XV. LOST VILLS AND OTHER FORGOTTEN PLACES
Final concords help to identify places mentioned in other records;
and for no county is such help more acceptable than for Lincolnshire,
where in many instances two, three, or more places, have the same or a
nearly identical, name. Thus there are six Ashby's, five Burtons, eight
Carltons, at least eight Cotes', six Kirkby's, and probably no fewer than
two dozen Thorpes.
The concords also furnish information about parishes, vills, hamlets,
and manors which have become depopulated, or of which few traces
remain. Of these some instances may be given:
Wapentake of Aswardhurn
1. Laythorpe, (fn. 1) a vill in the parish of Kirkby Laythorpe and
wapentake of Aswardhurn, which appears in Domesday Book as
Ledvlftorp, Leduluetorp, (fn. 2) and in the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries
as Leilthorp, Layltorp, Leythorpe, etc. At the end of the thirteenth
century it is sometimes coupled with Kirkby by et, and sometimes, as
generally in later times and as at the present day, the name precedes
Kirkby without a conjunctive. There is also a hamlet of Laythorpe in
West Keal.
2. Mareham or Cold Mareham, (fn. 3) a moated enclosure, containing
about nine acres, in the parish of Burton Pedwardine, on the east side
of the old Roman road, called Mareham lane, and bounded on the
north by the Cliff Beck. There was a grange of Sempringham there.
It was possibly a place of some importance before the Conquest; for
a Sempringham charter mentions 'illum montem qui vocatur þinghou
iuxta Caldmarham.' (fn. 4)
3. Millthorpe, (fn. 5) an extinct hamlet in the parish of Quarrington.
There is another Millthorpe in Aslackby. (fn. 6)
4. Silkby, (fn. 7) a hamlet and manor in the parish which is now called
Silk Willoughby, lying to the west of the highway from Sleaford to
Folkingham. The old manor house, which was replaced by a mean
house within living memory, stood on the north side of the road which
leads from Willoughby to South Rauceby, and about a quarter of a mile
west of Willoughby church. In the grass close (fn. 8) immediately to the east
of the manor-house is the site of Silkby chapel, and there is also a
mound which is supposed to have been a folk-moot, and another mound
called the Butt mound. Silkby appears in the records as a hamlet till
the middle of the fourteenth century, after which it became merged in
Willoughby, (fn. 9) which came generally to be known as Silk Willoughby
instead of Willoughby cum Silkby. There seems to have been no
hamlet nor chapel in 1565. (fn. 10) Silkby was still a separate manor in 1496,
when the site of the manor with the houses on it was stated to be of no
value, (fn. 11) and in 1563. (fn. 12)
Wapentake of Aveland
5. Ouseby, (fn. 13) a depopulated vill, which appears in Domesday Book as
Uuesbi and Ulvesbi (fn. 14) ; and in subsequent records as Useby or Ouseby. It
was situated in Birthorpe, which was formerly in the parish of Stow by
Threckingham, but is now in Sempringham. Ouseby evidently took its
name from a small stream which flows a little to the east of Folkingham,
Birthorpe, and Billingborough, and is named the 'Ouse Mer Lode.' In
Greenwood's map the vill is placed north-east-by-north of Birthorpe,
close to the southern bank of the Ouse Mer Lode, where the road running
northwards from Birthorpe joins the highway from Billingborough to
Folkingham. In the Enclosure Award of Billingborough and Birthorpe,
dated 20 April, 1770, this road is called Ouzeby lane, and the ancient
enclosures in the angle formed by the stream on the north and the lane
on the east are called Ouzeby closes. These closes no doubt mark the
site of the vill. Another close at the extreme southern end of Ouzeby
lane, lying to the west of the lane, and bounded on the south by
Birthorpe road, is called Wyan's Ouzeby close in the award. Ouseby lane
now crosses the Ouse Mer Lode by a bridge, but in olden days there was
probably a ford, the wide gravel bottom of which still remains. Ouseby
in Birthorpe must be distinguished from Oseby in the parish of Haydor.
6. Ringstone, Ringsden, Ringsdon, (fn. 15) a lost vill which seems to
have comprised the south-western part of the parish of Rippingale, and
to have been bounded on the north by the stream called the Old Beck,
on the south and east by the parish of Dunsby, and on the west by the
parish of Kirkby Underwood. (fn. 16) The moat within which the manor
house or hall stood can still be traced just to the south of the Cliff Beck,
and about two hundred yards east of the highway from Folkingham to
Bourne. The house itself was occupied as late as the seventeenth
century, after which it fell into decay and gradually disappeared. There
was a chapel of our lady there in 1505. (fn. 17) Ringstone is now included in
the parish of Rippingale for all purposes except that it is separately
assessed to the Black Sluice Drainage rate.
