} who died Sep 30, 1816, aged28 years. ” The late Poet Laureate, Alfred, afterwards Lord Tennyson, married Mr. Sellwood’s daughter Emily Sarah, the marriage beingsolemnised at Shiplake after the family had left Horncastle. TheLaureate’s elder brother, Charles Tennyson, married another daughter, Louisa, afterwards taking the additional name of Turner. He held thevicarage 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 RichardKelham, Rector of Coningsby. She was pious, virtuous, and charitable, and died 26 Feb. , 1780, aged 58. Reader, imitate her example. Erectedby Robert Kelham, her nephew, as a grateful acknowledgment of her regardtowards him. ” On the north wall of the chancel is a marble tablet inmemory of “George Heald, Armiger, e Consultis Domini Regis, in CuriâCancellariâ. Obiit 18 May, 1834. ” Inscriptions below are to his wifeand daughter. Another tablet, of black marble, records the death ofElizabeth, first wife of the Rev. John Fretwell, Curate, Dec. 4, 1784, and of his son, Matthew Harold, Sept. 11, 1786. {44a} Another tablet isin 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 sonHoughton, 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 threevolumes of Foxe’s _Book of Martyrs_, 1632 edition, these were formerlychained to a desk, and parts of the chains remain. They were given byNicolas Shipley, gentleman, in 1696, who also presented a brasschandelier of 24 sockets; he was among the benefactors to the poor of thetown. The present glass case and desk on which the case rests, weregiven by the late Vicar, the Rev. A. Scrivenor. Along with these vols. Are “The History of the Old and New Testaments, gathered out of sacredscripture and writings of the fathers, a translation from the work of theSieur de Royaumont, by several hands. London, printed for R. Blome, I. Sprint, John Nicholson and John Pero, 1701. ” There are some good oldengravings 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 thegrace of God, Queen of England, Scotland, France, Ireland, &c. , by HerMajesty’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 ofthese are rather damaged, and the fine old bible is imperfect. 

Various old documents may here be quoted, which give items of interestconnected with this church. In _Lincolnshire Wills_, 1st series, editedby Canon A. R. Maddison, F. S. A. , 1888, is that of James Burton ofHorncastle, of date 9 June, 1536, which mentions the lights burnt in thechurch at that time before different shrines; these were in all 23, ofwhich 7 were in honour of the blessed virgin, one was called “The lightof our Lady of Grace, ” another “Our Lady’s light at the font. ” Mentionis also made of a “St. Trunyan’s light;” this last saint is connectedwith a well at Barton-on-Humber, but nothing further is known of himunder that name. It has been suggested that it is a corruption of St. Ninian (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. I, 149), and in connection withthis it is interesting to refer to the fact that Gervase Holles, whosedescription of Horncastle windows we have already quoted, states thatthere was a window to St. Ninian placed in the chancel south aisle, bythe 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 somewhilom 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, withappurtenances, in Horncastle, to pay a chaplain to say daily masses inthe church of the blessed Mary, for the soul of Simon de Dowode, andother faithful deceased. Wood Enderby was at that time a chapelryattached 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 onlyabolished by James I. , in 1621, because the great number of churches inthe country rendered it so easy a matter for highwaymen, then verynumerous, to avail themselves of the privilege, that justice was toooften defeated and crime encouraged. According to custom, if theoffender made confession before a coroner, within 40 days, and took theprescribed oath at the church door, that he would quit the realm, hislife was spared. A Close Roll, 13 Henry III. , Aug. 22, 1229, states thatthe King, at Windsor, commands the Sheriff of Lincolnshire (Radulphusfilius Reginaldi) to send two coroners to see that a robber who keepshimself in the church at Horncastle abjures the kingdom, (_Lincs. Notes &Queries_, vol. I, p. 49). It is a somewhat curious coincidence, that asimilar document, of date 16 Henry III. , Aug. 22, 1232, only three yearslater, records a similar incident; and the malefactor is ordered to “makethe assize, and abjuration of the kingdom, according to the custom of theland and according to the liberties granted to Walter, Bishop ofCarlisle, ” (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. Iv, p. 58). We have theexplanation 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 hissuccessors, that they should claim “all chattels of felons and fugitiveswithin their manors, ” the crown giving up all claim to the same in theirfavour; and the case is added of Robert Mawe, a fugitive, whose chattelswere demanded by the Bishop, and £34 exacted on that account “from thetownship of Horncastre. ”

It is remarkable that the two cases, above quoted, should have occurredat the same date, August 22. An explanation of this has been suggestedin the fact that an old calendar shows that August 22 was a day sacred toSt. Zaccheus; and as that saint set the example of restoring four-foldwhat he had unlawfully taken, that day may have been selected for therobber to surrender his chattels in reparation of his offence. A notimprobable explanation, however, may be found in the fact that the greatAugust fair, established by Royal Charter, closed on August 21st, andunruly characters were often left, as dregs of such gatherings in theplace, murders even being not uncommon. By charter of the same king theBishop of Carlisle had power to try felons at Horncastle, and a spot onthe 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 hererefer to probably the most distinguished of them all. A Patent Roll, ofdate 11 June, 1344 (18 Edward III. ), states that Thomas, Bishop ofLincoln (N. B. This was Thomas Bec, consecrated July 7, 1342, died Feb. 1, 1346, buried in the north transept of the Cathedral), “by command ofthe Most Holy Father, Pope Clement VI. , reduces the taxation of thechurch at Horncastle, with the chapels of Askeby (West Ashby), UpperTynton (High Toynton), Maring (Mareham-on-the-Hill), and Wod Enderby, tothe same church annexed, to the sum of 50 marks (£33 6s. 8d. ), which werepreviously taxed at the immoderate sum of £77 sterling. ” This is statedto 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 alsoconfirmed to “his successors, parsons or rectors, of the said church. Witness the King, at Westminster. ” The merits of this worthy, so valuedby the Holy Father, not long afterwards received further recognition, since in 1350, only 6 years later, he was promoted to the highest dignityin the land, next to the sovereign himself, as Archbishop of Canterbury. {46} An earlier Rector, John de Langton, had been made Bishop ofChichester, A. D. 1305. These are the only incumbents of Horncastle whohave attained the Episcopal Bench, (_Horncastle Register Book_, edited byCanon J. Clare Hudson, 1892). 

The promotion of the Rector, Simon de Islep, led to more than onelawsuit. The Bishop of Carlisle, being at that time heavily in debt, asLord of the manor, to which, as has already been stated, the advowson ofthe church of St. Mary was attached, had in January, 1347–8 granted themanor to Hugh de Bole, and others, on their annual payment of £129 19s. 2½d, for three years. On the vacancy thus occurring the Bishop wassummoned to appear at Westminster, before Justice John de Stonor, andothers, to answer to William Widuking, of Saundeby, executor of the willof the said Hugh de Bole, who claimed, as tenant of the manor, the rightto nominate to the vacant benefice. The Bishop resisted this claim, andthe case was argued before the King’s Bench, in Hilary term, 1350, whenthe 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 ofCarlisle, who had presented Simon de Islep to Horncastle, thetemporalities of the bishopric for the time lapsed to the King; andThomas de Appleby, the succeeding Bishop, with John de Rouceby, clerk(who afterwards became Rector of Horncastle), were summoned to answer tothe King, that the King be allowed, through the said lapse, to appoint tothe vacant Benefice of St. Mary. The Bishop and John de Rouceby broughtthe case before the court, but they admitted the justice of the King’splea, and judgment was given for the King. (De Banco Roll, 41 Ed. III. , in. 621. ) Apparently, as a compromise, the King appointed John deRouceby. This John de Rouceby, while Rector of Horncastle, was murderedon 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 thepresent day, “Vicar. ” On this change of status we are able to give thefollowing particulars. Among the Bishop “Nicholson MSS. , ” which are inthe custody of the Dean and Chapter of Carlisle, and consist of extractsfrom the old “Bishops’ Registers, ” it is stated (vol. Iv, p. 349) thatBishop Stern of Carlisle, under agreement with the Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. Robert Sanderson) in 1660, appropriated the Rectorial appurtenances ofthe Benefice of St. Mary to the See of Carlisle. This, however, wouldseem to be only a confirmation, or renewal, of what had been done longbefore, since as far back as 1313, the Bishop of Carlisle petitioned thePope, to allow the church revenues of St. Mary, Horncastle, to beappropriated to that See, which had been “wasted by war and othercalamities;” the Rector of the day only stipulating for a _pensiocongrua_ being reserved to him for his lifetime. (Carlisle EpiscopalRegisters, xix, p. 181 b). This was repeated about 1334 (_Ibid. _, p. 187, a. Quoted _Horncastle Register Book_, p. 2). The title Rectoraccordingly disappears and from about 1400 only that of Vicar is used, the Bishops of Carlisle themselves having become the “Rectors. ” Early inthe 19th century (21 March, 1803) the Bishop of Carlisle leased themanor, with appurtenances, to Sir Joseph Banks, and his representativesare now Lay Rectors. 

The appointment of one of the early Rectors is a sample of the abusesconnected with Papal supremacy in those times. Peter de Galicia wasnominated Rector in May, 1313, he was a foreigner and probably drew hisincome without ever residing at Horncastle. Having influence at thePapal Curia, he negociated for the Bishop of Carlisle the transfer of theRectorial appurtenances of Horncastle to that See; only, as has beenstated, taking care that he had his own _pensio congrua_. Becomingdissatisfied with the benefice he ultimately exchanged it for the Rectoryof Caldbeck in the diocese of Carlisle. These proceedings are given atlength in Bishop de Kirkby’s Register; his Italian name was Piero deGaliciano. He was succeeded in 1334 by Robert de Bramley, Rector ofCaldbeck. (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, ” in1536, and St. Mary’s Church was the main cause of the local agitation. William Leche, brother of the parson of Belchford, was a ringleader inthe town. The plundering of churches, by the King’s “visitors, ” for the“valor ecclesiasticus, ” on the plea of regulating ceremonial, but morereally with a view to replenishing the royal coffers, was the greatgrievance with the people. Much evidence on the subject is found amongState Papers Domestic, vol. Xi, 28 Henry VIII. One witness, EdwardRichardson of Thimbleby, states that William Leche, on Tuesday, 2nd Oct. , “stirred the people to rise to save the church jewels from the Bishop’sofficers, ” who were acting by the King’s orders, the Bishop being theKing’s confessor. Robert Sotheby of Horncastle, being sworn before SirAnthony Wyngffeld and Sir Arthur Hopton, says that “David Benet, a wever, rang the comon bell, ” to rouse the people. The said Robert stated thathe and William Bywater, being churchwardens, were going to see the workof 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 wholerysinge there. ” The mob marched about with a standard, carried by PhilipTrotter, clad in the armour of Lionel Dymoke, which he had taken from thechurch of St. Mary. The devices on the standard were “a plough, ” toencourage the husbandmen; the “challice and Host, ” because the churchplate and jewellery were to have been taken away; the “wands” were toencourage the people “to fight in Cristis cause;” the “horn” betokeningHorncastle. 

About 100 persons marched to Scrivelsby, and threatened to drag outEdward Dymoke, the sheriff, and other gentlemen. The sheriff, ThomasDymoke, Robert Dighton, and one Saundon, afterwards went into the field, and conversed with Leche, who said the Rising was because the Visitorswould take the church goods. The mob took the old gentleman, Sir WilliamSaundon, and “harried him forth by the arms towards Horncastell, tillfrom hete and weryness he was almost overcum. ” A horse was brought forhim by one Salman of Baumbrough, but one of the rebels strake the horseon the head, so that both horse and rider fell to the ground, and theythen said he must “go afote as they did. ” He was afterwards confined inthe “Moot Hall, ” at Horncastle, and “they sware him, whether he woll, orno. ” Many witnesses testified to the activity of Leche, in going toprivate houses and inducing the men to join, and that the gentlemen onlyjoined from fear of violence. Richard Mekylwhite of Horncastle wasaccused 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 thelate Cardinal Wolsey). 

William Leche, with a great company, went to Bolingbroke, to take theBishop’s Chancellor, Dr. John Rayne, who was lying there, sick; he wasbrought 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 helpinghim. On reaching the outskirts of the town, “many parsons and vicarsamong” the rebels cried “kill him!” whereat William Hutchinson andWilliam Balderstone, of Horncastle, “pulled him viantly of his horse, kneling upon him, and with their staves slew him. ” The Vicar of Thorntongave xvs. To the rebels. The Vicar of Horncastle, at that time JohnHaveringham, seems to have avoided being mixed up with this movement, asmany of his brethren were. The whole affair barely lasted a week, and itdoes not appear that the church plate suffered. The King issued aproclamation from Richmond, 2 December following, that he pardoned allexcept the wretches in ward at Lincoln, T. Kendal the Vicar of Louth, andWilliam Leche of Horncastle. 

For a final notice of old records connected with the church, we maymention 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 ofthe adjoining Thimbleby, which is in the soke of Horncastle, shews that, as late as the year 1820, the parish officials ordered all paupers, inreceipt of parish relief, to attend the church services, on pain offorfeiting the aid granted; and cases are named where the payment wasstopped until the offender had given satisfaction. The State PapersDomestic of 1634 show that, at Horncastle, there was a like strictness. Luke Burton of this town was fined 1s. For being “absent from divineservice, ” and again a like sum as “absent from prayers. ” Even “astranger, a tobacco man, ” was fined 1s. For the same offence; and 3s. 4d. For “tippling in time of divine service. ” John Berry, butcher, was fined1s. “for swearing. ” Simon Lawrence, for selling ale contrary to law, wasfined 20s. ; the same “for permitting tippling, 20s. ;” while for “sellingale 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 his1st 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 from1559, the year following the “Injunction” issued by Queen Elizabeth (the3rd of its kind) ordering the regular keeping of such records; similar, earlier, though less stringent, orders having been made in 1538, 1547 and1552. Besides the records of baptisms, marriages and burials, there areoccasional notes on peculiar passing events, which we may here notice. One of these occurs in 1627, “Upon Monday, beinge the xxviijth day ofJanuary was a great Tempest of Winde, the like hath not often been in anyage; like wise upon Friday the 4th of November 1636 in the night timethere happened a more fearful (wind than) before. 

Mr. Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, quotes a note (folio 42 b ofthe Register): “On the vth daie of October one thousand six hundred andthree, in the ffirst yere of oure Sov’aigne Lord King James was holden inHorncastell Church a solemnn fast from eight in the morning until fower aclock in the after noone by five preachers, vidz. Mr. Hollinghedge, Vicarof Horncastell, Mr. Turner of Edlington, Mr. Downes of Lusbye, Mr. Philipe of Solmonbye, Mr. Tanzey of Hagworthingha’, occasioned by agenerall 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 than30, 000 persons; but the great plague, or “black death, ” occurred 61 yearslater (1664–5), which carried off from 70, 000 to 100, 000 persons. Between these periods, and previously, various parishes in ourneighbourhood suffered from this visitation; for instance at Roughton, which is in the soke of Horncastle, there were 43 burials, includingthose of the Rector and two daughters, in the year 1631–2; while in theadjoining parish of Haltham (also in the soke) although there was noincrease of mortality at that date, there had been 51 deaths in the year1584; there being a note in the register for that year, “This yeareplague in Haltham. ” The turn, however, for Horncastle came in the year1631, when the register shows that between May 3 and Sep. 29, there wereno less than 176 deaths; in one case 7 in a family (Cocking), 5 in afamily (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 followingyear there were only 25 deaths in the whole twelve months. TrulyHorncastrians were, at that dread time, living with the sword of Damocleshanging 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 isreferred to in the two following notes in the Register. At the end offolio 81a (1635) we find, after the signature of himself andchurchwardens, “Thomas Gibson, Clerk, Master of the free school ofNewcastel uppon Tine, one of the Chapleins of the Right Reverend Fatherin God Barnabas, by Divine P’vidence Lo. Bpp. Carliel, presented by thesaid 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’sCommissioners, removed to Nether Toynton, lived there one yeare, afterrestored againe, taught some Gentlemen sonnes in his owne house, wasafterward called to ye scole at Newark, where he continued one yeare, then was importuned to Sleeford, whether he went ye week after Easter1650, continued there until May ye first 1661; then, the King beingreturned, he returned to his Vicaridge, and was by Doctor RobertSanderson, Bishop of Linkcoln made Preban of Saint Mairie Crakepoule inthe Church of Linkcoln. ”

It may be observed that the spelling in those times, the entriesdoubtless being often made by the parish clerk, was rather phonetic thanorthographic. Many names occur which still survive, but here speltvariously, for instance Fawssett has been a name well known in Horncastlein modern times in a good position, in town and county, here we find itin generation after generation as Fawcet, Fawset, Faucitt, &c. The nameRaithbeck is of continual occurrence, it is now probably represented byRaithby. Castledine occurs several times, being probably the phoneticform of the modern Cheseltine. The present name Chantry appears asChauntry. Palfreyman, or Palfreman, occurs on several occasions, theywere of a respectable family in the county, William Palfreyman beingMayor of Lincoln in 1534; Ralph Palfreyman, clerk, was presented to theBenefice 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 ascion of the old county family of the Tyrwhitts of Kettleby, Stainfield, &c. , by Faith, daughter of Nicholas Cressy of Fulsby, who marriedFrances, daughter of Sir Henry Ayscough, of another very old countyfamily. She was named Douglas, though a female, after her kinswoman, Douglas, daughter of William, first Lord Howard of Effingham. Her sistermarried Sir Edward Dymoke of Scrivelsby. She herself is mentioned amongthe benefactors to the poor of Horncastle, as leaving a charge of 10s. Ona farm at Belchford, as an annual payment, on her death in 1703. 

Another name of frequent occurrence, though now extinct, is that ofHamerton. John Hamerton (as already stated) is mentioned, with JohnGoake, on a tablet inserted in the wall on the south side of the chancelarch, as being churchwarden in the vicariate of Thomas Gibson, in 1675, and throughout the early registers successive generations of this familyare recorded. They may have been humble scions of the Hamertons, ofHamerton, Yorkshire, a branch of whom were among the landed gentry nearthe Scottish border; but at Horncastle they were engaged in trade. JohnHamerton, christened Dec. 10, 1575, whose probable father, another JohnHamerton, was buried Sep. 3, 1584, married Feb. 2, 1613, Grace Broxholme, whose father John Broxholme is described as “Gent” in 1611. ThomasHamerton 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 risein status is indicated by the two latter entries, and accordingly, in therecords of the neighbouring parish of Edlington we find “Geo. Hamerton, gent. , and Sarah Hussey married July 21, 1699;” the Husseys beingprobably connected with the county family, the head of which was LordHussey of Sleaford. The John Hamerton, churchwarden in 1675, was bornJan. 22, 1636, son of John and Dorothy Hamerton. The marriage of theparents is not given in the register, the father therefore probablymarried an “outener, ” as they are provincially termed. The interestingpoint however in connection with this family is, that although they havelong ago been extinct, they have left their mark behind them stillsurviving in the town. Near the junction of East Street with SouthStreet there still exists at the back of the second shop, in the formerstreet (a repository for fancy needlework), a room lined with good oakwainscoting, with finely carved mantelpiece, over which is aninscription, richly carved in relief, with the letters “A° Di” to theleft, and to the right the date “1573;” while above, in the centre, arethe initials “J H” and “M H;” separated by a floriated cross andencircled by a wreath. This would doubtless be John Hamerton and hiswife Mary (or Margaret) Hamerton, the original builders of the house. Two doors beyond is Hamerton Lane, and the title deeds, which the presentwriter has inspected, show that the whole of this block of buildings nowforming five shops and two private residences, once formed one largedwelling place, belonging to the Hamerton of that day, with a frontage inEast 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. , ofwhom we have here such interesting relics, were probably the grandfatherand grandmother of the John Hamerton of the time of the Commonwealth andCharles II. , and the extent of the buildings occupied by them show thatthey were wealthy. 

Tanning was at one time the chief trade of the town, there being withinthe writer’s recollection several tan yards, now no longer existing. TheBain water was said to be specially suited for this purpose. We haveseen that several of the Hamertons were tanners, and they had evidentlyprospered 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 theburials of some of them. The Snowdens were originally a Notts. Family, of the smaller gentry class, but Robert Snowden, third son of RalphSnowden, of Mansfield Woodhouse, became Bishop of Carlisle, and, exofficio, Lord of the Manor of Horncastle. The Bishops of Carlisle had, as has been already stated, a residence in Horncastle, near the presentManor House, and the Bishop’s widow, Abigail, probably resided there. Inher will, dated 15 April, 1651, and proved 7 May in the same year, shementions 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 andfounded and endowed the village school and almshouses at Hemingby. Another granddaughter, Abigail, married Edward Dymoke, younger son of SirEdward Dymoke, of Scrivelsby, as shewn by the register there, on 18 July, 1654, and she thus became ancestress of the Tetford branch of theDymokes, 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 wasadmitted a member of Gray’s Inn in the same year. He was buried atHorncastle, 1654 (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. Iv, pp. 14–16). Thatwas a period of national disturbance, and the people of Horncastle, withthe Winceby fight of 1643, were more or less drawn into the vortex. Abigail Snowden, widow of Bishop Robert of Carlisle seems to have beenbrought into much trouble, owing to her son, Rutland, having espoused theRoyalist cause. Among Exchequer Bills and Answers (Chas. I. , Lincoln, No. 86) is a petition shewing that Francis, Bishop of Carlisle, leased toRutland Snowden and his assignees, for three lives, the manor, lands, parsonage, and other premises at Horncastle, on payment of £120. Subsequent proceedings would seem to imply that this lease was previouslygranted to the said Abigail herself, as shewn by the following: “To theHonourable the Commissioners for compounding with delinquents. TheHumble 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 yeBishopricke) unto your petitonr, during the lives of Rutland Snoden, Scroope Snoden, and George Snoden, and for the life of the longest ofthem; that the said demise being allowed good unto her by the trustees .. . Yet hath bene, and is, sequestrated, for the delinquensie of the saidRutland Snoden . . . The petitioner prayeth . . . That your petitionermay have releife . . . As to you shall seem meet. And yr petitioner willpraie, &c. Abigail Snoden, 24 Nov. , 1650. ” A note adds that the matterwas “Referred to Mr. Brereton, to examine and report. ”

It was reported on by Peter Brereton, 31 Jan. Following (RoyalistComposition Papers, 1st series, vol. 58, No. 515). As this is a fairsample 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 inRoyalist 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 theHonourable Commissioners for compounding with Delinquents. The humblepetition of Thomas Toking, of Co. Lincoln, gent. , sheweth, that a leasewas made to him by Abigail Snowden, widow, deceased, of the manor, &c. , &c. , which had been sequestered many years, for the delinquency ofRutland Snowden . . . And that he (T. Toking) has more to offer, for theclearing 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, toavoid further trouble, to submit to “a reasonable composition. ” This isagain “referred to Mr. Brereton, ” 7 Feb. , 1653. On 21 Sep. , 1653, theorder 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, yeforces against the Parliament, ” it was charged against Rutland Snowdenthat he had “more wives than one. ” He “rendered his estate in fee” atHorncastle, in Nov. , 1645, for which his fine, at one-tenth was £188(Royalist Composition Papers, 1st series, fol. 113). His son, a secondRutland Snowden, was among the Benefactors of Horncastle, as hebequeathed to the poor of the town, 1682, “one house of the yearly rentof 26s. , ” to be “paid in bread, 6d. Every other Sunday;” a considerablylarger sum at that time than now. 

We find the names of Rutland Snoden of Horncastle, and Scrope Snoden ofBoston, in the list of Lincolnshire Gentry, entitled to bear arms, madeby the Heralds, at their Visitation in 1634; along with other well knownnames 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 cornerof the churchyard, forming part of a block of small houses. It was apoor 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 substantialbuildings. His successor, Rev. T. J. Clarke, rented a good house inSouth Street, now occupied by Mrs. Howland. Mr. Clarke was succeeded bythe Rev. W. Holme Milner, in 1853, and he built the present vicarage. 

St. Mary’s Churchyard was closed, for burials, in 1848, when thechurchyard of Holy Trinity was consecrated. 

We here give a list of the Church Plate, which is more than usuallyvaluable. 

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 ofthe various parties connected with the restoration of St. Mary’s Church, begun in 1859, and happily completed in April, 1861. With a perseveringvicar, in Prebendary W. H. Milner, undaunted by difficulties, to head themovement; a working committee, no less resolute, to support him (amongwhom figured foremost the late Dr. J. B. Boulton and Mr. F. Harwood);with an architect of cultivated taste and wide experience, in Mr. EwanChristian; and with the able contractors, Messrs. Lee & Ashton, to carryout his designs; and with a body of subscribers, headed by the Lord ofthe Manor, J. Banks Stanhope, Esq. , all doing their best; the work wasbound to be a marked success, of which all might be proud. St Mary’s nowprobably approaches nearer to its original conception (if it does not, indeed, surpass it) than it has ever done in recent times. Erected, asit first was, in an age marked by “zeal” for church construction, even ifsometimes “without knowledge;” stimulated, perhaps in an unwholesomedegree, by the prevalent superstition and mariolatry, we yet feel bound, considering the noble structures which those builders have transmitted tous, (as Prior the poet says) to be “To their virtues very kind, and totheir faults a little blind. ” But, as to the restoration in the presentinstance, few, save the older ones among us, who remember the conditioninto which the fabric had lapsed, can realise the great changes whichwere effected, or the advantages secured to present worshippers. Thespace formerly wasted by a western vestibule, with its boarded partition, and baize-covered doors, leading into nave and aisles, reducing byseveral feet the length of sitting space; the basement of the tower shutoff, and occupied only by the bell ringers, who are now removed to thechamber above; the chancel aisles unused for seats and partially blockedup; the high square pews, rising in tiers westwards, roomy enough forundisturbed slumber; above all, the heavy galleries, with pews, made byfaculty private property; all these arrangements so curtailed theaccommodation, that the congregation, at its best, could be little morethan 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 akind lady, because the vicar, sensitive to cold, felt the draughtsthrough the fine wooden roof thus hidden above, had an effect the veryopposite of stimulating devotion, bad alike for minister and people. Under the restored condition, with sixty additional seats provided in thetower, the south chancel aisle also seated, and every available spaceutilized, there is now ample accommodation for some 800 worshippers, andon 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 there-opening in April, 1861); while the services, and the surroundings, arealike calculated to inspire feelings of reverence, with heartyearnestness of worship; this is the result mainly due to the “decency andorder” effected through the care and self-denying efforts of therestorers, for which all should be grateful. 

We should here add that in the year 1892, it being found that decay hadoccurred in the walls and other parts of the church, about £150 wasraised by subscription, and once more the fabric was put into a completestate 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’sChurch, in the vicariate of the Rev. T. J. Clarke, at a cost of about£2, 500; £500 having been bequeathed towards that purpose by hispredecessor, Dr. Clement Madely, and the rest being raised by publicsubscriptions. The foundation stone was laid April 6, in the formeryear, by Sir Henry Dymoke, Bart. , the Queen’s Champion. The roof of thenave was reared Oct. 12, and the cross on the east end of the chancelerected Nov. 25, in the same year. The church and churchyard wereconsecrated by Dr. Kaye, Bishop of Lincoln, April 27, 1848; his Lordshippreaching at the opening service in the morning, and Dr. Percy, Bishop ofCarlisle (as Patron {57a} of the Benefice) in the afternoon. Thearchitect was Mr. Stephen Lewin, of Boston (author of _Churches of theDivision of Holland_, 1843, &c) Mr. Hind, of Sleaford, being thecontractor for the work. 

It was a condition of Dr. Madely’s bequest that the church should becommenced 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’swas closed, with the exception of some private vaults; both these burialgrounds being closed in 1888, when the public cemetery was opened; thechurch part of which was consecrated on Nov. 7th, in that year, by theBishop 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, andhas sittings for 400 persons. The materials of the structure are whitebrick, with dressings of Ancaster stone. It was considerably improved in1887, and, more recently, in 1895. 

The windows in the north and south aisles are plain small lancets, inpairs; 5 pairs on the south side, and 4 pairs, with porch door, on thenorth. The north and south arcades have 5 bays, with narrowperpendicular arches, except the easternmost, on both sides, which arewider, with a view to future transepts; the octagonal columns of brickhave nicely carved stone capitals. The clerestory windows above, 5 oneach side, are alternately quatrefoils and inverted triangles. The roofis of a very high pitch, slated externally, and internally of deeplystained deal. The principals of the chancel roof are ornamented withdeeply cut dog-tooth pattern. The choir is rather narrow, and withoutaisles. At the east end of the north aisle is the vestry, the doorwayleading 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 ofthe beautiful Early English east window of Kirkstead Abbey Chapel; withtriple columns between, and, on either side of the lights, having richlycarved capitals; the wall space above being also elaborately carved withfloriated pattern. It was fitted with coloured glass, by an anonymousdonor, in memory of the Rev. T. J. Clarke, in whose vicariate, as hasbeen stated, the church was built. The subjects are, running across andin the centre, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, and Transfiguration; abovebeing the Resurrection, and Christ sitting in glory; and in the lowerrow, our Lord as the Good Shepherd, the Man of sorrows and the Light ofthe world. 

In the chancel walls, north and south, are triple windows in the samestyle, but with plain columns and white glass. Below the east window isa 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 movementoriginating with the Girls’ Club, then under the management of Miss AgnesArmstrong; assisted by contributions from members of the choir, aconsiderable sum of money being raised by them, for altar frontals andother fittings in the chancel. These, and other additions, werededicated 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 theearly days of the church an old organ was transferred from St. Mary’sChurch and placed at the west end, but this was sold in 1869, and forsome years a harmonium was used in the choir. The present instrument wasthe work of Messrs. Foster & Andrews, of Hull, and has one manual, withpedals. 

The Pulpit, on the south of the lofty chancel arch, is of stone, having 5panels with dog-tooth borders, illuminated in gold and various colours;and having, within central circles, figures of SS. Matthew, Mark, Lukeand John, the fifth having the cross with the inscription “Feed mysheep. ” The Reading Desk, on the north, is part of the chancel sedilia;this, with the Lectern, slightly carved, in front of it, and all thesittings, 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 colouredglass, in memory of the late Hugh George, M. D. , who died in 1895. It hastwo subjects (1) The healing of the lame man by SS. Peter and John, atthe 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 windowabove, having quatrefoil tracery. These are filled with coloured glass, given by the late Miss Lucy Babington of The Rookery, Horncastle, inmemory 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, andbaptize all nations;” (3) The baptism of a Jew (St. Paul), and (4) Thebaptism of a Gentile (Cornelius). {59}

 [Picture: Holy Trinity Church]

Below this window, and in keeping with the subjects above, stands theFont, on a plain octagonal base. The bowl is circular and larger thanthat in St. Mary’s Church. It is supported by 8 carved pilasters at theangles, with a central one; rising from these are narrow arches withdog-tooth moulding. 

In the eastern part of the churchyard lie the remains of four successivevicars of Horncastle, and the wife of a fifth. A coffin-shaped stone, adorned with a full-length floriated cross, has this inscription: “ThomasJames Clarke, M. A. , Vicar of Horncastle, died 14th May, 1853. Is anyamong 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, andafterwards 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 churchpulpit), has the inscription: “W. H. Milner, Vicar of Horncastle, diedOctober 3rd, 1868, aged 64. ” Within the arch is a Calvary Cross, on thesteps of which are these words “He that believeth in Me hath everlastinglife. ” 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 massivedecorated cross bears the inscription: “Robert Giles, Vicar ofHorncastle, died July 12th, 1872. Jesu, Mercy. ” This is an exactreproduction of a granite cross in Willoughby churchyard, erected to thememory of the late Archdeacon Giles, the vicar’s brother. 

A grass grave, surrounded by a kerb, has resting upon it a full-lengthplain Latin cross, along the arms of which is inscribed “Jesu Mercy. ”Surrounding the kerb is the inscription “Arthur Scrivenor, M. A. , Vicar ofHorncastle, born January 13th, 1831, died August 27th, 1882. ” “Neverresting, never tiring, in the endless work of God;” the latter wordsbeing a quotation from Dr. Mansel’s _Life of Bishop Wilberforce of Oxfordand Winchester_. 

Very near the last tomb is the grave of the wife of the late Vicar ofHorncastle, Prebendary E. F. Quarrington, now Rector of Welby, nearGrantham; 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 ahumble 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 inLeeds. 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 ownexpense, to be educated at a good school, and, in due time, assisted himto enter at St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he took Double Honours, and obtained a Fellowship. He was afterwards appointed to the Vicarageof Penrith, Cumberland, thus coming under the notice of the Bishop ofCarlisle, who, as Patron, presented him to the Vicarage of Horncastle, onthe death of Dr. Madely in 1845. With Mr. Clarke’s arrival in Horncastleit was felt that a new era in church life had begun. He threw himselfwith characteristic energy into every kind of work, and at one time had 3curates. To him was due the erection of Holy Trinity Church, and a greatmultiplication of Church services. The old vicarage, a poor house closeto St. Mary’s churchyard, was pulled down, and he rented the house inSouth Street, with extensive gardens, which afterwards became theresidence of Major Armstrong and now occupied by Mrs. Howland. Notwithstanding his heavy parochial work Mr. Clarke (as the presentwriter can testify) kept up his classical and mathematical studies. Hewas 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, andin the 8th year of his vicariate it became perceptible, even in hispulpit utterances, that his mind was affected. He had married aCumberland lady, but all her care and attention was unavailing; hegradually collapsed into a condition of melancholy, scarcely roused byanything except the music of his piano. {60} The end inevitable was seento be approaching, but unfortunately Mr. Clarke by his own actanticipated it. Being accidently left alone for a few moments he took apistol, which he had concealed in a drawer, walked out into the gardenand shot himself, the overwrought brain rendering him no longeraccountable 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 thathe was an able man of business, carried on the work of the church withgreat energy, and introduced many reforms. He built the presentvicarage. He was the last vicar nominated by the Bishop of Carlisle. Ofthe next two vicars it may be said that their tenure of office was alltoo short, hard faithful labour cutting off the Rev. Robert Giles (as wehave before stated) in 1872, after a vicariate of only 4 years; while theRev. Arthur Scrivenor died, after 10 years work in the parish, in his51st year, in 1882. Canon E. Fowler Quarrington succeeded him, and heldthe vicarage during 18 years, when he was transferred, in 1900, to theRectory 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 toany of these in recent years; but we may take three typical cases of menwhose memory is still green and redolent of good work. 

In the latter years of the amiable vicar, Dr. Madely, he needed an activeassistant, and such was the Rev. William Spranger White, of TrinityCollege, Cambridge, a member of a family of position, the head of whichwas his uncle, Sir Thomas Wollaston White, of Wallingwells Park, Worksop, High Sheriff 1839, and formerly of the 10th Hussars. Mr. White possessedindependent means and was very generous. He was of a most sympatheticnature, and became greatly beloved by all classes. He worked hard in theparish from his ordination in 1833 to 1849. {61} In that year he wasselected by the Marchioness of Lothian, to take charge of an EpiscopalianChurch, which her Ladyship built and endowed at Jedburgh, Roxburghshire. The church was opened with an octave of services, which were attended bythe great Doctor Hook of Leeds, who had recommended Mr. White to herLadyship. The father of the present writer, and many leading clergymenfrom 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 residedat Hartrigg House, near Jedburgh. This marriage led to his subsequentreturn to England, being appointed by the Lord Chancellor to the Rectoryof St. Just, near Land’s End, Cornwall; at a later date promoted to theVicarage of Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, Worcestershire; andfinally in 1859 to the Rectory of Potterhanworth, near Lincoln, of whichcathedral he was made an Honorary Canon, in recognition of his generousgifts towards cathedral improvements. Here he did excellent work untilhis 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 andindefatigable worker in the parish, he at once made his mark, not only inthe town, but in the neighbourhood; he and his beautiful wife beingwelcome guests in many a rectory and vicarage. He was also a man of goodsocial position and private means, and occupied a good house with largegarden on the north side of West Street (then called Far Street), belonging to the late Mrs. Conington, within some 120 yards of therailway station, now occupied by Mr. Sills, and named “The Chestnuts. ”Mr. Goldie being curate at the time when Holy Trinity Church was builtpresented the carved oak chairs within the communion rails. Afterleaving Horncastle he was appointed to the vicarage of St. Ives, in thediocese of Ely. The Goldies were an old Manx family; Col. Goldie, hisbrother, of the Scotts Guards Regiment, being President of the House ofKeys, the local parliament. Their residence in that island is “TheNunnery, ” near the town of Douglas, so called from the ruin close at handof an ancient priory, said to have been founded by St. Bridget in thesixth century. Mr. Goldies’ nephew is the present Sir George DashwoodTanbman Goldie, Privy Councillor, K. C. M. G. , F. R. G. S. , &c, formerly of theRoyal Engineers, but latterly holding various Government appointments, director of several expeditions in West Africa, having travelled inEgypt, the Soudan, Algiers, Morocco, &c. , and attended the BerlinConference in 1884, as an expert on questions connected with the Nigercountry, where he founded the Royal Chartered Company of Nigeria. Hislatest 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 ofQueen’s College, Oxford, where he took Classical and Mathematical Honoursin 1847. He was ordained in the same year, and held the curacy ofHorncastle from that year till 1849. He was an able and scholarlypreacher and persevering worker in the parish. On leaving Horncastle hebecame Incumbent of the Episcopal Church at Montrose, N. B. , which he heldfor 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, andafterwards of Newbold Pacey, near Leamington, in 1868. After leavingHorncastle he was invited by the Governors, as an able scholar, toexamine the Horncastle Grammar School, then a considerably larger schoolthan it has been in later years, with a large number of day boys, andalso boarders from London, many distant parts of the country, and evenfrom 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 newsroom, was established in the town in the year 1823. At that time therewas a numerous community of country clergymen living in the town; adozen, or more, villages in the neighbourhood having no officialresidence in their parishes; thus a Clerical Club became a convenientinstitution for social intercourse, and valuable papers were often readat their meetings. This ceased to exist at the close of the 19thcentury, when the books were transferred to the Diocesan Library atLincoln. In order to enable these country incumbents to maintain a townresidence, they, in several cases, held a plurality of benefices, whichwould hardly be allowed in the present day. Even the Vicar ofHorncastle, Dr. Madely, also held the Vicarage of Stickford, distant morethan a dozen miles; another clergyman was Rector of Martin, Vicar ofBaumber, and Rector of Sotby, several miles apart; while a third held thePerpetual Curacy of Wood Enderby, 4 or 5 miles to the south-east of thetown, with the Curacy of Wilksby adjoining, and the Chapelry ofKirkstead, 5 or 6 miles to the west. Further, to eke out the familyincome, his daughter found employment of a somewhat novel kind in theservice of the late Queen Victoria. Being in figure the exact size ofthe Queen, her Majesty’s dresses were all tried on this lady by the royaldressmaker; and, as a portion of her remuneration, the cast-off clothingof the Queen became her perquisite. On the occasion of the wedding ofone of her friends at Horncastle, the bride and her bridesmaids were allattired in Queen’s dresses. 

In connection with the church is the “Young Churchmen’s Union, ” of whichthe 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 wasenrolled Oct. 1st, 1901. The members are youths between the ages of 13and 19; the present Lieutenant being H. W. Sharpe; Chaplain, the Vicar;Assistant Chaplain and Correspondent, the Senior Curate. Entrance fee1/6, subscription 1d. Per week. 

The Church National Schools are good substantial buildings, erected atvarious periods, the Girls’ School in 1812, the Infants’ in 1860, and theBoys’ (at a cost of £1, 000) in 1872; the total accommodation is for 300children, the average attendance being about 250. The schools were takenover by the Lindsey County Council, on April 1st, 1903. 

CHAPTER V. NONCONFORMIST PLACES OF WORSHIP. 

There are in Horncastle five Nonconformist religious communities, theWesleyan, Congregational, Primitive Methodist, Baptist, and New Church orSwedenborgian, each now having substantially built chapels, residentministers, with Sunday, and, in one case, Day Schools. Through thecourtesy of the Rev. John Percy, late Head Minister of the WesleyanSociety, we are enabled to give a fairly full account of its origin andgrowth, down to the present 20th century. As this is the most importantreligious body in the town, next to the Church of England, although it isnot the oldest, we take the Wesleyans first. As will be seen in thefollowing account, this Society arose from a very small beginning, but atthe present time, with perhaps the exception of the Baptists, it is themost numerous and influential body among Nonconformists. Although, locally, rather fewer in numbers in recent years, than formerly, it isgenerally growing, and in the year 1904, as published statistics show, itacquired in the United Kingdom an addition of 10, 705 full members, with11, 874 members on trial, and junior members 4, 367; a total increase of26, 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 familyname was variously written Wellesley, or Wesley. {64} We take theimmediately 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 theDuke 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 (June17), and Charles in 1708 (Dec. 18). John was educated at theCharterhouse, and Charles at Westminster School. In due course they bothentered at Oxford University; John eventually being elected to aFellowship at Lincoln College, and Charles to a Studentship atChristchurch. 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 remainedas Tutor to his college. He, with some of his undergraduate pupils, formed a custom of meeting on certain evenings every week for scripturestudy and devotion, they carefully observed the Church’s fasts andfestivals, and partook of the Holy Communion every Sunday. From thestrict regularity of their lives the name was given to them, by those whowere laxer in conduct, of “Methodists. ”

 [Picture: Wesleyan Chapel]

In 1729 the Rector of Lincoln College summoned John Wesley to resumeresidence at Oxford, and he became Tutor of the College. In thiscapacity he was careful to look after the souls, as well as theintellectual training, of those under his influence. The brothers beganmissionary work in Oxford, about the year 1730, in which they wereassisted by a few other kindred spirits. They visited the sick andneedy, with the permission of the parish clergy, as well as offendersconfined in the gaol. This continued for some time, but gradually Johnbegan to long for a wider field for his spiritual energies. He hadgathered about him a small band of equally earnest associates, and theywent out to Georgia, North America, in 1735, to work among the Englishsettlers and North American Indians. After two years John returned toEngland, in 1737, and then began the work of his life. 

It is said that he was a good deal influenced by the _De ImitationeChristi_ of Thomas a Kempis (of which he published an abridged edition in1777), {66a} also by Jeremy Taylor’s _Holy Living and Dying_; and heimputed his own conversion to his study of Law’s _Serious Call_. His“first impression of genuine Christianity, ” as he called it, was from theMoravian sect, with whom he came in contact at Hirnuth in Saxony, whichhe visited in 1738, after his return from America; but his complete“conversion, ” he was wont to say, occurred at a meeting of friends, inAldersgate Street, London, where one of them was reading Luther’s_Preface to St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans_, the exact time being 8. 45p. M. , May 24, 1738. 

Though taking an independent course, and appointing only lay workers ashis agents, he regarded himself to the end of his days as an ordainedminister of the Church of England, and his society as still being a partof it, and he urged all faithful Wesleyans to attend church service onceon Sunday, and to receive the Holy Communion at church, it being onlyafter his death that the society’s secession became complete. {66b}

The first Wesleyan congregation of about 50 members, some of themMoravians, was formed in London, where they met in Fetter Lane, once aweek; the first meeting being on May 1st, 1738, and from that day thesociety of “Methodists” may be regarded as having begun. {66c} The birthof the sect in Lincolnshire may be said to date from his visit toEpworth, in 1742. 

