THE SOKE OF HORNCASTLE.
Reading edition
At the time of compiling the Domesday record, there appears to have been included other parishes, in addition to those now comprised in this soke; but it cannot now be ascertained at what time the alteration took place. Beside the parish of Horncastle it at present contains the following townships:—Thimbleby, West Ashby, Low Tointon, High Tointon, Mareham on the Hill, Roughton, Haltham, Wood Enderby, Moorby, Wilksby, Mareham le Fen, and Coningsby. To these have lately been added Langriville and Thornton le Fen, portions of the fen district, which had been sold by the commissioners appointed under an act of enclosure, and rendered parochial by act of parliament in 1812. On the enclosure of these fens, under the act which was obtained in 1801, the whole of the parishes in this soke, excepting the two newly formed ones, had portions of land allotted to them, in lieu of their right of common.
West Ashby, High Tointon, Mareham on the Hill, and Wood Enderby, were formerly hamlets of the parish of Horncastle; but have for several years been considered as distinct parishes, and have appointed their own churchwardens and overseers of the poor.
THIMBLEBY,
In Domesday Book Stimelbi, [43] and in old writings Thimelby, is about a mile north-west from Horncastle, the parishes adjoining each other. The manor which in the reign of Charles the second was the property of Sir Robert Bolles of Scampton, is now possessed by Thomas Hotchkin, Esquire, of Tixover, in the county of Rutland, in the possession of whose ancestors it has been for many years. In this parish is also the manor of Hallgarth, which formerly belonged to a family named Bolton; but is now the property of Richard Elmhirst, Esquire, of Louth. The church rebuilt in the year 1744, is a small stone edifice, possessing a considerable share of architectural merit: a stone over the door points out the year in which it was rebuilt, but besides this it exhibits no other inscription. [44a] The advowson of the rectory belongs to the lord of the manor.
WEST ASHBY,
In Domesday called Aschebi, and in old writings Askeby, is a parish adjoining to the north boundaries of that of Horncastle, from which town the village is about two miles distant. In this parish is the manor of Ashby Thorpe, now the property of Mr. Joseph Rinder; but the possessor of that of Horncastle claims manorial rights over the other parts of the parish. The church consists of a tower, a nave with a north aisle, and a chancel. [44b] The benefice is a curacy in the presentation of the Bishop of Carlisle.
LOW TOINTON,
In Domesday Todingtune, and in old writings Nether Tointon, is about a mile eastward from the town of Horncastle, the parishes adjoining. The manorial estates, which comprise nearly the whole parish are the property of Launcelot Rolleston, Esquire, of Watnall, in the county of Nottingham, by whose ancestors it has been possessed for several generations. The church, which is a small modern erection, being rebuilt in 1811, contains a very curiously sculptured font, and the following inscription on a plate of copper in the north wall:
“Heare lyeth the Body of EDWARD ROLLESTON Esquir who departed this Life the twenty-third of July in the thirtey-fourth year of his age interr’d underneath this place the fourth of August Anno Domini 1687.”
The patrons of the rectory are Lord Gwydir, and the Baroness Willoughby of Eresby, his lady.
HIGH TOINTON,
In old writings Over Tointon, is about a mile and a half eastward from Horncastle, to which parish and also that of Low Tointon it adjoins. From only one place of this name being mentioned in the Domesday record, it is probable that at the time of making that survey both High and Low Tointon were included in one parish. The manorial estates, which have descended with those of Horncastle, belong to the Bishop of Carlisle, and are leased to different individuals. The church is a small uninteresting building. The Bishop of Carlisle is patron of the curacy.
MAREHAM ON THE HILL,
Anciently written Maringe and Mayring, is about a mile and a half south-east from Horncastle, the parishes adjoining each other. The manor once belonged to Edward Marsh, Esquire, of Hundle House, in the county of Lincoln, by a descendant of whom it was sold to William Hudson, Esquire, of Gray’s Inn. In 1659 it was sold to a person named Duncome, of whom it was purchased, in 1688, by Sir Edmund Turnor, of Stoke Rochford, Knight, and is now possessed by his descendant of the same names. The chapel is completely destitute of interest. On repairing it, about fifteen years ago, two nobles of Edward the fourth, two angels of Henry the seventh, and several silver coins of different reigns, contained in a leathern purse, were discovered concealed in the wall. The patron of the curacy is the Bishop of Carlisle.
ROUGHTON,
In Domesday Rocstune, and in old writings Ructon, is about four miles from Horncastle. The manorial estates belong to Sir Joseph Banks. The church, which is a small building, consisting of a tower nave and chancel, contains a marble tablet on which is the following inscription:
“Here lies the Body of NORREYS FYNES, Esq. Grandson to Sir Henry Clinton, commonly called Fynes, eldest Son of Henry Earl of Lincoln, by his Second Wife, Daughter of Sir Richard Morrison, and Mother of Francis Lord Norreys, afterwards Earl of Berkshire. He had by his much beloved and only Wife Elizabeth, who lies by him, Twelve Children, of which Four Sons and Two Daughters were living at his decease, which happened on the 10th of January 1735–6 in the 75th year of his age. From the Revolution he always liv’d a Nonjuror, which rendered him incapable of any other Publick Employment (tho’ by his Great Abilitys and Known Courage equal to the most Difficult and Dangerous) than that of being Steward to two great Familys, wherein he distinguish’d himself during his Service of 40 years a most Faithful and Prudent Manager, of a most Virtuous and Religious Life. His paternal Estate he left without any addition to his Son Kendal his next heir. His eldest Son Charles was buried here the 26th of August 1722, aged 36 years, whose Pleasant Disposition adorn’d by many virtues which he acquir’d by his Studys in Oxford made his death much lamented by all his Acquaintance.”
