Kirkby, East.
East Kirkby is situated just below the steep slope of the Wolds, near their southern extremity, between 7 and 8 miles south south-east of Horncastle, 6 miles south-west from Spilsby, and 9 miles north-east from Tattershall. From Horncastle it is approached viâ Scrivelsby and Moorby. It is contiguous, on the east, to Revesby.
This in one of the 220 odd parishes in the county which possessed a church before the Norman Conquest. At that period it seems to have been united with Revesby, since in Domesday Book (1080–86) “Cherchebi” and “Resuesbi” are given together, and it is stated that “the whole manor and all that belongs thereto is six miles long, and six miles broad.” There are 12 carucates (or 1440 acres) rateable to gelt (i.e., 2s. to the carucate); and the same extent of arable land (or 2,880 acres in all); with (in Saxon times), 54 socmen, and 14 villeins. The great Norman Noble, Ivo Taillebois, Chief of the Angevine troops of the Conqueror, was lord of this manor, through his marriage with the wealthy Saxon, Lady Lucia, heiress of the Thorolds. On his death early in life—a death not regretted by her, for the marriage had been forced upon her by the Conqueror—she re-married, with hardly a decent delay, Roger de Romara, about 1093; and by him had a son, William de Romara, who was created Earl of Lincoln. This William founded Revesby Abbey in 1142, and, by an interchange of lands, while retaining Revesby, Moorby, Wilksby, &c., as a compact property, he separated East Kirkby as a distinct domain. Among those with whom exchanges were effected was one Ivo, a priest, who held a church at Thoresby, probably standing on the site of the present Revesby church. In lieu of this, the Earl gave to Ivo the church of East Kirkby with its appurtenances, and a toft near the churchyard. In the 13th century, the family of de la Launde (represented, down to recent times, by the Kings, of Ashby de la Laund, near Sleaford) were manorial lords [121] of East Kirkby, while the Earls of Exeter (as shewn in Notes on Revesby, &c.) had the manor of Thoresby and Revesby, &c. East Kirkby, as well as Revesby, was in the soke of Old Bolingbroke, and, as parts of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Sovereign would be the superior lord of the various manors in that soke, or “Honour,” as it was named, as being connected with royalty. Accordingly, in 1604, we find that Sir V. Skinner, of Bolingbroke, was appointed by the crown keeper of Kirkby Park, the site of which is still shown on old maps; and, according to “Liber Regis,” in 1762 the Sovereign presented to the benefice, although, by some arrangement, William Ellis, Esq., had presented in 1719. The manor now belongs to R. Maidens, Esq., and Dr. T. Robinson, but most of the soil belongs to the Stanhope or Coltman families, the patronage of the benefice being in the hands of the former.
Among the Revesby charters and deeds, printed by the late Rt. Hon. E. Stanhope, is one (No. 27) of Alan Smerehorn, of East Kirkby, dated 1165, by which he gives a watermill and premises to the Abbots of Revesby, with the right to draw water through his land, from Bolingbroke to Kirkby; the Abbey thus being supplied with water. [122] He also, by another deed (No. 28), conveys to the Abbey his rights in certain lands in Kirkby, undertaking all claims and services due to the King, in return for which the Revesby Monks confirm to him certain rights in Hagnaby.
By a deed of the same period, Alan, son of Walter of Kirkby, gives his feudal rights, in certain lands in Kirkby, to the monks, with lands in Hagnaby and Engcroft in Stickford, free of all claims from the King.
A charter of Richard I. (“Dugdale,” v. 456) confirms to the Monks of Revesby, among other possessions, 620 acres of land in E. Kirkby, and part of Kirkby Wood, along the road called “Swinistigate” (No. 40 B). N.B.—There is still a Swinecote in Revesby. Various other deeds assign to the monks lands given by William son of Ivo, of Kirkby (No. 43); by Alan son of Walter of Kirkby (No. 45); by Lucy widow of Walter Faber, of Kirkby (a “Smith?”) a meadow, “to decorate and strew the monk’s choir.” (No. 56). While Henry Smerehorn gives to them his “servant Robert, son of Colsvan, with all his chattels” (No. 53); and Alan Smerehorn, of Kirkby, gives a plot “ad portam josep.” (at the Joseph gate), among several others, taking on himself all claims to the king or others (No. 58). The seal of Smerehorn is a round one with the device, a man blowing a horn. Gaufrid, son of Alan Buche, of Kirkby, gives land in E. Kirkby specially as “gate alms” for the poor (No. 68); the same Gaufrid also confirming the gift made by his brother Walter, of a meadow in Goutscroft (No. 70). N.B.—“Gout,” or, writ fully, “go-out,” means a spring issuing from a hill side, of which there are many on the Wold slopes (Streatfeild, “Lincolnshire and the Danes,” p. 174). [123a] Alan de Cuilter, of Kirkby, among other lands, gives a place (placeam) called “gayres” (No. 101); gaire meaning a triangular plot which requires ploughing a different way to the rest of the ground. [123b] A meadow in Kirkby is given by Nicholas son of Roger, of Miningsby, towards maintaining “the light before the image of St. Nicholas in Kirkby Church, every St. Nicholas’ day.” (No. 119).