In 1743 he divided the whole county into two sections, or circuits, theeastern and western. Of the eastern Grimsby was the head; this includedHorncastle, and gradually comprised some 15 other subsidiary centres, extending from Grimsby and Caistor in the north, to Holbeach in thesouth. 

His earliest recorded visit to Horncastle was in 1759, when he addresseda large concourse of people in a yard, supposed to be that of the Queen’sHead 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, ashis 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 weremore quiet than usual, Mr. Brackenbury, J. P. , of Raithby Hall, standingnear me. ” This Mr. Robert Carr Brackenbury remained his firm friendthrough life; and we may here add that he granted to Wesley the use ofhis hay loft at Raithby for religious services, further securing the useof it in perpetuity, by his will, to the Wesleyan body, so that thecurious anomaly has occurred that, when the hall was bought in 1848, bythe Rev. Edward Rawnsley, the house became the residence of an Anglicanclergyman, yet bound to allow the loft over his stable to be used fornonconformist worship. In recent years the stable has been unused assuch and the loft made more comfortable, being furnished with seats, pulpit, &c

Wesley, throughout his life, generally visited Horncastle every twoyears, his death occurring on March 2nd, 1791. There is in WestminsterAbbey a mural memorial of John and Charles Wesley, having within amedallion, the bust-sized effigies of the two brothers, beneath which isinscribed the saying of Wesley, “The best of all is God with us. ” Belowthis, within a panel, is a representation of John Wesley, preaching fromhis father’s tomb in Epworth churchyard. Beneath are two more quotationsfrom his own words, “I look upon all the world as my parish, ” and “Godburies His workmen, but carries on His work. ” At the head of the slab isthe 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 subjectto fluctuations. In 1769 Grimsby had 56 members and Horncastle 42, including such well-known local names as Rayson and Goe. In 1774 Grimsbyhad fallen to 32 members and Horncastle to about the same. In 1780Horncastle had only 31 members, but the numbers had increased in theneighbourhood; Kirkby-on-Bain having nearly as many as Horncastle, viz. 29, Wood Enderby 10, Hemingby 7, and Thimbleby 18; there being evidentlya greater readiness to accept the new teaching among the simpler ruralpopulation. 

In 1786 Horncastle was made the head of a circuit to itself, and in thatyear the first chapel in the town was built, the whole circuit thennumbering 620 members. This chapel was near the site of the presentBaptist place of worship. A few years later the opposing barrier amongthe upper class seems in some degree to have given way, as, in 1792, wefind the name of Joseph Bass, a “physician, ” as “leader. ” In 1800 therewas further growth in the country, Greetham having 21 and Fulletby 26;among the latter occurring the still well-known names of Winn (Richardand Elizabeth), 5 Riggalls, and 5 Braders. By this time there were 6circuits formed in Lincolnshire, and congregations at Newark andDoncaster. 

Although there was a chapel at Horncastle there was no minister’sresidence until after 1786. At that date John Barritt rode over fromLincoln to preach, and finding no Wesleyan minister’s house, he was takenin and hospitably entertained by a Mr. Penistoun, who was “a greatCulamite. ” After staying the night with him he rode on next day toAlford, for Sabbath duty. On the death of John Wesley (1791) his mantlefell, and indeed, had already fallen, in several cases, on shouldersworthy of the commission which he conferred upon them. The firstresident ministers were the Rev. Thomas Longley, Superintendent; theabove 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 andwearying, on horseback, over bad country roads, even occasionallyincurring hardship and peril. In 1743 Mr. John Nelson was sent by Wesleyto Grimsby, and his journals describe severe labour and even persecution. Another pioneer, Thomas Mitchell, was thrown by a mob into a pool ofwater, and, when drenched, was painted white from head to foot. He wasafterwards thrown into a pond more than 12 feet deep, rescued and carriedto bed by friends, he was thrice dragged out of his bed because he wouldnot promise not to visit the place (Wrangle) again. Wesley himself, inhis journal (May 10, 1757) says “I preached to a mixed congregation, someserious, others drunk;” but on the other hand, in 1764, he preached, whenthe chapel “though having its galleries, was too small. ”

We have named John Barritt among the early Horncastle ministers. He waspreaching on one occasion at Boston, when a band of roughs forced theirway into the chapel and interrupted the service, driving some of thecongregation away. He had, however, a more serious experience, fromexposure to the roughness of the elements. He was riding to Boston, apparently by a somewhat circuitous route, and a violent storm arose atsea. When he was not far from the coast the sea bank gave way, thecountry was inundated, vessels were even carried some distance inland, Boston itself was deluged, and he might have been drowned, but that hemanaged to reach some high ground, and arrived safely at Sibsey. 

About this date, we are told, the progress of Wesleyanism excited thejealousy of the clergy, not so tolerant as they are now, and a meetingwas 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 todivine 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 Brackenburyas supernumerary, the latter was also, about this time, appointed head ofthe society in Spilsby. {68a} J. Barritt was grandfather of RobertNewton Barritt, who was very popular in Horncastle, 1882–1884. Wesley’scharacteristic advice to him had been “When thou speakest of opinions, ormodes of worship, speak with coolness, but when thou speakest ofRepentance, 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 namestill surviving in the town; Charles Atmore, who wrote sundry Wesleyanhymns; Thomas Jackson, a great scholar, twice elected President of theNational Conference; Digory Joll, grandfather of the present Mr. WatsonJoll (to whom the writer owes much of the information here utilized); andto these we may add Benjamin Gregory, 1817; Robert Ramm and RobertBryant, 1830; {68b} Bryant was called a “son of thunder, ” from his greatenergy. 

In 1835 Leonard Posnet was a popular minister, not only in the town butin the country around, being much appreciated by the farmers from hisintimate 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 wassucceeded 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, HenryRichardson, and others, among whom it would be invidious to makedistinctions. We may add that a famous missionary of this sect wasThomas Williams, son of John Williams, a cabinet maker of Horncastle, thelatter 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 _Historyof the Fiji Mission_, issued in 1858, says “The good ship Triton sailedfrom England, Sep. 14, 1839, carrying out the Rev. T. Williams, and hiswife, to Lakamba, Fiji. ” They arrived there July 6, 1840. He therebuilt a mission house and chapel, where he laboured several years, themission growing in extent, until it was beyond his strength. In June, 1852, Mr. Moore was appointed as a colleague to relieve him of some ofthe 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 andtook various charges in that country, being chosen President of theMission at Ballarat in 1873. He re-visited England in 1861, and again in1881, returning to Ballarat, as a supernumerary, but still officiating. The present writer well remembers the impression made by a lecture, givenby 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 gaveup his charge as Superintendent in 1904, and was succeeded by the Rev. E. Hayward, who left Horncastle on Thursday, Aug. 29, 1907, for work atBridlington; he was succeeded by Rev. John Turner, of Colchester, who was6 years ago in Louth Circuit, {70a} the Rev. G. German Brown continuingas assistant. He was succeeded by the Rev. M. Philipson, B. A. , coming, with his wife, since deceased (March 14, 1906), from Stanley, nearDurham, where they were the recipients of valuable presents on theirdeparture. 

In recent years no member of the society has been more valued than thelate octogenarian, Mr. John Rivett, J. P. , who died Sept 4, 1906. Fornearly 70 years he was a generous supporter of the cause; he representedthe district at no less than 13 Conferences, in various parts of thecountry, and at the Leeds Conference, in 1882, he spoke for an hour and aquarter in advocacy of its principles. Mr. Henry Lunn, of Horncastle andWest Ashby, is also well known, as, for many years, an able local laypreacher and practical man of business; he was a representative atConferences in London and at Burslem. 

Of the buildings in Horncastle, connected with this society, we havegathered the following details. As already stated the first chapel waserected in Cagthorpe about the year 1786. It stood a few yards to thenorth of the present Baptist place of worship, which is close to thenorth-west corner of the Wong. The early history of this first erectionis 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 someyears, it was replaced by a larger building, of which the dimensions areelsewhere given, as being length 54-ft. , by width 36-ft. , with 4 largewindows, having pointed heads, on the north side, and single windows onthe south and west; a small porch at the south-east corner, facing theBaptist Chapel, giving entrance to the body and galleries; a door at thesouth-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 lancetwindows, with quarry panes, were a whim of Mr. Griggs Lunn and of myfather. Of this building some remains are still visible, to the heightof about 3 feet, in the south wall of Mr. Scholey’s garden, about 50yards to the north of the Baptist Chapel. Towards its erection a numberof masons, joiners, and others, who could not afford subscriptions, gavetheir labours gratuitously. Two houses for ministers were also builtclose by. 

In 1836 a third chapel was begun, on a new site in Union Street (nowQueen Street), and was opened on Good Friday in the following year, theinterior fittings being transferred from the second building inCagthorpe. 

In 1866 a movement was commenced, with a view to the erection of a stilllarger chapel, and the present fine building was the result; opened in1869, with accommodation for over 1, 000 persons (1024), at a cost of£5, 876. {70b} The Sunday School adjoining, with large class rooms andinfant school being built in 1875, at a further outlay of £2, 578. Thefittings of the chapel are of stained polished deal, the gallery frontand pulpit are white, picked out with gold, the latter standing upon 4round-headed arches of light and graceful design. A new organ waserected soon after the opening of this chapel, at a cost of £300, and in1883 the instrument was enlarged and improved. 

In 1886 the Centenary of Wesleyanism was celebrated and the occasion wasmarked by a strenuous effort to clear off the debt from the HorncastleCircuit. This effort was supplemented by “Ye olde Englyshe Fayre, houlden in ye Exchange Hall, Nov. 20, 21 and 22, MDCCCLXXXVIII;” and at atea gathering on March 12, 1889, it was stated that the original debthad, in the previous two years, been reduced to £60, and since then thewhole had been cleared off, the exact sum raised being £1, 526 2s. 4d. ;while, as an evidence of the general prosperity of the Society, theChairman stated that in the last 24 years debts had, throughout thecountry, been paid to the total amount of no less than £1, 226, 245. {71a}

In 1860 a former foundry show room, in Foundry Street, built by the lateMr. Tupholme, was acquired through the generosity of Mr. J. Rivett, to beused as a mixed day school; it had one large general room, fourclassrooms, and two large yards, and afforded accommodation for more than400 scholars. The premises cost £450, but before the school was openedsome £1, 300 had been spent in adapting them to educational purposes. This has now been superceded by an even more commodious building inCagthorpe, on the south branch of the canal, at the corner near the BowBridge, opposite St. Mary’s Square, at a cost of £2, 500. It has a verylarge room for a mixed school, another for an infant school, withclassrooms and everything required, in accordance with the latestconditions 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 theRev. G. White, then Superintendent Minister, for which the classroom ofthe Sunday School was to be available for their use, every evening exceptSunday, supplied with daily papers, magazines, &c. ; classes also beingheld for the consideration of important subjects and for mutualimprovement; these are still continued. There is also a Wesley Guild, which meets every Friday evening, in the band room, Queen Street, at 8o’clock, during the winter months, and on the first Friday evening in themonth 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, asthat society eventually made a complete separation from the Church ofEngland, of which its founder remained through life an ordained ministerand communicant, so the seeds of disruption spread in itself. Atdifferent periods it threw out off-shoots, amounting in all to some eightdifferent daughter societies; such as those which are named “The OriginalConnection, ” “The New Connection, ” “The Primitive Methodists, ” &c. Ofthese the last alone is represented in Horncastle. More than 50 yearsago {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 ofthe town. This proving too small for the growing congregation, a largerstructure, an oblong building, with front gable at the east end and agallery, 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 astable, but still retaining a pointed window. This building was of thedate of the superintendency of the Rev. John Butcher. The residence wasfound to be too damp to be comfortable, and a house was taken for him inProspect Street. In the early days of this chapel Mary Crossley, aRevivalist, occasionally preached here. Possibly the services at thistime were rather too demonstrative, as they were not unfrequentlyinterrupted by roughs, and the sect acquired the name of “The Ranters. ”{72} An amusing anecdote is related of Mr. Butcher; he was a somewhateccentric character, and in the discharge of his intinerant ministrationshe usually rode on a donkey, sometimes accompanied by her foal; and awaggish passer-by on the road is said, on one occasion, to have salutedthem with the greeting “Good morning, ye three, ” adding _sotto voce_, “donkeys. ”

After a few years this second chapel was found lacking in accommodationand a third building, the present edifice, was erected in ProspectStreet, in the year 1853, with sittings for 380, at a cost of about£1, 100. As this is a substantial structure, likely to last for manyyears, we may here describe it. It is of red brick, except the arch ofthe western door, which has a band of white bricks; the bricks are largerthan usual, being 3¼ inches in thickness. The entrance has a double dooropening into a lobby, at each end of which is a staircase, leading to thenorth 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 theinscription “Primitive Methodist Chapel, 1853. ” At the east end of theinterior is a Rostrum, 12-ft. Long, divided into two stages, the frontone being 8 inches above the floor, the second, behind it, about 4½-ft. High, with access by steps at both ends. The front of this platform hasslender piers, supported by lancet arches, with trefoils and quatrefoilsbetween, giving a graceful effect, and painted white, gold, and grey, with a background chocolate in colour. At the back of the rostrum areeight arches in the pannelling. This is said to have been a copy of thearrangement in Bardney Chapel. Over the rostrum is a recess in the eastwall, containing the harmonium, which cost 40 gs. , and seats for thechoir. The sittings in the body of the chapel are of stained andvarnished deal. At the rear of the chapel, entered by doors at each sideof the rostrum, is a large room for the Sunday School, with two smallerclass rooms above it. The erection of this building was due to theexertions of the Rev. J. Haigh, who was appointed minister in 1850, andas an exception to the usual custom, he was requested to continue hisministry for four years. We may add that, at the opening service of thisthird 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 asSecond Minister in Horncastle, at that time, for two years; he became in1872 Superintendent Minister for three years, and again 1884 for fouryears, 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, atthe building of the second chapel it was constituted a separate circuit, and when the third chapel was erected, in 1853, Coningsby was made abranch of Horncastle. 

The first preacher who visited Horncastle was a female, Jane Brown byname, who is said to have walked from Lincoln to Horncastle on a Sundaymorning, giving an address in the Market Place in the afternoon, and inthe evening holding a service in a house, now forming part of the backpremises of the Red Lion Hotel. The first local preachers were alsofemales, Mary Allen and Mary Clarke. The first two female members wereMary Elwin and Martha Belton. 

Mr. Butcher having been the first resident minister, was succeeded by theRev. C. Smith, who worked here and in various other places during 50years, and then retired to York as supernumerary. The Rev. William Rose, who had been Second Minister in 1850, was appointed Superintendent in1875, 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 numberedamong the local members, he afterwards removed to Lincoln, and acted asItinerant Minister for 33 years before returning to Horncastle in 1888. Mr. Pickwell was succeeded by Rev. William Kitson as Superintendent, withRev. R. H. Auty as Second Minister. Mr. Kitson retained his post duringfour years, when he left for Market Rasen. Mr. Auty was followed, asSecond Minister, by Rev. John Bowness, and he, in turn, by Rev. ThomasStones. 

In 1894 the Rev. John Featherstone succeeded to the ministry, with Rev. W. J. Leadbetter as Second Minister, both these stayed to their secondyear, Mr. Featherstone dying in 1896. In that year the Rev. John Worsnopwas appointed, with Rev. A. W. Bagnall as Second Minister; the formerretained his post during five years; Mr. Bagnall two years, beingsucceeded 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 retiredto Newcastle-on-Tyne, and died there in Dec. , 1904. 

In 1901 the Rev. Matthew H. Chapman became Superintendent Minister, withRev. J. A. Kershaw as Second, both remaining during two years. In 1903the Rev. Robert B. Hauley succeeded, with Rev. J. Cousin as assistant, both remaining two years. In 1905 (July) the former left for KirkbyStephen, Westmoreland, the latter for a circuit in Shropshire. They werefollowed by the Rev. E. Allport, from Skegness, as Superintendent, Sept. 1905; and Rev. E. J. Hancox from Doncaster. In June of that year theannual 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} Althoughhis family was said to be ancient, his ancestors having come to Englandat the Norman Conquest, he belonged to a humble rank in life, living atFord Hays Farm. He was in early life educated by his mother, a godlywoman, 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 hisfather, and an uncle who was a millwright, but found time to studyhydrostatics, pneumatics, natural philosophy, as well as Hebrew, Greekand Latin. His mother’s influence had given him a serious bent of mind, and he early acquired strong religious convictions. His biographer saysof him “He tells, in child-like simplicity, how, when only four or fiveyears old, he pondered over thoughts of heaven and hell, the lastjudgment, and other solemn subjects. During the next 20 years his innerlife 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 theUnconverted_, Allen’s _Alarm_, and a sermon by Wesley on _The Trinity_. Her son Hugh naturally read these, and Wesley’s sermon made a greatimpression upon him. One Sunday morning he was sitting in his room, reading Fletcher’s Letters on _The Spiritual Manifestation of the Son ofGod_, when he declares that he was led “to believe with his heart untorighteousness, and with his mouth to make confession unto salvation. ”This was in his 27th year, A. D. 1799. He joined the Wesleyan society inJune of that year, the special occasion being a love feast at Burslem, towhich he was taken by an aged neighbour, a farmer near Bemersley, namedBirchenough, at whose house services were conducted, who offered him aticket 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 originatorsof the Primitive community, the other was his friend and neighbourWilliam Clowes, a sketch of his career was published some years ago, {74}from which we cull the leading particulars. He was born at Burslem 12thMarch, 1780, his mother, a daughter of Aaron Wedgewood, being a nearrelation of Josiah of that name, the inventor of the famous Wedgwoodpottery. At ten years of age (1790) he began work in his uncle’spottery, which he continued for several years. At that time dancing, gambling and pugilism were the chief amusement of the factory men andcolliers of Staffordshire, and for some years he led a wild life ofdissipation, yet this was accompanied, at times, with a sense ofself-condemnation and spiritual consciousness. “When I was ten yearsold, ” he says, “I remember being at a prayer meeting conducted by NancyWood, of Burslem, in her father’s house, when, convinced of the sin ofdisobedience to my parents, I wept bitterly. ” Conflicts between good andevil continued to disturb him for several years. When a young man, at adance in Burslem, he was so suddenly convicted of sin, that he abruptlywithdrew. Shortly afterwards he married, but he and his wife quarralledso violently that he left her, and went off, taking with him only hismother’s prayer book. After some wandering, without a penny in hispocket, he returned and begged his wife to attend the Wesleyan Chapelregularly with him, but she refused. He then, prayer book in hand, tookan oath that he would serve God and avoid dissipation. This oath, however, was broken; but once more in the early hour of a cold Januarymorning he went forth, and seeing a faint light burning in a window, heentered the house, to find a few humble methodists gathered for an earlyprayer meeting. There, he says, he knelt unnoticed, but there he “diedto sin, and was born of God. This, I said, is what they call beingconverted. I was fully persuaded that I was justified by faith, and hadpeace 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 Clowesbegan the great work of their life. At the beginning of the 19th centuryBourne, being much employed at Harriseahead, near Bemersley, was shockedat the general lack of the means of grace, and he endeavoured in 1800 and1801 to promote a revivalist movement. Daniel Shubotham, a boxer, poacher, and ringleader in wickedness, was brought, through Bourne’sinfluence, to the Saviour, on Christmas day 1800, and with his naturalenergy of character took up the cause. Matthias Bailey, another ofBourne’s old associates was also won over, and cottage prayer meetingswere begun among the colliers. A meeting upon Mow Cop was proposed for aday given to prayer. At this time Lorenzo Dow, an American Wesleyanvisited the Black Country, as the coal district of Staffordshire wascalled. He spoke of the American camp meetings, himself preaching atCongleton, when Hugh Bourne, with his brother James, was present; WilliamClowes being also a hearer. They bought books of Lorenzo Dow, which hada marked effect on the future. On May 31st, 1807, a camp meeting washeld on Mow Cop, a hill in the neighbourhood, Bourne and Clowes beingpresent. Stands were erected and addresses given from four points. Bourne organized two companies, who continued by turns praying all theday; others giving accounts of their spiritual experiences, among whomClowes was prominent, and his words are “The glory that filled my soul onthat day exceeds my powers of description. ” Persons were present on thisoccasion from Kilham in Yorkshire and other distant places, one, Dr. PaulJohnson, a friend of Lorenzo Dow, coming from Ireland. 

The movement had now taken definite form and substance. Another campmeeting followed at the same place on July 19, lasting three days; athird on August 16th, at Brown Edge; a fourth on August 23rd, atNorton-in-the-Moors. At this time was held the Annual WesleyanConference, at which handbills were issued denouncing this separatemovement. For a brief moment Bourne, Clowes and Shubotham hesitated; butthe question was seriously considered at a meeting at the house of afriend, Joseph Pointon, when it was “revealed” to Bourne that the campmeetings “should not die, but live;” and from that moment he “believedhimself to be called of God” for the new work; and shortly his brotherJames, James Nixon, Thomas Cotton, and others, gave themselves to thecause. 

For some years the labours of these men and their associates were chieflydevoted to the pottery and colliery districts of Staffordshire, where aremarkable change was brought about in the moral condition of thehitherto almost brutalized people. The area of work was then graduallyenlarged, extending throughout the whole country, and even, as we shallpresently see, beyond it. The following are a few personal details ofHugh Bourne’s subsequent career. 

In 1808, on his way to Bemersley from Delamere Forest, an impressionforced itself upon him that he would shortly be expelled from theWesleyan connexion; on reaching home he found that a rumour to thiseffect was being circulated, and in June of that year the formal sentenceof expulsion was carried out. He continued to devote himself to the workof evangelization, urging however all others to join whateverdenomination they were themselves most inclined for. 

He preached his first sermon at Tunstall, on Nov. 12, 1810, in a kitchenwhich had been licensed for preaching three years before. It was notplastered or ceiled, so that if not required at any future time, it mightbe converted into a cottage, which took place in 1821, when a chapel waserected. At the Conference held at Newcastle-on-Tyne, in 1842, he wasmost regretfully placed on the retired list, on account of his impairedhealth, a yearly pension of £25 being assigned to him. He was still, however, to be at liberty to visit different parts of the connection; andduring the next ten years of his superannuation he kept up a very widecorrespondence on religious matters, and made a missionary visit toAmerica. The last conference which he attended was at Yarmouth, in 1851. For several years he had felt a premonition that the year 1852 would behis 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 spiritinto the hands of God, who gave it, when “the weary wheels of life stoodstill. ” 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 faithand mighty prayer. ”

We now pass over a period of several years. Clowes received a call toHull. He had crowded the work of a life-time into some 17 years, and hishealth was now far from good. At a meeting in December, 1827, heexhibited such weakness as showed that he had done his best work. However, he continued to reside in Hull and visited other places fromthere, as his strength allowed. It is certain that he visitedHorncastle, for an old lady, Mrs. Baildham, who died in May, 1900, havingbeen a member of the connection more than 70 years, frequently assertedthat she had heard both Clowes and his wife preach in, presumably, thesecond chapel in Mill Lane. 

At the Conference in 1842, 35 years after the first camp meeting on MowCop, both Clowes and Bourne were present; but the assembly was saddenedto see the original founders, of what was now a thoroughly establishedand wide-spread community, both shattered in health and broken by toil. Nine years later Clowes said to a friend “I feel myself failing fast, Iam fully prepared. ” He spoke of the glories of heaven, and said “I shallpossess 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 heattended 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 peopleof Hull were greatly moved, and many thousands lined the streets as thefuneral procession passed to the grave, at which the Rev. William Harlandbriefly recited the story of the good man’s work. 

Of the general progress of the connexion, we may say, that down, to 1870it was simply a Home and Colonial body, but, in that year, the Norwichbranch sent out the missioners, Burnett and Roe, to the island ofFernando Po, on the west coast of Africa. This was in response to anappeal from the Fernandians, who had been converted by a member of theconnexion, Ship Carpenter Hands, of the ship Elgiva, who, with his godlyCaptain, Robinson, had in the course of trade visited that country. Thesame year also saw a mission established at Aliwal North, in the easternprovince of Cape Colony. 

In 1884 the Primitive Methodists of Canada formed themselves into anindependent community, although with expressions of mutual good will onboth sides; their numbers at that time were 8223, with 99 travelling and246 local ministers, and 237 chapels. 

From the middle of the 19th century to its close was a period of greatexpansion, a return in 1888 reporting the existence in Great Britain of4, 406 chapels, there having been in 1843 only 1278. In 1864 ElmfieldCollege was opened at York, as a middle class school, one of their best;John Petty being first Warden; in 1876 a college was opened atBirmingham, named after the great founder, “Bourne College. ” AtSunderland a Theological College was opened in 1868, the former Infirmarybuilding being bought; and here, from that date till 1881, Dr. WilliamAntliff, assisted, and afterwards, succeeded by Mr. T. Greenfield, trained candidates for the ministry. The college was afterwardstransferred to a new building at Alexandra Park, Manchester. 

In 1889, at the 70th Annual Conference, held in Bradford, the membershipof the society numbered 194, 347, with 1, 038 itinerant and 16, 229 localpreachers; 430, 641 Sunday School scholars, 4, 436 chapels and 1, 465smaller places of worship; the value of the connexion’s property beingestimated at over £3, 218, 320. 

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 westside of Queen Street, are the Chapel and Sunday Schools of theIndependent, or Congregational, community, which stand nearly opposite, on the east side of the same street; the former being a handsomesubstantial building of brick, enclosed by a high wall, and tall ironrails and gate, to the precincts in front, at the north end. Itsdimensions are 50-ft. By 36-ft. , with schools behind, of the same solidstructure, 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 ofProtestants, under Queen Mary, drove many to take refuge in Germany andin Geneva, where they became familiar with the worship of the sectsestablished there, which, as an unchecked reaction from the superstitiousand elaborate ceremonies of Roman Catholicism, took a more extreme formthan the carefully developed Reformation of the English Church allowed. These persons, returning to England in the reign of Elizabeth, found, asit 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 totheir demands for further change, and they were themselves too muchdivided to have the power to enforce them; dissension and disruption werethe consequence. A chief mover in this process of disintegration wasone, Robert Brown, who founded a sect called the “Brownists. ” He was theson 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. , ofwearing his cap in the presence of Royalty. Robert Brown was educated atCambridge, graduating from Corpus Christi College, and became aSchoolmaster in Southwark. About 1580 he began to put forward opinionscondemnatory of the established church. He held, as opposed to theuniformity of worship by law established, that each minister, with hiscongregation, were “a law unto themselves;” that each such smallcommunity had a right to be independent of all others; that it was notordination which gave a minister authority to preach, but the fact thathe was the nominee of a congregation; that councils or synods might beuseful in giving advice, but that they could not enforce their decisions, and had no punitory power of censure, or excommunication, against any whochose to adopt an independent course. 

Such opinions, put forward in somewhat intemperate language, aroused muchopposition and bitter feeling, which Brown was too impetuous to avoid, orto mitigate. He continued his teaching and presently formed acongregation at Norwich, holding his views. 

An Act of Parliament had been recently passed (23 Eliz. , c. 2) which madeanyone guilty of felony who should write, or set forth, seditious matter;and the Queen, as supreme head of the Church, regarded Brown’s action asan interference with the Royal prerogative. Severe measures were adoptedin order to restrain this new teaching. Two preachers, Elias Thacker andJohn Copping, who embraced and proclaimed these tenet, were tried at theBury Assizes in 1583, condemned, and shortly afterwards hanged. Brownwas himself thrown into prison, but released through the intercession ofLord Burghley, with whom he was connected. 

He now left England, and, with a number of followers settled, bypermission of the state, at Middlebourg, in Zealand, where they formed acongregation. There, however, freed from all restraint, their principlesof independence carried them so far that differences arose amongthemselves, which broke up the community. Brown presently returned toEngland, and for a time conformed to the Church, which he had so freelyabused, being allowed even to hold the Benefice of Thorpe Achurch, inNorthamptonshire. 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 hadpublished, in 1582, a book entitled _A Treatise of Reformation_, of whichhe sent many copies to England, and it was for distributing these, andother 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 1593a congregation of Brownists was formed in London, which numbered some20, 000 members. A few years later their obnoxious tenets again provokedpersecution, and once more they had to take refuge on the continent. Churches were established by them at Amsterdam and elsewhere, theprincipal one being at Leyden, under the Rev. John Robinson, whoafterwards came to be regarded as the founder of Independency. He was aman of considerable attainments; of more genuine piety than the impetuousBrown; and while equally with him, holding that each congregation was initself a perfect and independent church, under Christ, he would avoid allbitter invective against other communities, who, with differentregulations, might still be regarded equally as churches. 

Although the Brownists had no regularly ordained ministry; as newlyconstituted under Robinson, there were a number of ministers elected bythe congregations, and no one was allowed to teach publicly until, afterdue examination, he had been pronounced qualified for the work. TheIndependents differ chiefly from other religious societies, in that theyreject all creeds of fallible man, their test of orthodoxy being adeclaration that they accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and adhere tothe scriptures as the sole standard of faith and practice. 

In 1616 a number of the society again returned to England under theleadership of Henry Jacobs, who had served under Robinson, and once moreestablished a meeting house in London; while others, in charge of a Mr. Brewster, who had been a lay Elder, also under Robinson, went out, in1620, 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 Robinsonsectarian bitterness was much modified, yet throughout the reigns ofJames I. And Charles I. , the Independents were in frequent conflict withthe Presbyterians; nor was there only sectarian strife, for both partieshad numerous supporters in Parliament, as well as partizans in the army. Preaching Generals and praying Captains abounded; but Cromwell favouredthe Independents, as against Presbyterians, and this gradually paved theway for toleration. 

 [Picture: Interior Congregational Chapel]

At the “Savoy Conference” in London (so called because held at the palaceof that name), in 1658, the Independents published an epitome of theirfaith, and henceforth, with occasional interruptions, they held on theirway; although it was not till 1831 that the “Congregational Union ofEngland and Wales” was finally and fully constituted. They againpublished, in 1833, a more definite “Declaration of Faith, Order, andDiscipline, ” which continues still to be the charter of the community. 

We have seen that in the early annals of this society the name of JohnRobinson stood high in general estimation, but his was by no means theonly honoured name. Among early members of mark was Dr. John Owen, ofQueen’s College, Oxford, a learned writer, and Chancellor of theUniversity in 1652; he became Chaplain to Protector Cromwell, as anIndependent. The Rev. Isaac Watts, who had been tutor to the sons of SirJohn Hartop, became the popular minister of a Congregational Chapel, inMark Lane, London, in 1693. Dr. Philip Doddridge was also a valuedmember, as Minister at Norwich, Northampton, Kibworth near MarketHarborough, and other places. From his candour and learning he heldfriendly relations with the highest dignitaries of the establishedchurch; he is chiefly known for his two great works, _The Rise andProgress of Religion in the Soul_, and his _Family Expositor_. To theregret of many he died of consumption, at a comparatively early age, in1751, at Lisbon, whither he had been ordered by his doctors for themilder climate. The friend and biographer of the last-named, Mr. JohnOrton, was another esteemed member, who published several valuable works, he died in 1783. 

Another was Robert Hall, who ministered at Cambridge, Leicester andBristol, where he died in 1831. He was a great writer and very eloquentpreacher. Professedly he was a Baptist, but he frequently occupiedIndependent platforms, and admitted that he had more feeling offellowship with an Independent than with a strict Baptist. {80a} None ofthese, however, was more highly esteemed than Dr. Isaac Taylor, ofNorwich and Colchester, author of several instructive works, and commonlycalled “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 ofcomparatively recent date, and the evidence on this subject is somewhatconflicting. Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, published in 1820, does not name them, in his list of Nonconformists, as existing here atthat time, but Saunders’ _History_, published in 1836, gives them withthe others. Hence they would appear to have established themselves inthe town somewhere between those two dates; yet there exists a curioussmall publication, entitled “The Confession of Faith of the Society ofhis Majesty’s Protestant subjects (dissenting from the Church of England)called Independents, in Horncastle, in the County of Lincoln, and placesadjacent, Framed in the year of Christ, 1781, by W. R. Lincoln, printedby 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 theconfession is said {80d} to be very remarkable, and indeed unique, “W. R. ”was evidently rather of an eccentric turn of mind, which led him topublish this authoritative statement of Faith. 

The society, probably, in a few years became extinct, and it is not tillthe year 1820 that we find any sign of their revival. _The Church Book_supplies the following details: In 1820 certain worshippers in theWesleyan Chapel of that day, finding their religions views not in accordwith general Wesleyan sentiment, decided to erect a chapel of their own;and for this purpose they selected a site in East Street, at the northwest corner of Foundry Street, where now stands the house, 42, EastStreet. This building was opened for public worship on March 22, 1821;the morning preacher being the Rev. B. Byron of Lincoln, the Rev. JohnPain, a Hoxton student, preaching in the afternoon, and the Rev. ThomasHayes of Boston, in the evening. 

Mr. Pain officiated for a few weeks and then returned to Hoxton tocomplete his education for the ministry. He had, however, left apleasing impression behind him, and he was afterwards invited, in anaddress signed by 130 of the townsfolk, to come and settle among them astheir first permanent minister. He commenced his labours, in thatcapacity, in July of the same year. Under his ministry the congregationrapidly 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 thenorth-east corner of Union Street, now Queen Street. While this chapelwas being built (which is still their place of worship) they were allowedby the Wesleyans to make use of their chapel, at stated times; some oftheir services also being, for the time, held at the British Schools, onthe 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. GeorgeWaterbourne, of Dewsbury, preached in the morning, and the Rev. JosephGilbert, of Hull, in the evening. On Thursday, May 9th, following, sevenpersons formally announced themselves to be a church on Independentprinciples, viz. , William Barton and his daughter Mary, John Jackson andElizabeth his wife, William Parker (Solicitor), Mary Ball and RebeccaBrown. 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 wereadded to the church, in 1823 eight more were enrolled, in 1824 threemore, and in 1825 six joined. 

During this year a vestry was built at the back of the chapel; in May ofthe same year a Sunday School was commenced, which at the end of the yearnumbered 60 scholars; and the congregation gradually grew, year by year, until Mr. Pain died in 1844 (April 11). He was much beloved, and hadbrought into the fold about 150 members. He was interred in the chapelyard, a large stone on the west side marking his grave, while a tablet onthe south wall, at the east end of the interior of the chapel bears thisinscription, “Sacred to the memory of the Rev. John Pain, who wasordained Pastor over this church and congregation, Anno Domini 1821. Asa minister he was talented, zealous and useful, his chief desire being tobring men unto God. As a man he was amiable and affectionate, hisprivate life bearing testimony to the truth of those counsels he publiclytaught. He departed this life April 11th, 1844, aged 44 years. ” Theinscription on the tombstone is a long one, in verse, to which is addedan 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 mostvalued, and his memory is still cherished. We may add that he was bornin Gloucester, a descendant, on his mother’s side, of the old andhonourable family of the D’Oyleys, whose seat is at Adderbury, Oxfordshire. His father was many years Pastor of the Independent Churchof Forest Green, Gloucestershire, his mother being daughter of a Churchof England clergyman. An engraving of him is still preserved, framed, inthe 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 to1848 the Rev. W C. Fisher held the post. The Rev. Samuel Gladstonesucceeded him, and officiated from 1848 to 1853. He afterwards went toSleaford. 

The Rev. J. G. Roberts was Minister from 1853 to 1856. He married adaughter of the late Mr. T. Meredith; there being a tablet to the memoryof the latter, on the west side of the south wall of the chapel, withthis inscription, “In affectionate remembrance of Mr. Thomas Meredith, who departed this life July 30, 1858, aged 66 years. As for me I willbehold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake withthy likeness. ”

The Rev. Thomas Betty succeeded in 1857, and held office till 1863, whenhis health broke down; his last entry in the books was written on Feb. 19, 1863, “God bless them all, church and congregation, Amen. ” Hereturned and died at Knottingley, March 26, 1865. During his ministry adebt of £75 on the chapel was paid off, and in 1859 a minister’s housewas purchased for £250, and some £30 spent in repairs, the money beingraised by a bazaar. 

The Rev. Thomas Lord followed in 1863, and ministered till 1866. Hesucceeded in paying off the debt on the British School, and on leavingthe town was presented with a handsome timepiece by the Committee of theSchool. He had as a youth attended the chapel of Dr. Doddridge (alreadynamed) in Northampton, but left there in 1834. His first pastorate hadbeen at Wollaston, from 1834 to 1845; then removing to Brigstock, wherehe ministered from 1845 until his transfer to Horncastle in 1863. {82}

He was succeeded by the Rev. J. E. Whitehead, from 1867 to 1871. Duringhis ministry several improvements were effected in the interior of thechapel, including the erection of a commodious platform; oak furnitureand 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 atPortsea, but visited Horncastle in July, 1872, to preach for HomeMissions, and was afterwards invited to undertake the ministry here. Being a native of Boston, and having resided for some time in Spilsby, hewas glad to return to his native county, and commenced his ministry inJanuary, 1873. During his pastorate the old seats in the body of thechapel were removed, and modern open benches substituted. In 1874 a plotof 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 upthe matter, and the present schools were erected on the south of thechapel. 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 akitchen with convenient arrangements for tea meetings; above are sixlarge classrooms for boys and girls. These were opened April 29, 1875;among the contributors being Mr. Samuel Morley of London, at one timePresident of the Society, and Sir Titus Salt, who both, with Mr. W. A. Rayson, gave £50 each. 

After Mr. Rose’s retirement both he and Mrs. Rose still continued to takea kindly interest in matters connected with the chapel. She was a memberof a highly respectable family in the neighbourhood, being a daughter ofMr. 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 amongall denominations; was on cordial terms of intimacy with the Rev. ArthurScrivenor, then Vicar of Horncastle; and, among other duties, he acted ona committee at Woodhall Spa, in connection with a Cottage Hospital forthe poor, in which he took great interest, and which was carried on bythe 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 from1878 to 1880, when he was transferred to Bracknall, Berks. He wasfollowed by a Nottingham student, the Rev. W. Archer, from 1881 to 1885. Then came the Rev. J. H. Dingle, of Ruskington, near Sleaford, from 1885to 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 chapelagain renovated, with decorations from the designs of Mr. C. H. Stevens. 

Then followed an interval of two years, during which the chapel wasserved 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 intervalhere again occurred, during which Mr. J. T. Whitehead and otherNottingham students took the duties, Mr. Whitehead afterwards accepting apastorate in Lancashire. 

In January, 1894, the Rev. Sidney Benjamin Dixon began his ministry, which he continued till December, 1897, when he was transferred toTetsworth, Oxfordshire. For more than a year Nottingham students againperformed the duties; and in November, 1899, the Rev. John Pogson, B. D. , entered on his ministry, which he continued until 1905, when he wastransferred to Whitworth, near Rochdale. Early in 1907 (Feb. 13) theRev. J. H. Dingle, who had held the office in 1886, was re-appointed, having served, as above, 12 years at Patricroft, and afterwards atNewmarket and Sheffield. 

There is one more tablet in the chapel, which we have not mentioned; itis on the west wall, “In affectionate remembrance of Jane, the belovedwife of William Wood, who died May 12, 1853, aged 48 years. Precious inthe sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. ” Mr. Wood was a draperin the High Street, and a pillar of the church; he afterwards removed toSouthampton, 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 placethere by Act of Parliament in 1855. Marriages are here solemnized. TheServices are morning and evening on Sunday, with sermon in the evening ofThursday. A Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavour Meeting onTuesday at 8 p. M. A Ladies’ Sewing Meeting on the first Wednesday ofevery month, and choir practice on Friday evening at 8, there being agood 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_, inseven volumes, of the Rev. H. Walter, B. D. , F. R. S. , Professor in the EastIndia College, Hertford, Chaplain to the Duke of Northumberland, &c. , &c. 

THE BAPTIST CHAPEL. 

This is the oldest nonconformist building in Horncastle. It is generallysupposed that there was a still earlier chapel, situated near what iscalled the Bow Bridge, which spans the southern branch of the canal, between Cagthorpe and St. Mary’s Square, but we have no definite proof ofthis beyond a vague tradition. 

The Baptist community date their origin from the time of theCommonwealth. The earliest person of note connected with this religiousbody being John Bunyon, author of _The Pilgrim’s Progress_, {84a} whoespoused the cause of the Parliament against Charles I. He firstpreached in Bedford, where he was a tinker by trade, in the year 1655, visiting various other parts of the country in succeeding years, until hedied, August 31st, 1688, and was buried in Bunhill Fields. 

An old document shows that at a meeting held at Bedford, in the spring of1655, over which he presided, it was decided to send one of the members, “Mr. Brown to Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, to a few persons of thebelief, seeking help to guide them in forming a society. ” Before the“Toleration Act” was passed in 1689, nonconformist places of worship werenot allowed to exist within five miles of a market town. {84b} InAsterby, about six miles from Horncastle, there is a Baptist chapel, locally reputed {84c} to be the oldest in the kingdom. At Coningsby is aBaptist Chapel, with a school, dating from nearly the same period, withan endowment of 26 acres of land. The Baptists of Horncastle mostly, inthose days, worshipped at Asterby. At Donington-on-Bain there is also avery ancient chapel, where the Baptists of Louth worshipped. The twochapels of Asterby and Donington have a joint endowment of £20 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, andWilliam Tenant. 

The Chapel was originally a structure of one story, having its entrancein the centre of the north wall, and the pulpit opposite. Until theearly part of the 19th century it had no baptistry, immersion beingperformed in the water-mill pit, {84d} in the north of the town. 

Considerable structural alterations were made in the year 1843, when thewalls were heightened and upper windows inserted; a gallery was erectedat the east end; the north door was bricked up, and the present entranceat the east end opened; the pulpit being removed to the west end, facingthe door. A further enlargement was made by a small vestry on the westbeing added, thus providing sitting accommodation for 250 worshippers. 

On the north side of the building is a graveyard, but only threeinscriptions are legible, they are “Mary Markwell, died March 28th, 1776, aged 29. Prepare to meet thy God. ” This was, doubtless, one of theearliest interments. The second is “In memory of Thomas Lamb, whodeparted 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, aged79. He was a watchmaker. The third is as follows: “Sacred to the memoryof Eliza, daughter of William Parker, Solicitor, and Elizabeth, his wife, who died 1st April, 1835, aged 20 years. Them that sleep in Jesus willGod bring with Him. ” Mr. Parker occupied part of the premises nowforming the shop and residence of Mr. Bryant, shoemaker, in the HighStreet. 

There is little doubt that the house adjoining the chapel, on the northwest, was once the minister’s residence. On the stairs leading to thepresent rostrum there is still a doorway, which evidently led to thehouse. There is a stone tablet over this door, and in 1892 an exact copyof this was made, and placed on the north wall. The inscription reads“John Hill, departed this life Oct. 16th, 1779, aged 48, Pastor of thisChurch 13 years. ”

There are some tablets on the wall within, but the Rev. F. Samuels, whowas Pastor when the Chapel was renovated, about 1882, unfortunatelyallowed 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 itwas not till 1892 that the Horncastle Chapel was “registered” as a placeof worship, the omission being only then discovered, when application wasmade for a licence to solemnize marriages. 

In 1893 the Chapel was thoroughly restored, at a cost of £80; theinterior being modernised, the walls painted, the old high pews removedand replaced by neat seats, the old box-shaped pulpit taken down, and arostrum and platform erected. There is a good organ, with special seatsfor the choir. 