Wapentake of Beltisloe
7. Bowthorpe, (fn. 18) Beirethorpe, Burethorp, a vill in the parish of
Witham on the Hill, which is now represented by Bowthorpe park farm
in Manthorpe in that parish. It appears in Domesday Book as Bergestorp,
Bredestorp, (fn. 19) Adewelle. (fn. 20) and must be distinguished from Birthorpe in the
wapentake of Aveland, the Berchetorp of Domesday Book, (fn. 21) formerly a vill
and chapelry in the parish of Stow by Threckingham, (fn. 22) and now a hamlet
in the parish of Sempringham.
8. Southorpe, (fn. 23) a lost vill in or near Edenham, which must be
distinguished from Southorpe in the wapentake of Corringham; from
Southorpe in Gayton le Wold, which may possibly be identical with
Gayton le Wold grange; and from Sudthorpe, a mile south of Fulbeck.
Wapentake of Bradley
9. Hole and Itterby, (fn. 24) hamlets on the sea coast in the parish of
Clee. They were partly devoured by the sea, and parts of them are
probably included in Cleethorpes, a name which seems to be comparatively modern, meaning the thorpes in Clee. Itterby occurs four times
in Domesday Book. (fn. 25) About 1565 there were seventeen families living
there, and thirteen at Hole. (fn. 26)
10. Holme, sometimes called South Holm, (fn. 27) was a vill and manor
in the parish of Clee, at the north-western boundary of that parish, and
therefore adjoining Great Grimsby. The site now forms part of the
municipal borough of Grimsby, and the name of Holme Hill survives to
specify the district immediately to the east of Hainton square, in Grimsby,
where St. Luke's church, St. Andrew's vicarage, the Holme Hill council
schools, etc., are situated. No more than a mound, the site of St. Mary's
Roman church, now remains to represent Holme Hill; but a hundred
years ago the hill was one hundred and sixty feet high, and covered
twelve acres. Fifty years ago to anyone facing eastwards from what is
now Hainton square it appeared as a nearly perpendicular cliff from forty
to fifty feet high, which in about ten years time was levelled, the materials
being used by builders. (fn. 28) The manor belonged to Grimsby abbey, (fn. 29) and it
is spoken of in 1316 as the manor of Holme, Weelsby, and Clee. (fn. 30) In
1314 the abbot and convent of Grimsby founded two chantries in the
chapel of St. Nicholas at Holme, the one in honour of the blessed Virgin
Mary, and the other for the souls of John de Jordeburgh and Elizabeth
his wife, who had given to the abbey twenty librates of land in the vills
of Clee and Weelsby. In 1316 the abbot and convent founded another
chantry in the chapel for the souls of Thomas de Skirbeck and Ralph his
son and Ralph's wife Beatrice, Ralph having given to the abbey land in
the vills and fields of Holme, Weelsby, and Bradley. (fn. 31) The Friars minors
of Grimsby obtained a licence, 30 June, 1313, to make a subterranean
conduit from Holm to their house in Grimsby through the soil of the
king's land, and of that of John Yoruburgh and Ralph de Skirbek in
Holm. (fn. 32)
Wapentake of Calcewath
11. Brakenholm, (fn. 33) an island in the parish of Farlsthorpe.
12. Danmark (fn. 34) in Mumby. About four hundred yards south of
St. Leonard's church at Mumby Chapel there is a field, called Denmark
Ings, which is held in ming by the churchwardens of that church and
the governors of Bethlem hospital.
13. Haverholm, (fn. 35) near Mumby, which must be distinguished from
the better known Haverholme (fn. 36) in the wapentake of Flaxwell.
Wapentake of Flaxwell
14. Coteland (fn. 37) in Ruskington, and possibly also in Anwick. (fn. 38)
Wapentake of Gartree
15. Birkwood, an extinct chapelry in the parish of Kirkby on
Bain. (fn. 39) The wood of Birkwood probably extended into the adjoining
parishes, and Birkwood hall within a moated enclosure is now situated
in the parish of Mareham le Fen.
16. Buckland, (fn. 40) an extinct hamlet in the parish of Woodhall, and
probably in the north-eastern part of that parish. Entries relating to
the inhabitants of Buckland appear in the Woodhall parish register as
late as 1580–1600.