There are other deeds connected with East Kirkby, but these are typical.
We give here some other records connected with East Kirkby, which are of more or less interest, taken from “Lincolnshire Wills.”
William Saltfletby, alias Massenge [123c] of “Kirkby juxta Bolingbroke,” by his will, dated 3 January, 1443, requests that he may be buried in Kirkby Church; and leaves money to the church, as well as to the Church of St. Peter in Eastgate, Lincoln; also to his daughter, his wife, and her daughter, certain lands in Kirkby, Miningsby, and West Kele; and his house opposite the Church of St. Peter, Eastgate, “called the Gryffin.” The witnesses are Robt. Drydyke, Vicar of Kirkby (N.B.—The place-name Drysykes occurs in Salmonby); John Cokeryll, chaplain of the same; and Hugh Wellys, clerk.
Richard Skepper, of East Kirkby, by will dated 26 May, 1556, requests to be buried in the church; and leaves to his sons, Thomas, George, and Edward, and daughters, Bridget and Anne, his copyholds in Kirkby, Miningsby, Bolingbroke, Waynflete, Irby, Thorpe, and Friskney. N.B.—This was a family from Durham.
John Ballet, parson of Nether Toynton, by his will, of 17 April, 1558, leaves his “gown, that the Bishop of Ely gave him,” to Mr. Goodryke, of Kirkby [123d] and a gold ring; he also leaves money to repair the roads between Fulletby and Horncastle.
Connected with the Goodricks, by marriage, were the Littleburies, descended as is shown elsewhere [124a] from a very ancient knightly family, originally seated in south Lincolnshire, and hence we find the following will of Humphrey Littlebury, of East Kirkby, dated 1 Sep., 1568, by which he leaves all his lands in Hagworthingham to his son John, who is to pay to his brother Edward xxli a year “for his exhibition,” [124b] during the widow’s lifetime; the annuity to cease when the said Edward becomes a “counsaler,” and able to provide for himself. He bequeaths his lands in Hareby, East Keal, Keal Cotes, and Raithby, to his daughter Ann, “if she will be ordered by her friends, Sir John Kersey and John Littlebury,” and if she will not, then “never a penny.” It would rather appear, from this testamentary provision, that the said daughter Ann was somewhat of a wilful “hussy.” Sir John Kersey would be one of the family who came in for a share of the Revesby estates after the extinction of the direct line of the Dukes of Suffolk. To his daughter Dorothy he leaves “one hundred marks” with a like proviso. To his son John he leaves a “ring with the seal,” i.e., the family signet; also “one silver salt, vi. silver spoons, 1 silver goblet, gilt, a flat silver piece, and 1 of my silver pots I bought in London.” Reference is then made to an Inventory of Lyon Goodricke, deceased, which was bequeathed to testator’s wife, Winifred, and Edward Goodricke, her son. The testator had married (1) Ursula, co-heir of Sir John Kersey, knt., of Grove, co. Notts, and (2) Winifred, daughter of Henry Sapcote [125a] of Lincoln, and widow of Lyon Goodricke, of East Kirkby.
We have noticed, above, a Richard Skepper, of East Kirkby, whose will was dated 26 May, 1556. We find later, the will of George Skeeper, of Boston, evidently the same name, of date 28 Sep., 1606, in which he desires to be buried “in ye parish church of East Kirkby.” The name still survives in this neighbourhood.
Another name still occupying a position in the county is that of Booth, and we find that William Booth, of East Kirkby, by will dated 31 Oct., 1584, left property to his brother George’s children in Cheshire, to his brother Edward’s children, of Rand, to George Booth of Thorpe, and to Thomas Booth, his brother’s son; appointing as his executors, Sir Thomas Scales and John Scales, his sons-in-law.