We may add that the Baptists are now a very numerous and influentialbody. At the Baptist World Conference, held at Exeter Hall, London, July10 and following days, 1905, the first ever held as an united community, Dr. Maclaren of Manchester presiding, a message was received from theKing and Queen, thanking for a loyal address from the Conference. ThePresident also stated that he had informally received a greeting of goodwill from the Established Church, as well as from the Free Churches. 

On that occasion ministers and delegates attended from various parts ofGreat Britain and the Colonies, from America, France, and othercountries. 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. ThePresident, Dr. Clifford of London, stated that there were present 4, 000delegates, from all parts of the world, representing some seven millionsof Baptists, {85b} and 5, 700, 000 communicants; but besides these thereare 14 or 15 millions of “adherents” to the cause, so that the whole bodynumbers 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 structurallyand intellectually, the most recent developement of Nonconformity inHorncastle. The founder of this community was a personality soremarkable that it may be well here to give a brief sketch of him. 

Emanuel Swedenborg, son of a Lutheran bishop, was born at Stockholm, in1689. During more than the first half of his life he was distinguishedas a hard worker in the field of science, and from his many cleverinventions, and valuable public services, he was ennobled by hissovereign. But in the year 1743, after a serious illness, accompanied bybrain fever, the result of excessive mental labour, he threw up all workof this kind, declaring that he had received a “call” from the Lord, whomanifested Himself to him, by personal appearance, and commissioned himto devote further life and strength to holier purposes. 

Being a man of strong will, albeit, not improbably, with a touch (as wasthought by several) of mental aberration, the result of his illness, hethrew himself, with characteristic energy, into the work of religiousproselytism, in support of the special views with which he was nowinspired. He became a kind of religious clairvoyant, living an ecstaticexistence in communion with angels and spirits. He printed accounts ofvarious “Arcana, ” as he termed them; visions granted to him of heaven andhell; the state after death, the true worship of God, the inner spiritualsense of the scriptures; and so forth. He held spiritual intercoursewith the dwellers in other planets, conversing with Apostles, withLuther, Calvin, Melancthon, &c. “Things hidden since the days of Job (hedeclared) 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 issaid that several Anglican clergy adopted his views, though stillretaining 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; thatChrist always existed in human form, but not in human soul; and that inHis Person there was a real Trinity; that the bible was to be understoodin a spiritual sense, which was first revealed to Swedenborg. Theirritual, which was based on that of the Anglican Church, included asplendid 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, ” whichwas not limited to locality but pervaded everywhere. Translations of allhis works have been issued by the Swedenborg Society, located at No. 1, Bloomsbury Street, London, W. C. , and at Horncastle they may be borrowedfrom the New Church Free Library in Croft Street. The Horncastle branchhas also its own monthly magazine, _The New Church Advocate_. 

The following is a brief account of the Society’s origin and progress, inHorncastle, from particulars furnished to the present writer, by theesteemed minister, Rev. R. Mayes, in 1903 (the second year of hisministry), and by Mr. Edwin Townell, who has been secretary for a quarterof a century. The Society was inaugurated on August 9, 1869, whenMessrs. Bogg, Moore, Hall, Cook, Austin, and Bellamy, met at the house ofMr. E. J. Moore, 19, Queen Street; Mr. Moore being appointed Secretaryand Treasurer, Mr. Bogg and Mr. Hall Trustees, and Mr. Bogg nominated asfirst Leader. Mr. Cook offered the use of a room in his house, rentfree, and the first service was held on the following day, Sunday, the10th of the same month. 

As Mr. Bogg resided at Benniworth, nine miles from Horncastle, he couldnot undertake a service every Sunday; and, at first there was only anevening meeting, weather permitting. 

 [Picture: The New Jerusalem Church]

There was a good deal of opposition for a time, especially from theCongregationalists, under their minister, Mr. J. E. Whitehead; this, however, served rather to increase the general interest in the newmovement, and the evening congregations grew in numbers. The first teameeting (which ultimately became an established monthly institution) washeld March 14, 1870, in a room in the alley named “Tinker’s Entry, ” therebeing 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 NewChurch Association, visited them, followed by Rev. John Hyde in October, Mr. Gunton coming again in December of the same year. We may hereobserve that this connection with Mr. Richard Gunton became, as will behereafter shewn, a most valuable asset in the Society’s favour, in moreways than one. He took up his residence in London, first in OseneyCrescent, Camden Road, N. W. , and afterwards in Tufnell Park Road, N. , buthe never lost his interest in the Horncastle branch; visiting the townyear after year, to preach or give lectures, in the Corn Exchange, onbehalf of the Society. His last visit was in October, 1896; his deathoccurring on the 5th of the December following, after (as was fitlystated) “40 years of faithful service as Superintendent Missionary, ” aswell as having been Treasurer of the New Church Conference. 

In 1871 Mr. Moore left Horncastle, the room in Tinker’s Entry was givenup, and the meetings were held in the house of Mr. W. Hall, where alibrary was also opened for the members. Subsequently, with a view tothe erection of a suitable place of worship, Mr. Hall bought a piece ofland in Croft Street and presented it to the Society, the project beingalso warmly supported by Mr. R. Gunton. A subscription list was opened, plans and estimates obtained, and the foundation stone of a fabric waslaid, Sep. 16, 1872. The appeal for support concluded with these words:“This will be the first house of worship constructed in the County ofLincoln, for the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only God. ” Thiswas 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 aseries of lectures in aid of the Society four years before (November, 1869) in the Corn Exchange; and, after the dedication, he again gaveaddresses, 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 thesefavourable auspices. It consists of a square oblong, standing north andsouth, 40-ft. By 20-ft. ; the architect was Mr. Gosling of London, thebuilder Mr. Chas. Blyton of Horncastle, the material being red and whitebrick. There is accommodation for 150 persons; the cost of the structurewas £350. The fittings, which had formerly belonged to a chapel in CrossStreet, 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 GoodShepherd and an inscription at the bottom stating that it was “Presentedby J. W Fishleigh and Fanny his wife, in memoriam, Feb. , 1901, ” being inmemory of their only daughter, who died in London, the mother having beenbrought 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 CommunionTable. The carpet and communion cushion were presented by the late Mr. T. Tapling, carpet manufacturer, of London, who was a native ofLincolnshire. In the centre of the apse is a carved oak chair, havingthe monogram I. H. S. , which was given by Mr. C. Blyton. In front, standing on the Chapel floor, is a harmonium by Alexandre & Sons, ofParis; it is a fine instrument, having four sets of vibrators and 14stops. It was obtained partly at the cost of the congregation, andpartly 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 lateMarquis of Salisbury. The instrument originally cost £84. Mr. WilliamHall presided at this harmonium from the first. 

We have mentioned Dr. Bayley of London as the earliest preacher in thenew chapel; there was no resident minister till 1902. Mr. And Mrs. Hallentertained during the whole of the first year (1873) the preachers abovenamed. Others of note who followed were Mr. Layland of Nottingham, Leader of the Society in 1876; followed, 1877–8, by Mr. J. R. Boyle; towhom 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 thatyear. At various dates the preachers were Rev. R. Storey of Heywood nearManchester, Rev. Mr. Wilkins of Nottingham, Mr. Skelton of London, Mr. Pulsford of Leicester, Mr. Cameron of Edinburgh, Mr. Fairweather ofLondon, Mr. Ashby of Derby, Mr. Best of Hull, Rev. T. Prestland ofLondon, Rev. Joseph Deans in 1899, and Rev. J. R. Rendell, President ofthe Conference; Rev. Lewis A. Slight of Northampton, 1900; Rev. J. T. Freeth of Bolton, President, 1901. From time to time preachers were sentby the New Church Conference, and later by the East Midland andLincolnshire 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; MissElizabeth Hall and Mr. Edwin White, both of Horncastle, May 21, 1901; andMiss 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 Octoberof that year. Other preachers during that interval were Mr. Fairweatherof 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 laterdate, temporarily closed, but re-opened by Mr. Mayes. Under him, ablysupported as he is by members the Townell and Blyth families, and others, the services, which are short, bright, and musical, are being attended byincreasing numbers. Mr. Edwin Townell is still Secretary, as he was in1880; and with Mr. Mayes’ ministry Mr. H. Freeman succeeded Mr. W. Hallas Treasurer. 

THE REV. THOMAS LORD. 

The subject of this notice, no longer holding a ministerial charge, is bymany years the doyen among Nonconformist preachers in Horncastle, beingthe oldest Congregational Minister in England. He completed hishundredth year on April 22, 1908; on which occasion he received acongratulatory telegram from His Majesty the King; while a public fundwas instituted for a presentation to be made to him in recognition of theoccasion, which he desired to be given in his name to the localInstitution of Nurses. 

Mr. Lord was born at Olney, Bucks. , in 1808; and began his ministry in1834, as pastor of a chapel at Wollaston, Northants, which he held foreleven years; thence removing to Brigstock, in the same county, where helaboured during 17 years. He subsequently held pastorates in Horncastle, Deddington (Co. Oxford), and Great Bridge, Staffordshire. He gave uppermanent charge in 1878, continuing, however, to assist other ministersin that neighbourhood, until 1899, when, in consequence of failingeyesight, he removed once more to Horncastle, taking up his abode withhis married daughter, Mrs. C. M. Hodgett, on the Wong (No. 7). 

Mr. Lord has been an active worker in the temperance cause during morethan 70 years; a member of the Liberation Society since its formation; awarm advocate of the Peace Society, of the United Kingdom Alliance; theinaugural meeting of which he attended at Manchester. He was one of thefounders of the Congregational Total Abstinence Association; and hasalways been a warm supporter of the London Missionary Society. 

Mr. Lord still preaches occasionally in Horncastle. He has officiatedmore than once recently in the Lincoln Mission Hall, and not unfrequentlyoccupies the pulpit at the Presbyterian Chapel, Kirkstead, to assist thelocal minister, Rev. Robert Holden, who is his junior by some 16 years. On Sunday, May 31, 1908, Mr. Lord preached at Alford, in theCongregational Chapel; and on Sunday, June 7, 1908, at Boston, in theChapel 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, andresonant; his manner is full of vigor, his language simple, yet eloquentand earnest. His step is firm and elastic. In habit he is an earlyriser. 

CHAPTER VI. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 

Having dealt with the places of worship in the town, we now proceed togive an account of its schools; and among these the Grammar School, fromits antiquity, as well as for other reasons, claims precedence. 

This Institution, on its present foundation, dates from the reign ofElizabeth, {91} one of whose special characteristics was her warminterest in education, which led her to encourage her nobles, and morewealthy subjects, to promote the cause. The Reformation had given animpetus towards emancipation from the ignorance which prevailed in Popishtimes, when the monasteries were almost the only centres ofenlightenment—if so it could be called. 

Henry VIII. Did little or nothing towards relighting the torch, which hadbeen held up by the monks, whom he abolished. His successor, Edward VI. , founded a few grammar schools; among them being, in our ownneighbourhood, those at Spilsby, Louth, and Grantham. During the briefreign of the Popish Mary, the movement was again checked; but Elizabeth, herself a cultivated scholar, rekindled the general interest ineducational progress. 

The title deeds of the school are unfortunately lost, which would haveshewn to what extent it was then endowed, but documents exist belongingto the school, which prove the conveyance of certain lands, by John Nealeof Horncastle, in the 17th year of Elizabeth (A. D. 1575); he being one ofthe first 10 Governors appointed in accordance with the rules of thefoundation. 

A useful little volume was published in 1894 by the late Dr. RobertJalland, then Senior Governor of the school, containing its history, fromthe date of the Elizabethan foundation, gathered from various documentsand 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 atWestminster, June 25, Elizabeth granted to her “well-beloved and faithfulcounsellor, and subject, Edward Fynes, Knight of the most noble Order ofthe Garter, Lord Clinton and Saye, High Admiral of England, ” that, at hisprayer, “a Grammar School should be established in the town ofHorncastle, for the good education of boys and youths, living there, andabout the neighbouring parts, habitants and comerants. ” {92a} This wasto be called “The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, in the Town andSoke of Horncastle of the foundation of (the said) Edward, Lord Clynton, ”&c. , {92b} “to continue for ever. ” It was to consist of “a Master andSub-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 discreetand 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 wereconstituted “a body corporate, ” having a “common seal, to hold, to managethe revenues of the school, and empowered to spend, and invest, theincome at their discretion, ” to appoint the teachers, and successors inthe 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, inHorncastle, or in the Wildmore Fen allotment of the same, land andtenement in Hemingby, lands in Winthorpe, Huttoft, Sutton, and inThornton a payment of £12 a year in lieu of former land, {92d} withcertain moneys invested in Government Consols and Indian Stock. 

The rental of the school property has varied at various periods. At thetime of the civil war, when the neighbourhood was more or less in a stateof anarchy, there is no record, for some years, of the Governors havingeven met to dispense payments; and the Head Master’s salary was only £10. In 1735 it amounted to £42, and that of the Usher to £21; but in 1753there was a reduction to £30 for the Head Master, and £15 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; the highest point which itseems ever to have attained was £877, in 1854. In that year the HeadMaster’s stipend is not specified, but two years later it was £235, withcapitation fees amounting to £251 odd. 

In 1780 the Head Master was the Rev. C. L’Oste; he was also Rector ofLangton by Horncastle, and a good scholar. He published a translation, in verse, of Grotius on _The Christian Religion_. It was printed at theCambridge University Press, dedicated to the Bishop of Lincoln, with avery distinguished list of subscribers. {93} Differences arose betweenhim and the Governors, and in Sept. , 1782, he was served with a notice toquit, at the end of six months, for neglect of his duties. He refused togive up office, counsel’s opinion was taken by the Governors, Mr. L’Ostepleaded in his own defence. The Governors gave notice of a trial at theassizes. No result, however, is recorded, and Mr. L’Oste retained officeuntil his death in 1818. 

 [Picture: The Grammar School]

The year 1854 marked the close of the career of the most remarkable HeadMaster who ever ruled the school. The Rev. John Bainbridge Smith, D. D. , had entered on his duties April 10, 1818, succeeding Mr. L’Oste. Comingto the post as an entirely unknown man, of comparatively humble origin, but of great energy, he soon acquired a leading position in the town andneighbourhood; becoming Rector of Martin, Rector of Sotby, and Vicar ofBaumber. He was the author of several standard works on Divinity. Underhim 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 wasunfortunately as remarkable as his career. Returning by train fromLincoln he fell asleep, and being roused at Kirkstead by the portergiving the name of the station, and the night being dark, he did notperceive that the train was again in motion, and springing out of thecarriage, he fell a few yards beyond the platform and broke his neck. The porter found him lying helpless, but alive, on the line. He wascarefully conveyed to his residence at Horncastle, and lingered aliveseveral weeks, retaining his mental faculties, but having no sense offeeling below his neck. At length he recovered slight feeling in hislegs and feet, and probably tempted by this to make an effort to move, hewas found one morning dead in his bed. 

The Duke of Newcastle, who owned property in Baumber (where, as we havesaid, Dr. Smith was Incumbent), appointed him his private chaplain; andthe Doctor’s youngest daughter, Sarah Katherine, married the Rev. HenryFiennes Clinton, a near relative of the Duke, and a descendant of thefounder of the school, Lord Clinton and Saye. 

The school building has not always occupied the site on which it nowstands. As shewn in Stukeley’s plan of the town, printed in 1722, itstood in the north-east corner of the school yard. In 1772 thatstructure was found to be in a ruinous condition, and the presentbuilding was erected, being opened for use at Midsummer 1778. Aclassroom was added at the south end in 1855, and more recently anothersmall room put up at the north end. The residence of the Head Master wasformerly a small low cottage, but it was considerably enlarged in theearly part of the 19th century, and in 1858 a new wing was added at thenorth end. 

In 1847 two “Clinton” Exhibitions were founded by the Governors, of £50 ayear, 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 medicalprofession, in London. No further appointment however was made, as in1848 the Governors decided that they had no authority so to employ thefunds at their disposal. 

On the death of Dr. Smith, in 1854, a new scheme of education, moresuited to the requirements of the time, was drawn up by a committeeappointed for that purpose, which received the sanction of the CharityCommissioners, and was approved by the Master of the Rolls in the sameyear. 

The attendance at the school, however, gradually fell off, until, in theyear 1886, there were only 16 scholars; and further reforms were needed. Since then changes in the system have, from time to time, beenintroduced, to render the school more generally useful: the more recentbeing the admission of female pupils in 1903, for whom was appointed aresident lady teacher, Miss E. Gibson, who had matriculated, 1st class, at London University. 

Small Scholarships also, not exceeding six in number, were establishedfor needy pupils; and application was made to the Lindsey County Council, for a grant of £80, in aid of scientific lectures, {94} under theTechnical Instruction Act of Parliament; so that a general middle-classEnglish education was provided, along with Latin, French, book-keeping, and other technical subjects; an examination being held annually by someone unconnected with the school, who should be approved of by the CharityCommissioners. The school has thus, under the tenure of the HeadMastership by Dr. Madge, of late years, been considerably improved, andthe area of the subjects taught, widened; assisted as he has been by theable Second Master, Mr. C. W. Gott, B. A. , London, and Miss Gibson. Butit has also been increasingly recognised that there was room for stillfurther development, if the institution was to take its proper positionamong 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 forthe purchase of books; £20 being given in the following year, and thishas been further enlarged in later years, until the books now numbernearly 500. 

In March, 1893, a Magazine entitled _Banovallum_ was established, to bemainly carried on by the scholars, the Editor being J. G. Meanwell, Sub-Editor J. R. Cowburn. It was a monthly record of school work andsports, with various other matters of interest. It was intended also tobe a link of connection between “old boys” and new; and with this viewformer pupils of the school were invited to contribute. {95a} Theoutside support, however, of such a publication was not sufficient torender it a paying venture, and after an existence of rather more thantwo years, it expired with the July No. Of 1895. 

Here we may fittingly introduce some personal reminiscences of theschool, and those connected with it, in its palmiest days, under theregime of Dr. Smith, and first we may mention members of his own family. 

Although, as before stated, himself of humble origin, {95b} he marriedthe daughter of a General Sandwith, a lady who was highly esteemed by allwho knew her. She bore him three sons and three daughters, andpredeceased him. His eldest son, Bainbridge, graduated at CambridgeUniversity, took Holy Orders, was at one time English Chaplain at Smyrna, and succeeded his father in the Rectory of Sotby. He married a daughterof Judge Haliburton of Nova Scotia, the author of _Sam Slick_, _TheWatchmaker_ (1839) and other works, which were popular in their day. Theeldest daughter, Frances, married a member of a then well-knownHorncastle family, the Rev. John Fawssett, a graduate of Cambridge, whoafterwards became in turn Rector of Minting and Vicar of Baumber withStourton. A second son, Joseph Coltman, became a Solicitor in Hull, butdied early in life. A second daughter, Isabella, married the Rev. W. Affleck Peacock (named after his relative Sir Robert Affleck, of DalhamHall, Newmarket), Rector of Ulceby near Alford. The youngest daughter, as already stated, married the Rev. Henry Fiennes Clinton, Rector ofCromwell, near Newark, a near relative of the Duke of Newcastle, to whomhe was appointed domestic Chaplain. The third and youngest son, ClementMadely, so named after his godfather, the esteemed former Vicar ofHorncastle, adopted the medical profession and went out to India, wherehe became known as a keen sportsman among big game; a group of two tigersshot by him, and stuffed by Ward the great taxidermist, being exhibitedin the Crystal Palace several years ago. 

Of the scholars at the school, under Dr. Smith, we recall a few names, assamples of the class of pupils whom he received. There were threeSandwiths, Humphrey, Godfrey, and Henry, who were his nephews on hiswife’s side. Humphrey became a surgeon, and having a taste for foreigntravel, went out to Constantinople to practice there. Having goodintroductions he was kindly received by Sir Stratford Canning, theEnglish Ambassador, and making the acquaintance of Layard, he was invitedto travel with him to Mecca, Mosul, and Nineveh, at two of which placesexcavations were conducted; as Hakim, or Doctor, he was visited by crowdsof Arabs, suffering from various ailments; and his quinine wroughtwonderful cures among them. When at home he sometimes surprised hisfriends by suddenly appearing among them dressed in Arab costume. In1855 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, 000Russians. The English had three months’ provisions and three days’ammunition; they suffered greatly from cholera, and after five monthssurrendered, only when overcome by famine. Humphrey wrote a history ofthe siege. 

Of Godfrey we remember little; Henry graduated at Cambridge, took HolyOrders and became Vicar of Thorpe Salvin, near Worksop. There were threeInveraritys, Duncan, Henry, and William; the first of these went out toIndia, and became a Judge in the Supreme Sudder Court. Henry devotedhimself to yachting, and died early. William held a commission in aHighland Regiment of foot. Roseville Brackenbury, whose father, a formerPeninsular officer, and member of an old Lincolnshire family, residedtemporarily 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, MajorBuchanan, a Scotchman, but residing in Maida Vale, London. These wereJames, 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 remarkablefor the amount of treacle tarts which he could consume, at the shop ofthe once well-known “Sally Dickinson;” the third brother, Robert, enteredthe navy. 

We may here mention, as evidence of the hard work which was done underDr. Smith’s system, a feat of memory performed by two brothers among thesenior boys, Thomas and Alfred Cammack, which the present writer wellremembers, as he was present as a small boy when it occurred. “Repetition, ” of one kind or another, was required of all boys; but thesetwo repeated to the Master from memory, the whole of the first book ofMilton’s _Paradise Lost_ (798 lines), Thomas with only three promptings, and Alfred with five. Another boy, Sidney Bousfield, did the same withnine or ten promptings. Thomas Cammack walked his hospital in London, and eventually became a consulting physician of some eminence, residingat Boston; Alfred died early. Sydney Bousfield went out to India, anddied some years ago. 

Two pupils, Holland and Forge, who came to study with the Doctor, of moremature years than the ordinary scholars, were “crack shots, ” and welcomedat many of the shooting parties in the neighbourhood. A third, FrankRichardson, who was an ardent fox hunter, had his horse brought to thedoor weekly, on the day when the meet was nearest, and was always amongthe foremost in the field. He was, further, a great athlete, and wouldfollow 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-yardwall, nearly 7-ft. High. There were many more who were trained by theDoctor to serve their generation worthily in various capacities, but letthese suffice as a sample of his influence. 

The Under Masters whose services he enlisted were, further, not unworthyof him. We will name one or two. 

The first Under Master of whom the present writer has any knowledge wasThomas Myddelton. He was by birth a gentleman, being connected with thevery 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 ofBucknall, in this neighbourhood, 1804–34; his grandfather, also namedThomas, having been Vicar of Melton Mowbray; he (John M. ) having been anExhibitioner of St. Paul’s School, London, graduated B. A. At SidneySussex 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 servingas Under Master at the Grammar School he was ordained to the Curacy ofBucknall, under his father’s successor, the Rev. John Fendall. On theoccasion of his ordination he begged a whole holiday of Dr. Smith, andtreated the whole school to a day at Tattershall Castle; hiring carriagesto take them all, there being yet no railway; and he gave them asubstantial meal at the “Fortescue Arms” Hotel. He was naturally verypopular with the boys of the school, although he was rather a strictdisciplinarian, 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 theCuracy of Langton with Wildsworth, near Gainsborough. He presently movedto West Stockwith, holding the Curacy of Wildsworth with East Ferry. Henever held a benefice; but, having some private means, he continued toreside, in retirement, at West Stockwith, until his decease, about 1880. He was buried at Misterton, the adjoining parish, where he had also takenoccasional duty. 

After Mr. Myddelton the next Under Master was William Hutchinson. He wasthe son of the landlord of the principal inn in the neighbouring town ofWragby, and had been educated at the small grammar school there. He wasappointed about 1845. He graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, as B. A. , in 1848, keeping his terms there by permission, while acting as Usher atHorncastle. In that year he left Horncastle, and was elected Master ofHowden Grammar School in Yorkshire, where he was also appointed Curate in1848, being ordained Deacon in 1848 and Priest in 1849. While atHorncastle he had married Miss Caroline Dixon, daughter of a cornmerchant; there were five daughters, all clever, the youngest being MissAnnie Dixon, who became distinguished as a miniature painter, exhibitingin the Royal Academy, and becoming a favourite of the late QueenVictoria. He held the Head Mastership at Howden for several years;holding also the Perpetual Curacy of Laxton near Howden from 1850 to1855, the Perpetual Curacy or Vicarage of Airmyn from 1855 to 1862, whenhe was appointed Vicar of Howden, which benefice he held till his deathin 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 atHowden, also noted for its great horse fair. His wife is buried, withtwo sisters, in the cemetery at Horncastle. 

The next Under Master to be mentioned about this period was FrancisGrosvenor. He was the son of a respectable tradesman in the town, andhad 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 inthe temporary absences of Mr. Hutchinson, at Dublin University. He was aconscientious and dependable youth, thoughtful beyond his years, and wasmuch valued by the Head Master, who was a shrewd judge of character. Healso graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, taking honours; and wasordained Deacon in 1847, and Priest in 1848. He remained as SecondMaster for some years at the Grammar School, being much esteemed amongneighbouring clergy for his unostentatious manners and general worth. Hefrequently officiated in the Parish Church. Eventually he went toChester, as Curate of St. John’s Church in that city, where he remainedmany years, taking pupils. There was probably a talismanic attraction inthe name of Grosvenor; Eaton Hall, the seat of Lord Grosvenor (now Dukeof Westminster) being in the immediate vicinity. He was consequentlyvery successful in obtaining pupils; and made money, whereby he acquiredconsiderable house property there and elsewhere. He was devoted toarchæological pursuits, and published a learned paper (of 16 pp. ) on “Theearly connection between the County Palatine of Chester and thePrincipality of Wales, ” which he read before the County AntiquarianSociety. {99a} After many years’ residence in Chester, he retired on acompetency to Epsom, in Surrey, where his mother, brother and sisterresided with him; and where he acted as Chaplain to the Union, until hisdecease, about 1880. 

The last Assistant Master, under Dr. Smith, whom we may name was JohnBurton, born of humble parents in Peterborough. He was appointed about1848, and served Dr. Smith faithfully about three years. He was not, however, a strong man, either physically or mentally. His weakness ofcharacter was shewn in an incident which might have had a tragictermination. Having formed an attachment for a young lady, living nearthe schoolhouse, and being rejected, he declared that he would commitsuicide; and he fired off a pistol under her window at night, takingcare, however, not to wound himself. On leaving the school he entered atJesus College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1853, dying soon afterwards. 

On the appointment of the Rev. Samuel Lodge, to the Head Mastership in1854, Thomas White, a graduate of St. John’s College, Cambridge, becameUnder Master. He had taken classical honours, and was an efficientteacher, and rather strict disciplinarian. He was the first Under Masterallowed to take private pupils as boarders. He continued at his post sixyears, taking Holy Orders, and in 1860 was presented by the Bishop ofLincoln to the Vicarage of Scamblesby, which he held until his death in1891. 

It may be of interest if we here give some of the customs of the schoolat this period, as samples of a state of things which is now past andgone. The morality of some of them might be questioned in these days ofadvanced ideas on civilization, but, under the guidance of a man of Dr. Smith’s mental calibre, their effect was the rearing of a generation ofmanly youths, capable of much intellectual, as well as physical, activityand endurance. 

The Head Master was himself a remarkable instance of this. Punctually at7. 30, without fail, he was every morning in his desk at the school, toopen proceedings with prayer, it being frequently a race between himselfand his boarder pupils, as to who should arrive first, his residencebeing 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. Smithwas not to be seen on Langton Hill, summer and winter, rain or fair; ifthe former he would brave the elements, wrapt in a large blue clothcloak, waterproof as his leather gaiters. If the latter, he would oftensaunter slowly, rapt in meditation, or composing verses, an occupation ofwhich he was very fond, leaving behind him at his death several vols. OfMS. Poetry. {99c}

The school hours were from 7. 30 to 9, before breakfast; 10 to 12. 30midday; afternoon 3 to 5; while the boarders at his own house worked withthe Assistant Master from 7 to 9; the day boys, in the town, preparingexercises and repetition for the next morning, at their own homes. Itwas an amusement, for some of the more active, to get up some quarter ofan hour earlier than the others, and hurry down to St. Mary’s Church, tohelp old Dawson, the sexton, to ring the Grammar School bell. {100a} Asthe Doctor was very active in his movements, any boarders who were latein starting, could only reach the school in time, by running across thefields between the two branches of the canal, called “The Holms. ” Woebetide those who were late!

From the Doctor’s energy of character it would be expected that he wouldencourage active healthy recreations. The days of cricket were not yet, {100b} although “single wicket” was sometimes practiced. Nor wasfootball 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 commonbladder, with a leather cover made by the shoemaker. In the school yardthe chief game was “Prisoner’s Base, ” generally played by boardersagainst day boys; in this swiftness of foot was specially valuable. There was also a game named “Lasty, ” in which one boy was selected tostand at the upper end of the yard, while the rest gathered at the lowerend. After a short interval, the one boy darted forward towards theothers, who all tried to avoid him; his object was to catch one of theother boys, and when he succeeded in this, the boy whom he caught took upthe running to catch another, and this could go on for any length oftime. There was another exciting game called “Lug and a Bite. ” In thefruit season a day boarder, from the country, frequently brought hispocket full of apples; he would throw an apple among the other boys, oneof whom would catch it, and run away biting it; the others would chasehim, and seize him by the lug (ear), when he would throw it away, andanother would catch it, and continue the process, he being, in his turn, caught by the ear, and so on. This afforded much amusement, and manyapples would in this way be consumed. There were large slabs of stonelaid down in the yard, on which marbles were played with, and peg topswere spun. Hockey, or shinty, as it was commonly called, was also afavourite game; but these amusements were chiefly confined to the sons oftradesmen in the town. 

Among the boarders archery was practised, and by some of them with askill almost rivalling that of Locksley in Sir Walter Scott’s novel of_Ivanhoe_. A carpenter in the town made for us bows of lancewood, andarrows of poplar, tipped with spikes of iron. With these we could notonly split our “willow wand” at 80 yards distant, but the more skilfuldeemed an arrow hardly worth having until it had been baptized in theblood of blackbird or pigeon, and some of the neighbouring pigeon cotessuffered accordingly. The writer was presented with a bow made ofbamboo, and arrows said to be poisoned, which a great traveller, thenresiding in Horncastle, had brought from the South Sea Islands. He lentthese to a brother archer, who by mistake shot another boy in the calf ofthe leg. Great alarm was the result, but the poison must have lost itspower, for no evil consequences ensued, except that the wounded partyalmost 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 oldDoctor’s great aim was to get us healthily engaged in the country. Withthis object he would say on a Monday morning to the bigger boys of thetwo highest classes, “Now, lads, if you will translate this book ofVirgil, or Homer, or this Greek play, as quickly as you can, you shallhave the rest of the week to spend as you like. ” Put upon our mettle bysuch a challenge the work would be completed, by us perhaps on theWednesday, and three days of varied enjoyment in country rambles wouldfollow. In these days, when bird-nesting is forbidden as being “crueltyto animals, ” it may horrify some of our readers to learn that the Doctorencouraged his pupils to collect eggs. On our excursions in early summerevery hedge was carefully examined for many miles round, the tallesttrees were climbed, or, as it was then called “swarmed, ” in search of theeggs of hawk, carrion crow, woodpecker, &c. ; those of the owl were foundin the thick fir plantations, or those of the jackdaw in old ruins; therarest specimens being presented to the Doctor himself, while commonerkinds were hung in festoons from the ceiling of our study at hisresidence. The two chief holidays at this season were the Queen’sBirthday, May 24th, and “Royal Oak Day, ” May 29th. On these two days theboys were expected to decorate the school in the early hours of themorning; a _sine qua non_ being, that, on the Doctor’s arrival at 7. 30a. M. , he should find his desk so filled with floral and arborealadornments, 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 wemust give up work for the day. ” He also, on these occasions, oftenbrought with him a daughter, and the two carefully looked into thedecorated desk, when they were rewarded by finding the nest and eggs of a“feather-poke” (long-tailed tit), or some other rare bird, which healways took home and preserved in his study, as a trophy till thefollowing year. No questions were asked as to _how_ the decorations wereobtained, but in practice the process was as follows. On the day before, between school hours, certain of the younger boys were sent round thetown to beg flowers, and then, later on, followed what, as we should havesaid, the present hypercritical generation would call, at the very least, “dishonest pilfering. ” After retiring to rest, and when the final visitof the Assistant Master had been made to the dormitories, all becameexcitement; boots and caps had been carefully concealed under the beds. The elder boys were quickly re-clothed, booted and bonneted; and we creptdown, by back stairs, to the kitchen, with the connivance of the cook andhousekeeper; those good souls also providing some refreshment for us, tobe taken either before we went out, or after we returned; and then, stealthily emerging by the back door, we separated into small companiesof twos and threes; some re-visiting gardens in the town, and takingwithout permission further flowers; others going into the country;sometimes even taking a light cart from one yard and a pony or horse fromanother, and then visiting gardens or parks in the neighbourhood, andreturning laden with branches of horse-chesnut flowers, pink may, &c. , which were quietly conveyed to the school; and by the appointed hour thework of decoration would be completed; and we, having returned to ourdormitories, refreshed through the cook’s kindness the inner man, andwashed the outer, were ready to greet the good Doctor and his daughter ontheir arrival. The only difference between the decorations on the 24thand 29th was, that on the latter day oak leaves and acorns were adistinguishing feature, some of the sprays having been gilded on theprevious day for presentation to the young lady. 

There was another great day called the “Treasurer’s holiday. ” Once ayear the one of the Governors, who held that office, was entitled to askthe Head Master to give us a whole holiday, which he was always pleasedto grant. The custom was for one of the senior boys to call upon, orwrite to, the Treasurer, usually after some period of extra hardscholastic work, asking him to exercise this privilege. The way in whichthese holidays were spent varied. Sometimes we had a “Paper Chase, ” or“Fox and Hounds. ” One boy was sent out as fox, sometimes accompanied byanother boy, both carrying in bags a supply of paper, torn into smallshreds, which formed the scent. In this sport the Doctor sometimesoffered a reward of five shillings to the “fox” who should manage toelude his pursuers until he had reached the bank of the river Witham, adistance of about six miles, but increased to 10 or more miles by thedifferent ruses practised to escape capture; a similar reward beingoffered to the “hound” who should effect his capture after a run of astipulated 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 luncheonbrought to the Tower in the carrier’s cart, which passed daily on its wayto Kirkstead wharf. This was usually a bird-nesting excursion. Morethan one of us accomplished the hazardous feat of climbing to the top ofthe tower, whence a fine view could be obtained, on a favourable day, across the Wash into Norfolk. On one of these occasions we extended ourramble to Kirkstead wharf, some adventurous spirits took forciblepossession of the ferry boat, and carried over women returning home, withtheir marketings, free of charge. The owner of the boat was, however, compensated by our calling at his small hostel close by, and patronisinghis lemonade, bread and cheese. Sometimes the excursion was toTattershall Castle, and if this was in the winter we skated there in themorning, along the canal, returning on our “runners” by moonlight; theDoctor being himself a good skater, encouraged it in his boys. On theseoccasions we sometimes amused ourselves on the return journey by firingpistols, to disturb the inhabitants of houses near the canal; when, ifanyone 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, yebulldogs, ” the name by which we were commonly known throughout thecountry side. 

On one of these return journeys, while skating in single file, weapproached the third lock, and the boy in front forgetting that therewould be no ice for a few yards below the lock, because the water therewas kept in agitation by the stream always falling from the lock, suddenly found himself floundering in an icy cold bath, while himself ina state of great heat. The shock, and the fact that he was cumbered byhis skates, made him almost helpless, and he would probably have beendrowned, but that a fine fellow (I give his name, Edward Sharpe, for hehas long ago put “off this mortal coil”), who was a great athlete, plunged in, skates and all, regardless of the risk, and like aNewfoundland dog, panting brought his friend to shore, with no worseeffects than the drenching to both. And here I may say that one of theaccomplishments specially encouraged by the Doctor was that of swimming;the very youngest were taught to swim by the Under Master, in a smallpool in the river Bain, called “Dead Man’s Hole, ” about 100 yards fromthe first lock of the canal. After gaining proficiency we bathed in thecanal and lockpit itself. The Doctor gave a reward of 5/- to any boy whocould dive across the canal, the same sum when he could swim 100 yards onhis back. 

On one occasion a bully, among the bigger boys, threw a timid littlefellow into the lockpit when full, saying “Now, you’ll learn to swim, orsink. ” The little fellow did sink, rose to the surface, and sank again;and would certainly have been drowned, but a shout from other indignantyoungsters, looking helplessly on, brought the same Edward Sharpe to therescue (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 20feet), and brought up the poor half-conscious boy, who would otherwisehave perished. 

It may here be mentioned that the present writer once swam from thejunction of the two branches of the canal (close to the present bathingplace) to the first lock, then passed on and swam to the second, and socontinuing, swam to the third lock, his clothes being carried by a schoolfellow who accompanied him; this being a distance of some two miles, forthis the Doctor rewarded him with 10/- and a whole holiday. He also, itmay be added, as a reckless feat, when bathing, leapt stark naked acrossthe first lock; a performance which the slightest slip might have madefatal. 

Many are the anecdotes which could be here told of our adventures; as ofpolicemen or keepers eluded, or put off the scent, by various ruses, &c. , &c. , on our various marauding expeditions, but I will mention only twomore incidents. 

From the same feelings of jealousy, doubtless, which produce the “Townand Gown” antagonism at the University, there was much ill-feeling amongthe lower class of boys in the town towards ourselves, and free fightsoccasionally occurred between them and the hated “bull-dogs. ” At duskstones were thrown at us, which it was difficult to avoid in the thenbadly lighted streets. Sudden sorties were made from alleys, to take usunawares, and send us sprawling on the coggles. Especially in snowyweather we were assailed with snowballs on our way from school to theDoctor’s house, and although we stood shoulder to shoulder and made aspirited resistance, it not uncommonly occurred that these missiles were(doubtless purposely) made to contain a piece of ice, or even a sharpflint. In one of these skirmishes the writer himself was struck on thetemple, his eye only just escaping, by a snowball, which a comrade pickedup, on seeing that the wound was bleeding, and a fragment of glass wasfound inside it; this, surely, an extreme illustration of the principlethat “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 weeksbeforehand, to provide for the latter; some boys even made their ownsquibs and crackers, and these were considerably larger and moreformidable than those which were bought. The scene was usually a fieldon Langton Hill, which belonged to the school. Subscriptions were raisedto purchase 100 faggots, locally called “kids;” but here again our customwould, in strictness, have been condemned, for, in addition to thepurchased fuel, for sometime beforehand, we had been searching the hedgesaround, armed with axes, and so had got together probably as much towhich we had no right, as that which had been bought. The bonfire wasthus doubled in size, and made a blaze which, on the hill, would be seenfor many a mile. We had a whole holiday to give us time to pile up theheap; and in the evening parents and many other friends crowded to thefield as spectators. Sometimes a lighted balloon or two, of variedcolours, would be sent up, which were watched by the bright eyes ofsisters and cousins, until they were lost in the distance. 

At length the conflagration was reduced to smouldering ashes, and allretired; but on our way back to the school house there were often roughdoings, between the town boys and bull-dogs; free vent was given tospite, and a broken or bruised head, or body, might be the result; but wemade no complaint; as loyal subjects we had done our duty in protestingagainst all such underhand doings as “Gunpowder Plot;” and, after ahearty supper, given by our kind Head Master, we enjoyed the rest, wellearned 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; _temporamutantur_. 

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; andin the near future, it is hoped, that further changes will give it astill higher position in educational work. Under Dr. A. G. Madge, whoretired and accepted church preferment in 1907, the school was made tomeet the requirements of the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations, theLondon University Matriculation, and the South Kensington Science and ArtDepartments. 

In late years boys from the school have filled posts in various parts ofthe world with credit. A considerable number have obtained clerkships inbanks, or in the Civil Service; one boy, Richard Gordon Healey, passed7th among more than a hundred candidates for the General Post Officeservice, London, and is now in the excise service. Another, Fairburn, isAssistant Inspector of Police at Singapore. Another, Isle, is a CivilEngineer, and has taken the B. Sc. Degree. A summary of successes at theschool, kindly supplied to the writer by Dr. Madge, shows that in thelast seven years (1906) five boys have passed the London UniversityMatriculation, 19 the Cambridge local examination, 34 the SouthKensington examination, while four have qualified for the public CivilService; 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 classesspecially adapted to their requirements, and with this accession to thenumbers 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: Anew governing body has been created by the Board of Education, consistingof 13 members; the Lord of the Manor, the Honble. R. Stanhope, being _exofficio_ one of them; eight representative Governors holding office forthree years; two being appointed by the Lindsey County Council, three(one of them a female) by the Urban Council, two by the Guardians, one bythe Justices of the Peace at the Lindsey Quarter Sessions. There arealso four co-optative Governors (among them one female at least), appointed by the Governors for five years. It is further ordered thatthe Head Master need not be in Holy Orders; under which rule has beenappointed 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 prevalentnomenclature, and spoken of this school as an Elizabethan institution, founded in 1571. It must now be added that, venerable as that date oforigin would make it, it has a higher claim to our veneration still. _Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona_. There were grammar schools before thatdate. Edward VI. Is said to have established several, in various partsof the country, and we have already named two such in our ownneighbourhood, viz. , those of Spilsby and Louth; but it is now known thateven 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 olderdate, but revived, confirmed, or augmented, under her wise rule. In apublished account of the old grammar school of Giggleswick, Yorkshire, {106a} commonly reputed to be a foundation of Edward VI. , is thefollowing statement, “a large number of schools bear the name of Ed. VI. , who undoubtedly desired to strengthen the grammar school system. Hisgood intentions were, however, frustrated by the Commissioners; and veryfew of the so-called Edward VI. Grammar schools had their origin in hisreign, 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 Deanand Chapter of Lincoln, which prove that, acting for the Chancellor (whowas _ex officio_ “Magister Scholarum”), during a temporary vacancy ofthat office, they appointed Masters to the grammar schools of Boston, Partney, Horncastle, and elsewhere, in the year 1329; the HorncastleMaster, so appointed, being one John of Beverley. This mode ofappointment being exceptional, was only to be valid for one year; but theChancellorship continuing vacant, the Masters were confirmed in theirpositions by the Dean and Chapter, in the following year 1330, and againin 1331; and so on, in successive years. {106c}

Now this mode of appointment being only in lieu of appointment by theChancellor, while his office was in abeyance, it follows that theseschools were in existence, as public institutions under the Chancellor, before the dates named. Although, therefore, we are unable to fix theexact period of the school’s existence, it may be satisfactory forHorncastrians to know that, in addition to the various interestingassociations which we have already given as connected with the school, there is proof that before Shakespeare had composed one of his immortalplays, before Spenser had written a line of his _Faerie Queen_, beforeBacon had even thought of his _Advancement of Learning_, there hadexisted a “seat of learning” in the small provincial town of Horncastle, which had then attained to the respectable age of more than twocenturies. 