17. Burreth, (fn. 41) a parish co-terminous with the present parish of
Tupholme. It appears in Domesday Book as Burgrede. (fn. 42) Tupholme
abbey was founded in the parish of Burreth in the time of Henry II,
and the church was part of the original endowment of the abbey. The
manor was granted to the abbey in 1329. (fn. 43) A vicarage was ordained
early in the thirteenth century. (fn. 44) In 1349, during the Black Death,
Burreth probably suffered heavily, for a new abbot and a new vicar were
instituted, and after 1381 the institutions to the vicarage cease. The
very name of the parish fell into disuse; and Tupholme, the abode of
the religious community, superseded it. Thus, in 1538, even the manor
is described as the manor of Tupholme. (fn. 45)
18. Thorley, (fn. 46) which is found in Domesday Book under the form
Turlai. (fn. 47) Later it appears as a manor. A survey, dated 1563, which is
contained in one of the court-books (fn. 48) of the manor of Stow in Lindsey
shews that Thorley is an alternative name for the manor of Minting
park which covers a large part of the parishes of Minting and Gautby.
Wapentake of Haverstoe
19. Autby, (fn. 49) a lost vill and parish, which is now represented by
Autby house in the south-western part of the parish of North Thoresby.
It is found in Domesday Book as Alwoldebi, Alwoldesbi, Adulvebi,
Adulvesbi. (fn. 50) The church was a rectory in the gift of Beauport abbey in
Brittany, and the institutions of incumbents continue until the early part
of the fifteenth century. It was a hamlet of North Thoresby, circa 1565,
with one family. (fn. 51)
Wapentake of Hille
20. Dunsthorpe, (fn. 52) a lost vill and parish which is now included in
the parish of Hameringham. The church was a rectory, the institutions
to which continue until 1421. It is to be distinguished from Dunsthorpe
near Grantham (no. 39) and from Dunsthorpe (no. 27).
Wapentake of Kirton
21. Riskington, (fn. 53) a vill in Kirton in Holland. Reschintone hundred
of twelve carucates occurs in Domesday Book; Ryskington hundred, and
Riskentonbrac in the territory of Kirton are mentioned in the Charter
Rolls. (fn. 54)
22. Tytton, (fn. 55) a hamlet in the western part of the parish of
Wyberton, now represented by Tytton hall.
Wapentake of Langoe
23. Cotes, (fn. 56) Chotes, a vill (fn. 57) in the parish of Blankney, almost
certainly, the original name of the present hamlet of Linwood. Like
that hamlet it consisted of a narrow strip of land stretching along the
southern side of the parish of Blankney, bounded on the east by the
river Witham. Its western boundary was probably, as in the case of
Linwood again, the little stream which runs from north to south on the
eastern side of the Great Northern and Great Eastern joint railway (fn. 58) ;
and the 'bridge of Cotes' (fn. 59) probably carried over this stream the road
from Cotes to Blankney. Cotes belonged to the fee of Walter Deyncourt;
and the whole of the vill seems to have been given by him or his men
to Kirkstead abbey about 1140. In a charter of that period, and
probably in another charter dated 1140, Walter mentions the grange of
Lyndwde which he had given to the monks. (fn. 60) The grange is situated on
the western bank of the Carr Dyke, and some Tudor work forms part of
the present house. In modern times the house was re-named 'Linwood
hall,' or 'Linwood house,' and the name 'Linwood grange' was transferred
to a small farm about half a mile to the west. It may be presumed that
the inhabitants of Cotes lived near the Carr Dyke, and that the vill and
the grange were therefore not far apart. After the land passed into the
possession of the abbey it is probable that the vill experienced a decrease,
and the grange an increase, of importance; so that, as in the case of
Burreth, the name of the religious settlement soon superseded the name
of the vill; and Cotes became Linwood, or, as it is sometimes found,
Linwood and Cotes. (fn. 61)
24. North Cotes, Cotes, Little Cotts, or Norcottes, which
must be distinguished from Cotes in Blankney (q.v.); from Norcotes, (fn. 62)
a vill in the parish of West Ashby, where Kirkstead Abbey owned land;
and from the parish of North Cotes in the wapentake of Haverstoe.