There also occur two other tablets; one to the memory of the Rev. Arthur Rockcliffe, who died in 1798, aged 71; the other to the memory of Charles Pilkington, Esq. who died in 1798, aged 75, and of Abigail his wife, who died in 1817, aged 80. [46] The rectory, united to that of Haltham in 1741, is in the presentation of the Honorable Champion Dymoke.
HALTHAM,
Called in the Domesday survey Holtham, is about five miles distant from Horncastle. The manorial estates, which comprise almost the whole of the parish, once belonged to the Marmyons of Scrivelsby, and are now possessed by the Champion Dymoke, a descendant of the female branch of that family. The church, which appears to have suffered much from time, has in its pristine state possessed a considerable share of architectural merit. A large window at the eastern end contains very fine tracery, and at one time, together with some of the other windows, exhibited a large portion of stained glass, of which only one piece, containing the arms of La Warre, is now remaining. [47] The rectory, united to that of Roughton in 1741, is in the presentation of the lord of the manor.
WOOD ENDERBY,
In the Domesday record written Endrebi, is about five miles distant from Horncastle. The manor is the property of Sir Joseph Banks. The church is a small uninteresting building. The Bishop of Carlisle is patron of the curacy.
MOORBY,
In Domesday Morebi, is about five miles distant from Horncastle. The manorial estates, comprising the principal part of the parish, are the property of Sir Joseph Banks. The church is totally destitute of interest. The Bishop of Carlisle is the patron of the rectory.
WILKSBY,
In Domesday Wilchesbi, is about six miles distant from Horncastle. The manor is the property of Sir Joseph Banks. The church is a small modern erection. The Champion Dymoke is patron of the rectory.
MAREHAM LE FEN,
In the Domesday book called Marun, and in old writings Marum, is about seven miles distant from Horncastle, and situated on the verge of the recently enclosed fenny district from whence it has received its appellation. The manor is the property of Sir Joseph Banks, by an ancestor of whom it was purchased, together with the three before mentioned manors, above a century ago. The manor house, which has for several years been occupied by Mr. James Roberts, possesses from its adjoining gardens, a considerable share of interest. Having accompanied Sir Joseph Banks, in the first voyage of Captain Cook round the world, Mr. Roberts has sought to associate with the rural simplicities of an English garden, such objects of curiosity as a pleasurable recollection of those scenes had furnished. In addition to numerous rustic and ornamental seats, the gardens are embellished with huts resembling those of Terra del Fuego and New Holland; and also a small museum of curiosities, principally from the South Sea islands. A visit to this spot is always an agreeable recreation. The following sonnet was written after a visit here, by a native of Jamaica.
Dear is the rural scene that Fancy loves, Where tuneful Rapture chants th’ enliv’ning song, In wildest warblings to the darkling groves, Pouring in wildest mood the strains along; While Echo, from the leafy bowers among, Gives a soft cadence to the songster’s tale, A mingled sweetness to the warbling throng, That comes in whispers on the balmy gale. These, Mareham, with thy spreading greenwood shade, Thy silent waters, and thy mossy cell, Breathe such a charm, that oft Delight has strayed, With ling’ring steps, ’mid scenes she lov’d so well; And when fond Mem’ry shall thy joys renew, She’ll tell with musing voice her sweet, her last adieu.
The church consists of a tower, a nave with north and south aisles and a chancel. [49] In the chancel is a tablet to the memory of the Rev. Henry Shepherd, who was rector of this parish thirty-four years, and died in January 1764, aged 62. The advowson of the rectory belongs to the Bishop of Carlisle.
CONINGSBY,
In Domesday Cuningesbi, is a considerable village on the banks of the river Bane, about eight miles from Horncastle. The manor, which was once possessed by the Marmions of Wintringham, has for many years belonged to the Heathcote family, and is now the property of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Baronet, of Normanton in Rutlandshire. The church consists of a tower of excellent masonry, a nave, two aisles and a chancel. [50] The rectory, which is in the presentation of the lord of the manor, was for several years held by the Reverend John Dyer, the poet. It was here that he finished his didactic poem of “The Fleece.” He died at this place in 1782, and lies buried in the church; but there is no inscription to perpetuate his memory.
LANGRIVILLE AND THORNTON LE FEN.
The lands composing these parishes were chiefly those sold by the commissioners appointed under the act for draining and enclosing Wildmore Fen; Langriville also contains the portion allotted to the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, in lieu of his manorial rights over Armtree and Wildmore. In 1812, an act of parliament was passed rendering these lands, with others, parochial, and approximating these two parishes to the soke of Horncastle.
POPULATION. [54]
Parishes. No. of Families in 1588. In 1801. In 1811.
Houses. Persons. Houses. Persons.
Horncastle 164 424 2015 553 2622
Thimbleby 40 50 224 65 316
West Ashby 44 67 297 76 370
Low Tointon 12 9 49 16 98
High Tointon 18 14 93 24 121
Mareham on the Hill 22 22 110 23 122
Roughton 30 23 110 22 106
Haltham 25 29 115 29 143
Wood Enderby 24 30 153 31 183
Moorby 19 24 79 24 105
Wilksby 6 9 54 9 53
Mareham le Fen 87 98 383 104 487
Coningsby 221 302 1301 326 1658