We have been accustomed to consider the foundation of William of Wykeham, at Winchester, in 1373, as one at least of our very oldest, butHorncastle Grammar School may even be of still earlier date than that. The oldest school of all is King’s School, Canterbury, attributed toArchbishop 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 ofwhat 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 ofthe two well appointed National Schools, Church and Wesleyan, possiblyeven 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 thefollowing particulars of its history. Richard Watson in the latter halfof the 18th century was a resident in, and a native of, Horncastle, beingthe son of James Watson, who had made money by tanning, at that time astaple business in the town. Although engaged in trade he ranked withthe resident gentry, his sister, Frances, marrying James Conington, Esq. , belonging to a family of good position, not only in the town, but in thecounty; members of which have also distinguished themselves at theUniversities, the name still surviving. She is referred to in anIndenture of date 22nd Sept. , 25 George III. (1785), as “FrancesConington, of Boston, widow, formerly Frances Watson, spinster, survivingsister and heir of Richard Watson, late of Horncastle, gent. , deceased, tanner, and his wife Elizabeth. ” By her marriage she had a son FrancisConington, who as nephew of Richard Watson, was the sole executor of hiswill and testament. The principal deed has the following externalinscription: “Title deeds of the school, signed, sealed and delivered, byBenjamin Handley (afterwards called “of New Sleaford”), {108a} in thepresence of Williom Swallow, {108b} supervisor, and Abraham Hanson, ofHorncastle. ”

The following is the heading within, “Sealed and delivered by FrancesConington, 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 WilliamSwallow, supervisor, and Abraham Hanson, of Horncastle. ”

Then follows a “Release of lands in Lincolnshire to found a school (dated22nd Sept. , 1785), inrolled in His Majesty’s High Court of Chancery, the8th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1786, being first duly stampedaccording 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, JamesConington and Benjamin Handley. There is a note in the margin that“James Conington came before me this day, and acknowledged this to be hisdeed, and prayed the same might be inrolled in His Majesty’s High Courtof Chancery. Robert Chapman, Master in Chancery. ” Dated 6th March, 1786. 

The actual terms of Richard Watson’s will are these: “I am very desirousof establishing a small school within the town of Horncastle, wherein thechildren of such poor persons, as the Governors of the Grammar Schoolshall think objects of charity, may be taught to read, knit, spin, andplain 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 theirsuccessors, for ever, all the lands situate in Croft, and all thosemessuages, cottages, or tenements, within the yards and pingle adjoining, situate in Far Street (now called West Street), Horncastle; and also thatpart of now inclosed arable, meadow, and pasture ground, lying inWigtoft, containing 6 acres, 28 perches, now in the occupation of mycousin, 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 timeto 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 BenjaminHandley of ten shillings to Frances and James Conington, they havegranted, sold, and released” the aforesaid property, and “appointed bythese presents from the day next before the date of the Indenture, allthe said messuages, &c. , called by the name of the ‘ffoal thing, ’ {110a}and that plot commonly called ‘Backside, ’ the closes in Croft abutting onthe highway, and lands near the old sea bank; and land called the ‘bridgeplot’ in Wigtoft (6 acres), assigned to Richard Watson, by the award ofthe Commissioners appointed by Parliament, in the 12th year of HisMajesty, for enclosing common and open fields (No. 40 in award map), withhouses, barns, curtilages, and woods, to be held by the Governors of theGrammar School, the reversions, rents, &c. , to the use of John Thorold(and the Governors), {110b} on trust, that the said Governors collect therents, &c. , and apply them as shall be required, from time to time, forpoor children; and shall have power to erect a new school house, oralter, enlarge, &c. , and to mortgage, &c. , in order to provide suitable(premises), spinning wheels, &c. , and to make rules for management, asshall to their judgment seem needed, agreeing with the said BenjaminHandley, and his heirs, &c. , subject in all things to the Court ofChancery at Westminster. ”

The present status of the school is as follows: The original premises arestill in use, standing in a retired position, in “Watson’s Yard, ” about50 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 itwas opened up to the roof; at the same time a commodious classroom wasadded 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 twoMonitors. 

The scholars are of both sexes, and between the ages of three years andseven. The school is conducted on Church of England principles, andexamined by both Diocesan and Government Inspectors; a Government Grantbeing earned to supplement the funds of the Watson bequest. The scholarsare taught reading, writing and arithmetic, with the various kindergartensubjects. The Secretary to the Charity, H. Tweed, Esq. , Solicitor, ofHorncastle, pays half the rents to the Lincoln County Council, forteachers’ salaries, and retains the other half for repairs and incidentalexpenses. All the other tenements in Watson’s Yard are the property ofthe Charity. 

THE LANCASTERIAN & THE BELL SCHOOLS. 

Beside the endowed schools, already described, the Grammar School for themiddle and upper class, and Watson’s School for the children of thepoorer classes; there were two other schools before the present NationalSchools came into existence, the history of which is of some interest. Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, says “a school, on theLancasterian, or British system, was established at a public meeting, held in October, 1813; and, a few days later, a meeting was held at thechurch, when it was resolved to establish a school on the plan of Dr. Bell. Both buildings were erected in 1814, supported by voluntarycontributions, each for about 200 children. ” {111}

This needs some explanation. Dr. Andrew Bell was an East IndianCompany’s Chaplain, stationed at Fort St. George, Madras, in 1789. Henoticed, in the course of his duties, that in the native schools, besidethe regular paid teachers, the more advanced pupils were also employed toinstruct younger scholars; each pupil thus having a tutor, and each tutora pupil; a system by which both were enabled to learn faster, and led totake more interest in their work, than would otherwise have beengenerally possible. Being an enthusiast in educational matters, heresigned his chaplaincy, with its good stipend, to inaugurate, andhimself carry on, a school for the children of Europeans in thePresidency, on the same principles. The result was so satisfactory thaton his return to England, in 1797, he published an account of what hecalled the “Madras, or Monitorial System, ” and endeavoured to introduceit 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 forpoor children, before he was 19 years of age, in a room lent to him byhis father, in the Borough Road, Southwark, and in a very short time hehad 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, GeorgeIII. , who gave him encouragement. He then travelled over the kingdom, giving lectures on the new mode of instruction; which in consequencespread with rapidity. In 1798 he taught about 1, 000 boys, between theages of 5 and 12 years, his sisters teaching some 200 girls. 

Objections were made to the indefinite character of the religiousteaching of a Quaker, by Professor Marsh, and others, and the Bellschools, with their Church instruction, had by the year 1818 becomenumerous. The services of Dr. Bell himself, in the cause of educationhad been recognised, and rewarded by a Canonry of Westminster. By theyear 1828 upwards of 200, 000 children were being taught on his system, and at his death, a few years later, he bequeathed £120, 000 to carry onthe work which he had so much at heart. {112a}

These two systems, the Lancasterian or unsectarian schools, and the Bellor church schools, continued to increase in number; there having beenestablished in 1805 “The Royal Lancasterian Institution, ” otherwisecalled “The British and Foreign School Society, ” while the Bell systemwas 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 afterwardsoccupied by the first Volunteer Drill Hall. It was afterwardstransferred to what is now called Dog-Kennel Yard, occupying a buildingwhich had previously been a theatre, and which was partly fitted up withsittings removed from St. Mary’s Church, giving accommodation for 200children. Neither in its internal structure, however, nor in itssituation in an out-of-the-way back yard, was the former theatre welladapted for school purposes; and although the late Mr. Samuel Goe had in1869 bequeathed a legacy to the school, which rendered it almostindependent of annual subscriptions, the establishment of a much morecommodious school by the Wesleyans, in Foundry Street in 1860, affectedit unfavourably, the number of scholars gradually decreased, and it wasfinally closed in 1876. {112b}

The Bell, or Church School, also built in 1814, and accommodating about200 scholars of both sexes, formed the nucleus of the present ChurchNational Schools. These two schools, the Lancasterian or British, andthe Bell or Church School, are the only public elementary schools, namedin the _Gazetteers_ for many years, except the Watson Charity School, already described. 

Of the present Church National Schools, that for infants was erected in1860, that for boys in 1872, at a cost of about £1, 000, the originalbuilding being now the girls’ school; the whole affording accommodationfor 300 children. These were, a few years ago, taken over by the LindseyCounty Council (in 1893), and are now under both Diocesan and GovernmentInspection. {112c}

THE SCIENCE & ART SCHOOL. 

With the establishment of Technical Schools this country may be said tohave entered on a new era, in national education, which, in itsdevelopment, may lead to results, the importance of which can hardly yetbe realized. The possibilities are almost unlimited. A wide-spreadnetwork has been created, which may bring even the humblest members ofour artisan families within its deneficial meshes, while also working atintervals, 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 blowsno one any good. ” In the year 1890 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, inLord Salisbury’s ministry, {113a} introduced what was called “The LocalTaxation (customs and excise) Bill, ” {113b} intended to empower CountyCouncils to buy up the licences of superfluous public houses, and tocompensate the publicans by grants of money. The funds for this purposewere not to be a charge upon the local rates, but to be provided by anincrease of the duty on spirituous liquors. Strange to say, this measurewas so persistently opposed by the temperance party, aided by others, whofor the moment acted with them, that the proposed use of the money, thusraised, was at length abandoned, a considerable surplus, however, beingthus at the Chancellor’s disposal, after the reduction of several othertaxes, the remainder was handed over to the County Councils, to beemployed in the furtherance of technical education. The money thus setapart was called “the ear-marked money, ” and the measure enacting it was, somewhat unworthily, termed “The Whiskey Bill. ” Horncastle benefitted bya sum being placed to the credit of the local authorities for theestablishment of a school of science and art; all such institutions inthe 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 1891an efficient teacher, Mr. Mallet, was engaged to give commercialinstruction in arithmetic, shorthand, &c. , {114a} and he was verysuccessful 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 ofscience and art, at a salary of £100 a year, being allowed further toaugment his income by taking private pupils in certain other subjects. About the same time £100 was spent on models, and other requisites; andby the close of 1892, Tetford, Wragby, and Woodhall Spa having beenincluded in a general scheme for the district, it was found that thepupils attending the classes already numbered 219; of whom 76 were underMr. Mallet’s instruction, 101 under Mr. Switzer, including 39 schoolteachers in the neighbourhood, attending on Saturdays; while 42 receivedspecial instruction from a qualified teacher in dressmaking. Operationswere also, in the same year, extended to rural parishes, a meeting beingheld 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. ConwayWalter, Rector of Langton, Hon. Secretary. 

This was followed by other meetings at Horncastle, at which, in duecourse, plans were matured for both town and country classes in varioussubjects. On the death of Mr. T. Livesey, in 1894, Mr. Robert Searby, ofEdlington, succeeded him as County Councillor, and took a great interestin the school; the late Mr. W. Brown, of the Capital and Counties Bank, was elected Chairman, and for several years he rendered most valuableservice to the schools, being followed, on his decease in 1901, by Mr. R. W. Clitherow, Solicitor, who had previously acted as Treasurer. So farthe whole scheme had been attended by the most marked success in alldepartments. 

In the year 1894 the numbers of pupils, and of the subjects taught, hadfurther increased; and it became necessary again to move into morecommodious premises. The large building in Queen Street, which had beenerected by the late Mr. F. Stevens, of Gordon Villa, and was thenoccupied by Miss Morris, as a school for young ladies, was rented, havingtwo 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 fornearly six years. She was a most enthusiastic and energetic worker, andunder her the schools attained the highest point of success, both asregards the number of pupils attending and the variety of subjectstaught. The school at this time had attained to the highest degree ofefficiency which it is ever likely to reach. Not only had Horncastlepupils taken more prizes than those of any other technical school in theParts of Lindsey, but on the visit of the Government Inspector, Mr. Minton, at the prize-giving in September, 1896, he stated that the schooloccupied 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 grantswere earned of £140 from the County Council, £35 from South KensingtonScience and Art department, £50 from the Whitehall department, £12 fromfees for science and art teaching, £10 from the evening continuationclasses, a total of £247. Miss Foster was assisted by Miss M. E. Edgar. A former pupil, Mr. C. H. Stevens, a native of Horncastle, was alsoappointed Assistant Master, until he was promoted to take charge of atechnical school at Folkestone. Mr. A. Blades, of the London University, Junior Master of the Grammar School, was for a time an Assistant. At theend of 1900 (Nov. 15) Miss Foster resigned, being promoted to the headteachership of the Camden School of Art, in London. Miss M. E. Edgar, who had been assistant teacher for several years, was at this dateappointed Head Teacher, in the Science and Art department, Mr. C. W. Gott, of the Grammar School, B. A. Of London University, becoming HeadMaster of the evening continuation school, and Mr. H. J. Haddock teacherof shorthand. 

It would not be possible, nor is it desirable, here to go into fulldetails as to all the work done; but as, in future years, it may beinteresting to have some record of the progress in the earlier days ofthis Institution, and as the writer of these pages has been closelyconnected with the school, from its first inception, a summary of themore important particulars is here given. 

In the spring of the year 1896, a course of public lectures, illustratedby lantern views, was given by himself, descriptive of his own travels inEgypt, which were attended by full audiences of junior pupils, and manyadults. In 1897 he gave a similar series of lectures on his travels inPalestine, and these proving equally popular, a third supplementarycourse 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 beingvery instructive on the subject of architecture, these were largelyattended. They were followed by a course, which proved very interesting, given by Mr. R. W. Clitherow, the Treasurer, descriptive of a walkingtour made by himself, among the scenery of the English lakes. He alsogave an instructive lecture on Canada. 

In the spring of 1898 the Head Teacher, Miss Foster, gave a series oflectures on “Physiography, ” being an account, the result of most carefulstudy and practical investigation, of the various geological formationsand fossils of the earth, illustrated by specimens largely of her owncollecting. {115} These were very instructive, and attended by a fairlynumerous class of pupils. 

Other valuable courses of lectures were given during this early period ofthe school’s existence. In the autumn of 1896 Dr. R. McLay, ofHorncastle, was engaged by the Committee to give lectures in the MasonicHall, on “First Aid to the Injured, ” under the St. John’s Ambulanceregulations. The pupils, numbering 25, were afterwards examined by Dr. G. M. Lowe, of Lincoln, when 23 of them passed as entitled to St. John’sAmbulance Certificates. So much interest was shewn in these lectures (towhich policemen were specially invited), that it was resolved, in thefollowing year (1897), that the services of Dr. McLay should be securedfor a repetition of them, with increased remuneration. They were againgiven in the autumn of that year (beginning Oct. 18), when 24 personsattended, of whom 16 presented themselves for examination, which wasagain held by Dr. Lowe, all of whom passed with credit, and gainedambulance certificates. We give these particulars as shewing the valueof the work done at this period. 

Similarly valuable instruction has been given in later years, but, withdiminished funds available, and classes smaller, owing doubtless to theexhaustion in some degree of the stream of candidates for instruction, compared with its flush at the outset of the school’s existence, fewerlectures on these extra subjects have been given; and instruction hasbeen confined to more ordinary, but not less useful, work, in drawing, geometric and from models; modelling in clay, painting in water coloursand oils, book-keeping, arithmetic, shorthand, French, and so forth. 

To show that the school has continued to do good work, we may state thaton January 25, 1906, a meeting was held for the annual prize giving, whenclose upon 70 pupils, of both sexes (69), received rewards, several ofthem for success in four or five different subjects. For the year 1905–6the school received a grant of £100 from the County Council, £25 from theHorncastle Urban Council, and the fees of pupils paid about half theexpenses. 

We now give a brief account of the more important of the work carried onduring the same period in the country parishes. In March, 1892, thefirst “pioneer” lecture was given at Woodhall Spa, on Horticulture, byMr. Horace Huntly, lately in charge of the Duke of Bedford’s gardens atWoburn Abbey, Beds. This was well attended, and the instruction givenwas most useful, for the better cultivation of cottagers’ gardens. Thiswas followed by a course of three lectures on the same subject, in Marchof the succeeding year. In April of the same year (1892), a series ofsix lectures were given at Stixwould and Horsington, by Miss Kenealy, ofthe National Health Society, on the subject of home nursing, andtreatment in cases of accident, fevers, &c. These also proved soinstructive that she was engaged to repeat them in the summer of thefollowing year; and they were given in eight different parishes, beginning with Langton on June 5th; the attendances being very large, inone case 70 being present. 

Mr. Robert Jalland, Surgeon, of Horncastle, also gave a lecture atKirkby-on-Bain, in April of the same year, on the subject: “How to securehealthy homes, ” which was very instructive and well attended, over 40being present. In the autumn of that year a series of five lectures onCookery were given by Mrs. Pierce, of the National Health Society, atfour centres, Roughton, Thimbleby, Horsington, and Minting, beginning onOct. 10th, and continued weekly. These were considered so instructivethat the Secretary, having made notes of them, was requested to have 500copies printed, for free distribution, which was done. 

In January of 1893 lectures on butter-making, with practicaldemonstrations, were given by Miss Carter, a professional teacher withcertificate 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, andThimbleby, the teachers being Mr. S. Leggett of Moorhouses, Boston, andMr. R. Sharpe of Horsington; prizes of £1 and 10/- being given to themost proficient pupils. 

In 1894 lessons were given in hedge plashing, on Mr. Gaunt’s farm atWaddingworth, 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 ofHatton, 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 visitedvarious farmyards in the neighbourhood to give practical advice; theselessons were well attended. Lessons in horse shoeing were given atHorncastle, for the neighbourhood, by Mr. J. B Gresswell, M. R. V. C. , ofLouth, in May and June, at which nine blacksmiths attended; certificatesof the National Association of Farriers being awarded. Lessons on sheepshearing were given at Thimbleby, Kirkstead, and Bucknall, in June, theteacher being Mr. R. Sharpe of Horsington. Dairy lessons on buttermaking and stilton cheese production were given by Miss Carter, atWoodhall Spa, Kirkby-on-Bain, Minting, and Reed’s Beck, in October andNovember. Lessons in under-draining were given on Mr. F. W. Scott’sfarm, at Bucknall, in December, the teacher being Mr. W. Scott of Hatton, and money prizes given. Two lectures on bee keeping were given atWoodhall Spa, in November, 1895, by Mr. W. J. Banks of the GrammarSchool, Wragby, which were well attended; the same gentleman also givinga 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. TheHead Secretary, Mr. S. Maudson Grant, was present and said he was “muchpleased with the work done. ” Lessons in stack thatching were given, inSeptember, in the yards of Mr. H. N. Coates, of Langton, Mr. R. Roberts, of Thimbleby, and Mr. S. Harrison, of Roughton, to ten candidates, theteacher being Mr. Isaac Storey, of West Ashby. These extended over fourdays, and were pronounced by the General Secretary, Mr. S. Maudson Grant, of Lincoln, to be “highly satisfactory. ” In November lessons inunder-draining were again given by Mr. W. Scott, of Hatton, on the farmof Mr. Joseph Clifton, of Horsington, to two classes of candidates, thoseover 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 twoclasses, over and under 24 years of age, being also well attended; prizesof 25/-, 20/-, and 15/- being given to each class; and two extra prizesof 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’, ofMinting House, by Mr. W. Cook, the well-known chicken breeder, andoriginator of the breed named “Orpingtons, ” of Orpington House, St. MaryCray, Kent (since deceased). These lectures created the greatestinterest; the audiences were crowded, at one lecture there being 127present; and as he visited many farmyards to give advice, and severalfarmers bought valuable chickens from him, his visit may be said to havematerially improved the breed of fowls in the neighbourhood. 

In May of this year, 1897, it was decided at head-quarters to make achange in the process of operations. Hitherto instruction in the countryparishes had been provided through the Committee of the Science and ArtSchool, at Horncastle, but from this date each parish was to have its ownTechnical Education Committee, elected annually, with the other parishofficials; and these were to apply direct to the Head Secretary, atLincoln, for such instruction as they might think desirable, parishesuniting for this purpose if they chose to do so. More money thanheretofore was now being expended on the Science and Art School inLincoln, 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 havebeen mainly confined to hedge plashing, ploughing, under-draining, andsuch other practical subjects as suited the farmer, or agriculturallabourer. 

In conclusion it may be said that although it is yet too early toprophecy, it would seem that a great future lies before us in thedevelopment of education. Co-ordination of work between (as we have atHorncastle) the endowed Infant School, the National Schools, TechnicalSchools, and the “secondary” Grammar School, with higher-grade colleges, should furnish a kind of educational ladder, by which the child of theartizan, or rustic, may rise from the humblest position to the highest, if he has the ability, and the will, to avail himself of theopportunities thus placed within his reach. It is hardly too much to saythat the result may well be, that in the keen rivalry of nations, whichcharacterizes the present age, England should thus be enabled to morethan 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 onlyfrom the valuable services which it has, through many years, rendered tothe suffering poor, but because it was a pioneer institution of its kind;while the area of its usefulness has probably been more extensive thanthat of any similar charity in the county. 

Dispensaries were established at Louth in the year 1803, at Lincoln in1826, 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 adozen years. Further, the records of the charity shew, that, in theearly years of its existence, patients were here treated from places sodistant as Spilsby, Friskney, Wainfleet, Trusthorpe, Theddlethorpe, Alford, Fotherby, Marsh Chapel, Saltfleetby, Boston, Lincoln, Sleaford, Grantham, and even beyond the county, from Loughborough, Hull, andBeverley. 

This, it may be explained, was mainly due to the fact that it wasvirtually the creation of a man who was, in many matters, in advance ofhis time, that great public benefactor, Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. , ofRevesby Abbey, who held the Manor of Horncastle, and took the greatestinterest 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, toestablish 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’sChampion, Thomas Coltman, Esq. , William Elmhirst, Esq. , Treasurer, andRichard Clitherow, Gent. , legal adviser; the Honorary Physicians beingEdmund Laycock, M. D. , and Edward Harrison, M. D. , with Mr. John Chislettas Surgeon and Apothecary. 

A code of rules was drawn up, which, with occasional revisions, to suitchanging circumstances, remain substantially the same to the present day. A donation of 10 guineas constituted a life Governor, a legacy of thelike amount gave the trustee paying it the same privilege. An annualsubscription of one guinea made the subscriber a Governor during theyear. Church or chapel collections of two guineas secured governorshipfor the year to the minister, and an additional Governor for each twoguineas so collected. The officials were to be a President, Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer, elected annually at a special meeting ofthe 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 bevisited at their homes. As a small practical beginning the woodenframework 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 afurther supply obtained from Messrs. Skeen & Peale, of London. 

The first building, which was used from 1789 till 1867, was No. 2 on thesouth side of St. Mary’s Churchyard, being rented for the sum of fiveguineas a year, until it was purchased in Feb. , 1810, for theinstitution, jointly by Dr. Harrison and the Rev. John Fretwell, {120a}for £111 2s. 8d. , the conveyance being effected by Mr. Clitherow at acharge of £13 15s. 8d. Improvements were made in this building, at acost of £13 5s. , in 1812, and of £27 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 manyyears, only retiring on Oct. 11th, 1821, shortly before his death. Although that gentleman carried on a private asylum, for patientsmentally affected, at his own residence in West Street, {120b} he took agreat interest in the Dispensary, and was indefatigable in hisattendances, often at his own inconvenience. Moreover his pecuniaryassistance was not small; as, besides sharing in the purchase of thepremises in St. Mary’s Churchyard, the accounts shew that in 1820 he paid£27, and in the following year £19 14s. 4d. , for Dispensary expenses, which sums were afterwards repaid to him by the Governors; and (as willbe shewn hereafter) he bequeathed at his death £100 to the funds. A voteof thanks was passed to him at the annual meeting of the Governors inSeptember of 1821, for a further gift of £21, with the expression oftheir 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 withthat gentleman for 33 years, and only survived him two years, dying onOct. 16th. 1823. 

Since that time almost all the medical men of the town have, in theirturns, rendered useful service to the Dispensary. It would be invidiousto single out any of these as being more capable, or more devoted to thework, than others; but we may mention one exceptional case, which allwill recognize. From an early period medical pupils were allowed tovisit the Dispensary, in order to study special cases, and the treatmentthey received from qualified practitioners. Among these was a young man, Mr. E. P. Charlesworth, who virtually here received the early part of hismedical education. He afterwards, for some years, practised inHorncastle; and in Dec. , 1807, a resolution of the Governors was passed, conveying to him their warm thanks for his generosity in relieving poorpatients, often at his own expense, and for his readiness to receivethem, for consultation, at his own residence, and to make up drugs forthem at all hours. He subsequently removed to Lincoln, and became anoted physician, whose reputation extended considerably beyond thecounty. During 33 years he was one of the most active medical advisersand 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 thatinstitution. 

 [Picture: High Street]

All these medical attendants at the Dispensary gave their servicesgratuitously until, at a general meeting, held on April 23rd, 1878, aresolution was passed, that henceforth the two doctors should each bepaid £30 a year, which has been the rule ever since. At that date thelate Dr A. E. Boulton resigned, and Mr. Robert Jalland and Dr. Haddonwere the first to receive this well-merited remuneration, attending totheir duties in alternate months. 

Scattered about the minute books of the institution are various notes, ofsome 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 insalop sago and Bowen’s sago powder, to be distributed at the discretionof the faculty. ” Nov. 27th, 1790, cases of small pox having occurred inthe 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 progressof medical science during 12 years. June 8th, 1802, an epidemic of smallpox having occurred, and “inoculation becoming general, the Governorsrecommend vaccination. ” A statement was printed for circulation, that in100, 000 cases of vaccination, not one death had ensued; that it was nowpractised in all parts of the world, and favourably received, and thatthe National Institution of France had pronounced it to be the greatestdiscovery of the last century. {122}

Feb. 4th, 1792, has an entry, in no way bearing upon dispensary work, butinteresting as a memento of an old mode of conveyance. The proprietorsof 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 wasagreed to at the next meeting of the Governors. This chair was let outto convey ladies to evening parties in the town. It was borne by twomen, and was in use within living memory, as late as “in the sixties. ”

April 21st, 1792. A gift of apparatus for the recovery of drownedpersons, with a drag, was received from the Royal Humane Society ofLondon. A water bed was afterwards purchased, which was let out for asmall fee to poor patients, temporarily bed-ridden. 

On Nov. 28th, 1809, at a special meeting of the Governors, the usefulnessof the Dispensary was further extended by the appointment of a midwife, to attend upon poor women in labor, both in town and country, being paidfrom the funds of the charity, a fee of 3/6 for each case; and from theyear 1810 to 1829, inclusive, Mrs. Elizabeth Southwell is mentioned, fromtime 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 weremade to the landowners of the district for increased support. 

In July, 1834, a resolution was passed that doctors attending patients atthe Dispensary, might introduce pupils, to study cases under theirtreatment; and, in one case, a lady applied for permission to attend acourse of instruction, in order that she might be enabled to assist herhusband in making up medicines. From 1840 to 1894 drugs were supplied byMessrs. Herring & Co. , of London, but since that they have been suppliedby local chemists, who are subscribers. 

In the autumn of 1840 there was an epidemic of scarlatina, and of the 237patients on the books, 50 were suffering from that complaint. Inconsequence of the additional work thus caused, the salary of thedispenser was raised from £40 to £60 a year. 

Again, with regard to a new source of income, among early notices we findthe following: that on Sept. 29th, 1790, the first anniversary of theDispensary’s formation, a sermon was preached, on its behalf, at aservice in the parish church, by the Rev. John Dymoke, Rector ofScrivelsby, and Chaplain to his grace the Duke of St. Albans. Thisbecame an annual observance, and has continued so ever since, thepreachers being selected with special care, and often from a considerabledistance. For instance, at the following anniversary, in 1791, the Rev. Everard Duckworth, LL. D. , Prebendary of Canterbury, was invited topreach, and he being unable to undertake that office, the Rev. PeterBulmer, Vicar of Thorpe, officiated in his stead. Among other preachersnamed we find the Rev. Basil Beridge, well-known for his works ofcharity, Rector of Algarkirk, near Boston; the Rev. W. Goodenough, Archdeacon of Carlisle; the Rev. E. R. Mantell, Vicar of Louth, and otherprominent clergy of the county. 

How widely the institution was appreciated is shewn by the number ofleading persons who gave it their patronage. Sir Joseph Banks was itswarmest supporter, through life, regularly attending the committeemeetings, 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 nosmall 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 succeededthe Honble. Henry, afterwards Sir Henry Dymoke, Bart. ; Lord Worsley; theRight Honble. E. Stanhope, M. P. ; J. Banks Stanhope, Esq. After the deathof Mr. Stanhope, Jan. 18th, 1904, it was resolved, at a special meetingof the Governors, Jan. 28th, that the Secretary should record, among theminutes, their regret at his death, and their high appreciation of hislong and generous support. The chairman was requested to send a copy ofthis 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 deceasedgentleman. The chairman was again requested to convey to her the thanksof the Governors, and Mrs. Stanhope was elected and continued to bePresident 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. ; EarlManvers; C. H. Massingberd Mundy, Esq. ; General Sir E. Brackenbury, Knight of Hanover; J. Lewis Ffytche, Esq. ; Capt. Dallas York, LordWilloughby d’Eresby; Sir H. M. Hawley, Bart. 

For many years a ball was given in aid of the funds, in the AssemblyRoom, Bull Hotel, Horncastle, which (with the exception perhaps of the“stuff” ball at Lincoln) was the most fashionably attended of any suchgathering in the county. Among the stewards of this ball we find thenames 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 MontagueCholmondly, Bart. ; Sir Charles H. J. Anderson, of Lea, Bart. ; Sir WilliamIngilby, Bart. , Ripley Castle, Yorks; Lord Yarborough; H. Handley, M. P. , Sleaford; Lord Amelius Beauclerk; Capt. Boucherett, North WillinghamHall; 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 ofthe 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. 

We close this list of officials, with a brief account of the dispensers, on whom the efficiency of the institution largely depended. They wereusually qualified chemists, or surgeons and apothecaries; and generallyalso acted as secretaries. The first of these we have already named, Mr. John Chislett, to him succeeded Mr. Lewis Bilton, secretary andcompositor, 1793–1799; L. Barton, compositor, 1799–1801; G. Lunn, compositor, 1801–1807; John Lenton, compositor, 1807–1809; WilliamMorley, 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; electedsecretary Nov. 2nd, 1882; his services have extended over a longer periodthan 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 hislong connection with the charity. Circulars were issued invitingsubscriptions, and, among other donors, Robert Vyner, Esq. , of GautbyHall, gave £200; the site of 52, North Street, was purchased, and thepresent building was erected in 1866. In 1867 the old house in thechurchyard was sold for £142 11s. 4d. , and the new premises were occupiedin the autumn of that year. It was built from the designs of Messrs. Bellamy & Hardy, Architects, of Lincoln, the contractor for the workbeing Mr. Robert Carter, Builder, of North Street, Horncastle. Theoriginal contract was for £765, but the ultimate cost, with furniture, lawyer’s expenses, &c. , amounted to £1, 026 10s. 11d. It is subject to aground rent of £1 to the Stanhope estate. 

Of late years the support, by subscriptions, has on several occasionsbeen inadequate. In January, 1899, there being a deficit of £70, thelate Mr. J. Banks Stanhope gave the Governors a cheque for that amount. In the year 1905, there being again a serious deficit, application wasmade to the trustees of the Hurstcroft and Snowden charity, and theycontributed £20 on condition that 25 poor children should receive medicaltreatment free of charge. A further sum of £53 14s. Remaining as asurplus, in the hands of the Soup Kitchen Committee, was also given tothe funds. Canon Quarrington, formerly Vicar of Horncastle, alsocontributed £20; and other donations made up a relief fund of £106 (seeReport for the year). The debt was thus wiped out, but death havingcarried off many former subscribers, increased support will be needed inthe future. 

Legacies have been bequeathed to the institution by various persons, atdifferent times, as follows: Dr. Harrison, by will dated Feb. 5th, 1820, left £100; the late H. J. Fielding, Esq. , who died Aug. 10th, 1879, leftby will £100; in 1884 the late Mr. T. Garfit bequeathed £100; ten £10shares in the railway were bequeathed by Mrs. Fox Marshall in 1897; £100was bequeathed by Mr. J. W. Hart, of Tetford, in 1900; Mr. John Bancroftleft £50 in 1905; £357 were invested in Consols and £200 in railwayshares, in 1899; a portion of this was sold in 1902, and £300 wereinvested in the Corn Exchange; the Dispensary premises were also insuredfor £800, instead of £600, in the County Fire Office, in 1902. 

It will thus be seen that although the operations of the institution nolonger embrace the extended area of the early years of its existence, itis still doing a most valuable work in the alleviation of suffering amongthe poor and needy, in both town and country for many miles round, and isthoroughly deserving of the increased support, which is required, tocontinue its efficiency. We trust that this will be recognized by theland owners and others, and that such assistance will be forthcoming. 

CHAPTER IX. THE CANAL. 

The Horncastle Canal, connecting for commerce the town with the riverWitham, and so with Lincoln, Boston, and the sea, though now a derelict, was formerly of much value. Its history is here given from its earliestinception. 

Horncastle having been for some centuries the chief market of animportant agricultural district, an association was formed towards theclose of the 18th century, with the title “The Company of Proprietors ofHorncastle Navigation, in the County of Lincoln. ” This was, in the year1792, incorporated by an Act of Parliament, which gave a list of thenames of the original members, and secured to them, and to theirsuccessors, perpetual possession of the same, and a common seal. Thecanal was to be 11 miles long, extending from the junction of the tworivers, Bain and Waring, which traverse the town and meet at the pointwhere 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 in £50 shares, no memberbeing allowed to hold less than one share or more than 20. The surveyorsfor the undertaking were Messrs. Robert Stickney and Samuel Dickinson. 

When about two-thirds of the work was completed this capital wasexhausted; and in the year 1800 a second Act of Parliament was obtained, which authorised the raising of a supplementary sum of £20, 000 in sharesof £50; additional members being enrolled, and mortgages raised on thetolls. The whole profits of the concern, for several years, wereabsorbed in paying off the debt thus contracted, so that no dividendaccrued for the shareholders until the year 1813. The channel, fromHorncastle to Dalderby, was an entirely new cut, the rest being the riverBain deepened and straightened in its course. It was adapted for thepassage of vessels of 50 tons burden; and in the whole length of 11 milesthere was a fall of 84 feet. 

The original rate of charges was 2/- per ton for the whole length of thecanal, 1/9 to the seventh lock, and 1/3 to the fourth lock; vessels ladenwith lime, manure, or material for roads, were granted free passage. {127} By the second Act of Parliament, in 1800, the charges were raisedto 3/3 per ton for the whole length of the canal, 2/7 to the seventhlock, and 1/6 to the fourth lock; lime, manure, and road material beingexempted, as before. 

 [Picture: The Canal]

The whole structure was completed in the autumn of 1802, and the canalwas formally opened on Friday, Sept. 17th of that year. The occasion wasobserved as a general holiday by the towns-folk. At one o’clock theboats the Betsy of Horncastle, and the Martha of Dalderby, the propertyof Messrs. Gilliat & Wilson, and the British Queen, owned by Mr. Boyers, were hauled into the two basins of the canal, elaborately decorated withcolours, amid the cheers of spectators, who are said to have numberedmore than 2, 000. The vessels having been brought to, several saluteswere fired, and a band of music, on the pleasure boat of Mr. Lane, played“God save the King, ” “Rule Britannia, ” “Hearts of Oak, ” &c. Havingtraversed some distance on the canal the company afterwards landed at thewharfs on the two branches, and a large number of the shareholderspartook of a festive repast at the Greyhound Inn, East Street, near thesouth basin. The navvies and other workmen who had been employed in theconstruction of the canal, were also regaled on the boats, and afterwardsfeasted 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 wasfollowed by a public dinner at the Bull Hotel, which continued to be anestablished institution during the period of the canal’s prosperity. 

The shares quickly rose considerably in value; a great number of bargescame to the town, and it was no uncommon occurrence to see the wholedistance from the South bridge to the Bow bridge packed closely withheavily laden vessels, carrying coals, grain, or other merchandise. In1836 it was computed that about 30, 000 quarters of wheat, and 3, 000 packsof wool, passed through the canal annually; and in 1850 the profits ofthe traffic amounted to about £2, 000 a year. 

Consequent on the opening of the railway in August, 1855, the canal, as ameans of goods conveyance, gradually became disused, until, of lateyears, it has become worse than a mere derelict, since it forms anobstruction to the free passage of the water brought down by the tworivers, and after heavy rain it has led to temporary inundations of thetown, to the great inconvenience of those residing near it, as well asinterfering, as might in some circumstances be serious, with the sanitaryarrangements. 

A few years ago an attempt was made to restore the canal traffic, but therailway monopoly had become too thoroughly established, and the projectfailed; yet the competition, could it have been maintained, might havehad a salutary effect upon the cost of railway conveyance, to theadvantage of the general public. 

Our canals, it should be remembered, are a time-honoured institution; theLincolnshire Cardyke and Fossdyke date from the period of the Romanoccupation of this country. The Magna Charta of the early 13th centurytook cognizance, not only of the roads, called “The King’s Highway, ” butalso of inland navigation, under the term “Haut streames de le Roy. ” Thelatter half of the 18th century was remarkable for great achievements asregards internal waterways, notably in the Bridgewater Canal, and theGrand Junction Canal of London; and to this period, as we have seen, theHorncastle Canal belongs. 

In this twentieth century, again, notwithstanding the great railwayfacilities, there is a wide-spread movement in favour of extended watertraffic, headed by the very successful Suez Canal; with a prospect of thesister channel of Panama. Berlin is said to owe its prosperity largelyto its well-organized system, connecting the rivers Oder, Elbe, Spree, &c. , which have an annual traffic of some million and half tons. Our ownManchester Ship Canal is another instance; the most recent case beingfresh developments of the Aire and Calder Navigation, in South Yorkshire. The canals, too, which have been recently constructed in India, areyielding, by the latest reports, {128} a handsome revenue to theGovernment, as well as greatly benefiting the native population. 

It is acknowledged that a more general use of waterways, throughout thekingdom for the cheaper transport of our heavier and more bulky produce, would be a national boon; and a Royal Commission was engaged inconsidering the subject of the acquisition of all canals as Governmentproperty. {129a}

It is now being more and more recognised that, on the establishment ofrailways, everyone jumped too hastily to the conclusion that the days ofcanals 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, thoughsituated several miles inland, is now to be converted into a port by thegovernment of that country, through the creation of a canal, which isexpected to increase the prosperity of that city. Similarly it issuggested that our own town of Nottingham could be made a great inlandport, if water carriage were provided; and Sir John Turney, before theRoyal Commission, has recently (July, 1907) stated that the trade of thattown might thus be greatly increased. These, be it remembered, are notisolated cases. 

 [Picture: On the Canal]

As to our own local interests, we may reasonably regret that, after somuch money being invested in the Horncastle Canal, and the serious lossesincurred by so many investors, no further effort should be made toutilize it. The trade of Horncastle is not so satisfactory but that wemight welcome every adjunct, which could in any way contribute to itsfurtherance; while, even from an æsthetic point of view, it weredesirable that, with the present dilapidated locks, and the banks in someplaces broken, the channel, which is in parts little more than a shallowbed of mud, befouled by garbage and carrion, or choked by a matted growthof weeds, should be superceded by a flow of water, pure and emitting nopestiferous exhalations. 

THE RAILWAY. 

In few things has there been more remarkable evolution, or we might evensay, revolution, than in our methods of locomotion. In these days ofhistoric pageants we might well conceive of a series of scenes passingbefore us, shewing the means adopted at different periods, or underdifferent conditions, in this respect. The war-chariot of QueenBoadicea, charging the legions of Cæsar, or (in our own neighbourhood)that of the British warrior Raengeires, routing his Saxon foes, atTetford, 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 thename of a constellation, befitted only an age little advanced beyondbarbarism. 

The primitive “shout” (Dutch “schuyt”), or “dug-out” boat, hollowed byCeltic flint-axe from the bole of a mighty oak, and slowly propelled bythe almost wild Girvian, through the tangle of fen morass, had but aremote connection with the steam packet which, within living memory, plied on the neighbouring Witham, between Boston and Lincoln. Althoughthe speed of the latter was so slow, that (as a friend of the writer hasdone) a pedestrian, travelling by road, could reach either of thoseplaces, from our town of Horncastle, in less time than it took to go bycarrier’s van to Kirkstead wharf, and thence by the said steamer. 

While, again, both these would provoke only a smile of contempt in thevoyager who now crosses the atlantic, at a rate of 20 knots or more inthe hour. Then, again, compare with these the cyclist, who now flashespast us with the speed of lightning; or the motorist, who vanishes fromour sight, almost before the dust he has raised is blown away. 

Another humbler mode of progress, again, was a familiar sight in ourboyhood, when the farmer’s wife jogged contentedly to market, seated on apillion, behind her husband, and carrying her butter, eggs, or chickens, in roomy market baskets by her side. Even the gig, to carry two, of thebetter bucolic class, has now become obsolete, as the train pours out, atthe station, its living stream of market folk, male and female, within afew minutes of leaving their own doors several miles away. 

As to our country roads we are, it is true, well supplied with them, buta pageant view of the past, such as we have here conceived, would revealto us our British forefathers, toiling, in wearied gangs, under Romantask-masters, at the forced labour of road making; by which the town’smarkets and chartered fairs were to be accessible, from all directions, for generations yet unborn. In our present iron ways, we might wellsuppose that we have attained the highest evolutionary stage inexpeditious traffic; but who, indeed, shall venture to gainsay, that as asequel to our wireless telegraphy, we may one day eschew the mundanealtogether, and become a race of aeronauts. 

The Great Northern loop line, connecting Boston and Lincoln withPeterborough and Grantham, and so with the further north and south, wasopened in October, 1848. At that date, except the “Navigation” for heavygoods, such as corn, coal, &c. , there were only coaches, once a day, forpublic conveyance to Boston, Lincoln, Market Rasen, and Louth. Butthrough the enterprise of Mr. Samuel Sketchley, of Horncastle, Solicitor, of the old firm of Selwood and Conington, an Act of Parliament was, notwithout difficulty, obtained, July 10th, 1854, for the construction of abranch line, running from Kirkstead to Horncastle; the importance of thisevent being recognised by a joyous peal of the parish church bells beingrung, and crowds parading the streets, at 10 o’clock at night, at whichhour the news arrived. The next day the rejoicings were continued, thebells of St. Mary’s Church being again rung, while the tower of thechurch was adorned with a tricolour flag, bearing the inscription “Godspeed the railway, ” and crowds again passed through the streets, headedby 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 capitalof the company was £48, 000, in £10 shares, but the ultimate cost wasabout £60, 000. The G. N. R. Company undertook the working, paying half thereceipts to the shareholders; and as, for the distance (about 7½ miles), the expenditure was, compared with that of many such undertakings, small, so, as an investment, the enterprise proved a profitable one, few linesyielding so good a return for the outlay; the £10 shares still (in 1907)sell at nearly half as much again (£14 17s. 3d. , July, 1907). 