It was a small grange in Hanehaithe (q.v.), and was probably dependent
on the more important grange of that name. It occurs as one of
the granges of Kirkstead Abbey in a royal charter, dated 1209. (fn. 63) In the
Valor Ecclesiasticus 'Hawhethe cum Norcotts' occurs amongst the
possessions of Kirkstead (fn. 64) ; and it appears in an indenture, dated 14
December, 1655, (fn. 65) as the grange of Little Cotts alias North Cotes. This
document proves that it lay in the heath of one of the three parishes of
Dunston, Metheringham, and Blankney. The last-named parish seems
to be excluded because the description 'North' would be inapplicable;
Metheringham also, as being close to Hanehaithe grange would appear
unlikely. Dunston remains: and it may be mentioned that against a
grant of land in Anaheida in the Darcy fee, and therefore in Nocton or
Dunston, a sixteenth century hand has written the name 'Authcotes,'
which may possibly be a corruption of Heathcotes. (fn. 66)
25. Hanehaithe, Hanehaida, Aneheythe, which was the name
both of a district and of a grange of Kirkstead Abbey. As the name of
a district it denoted the part of the great heath, stretching southwards
from Lincoln, which lies in the parishes of Nocton, Dunston,
Metheringham, Blankney, Harmston, Coleby, and Boothby Graffoe,
bounded on the west by a line which must probably be drawn between
Ermine street and the present rampire or high road from Lincoln to
Sleaford, and on the east by the ancient highway from Lincoln through
the middle of Mere to Sleaford, which was known as the Sleaford
highway (magna uia de Lafforda). (fn. 67) This road is still in use from
Bracebridge Heath to Scopwick, and perhaps further south. The heath
of Hanehaithe was given to the abbey by various donors about the
middle of the twelfth century (fn. 68) ; and there the monks built an important
grange which was known as the grange of Hanehaithe or Kirkestedeheyth. (fn. 69) In an indenture, (fn. 70) dated 14 December, 1655, it is called Kerksted
grange. This grange lay on the western side of the Sleaford highway, (fn. 69)
and it may be presumed that it was situated near that road; for an
agreement, made 26 September, 1233, between the monks and Oliver
Deyncourt, speaks of the Sleaford highway as running between the vill
of Blankneia and the grange which is called Kirkestedeheyth. This
would suggest that the grange was not much to the north or to the south
of the latitude of the vill, but nearly due west of it. By the same
charter Deyncourt gives the monks a right of way over his land, which
lay in Blankney and Metheringham, between their two granges of
Linwood and Hanehaithe or Kirkestedeheyth. (fn. 69) The evidence therefore
points to Blankney or Metheringham, and especially to the former, as
the site of the grange. Now in the parish of Blankney, exactly opposite
the village, and about one hundred and fifty yards beyond, that is
on the western side of, the Sleaford highway, there is situated the farmstead of Blankney Heath Farm. The present buildings shew no signs
of antiquity, but at times stones have been dug up which have evidently
formed part of an older building. If we cannot affirm that this is the
site of Hanehaithe grange, we can at least say that no place could
fit the evidence better, and that careful enquiry and examination
have brought to light no evidence which points to another
site. Henry III dated letters close at 'Ancheth,' (fn. 71) on 10 January, 1227–8 (fn. 72) ;
and Bishop Grosseteste was at 'Aneheythe' on 22 and 25 March, 1239. (fn. 73)
A charter, dated 1155, records an agreement made between the monks
of Kirkstead and the knights of the Temple 'dwelling in the Temple of
Aneheida,' touching land in Dunston and Nocton. (fn. 74) The reference seems
to be to the Templars' house at Mere, which was on the edge of the
heath of Hanehaithe.
Wapentake of Lawress
26. Middle Carlton, a lost vill and parish, which is now included
in North Carlton. It has been found impossible in every case to identify
the several Carltons. In addition to the existing places of that name—
Great and Little Carlton, Castle Carlton, Carlton le Moorland, Carlton
Scroop, and North and South Carlton—there was a tiny parish of the
name lying between North and South Carlton, and now included in the
former parish. These three Carltons, which lie from three to five miles
north-west of Lincoln, appear in the records under various names:
(1) North Carlton is found as Carlton Wildeker, Carlton Kyme, (fn. 75) North
Carlton by Scampton, (fn. 76) Carlton Kyme in Ysele (fn. 77) ; (2) South Carlton as
Carlton by Lincoln, Carlton Paynel, (fn. 78) Carlton by Burton; (3) and the
depopulated Carlton (fn. 79) as Middle Carlton, Little Carlton, Little Carlton by
Lincoln, Carlton Makerel, (fn. 80) Barton, Barton by Northcarleton, Barthon by
Suth Carlton, Carlton Barton, Barketon, Barkeston, (fn. 81) Parua Carleton que
uocatur Barkeston. (fn. 82)
Middle Carlton, as this place of many aliases may most fitly be called,
was a rectory in the gift of the Paynells, and the institutions continue
until the end of the fourteenth century. The parish probably suffered
heavily in the Black Death; for it is recorded in 1398 that there had
been no parishioners for forty years. (fn. 83) In 1428 there were not more than
ten inhabitants. (fn. 84) About 1399, Thomas de Aston, who was then patron of
the rectory, arranged for its appropriation on the next vacancy to the
hospital of St. Edmund, king and martyr, which he had founded at
Spital le Street. (fn. 85) A supplementary tithe-rent-charge award of the parish
of North Carlton, dated 31 December, 1849, shews that the master of the
hospital was entitled to 21l. a year on account of tithes arising out of nine
closes, eight of pasture and one of meadow, which were 'well-known as
the rectory of Little Carlton.' These closes contain 108 acres, 2 roods,
2 perches, and it seems probable that they comprised the whole area of
the parish with the probable exception of a strip of the marsh running
westwards towards Broxholme. The map attached to the award shews
that the closes lay just to the west of the road from Lincoln to Kirton,
and were bounded on the north by North Carlton, on the south by South
Carlton, and on the west by a bridle road from North to South Carlton.
The boundaries of these closes have been considerably altered, and no
fences now mark the boundary between North Carlton and what was
Middle Carlton. The nine closes are now represented by the following
enclosures as delineated in the Ordnance Survey:—no. 73, the western
parts of nos. 79 and 111, no. 113, no. 120, and no. 121. The village itself
was situated in a close called Bartons, which is now included in no. 113
of the Ordnance Survey. The outline of the church can still be discerned,
especially in dry weather, a few yards from the northern boundary of
no. 113, and just to the east of the footpath from North Carlton to South
Carlton; while mounds mark the foundations of buildings on the opposite
side of the footpath. There are also traces of a road to the village from
the highway to Lincoln on the east, and of a road which connected the
three Carltons.
Wapentake of Loutheske
27. Dunsthorpe, (fn. 86) which is entered as a hamlet in the parish of
South Elkington, in a return of parishes, chapels, and hamlets in Lincolnshire, circa 1565, at which date it contained four families. (fn. 87) Circa 1250–
1258, William son of Philip de Kyme granted a croft in Dunstorp and a
bovate of land in Aukingtona [Elkington] to the canons of Lincoln. (fn. 88) It
is possible that Dunsthorpe should be identified with the existing
Elkington Thorpe, which is situated immediately to the east of the
village of South Elkington.
28. Fanthorpe, Felmethorp, (fn. 89) a grange of Tupholme abbey, in the
parish of Louth, which is now represented by a house called Fanthorpe
Lawn and three cottages, standing about a mile and a quarter north-west
of Louth, close to the boundary between Louth and South Elkington.
There is also a farm named Fanthorpe Farm about a mile north of Louth
on the western side of the highway from Grimsby to Louth, and about a
quarter of a mile south-east of Fanthorpe Lawn. Circa 1565, Fanthorpe
was returned as containing one family, and as being a hamlet of South
Elkington, (fn. 90) but its connexion with that parish was probably no more than
a temporary arrangement for ecclesiastical purposes.
29. South Cadeby, (fn. 91) a lost vill and parish, which has often been
confused with North Cadeby which itself was formerly a separate parish,
but is now annexed to Wyham. Circa 1565, South Cadeby was returned
as a hamlet of Calcethorpe, containing two families. (fn. 92) The writer has lately
been able, by means of evidence derived from charters and terriers, (fn. 93) and
by investigations on the spot, to determine the situation of the parish. It
was bounded on the north by Calcethorpe, and on the south by Grimblethorpe; and the present boundary between those parishes runs along the
northern side of an ancient road which was known as Cadeby street, and
which can still be traced by a depression in the ground. This road was
a continuation of the present road which leads south-eastwards from
Wykeham hall. When South Cadeby ceased to be a parish, Cadeby
street with the land which lay to the south of it was transferred to
Grimblethorpe, while Calcethorpe received all that lay to the north of
the street. South Cadeby was bounded on the west by East Wykeham;
while the east end, which was probably very narrow, abutted upon the
parish of Welton le Wold and the highway from Wragby to Louth. The
small stream which rises in the north-western part of Calcethorpe, and
runs along the boundary between East Wykeham on the west and Calcethorpe, Cadeby, and Grimblethorpe on the east, and joins the river Bain
at the north-eastern corner of Brough on Bain, was itself also called the
Bain in the twelfth century; and on this stream, in the territory of
Cadeby, Sixle priory had a mill. (fn. 94) A highway called Horncastle street, (fn. 95)
which can still be traced from Kelstern to Biscathorpe, ran through the
parish from north to south along the high ground between the church
and the eastern arm of the Bain.
The site of the village can still be traced by numerous mounds (1) in
a close called 'Cadeby close,' now in Grimblethorpe, bounded on the
north by the present boundary between Grimblethorpe and Calcethorpe,
and on the east by a stream which, rising in Kelstern, flowed through
Calcethorpe, Cadeby, Grimblethorpe and Gayton le Wold, and joined the
Bain at Biscathorpe; and (2) in the south-western part of an adjoining
close, called 'Little Cadeby,' in Calcethorpe, bounded on the south by
'Cadeby close' and lying on both sides of the stream.
The site of the church is marked by mounds, and by the memory of
an old inhabitant handed down to her grandson who is now living. This
lady, Mrs Sharpley of Kelstern, remembered the church, a small thatched
building, being burnt down in the early part of the nineteenth century.