A brief account may well here be given of the opening ceremony of thisimportant event in the town’s history, condensed from the public journalsof the day. The line was examined by the Government Inspector, ColonelWynn, and a few days later Mr. Seymour Clarke, the G. N. R. Manager, statedthat it could not be in a more efficient condition. The opening ceremonywas fixed for Aug. 12th, 1855. At an early hour the town was crowdedwith visitors and shops were closed. At 7 a. M. 2, 500 lbs. Of beef weredistributed among the poorer people. Peals of bells were rung, theHorncastle and Spilsby bands added their music of popular airs. Thestreets and station were profusely decorated, under the direction of Mr. Crowder, florist, Mr. John Osborne, parish clerk, Mr. Archbould, headgardener to Sir H. Dymoke, Mr. Nelson from Stourton Hall, and a localcommittee. 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 wasformed 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, wherethe elders of the party on the platform, and the children, with theirbanners, ranged on the opposite side, awaited the arrival of the trainbringing the G. N. R. Directors, and as it drew up the bands played “Seethe Conquering Hero comes. ”

The procession, augmented by the directors, then re-formed, and marchedthrough the town; in the Bull Ring the National Anthem was sung. A largemarquee 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, andother guests, in all over 200, a splendid dinner, served in excellentstyle, by Messrs. Wilson and Serpell, of the Bull Hotel. The Honble. SirH. Dymoke presided, as Chairman of the Horncastle and Kirkstead RailwayCo. ; 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 onhis left by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq. , M. P. , Director of the HorncastleRailway, and Rev. W. H. Milner, Vicar. Congratulatory speeches weremade, and the day closed with a fine display of fireworks. 

Opened under such favourable auspices, and supplying a felt need, therailway has continued to be a success; improvements have been made, fromtime to time, in the stations at Horncastle and Woodhall Spa. The linecontinues to be a single one, but it is sufficient for the localrequirements, and the shares, as before mentioned, at the present time(1907) find a ready sale at an advance of about 50 per cent. On theiroriginal price. We might add that if the railway could be continued toSpilsby, and then connected with the different lines running to theSkegness, Mablethorpe and other health resorts on the coast, its utility, and doubtless its paying value, would be largely increased, as it wouldshorten the distance by many miles. 

CHAPTER X. WORKHOUSE OR UNION. 

We now notice the chief of those public institutions, and the buildingsconnected therewith, which have been established in the town, within morerecent times, for its welfare, or its adornment; in order to bring itscorporate efficiency into more complete accord with the advancedrequirements of what may be called modern municipal life. Among thesethe foremost place, from its general importance, is naturally due to theUnion, or Workhouse; and here it is necessary to make some preliminaryremarks. 

The workhouse, or union, for a large district is a comparatively recentcreation. “The poor” we have had “always with” us, but they have notalways 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 wasable to work. ” By common law the really deserving poor were to beassisted “by parsons and parishioners, so that none should die fordefault of sustenance. ” By Act, 15 Richard II. (1392), impropriators(_i. E. _ laymen holding church property) were bound to contribute acertain yearly sum to the poor of the parish, but no compulsory law waspassed till 27 Henry VIII. (1536). The present poor law system datesfrom 43 Eliz. (1601); successive amendment acts being passed from 1836 to1847, and again in 1861; and a further relief act in 1862. 

At first parishes regulated their own methods and amounts of relief. Fora long period, indeed, the labouring class were subject to strict legalrules, both as to service, and in their individual movements. It wasquite an innovation when, in 23 Henry VI. (1445), a servant was permittedto change masters after giving due notice; and when moving, or, as it islocally called, “flitting, ” from one parish to another, for employment, he had to produce a certificate of settlement from his last abode. Insuch matters the overseers were paramount, until their powers weretransferred to the newly constituted guardians of the poor, by Act ofParliament, in 1839. {133}

The “workhouse” preceded the “union, ” which latter term was adopted whenparishes, throughout a large district, were _united_ for the purposes ofpoor relief. {134a} In some cases a country parish had its ownworkhouse. For instance, old parish books of Thimbleby, {134b} show thatin 1819 £20 was spent upon the village workhouse, which was insured for£200. 

Among some old churchwardens’ records, in the possession of Mr. JohnOverton, of Horncastle (members of whose family have frequently held thatoffice), 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 tobake the “black bread, ” then in common use, {134c} more conveniently thanthey could at home. {134d} At a later date (1780) a spinning school wasestablished by public rate, to help the poor to earn a livelihood by ahome industry. {134e}

An important advance was made in poor relief, in 1735, when, as the samerecords state, “on April 17 a committee was appointed, {134f} inHorncastle, to build a workhouse, ” and on May 7th in the following year abrief note gives the cost of the building as being £175 13s. 4d. Thiswas situated on the east side of St. Mary’s Square, separated by a fewyards from the Grammar School, the site being now (1908) occupied by acommon lodging house. It continued to be the public workhouse for over100 years; and that the poor, who needed relief, were generally expectedto 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, wasbuilt, from the designs of Mr. —afterwards Sir—Gilbert Scott, being one ofhis earliest undertakings {134g} It is a commodious structure, capableof accommodating 260 inmates; and, with grounds attached, covers an areaof between four and five acres. It is now known as “The Union, ” and theunion district embraces 69 parishes, represented by 76 guardians, towhom, as already stated, the former duties of the overseers weretransferred 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 inHorncastle as during the last forty years. In Stukeley’s map of thetown, dated 1722, the Sessions House is placed at the south-east cornerof the “Mercat Place, ” where there now (1908) stands a small refreshmenthouse. The cells for prisoners probably formed the basement of thisbuilding, as there is no known record of their being confined elsewhere, until the year 1821, when what was called the “Round House” was built, atthe north-east corner of the Market Place, opposite the present LordNelson Inn. This was a small circular building, having two cells, with acolonnade running round it, which formed a shelter for market womenselling butter, eggs, &c. The foundations of this structure were soshallow 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} Thisprison was demolished in 1853, when the present police station was built, facing the Wong, at a cost of £500, 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 thesouth side of the High Street, adjoining the George Hotel, now extinct, though then a leading establishment. That site is now occupied by theLincoln and Lindsey Bank. 

In 1843 the magistrates’ office was transferred to what is now 19, BullRing, part of the shop of Messrs. Robinson, Drapers. All these premisesproving inadequate for their purpose, the present Court House was builtin 1865, on the site of the former parish stocks, the site, a slightrising ground, being called “Stocks’ Hill, ” at a cost of £3, 000. Thearchitect was Mr. C. Reeves, of London, the builder Mr. Huddleston, ofLincoln. The furniture was supplied by Messrs. Pike & Wright, ofHorncastle; gas fittings by Mr. Murrell, of Chelsea. 

In this handsome building, of white brick, there is accommodation formany branches of public, local and county business. As a possession theCourt House is the property of the Board of Works, in London, the countyauthorities paying to them a rent of £10, for the use of it by themagistrates. 

THE STANHOPE MEMORIAL. 

This handsome structure was erected under the following circumstances. The Right Honble. Edward Stanhope, who had represented the HorncastleDivision in Parliament, with much distinction, from the year 1874, diedrather suddenly, as the result of hard work, in his official capacity, onDec. 22, 1893, to the great grief of the entire constituency; when it wasuniversally felt that his services merited some public recognition. Various meetings were held, and at length, on Jan. 22nd, 1897, at agathering in the Masonic Hall, a committee was appointed to carry out thescheme. The design of the Memorial was intrusted to the architect, Mr. E. H. Lingen Barker, of Hereford, Messrs. Walter & Hensman, ofHorncastle, 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 theEarl and Countess Stanhope, and other distinguished persons on theplatform, and a vast crowd from the neighbourhood filling the entireMarket Place. This was followed by a public luncheon in the CornExchange. 

The site chosen was the centre of the Market Place, as that, along withthe market dues, had been made over to the town as a free gift, by theRight Honble. Gentleman, as Lord of the Manor. The following is theofficial description of the monument, as published at the time of itserection. The structure is 31-ft. 6-in. In height. It stands on amassive foundation of concrete; with three tiers of Yorkshire stonesteps, each 15-in. Wide, running round the base leading up to themonument proper, their shape being octagonal. With the exception of twostrings 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 ofAberdeen red granite, with moulded caps and bases. The panels are filledwith diaper work; and in each alternate panel are arms of the Stanhopefamily, and the arms of the town, with an inscription to the memory ofthe Right Honble. E. Stanhope, and a medallion, with bust, in relief, ofthe same. These panels are surmounted by moulded and carved cinquefoilpanels, surmounted by carved finials. Above these, again, are eightcolumns of polished granite, supporting the superstructure, and thesealso have eight trefoil dormers, simpler than those below, each finishedwith a finial of gun metal. Above these are eight gun metal columns, having trefoiled heads, with foliated finials and moulded cornice; and onthese rests the spirette, constructed of oak and covered with lead, witheight other dormers, which complete the whole. The total cost was £55212s. 3d. , raised by subscriptions, a small balance being handed over tothe public Dispensary. 

THE CLERICAL CLUB. 

The Clerical Club was founded in 1822; a room was rented on the premisesof Mr. James Babington, Bookseller, in the High Street (now occupied byMr. J. S. Balding, Butcher), where the members met for discussion, andgradually 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 ofthe Grammar School; C. N. L’Oste, Rector of Claxby; Francis Rockliffe, Rector of Fulletby; Robert Spranger, D. D. , Rector of Low Toynton (and ofGrosvenor Street, Grosvenor Square, London); John Mounsey, Rector ofGautby; Thomas Roe, Rector of Kirkby-on-Bain; E. Brackenbury, Rector ofAswardby; W. Dodson, Rector of Well; F. Swan, Rector of Sausthorpe; andothers holding benefices scattered over a wide area, but several of themliving in Horncastle. 

The Club was formally opened in the following year, when several moremembers 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, inincreasing the membership and adding to the efficiency of theinstitution, which flourished for many years. 

In later times, especially on the lamented death of Dr. Smith, and thecreation of circulating libraries, such as that of Messrs. Mudie, inLondon, the numbers of subscribers fell off considerably. The books weretransferred 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, stillavailable 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, wereappointed a sub-committee, with instructions to find a permanent clubroom, or to give the books to the Lincoln Diocesan Library. In Septemberof that year Dr. Madge, Head Master, offered to keep the books, to act asLibrarian, and admit members to them two or three days a week in hishouse. 

In January, 1893, the present writer was commissioned with Dr. Madge, toexamine the books, when there was found to be 799 in good condition, 69missing. The Secretary of the Lincoln Diocesan Library was communicatedwith, 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 coursetransferred to that institution. 

On May 17th, 1894, the Rev. J. Conway Walter, with three others, wascommissioned to obtain a supply of books from a circulating library atLincoln. Eventually Mudie’s library was established at the shop of Mr. H. Willson, Bookseller, Horncastle; Mr. W. K. Morton opened asubscription library, and Messrs. W. H. Smith opened a book stall at thestation. These three still continue: the original Clerical Club booksbeing still available, with others, at the library in the Chapter Houseof Lincoln Cathedral. 

There was at one time a _Literary Society_ in Horncastle, which used tomeet at the Bull Hotel, in a small room, now the bar, beneath the largeball room, on a level with the street. Among the most active members ofthis was John Brown, the late, so-called, Horncastle “Poet Laureate, ”whose poems were published in 1890, by the Rev. J. Conway Walter, in avolume entitled _Literæ Laureatæ_, dedicated to Lord Tennyson. Anotherprominent member was the late Mr. Thomas Baker, who was an amateur actorand clever ventriloquist, as well as a great cricketer. In his earlyyears he was engaged by the father of Sir Evelyn Wood to teach thevillage boys cricket in Essex. His bowling was of the old roundhandstyle; in which he bowled to Fuller Pilch, the greatest batsman of hisday; and also to Dr. W. G. Grace, now of the Crystal Palace; and, manyyears ago, in a match against a crack 11, including three Universityplayers and one professional, he bowled them all out for 11 runs. Healso bowled out the captain of the All England Eleven with his firstball. He died Feb. 12th, 1903, aged 88. 

THE MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE. 

Mechanics’ Institutes were first established in the earlier half of the19th century. The first known was that founded in London by the famousDr. Birkbeck in 1823; another being opened in the same year in Glasgow;after which they became general. As Horncastle was in advance of othertowns in the county in its valuable Dispensary (see p. 119), so it wouldseem to have preceded other towns, with the exception of Lincoln, incatering for the growing taste for literature. The Mechanics’ Institutewas founded in the year 1834. It was first located in Union Street, nowcalled Queen Street, and soon received the support of all classes. Thebuilding, which consisted of one large room, was situated on the westside 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 beingoccupied, as library and reading room; the former premises in QueenStreet 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 thesite a private residence for himself. 

After some years the introduction of the above named branch of thepopular London Library of Messrs. Mudie & Co. , at the shop of Mr. HughWillson, Bookseller, in the Bull Ring, followed by the subscriptionlibrary 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 thesubscribers to “The Mechanics, ” and it was removed to smaller premises inBank Street; and eventually this same cause led to the Institute beingclosed. On January 14th, 1886, a meeting was held in the library todetermine 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. Thesewere closed about the year 1894, the books remaining stowed away. Aboutthe year 1899 an effort was made by the late W. Brown, of the Capital andCounties’ Bank, to get the books transferred to the Technical School inQueen Street, of the committee of which he was chairman; with the objectthat they might be once more rendered available for public use; but thisproject 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 valuableamong the books by auction in Lincoln, the rest being divided between thepermanent subscription library of Mr. W. K. Morton, Bookseller, HighStreet, and that of the Grammar School. 

It is much to be regretted that a valuable collection of books thusceased to be public property. A catalogue of the library, published byMr. W. Johnson, Bookseller, High Street, in 1865, shows that the numberof volumes was at that date 1, 468, with annual additions; while in 1879 abequest was made by the late Henry James Fielding, Esq. , of Handel House, South Street, of about 230 volumes of standard works, bringing the totalup to about 1, 750 volumes. (Classified List, published by W. K. Morton, 1879. )

The first librarian was Mrs. Wood, assisted by her daughter (afterwardsMrs. Panton). She was succeeded by Miss South, who was followed by MissStephenson, and she was succeeded by Mrs. W. Johnson. 

The late Mr. Henry Nicholson acted as secretary, and for several yearstook a great interest in all that concerned the Institute, until hisprolonged 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 periodthe late Mr. Berridge, Master of the Union, acted as Secretary, and wassucceeded by Mr. W. Betts, of the Dispensary, who only held that post twoyears, before the Institute was closed. 

There were in the library, besides the books, a quantity of weapons ofwar from the South Sea Islands, some cases of objects of natural history;valuable sepia paintings by the late Rev. C. P. Terrot, of Wispington, analmost unrivalled artist in his own line; and several fine Roman vasesexhumed 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 stonefacings, capable of holding 500 persons, situated on the south side ofthe High Street, and standing on what was formerly the eastern wall ofthe old Roman castle; a well of pure water, still in use, under theadjoining house, having been just within the wall of that fortress. Itwas opened on July 5th, 1856. From the terms of the original deed ofsettlement of the company we may give the following items. 

The Indenture, dated July 18th, 1855, was registered the 31st of the samemonth; the agreement being, on the first part, between Thomas Armstrong, Merchant; Henry Turner, Land Agent; George Wright, Merchant; HenryNicholson, Draper; William Preston Carlton, Chemist; and others, all ofHorncastle; with certain residents in the neighbourhood on the secondpart; and Frederick W. Tweed, of Horncastle, Gentleman, as trustee togive effect to the covenant, on the third part. The said parties agreeto form themselves a Joint Stock Company, within the meaning of the Act 7and 8 Victoria, c. 110, to provide a building for the purposes, accordingto these presents, viz. , a Corn Exchange, which can also be used forconcerts, exhibitions, and other public objects, on such terms as thecommittee may think fit. 

The capital of the company to be £3, 000, in 600 shares of £5 each; annualmeetings of shareholders to be held on May 2nd; any five, or more, owning25 shares, may require the directors to convene an extraordinary meeting. The capital may be increased by additional shares of £5, not exceeding300; money may be borrowed on mortgage, not exceeding at any one time£1, 500. {140} One-third of the original directors to retire in May, 1856, being eligible for re-election. In May, 1857, one-half of theremaining original directors to retire; and similarly in succeeding yearsone-third to retire in rotation, according to seniority. Any director toforfeit office on ceasing to hold five shares; anyone intending to applyfor directorate, to give at least 10 days’ notice. Directors to meet atleast once every three months; any two directors may require thesecretary to convene a meeting, at any time, for any desirable specialobject. 

The Court of Directors to apply to the Privy Council (Board of Trade) forpermission to purchase, or rent, land or buildings, as may seem to beneeded; or to let, or lease, buildings, offices, &c. , as they may thinkfit; or to make mortgages, conveyances, &c. , for the purposes of thecompany. A reserve fund (by clause 67) to be established, by settingapart one per cent of the profits in any year; the accumulation to beemployed 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 avote of a majority at a general meeting. No sum beyond £400, at any onetime, 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 commonseal 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 LindseyBank the company’s bank. Thomas Armstrong, Timothy Collinson, and RobertEdwin Kemp to be the first trustees of the company. 

The books may be inspected by any shareholder, between 10 a. M. And 4p. M. , in the presence of the secretary, or other person nominated inaccordance with Act 7 and 8 Victoria, c. 110. By clause 89 it wasprovided that, in case of the company being wound up, the chairman shoulddeclare the company to be dissolved with all convenient speed; allproperty 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 toany shareholder being allowed. This deed was signed, sealed, anddelivered 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 companyshould be wound up; but it was decided to continue it, and of late yearsthe financial position of the company has improved; the report for 1906shews total receipts for the past year, £145 13s. 1d. ; expenditure £872s. 10d. ; leaving balance £58 10s. 3d. ; allowing a dividend of £1 10s. Per cent. , the sum of £6 0s. 3d. Being still in hand. Offices on thesame 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 thefollowing circumstances. 

The late Mr. Geo. Whelpton was a shoemaker, occupying a small shop, oneof several then standing in the Market Place, on or near the site of thepresent Stanhope Memorial; {142a} the whole of these being cleared awaywhen the late Honble. Edward Stanhope presented that piece of ground tothe town, for the enlargement of the Market Place. He resided in a smallhouse in Stonewell Row, but afterwards removed into better premises inQueen Street. While living in Stonewell Row he purchased some furniturecheap, at an auction, and in a drawer of one of the articles purchased hefound a recipe, said to have been written by a Boston doctor, for themedicine eventually to become known universally as “Whelpton’s Pills” (apowerful stomachic, for kidney diseases, &c. ), and from the sale of whichhe and other members of his family realised large fortunes. {142b} Hiswife had been for some time in a bad state of health, and after she hadconsulted various doctors without deriving any benefit from theirtreatment, he decided to try for her the prescription which had thusaccidentally come into his possession. The result was so satisfactorythat other sufferers applied to him for the pills, which for a time hefreely gave to his neighbours; ultimately, however, these applicationsbecame so numerous that he was obliged to make a charge. 

As he began to realise a considerable income from this source, he gave upthe shoemaking business, and left Horncastle; his first move being toDerby, {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 hisresidence at 1, Albert Road, Regent’s Park, where he remained for severalyears, until he finally settled in Warrior Square, Hastings. 

While residing in London his wife {143a} had another illness, from whichshe eventually died, in 1859; and feeling her loss very acutely hedecided, 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 theoriginal letter of George Whelpton, dated March 18, 1861, givinginstructions that the building of the almshouses should be immediatelytaken in hand. The Indenture itself is dated March 21st, 1861, and amongits terms are the following: “This agreement is between RichardClitherow, of Horncastle, Gentleman, surviving trustee and executor ofthe 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 ThompsonWhelpton, of No. 69, Gloucester Crescent, Regent’s Park, Middlesex, Gent. , and Rev. Henry Robert Whelpton, of Upton Park, Slough, Bucks. , onthe third part. ” In accordance with this agreement certain landscomprising, with others, the future site of the almshouses, situated onthe east side of what was then called Union Street, the property of thesaid Samuel Curtis Lomas, were acquired through the said Mr. RichardClitherow, for Mr. G. Whelpton, for the purposes of the charity, with theabove relatives as co-trustees. The sum of £1, 000 was also conveyed asendowment of the charity, to the trustees. 

It was provided by the agreement that the inmates of the houses should beselected from persons who were fit and deserving subjects of the charity, indigent, but of good character, not recipients of parish relief, and notunder 45 years of age; and that any, becoming guilty of immorality, should forfeit their privileges. The power of selection of inmates wasvested in the trustees, assisted by the vicar and churchwardens of theparish; a clause being added, that, in case of the trustees beingincompetent, by reason of infancy or idiocy, the vicar and churchwardensshould select. The weekly allowance to the inmates was to be 3s. 6d. 

The agreement to this effect was signed, sealed, and delivered, by thesaid George Whelpton, in the presence of Richard Clitherow, Solicitor, and Charles Dee, Solicitor, both of Horncastle. It was further signed byGeorge Whelpton and William Thompson Whelpton, in the presence of RobertCunliffe, Solicitor, of 43, Chancery Lane, London; and by Henry RobertWhelpton, in the presence of John Adams Cree, Clerk in Holy Orders, ofUpton Park, Slough, Bucks. Appended is a receipt, signed by RichardClitherow, and witnessed by Charles Dee, shewing that, at the date of theIndenture, the sum of £101 5s. Was paid by George Whelpton for thepurchase 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 theestate of William Thompson Whelpton, deceased, at the instance of theRev. Henry Robert Whelpton, and Stephen Whelpton; when the Court declaredthat the direction in the will of the testator, as to the endowment ofthe charity, was a “valid charitable bequest of £1, 000, ” 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. Perweek; (3) in case of there being any surplus, to pay them so much more asthe trustees should think fit. A clause was added, empowering theCharity Commissioners, from time to time, to order any part of the incometo be applied to special purposes, as they might think desirable. 

We may add that while residing at Hastings, Mr. George Whelpton securedtwo acres of land, at Eastbourne, from the Duke of Devonshire, the ownerof the whole town, as he is also of Buxton; and at a cost of about£20, 000, 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, HenryUrling 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 TrinityHouse, Abington, Berks. The original George Whelpton died in 1903. 

For these details the present writer is indebted to several members ofthe Whelpton family, with some of whom he was a fellow pupil at theHorncastle Grammar School. 

THE DRILL HALL. 

The present building is not the first structure erected in connectionwith the Volunteers, any more than the present Volunteers themselves arethe first institution of the kind formed in Horncastle. In the earlyyears of the 19th century, when there was a general feeling abroad thatone great project, nurtured in the ambitious mind of the first Napoleon, was an invasion of England, volunteers were organized throughout thecountry, with a view to self-defence. As an instance of this, in thetown of Pontefract a corps was formed, of which the Earl of Mexboroughwas Colonel Commandant, and George Pyemont, Esq. , of Tanshelf House, Pontefract (grandfather of the present writer), was Major; {145} therecords of which are preserved, among other public documents, inPontefract Castle. 

 [Picture: Conging Street during the flood, Dec. 31, 1900]

Similarly, a corps was raised in Horncastle at the same period, of whichwe have somewhat curious evidence in the following. There exists a smallpamphlet, which the writer has recently (July, 1908) perused, entitled“An address delivered to the Horncastle Volunteers, on Feb. 26, 1804, bytheir 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 manyvolunteers are resigning “after putting the country to the expense ofsupplying them with clothing and arms, having also pledged themselves tothe country’s defence, and received in return exemption from militiaservice, ” this too at a time when (as he says) “we are in danger of beingreduced to a French province. ” “No resignations (he continues) havetaken place in London, in Boston, or in Spilsby. ” He reminds them thatthey (the Horncastrians) had been “among the first in the county to offertheir services, ” and he urges them still to “maintain their character”for loyalty. 

In consequence of this appeal a public meeting was called together, atwhich was formed a “Court of Enquiry, ” consisting of “9 members, 3elected from the officers of the corps, and 6 from the non-commissionedofficers and privates, to whom all proposals of resignation should besubmitted. ” In subsequent pages regulations are added as to keepingtheir weapons in proper condition, orders as to loading their guns, &c. , which are described as “firelocks” with “flints. ” This we may regard asan interesting item of past local history, evidencing the spirit in whichthe first Horncastle Volunteers were formed. 

The modern volunteer movement originated in the year 1859, under somewhatsimilar circumstances to the earlier movement. Notwithstanding ourultimate victory in the Crimean war, it was felt that our blunders hadbeen most serious, and our military organization far from complete. War, as a science, was assuming new forms; steam was giving to navigation anindependence of wind and tide, which might lead to invasion unawares. The state of our defences was considered most unsatisfactory. France wasour ally, but the Emperor Napoleon III. Only ruled by popular suffrage, and the memories of Waterloo still affected the sentiments of his peopletowards England. The facility with which England might be invaded was asubject of discussion in parliament in the course of the session of thatyear. Lord Palmerston held the view that France could, within a fewhours, bring together an army, which could land on our shores and marchupon London, before we were awake to the danger. It was our duty to beready for defence against any such surprise, and it was said that “ourfriend” Napoleon would himself welcome such preparedness on our part, asgiving him the best arguments with his own subjects against any suchenterprise. 

Strengthened by such reasoning, the Earl of Ripon, Under Secretary forWar, announced that volunteer corps would be enrolled throughout thecountry. The government plans were published on the first of July, werewarmly accepted by all parties, and a circular was issued, dated July13th, to all the Lieutenants of counties, urging immediate action; andforthwith the “nation of shopkeepers” were, as by magic, transformed intoan armed camp. So rapid was the progress that by June of the followingyear the cry was “Ready, aye! ready;” and on the 23rd of that month theQueen held a review in Hyde Park, at which some 20, 000 volunteers passedbefore her. We are told, as a curious incident, that at that reviewthere 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 underthe former system in 1803. {146}

The loyal town of Horncastle was not behindhand; a public meeting washeld in the Bull Hotel, on Aug. 10th, 1859, for the purpose of organizinga Rifle Corps, for the district, at which the Deputy Lieutenant attended. Among those present were Major Smart, of Tumby, J. Wadham Floyer, ofMartin 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 chieftradesmen and residents in town and neighbourhood. 

 [Picture: The Stanch]

The Muster Roll, which is still preserved, of the corps then formed, anddesignated the “G Company of the 1st Battalion of the LincolnshireRegiment of Volunteers, ” has at its head the name of Henry FrancisConington, as Captain, March 9th, 1860, with Richard W. Clitherow andRobert Jalland, as officers under him, at the same date; then follows along list of non-commissioned officers and privates, numbering, in thecourse 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 begunservice as Sergeant, and then Lieutenant; having under him, asLieutenants, Messrs. W. Jeffery and W. S. Clitherow, who were succeededby Richard W. Clitherow and Robert C. Isle; with Dr. Hugh George assurgeon. 

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 ofthe head-quarters staff in 1894, and is now Hon. Colonel of theBattalion, 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 Sharpesucceeded to the command, but his health failing, he resigned after ayear’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 joinedin 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. Clergywho have served as Chaplains have been Revs. S. Lodge; C. ReginaldBlathwayt, Vicar of West Ashby; A. Scrivenor, Vicar of Horncastle; H. Benwell; and at the present time (1908) Paul O. Ashby, Incumbent ofRevesby. 

Among those who have done good service in the corps, we should mentionthe first Drill Sergeant Beeton, who had previously served in the 22ndRegiment of the Line (the Old Cheshire), and afterwards in the SouthLincolnshire Militia, as Colour Sergeant. He drilled the corps duringabout 20 years; dying in Horncastle, after about 40 years service. Hewas followed by Sergt. Major Bartlett; then by Sergeant Doggett, who hadbeen Colour Sergeant in the 1st Royal Sussex, and previously to that inthe 2nd Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment (the old 98th). Hestill resides in Horncastle. In later years the post has been held bySergeants Towne, Ashley and Bamber. 

As to the buildings connected with the volunteers, their history isbriefly this: In the early years of the corps’ existence drill wascarried on in the Corn Exchange. After a time the building adjoining thenorth-east corner of the Wong, which had been a British School, wassecured; and this, after structural renovation, was used for severalyears as the head-quarters. It is now in the occupation of Messrs. Danbyand Cheseldine, Coach Builders; as in 1901 a new site was obtained at thesouth-east corner of the Wong, and here on the 13th day of June in thatyear the foundation stone of the present Drill Hall was laid, with muchceremony, by the Earl of Yarborough, supported by other publicfunctionaries. We here give, in full, the official programme of theproceedings, which may be worthy of preservation, in memory of thisimportant 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. Cornucopiæ 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, andDeputy Provincial Grand Master. Being satisfied in these particulars, hewill give the stone three knocks with the Mallet, which will be delivered to him by the Grand Superintendent of Works. 

 The Cornucopiæ, 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 otherentertainments; having a permanent stage, dressing rooms, lavatories, &c. , with a commodious kitchen attached, and every convenience forcooking, &c. The cost of the whole was about £2, 000, raised by publicsubscriptions. 

CHAPTER XI. HORNCASTLE WORTHIES, &c. 

MISS ANNIE DIXON. 

Miss Annie Dixon, the artist, was a native of Horncastle of whom the townmay 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 andfive daughters. We know nothing of the sons, but Miss Annie earlydeveloped great taste in water-colour painting; and among her earlyproductions was a miniature of a near relative of the present writer, done in 1855. Another of Miss H. A. Palmer, eldest daughter of CaptainMoffat Palmer, of Horncastle, and widow of the late George Storer, Esq. , of Thoroton Hall, Notts. , late M. P. For S. Notts. , was done about thesame time. She afterwards removed to London, and became the firstminiature painter of her day; was a frequent exhibitor in the RoyalAcademy, and a favourite with Queen Victoria and the Royal family, ofmost 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 Masterof the Horncastle Grammar School, Rev. W. Hutchinson, who in 1862 wasappointed by the Lord Chancellor Vicar of Howden, in Yorkshire. Of theseEmily, died unmarried, May 28th, 1903, aged 80, and was also buried inthe 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 thechapel. 

LORD ALLERTON. 

Lord Allerton, formerly Mr. William Lawnes Jackson, is a member of aHorncastle family. A near relative was a well-known object, a few yearsago, in our streets as a cripple, going about on a donkey, lying flat ona large saddle or “pad, ” his only means of locomotion. Lord Allerton’sfather, William Jackson, left Horncastle for Leeds, somewhere in the“thirties, ” or the “forties, ” going it is said, with only half asovereign in his pocket, given by an aunt, and a spare shirt given by anuncle. At Leeds he found employment in the tanyard of a Mr. RobertBarker, where he presently became foreman. He afterwards returned toHorncastle and worked in the tanyard of the late Mr. Hawling; but wentback to Leeds and commenced tanning on his own account, at Meanwood nearLeeds, and afterwards on a still larger scale at Buslingthorpe. Hespeedily 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 ofLeeds, and was elected to the Mayoralty in 1895. He represented NorthLeeds in Parliament for many years, as a conservative, being firstelected in April, 1880, and re-elected five times, with ever increasingmajorities. 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 forIreland, being also, for several years, Financial Secretary of theTreasury; and was raised to the peerage in June, 1902. He was born in1840, married in 1860, Grace, the only daughter of George Tempest, Esq. He owns, as his country seat, Allerton Hall, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, and27, 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 theManor House (now called “Banovallum”), by his second wife. He waseducated partly at the Grammar School, being afterwards a pupil of CanonSanderson, at Seaford, Sussex. He entered at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he obtained a scholarship in 1861. In 1862 he took a 1st class inClassical Moderations, and 1st Literæ Humaniores, 1864. In 1867 he was_Proxime accessit_ for the Latin essay. He was appointed AssistantMaster at Westminster School, Sept. , 1867, holding the post to Dec. , 1870. He was ordained deacon in 1870 and priest in 1871, by the Bishopof London. In Sep. 1871, he was appointed Assistant Master at Harrow, where he remained till 1900. He has been a voluminous writer, publishinghis 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 sameyear. He also published, for the S. P. C. K. , _Dorothy Dymoke_, and_Champion of the Right_. He has now retired from scholastic work andresides at St. Catherine’s Hill, Worcester. 

FREDERICK GROSVENOR. 

We have already in our notice of the Grammar School (p. 98) given anaccount of the Rev. Francis Grosvenor, son of an ironmonger in the town;there was also another son, Frederick, educated under Dr. J. BainbridgeSmith, at the school, who graduated at Oxford, and was ordained deacon in1860, and priest in 1861. He held a curacy at Basford, Notts, 1860–62;was travelling Chaplain to the Bishop of Brisbane, 1862–65; Curate ofHoly 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 brotherFrancis, retired to Epsom, and succeeded him as Chaplain to the Unionthere, until his decease. 

WILLIAM BARTON CAPARN. 

Mr. John Caparn, Chemist, having a shop in the High Street (now occupiedby Mr. Herbert Carlton), had a son, William Barton Caparn, who graduatedat Brazenose College, Oxford, taking honours, in 1843. He was ordaineddeacon in 1843, and priest in 1845, in the diocese of Ripon. He becameVicar of East and West Torrington, near Wragby, in 1846, which he heldtill 1859. He held the benefice, as Vicar, of Drayton, Somersetshire, from 1866 to 1875. Having private means, he gave up that benefice, andbecame Curate of Angersleigh, in the same county, 1877–79; which he thengave up, and undertook the Chaplaincy of the Taunton Union, and localhospital. These he resigned after a few years, and resided at TaunfieldHouse, Taunton, until his death, April 10th, 1892. He published variousminor works; the first being a small volume on _Epitaphs_, laterproductions were _Meditations to be used in Church before DivineService_; _Councils and warnings before and after Confirmation_, &c. 

George Gilliat, Esq. , late of The Wharf, Horncastle, married, as hisfirst 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 trusteesfirst resident physician at the hospital founded in that town by MissTrafford Southwell. Losing an only daughter while there, the shock wasso great, that he resigned the post, and removed to Taunton, and took upthere the practice of a deceased brother, which he carried on until hisdeath, Feb. 8th, 1897. At Horncastle he resided for some years in theold vicarage, south of the churchyard, afterwards moving to the housenext the “Fighting Cocks” Inn, called “Westholme House. ” For some yearshe was a very popular Secretary to the Southwold Hunt. 

W. H. BENSON BROWN. 

Among more recent natives of Horncastle, who have distinguishedthemselves, 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 curacyof North Ormsby, near Middlesborough; and was appointed Rector ofBucknall, near Horncastle, in 1898, by the patron his father-in-law, thelate Mr. James Dunham, Merchant, of Horncastle. He was appointedInspector of Schools, 1899. Mr. Benson Brown is an energetic worker, hasrestored his church, adding a carved reredos of oak, a handsome lectern, and filling the east window with good stained glass. He has alsointroduced various reforms and improvements in the parish. 

WILLIAM HENEAGE SHARP. 

Another native of Horncastle, who has already done credit to the town isthe son of Mr. Henry Sharp, Saddler, in the Bull Ring; of a very oldfirm, established in 1760, and doing an European business. WilliamHeneage Sharp was educated at the local Grammar School, 1885–9, where hegained the first scholarship granted by the Governors, under the reformedsystem. He then went to the college at Framlingham, Suffolk, 1889–90, acounty institution founded as a memorial of the late Prince Consort, andthere gained several prizes. He then became a Junior Master in a privateschool at Devizes; and during his stay there took the 2nd and 4th prizesat the College of Preceptors. He next accepted a Mastership at JohnEllis’s endowed school in South London (Gospel Oak). After which hestudied at King’s College, London, 1899–1901, where he gained the Jelfprize for Dogmatic Theology, the Senior Wordsworth prize for Latin, andthe Barry Divinity Prize. He was also appointed Precentor, andafterwards Dean, of the college, being senior student of his year, andtaking a first-class in the final examination. He was ordained by theBishop 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 ofthe Resurrection, Mirfield, in the Diocese of Ripon. 

ALFRED H. HEALEY. 

A youth of Horncastle who has distinguished himself, though chiefly inanother line, is Alfred H. Healey, son of the late Mr. Alfred Healey, Brewer and Merchant, of Horncastle, Branston and Lincoln. He wasappointed to a Mastership of Ardingly College, Sussex, but removed toAlnwick College more recently. A member of a family remarkable for theirability; a brother, though still young, being high up in the CivilService; he is specially distinguished as an athlete. Among hisperformances 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 andthree-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 Englandin 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 ofthe public hangman. William Marwood was born at Goulceby, about sixmiles from Horncastle, and afterwards lived some years in OldBolingbroke, 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 assistedhis predecessor in that office, Calcraft, and succeeded him in 1872;continuing the duties until his death, Sept. 4th, 1883; when he in turnwas succeeded by Bartholomew Binns. He was rather short in stature, withlarge 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, fromjealousy. On this occasion the man fainted on the scaffold, and gotentangled with the rope under his arm, and Marwood had to lift him in hisarms to get him disentangled, and then drop the unconscious man down—apainful scene. {155} This was only about a fortnight before his owndeath. Among his last executions was that of Charles Peace, a notoriousburglar, who shot a man at Banner Cross, near Sheffield. In May, 1882, he went to Dublin to execute the perpetrators of the Phœnix 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 healthhad been in some way injured through Fenian agency, and a post mortemexamination was held by order of the Home Secretary, but a verdict wasreturned 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 officialoccupation, as he generally accounted for his absence by saying that hehad to go away to settle some legal question. Visiting theslaughter-house of a neighbouring butcher, he observed to him that hecould “do” for men as the butcher did for cattle, because the men whom hehad to deal with were themselves “beasts. ”

Some of Marwood’s official paraphernalia are still preserved at thePortland Arms Inn, Portland Street, Lincoln, where he generally stayed atan execution. The late Mr. Charles Chicken, who resided in FoundryStreet, Horncastle, had a rope 1¼-in. Thick, given him by Marwood, withwhich he had hanged six or seven criminals. Other ropes used by him arein Madam Tussaud’s exhibition, in Baker Street, London, where there isalso a bust of himself. He used to exhibit his ropes to foreignhorse-dealers, who attended the great August Fair at Horncastle, at acharge of 6d. Each. There was recently a portrait of Marwood, incrayons, 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 lessexceptional, may be here also briefly noticed. 

HENRY TURNER. 

Mr. Henry Turner, about the middle of the 19th century, was a corn andcoal merchant, and also land agent for Sir Henry Dymoke, Bart. , ofScrivelsby 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, anative of Horsington, noted, in his later years, as the leader of the“Cato Street Conspiracy, ” which proposed to assassinate the ministers ofthe government, in London, when attending a dinner at Lord Harrowby’sresidence, in February, 1820. The plot was discovered and frustrated, and Thistlewood, with others of his guilty confreres, was executed on May1st in that year. Mrs. Turner was the daughter of a butcher, namedWilkinson, whose shop was situated in the High Street, where is now theshop of Mr. Uriah Spratt. 

MARTIN BROWN. 

Mr. Martin Brown, grandfather of Mr. W. H. Brown, Plumber and Glazier, ofChurch Lane, was in the early part of the 19th century captured by thepress gang in Horncastle, and made to serve in H. M. S. Mars, in the warwith Napoleon. In one contest his ship was lashed to a Frenchman-of-war, to fight it out, and his captain was killed. He survived totell the story till 90 years of age, with scarcely a day’s illness, untilhis 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, inUnion Street, now called Queen Street. He had had many voyages andexperiences, which he was fond of recounting to his many friends. He hadbrought home many trophies and curiosities; among other things he gave anIndian bow, made of sugar cane, and poisoned arrows, to the presentwriter, when a boy. 

MISS FRANKLIN. 

In the next house to Captain Shepherd resided Miss Franklin, sister ofthe great arctic navigator, Sir John Franklin. Much interest was takenin Horncastle in the fate of Sir John, when absent on his last polarvoyage, and considerable sums were raised, more than once, among theresidents in the town, to assist Lady Franklin in sending out vessels insearch of her husband, under the command of Captain Leopold MacClintockand others. We have mentioned elsewhere that a public dinner was givento Sir John, at the Bull Hotel, just before he sailed for the last timeto the north. 

In connection with this it may be added that the son of another greatarctic explorer, Sir John Ross, used to visit friends in Horncastle, andis still remembered. Sir John Ross sailed in search of Sir John Franklinin 1848, but was unsuccessful. 

EDMUND KEANE. 

Edmund Keane, the Tragedian visited Horncastle with his company, in thefirst half of the 19th century, and acted in a large building, which isnow the warehouse of Mr. Herbert Carlton, Chemist. The mother of Mr. Henry Sharp, Saddler, and the late Mr. Henry Boulton, of St. Mary’sSquare, among others, witnessed these performances. In connection withthis, 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 apresent 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 andneighbourhood. He afterwards left the town and joined the Grimsby TownFootball Club; subsequently he went to Middlesborough, Yorkshire, playingfor the Ironopolis Football Club. He afterwards joined the SheffieldWednesday Football Club, which team he was with eight years, beingcaptain three years; playing in the final for the English Cup, for thatteam, when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers by two goals to one, in1896. Leaving Sheffield Wednesday he became manager of the Hull CityFootball 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 ofthe High Street, now occupied by Mr. Redmore, enlisted as a private inthe Army Hospital Corps; and, afterwards, passing all examinations withcredit, he rose from the ranks to become medical officer in the corps; anexceptional instance of such promotion. 

HENRY ALLENBY. 

Henry Allenby, son of a fellmonger, Mr. Richard Allenby, residing nearthe Wong, and having a tanyard on the Lincoln Road, became an assistantchemist at St. Albans. Afterwards coming under notice, in a chemist’sshop in London, he was selected to accompany the Duke of Edinburgh in histour 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 theSaracen’s Head Inn, Bridge Street, Horncastle, had a son, John, who leftHorncastle for London, and became a member of the Stock Exchange, where, from small beginnings, he became so successful in business, that heeventually married a daughter of Bishop Blomfield, of London. 

MISS ROBINSON. 

The Rev. W. Robinson, Vicar of Wood Enderby and Wilkesby, in the middleof the 19th century, like several other clergy, who at that time had nocountry residences, lived in Horncastle. His daughter, happening to beof the same size and figure as Queen Victoria, was for several yearsengaged 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, asa perquisite, her Majesty’s cast-off dresses, from the sale of which sherealised an acceptable income. It is said that, through her, on themarriage of a lady friend, the dresses of both bride and bridesmaids wereall royal attire. It was generally understood that this appointment wasdue to the representations, in her favour, of Miss Annie Dixon, theartist (herself a native of Horncastle, mentioned elsewhere), who was atthat time a _grata persona_ with the royal family. 

JOHN CUSSONS. 

Mr. John Cussons, son of the late Mr. John Cussons, Baker, in the BullRing, 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 thereespoused the Confederate cause against the Federals, and took a leadingpart in the civil war, commanding Confederate forces in several importantengagements. Since that time he has visited Horncastle, and haspublished a history of his military operations. He now resides on hisown property, at Forest Lodge, Glen Allen, Virginia. His lastpublication, in 1908, is _Jack Sterry_, _the Jessie Scout_. He is alsothe author of _A Glance at Current History_, _The Passage of theThoroughfare Gap_, _Some Modern Pillars of State_, _Principles ofCryptiography_, _Assimilating the Indian_, &c. 

HENRY ALLISON. 