It stood in 'Little Cadeby' in a narrow salient in the western side of that
close. The church, which was dedicated to St. Peter, was given with its
chapels to Sixle priory by Hugh de Bayeux. (fn. 96) A vicarage was ordained, (fn. 97)
and vicars were instituted until the second half of the fifteenth century.
After that the vicarage was incorporated in the rectory of Calcethorpe.
Early in the thirteenth century the vicarage of South Cadeby was charged
with a yearly pension payable to Sixle priory, (fn. 98) and we find such a pension
charged on the rectory of Calcethorpe in the time of Henry VIII. (fn. 99)
Domesday Book shows that there were no fewer than six manors in
this small parish—the bishop of Durham had two, Roger of Poitou two,
Alfred of Lincoln one, and William Blundus one. (fn. 100) In addition to this,
Alfred of Lincoln had a manor in Catebi Torp, (fn. 101) but there are grounds for
identifying this place with Calcethorpe. To guard against the confusion
which has prevailed in the past, (fn. 102) it may be mentioned that North Cadeby,
in the wapentake of Haverstoe, and now annexed to Wyham, belonged
at the time of Domesday to count Alan, (fn. 103) and that the benefice was a
rectory in the patronage of Wellow Abbey, the church being dedicated
to St. Helen.
30. West Wykeham or Little Wykeham, (fn. 104) a lost vill and parish,
which is now included in East Wykeham. Half the church was appropriated to Sixle priory, and half to Markby priory. (fn. 105) Vicars were instituted
until 1382.
Wapentake of Loveden
31. Holme Spinney, (fn. 106) which is entered in Domesday Book as Holm,
a manor of 12 carucates, belonging to the fee of Gilbert de Gant. (fn. 107) Later
records shew that Holm included Beckingham and Sutton which are
stated to be members of the manor of 'Hulm.' (fn. 108) In the fourteenth
century the manor was known as Holme Spinney. (fn. 109) In 1270, Sir Gerard
de Furnival, the lord of the manor, granted land in Beckingham, Sutton,
and Holm, for the maintenance of a priest to celebrate divine service
daily for the souls of himself and Christian Ledet, his mother, and others
in the chapel of St. Leonard within his court at Holme. (fn. 110) Chaplains were
instituted to the chantry of the chapel of St. Leonard within the manor
of Holme Spinney until 1396 (fn. 111) ; after which there are no more institutions
until we come to four admissions (fn. 112) in the sixteenth century to the
perpetual chantry of St. Leonard founded in the church of Beckingham.
It is plain that the chantry had been removed from Holme Spinney, for
the first of the later group of admissions states that it had been founded
for the soul of Edward [sic] Furnivall, while the certificate of Lincolnshire chantries, circa 1548, gives the name of the founder as Gerard
Furnyvall. (fn. 113) By the time of Henry VII the manor was no longer called the
manor of Holme Spinney but the manor of Beckingham, (fn. 114) and eventually
the very name of Holme was seemingly forgotten. Holme has been
identified with the Holmes in Brantbroughton (fn. 115) ; and also with the
Holmes, three meadows close to Beckingham on the west side of the
Witham; but these sites do not fit the evidence, for Holme Spinney was
in the parish of Beckingham and near Sutton. (fn. 116) There can, however, be
no doubt about the site; for just to the south of the hamlet of Sutton and
only separated from it by one small close, there is a low hill which
occupies the chief part of a grass close (fn. 117) measuring 14.741 acres, and is
now known as Cumberland hill. The close is partly surrounded by
water, and in former days it may well have been entirely encircled, and
thus have been a holme or island. There are traces of a moat, and of
one, if not two, dikes within it; and the hill is covered with mounds
and hollows suggestive of foundations. Standing in the midst of the low
lands near the Witham, which are still liable to be flooded, it must have
been a position of great natural and artificial strength, suggesting a castle
rather than a manor-house.
Wapentake of Ludborough
32. Cawthorpe (fn. 118) in the eastern part of the parish of Covenham St.
Bartholomew. The place has sometimes been confused with Little
Cawthorpe in the wapentake of Calcewath. (fn. 119) Cawthorpe is mentioned in
a terrier, dated 1601, of the glebe of Covenham St. Bartholomew as being
divided by a dike from Wragholme in the parish of Grainthorpe. (fn. 120)
Cawthorpe seems sometimes to be used to denote the parish of Covenham
St. Bartholomew. (fn. 121)
Wapentake of Manley
33. North Conesby, or Little Coneysby, or Little Coningsby, (fn. 122)
a lost vill in the parish of Flixborough.
34. South Conesby, or Great Coneysby, or Great Coningsby, (fn. 123)
a lost vill, which is now represented by Conesby Farm in the extreme
north of the parish of Crosby.