Henry Allison, son of Mr. Allison, Miller, formerly residing in WestStreet, married a daughter of Mr. David Cussons, and leaving the townabout 1848, settled in Hull, where he established a large business aspaper manufacturer. He was elected Mayor of Hull; and died some yearsago, leaving a widow, who resides in a large mansion, which he built onthe 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 beenmentioned; he is chiefly known by the volume _Literæ Laureatœ_, publishedin 1890, dedicated to Lord Tennyson, by permission, and containing mostof his poetical productions. These are remarkable for his knowledge ofLincolnshire 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, hisparents being in charge of that institution. Being first apprenticed toa cabinet maker, Mr. J. Williams, when only just “in his teens, ” he ranaway to Hull, and took service on a vessel, the Margaret, bound forCronstadt. His first voyage, however, was sufficient to disgust him withmarine life. When about 15 he found employment with a theatrical scenepainter from London, who settled in Horncastle. He afterwards went toLondon to learn his trade as a house decorator. He married in 1833 aMiss Gainsborough, of Alford. In 1838 he went to Lincoln, and for someyears carried on his trade there. In 1848 he returned to Horncastle, andstill carrying on his trade, became a member of a literary coterie, whoused to hold meetings in the coffee room of the Bull Hotel. In 1860 hebought a house on the Louth Road, which he opened as the Globe Inn, andwhich became the resort of his literary friends. Literature, however, did not conduce to business. In 1872 his health failing, and his savingshaving evaporated, he was granted a residence in the Whelpton Almshouses, where he continued to employ his pen, in comfort, until his death in1890. {159}

THOMAS BAKER. 

The late Mr. Thomas Baker has already been referred to, but is worthy ofa fuller account. He was not a native of Horncastle, but lived in thetown more than 60 years, and became so identified with its interests, inmany ways, that he may well be regarded as one of its “worthies. ” Bornin 1814, at Braintree, in Essex, he was the son of a veterinary surgeonin that town, his family having previously there owned the oncewell-known coaching house, named The Horn Inn; although earlier membersof his family had occupied a higher position; one of them, namedThorowgood, having founded the Grammar School at Oxford. 

Before coming to Horncastle, in 1841, Mr. Baker was known on more thanone county cricket ground, and had distinguished himself on theUniversity ground at Cambridge, “Parker’s Piece. ” On coming toHorncastle he immediately made his mark in cricket as a round-handbowler; 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 22gentlemen of the county; when he bowled out, with his first ball, Iddison, Captain of the All England team. The great matches in which hetook part for many years were too many to tell. Among other things hehad the distinction of being employed by Sir Evelyn Wood to train avillage club in his parish. 

Besides his cricketing skill he was remarkable for his ventriloquialpowers; and the story was told, that, while sitting in conversation withtwo strangers, at the Bull Hotel, he threw his voice under the table. The two sprang up to catch the supposed eavesdropper, when he at oncecalmed them by throwing his voice in another direction, and then lettingthem into the secret. He was also, in his way, a fair actor; and, withthe late Mr. John Brown, the Horncastle Laureate, and others, he helpedto amuse considerable audiences, in town and neighbourhood. In comedy hecould take all the parts himself, rapidly changing his dress, and at onemoment adopting the high falsetto tones of an old crone, and the nextmoment speaking in the deeper accents of a strong man. It is greatly tohis credit that, only having for many years a small shop, famed chieflyfor his two specialites, “bull eyes” and “Grantham ginger-bread, ” hebrought up a large family, who have taken good positions in various partsof the country. He was a staunch conservative and churchman. 

In his later years he was often visited by strangers, who wereentertained by his fund of anecdote and cricketing reminiscences. Amongthese we may name the novelist, Miss Marie Corelli, who, while staying atWoodhall 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_, alsovisited him at his house in Horncastle, and says of him “although wearinga shabby garb, he struck me with his perfect self-possession, andsuperior manners. . . . I have met many characters, but Mr. Baker struckme as being the most remarkable. ” He died Feb. 12th, 1903, aged 88; andin his last illness letters poured in upon him from old friends andpupils, expressing their sympathy and their pleasant recollections of hiscompany. 

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 MillstoneStreet, now called North Street, named the Tom Cat, was noted for hisgreat strength; for a wager he dragged a “dung cart” on the turnpikeroad, from Lincoln, to his own yard in Horncastle, a distance of over 21miles. It is said, however, that he suffered from rupture for the restof his life, as a consequence of the great and continued exertioninvolved in this feat. The inn is now named The Cricketers’ Arms, but itmay be noticed that the figure of a cat is still engraven on a pane ofthe front window. 

The same man bought the wife of a man named Rogers, a boatman, who puther up for auction, standing on a tub, with a halter round her neck, inthe public street; the price paid being £20. She had a son and daughterby Boulton, who both lived to be married, but died early. In afteryears, having lost her (so called) husband, Boulton, she removed toLincoln, and there meeting her former husband, Rogers, she becamereconciled to him, and both again lived together, as man and wife, untildeath. {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 onhire, 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 beingin a hollow, with a steep hill in the west to hide the moon for sometime; while Lincoln is on a hill, with a view to the west over lowcounty, where the moon would be seen earlier. He rode a swift animal ofhis own. And strained all its powers in the effort. Unfortunately therewas 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 minutesbefore the keeper could pass him through. He pressed on with all speed, galloping through the town, shouting in his excitement “Now me! nowmoon!”; but as he dashed into his own yard, he saw the moon shining in abucket of water, standing by the stable door. The delay at the toll-barhad lost him his wager. 

A son of the above, Thomas Rushton, was a great fisherman, and not alwaysparticular where he followed his sport. Walking in the night to acertain lake in a park, about 6 miles from Horncastle, he fished it andlanded two or three brace of good trout, and then about eight o’clock inthe morning, he called at the hall, and sold them to the squire for hisbreakfast. He used to tell this anecdote to his confidants, with hiswell-known chuckle of satisfaction, as a satisfactory stroke of business. Many other stories of his performances with “the angle” could be alsorelated, but this may suffice. 

The following relates not to a native of Horncastle, but to one whom wemay call an “intruder, ” although he was to play his part (not a verycreditable one) in the town. We avoid, for obvious reasons, giving namesand dates. There had occurred a number of petty thefts, which made, those who possessed anything of value, uneasy about their treasures, lesttheir turn for spoliation might come next. The police arrangements forthe town were still of a very primitive character, and quite inadequatefor due protection of the householder. The days of the “bobby” and“peeler” were not yet, at least in country districts; although Sir RobertPeel had done away with the old watchman, and established the presentpolice system in the metropolis; and some other of our larger towns hadfollowed suit. But in Horncastle the constable, by way of setting athief to catch a thief, had, it was said, himself in his earlier yearsbeen 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, theauthorities decided to import a London detective, disguised in plainclothes. He came, and for a while marauders, among whom the secret soonleaked 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 toinvestigate. He took up the matter, but did not succeed in making anyarrests. 

It was noticed by someone that a brass button was missing from the sortof gamekeeper’s velveteen coat which he wore; and, strange to say, abutton of the exact kind was found behind the counter of the shop wherethe thefts occurred. No public action was taken in the matter, but itcame to be strongly suspected that the professional thief-taker hadhimself been guilty of thieving. Other suspicious circumstancesoccurred, but he was a clever man, and nothing was brought home againsthim. It was believed, however, that something of the truth had becomeknown at head quarters, as his appointment was a few months latercancelled, and he was not appointed elsewhere. He continued to reside inHorncastle and, having no employment, he accepted the post of waterbailiff to the local angling association, which he filled for some time, until he eventually disappeared from the scene of his labours, which werethought by not a few to be somewhat “fishy” in the unfavourable sense ofbeing at least questionable in their nature. 

He had not left the town very long when it became known that certainparties had received from him some of the goods which had disappearedfrom the grocer’s shop, which had been robbed. Sundry hams were foundconcealed in a hay loft, and it was generally believed that the robberyof an inn in the town, not far from the shop in question, as well asother thefts in the country around, had been perpetrated by him. 

PUBLICHOUSES

One of the remarkable features of Horncastle is the number of itspublichouses, and these were far more numerous formerly than at thepresent day. This was, of course, mainly due to the great number ofdealers who attended the horse fairs, not only from all parts of Englandand Ireland, but from most countries on the continent; especially thegreat August fair, which formerly lasted no less than three weeks. Thepresent facilities for rapid travel, by rail, and quicker means ofcommunication, which now enable dealers to hear of horses for sale, andto visit them in their owners stables, before they are brought to thefair, has altered all this, and the fairs now last only a few days at themost. 

These publichouses had also generally attached to them large yards, andextensive stabling (as may still be seen), where the best horses wereshewn and tried, without appearing in the streets. In consequence of thereduced need for such accommodation many of these publichouses havedisappeared. Among the names of those which have been lost, are theRoyal Oak, the Peal of Bells, Cock and Breeches, Chequers, Hammer andPincers, 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 sideof the market, on the site of No. 1, now (1908) occupied by Mr. R. W. Clitherow, formerly stood a good-sized publichouse, which was destroyedby fire. Being rebuilt, it became the private residence of Mr. H. Sellwood, Solicitor, father-in-law of the late Poet Laureate, LordTennyson. Separated from this, northward, by only two houses, was theBlack Horse Inn, still existing, and next to this, on what is now part ofthe shop of Messrs. Lunn and Dodson, was the Peal of Bells, and not morethan half-a-dozen yards distant, on the opposite side of the street, wasthe very old Saracen’s Head, still existing. 

On the north side of the Market Place, next to what is now Mr. Cammack’scycle depot, was the Queen’s Head Inn, now gone; and at the north-eastcorner of the Market Place, one door removed from St. Lawrence Street, was the Nelson Inn, still existing; while at the south-east corner stoodthe large George Inn, no longer existing; and near the churchyard, underthe 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, whosedaughter migrated to London, and, as Mrs. Hibbert, kept an inn, theElephant, in Fenchurch Street, City. At the Queen’s Head were, earlylast century, barracks for volunteers or soldiers, with their drillsergeants; who performed their drill and practiced with “Brown Bess” in achalk pit, on the west side of the Edlington Road, now disused, but stillrepresented by a deep depression in the field below the footpath toThimbleby, and at the back of the gardens of Mr. Frank Heane, of theGarth House, and other adjoining residents. 

At this same inn, the Queen’s Head, some 20 years or more ago, onremoving 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 Augustfair, and in connection with this, it was remembered that a farmer livingat Stourton, who used to frequent this inn, had some years beforeattended the fair, but never returned home, nor could enquiring friendsfind any trace of him. 

The Nelson Hotel, on the same side of the Market Place, was formerly keptby an old man named Vesey, who was said to have been, in his earlieryears, a great smuggler on the coast, but coming to Horncastle, hereformed, and was appointed constable. The sign of this inn is aportrait of the great hero of Trafalgar and the Nile, originally wellpainted by the artist, Northouse, but it has recently been repainted inthe worst style, and almost “improved” out of recognition. 

The George stood on the sites now occupied by the Post Office, and theadjoining shop of Messrs. Salter, Shoemakers, the original archway of theinn yard still remaining between them. This was formerly one of theprinciple 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, thelandlord, Mr. Hackford, ran a coach, to meet the train at Kirkstead. Anincident, in connection with the George may here be mentioned, which isnot likely to occur again. A wealthy lady, Miss Heald (who had also ahouse in London, where the writer, as a boy, visited her), occupied inthose days the old hall (now demolished) in Edlington Park. She was ofthe 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 becameenamoured of the once famous courtesan, Lola Montez, who had beenmistress to the King of Bavaria, attracted by her beauty, it was said, asshe drove, and he rode, along Rotten Row, the resort of fashion, in HydePark, London. She wished to make the most of the opportunity to regain arespectable position, and pressed her attentions of the young officer toopersistently. She was a woman of daring and reckless temperament; andhis love and admiration gradually, on closer acquaintance, gave way tofear. At length he did all he could to avoid her, which roused herbitter resentment, and at length he became in daily terror of herrevengeful nature. Coming down from London to Horncastle, to collect hisrents, he put up at the George, and was there found, by a friend whocalled upon him, sitting at his luncheon, but with a brace of pistolslying on the table, fully expecting that she would follow him, and forcehim into matrimony. It is said that she ended her days in an Americanprison, 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 oncefashionable but cruel sport used to be practised, until it was madeillegal by Act of Parliament, in 1849, and it is said to have beenclandestinely continued for some time longer, although a penalty of £5was imposed. An old man working on the premises in 1902 could rememberthe last fight. The “pit” was in the present garden, at the rear of theinn yard. 

In the Fighting Cocks yard were formerly the kennels of the South Woldhounds, and the writer can well remember going frequently, as a boy, while he attended the Grammar School, to see them fed, as well asoccasionally 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 atthat time Master. 

In the yard of this inn there still remain two large scythe bladesaffixed to the wall of an outhouse. The history of these is that theywere formerly on the front of the inn, facing the street, because wasannually held, on August 21st, what was called the Scythe Fair, when thecounty blacksmiths gathered to purchase scythes, to supply the Irish, andother reapers, for the coming harvest. This was discontinued when themachinery for reaping came into use. 

The Three Maids’ Inn was situated in the High Street, on part of the sitenow occupied by the Corn Exchange, and was demolished when that buildingwas erected. A small inn, on the east side of North Street, now calledthe Cricketer’s Arms, was formerly named the Tom Cat, because here wassold 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. ” Thereis 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 modernrequirements, stands the King’s Head, an old “public, ” still remarkablefor its low thatched roof; the reason for which is said to be, that bythe forms of the will of a former owner, it was bequeathed to hissuccessor, with the condition attached, that it should continue to bethatched: a condition which the advance of civilization may, in a fewyears’ time, make it difficult to fulfil. 

And here we may make the concluding remark that 100 years ago most of thehouses in Horncastle were thatched. It is on record (Overton MS. ) thatthe 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 theBaptist Chapel. This was afterwards occupied (1790–1800) by Mrs. L’Oste, widow of a former Rector of Langton. The next house to be slated wasthat 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 aredistant about 1¼ miles from the town, in a north-westerly direction. Letters arrive at 8. 30 a. M. , from Horncastle, where are the nearest moneyorder and telegraph office and railway station. 

As to the name Thimbleby, given in _Domesday Book_ as Stimbelbi, itdoubtless meant originally the Bye (scotice “Byre”), or farmstead, of athane, or owner, in pre-Norman times named stimel. {165} In the surveymade 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 KingWilliam took possession on his own behalf, ejecting the previous owners;none of whom, in this instance, are named. Under him it was occupied by22 soc-men, or free tenants, and 18 villeins, or bondsmen, who cultivated4½ carucates (540 acres), with 240 acres of meadow. This, however, didnot comprise the whole parish, for (2) another mention gives Thimblebyamong the lands granted by the Conqueror to Odo, Bishop of Baieux, whowas half brother to King William, on his mother’s side, and was createdby him Earl of Kent. His brother was Earl of Moretaine, and his sisterAdeliza was Countess of Albermarle. He had been consecrated Bishop ofBaieux before William’s conquest of England, in 1049. He wassubsequently made Count Palatine and Justiciary of England. The oldhistorian, Ordericus Vitalis, says “he was reputed to be the wisest manin England, and ‘totius Angliæ Vice-comes sub Rege, et . . . Regisecundus’”; and this was hardly an exaggeration, since he was granted byWilliam 76 manors in Lincolnshire, besides 363 in other counties. But wehave observed in several other instances how insecure was the tenure ofproperty in those unsettled times, when might was deemed right, and thisambitious Prelate was no exception. He aspired to the Papacy, thehighest ecclesiastical office in Christendom, and was about to start forRome, with the view of securing it through his wealth, when he wasarrested and imprisoned by his royal kinsman, and his estatesconfiscated. 

The portion of Thimbleby granted to this Odo comprised 250 acres ofcultivated land, with 12 acres of meadow and 30 acres of underwood. Thiswas worked for him by three free tenants and five bondmen. {166a} On theattainder of Odo, this land passed again into the King’s hands, to bebestowed doubtless upon some other favourite follower. Accordingly wefind that, shortly after this, the powerful Flemish noble, Drogo deBevere, who had distinguished himself greatly at the battle of Hastings, along with many other manors in Lincolnshire, held that of Thimbleby. Hewas, by Royal Charter, Lord of all Holderness, and took his title deBevere from Beverley, the chief town in that division. As is alsorelated elsewhere, {166b} the Conqueror gave him his niece in marriage;but, being of a violent temperament, Drogo got rid of her by poison, andthen, having thus incurred the anger of William, he fled the country. His estates, in turn, were probably confiscated, for we find that a fewyears 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 greatqualities. The chronicler describes him as “præclarus comes, et eximiusmonasteriorum fundator, ” an illustrious earl and distinguished founder ofmonasteries. Among other such institutions he founded, on the feast ofSt. Hilary, A. D. 1139, the Priory of Thornton, in North Lincolnshire. This Stephen also received the lordship of Holderness, which had beenheld by Drogo. He was succeeded by his son William, who was surnamedCrassus, or “The Gross, ” from his unwieldy frame. Hisgreat-granddaughter, Avelin, succeeding to the property in her turn, married Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, surnamed Gibbosus, or humpback. Butthey had no issue, and so, as the “Book of Meux Abbey” says, “for want ofheirs the Earldom of Albemarle and the Honour of Holderness were seized(once again) into the King’s hands. ” What became of the demesne ofThimbleby 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 all2, 880 acres of land. We have traced elsewhere {166e} the descent of theWilloughby 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 Earlof Ancaster, and Lord Willoughby de Eresby, who now represents thisdivision in Parliament. How long the estates, in whole or in part, remained with the Willoughbys is not clear; but we have evidence of theirconnection with Thimbleby nearly 100 years later, in a document dated1302, {167a} concerning a dispute as to lands in Thimbleby, Langton, Woodhall, and several other parishes, between John de Bec and RobertWylgherby, the two families being related; in which the said Robertsurrenders to the said John all property in dispute, for his lifetime, oncondition that, after his decease, the whole shall revert to the saidJohn Willoughby, and his heirs, for ever. {167b}

From this time we find other names connected with the parish. Indeedprior to this, in a charter of Bardney Abbey, dated “at the Chapter ofthe Convent, on Sunday next after the Ascension of our Lord” (22nd May)1281; we have among the witnesses, along with others belonging toEdlington, 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 abbeyof “Walter, son of Gilbert, de Bolingbrog, ” _i. E. _ Walter, the son ofGilbert de Gaunt, already named. In another Bardney charter, dated fouryears later (30th Sept. , 1285), we find again the same Thimblebywitnesses, with Alured of Woodhall, and others. {167d}

Three years later than this, in an official inquiry, held at Lincoln, asto certain knights’ fees, which belonged to Elyas de Rabayn and his wifeMatilda (12th Nov. , 1288), the jurors declare that “Robert de Rothwellholds in Thymelby and Horncastre, ” certain “rents of assize, to be paidat 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 theNorman noble, St. Quintin (so named from a town of France, in thedepartment of Aisne, the Augusta Veromanduorum of the Romans), came overamong the followers of William the Conqueror, and his name appears in thefamous “Battle Roll” of 1066. A Final Concord, of date A. D. 1293, statesthat on the Quindene of the purification of the Blessed Mary (_i. E. _ the5th day after), a dispute having arisen between Herbert de St. Quintin onthe one part, and Ascelina de Waterville and Matilda de Diva on the otherpart, the two latter being tenants of 3½ carucates of land (_i. E. _ 420acres) in Thymeleby; it was settled that the said Ascelina and Matildashould acknowledge the said land to be the right of Herbert; and for thisHerbert granted them, as his tenants, all the said lands, except sixoxgangs (_i. E. _ 90 acres) which were occupied in separate parcels, byBaldrick, Hogge, Alfsi, Godric, Walfric, and others; and for this thesaid Ascelina and Matilda gave him, in acknowledgment, 40 marks. 

A few years after this date it would appear that the Bishop of Carlisleexercised a kind of ecclesiastical lordship over this parish. Thimblebywas in the soke of Horncastle, and Ralph de Rhodes, the former Lord ofthe demesne of Horncastle, with its appurtenances, West Ashby, HighToynton, &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 thatJohn de Halghton, Bishop of Carlisle, gave consent for William de Foletbyto convey certain lands in Thimelby, Langton, and Horncastle, to theAbbot and Convent of Kirkstead, to provide two monks, to celebrate dailyservices for the souls of the faithful deceased. The witnesses wereRichard de Wodehall, William de Polam (Poolham), and others. “Dated atHorncastre, 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 whichwe shall refer hereafter. 

We next come to a record of special interest, of rather later date. Thefamily of Thimbleby, Thymelby, Thimoldby, &c. , doubtless took their namefrom this parish, at a period lost in hoar antiquity. They acquired incourse of time extensive property in various parts of the county. Thechief branch of the family resided at Irnham Park, near Grantham, whichwas acquired (about 1510) by Richard Thimbleby, through his marriage withthe heiress of Godfrey Hilton, whose ancestor, Sir Geoffrey Hilton, Knight, had obtained it by marriage with the heiress of the Luterels, avery ancient family, several members of which were summoned to Parliamentas Barons, in the 12th century. 

The earlier members of the Thimbleby family are called, expressly, Thomasde Thymelby, Nicholas de Thymbylby, and so forth, shewing theirconnection with this parish. The family name of Thimelby still survivesin the neighbourhood of Spilsby. 

The first mention of a Thimbleby, as an owner in Thimbleby, occurs in aPost Mortem Inquisition, held at Holtham (Haltham), on Friday next afterthe Feast of St. Matthew (Sept. 21), A. D. 1333; where the jurors say thatNicholas de Thymelby held, with certain other lands in the neighbourhood, two messuages and four acres of land in Thymelby, of the Bishop ofCarlisle, and that the said Nicholas died on the Feast of thePurification (Feb. 2nd); and that his son Thomas, aged 19, was heir. {168b}

Then follow a grant of land and other privileges, by the Bishop ofCarlisle, in Horncastle and Upper Toynton, to Thomas, son of Nicholas deThymelby. Thomas presented to the Benefice of Ruckland in 1381. His sonJohn married Joan, daughter of Sir Walter Taillebois; whose mother wasdaughter and heir of Gilbert Burdon (or Barradon), whose wife was sisterand heir of Gilbert Umfraville, Earl of Angus. Thus the family keptgrowing in importance. {168c}

Our last mention of this family, in connection with Thimbleby, shows astill greater expansion. An Inquisition taken 12th August, 4 Ed. VI. (1550), after the death of Matthew Thimbleby, of Polam, Esq. , shows thathe married Anne, daughter of Sir John Hussey, and that he was seised ofsix manors besides that of Thimelby; also of lands in eight otherparishes, 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 anotherfamily of some note connected with this parish. In an agreement made at“Langton near Horncaster, 8 August, A. D. 1370, Peter Skynner of Ely, andAlice his wife, for some consideration not named, surrender to William deAtherby and his heirs, all their rights in certain lands and tenements inWoodhall, Langton, Thymelby, Horncastre, Thornton, ” &c. {169a} Theselands had evidently been held by the said Peter Skynner and his wife. 

The Skynners were a family of wealth and position. In 1315 Robert andRichard Skynner held the manor of Pinchbeck, near Spalding. {169b} Theywere also land owners in Hareby and Bolingbroke. Henry Skynner, by will, dated 29th May, 1612, leaves to his daughter Judith, all his copyhold inHarebie, to his brother, Sir Vincent Skynner, Knight, lands in Hareby andother places, with the advowson of the Benefice. Sir Vincent Skynner wasLord of the Manor of Thornton Curtis; he was in 1604 appointed by thecrown Keeper of East Kirkby Park, as part of the Royal manor, or“Honour, ” of Bolingbroke. His son William married a daughter of SirEdward 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 15thcentury, whose apparent love of pelf would seem to have tempted him todefraud the king of his dues. A certain Thomas Knyght, of the City ofLincoln, Esquire, died in the 10th year of the reign of Henry VII. (A D1495), seized of lands and tenements “in Thembleby, ” and other places. At the Inquisition then held, the jurors found that he had alienatedcertain parts of the property, “the Royal license therefor not beingobtained, to the prejudice and deception of the lord the King, ” and theproperty passed to his son and heir William, who took possession, with “alike evasion of dues, to the King’s prejudice. ” What penalty was imposedis not stated; but it was a somewhat remarkable coincidence, that, asshewn in another Inquisition made the following year (A. D. 1496), certainwitnesses deposed that on the 20th day of June, A. D. 1476 (_i. E. _ 19years before his decease), the said Thomas Knyght, and his servants, about the middle of the night “broke and dug the soil of the parlour ofhis house, and found £1, 000, and more, of the coinage of the Treasury . .. There placed and hidden, ” which as “tresour-trove, by reason of theprerogative of the lord the King, ought to come to his use, &c. ” Thishas all a very suspicious look, Knyght would not have ordered this searchfor the money if he had not himself known of its being there. It lookslike a previous attempt at concealment, in some way to defraud therevenue, which Knyght himself afterwards felt was a failure, and that itwas safer to exhume the hoard himself, rather than that public officialsshould do it. Altogether it would seem that “Thomas Knyght, of the Cityof Lincoln, Esquire, ” was somewhat of a sordid character, and not aproprietor for Thimbleby to be proud of. 

We now proceed to records more ecclesiastical. We have already notedthat, with the consent of the Bishop of Carlisle, William de Foletby, inthe 14th century conveyed lands in Thimbleby to the Abbot of Kirkstead. This would seem to imply a previous connection of this parish with thatmonastery, to attract the Thimbleby proprietor to it. Accordingly wefind that, among the various properties of the Abbey, granted by HughBrito, its founder (A. D. 1139), and other benefactors, were 90 acres ofland in Thimbleby, with the advowson of the Benefice. In those daysthere was only a very limited number of resident clergy in the countryparishes, {170a} the churches being served largely by the monks of themonasteries. In some cases these were “itinerant clerks, ” in other casesthere 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 beforethe conquest, as Edlington and several other neighbouring parishes had;but there is no doubt that a church was erected here soon after thatperiod, which, like the neighbouring Woodhall, was connected withKirkstead, and here, as at Woodhall, there are traces of a moatedenclosure eastward of the church, which doubtless was the site of thegrange. 

The Abbot of Kirkstead exercised the powers of a superior lord here in asomewhat arbitrary fashion; it being complained against him before RoyalCommissioners as early as the reign of Edward I. , that he had erectedhere “furcœ, ” or a gallows, on which various criminals had been executed;and that he had appropriated to himself the assize of bread and beerhere, and at Horncastle. {170b} But “blessed are the peacemakers, ” andthe abbots, with wholesome influence, were able, when occasion served, toproduce harmony out of discordant elements; as the following records show(quoted from Final Concords): “In three weeks from the day of theNativity of the Blessed Mary, 10 Henry III. (28th Sept. , A. D. 1226), ” adispute arising between Reginald, Rector of Thymelby, and Peter, son ofJohn, tenant of a certain messuage and toft in Thymelby. Peter wasinduced 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 theconcession. Which agreement was made in the presence of Henry, Abbot ofKirkstead, who himself gave to the church of Thymelby all right which hehad in rent, which he was wont to receive; not however without anequivalent, 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 anotherplace. ”

The worldly wisdom of the same abbot appears again in the followingConcord: 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 happilysettled (it being to the soul’s peril to incur an abbot’s anathema!) bythe said Sarah giving up all claim to the meadow in favour of the saidAbbot, 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. , thepossessions of Kirkstead Abbey were granted by him to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; on whose death without issue, they reverted to thesovereign, and were re-granted to the Earl of Lincoln, of the FiennesClinton family, subsequently Dukes of Newcastle. The Abbey lands inThimbleby are not, so far as we know, specially named in this grant, andtherefore we are unable to say positively whether that family acquiredproperty in Thimbleby or not; but they had undoubtedly property inHorncastle and neighbourhood. For instance the manor of Baumber remainedin their hands, and Baumber Church continued to be the family burialplace, until the 3rd Duke of Newcastle, late in the 18th century, soldthat estate to T. Livesey, Esq. 

A few years later, however, we have official evidence that the manor andadvowson of Thimbleby were vested in the sovereign. By a deed (a copy ofwhich 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 Thimblebywere granted by the King to John Welcome; also “the lordship and manor ofThimblebye, with all its rights, &c. , lately belonging to the monasteryof Kirkstead;” also “the advowson and right of patronage of the Rectoryand Church of Thymmelbie, aforesaid. ” In the next reign, of Mary, thebenefice 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 AnthonyKyme, 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 arent of 18s. Per annum; and finally, by deed dated June 30th, 1564, Elizabeth in consideration of the sum of £609 5s. 2d. , confirms the abovegrants and leases to William Conyers and William Haber, both of theMiddle Temple, the patronage of the Rectory, “to be held with the manorof Est Grenwich, in the countie of Kent, free of all duty or militaryservice. ”

After a further hiatus in the parish history, we find another link in therecords. The former property of the Thimblebys, of Poolham, andelsewhere, had been sold to a member of the Bolles family, in 1600; andMr. Weir {171b} tells us that in the reign of Charles II. The manor ofThimbleby belonged to Sir Robert Bolles, of Scampton. From Liber Regiswe find that Sir John Bolles presented to the benefice of Thimbleby in1697, and doubtless was Lord of the Manor. This Sir John sold hisproperty, and according to the antiquarian, Browne Willis (Ecton’sThesaurus), in the reign of Queen Anne, the patronage of the beneficebelonged to “Mr. Kercheval”

In 1719 and 1725 John Hockin, Clerk, presented. 

In 1720 the manor and advowson were bought by John Hotchkin, Esq. , ofTixover; and a Thimbleby record, preserved with the registers, shows thatthe Hotchkins have presented from about that time till recently. In 1767(Sept. 10th), Allen Corrance was admitted on the cession of JohnKercheval, by Thomas Hotchkin, Esq. , of Alexton, Co. Leicester. In 1778William 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, onthe 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 theadvowson of this benefice, then in his gift, was subsequently sold to thefather of the present Rector, the Rev. C. A. Potter. 

There is another name on record, connected with Thimbleby, which we havenot yet mentioned. Among a list of the gentry of Lincolnshire, made onthe Royal Herald’s Visitation of the County, in 1634, which is stillpreserved at the Heralds’ office, is the name of “Robert Frieston, ofThimbleby. ” What position he held, or whether he was a land owner, inthe parish, is not stated, but he ranked with Thomas Cressy (of a veryold family), of Kirkby-on-Bain; the Dymokes of Scrivelsby, Haltham, andKime; Heneage of Hainton, &c. {172a}

There is a smaller manor in this parish called the Hall-garth, theresidence attached to which is a picturesque old thatched mansion, withan old-time garden, enclosed within high and thick hedges of yew, trimmedin Dutch fashion. It has also a large “stew, ” or fish-pond, from which, doubtless, in Roman Catholic times, the owners drew their supply of carpand tench, for the numerous fast-days then observed. Old title deedsshow that this was at one time crown property. {172b} At a later date itwas 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 theaisle 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 ElizabethBoulton, buried the 7th of Septemr, 1692, ætatis suæ 7. His mother the28th of May, Anno Dom. 1725, ætat suæ 61. ” The Register has thefollowing entries, “1725, Mrs. Boulton, ye wife of Mr. Mich. Boulton, buried May 28th. ” “1738, Michael Boulton buried May 8th. ” The lastentry connected with this family is that of “Michael, son of Michael andMary Boulton, ” who was baptized in 1726 and buried in 1767. 

These were the ancestors of the late Mr. Henry Boulton, of St. Mary’sSquare, Horncastle. Michael Boulton, in 1719, left 40s. A year, from theHall estate, at Bransby near Stow, for the education of poor children atThimbleby; leaving also a bequest for the poor at Bransby. 

At the beginning of the 19th century this manor was held jointly byRichard Elmhirst, Esq. , of Usselby, and Mr. Thomas Kemp, the latter ofwhom resided at the Old Hall. {173a} There is a field at the west end ofthe village, now the property of H. N. Coates, Esq. , traversed by moundsand ditches, which was formerly divided into three separate plots, belonging to Elmhirst, Kemp, and Hotchkin. The Kemps were of an oldstock. In the Thimbleby Registers the first mention of them is in 1723, {173b} but their name implies a much greater antiquity. One theory hasbeen that they were a Huguenot family, who came over to England at thetime of the French massacre of Protestants, on St. Bartholomew’s day, 1572. Those refugees, in their enforced poverty, prosecuted variouskinds of useful industries; and the Kemps, it is suggested, acquiredtheir name from being kempsters, or comb makers. 

But it is probable that the name had a much earlier origin. Kemp (SaxonCempa) meant a soldier {173c} being connected with the Norman-French andmodern English “Champion;” and although we might look back with pride toforefathers who suffered for their religion, it is pleasanter, if only inimagination, 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 wealthybachelor, and added to the Hall-garth estate by the purchase, from timeto time, of adjacent property. He lived in some style, with two maidensisters to keep house for him. By his will the land at Thimbleby passedinto the possession of his great nephew, Robert Edwin Kemp; anothernephew, Samuel Harrison Kemp, inheriting most of the personal estate. But alas! liveried servants, crests and arms, and other emblems of wealthhave become things of the past; for when this Robert died the propertypassed to his son, Thomas Kemp, in whose hands the patrimony speedilyevaporated; and other members of the family are now dispersed, “theirplaces knowing them no more, ” save as a lingering memory, which will soonbe gone. 

The interesting old hall and the manor were then bought by ReubenRoberts, Esq. , of Linden House, Horncastle, who resides there in thesummer. 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, whosename 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 roadis a large field, the property of Mr. Henry N. Coates of Langton, whichis known as “The Butts. ” It has some fine trees, apparently the remainsof an extensive avenue, which have been more numerous even within livingmemory. It has been sometimes called “The Park Close, ” but the title“The Butts” is interesting, as probably indicating that it was formerlythe 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 smallrunnel, called “Daubeny’s Beck. ” This bearing westward, for somedistance forms the boundary between the parishes of Thimbleby andLangton, then flowing through Woodhall falls into the “Monk’s Beck, ” atPoolham. The name “Daubeny” is doubtless a corruption of D’ Albini. TheD’ Albinis held the Barony, and built the castle of Belvoir, and hadother large possessions in this county and elsewhere; the name is notuncommon 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 theLincoln “Ramper, ” as the highway is locally called, there was found, afew years ago, a so-called “Roman” tomb, somewhat rudely constructed ofblocks of Spilsby sandstone. Within it was a human skeleton, with bonesof a dog, a sword, and the head of a spear. In connection with this, wemay 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 ofBanovallum, would not seem to be at all improbable. 

An old parish book of Thimbleby, recently shown to the writer, proves thecare which was taken by the parish officials, before the present poor lawsystem was established, to secure the comfort and maintenance of poorerparishioners. 

At a parish meeting, Nov. 1st, 1819, Thomas Kemp, Churchwarden, in thechair, it was ordered that John Sharp’s daughter was to have a gown andpettycoat, worsted for two pairs of stockings, and one blue apron. Fourboys were to have two smocks each, and eight old people a strike of coalseach per week. At another meeting Margaret Day was to have worsted fortwo pairs of socks for her two boys, herself to spin it; and one pair ofshoes for her daughter. Robert Kemp, and his son Richard, in order tofind them work were to be paid 2s. Per day, to “gether” stones for theparish. 

Again, Maria Day’s shoes were to be mended; Mary Atkin to have a pair ofblankets, and her chamber window put in and thatched. Benj. Benton onepair 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 for the use of thepoor-house, to be insured for £200 by the parish, and, when given up tobe left in the same state. ”

At a meeting on 7th August, 1820, Robert Dixon in the chair, it wasordered that all paupers receiving assistance should regularly attendDivine Service, and on their non-attendance the assistance should bestopped. 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, andthe ‘I believe, ’ put in the church at the parish expense. ”

At a meeting held 27th August, 1830, Thomas Kemp in the chair, it wasagreed that £75 be borrowed of Mr. Thos. Kemp, to pay Mrs. Farmer’sexpenses to America, to be repaid by the parish, 30s. Weekly, with legalinterest. Church rates are now among the “has beens, ” but in 1843 a ratewas 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 ofgravestones of the Kemp family. Eastward are several of the Marshallfamily, formerly numerous here, and in the neighbourhood, holding arespectable position, but now extinct. {175} There are also a number oftombs of the Todd family, respectable small farmers, resident in theparish, from the first notice of a burial, June 24th, 1738, down torecent years. The Tebbuts and Dixons were also resident, as tenants orsmall owners, for many years. 

Among the marriage registers, which date from 1695, is the followingnote: “March 23, 1779, a marriage was attempted to be solemnized; but theintended 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 thesite of a former 14th century church, which, judging by the remains thathave been found, must have been of much larger dimensions, and consistedof nave, two aisles, chancel, and bell tower; the total breadth havingbeen 52-ft. Several fragments of stained glass have, at various times, been found in digging graves, showing that this early church, likeseveral others in the neighbourhood, had good coloured windows. This wastaken down in 1744, and from the materials remaining a small fabric waserected in its place, consisting of nave and apsed chancel, with nopretensions whatever to architectural beauty. This (as has beengenerally the case with badly constructed edifices of that period) becamealso, in turn, so decayed that the present Rector, on entering on thebenefice, decided to rebuild the church once more; and in 1879 thepresent structure was completed at a cost of over £1, 000, in the bestearly Decorated style. 

It consists of nave, chancel, organ chamber on the south, and anoctagonal bell turret, designed by the late Mr. James Fowler, theArchitect, and containing one small modern bell, graven with the date andinitials of W. Carey, Churchwarden in 1744, {176a} who demolished the oldchurch. The nave has three two-light windows, of the decorated style, inthe north and south walls; there is a square-headed two-light window inthe organ chamber; the chancel has a single-light window in the north andsouth walls, with a good east window of three lights, trefoiled, and witha triangle of trefoils above. In the north wall is a credence recess, and in the south wall are two stone sedilia. The tiles within thechancel rails are copied from ancient tiles, which were found some yearsago, at Revesby Abbey. In the west front, over the door, is a largetwo-light window, and above it a clock, the only village church clock inthe neighbourhood, by Smith of Derby. Within the west doorway, let intothe 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, onwhich, above ground, is the matrix of a former brass, representing onefigure, with a broad transverse bar for an inscription, and connecting itwith other figures, which are now below the ground. {176b}

The church plate includes an interesting paten, presented to the churchin 1837, by the mother of the late Rector, but bearing hall-marks of1727–8, with the letter M and a five-pointed star below. The chalice isstill more interesting, as it bears an old Lincoln hall-mark, of dateabout 1570; there are only eight other known examples of this period inthe county. 

The rectory is a commodious house, built in 1839, doubtless on the siteof the former monastic grange; it stands in an extensive garden, embowered among trees of goodly growth. A fine oil painting at thepresent time adorns the entrance hall. It is reputed to be bySpagnoletto, 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 theVulgate scriptures. 

WEST ASHBY. 

This parish, like High Toynton, Mareham-on-the-Hill and Wood Enderby, wasformerly a hamlet of Horncastle, of which it adjoins the northernboundary. We find them all coupled together in an extract from the Testade Nevill [folio 348 (556), quoted _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. Iii, p. 215] as follows: “The church of Horncastre, and of Askeby, and of UpperThinton, 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 inthis neighbourhood, was Lady of this Manor, as well as that ofHorncastle. She held here six carucates of land (or about 720 acres), besides which there were 45 soc-men, 5 villeins, and 13 bordars, witheight carucates (or about 960 acres), and 500 acres of meadow andpasture. (_Domesday_, “Soke of Horncastle. ”)

 [Picture: The Manor House, West Ashby]

_Domesday_ also mentions that the Saxon thane, Chetelburn, who hadproperty in Coningsby, Keal, Candlesby, Friskney, and other places in thecounty, had at Ashby “a mill worth 12s. Yearly, ” a very considerable sumin those days. The manor was afterwards held by the Conqueror himself(_Domesday_, “Property of the King”); and it would seem, although thereis no direct evidence of it, that he bestowed the manor on one of hischief favourites, Ranulph de Paganall, who received from his sovereignextensive grants in the counties of Somerset, Devon, York, Northampton, and Lincoln, {177} including all the lands formerly held by the SaxonMerleswain, in this county and elsewhere. Ranulph Paganall founded (A. D. 1089) the Priory of the Holy Trinity in York, said to have been built onthe site of a former Roman heathen temple; one of his family, HeliasPagnall, being subsequently Prior of this institution, and Canon ofSelby. When the present Church of the Holy Trinity was restored in 1904, among other ancient monuments, was found the slab of the tomb of RalphRanulph, which is still preserved in the church, along with sculpturescommemorative of St. Benedict, St. Martin of Tours, Prior Helias, andothers. {178a}

Ranulph, by charter of that date, endowed the abbey with two-thirds ofthe tithes of Ashby; which was further confirmed by charters of 1100, 1125, and 1179. This Ranulph Paganall was Sheriff of Yorkshire. Thelast known representative of his family was William Paganall, summoned toParliament as a Baron in the reign of Edward III. Dugdale states {178b}that the Priory of the Holy Trinity was made, by its founder, adependency 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 thePriory, beyond the right to place an official there, during the vacancyof the priorate, as temporary custodian. The name Paganall became inlater times softened into Paynell; they were at one time Lords ofBampton. 

At a later period the manor of Ashby, probably with that of Horncastle, belonged to Gerard de Rhodes and his descendant, Ralph; since in aCharter Roll of 14 Henry III. (pt. I, M. 12), we find that King’sconfirmation of a grant, made by the said Ralph, to Walter, Bishop ofCarlisle, of “the manor of Horncastle, with the soke, and the advowsonsof the churches, and all other things pertaining to the same in allplaces, ” evidently including the churches of the hamlets as well as thatof the town. Among the witnesses to this are Gervase, Archdeacon ofCarlisle; 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 dissolutionof the monasteries, was granted in the 5th year of Edward VI. , to WilliamCecil, Lord Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England; this is now part ofthe 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 bythe Smedley trustees. 

The parish is still divided into Far Thorpe, Church Thorpe, and MiddleThorpe. Far Thorpe included the farms held by the late Mr. Griffin andMr. Addison. Mr. Wattam’s house, which is moated, was the old MidthorpeHall. As being a hamlet of Horncastle, the benefice was formerly calledAshby “Capella, ” or the Ashby Chapelry; and like Horncastle, WoodEnderby, High Toynton, and Mareham is given in “Liber Regis” as in thepatronage of the Bishop of Carlisle. Until recently it was a perpetualcuracy, in value about £50 a year; but about 30 years ago, on theenfranchisement of certain episcopal lands, the EcclesiasticalCommissioners endowed it to the extent of £300 a year, and built asubstantial vicarage. The patronage is now with the Lord Chancellor byexchange with Kirk Oswald, Cumberland. 

The church, All Saints, is of considerable size, being one of the largestvillage churches in the neighbourhood, mainly in the Perpendicular style, and substantially built, consisting of tower, nave, and chancel, the twolatter of the same elevation throughout. The tower has three old bells, and a peal of eight tubular bells. Gervase Holles gives the inscriptionson the bells as being:

1. Sit nomen Domini benedictum. 

2. Intonat e cælis 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 issemi-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 fourbays. The nave, in the south wall, has two three-light windows, thewestern one perpendicular and having pointed arch, the eastern squareheaded. In the north wall there is a three-light debased decoratedwindow. In the west wall of the north aisle is a two-light window ofcoloured glass, in memory of Augustus Elmhirst; and in its eastern wallis a three-light memorial window to his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Jane RuckKeene. In the south wall of the chancel are two late four-centretwo-light windows; and in the north wall a three-light flamboyant window. Gervase Holles mentions a north chancel window having “sa. A crossebetween 4 cinquefoyles arg. . . . , ” {179} but this has disappeared. Theeast window is modern, with three lights. A new window was erected, in1907, in the north aisle (corresponding to a window inserted in 1905, inmemory of General and Mrs. Elmhirst), by Mr. H. R. Elmhirst, to thememory of his late wife, Lilian Frances, nee Hatfeild; the artists werePowell and Sons; the subject Faith, Hope and Love represented by threefigures. 

 [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 hasrecently been presented by Col. And Mrs. Stack. On a tablet on the northwall is an elaborate inscription, in memory of Lieutenant RichardCalthrop, who was killed at the siege of Algiers; erected by his motherand 10 surviving brothers and sisters; who are said to have lived to theremarkable average age of 85 years. There are various tabletscommemorative of the families of Rockliffe, Drewry, Pierce and Elmhirst. There is a north door, as well as south, to the nave. The font is aplain octagonal one, perpendicular in style. 

The church was restored and reseated in 1873; the tower being renovatedin memory of Mrs. Barnard, otherwise known as “Claribel, ” a well-knownmusical composer, connected with the Elmhirst family. It is lofty andmassive, surmounted by four high pinnacles and large gurgoyles at theangles. 

The register dates from 1561. {180a} The communion plate consists of acup, 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 JohnThistlewood 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 belongingto the Bishops of Carlisle, and erected a handsome and substantialresidence, in well-wooded grounds; which in later years passed bypurchase to the Booth family, by whom it, and the estates attached, arenow owned. It is at present occupied by Dr. And Mrs. Newstead. TheElmhirsts are at present represented by H. R. Elmhirst, Esq. , son of thelate General Charles Elmhirst, C. B. , who resides at The Grove. 

HIGH TOYNTON. 

High Toynton is situated about 1½ miles from Horncastle, in an easterlydirection, on the road to Partney and Spilsby. It would seem to havebeen formerly, like West Ashby, an appendage to the Manor of Horncastle. The old record {180b} says (as already quoted under West Ashby) “Thechurch of Horncastre, and of Askeby, and of Upper Thinton, and ofMaringes (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 barelymore than mentioned in _Domesday Book_, where it is called Todintune, andTedingtone. Queen Editha, wife of Edward the Confessor, would be Lady ofthe 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 theproperty of Gerard de Rhodes, is shewn by the following peculiarcircumstances. In a Feet of Fines, at Lincoln, 9 Henry III. , No. 52, itis recorded that an agreement was arranged in the King’s Court atWestminster, (3 Feb. , A. D. 1224–5), between Henry del Ortiay and Sabinahis wife, plaintiffs, and Ralph de Rhodes, a descendant of Gerard, defendant, whereby certain lands in Upper Tynton, Mareham, and otherplaces, were recognized by the plaintiffs as the property of Ralph deRhodes; they receiving, in lieu thereof, 100½ acres of land, and 11 acresof meadow, with appurtenances, all in Upper Tynton. These lands arefurther specified by name, as 24 acres next Graham (_i. E. _ Greetham), 12acres in culture called “Hethoten acre” (_i. E. _ Heath of ten acres), 9acres of land in “Pesewang” (_i. E. _ Peas-field), 5½ acres in “Sex acre, ”7 acres in Leir-mewang (or low mead-field), 4 acres in culture of Langelandes, 6 acres in Whetewang (_i. E. _ wheat-field), and 10 acres inKruncewang (_qy. _ crown’s-field?); and further plots not specially named. The peculiar feature however of their tenure was, that they and theirheirs were “to have and to hold the said lands for ever . . . Renderingtherefor by the year one pair of gilt spurs, or 6d. , at Easter, for allservice and exaction. ”

 [Picture: St. John the Baptist’s Church, High Toynton]

A Pipe Roll (14 Henry III. , Lincoln) states that “Walter, Bishop ofCarlisle, holds certain lands hereditarily of the aforesaid Ralph deRhodes;” and in a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 34 Edward III. , 2ndNrs. , No. 29 (1360), mention is made of “Thomas, son of Nicholas deThymelby, and John his younger brother, and their heirs, ” as tenants ofthe Manor of Horncastle, “and of lands in Over Tynton, ” which they “holdof the said Bishop. ” These were scions of the wealthy family of theThimblebyies, Lords of Poolham, and other estates. One of them married adaughter and co-heir of Sir William Fflete, Knt. ; another married adaughter of Sir Walter Tailboys; this Sir Walter being the son of HenryTailboys and his wife, Alianora, daughter and heir of Gilbert Burdon andhis wife, Elizabeth, sister and heir of Gilbert Umfraville, Earl ofAngus. 

By a Close Roll, 20 Henry VII. (part 2 [No. 367] No. 33), it appears thatSir Thomas Dymmok, Knight, had recently purchased lands in Over Tynton, Nether Tynton, Maring next Horncastle, and other parishes; which hegranted to his son Leo, and his heirs for ever. 

Further, by a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 24 Henry VII. , No. 61, itis found that Humphrey Conyngesby, Sergeant at Law, and others instituteda suit on behalf of William Stavely, and others, by which he recovered tothem the Manor of (apparently Upper) Taunton, the advowson of the churchof Nether Taunton, about 2, 700 acres of various land, and the rent of 4½quarters of salt in Over Taunton, Nether Taunton, Tetford, and otherparishes. 

The Manor, with that of Horncastle, continued for a long period in thehands of the Bishops of Carlisle; who were patrons of the benefice untilthe creation of a bishopric of Manchester, in 1848, when their patronagein this neighbourhood was transferred to that See. The Manor, however, with that of Horncastle, had previously passed to Sir Joseph Banks, andcame eventually to his successors, the Stanhopes. The benefice, untillate years, was a very poor one, being a perpetual curacy, annexed toMareham-on-the-Hill; their joint annual value being £160, without aresidence. But when the episcopal property (the Bishop being Rector) wastransferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, they, with the aid ofQueen Anne’s Bounty, raised the joint benefices to £300 a year; and in1869 erected a good residence at Toynton, now occupied by the Vicar, theRev. W. Shaw. 

The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, was formerly a very meanstructure, dating from the 18th century (1772), in the worst of styles, with wooden-framed windows, of large square panes of glass, and having aflat whitewashed ceiling. The timbers of this had become so decayed thata former curate-in-charge, mounting to the false roof, to examine them, fell through, among the square pews below. This incident led, not toosoon, to the rebuilding of the fabric, at a cost of more than £1, 200 in1872, on the site of the previous building, as also of an original 13thcentury edifice. The present church is a substantial and neat structurein the early English style, thoroughly well kept, and with severalpleasing features. It consists of nave, chancel, and porch, with towerand low spire. The nave has, in the north wall, two single-light narrowpointed windows, and at its eastern end a two-light window, having aquatrefoil above. In the south wall there is one single-light and onetwo-light window, corresponding to the above; the porch, taking place ofa window at its western end. 

The two-light window in the north wall has coloured glass, with variousdevices, one being a small copy of the famous Descent from the Cross, byRubens, in Antwerp Cathedral; another the Royal Arms, with the initialsV. R. Below, and date 1848. The corresponding two-light window in thesouth 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 subjectsin the two lights are the Ascension of our Lord, and the three women atthe sepulchre, with an angel pointing upward. In the west wall of thenave are two pointed windows beneath a cusped circlet, all filled withcoloured glass; the lower subjects being John the Baptist preaching inthe wilderness, and the baptism of our Lord by John in the Jordan; theupper subject is the angel appearing to Zachariah; all three havingreference to the patron saint of the church. An inscription states thatthese are a memorial to the late Mark Harrison and his wife Ann, erectedby their family. 

The font is of stone, octagonal, having four different kinds of crosseson the alternate faces, a circular shaft ending in octagon, and onoctagonal pediment. Within the south porch, over the outer and innerdoorways are old fragments of massive zigzag pattern, all that remains ofa whilom Norman structure. The modern doorway arch, externally, has adog-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 andsittings are of pitchpine. 

The chancel arch is of massive stone, plain, and of wide span. In theeast wall of the chancel are three narrow windows, the central higherthan the other two; they have good coloured glass by Clayton and Bell. Beneath is a handsome reredos of Caen stone, erected in memory of thelate Mr. Thomas Terrot Taylor. It has one large central device, theAgnus Dei within a circle, and on each side four divisions, containing adove with olive leaf, Fleur de Lys, ears of corn, a passion flower, vineleaves and grapes, a crown, a rose, and a conventional flower. On eachside are memorial tablets of the Ball family. In the south wall is abrass tablet in memory of Mr. Taylor, and a small pointed window. In thenorth 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 thechancel step, is a large slab “In memory of the Rev. William Robinson, 22years Incumbent, who died May 8, 1830, aged 56. ” The register only datesfrom 1715, and contains no entries of special interest. 

In a List of Institutions to Benefices, preserved at Lincoln, it is shewnthat in 1562, on the resignation of the then Vicar, one John Howsone, Michael West, Clerk, was appointed to this vicarage, along with that ofNether Toynton, by Richard Bertie, Esq. , the ancestor of the present Earlof Ancaster. This was probably by some private arrangement with theBishop of Carlisle, as the Berties (as the Willoughbys are now) werepatrons of Low Toynton, but not of Upper, or High, Toynton. He wasinstituted to the two benefices on July 9th of that year. 

MAREHAM-ON-THE-HILL. 

Of this parish, ecclesiastically annexed to High Toynton, little can besaid. 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 abouttwo miles south-east from Horncastle, connected with High Toynton byfootpath, and bridle road, across the fields barely a mile in length, butfor 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 ofHorncastle. In _Domesday Book_ it is stated that the manor comprised 3carucates, 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 60acres of meadow, and, what no longer exists, 300 acres of underwood;which was a very large proportion, considering that in Scrivelsby, now awell wooded estate, closely adjoining, there were at that time only sixacres of underwood. 

Sir Lionel Dymoke, a scion of the Scrivelsby family, once resided in thisparish. His will, dated 15th April, 1512, is a good specimen of theorthography of the period. The following are portions of it: “I leonDymoke of maryng of the hill in the Countie of lincolne knyght being ofgood and hoole mynde make and ordigne my testament and Last will in formefollowing | First I bequeathe my soule to almyghty god and to the blessidvirgine his mother seint Mary and to all the holy Company of heven | Andforasmoch as no man is certeine of the houre of dethe nor what place heshall die in and nothyng so certeine as dethe | and for as moch as I bythe kyngℓ pleasure shall goo in hys warrys in the parties by yonde thesee | 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 hastytyme as they may after my deceas paye or do to be paid all and singler mydetts . . . Also I bequethe and gyve to the Church warke of Maryng of alhalowes vjs viijd and to the highe aulter there for tythes and oblacionsforgoten xxd and to seint Jamys gild of maryng xxd . . . Also I gyve andbequethe 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 17thAugust, 1519 (when he was apparently on his death bed), witnesses certifythat he added a codicil to be annexed, “saying these words in his mothertongue. I will that Sr John Heron knyght have my landes in nethertyntonwhether I lyve or dye . . . And if my wif or myne executōs thynk there beany thyng expressed in my wille oute of goode ordre I will it be reformedby Anne my wif as she and they thynke most pleasure to god profytt for mysoule. ” {184b}

As to the owners of the demesne nothing further is told us; but since inTesta de Nevill, already quoted, it is stated that “the churches ofHorncastre, Askeby, Upper Thinton, Maringes, &c. , are of the gift of theLord. ” Gerard de Rhodes was, doubtless, at one time, the common Lord ofall those manors, as well as his descendant Ralph de Rhodes. Mr. Weirstates that the manor at a later period belonged to Edward Marsh, Esquire, of Hundle House, in the county of Lincoln; by a descendant ofwhom it was sold to William Hudson, Esquire, of Gray’s Inn. In 1659 itwas sold to one Duncombe, of whom it was purchased in 1688 by Sir EdmundTurnor, 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 manyyears there has been no residence for an incumbent. In 1830 the beneficewas held, with High Toynton, by the Rev. E. R. H. G. Palmer, a relativeof Viscount Halifax, who resided in Horncastle; in 1863 by the Rev. IsaacHall, who did the same; and it was not till 1869 that a residence waserected at High Toynton for the united benefices. 

Of the church, All Saints, we can only say that it stands in a goodposition, on high ground; that its walls are substantial, but that itsstyle is of the meanest; it having been rebuilt in the early part of the19th century (1813); and beyond a piscina, now in the north wall, it hasno features of interest; having wooden-framed windows, square paintedpews, walls whitewashed within and without, and a flat ceiling. Itgreatly needs renovation, being now almost a solitary representative, inthe neighbourhood, of that very worst period of architectural decadence. With fairly good sandstone in the present walls, and probably more in thefoundations of an earlier church, to be exhumed, and an abundance _insitu_ 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 beingcarried out in 1813 two nobles of Edward IV. , two angels of Henry VII. , and several silver coins of different reigns, contained in a leathernpurse, were found concealed in the wall. {185a}

LOW TOYNTON. 

Low Toynton lies about a mile from Horncastle to the north-east. It isapproached through rich meadows, watered by the river Waring. {185b} TheRector 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 nopretention to architectural beauty, and almost entirely covered with ivy. It was rebuilt in 1811, a period when architectural taste was at itslowest ebb, and barbarisms in stone, brick, and mortar were verygenerally perpetrated. It was re-seated in 1863, during the incumbencyof the Rev. E. M. Chapman. It consists of chancel, nave, vestry, andopen belfry containing one bell. The chancel arch is the only remnant ofa 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 facesfilled with figures representing the Holy Trinity, the virgin and child, and the 12 apostles. The bowl is joined to the shaft by angelic figuresround the lower part of it. The octagonal shaft has figures of St. Paul, Mary Magdalen, a bishop with chalice, another with scourge, and othersubjects much mutilated, at the base are the winged lion, ox, man, andeagle, emblematical of the evangelists. The walls of the church arerelieved by some coloured designs, and borders of ecclesiasticalpatterns, running round the windows, &c. , originally executed by thatgenuine artist the late Rev. C. P. Terrot, Vicar of Wispington. Thesedecorations have been recently (1898) renewed by Mr. C. Hensman, ofHorncastle, when the church was thoroughly repaired, both inside and out;new panelling placed in the nave, and a new window in the vestry; and inthe 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 beingthe Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, and the Ascension. On the sill ofthe east window are placed, over the communion table, two handsomelycarved old oak candlesticks, presented by the Rev. C. P. Terrot. On thenorth wall of the nave there is a small oval brass tablet, which wasfound in 1888, face downwards in the vestry floor. It bears thefollowing inscription: “Here lyeth the body of Edward Rolleston, Esquir, who departed this life the 23rd of July, in the thirtey-fourth year ofhis 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 diedabroad. The manor and whole parish, except the glebe, still belongs tothe Rolleston family; the benefice being in the patronage of the Earl ofAncaster. 

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 enlargedthe rectory house, and was a munificent benefactor to the neighbourhood. Among other good deeds he built the bridge over the river Waring, on theroad from Low Toynton to Horncastle. {186} He was a member of a familyof some distinction; had a residence in London, as well as his rectoryhere; he was popularly said to drive the handsomest pair of horses inLondon; and there exists a portrait in oil of an ancestor, ChancellorSpranger, in one of the great galleries in Florence. Dr. Spranger was anintimate friend of J. Keble, the author of _The Christian Year_, and hisson the Rev. Robert J. Spranger, Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, spentthe greater part of his life in Mr. Keble’s parish, Hursley, Hants, as avoluntary assistant in his clerical work. 

The companion slab marks the last resting place of another rector, theRev. J. Hutchinson, who died in 1788. His history is singular. Althoughwell 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 aparty of gentlemen at Manchester, one of them being the agent of LordWilloughby. 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 solvefor 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 isnot stated. 

In the List of Institutions to Benefices, preserved at Lincoln, it isrecorded that in 1562 Michael West, Clerk, was appointed Rector of NetherToynton and Vicar of Upper Toynton, by Richard Bertie, Esq. , ancestor ofthe Earl of Ancaster. This must have been by some private arrangementwith the Bishop of Carlisle, who was patron of High Toynton; the Berties(as the Willoughbies are now) being only patrons of Low Toynton. FromLiber Regis we learn that the Earl of Lindsey appointed to the beneficein 1692, the Duke of Ancaster in 1778, Sir Peter Burrell and LadyWilloughby d’ Eresby in 1783. 

The register dates from 1585. Under date 1717, Feb. 2nd, occurs thefollowing entry: “Robert Willy, of Upper Toynton, did penance in theparish church of Lower Toynton, for the heinous and great sin ofadultery. ” 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 sofrequently then as they now are. In this parish Mr. Thomas Gibson, Vicarof Horncastle, when turned out of his preferment by the Puritans, livedfor some “two years but poorly, teaching a few pupils. ”

Little is known of the early history of this parish or of itsproprietors. In a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 11 Henry VII. , No. 123, taken at Partney, after the death of Isabella, wife of RichardSapcote, Knight, the said Isabella is declared by the jurors to have diedseized of the Manor of Nether Toynton, and of the advowson; and Joan, wife of William Nevill, of Rolleston, Notts. , and others are declared tobe daughters and heirs of the said Isabella; she herself being kinswomanand heir of William Plesington, son of Henry Plesington, Knight. {187a}

In a list of Lincolnshire names contained in the visitation of 1665–6, byWilliam Dugdale, Esq. , are Agnes Goodrick, daughter of Robert Goodrick, of Toynton, and Bridget and Elizabeth Rolston, daughters of EdwardRolston, of Toynton. {187b}

 [Picture: St. Peter’s Church, Low Toynton]

By a Chancery Inquisition of 38 Henry VIII. (1546), it was found thatThomas Dymoke, Esq. , was seized of land in Over Toynton, Nether Toynton, Maring-upon the-Hill, and other parishes; and by an Inquisition of 36Elizabeth, it was found that Robert Dymock, Esq. , was seized of theManors of ffuletby and Belchforde, and lands in Horncastle, NetherTointon and Upper Tointon, and several other parishes. He died withoutissue 13th Sept. , 1594, and his only sister, Anne, widow of CharlesBolle, of Haugh, succeeded to his property in Nether Toynton andelsewhere; and thus the connection of the Dymokes with Low Toyntonceased. {187c}

There is rather a curious feature in the following record. By a ChanceryInquisition post mortem, 24 Henry VII. , No. 61, it is found that HumphreyConyngsby, Sergeant at Law, and others, instituted a suit on behalf ofWilliam Stavely, and others, by which he recovered to them, among otherproperties, “the advowson of Nether Taunton, and the rent of 4½ quartersof salt, in Nether Taunton, Over Taunton, and other parishes. ”

We now find another ancient name connected with this parish. TheNewcomens (originally Le Newcomen, or the newcomer) of Saltfleetby, wereone of our oldest Lincolnshire families. They are named in Yorke’s“Union of Honour, ” and their pedigrees given in four LincolnshireVisitations. The number of branches into which the race spread isremarkable. {188a} Andrew Newcomen lived in the time of Richard I. , resident at Saltfleetby, where the headquarters of the family continuedfor many generations. Robert Newcomen (1304) married Alice, daughter ofSir 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. Adaughter Katharine, of Brian Newcomen, married (1559) George Bolle, ofHaugh, a family already mentioned as, a few years later, connected withLow Toynton. In 1540 we find Richard Newcomen residing at NetherToynton. By his will, dated 3rd Sept. , 1540, he requests that he may beburied in the church of St. Peter, Nether Toynton. He appoints the rightworshipful Edward Dymoke, supervisor. His grandson, Samuel Newcomen, ofNether Toynton, married Frances, daughter of Thomas Massingberd, ofBraytoft Hall, M. P. For Calais (1552). This branch of the family seemsto have died out in the person of Thomas Newcomen (1592); {188b} butother branches spread over the neighbourhood, and were established at BagEnderby, East Kirkby, Withern, and other places, and flourishedthroughout the 17th century. Another Newcomen early in the 18th centurymarried a daughter of Sir Robert Barkham, Bart. 

A renewal of connection with Low Toynton was made when the widow ofNicholas Newcomen married, circa 1700, the Honble. Charles Bertie, son ofRobert, 4th Earl of Lindsey, patron of the benefice of Nether Toynton. Arthur Bocher, Esq. , of Low Toynton, was in the Lincolnshire Rebellion of1536, being brother-in-law of Thomas Moygne, one of the leaders in themovement. 

Thus the parish of Low Toynton has had residents, proprietors, andrectors, to whom its present inhabitants may look back with some degreeof 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 tothe south of Horncastle. It is bounded on the north by Thornton andMartin, on the east by Haltham and Dalderby, on the south byKirkby-on-Bain, and on the west by Kirkstead, Kirkby, and Woodhall. Thearea is 1020 acres, rateable value £945, population 137, entirelyagricultural. The soil is loam, on kimeridge clay, with “Bain terrace”gravel deposits. 

The nearest railway stations are at Horncastle and Woodhall Spa, eachabout four miles distant. There is an award and map of Haltham andRoughton in the parish, and a copy at the County Council office, Lincoln. Three roads meet in the middle of the village, one from Horncastle, oneto Woodhall Spa and Kirkstead, one to Kirkby-on-Bain, Coningsby andTattershall. 

Sir Henry Hawley, Bart. , of Tumby Lawn, in the adjoining parish ofKirkby, is Lord of the Manor, but Lady Hartwell (daughter of the late SirHenry Dymoke, the King’s Champion), and the executors of the Clintonfamily (now Clinton Baker) and the Rector own most of the soil; therebeing a few small proprietors. Roughton Hall, the property of LadyHartwell, is occupied by F. G. Hayward, Esq. 

The register dates from 1564. Peculiar entries are those of 43 burialsfor the years 1631–2, including those of the Rector and his twodaughters, who died within a few days of each other; this was from thevisitation called “The Plague, ” or the “Black Death. ” For some yearsbefore 1657 only civil marriages were valid in law, and Judge Filkin isnamed 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, itbeing very unusual at that period for women to hold office. Anotherentry, in the overseer’s book, needs an explanation. “Simon Grant, for 1day’s work of bages, 2s. 6d. ;” and again, “Simon flint, for 1 day’s workof bages, 2s. 6d. ” “Bage” was the turf, cut for burning; in this casebeing cut from the “church moor, ” for the church fire. It was severelabour, often producing rupture of the labourer’s body, hence the highpay. 

There is a charity named the “Chamerlayne Dole, ” of 10s. , given yearly tothe poor, left by Martha Chamerlayn in 1702. It is a charge upon acottage and garden owned by Mr. T. Jackson, of Horncastle. 

The National School was established about 1860, in a building erected in1834 as a Wesleyan Chapel. It was enlarged in 1872 and 1879. It issupported by a voluntary rate. 

The Church, St. Margaret’s, is of no architectural beauty, being built ofbrick and sandstone. It consists of nave and chancel, with castellatedtower, having one bell, also castellated parapets at the north and southcorners of the east chancel wall. The font is Norman, circular, withcircular pediment, having an old oak octagonal cover, cupola shaped, plain except slight carving round the rim. The fabric was newly roofedin 1870, when it was fitted with good open benches, the chancel pavedwith encaustic tiles, and the windows partly filled with stained glass;there are fragments of a former carved rood screen, the pulpit being ofplain old oak. 

In the chancel is a lengthy inscription, commemorative of Norreys Fynes;Esq. , of Whitehall, in the adjoining parish of Martin. He was grandsonof Sir Henry Clinton, eldest son of Henry, Earl of Lincoln, by his secondwife, daughter of Sir Richard Morrison, and mother of Francis, LordNorreys, afterwards Earl of Berkshire. He was a non-juror. He diedJanuary 10th, 1735–6, aged 74. There is a murial tablet to the memory ofthe Rev. Arthur Rockliffe, who died in 1798; another to CharlesPilkington, Esq. , who died in 1798, and Abigail, his wife, who died in1817. 

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 a year. There is a good rectory house. The church plate is modern. The villagefeast was discontinued about 50 years ago. 

Peculiar field names are the Low Ings, Bottom Slabs, Carr Bottom, ChurchMoor, Honey Hole, Wong, Well-syke, Long Sand, Madam Clay, Sewer Close. {190a}

As to the early history of Roughton, _Domesday Book_ gives it among thepossessions of William the Conqueror, and also as belonging to RobertDespenser, his powerful steward, who probably held it under the king. AChancery Inquisition post mortem, 22 Richard II. , No. 13, A. D. 1399, shows that Ralph de Cromwell, jointly with his wife Matilda, held theadjoining Manor of Tumby, with appurtenances in Roughton and elsewhere. While another Inquisition of 13 Henry VII. , No. 34, shows that the saidMatilda died, “seised in fee tail of the same lands. ” {190b}

In the reign of Elizabeth a family of Eastwoods resided here, since thename of Andrew Eastwood, of Roughton, appears in the list (published byT. C. Noble) of those gentry who contributed £25 to the Armada Fund. Other documents shew that at different periods the hall has been occupiedby 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 illiterateparish 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 hisday. 

 _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. , withgirdle wrapped, hilte pomel, and neuf or. . . {190c}

HALTHAM. 

This village is distant from Horncastle between four and five miles in asoutherly direction, lying on the east side of the river Bain. It isbounded on the north by Dalderby and Scrivelsby, on the south by Kirkbyand its hamlet of Fulsby, on the east by Scrivelsby, Wood Enderby andWilksby, and on the west by Roughton. The area is 2380 acres, rateablevalue £1198. The soil is loam, with kimeridge clay below, and graveldeposits. 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 ScrivelsbyCourt, but the late Rev. John Dymoke sold his estate in this parish, andthe 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 theremainder, except 150 acres of glebe. 

The benefice was united to that of Roughton in 1741, the two being now ofthe yearly value of £450, and held by the Rev. H. Spurrier. The patronis the rector’s eldest son, the Rev. H. C. M. Spurrier. There is anaward and map of Haltham and Roughton, of date 1775. A village feast isheld on St. Benedict’s Day (March 21), he being the patron saint of thechurch. 

There are some peculiar field names; as the Far, Middle, and NearRedlands, arable; the Top and Lower Brock-holes (brock meaning a badger), arable; the Black Sands, pasture; the Top and Low Malingars, arable; theEast, 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 interestof £5, left by John Dymoke, Esq. , of Haltham, who in 1634 is named amongthe Heralds’ List of Gentry, for yearly distribution by the overseersamong the poor. The children attend the school at Roughton. 

The church is one of the most interesting in the neighbourhood. Thechancel was restored and an open roof put up in 1881, at a cost of £250. The nave was restored in 1891, at a cost of £300. The sanctuary waspaved with Minton tiles by the late Lady Dymoke. The most remarkablefeature is a semi-circular tympanum over the door in the south porch, which is of early Norman, or possibly Saxon date. It has sculptured onit in somewhat rude fashion a Maltese cross within a circle, a secondcircle running through the limbs of the cross, a square withthree-quarter circles at its corners, and semicircles midway of eachside, which form the extremities of another cross, and between the limbsare roundels. Below is a figure resembling a fish, also four rows oftriangles, and other complicated devices. The east window is a very fineflamboyant one, of date about 1350. Some of the sittings have very oldrudely-carved poppy heads of oak. There are very fine carved oakcanopies over two long pews in the north aisle, for the Champion Dymokesand their servants. There is a piscina with two fronts in the south wallof the chancel, and a series of three stone sedilia, in the north wall isan aumbrey. There is an incised slab to one of the Dymokes. The towerhas three bells, and the bell chamber is closed by ancient boarding, onwhich are the ten commandments in old characters, and very curious RoyalArms of Charles I. The church plate consists of pewter paten, silverflagon and chalice, with date 1764, given by Mr. John Dickinson. 

In the village there is an old hostel, partly of the Tudor style, withpointed gable ends, projecting upper storey, and constructed externallyof 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 theConqueror, and his steward, Robert Dispenser, held it under him. Probably like other parishes in the soke of Horncastle, the manor washeld by Gerbald d’ Escald, his grandson Gerard de Rhodes, his son Ralphde Rhodes, sold by him to the Bishop of Carlisle, &c. Of the ownershipof Ralph de Rhodes we have evidence in a Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 9 HenryIII. , No. 52, containing an agreement between Henry del Ortiary andSabina 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 tocertain lands in Haltham, Wood Enderby, Moorby, and other parishes in thesoke. {192a}

Of other families of distinction once connected with this parish we haveindications in the arms which Gervase Holles found in the church windowsin 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. . . . 

 _Fenestræ Boreales_. 

B. A lyon’s head erased betw. 6 crosses, botony, Touthbyarg. . . . 

Arg. 2 bars G. A border, sa. . . . 

Dymoke, each lyon charged sur l’ espale with an Dymokeannulet . . . 

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

 _Fenestræ 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 Rochfortquarter, 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 mileseastward 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 seatof a considerable industry, carried on by Mr. Titus Kime, as a grower ofgreatly improved varities of potatoes, agricultural seed, and, latterlyon a large scale, of bulbs of different kinds, in which he seems likelyto compete with the Dutch trade. 

The church, which is dedicated to St. Helen, is a fine structure ofoolite stone, probably one of the largest in the neighbourhood, exceptthe collegiate church of Tattershall. It consists of tower, nave, northand south aisles, south porch and chancel. The body of the church wasrestored in 1873, and re-opened on June 13th of that year, at a cost ofmore than £2, 000, by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq. , Lord of the Manor; the thenrector, the Rev. W. Sharpe restoring the chancel, and the parishionersand other friends the tower. The latter consists of three tiers, havinga small square window in the south and north walls below, with atwo-light floriated window on the west. In the tier above are two-lightwindows on all four faces. At the summit it has battlements and fourtall pinnacles. There are three bells, the date of the largest being1627. 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 beingmodern. In the moulding above the inner doorway is a curiously crownedhead, probably representing the Empress Helena, the patron saint; othercurious devices running down the moulding on each side. To the right ofthe inner doorway are initials M. S. , date 1681. The font has a largeoctagonal bowl, with heads at the angles, and elaborate trefoil deviceson 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 thenorth aisle is one three-light perpendicular trefoiled window, in itswestern wall; in the north wall, on each side of the north door, is athree-light perpendicular window, with mullions interlacing; and to theeast a four-light round-headed trefoiled window. Over the north door isa tablet, with a Latin inscription, commemorative of the Rev. H. Sheppard, a former rector, who died 24th Jan. , 1764, aged 62. Beneath itis a cherub with outspread wings. In the wall, east of the north door, is a tablet bearing the inscription: “This church was relighted in memoryof Francis Thorpe, who lost his life, by an accident, while working inthe church near this spot, 22nd Sept. , 1892. ” The south aisle, at thewest 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 itsbase, probably formerly leading to a parvis, or priest’s chamber. Eastof the porch are two round-headed three-light trefoiled perpendicularwindows. In the chancel the east window, of coloured glass, is lofty, with three lights, and six trefoils above. The subjects are divided intoupper and lower rows; the upper are the Ascension in the centre, with theResurrection to the left, and to the right the disciples grouped roundthe virgin; the lower are the Crucifixion in the centre, Christ bearingHis cross to the left, and the entombment to the right. This window wasby 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, withrays of glory, and the monogram I. H. S. ; on the right and left are doublypointed, crocheted, arches; the device in the northernmost being a crownof thorns, with the three nails, surrounded by a circle; next to it threeinterlaced circles; on the south side interlaced triangles, and a plaincross. The east wall, up to the height of the reredos, is faced withalabaster. 

In the south wall of the chancel is a wide stone seat, and above it atwo-light trefoiled window. In the north chancel wall is a trefoiledcredence table. There is a tablet to the memory of William Goodenough, formerly rector, Archdeacon of Carlisle (the benefice formerly being inthe patronage of the Bishops of Carlisle), who died 13th Dec. , 1854; andcommemorating his wife Mary Anne, daughter of Dr. Samuel Goodenough, Bishop of Carlisle; she dying 3rd Jan. , 1847, aged 75. The memorial waserected by their only surviving child, Mrs. Hawkins. 

The choir sittings are of carved modern oak; the pulpit is also of thesame, on a stone base, and the lectern. The chancel arch is lofty, themodern side columns having richly carved capitals. Some of the stones ofthe original arch were found built into the chimney of a cottage near athand. 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 onan octagonal base. Opposite the east end of the south aisle is atombstone in memory of James Roberts, “who sailed round the world incompany with Sir Joseph Banks, in the years 1768–71, on board H. M. S. TheEndeavour, Lieut. James Cook, Commander, ” attending him “also on othervoyages. ” {194a} The tomb of Archdeacon Goodenough is on the north-eastside of the church. Within a few feet of the south buttress of the toweris a fragment of an old tombstone, shewing part of a foliated cross onboth 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 inSaxon times {194b}

Gervase Holles (temp. Chas. I. ) gives the following arms andinscriptions, 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 lossvalued at £1, 449. Granted June 14th, 1686. ” Another entry, under date23rd Nov. , 1685, is as follows: “Thomas Eresby of Revvesby maketh oath ytTheodosie, his daughter, who was buried in the churchyard upon Sundaylast, was wound and wrapped up in woollen only, according to the late Actof Parliament, in yt case made. ” In explanation of this it may be statedthat in 1677 British and Irish woollens were prohibited in France, whichinjured the woollen trade very much; and in the next year (1678) in orderto 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 buriedin wool, under a penalty of £5. {195b} Another entry states that acollection was made, the amount not known, to afford relief, after thegreat 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 in1818–19, and much improved in 1855. In the entrance hall are two oldprints of the church and rectory before their restoration, dated 1785. They were presented to the late rector, Rev. W. Sharpe, by AlfredCobbett, Esq. , and they are preserved as heirlooms by the rectors for thetime being. The Rev. F. J. Williamson is the present rector, late ofLydgate. The Bishop of Manchester is patron of the benefice; thepatronage of this, and several other benefices in this neighbourhood, formerly held by the Bishops of Carlisle, being transferred to the See ofManchester some years after its creation, in 1848. 

The national school, built in 1840, is endowed with nearly an acre ofland, given by Archdeacon Goodenough; it was considerably enlarged by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq. , in 1877. Some of the inhabitants are entitled tothe benefits of the almshouses at Revesby. There is a navigable drainfrom the Witham, passing near the village, affording communication withNew Bolingbroke and Boston. A former part of the parish is now includedin the district of Wildmoor Fen. 

In Liber Regis this parish is named “Marrow, alias Marym, alias Marehamin 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 thesea banks is commonly called Marrum grass. All these names probablyrefer to the marish (Latin, mariscum), or marsh, character of thelocality, caused by its proximity to the sea (le mer), which then camemuch nearer than it does now, and frequently flooded the land. 

The manor was given by the Conqueror to the powerful Norman, RobertDespenser, who, as his name implies, was the King’s High Steward. He wasthe ancestor of the Despensers, Earls of Gloucester, and he held 15manors in Lincolnshire alone, besides 17 in Leicestershire, and severalin other counties. Much of the land of this parish was at a later periodgiven to Revesby Abbey, and at the dissolution of the monasteries some ofthis was granted by Henry VIII, to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. {196a} In later times it became, by purchase, the property of Mr. JosephBanks, M. P. For Grimsby, born in 1681, and eventually came to hisdistinguished descendant, Sir Joseph Banks; and on his death some of theMareham 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 the16th century, when the Spanish armada was expected, was one “John May ofMairing, ” who failed to present himself at the muster in 1584, but in1586 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 ofthem were buried, from the time of Richard I. They married intoinfluential and titled families, in various parts of the county. CharlesNewcomen lived at Hagnaby in 1634, and bought land in Revesby. ANewcomen lived in Mareham in the 17th century. They were connected, bymarriage, with the family of Sir Joseph Banks, as Mr. Banks, grandfatherof Sir Joseph, had a house in Lincoln, the adjoining one being occupiedby Newcomen Wallis, Esq. , and Mr. Banks married Catherine the widow ofMr. Wallis (see the Banks monument in Revesby church, north aisle), whosemother was daughter and co-heir of Nicholas Newcomen, Esq. {196c}

We here give a few old records in connection with this parish in thepast. The Court Roll of Mareham-le-Fen (preserved among the documents ofthe Listers of Burwell) for 2 Elizabeth, shows that, at that date (A. D. 1559), Thomas Glenham, Esq. (variously written Glemham), had the Manor ofMareham. 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. Thomasowned also the Manors of Calceby, Belchford, Oxcomb, and Burwell; thesehe 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 theadvowson of the church of “Merum, ” the said William “quit claimed” allhis right to the said advowson, to the bishop and his heirs for ever; andin return for this the bishop gave him 10 marks. In the old record, Testa de Nevill, folio 556 (circa 1326), Walter de Bavent held certainlands in Marum, “by service of falconry, ” _i. E. _ by providing yearly, inlieu of rent, one “gay goss-hawk, ” or more, for the use of the Lord ofthe 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 theMendicant Friars of Boston 6s. 8d. “to remember me in their masses, ” toLady Margaret Hawteyn, Nun of Ormsby, 10s. ; to Trinity College, Cambridge, a book called “Johannes in Collectario, ” to every fellow there2s. , and every scholar 1s. Among other bequests are to Mgr. Eudo laZouch “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 forsouls of Walter ffelsted, William Stel, and James de Medringham. Executors, Eudo la Zouch, John ffoston my chaplin, &c. , the residue of mygoods to be sold, as quickly as possible, communi pretio, so that thepurchasers may be bound to pray for my soul. ”

William Leych, parson of Mareham, by will dated 11th Aug, 1556, requeststhat he may be buried “in the quire of St. Helen. ” “To my brother RobertLeych 12 silver spoons, to Sir John Richardson 6 great books, containingthe holle course of the bybyll, and a repetorii, and a concordance”; toSir John Morland “Opera Chrisostomi & Sancti Thomas, & Haymo superepistolas sauli”; to Mr. Lancelot Sawkeld “Deane of Carlyle 20s. , prayinghim 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 inMareham-le-Fen, and the Manor of Tumby, and other lands, to hisgrandsons. In connection with this we may mention that the late SirHenry James Hawley married, as his first wife, Elizabeth Askew, adescendant of the same family. The Ayscoughs (or Askews) were adistinguished Lincolnshire and Yorkshire family, and have still numerousrepresentatives. {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 £20annuity, and other property, for her life; then to his sons Henry andWalter, 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 Askewthe martyr, who was the younger daughter of Sir William Ayscough, Bart. , of Stallingborough. Their property eventually came to the late AscogheBoucherett, 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, 1stJuly, 1614, ” leaving to his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, £10 each, thesame to his son Robert, and the residue to his wife; the personalitybeing £120 3s. 8d. , a vastly larger sum in those days than now. 

Another will is that of Annie Elie, widow, of Mareham-le-Fen, dated 13thJuly, 1616, in which she desires “to be buried in the church, ” so thatshe was probably some one of importance. She leaves everything to herson-in-law John Wymberley, and her daughter Susan Wymberley. {198b}

Among the deeds and charters of Revesby Abbey, privately printed by theRight Hon. E. Stanhope a few years ago, No. 24 gives, among the witnessesto 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 wasnot strictly enforced on the clergy at that period. {198c} Among thewitnesses to other deeds are Robert, Priest of Marum, and Richard, Priestof 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 anequestrian figure, and the legend Sigillum Johannis de Maringe. Byanother deed William, son of John of Maring, gives certain lands; theseal bearing a lion and dog, or fox “contourné regardant, ” {198d} thelegend of this is Sigill. Will. De Marige. 

With these records and associations with the past, the parish of Marehammay surely be said to have a history on which its people may well lookback with interest and satisfaction. 

MOORBY. 

Moorby lies about 4½ miles from Horncastle, and about 1½ miles beyondScrivelsby, in a south-easterly direction. Letters _via_ Boston arriveat 9. 30. 

The registers date from 1561, but contain no entries of any particularinterest. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has undergone severaltransformations. This was one of the 222 parishes which possessed achurch before the Norman conquest, and it still contains a fragment (tobe noticed later on) which is apparently of Saxon origin. Both Weir inhis History (1828), and Saunders (1834) agree in stating that in theearly part of the 19th century the church was “totally destitute ofinterest. ” _The Gazetteer_ of 1863 describes it vaguely as a “Gothicstructure. ” It was rebuilt in 1864, from designs by Mr. James Fowler, Architect, of Louth, at a cost of £1, 100, defrayed by J. Banks Stanhope, Esq. , Lord of the Manor; and was further repaired in 1891, by publicsubscription. It consists of nave, chancel, vestry, north porch, andsmall square tower at the north-west angle, with low spire containing onebell. 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 thePerpendicular style; in the south wall are three two-light windows; allthese having bands of red and black brick alternately. In the west wallare two single-light lancet windows, with an ox-eye window above. In thechancel there is a small lancet window in the north wall, and a squareaumbrey. The east end has a three-light plain lancet window; beneathwhich is a stone reredos, having three compartments filled with encaustictiles, having, as their designs, in the centre a cross in gilt, and Alphaand Omega, within ox-eyes, on either side. In the south wall in front ofthe vestry is a lancet-shaped doorway, and, west of it, an arcade of twolancet apertures, supported by four columns of serpentine. Within thevestry is a two-light lancet window; and let into the eastern wall is asmall slab, having four grotesque figures, one blowing a kind of bagpipe, the others dancing. This is said to have been a portion of a “minstrelpillar, ” it is apparently Saxon, and is probably a relic from theoriginal fabric. The chancel arch is of red and black bricks, inalternate bands, the capitals nicely carved in stone, supported by smallserpentine columns. The pulpit is of Caen stone, having a cross within acircle on the front panel, and one serpentine column. The chancel choirstalls are of good modern oak; the sittings in the nave and the roofbeing of pitch pine. 

The font is the most remarkable feature of the church. It has a largesquare bowl; the device on the east side is a skeleton being drawn fromthe tomb by two angels, doubtless emblematic of the “death unto sin andnew birth unto righteousness, ” accomplished in baptism. On the northface 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 analtar, much defaced. On the west are six figures, much defaced, in theattitude of prayer. At the four angles are quatrefoiled niches, havingat their bases, alternately, a crowned head and a mitre. This may havebeen of the 14th century. The shaft is square and modern, with columnsat the angles. 

The communion plate is modern, except the paten, which bears theinscription “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 ofBroughton, Manchester. The rectory of Moorby is consolidated with thevicarage of Wood Enderby. 

By deed dated Nov. 24th, 1855, the guardians of the poor, by consent ofthe ratepayers, gave certain land in Moorby for the site of a parishschool to the minister, churchwardens, and overseers, and theirsuccessors; and more recently a school district has been formed for theparishes of Moorby, Wood Enderby, Claxby, and Wilksby; the school, whichwas built in 1855, being enlarged in 1872, to provide the accommodationrequired by this union. 

Moorby was one of the “thousand four hundred and forty-two manors” whichWilliam the Conqueror took as his own portion, when he divided the landsof 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, daughterof William de Cheney, Lord of Caenby ann Glentham, and wife of Roger deCundi. As she took part against King Stephen, in favour of the EmpressMaud, he took the property from her; but eventually restored it to her, on condition that she should demolish her castle at Horncastle; thishowever 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, whowas succeeded by his grandson and heir, Gerard de Rhodes. His son, Ralphde Rhodes, in the reign of Henry III. , sold the manors to WalterMauclerke, Bishop of Carlisle, and until recently the patronage of Moorbybenefice belonged to the Bishops of Carlisle. After the creation of theSee 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 “InMorebi there are 3 carucates of land (or about 360 acres). There are 6soc-men, and 10 bordars, who have 4 carucates (or 480 acres). There is achurch and a priest (evidently a resident; of whom, according to SirHenry Ellis, there were only 130 in the country), and 240 acres of meadowand 6 acres of underwood. ” In the old record, Testa de Nevill (circa1326–1328), the benefice of “Morby” is said to be “of the gift of thelord the king, ” _i. E. _ Edward II. Or III. The original charters of HenryIII. , granting these manors to the Bishops of Carlisle, were confirmed byHenry VI. ; but in course of time they passed to the Brandons, and tovarious other proprietors, until the ancestor of Sir Joseph Banks becamelessee of the Manor of Horncastle, and also acquired the Manor of Moorby;to which James Banks Stanhope, Esq. , and the late Right Hon. EdwardStanhope succeeded; although T. Elsey, the Artindale family, and thetrustees of Bardney school, own portions of the parish. 