35. Haythby, (fn. 124) a lost vill in the parish of West Halton. Its
situation is established by the tithe award map of that parish which
shews twenty-one small contiguous closes which are described as
'Hairby fields.' This land is marked, though not named, in the oneinch Ordnance map, being enclosed by a dotted line. It is bounded on
the east by the road running southwards from Coleby, on the west by
the road from Aukborough to Burton, on the north by a field-road
running westwards from the south end of Coleby village, and on the
south by a line parallel to the northern boundary and about one-third of
a mile to the south of it.
36. Stainton, (fn. 125) a lost vill near Waddingham, which is coupled with
Waddingham as late as 1428, (fn. 126) but afterwards appears to have been
merged in that parish, which commonly appears as Stainton Waddingham.
Wapentake of Skirbeck
37. Fen, (fn. 127) a depopulated hamlet, manor, and chapelry in the parish
of Fishtoft.
38. Wirmele (fn. 128) and Wolmersty, (fn. 129) in the parish of Wrangle. In
Domesday Book Wrangle is stated to be in the wapentake of Ulmerestig. (fn. 130)
Wapentake of Threo
39. Dunsthorpe, (fn. 131) a lost vill, which is closely associated in various
records with Harrowby and Westhorpe (see no. 43). The site of the
vill must be looked for in the borough of Grantham, east of the river
Witham, in the parish of New Somerby which was formed out of the
western end of Somerby in 1894. Part of the vill may perhaps be
included in Harrowby. In the Somerby Enclosure Award, dated 5
August, 1813, the second close eastwards from the river Witham, which
is bounded on the north by Harrowby, is called 'Middle Dunstrop.'
This Dunsthorpe must be distinguished from Dunsthorpe near
Hammeringham (see no. 20), and from Dunsthorpe in South Elkington
(see no. 27).
40. Ringsthorpe, (fn. 132) a lost vill in the parish of Barkston.
41. St. Anne's (fn. 133) a hamlet at the extreme western end of what
was formerly the parish of Somerby, adjoining the river Witham. It
is now included in the recently constituted ecclesiastical parish of
St. Anne's, Grantham, in the district of New Somerby, which forms part
of the borough of Grantham. Circa 1565, there was 1 family in the
hamlet. (fn. 134)
42. Touthorpe, (fn. 135) a lost vill in the parish of Londonthorpe. It
was not improbably swallowed up by Belton park. In Domesday Book
it appears as Tudetorp, Tuuetorp. (fn. 136)
43. Westhorpe, (fn. 137) a hamlet in the parish of Somerby, which in the
records is generally associated with Somerby, Dunsthorpe (see no. 39),
and Harrowby. In terriers of the glebe of Somerby, dated 24 January,
1611–12, and 18 April, 1625, the rector is stated to have a cottage, land,
and common rights in 'West Thorpe or West Somerbie.' (fn. 138) The houses
in Somerby are divided into two well-defined groups, about three
quarters of a mile apart, the eastern group, which contains the church
and the old manor-house, being called High Somerby or Top Town,
and the western group being known as Low Somerby or Bottom Town.
The evidence is not conclusive, but there is something to be said for
identifying Westhorpe with Low Somerby. It may be mentioned that
there is a hamlet of Westhorpe in Quadring.
Wapentake of Walshcroft
44. Beckfield, (fn. 139) a lost hamlet in Binbroke. A terrier of the glebe
of Binbrook mentions Beckfield and Beckfield close in the west field of
the parish. (fn. 140)
Wapentake of Welle
45. Alfletby, (fn. 141) in the parish of Willingham by Stow. (fn. 142)
Wapentake of Winnibriggs
46. Casthorpe, (fn. 143) Cassingthorpe, a depopulated vill in the western
part of the parish of Barrowby, consisting of East Casthorpe and West
Casthorpe. (fn. 144) The present Casthorpe lodge probably marks the situation of
the former, and Casthorpe house the approximate position of the latter.