In the year 1554 (Aug. 6th) Thomas Bewley, Clerk, was admitted to thisbenefice 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 ofthe 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 hissoul to St. Mary and all the saints; he requests that his body may beburied in Croyland parish church; he leaves 40s. To be given to the pooron the day of his burial, and money to provide torches and wax for thechurch, and the altars of St. Katharine, St. John the Baptist, and HolyTrinity; he bequeaths £10 of silver to his wife, and other items. Again, by will dated the Feast of St. Thomas the apostle, 1368, Gervase deWylleford 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, HenryAscoughe, Gent. , desires to be buried in the parish church of “Morebie, ”leaving to his sister “Elizabeth Aiscoughe (his) hereditaments in Morebiefor life, then to go to his brother Matthew. ” His sister is also to havelands which he had leased to Sir Henry Glenham, Knight. {201a} Hefurther leaves to her, as executrix, “£10 to be good and to my poorsister Margarette. ” To his brother Simon he bequeaths “the bestapparrell of my bodie, with riding furniture, and my baie gelding, rapier, dagger, and pistol, ” and further bequests. The testator was sonof Christopher Ayscough, of Bliborough, and married, apparently withoutissue, Margaret, daughter of Symon Battell, of Denham, Suffolk. 

Like the not very distant Wildmore Fen, in which it now has a modernallotment of 14 acres of glebe land. The name of Moorby tells of itscondition at the time when it acquired that designation, which means the“by, ” _i. E. _ “byre, ” or farmstead on the moor. {201b} The moorland hasnow entirely disappeared under the plough, and only young plantationsrepresent 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, andchancel, a low tower, with graceful broach spire, containing one bell, and small vestry. It is built of a warm-tinted green sandstone, withfree stone dressings; the style of its architecture is a combination ofthe early English and Decorated periods. It was almost entirely rebuiltin 1860, at a cost of about £1, 000. The south door, which is in thetower, has an Early English arch of five mouldings. There is a plaintrefoiled window above in the tower; the lower part of the spire havingtwo lancet windows, with a circle above them, and a small single-lightwindow on each side, half way up. In the west wall of the tower is athree-light window, with two trefoils and a quatrefoil above. This isfilled 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 butby Me. ” There are similar windows, but without coloured glass, in allfour faces of the tower. At the north-west angle of the tower is astaircase turret. Within the south door, against the west wall, is anold stone coffin, with broken lid, ornamented with an incised floriatedcross; this was discovered at the time of the restoration. 

The arcade of the north aisle is of three bays, being part of the oldchurch, in Early English style, with plain arches, supported on oneoctagonal pier and one shafted pier, with dog-tooth ornament, the formerhaving foliage on the capital. In the north wall of the nave are threesquare-headed windows of three lights, with trefoils above, the glassbeing plain, except a border of red, purple, and yellow. In the southwall are three two-light windows, with trefoil and circle above; theglass being modern, with various coloured scripture texts. 

The sittings are of deal, with plain poppy-heads. The pulpit is ofmodern oak, of five panels, each panel being divided into two trefoiledarched partitions; the central panel having a trefoil above, and below ita square piece of carved old oak, representing Elijah blessing the cruseof oil for the widow of Zarephath. The vestry, at the east end of thenorth aisle, has one small trefoiled window. The tower and the spirewere added at the restoration. The chancel has a decorated east windowof three lights, with three quatrefoils above. It is filled with moderncoloured glass, the subjects being, in the centre the Saviour risen fromthe tomb, on the left an angel seated at the tomb, and on the right theMagdalen. 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 sayunto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God andyour God. John xx, 17. ”

The north and south chancel walls have each one two-light trefoiledwindow, with quatrefoil above; plain glass, except the coloured band. Inthe south wall is a curious square projecting Norman piscina, with flutedbasin, and fluted sides. In the north wall is an arched sepulchralrecess. The chancel arch is plain Early English. The roof, like thesittings, is of pitch pine. The font has a plain octagonal large bowl ofBarnack 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 Registerbooke of Woodenderbye, containing herein ye names of all such as havebeen married, burried, and christened, from Michaelmas 1561, toMichaelmas 1562. ” The first five or six entries are illegible, and theothers contain nothing of special interest. The benefice, a vicarage, isconsolidated 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 formertimes, when that name was first acquired, so Wood Enderby means the“bye, ” _i. E. _ “byre, ” or farmstead “at the end of the wood, ” as itborders 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 alarge part of the land; and portions belong to the Rev. G. Ward, andother smaller owners. The late Miss Trafford Southwell founded an infantschool in the village; the older children attending the Moorby school. The poor parishioners receive 6d. Each at Christmas, left by an unknowndonor, 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, andattached to that manor; as were also West Ashby, High Toynton, Mareham-on-the-Hill, and other parishes. It would thus also be among theestates of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and when his main linebecame extinct, and the property was divided among collateral branches, Wood Enderby, with Wilksby and Revesby, fell to the share of Mr. JohnCarsey, or Kersey; his wife, the daughter of Sir Thomas Lovell, Knight, being grand-daughter of Margaret, sister and co-heir of the Duke ofSuffolk. He owned the property from 1552 to 1575, and he and his sonFrancis jointly sold it to Thomas Cecil, Lord Treasurer Burleigh. Heheld it from 1575 to 1598, when it passed in succession to the 1st and2nd Earls of Exeter, and to Elizabeth, Lady Howard, wife of the Earl ofBerkshire, in 1640, and so in 1658 to Henry Howard; in 1663 to his cousinCraven Howard, who built the former residence at Revesby; and, after hisdeath, the property was sold by the daughters of Henry Howard to theBanks family; whence the manor has descended to the present proprietorsof Revesby. 

The manor, like that of Moorby and other parishes already named, would atone time belong to the Bishops of Carlisle, and they were till recentlypatrons of the benefice; the patronage, within late years, beingtransferred to the Bishops of Manchester, after the creation of that Seein 1848. 

At an earlier date, being an appendage to the Manor of Horncastle, thisdemesne would be owned at one period by Gerard and Ralph de Rhodes; andthis is shewn by the following records among the Final Concords, date 3rdFeb. , 1224–5, whereby an agreement was arrived at between Henry delOrtiay and Sabina his wife, on the one part, and Ralph de Rhodes on theother part, as to certain lands in Moorby, Enderby, Horncastle, and otherparishes, that the said Henry and Sabina should recognise the said landsas belonging to the said Ralph; he, on his part, granting to them otherlands there, specially designated, they rendering to him “therefor by theyear, 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 atWestminster on the morrow of the purification of the blessed Mary, in the9th 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 (HighToynton), of Meringes (Mareham-on-the-Hill), and of Hinderby (WoodEnderby), are of the gift of the lord; and Osbert, the parson, holds themof King Richard. ”

In _Domesday Book_ it is stated that at the time of the Conqueror, therewere “400 acres of wood pasturage” in the parish, a sufficient reason forits designation. Like Moorby, it was among the manors seized by theConqueror, for his portion of the plunder taken from our Saxonforefathers. In Saxon times the Thane, Siward, had land here; which wasgiven by the Conqueror to his steward, Robert Despenser, brother of theEarl Montgomery. {203c}

CONINGSBY. 

This is a large village, about 8 miles from Horncastle, in a southerlydirection. It is bounded on the north by Tattershall Thorpe, on the westby Tattershall, on the south by Wildmore, and on the east by Tumby andMareham-le-Fen. Its area is 3, 442 acres, including the hamlet ofHawthorn Hill; rateable value £5, 160; population 1, 192. Apart from alimited number of shops and three inns, the people are engaged mainly inagriculture. The soil is mostly a light sand, with a subsoil of graveldeposits and clay. The nearest railway station is at Tattershall, distant about 1½ miles. 

The owners of over 50 acres are Lord Willoughby de Eresby, M. P. , Lord ofthe 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 stillkept 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 last35 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 commonthroughout the district; Oatlands; Scrub Hill, scrub being an oldLincolnshire word for a small wood; Reedham, referring to the morass;Toothill, probably a “look-out” over the waste; Langworth, probably acorruption of lang-wath, the long ford; Troy Wood, may be British, corresponding to the Welsh caertroi, a labyrinth or fort of mounds. Thehamlets are Dogdyke, a corruption of Dock-dyke (the sea having onceextended to these parts); Hawthorn Hill, Scrub Hill. There is anenclosure award in the possession of the clerk of the Parish Council. 

The parish register dates from 1561. The church plate is modern, chaliceand paten dated 1870; the flagon is older and more massive, but has nodate. The Earl of Ancaster is patron of the benefice, a rectory, withgood house, enlarged about 30 years ago, and 500 acres of glebe. 

The National School was built by subscription and government grant in1836, at a cost of about £230, exclusive of the site, which was given bythe late Sir Gilbert Heathcote. It was enlarged in 1875 at cost of £300. The master has £3 per annum, left by the Rev. R. Kelham in 1719, also thedividend of £100 3½ per cent. Reduced consols, bought by the bequest ofthe Rev. Mr. Boawre, Rector, in 1784. 

The charities are Banks, _viz. _ £2 a year from land in Haltham, for breadfor 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, fromland 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 ofthe name of Coningsby, but no traces of it remain, unless it be in anancient dovecote, placed among some fine trees to the east of thevillage. 

The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a large, and originally a fine, church, consisting of nave, with north and south aisles, an apsidalmodern chancel, and a massive western tower. This latter is ofPerpendicular date, very plain, but of excellent ashlar work; it has aclock and six bells. The ground stage has open arches to the north andsouth, with a groined roof above, and a thoroughfare through it. In theeastern wall of the south porch is a stoup, which was formerly open, bothwithin the porch and outside it. Over the porch is a parvis or priest’schamber. Outside the church, near the top of the wall of a cupola-shapedfinial of the rood loft turret is an old sun dial. The interior of thenave has a massive heavy roof of beams somewhat rudely cut, with tracesof 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 archhigher and wider. The moulding between two of the north archesterminates 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’sbridle. ” On the south side of the chancel arch is a rood loft staircaseturret, of which both the lower and upper door remain. 

At the restoration in 1872 the clerestory windows were spoilt by beingreduced in height; externally their original design remains. In thecentre of the nave are two large sepulchral slabs, once bearing brasses, which are now gone, representing two civilians and their wives. Theapsidal 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 thecommunion 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 (circa1630) the windows of this church abounded in coloured glass, of which nota 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 ofhis day (1718), the Rev. Laurence Eusden, who died 1730. The other, JohnDyer, was born 1700, appointed to the benefice in 1752, by Sir JohnHeathcote, was the author of _Grongar Hill_, _The Fleece_, and _The Ruinsof Rome_; he was honoured with a sonnet by Wordsworth. 

A congregation of Baptists was formed here under the Commonwealth, withan endowment for a minister. The society still exists, their presentchapel 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, andothers at Hawthorn Hill, Haven Bank, Moorside, and Meer Booth. ThePrimitive Methodists have a chapel, built in 1854, and others at ReedhamCorner and Scrub Hill. 

Of the early history of this parish we have scattered notices in variousdocuments. In _Domesday Book_ we find that Sortibrand, son of Ulf theSaxon, who was one of the lagmen of Lincoln, held a Berewick inConingsby. Land here is mentioned among the Conqueror’s possessions. The powerful favourite of the Conqueror, Robert Despenser, laid claim toa fishery and lands in Coningsby; and the juryman of the wapentake ofHorncastle decided that his claim was good, because Achi, his Saxonpredecessor, had held the same in the time of Edward the Confessor. Fromthe same source we find that two other powerful Normans held land here, _viz. _ Hugo d’ Abrincis, surnamed “Lupus, ” or “The Wolf, ” from his fiercecharacter; 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, 9Henry III. , No. 52, that Ralph de Rhodes then held lands here. Subsequently the Marmyons, Dymokes, and Taillebois, all connected in theblazonry of the former memorial windows (as before mentioned), heldproperty in the parish. {206a} By a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, taken 31st May, 10 Henry VII. , No. 72 (A. D. 1495), it was found thatRobert Taillebois, Knt. , with John Gygour, Warden of the college ofTateshale, was seized of the manor; while, further, in a Feet of Fines, 19 Henry VII. (1503), John Mordaunt is acknowledged by Sir EdwardPoynings, Sir Thomas Fynes, and others, to be the owner of lands inConingsby, and elsewhere in the soke. He held at least four othermanors, and lands in many other parishes. Also a Feet of Fines, 21 HenryVII. (1505), it was agreed before Humphrey Coningsby, Sergeant at Law, Sir Giles Daubeney, and others, that the Bishop of Winchester heldcertain property here. 

The Dymokes were patrons of the benefice; Sir Charles Dymoke presentingin 1682, after which the patronage passed to the Heathcote family (LiberRegis and Ecton’s Thesaurus). But an earlier connection with the Dymokesis shewn by a tombstone commemorative of “Anna, daughter of ThomasDymoke, and his wife Margaret, que obijt . . . Ao Dni 1462. ”

In connection with the Humphrey Coningsby, named above, we have alreadymentioned that a castellated residence in this parish belonged to afamily of that name. This Humphrey was Judge of the King’s Bench, andbought 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-WilliamConingsby was Sheriff of the county, 1627; and for his loyalty to CharlesI. His estates were confiscated by the Puritans. His son was rewardedwith a peerage by Charles II. ; and saved the life of King William at thebattle of the Boyne; but his two sons dying early, and he having nofurther issue, the title became extinct. 

In the List of Gentry of Lincolnshire, made at the Herald’s Visitation in1634, we find the name of Clinton Whichcote, of Coningsby, a member of anold county family, still occupying a good position. {207a}

WILKSBY. 

Wilksby lies about halfway between the parishes of Wood Enderby andMoorby, at a distance of about five miles from Horncastle, in asouth-easterly direction. Letters from Boston _via_ Revesby, arriveabout 10. 30 a. M. 

The ancient history of this parish is much the same as that of theadjoining parish of Moorby on the east, and Wood Enderby on the west. Itis called in _Domesday Book_ Wilchesbi, and Wilgesbi. At the date ofthat survey (1086) there were four soc-men and five bordars, who had onecarucate (or 120 acres) of land, and 20 acres of woodland; while the lordof the manor had one carucate in demesne, and five villeins, with twooxen in another carucate; with 20 acres of meadow and 40 acres ofunderwood; so that, like the neighbouring Moor-by and Wood Ender-by, thisparish also was largely of a forest character. 

In this parish there was also “a Berewick of 1½ carucates” (or 180acres); 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 afterwardsgranted the manor to his steward, Robert Despenser, a powerful Normannoble, the ancestor of the Earls of Gloucester, brother of the EarlMontgomery, and of Urso de Abetot, hereditary sheriff of Worcestershire. He held 15 manors in Lincolnshire, and 17 in Leicestershire, besideothers 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 similarprocess, to the cases of Moorby and Wood Enderby, it belongedsuccessively to the Brandons, Dukes of Suffolk; the Cecils, Earls ofExeter; the Howards, Earls of Berkshire; and finally, by purchase, passedto 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 herselfagainst Silvester, Bishop of Karlisle, ” in a suit concerning “£20 of rentin Enderby, Moreby, Wilkesby and Cuningby, and the advowson of the churchMoreby, ” 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 thebishop, for these lands in Enderby, “Welkeby, ” &c. , and the advowson of“Moresby, ” the bishop in turn granting to them “the homage and wholeservice 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 ofthe service of one knight. ” {207b}

In another document, a Final Concord, dated 27th May, 1240, between Alande Dauderby and Alice de Lysurs, it was agreed that Alice should “acquithim of the service which Robert de Theleby exacts . . . Of half aknight’s fee, for which she is mesne. ” She further agrees that Alan andhis heirs shall hold certain tenements of Alice and her heirs; to wit, 12oxgangs and 80 acres of land, two messuages, with a rent of 12s. 8d. , andtwo parts of a mill in Theleby, Wilkeby, Burton; and a meadow calledUtemyng, for the service a fourth part of a knight’s fee; and for thisAlan gave her 10 marks. 

The former of these records shews that, like the other parishes connectedwith the Manor of Horncastle, the Bishops of Carlisle were at one periodpatrons of the benefice (and probably owners of the manor) of Wilkesby;but, while in the case of several other parishes, this patronagecontinues (only transferred to the Bishops of Manchester) to the presentday, the patronage of Wilksby passed to others. According to Liber Regisin 1711 and 1720 Lewis Dymoke presented to the benefice. In 1764, bysome arrangement, George Willows, Gent. , presented; but again, in 1833, it was in the patronage of the Hon. The Champion, H. Dymoke, whoappointed to the rectory a relative, the Rev. J. Bradshaw Tyrwhitt, oneof a very old, knightly, Lincolnshire family, the Tyrwhitts ofStainfield, Kettleby, &c. A tablet to his memory is erected in thechurch at Scrivelsby. {208a} The patronage was subsequently acquired byJ. 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 Visitationin 1634, and preserved at the Heralds’ College, along with the Dymocks ofScrivelsby, Haltham, Kyme and Lincoln, is Paganell Hartgrave of Wilksby. {208b}

The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a mean structure, erected in the18th century, of brick and Spilsby sandstone, standing on the site of anearlier church, of which nothing seems to remain except the font. Itconsists of nave and chancel, both on a very small scale, and a woodenbell-turret, with one small bell. The north and west walls are ofsandstone, the former covered with a thick coating of tar to keep out themoisture; the east wall has alternate layers of brick and sandstone. Some improvements have been made in recent years, much needed to make iteven a decent place of worship. The two two-light trefoiled windows inthe south wall of the nave have been framed in stone instead of wood, andfilled with green glass. The east window of the chancel has woodenmullions interlaced, and it has been adorned with paper representationsof, in the centre the Ascension, to the left the Saviour holding aninfant in his arms, to the right the child Jesus sitting among thedoctors 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 ceilingof deal boards. The pulpit and seats are painted wainscot; there is asmall modern oak reading desk, and a lectern to match it. The chancelarch is a plain semicircle, but on its eastern side has a pointed EarlyEnglish arch. The chancel rails are of modern oak, slightly carved; andthere is a deal credence table. The 14th century font has a massiveoctagonal bowl, with large trefoils in each face, and grotesquely carvedheads at the angles; the shaft being plain octagonal. The improvementswere made in 1896, at the cost of the late Mrs. Stanhope. 

The register dates from 1562. In recent years the incumbency of ClaxbyPluckacre, where the church had gone to ruins, has been annexed to therectory of Wilksby, the joint value of the two being about £300 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 earlyyears of the 19th century. They are distant southward from Horncastleabout 13 miles; situated in a tract of land called Wildmore Fen, lyingabout midway between Coningsby to the north, and Boston to the south. Atvarious periods inundated by the sea, this continued, to the end of the18th century, more or less a region of morass; available in the summerfor grazing, but generally during the winter under water; when all cattlehad to be removed for safety to the lands under cultivation at thehomesteads of the farmers; and if by chance the farmer was behindhand inremoving them, and the floods became frozen, it was a common thing forhis cattle, while slipping about on the ice, to be split up, or, as itwas locally termed, “screeved, ” and so become helpless, and fit only forslaughter. {209}

An Act of Parliament was passed in 1787 or 1788, and commissioners wereappointed, for the drainage of this and adjoining similar tracts; butlittle was done until 1800, when the able engineer, Mr. John Rennie, submitted his plans for the drainage to the commissioners. His firstreport, dated April 7th, 1800, estimated the cost of draining WildmoreFen alone at £29, 702; the total outlay, for that and adjoining fens, being put at nearly £215, 000. By 1812 these operations were completed;and in that year an Act was passed making these lands parochial, andassigning the two portions above named to the Soke of Horncastle. 

LANGRIVILLE. 

Langriville, so called because it is near Langrick (or Long Creek) on theWitham, has an area of 2, 514 acres, including Langrick Ferry; rateablevalue £3, 300. The population is entirely engaged in agriculture. Thenearest railway station is at Langrick, in the parish. 

It consists of the southern portion of Wildmore Fen, which at theenclosure was allotted to the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, in lieu ofhis manorial rights over Armtree and Wildmore; with other lands sold bythe Drainage Commissioners, early in the 19th century. The Earl’sestates afterwards passed, by purchase, to the late J. Fretwell Bramleyand others. The present Lord of the Manor is Lord Malcolm, ofPoltallock; and he, the Rector of Coningsby, the executors of Lady IngramWatkin, 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 andbell turret; and repaired and improved in 1885, by the EcclesiasticalCommissioners. The Bishop of Lincoln is patron; and the Rev. W. Fitz-Harry Curtis is the incumbent, who has here a residence, with anincome of £320 a year. 

The Wesleyans have a chapel at Langrick Ferry, also in Armtree Road. Byan order in council, dated 26th August, 1881, Langriville andThornton-le-Fen were united, under the title of “The ConsolidatedChapelry of Wildmore. ” There is a church at each place. At the time ofthe enclosure fen allotments were assigned to various of the olderparishes, and these are many of them now included in this moderndistrict, comprising parts of Fishtoft Fen, of Coningsby, of Kirkstead, Scrivelsby, Woodhall, Dalderby, and Martin. The entire area is now10, 500 acres, and population 1, 470. 

The National School, erected in 1857, is at Gipsy Bridge, now under aSchool Board. 

THORNTON-LE-FEN. 

Thornton-le-Fen adjoins Langriville, lying to the east of it, about threemiles from Langrick railway station. The area was originally about 1, 425acres, including Bunkers Hill, part of Gipsy Bridge, and other scatteredfarms, which were sold by the Drainage Commissioners early in the 19thcentury, when it was made, by Act of Parliament, a parochial township. Rateable value £1, 979. It has its name from the former chiefproprietors, the Thornton family; but the chief land owners now are LordMalcolm of Poltalloch, the Pepper, Ireland, Creasey, Ward, and Wilcockfamilies. The soil is clay, and very fertile. 

The church, which was built on the Fen Chapel Estates in 1816, is a smallbrick building, containing 200 sittings; the benefice, valued at £100 ayear, is in the gift of the Bishop of Lincoln, and by order in council, dated 26th August, 1881, was consolidated with the chapelry ofLangriville; the two being of the united yearly value of £320, and heldby 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 SchoolBoard of Wildmore Fen, at a cost of about £1, 200, to accommodate 168children. 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 weretransferred in 1876, pay £120 a year for a curate, who now is the Rev. Harold E. Curtis. The total area is now 10, 500 acres, and population1, 470. 

 * * * * *

NOTE. —Other parishes have once been in the Soke of Horncastle, which nolonger belong to it. _Domesday Book_ gives Scrivelsby, “Langton and(its) Thorpe” (from which I write; “Thorpe” being doubtless the outlyingdistrict recently known as Langton St. Andrew), and also Edlington. Howthese became separated is not known. As suggested by the author of_Scrivelsby_, _the home of the Champions_, Scrivelsby, as a barony of theMarmyon and Dymoke families, would probably be separated by payment of afine; such powerful families preferring not to be sub-ordinated toanother 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, Cæsar’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, asbeing the only house in the town having a front door of mahogany. 

{1a} Mr. Jeans, in his _Handbook for Lincolnshire_, p. 142, says “theRoman 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 theneighbourhood, as on Hoe hill, near Holbeck, distant 4 miles, alsoprobably at Somersby, Ormsby, and several other places. 

{1d} In the name of the near village of Edlington we have probably atrace of the mystic Druid, _i. E. _ British, deity Eideleg, while inHorsington we may have the Druid sacred animal. Olivers’ _ReligiousHouses_, Appendix, p. 167. 

{2a} _Words and Places_, p. 130. 

{2b} The meadow which now lies in the angle formed by the junction ofthe Bain and Waring at Horncastle is still called “The Holms, ” which isDanish for “islands. ”

{2c} The name Bain, slightly varied, is not uncommon. There is theBannon, or Ban-avon (“avon” also meaning “river”), in Pembrokeshire; theBan in Co. Wexford, Bana in Co. Down, Banney (_i. E. _ Ban-ea, “ea” alsomeaning water) in Yorkshire, Bain in Herefordshire; Banavie (avon) is aplace 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 inthe Yarrow, and Garry in Scotland, the Geirw, a rough mountain stream, atPont-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, withan 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, maybe formed from the account given by De la Prime (_PhilosophicalTransactions_, No. 75, p. 980) who says “round about the skirts of thewolds are found infinite millions of the roots and bodies of trees ofgreat size. ” Pliney tells us that the Britons had “powerful mastiffs”for hunting the wild boar, and Manwood in an old _Treatise on ForestLaws_ (circa 1680) states (p. 60) that the finest mastiffs were bred inLincolnshire. Fuller, in his _Worthies of England_ (p. 150) mentionsthat a Dutchman (circa 1660) coming to England for sport, spent a wholeseason in pursuit of wild game “in Lincolniensi montium tractu, ” by whichdoubtless were intended the wolds. A writer in the _ArchæologicalJournal_ (June, 1846) says “the whole country of the Coritani (_i. E. _Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, &c. ) was then, and long after, a denseforest. ” The name “Coritani, ” or more properly Coitani, is the Romanadaptation of the British “Coed, ” a wood, which still survives in Walesin such place-names as “Coed Coch, ” the red wood, “Bettws y Coed, ” thechapel in the wood, &c. This was their distinguishing characteristic tothe Roman, they were wood-men. 

{3} To the skill and bravery in war of the Britons Cæsar bearstestimony. He says, “They drive their chariots in all directions, throwing their spears, and by the fear of their horses and the noise oftheir wheels they disturb the ranks of their enemies; when they haveforced their way among the troops they leap down and fight on foot. Byconstant practice they acquire such skill that they can stop, turn, andguide 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 withrapidity into the chariot, by which novel mode (he says) his men weremuch disturbed. ” (“Novitate pugnæ perturbati. ”) _De Bella Gallico_, lib. Iv, c, 33, 34. 

{5a} An account of this milestone is given by the late PrecentorVenables, 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 ofHorncastle_, 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 merelymeaning a native of Ravenna), was an anonymous geographer, who wrote a_Chorography of Britian_, as well as of several other countries, aboutA. D. 650. These were confessedly compilations from older authorities, and were, two centuries later, revised by Guido of Ravenna, and doubtlessby others at a later period still, since the work, in its existent formdescribes the Saxons and Danes, as well, in Britain. As Gallio, also ofRavenna, was the last Roman general in command in these parts, it hasbeen suggested that he was virtually the original author (Horsley’s_Britannia_, 1732, chap. Iv. , p. 489; also _The Dawn of ModernGeography_, by C. Raymond Beazley, M. A. , F. R. G. S. , 1897, J. Murray). Messrs. Pinder and Parthey published an edition of _Ravennas_, _or theRavennese Geographer_, as did also Dr. Gale. 

{5e} _Life of Agricola_ c. Xxxi. 

{6a} This is a thoroughly provincial word for highway or turnpike. Itis of course a corruption of “Rampart, ” a fortified passage. In themarsh 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 BishopDr. E. Trollope. 

{7b} _Architect. S. Journal_, iv, ii, p. 201. 

{8} Gough, _Sepulchral Monuments_, Introduction, p. 59, says “coffins oflead 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 battleof Threckingham in this county, which made the Danes paramount. The nameThreckingham is said to be derived from the fact that 3 kings were slainin this battle, but we believe this to be an error, and that the placewas the residence, the “ham” of the Threcginghas. 

{10} The prefix “Horn” is also found in Holbeach Hurn, an angularheadland on the south coast of Lincolnshire. In the monkish Latin of oldtitle deeds, we also find the patronymic Hurne, Hearne, &c. , representedby its equivalent “de angulo, ” _i. E. _ “of the corner. ”

{11a} Dr. Mansell Creighton, late Bishop of London. _Essays_, edited byLouisa Creighton, 1904, pp. 278–9. 

{11b} The palace of the Bishop was on the site of the present ManorHouse. 

{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, inLincolnshire it was 120 acres. Gelt was a land tax, first imposed by theDanes in the reign of Ethelred, about A. D. 991, being 2s. On thecarucate. Villeins and bordars were under-tenants of two differentclasses, 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, whichmentions her “Castle of Tornegat (can this be a corruption forHorncastle?), 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 inlocal history. He is mentioned in the Rolls Series, 91, i, ii (Ed. Hardyand Martin, 1888–9), as the author of _L’estorie des Engles_, a rhymingchronicle, based chiefly on the _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_, and Geoffrey ofMonmouth (between A. D. 1135 and 1147). He undertook his work at therequest of Custance, wife of Ralph Fitz Gilbert; the latter held themanor of Scampton near Lincoln, and Geoffrey was probably a Norman wholived in that parish. He quotes _The Book of Washingborough_ and _TheLay of Haveloc the Dane_, relating to Grimsby. He does not directlymention Horncastle, but shews acquaintance with the neighbourhood bycelebrating 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, RobertWilloughby, Lord Broke, was declared to be her kinsman and heir. 

{16f} Dugdale, vol. Ii, p. 336. D. Mon, ii, p. 646. (_ArchitecturalSociety’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. APipe Roll also, 1 Richard I. , A. D. 1189–90, mentions “Gerbod de Escalt aspaying a tale of £80 in Horncastre. ”

{17c} Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 37 Henry III. , No. 36 (3 Nov. 1252), andditto, No. 38, same date. Gerard de Rhodes is also named in aChancellor’s Roll, 3 John, A. D. 1201–1, as paying certain fees forHorncastle. He is also named in the document above quoted (HundredRolls, Lincoln, 14, m. 1) as succeeding to the manor on the demise ofGerbald de Escald. 

{17d} Feet of Fines, 9 Henry III. , No. 52, Lincoln. 

{18a} Quo Warranto Roll, 9 Ed. I. , 15 June, 1281, quoted _LincolnshireNotes & 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 aCarlisle document, a chancery inquisition post mortem, dated Dec. 11, 1395, which states that a certain John Amery, owner of a messuage in theparish “by fealty and the service of 16d. Of rent, by the year, holds ofthe Bishop of Carlisle, and the said Bishop holds of the King. ”

{18d} The bishops of those days were sportsmen. It is recorded of aBishop of Ely that he rode to the Cathedral “with hawk on wrist, ” andleft it in the cloister while doing “God’s service. ” There it was stolenand he solemnly excommunicated the thief. Aukenleck MS. , temp. Ed. II. , British Museum. The extensive woods in the soke of Horncastle aboundedin 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 feræ naturæbecame extinct about A. D. 1620. 

{18e} These and other privileges granted to the Bishop are firstspecified in a Cartulary Roll, 14–15 Henry III. ; they are renewed in aMemoranda Roll of 4 Ed. III. ; again in the 25th year of Henry VI. , andfurther 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 UrbanCouncil to begin on the 2nd Monday in the month, and to end on thefollowing 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 inthe family of Tibbot, who till quite recently held the manor of Thimblebyin the soke of Horncastle. 

{20f} _Ibidem_, p. 489. 

{20g} _Ibidem_, p. 88. 

{20h} _Ibidem_, p. 760. This castle was built by Richard, Baron leScrope, 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 bythe 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 hottemperament. I have mentioned in another volume (_Records of WoodhallSpa_, pp. 14. 0, &c. ) several of his actions of gross violence against theSaviles 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 severalof his hounds and hanged them, as Sir Robert says, “upon my own treewithin my own ground. ” He forced his way into the parlour at Poolham andchallenged Sir Robert to fight “six to six” of their dependents. Afteran entertainment at Horncastle his followers, at his instigation, gothold of an unfortunate tailor, “drew their swords and sore wounded him, ”saying he should “have that and more, for his master’s sake, ” Sir RobertSavile’s son. One Robert Fullshaw, of Waddingworth, prayed the justicesfor protection against his “horrible outrages, ” and it was said that hisconduct “savoured of insanity. ” (_Illustrations of English History_ byLodge. 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, doubtlessit was subordinate to the main manor of Horncastle, such “fees” weregenerally named after the owners once “enfeoffed” of them, as we have atSpalding Ayscough-fee Hall, once owned by the Ayscoughs, Beaumont-fee atLincoln, owned by the Beaumonts, Panell-fee by the Paganels, Nevill-feeby the Nevills in Middle Rasen, &c. _Architectural Society’s Journal_, 1895, p. 19. There is a family named Parish at Horncastle but they are amodern 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 FinalConcord of the same date between Silvester, Bishop of Carlisle, and otherparties. _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’sEdition, 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. Thesetrustees were John Amery of Horncastle; Simon, Parson of Wilksby; John ofClaxby 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 _OldLincolnshire_, vol. I. , p. 118. In All Saint’s Church at Theddlethorpeis 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, 14Henry VIII. , A. D. 1522. 

{28f} Bridge’s _History of Northamptonshire_, quoted _ArchitecturalSociety’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. _OldLincolnshire_, 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 ofFitz-Williams_, p. 44, &c. A Douglas Tyrwhitt of this family, daughterof George Tyrwhitt, Esq. , in 1703 left a dole of 10/-, charged on land atBelchford, 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. EdwardStanhope 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 adistinguished graduate of King’s College, Cambridge, Provost of Eton, acorrespondent of the great Dutch scholar Erasmus; afterwards madeArchdeacon of Colchester, Canon of Windsor, Registrar of the Order of theGarter, and consecrated to the See of Carlisle 18 July, 1537. 

{31a} Exchequer Bills and Answers, Chas. I. , Lincoln, No. 36. Among thecharges brought against Rutland Snowden (as already stated elsewhere) onewas, that, besides having aided the forces of the Parliament, he had morethan 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 carefullypreserved 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 theHigh 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, 21Jan. , 1384–5, held by John de Feriby, Escheator of the King, in theCounty of Lincoln. 

{34} Most of these fragments were removed by Mr. Stanhope to RevesbyAbbey. Two of them are preserved in the garden of Langton Rectory, nearHorncastle. 

{36} The origin of this Chantry is shewn by the following documents:—Inthe archives of Carlisle Cathedral is a copy, in Latin, of a Privy SealState 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 dogrant . . . For us, our heirs and successors . . . To the devout woman, the Lady Margaret Copuldyke, widow, and Richard Clarke, tanner, ofHorncastle, that they found a fraternity, or guild, to the honour of St. Katharine, and for the extending of divine teaching, in the Parish Churchof the blessed Virgin of Horncastell, and mortain licence to acquire landof the annual value of 25 marks” (£16 15s. 4d. ). Another document, aChantry 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 forever, should celebrate divine services in the church, for the souls ofthe founder, and others; the profits of the land and possessions arereceived by the Alderman of the Guild. ” They are described as “worthyearly £13 8s. 8d. , with fees, wages, rents and other reprises, £7 15s. 3d. The clear value, reprises deducted, yearly, £5 13s. 10d. , ” with“goods, chattels and ornaments worth £1 10s. ” It is to be observed thatGervase Holles says, that at the time of his visit, she was named“Margaret, ” in a window then existing in the church. A Patent Roll, 3Ed. VI. , pt. 5, m. 4, gives various lands and tenements, with which thischantry was endowed, in Horncastle, Spilsby, Thornton and Roughton, occupied by about 100 tenants; and states that all these were granted “bythe King to Robert Carr, gent. , of Sleaford, and John Almond, their heirsand assigns. ” Witness, the King, at Westminster, 15 July, 1549. This isfurther confirmed by an Inquisition post mortem, 5 Eliz. , pt. 1, No. 67. [This was ‘in return for a payment by them of £1, 238 11s. 10d. ’] Amongthe signatories to a declaration of the Royal supremacy (Lincoln ChapterHousebook, B. 3, 14, p. 39) are the names of Robt. James, Vicar ofHorncastle Michel Whithed, Curate of Horncastle Hugh Doddington, “Cantuarista” of Horncastle (probably Chaplain of this Chantry). It wasalso 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 wasthe inscription “Orate pro ái’â Thomæ Coppuldike armig. , et D’næMargaretæ, Consortis suæ, fundatoria gildæ cantar . . . Fenestram fierifecit. Ano D’ni 1526. ” In the eastern window of the south aisle was theinscription “Orate pro benefactoribus artis sutorum, qui istim fenestramfieri fecerunt. Sc’æ Nemanæ cum sera et catena. Item S’ci Crispinus etCrispinianus cum instrumentis calceariis. ” Here it is distinctly statedthat a Guild of Shoemakers gave the window, and that Crispinus andCrispinianus the patron saints of shoemakers, were there represented. Anote in the same MS. States that Frances, wife of Gervase Holles, died atHorncastle 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, asSolicitor. 

{39a} This was formerly the altar-piece below the east window of thechancel, before the present reredos was placed there, and dedicated atthe Harvest Festival, 22 Sept. , 1870. 

{39b} It may here be stated, that the former font was quite as good asthe present one, octagonal in form, and of perpendicular design, inharmony with older portions of the church. It was, however, discarded atthe restoration, and, for some time, hidden away among rubbish, buteventually presented to the restored church of the neighbouring parish ofBelchford. The bowl of the present font is too small to answer therequirements of the Rubric, and is not in keeping with the architectureof the church. 

{39c} A Lectern, consisting of a large eagle, of cast iron, bronzed, onthe model of one in St. Margaret’s Church, Lynn, was presented by thelate Prebendary Samuel Lodge, Rector of Scrivelsby. This is stillpreserved in the south chancel chapel. 

{40a} Walker in his _Sufferings of the Clergy_ (1714) gives an accountof Thomas Gibson, which we here abridge. Born at Keswick (in the dioceseof Carlisle), he went to Queen’s College, Oxford, was appointed Master ofthe Free School at Carlisle, there promoted to the similar post atNewcastle, and finally preferred by the Bishop of Carlisle to theVicarage of Horncastle in 1634. In consequence of a sermon preached byhim, at the Election for Convocation, he was seized, in 1643, and carriedas a prisoner to Hull. Being released after four month’s detention, andreturning to Horncastle, he was charged with teaching “ormanism”(arminianism), and committed to the “County Jail” at Lincoln, aPresbyterian minister being appointed in his stead at Horncastle. In1644 Colonel King, the Governor of Boston under the Parliament, ordered aparty of horse to seize him (apparently having been released fromLincoln) and to plunder his house, but an old pupil, Lieut. Col. JohnLillburn, interceded for him with his superior officer, Col. King, andthe order was revoked. In the subsequent absence, however, of Lillburnin London, the order was repeated, and Mr. Gibson was made prisoner, hishouse plundered, and his saddle horse, draught horses, and oxen carriedoff. He was imprisoned at Boston, Lincoln and “Tattors-Hall Castle, ”where he had “very ill-usage for 17 weeks. ” He was sequestrated from hisbenefice and an “intruder, ” named Obadiah How, put in charge. He was nowaccused of defending episcopacy, “refusing the covenant, ” &c. He retiredto a “mean house, ” about a mile from Horncastle, supposed to be at“Nether (Low) Toynton, ” where he and his family “lived but poorly for twoyears, teaching a few pupils. ” He was then appointed Master of the FreeSchool at Newark, two years later removed to the school at Sleaford, being presented by Lady Carr. There he lived until the Restoration, andthen resumed his Vicarage at Horncastle, until he died in 1678, aged 84. “He was a grave and venerable person (says Walker), of a sober andregular conversation, and so studious of peace, that when any differencesarose in his parish, he never rested till he had composed them. He hadlikewise so well principled his parish that, of 250 families in it, heleft but one of them Dissenters at his death. ” (Walker’s _Sufferings ofthe 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 decisiveengagement, with important consequences. 

{41a} The origin of these scythes has of late years been a _vexataquestio_. It has been suggested that they are not, as generallysupposed, relics of the Parliamentary War, but of the earlier so-called“Pilgrimage of Grace, ” or “Lincolnshire Rising, ” a movement intended as aprotest against certain abuses attending the Reformation, in the reign ofHenry VIII. The evidence, however, gathered from various directions, would seem to be strongly corroborative of the old and more generalopinion. History shows that, for many years, about the period of theCommonwealth, scythes were among the commonest, rude weapons of war. Theartist 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. Thebattle of Edgemoor was fought Oct. 23, 1642, one year before that ofWinceby. We have also contemporary testimony in the _Memoirs of theVerney Family_ (vol. I, pp. 109–118 and 315), members of which took partin the civil war of that period, that King Charles’ forces consistedlargely of untrained peasants, “ill-fed and clothed . . . Having neithercolours, nor halberts . . . Many only rude pikes . . . Few a musket. ” Tosuch the scythes used in their farm labour would be handy weapons inemergency. As a parallel to these cases Sir Walter Scott, in his prefaceto _Rob Roy_, states that “many of the followers of MacGregor, at thebattle of Prestonpans (Sep. 21, 1745), were armed with scythe blades, setstraight upon their handles, for want of guns and swords. ” It is notwithout interest to note, that about 60 years ago there were exhumed, onthe farm above Langton Hill, in Horncastle, the remains of 6 bodies, lying buried in a row, with scythe blades beside them. It is known thatskirmishes between Royalists and Roundheads took place in this locality, and it can hardly be doubted that these also were relics of the Wincebyfight. The then tenant of the farm, Mr. Dobson (as the writer has beeninformed by his granddaughter, Mrs. H. Boulton of St. Mary’s Square, Horncastle), carted these remains to the town and they were re-buried inthe south side of St. Mary’s Churchyard, while the scythes were added tothose already in the church. An incident, which further confirms theirconnection with the Winceby fight, is that the present writer has in hispossession a pair of spurs, which were found on the field of Winceby, remarkable for the long spikes of their rowels; and he himself once foundthe rowel of a spur, with similarly long spikes, within a few yards ofwhere the bodies were discovered; and in the year 1905 he also examinedseveral bones, pronounced by a doctor to be human, which were found nearthe same spot, while workmen were digging for the foundations of a housesince erected there. On the other hand, as against the theory of thescythes having been used in the earlier “Pilgrimage of Grace, ” we aredistinctly told that the mobs concerned in that movement were deprived ofall weapons before they could use them. In the Lincoln Chapter Housebooks (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, andMr. Brown to Market Rasen. On the whole, therefore, the preponderance ofevidence is strongly in favour of the connection of all these scytheswith the neighbouring Battle of Winceby—the original tradition. 

{41b} Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_ gives the quarterings ofthese shields as follows:—

(1) Sable, 2 lions passant in pale, ducally crowned, or, Dymoke impalingBarry of 6 ermines, and gules, 3 crescents, sable, Waterton; a crescentfor difference. 

(2) Dymoke impaling Vairè, on a fess, gules frettè, or. Marmyon, inchief, 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, waswhen the vestry was broken into in December, 1812, and the moneycollected for parish purposes was stolen. A reward of £50 was offeredfor 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 Insulæ Borealis_. 

 “Orate pro a’ia Thomæ Coppuldike Armig. & D’næ Margaretæ Consortis suæ fundatoris Gildæ 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 Insulæ Australis_. 

 “Orate pro benefactoribus artis sutorum, qui istam fenestram fieri fecerunt stæ Ninianæ 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

 Or, a lion rampant double queue sa. Welles

Empaled