47. Ganthorpe, (fn. 145) a lost vill which is now almost certainly included
in the south-eastern part of Great Ponton. In the records it is
associated with that parish and with Little Ponton. Countess Judith
had a manor in Germundtorp in 1086. (fn. 146) In 1212 and 1242 it appears as
Germerthorpe, (fn. 147) and in 1401–2 as Gernthorp, (fn. 148) in 1304 as Bermthorpe. (fn. 149)
It has sometimes been wrongly identified with Grainthorpe. (fn. 148) In terriers
of the glebe of Great Ponton in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
the south field, lying between Great Ponton and Stoke Rochford and
east of Great Ponton moor and west of Cringle beck, is sometimes
called Ganthorpe field; and there are seven fields in the parish. One
land lies at Ganthorpe hedge, and three lands upon 'Ganthrope' side. (fn. 150)
48. Houghton and Walton (fn. 151) decayed hamlets in the old parish
of Grantham, which are now represented respectively by Houghton
Farm on the eastern bank of the river Witham immediately to the north
of the point where the Great Northern Railway crosses the river, and
by Walton Farm, a little to the south-west of Houghton. Spittlegate,
which adjoins Houghton on the north and west and Walton on the
North, is from the thirteenth century onwards almost always associated
with Houghton and sometimes with Walton also. (fn. 152) In 1333 the three
places were assessed to a subsidy (fn. 153) as one township (uillata). In the
sixteenth century lay subsidies, the vill is described comprehensively as
Spittlegate, except in one instance when it appears as Houghton cum
Spittlegate. (fn. 154) At the time of the enclosure, Spittlegate, Houghton, and
Walton formed a lordship or manor. Spittlegate is now divided into
Spittlegate Within, that is the part inside, and Spittlegate Without,
the part outside, the borough of Grantham; and Spittlegate Without,
Houghton, and Walton form a civil parish. Houghton is the only one
of the three names which appears in Domesday Book, where it is found
as Hogetune, Hogtone, Hochtune, Hoctune, (fn. 155) and is assessed to the
Danegeld at 1 carucate + 3 carucates 2½ bovates + 1¾ carucutes + 1¼
carucates + ½ carucate (= 7 carucates 6½ bovates). There is, however,
near Grantham, a mysterious vill named Nongtone or Nongetune (fn. 156) which
is rated at 3 carucates 5½ bovates + ½ carucate (= 4 carucates 1½ bovates);
and it is significant that this amount when added to the 7 carucates
6½ bovates of Houghton makes a complete hundred of twelve carucates.
The name Nongtone or Nongetune is not found in records subsequent to
Domesday Book, and what evidence there is suggests that the land given
there under that name afterwards formed part of the vill of Houghton,
Walton, and Spittlegate. It is tempting to treat Nongtone or Nongetune
as a mistake of the constructors of Domesday Book for Hongetune. Those
clerks had to rely upon returns from the wapentakes, and it has been
pointed out that confusion between H and N in the script of the eleventh
century was not impossible, while it was easy, then as now, to read
n for u.
Wapentake of Wraggoe
49. Brethage, Brethawe, (fn. 157) in the parish of Langton by Wragby,
and extending to the boundary of Hatton. It contained at least one
manor. (fn. 158)
50. Holtham, (fn. 159) a lost vill, about equi-distant from Legsby and Sixle,
which is now represented by a farm called Holtham Garrs or Holtham
Garth in the parish of Legsby. It appears in Domesday Book as Houten,
and is sokeland of Legsby and of Sixle. (fn. 160) It is also found as Hotham,
Hogham, Houtham, Hudham, and Odham in the charters of Sixle
priory. (fn. 161)
51. Lissingleys, (fn. 162) which is the eastern half of a piece of extraparochial land bounded on the north by Buslingthorpe, on the south by
Wickenby, on the east by Lissington, and on the west by Friesthorpe. (fn. 163)
Wapentake of Yarburgh
52. Coton, (fn. 164) a depopulated vill, which was a hamlet in the parish
of Keelby as late as circa 1565, when it contained one family. (fn. 165) At a later
time it was extra-parochial, and is now included in the parish of
Brocklesby. In Domesday Book there was a manor of one carucate in
Chelebi [Keelby] or Cotes, (fn. 166) which corresponds to the one carucate
which Stephen de Albemara held in Cotun in 1115–18. (fn. 167) Alan de
Monceaux, who held of the earl of Albemarle, founded a priory of
Cistercian nuns [at Coton] in the parish of Keelby, probably in the reign
of Stephen, giving them the whole vill of Coton (fn. 168) which consequently
became known as Nun Coton.
53. Hardwick, (fn. 169) Wykeham, (fn. 170) and Draycote, (fn. 171) lost vills in the parish
of Nettleton.
The usual modern spelling of place-names has generally been followed
in the index. In some instances, however, a more correct form has been
substituted, though this practice has been followed sparingly. The old
form Sixle has been preferred to the modern Sixhills, since the name has
nothing to do with any hills. In the sixteenth century it was often written
Sixhill; in the eighteenth century a final s was added, seemingly
as a supposed grammatical correction; and in the nineteenth century
editors of county directories carried the process a step further by dividing
the name into two words—'Six Hills.' The forms Bloxham and Dunham
are probably more correct than the alternative forms of Bloxholme
and Dunholme. In the name Cotes, which is inconveniently common in
the county, the a which, since the time of Elizabeth, has often been
inserted after the second letter has been omitted as having no ancient
authority, and as tending also to obscure the origin of the name—
O. E. cot or O. N. kot = a cottage.