We have named, above, Edward Goodrick, of East Kirkby. He died in 1615, and by his will, of 16 August in that year, he left the bulk of his property to his son Lyon, but £35 from lands in Suffolk to his daughter Washbourne, besides £400, in the hands of Sir Thomas Jenney, as her portion; “a best bed” to another daughter; and “bedsteads of those in Suffolk,” to four other daughters, all married, “2 Jacobuses to each as a token of my love.” Small sums are bequeathed to his cousin, Richard Palfreyman, [125b] and his godson, Nathaniel Palfreyman; to his servant John Tupholme 20s. besides his wages 13s. 4d. His “grandson John Godricke to have the manor of Stickney when 22 years old,” and his cousin Richard Palfreyman to have it meanwhile; paying “a penny a year to Lyon Godricke.” The will was proved at Horncastle by Lyon Goodrick and Richard Palfreyman, 25 Oct., 1615.
A name which we cannot omit to notice in connection with East Kirkby is that of Silkstone; there being a monumental slab in the parish church of Robert de Silkeston, who died in 1347. Among 14 documents in the possession of Porter Wilson, Esq., of Louth, this Robert is a principal party in 13 of them; by which lands are conveyed to him by Ranulphus, son of Baldwin de Thorpe, in Ireby; by Robert, son of Philip de Kirkeby, in Kirkby; by Walter de Kirkby, in Kirkby; by Hugo de Hatton, lands in Kirkby; by Walter, son of Robert de Langena, lands in Kirkby; Robert, son of Adam Pertrich, of Bolingbroke; Alan, son of Walter de Kirkeby, and William, son of Henry de Kirkeby, give him other lands in Kirkeby; Beatrice, widow of William Wriht, of Miningsby, gives him lands in Miningsby; John de Waynflet gives him lands in that parish; and Robert de Swylington, Thomas de Marketon, Rector of Hareby, and Robert de Miningsby, chaplain, grant to him lands in “Kirkby, Winthorpe, Thorp, Waynflet, Irby, ffriseby (Firsby), Boston, Leek, Wrangel, Stepying, frrisseneye (Friskney), Bolynbrok, and Menyngesby,” by Deed, given at Kirkebi, 26 Dec., 29 Ed. III. (1355). Robert de Silkeston thus became a proprietor of large estates. At a later period Sir Robert Sylkeston had issue Alicia, who was “maryed to Robert Grynne.” [126] A large portion of the property passed to that family, and through them to the Skeppers already mentioned; and from them, by marriage, to the Loddingtons; one of whom, Thomas Loddington, was Vicar of Horncastle in the early years of the 18th century; his name being on one of the church bells with date 1717.
Sir John Browne, knight, resided here for several years, holding lands in East Kirkby, conveyed to him by Lionel Goodrick in 1616, and on a dispute arising between him and the Skeppers, already mentioned, an agreement was made, 20 May, 1619, by which Sir John granted to Richard Skepper certain property, for 2,000 years, at a peppercorn rent, Richard Skepper in return granting to Sir John, other lands for a like term and consideration. (Mr. R. W. Goulding, “Linc. N & Q.,” vol. v. p. 75).
Some of these lands were known as Bonthelandes, (Boothlands), West-wang, Wayteclif, Bulgaire, Inge-croft, Langemer-dayles, Goutscroft, &c.
Sir John Browne was 2nd son of Sir Valentine Browne, of Croft, “Treasurer and Vittler of Barwicke, and Treasurer of Ireland in ye raigne of Queen Elizabeth,” who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Monson, of South Carlton, ancestor of Lord Oxenbridge. Sir John Browne was “Sergant to King James in his privy chamber.” He married (1) Cicely, daughter of William Kirkman, Esq., of Easter Keale, who only lived 20 weeks after marriage; and (2), Francis, daughter of Richard Herbert, Esq., of Montgomerie Castle. She was youngest sister of George Herbert, who wrote the well-known poem, “The Country Parson,” and of Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, who was so prominent a figure in the time of Charles I. They were nearly related to the Pembroke family, and descended from Sir Richard Herbert of Edwd. IV.’s time. There is an elaborate altar tomb in Croft church, with effigies of Sir Valentine and his lady above; and of their eight sons and seven daughters on the panels below. Beside this is an equally elaborate monument of Sir John and his 2nd wife. (“Arcitect. S. Journal,” vol. viii. pp. 70, 71).
Another family, with a good old Saxon name, connected with East Kirkby, were the Elands (Ea-land or Eyland), representatives of whom have lived in this parish within quite recent times; the last of them being William Fawcett Ealand residing at the High Hall in 1860–70. The name means Island-land, or water land. [127a] Sir William de Eland was constable of Nottingham castle in 1330, and M.P. for the county in 1333 (Baily’s “Annals,” vol. i. p. 223). They possessed the “Honour of Peverel.” In Baumber church there is a slab of John Ealand (obiit 1463) and his two wives, in the north aisle. [127b] A branch of the family resided at Raithby near Louth. Toward the close of the 16th century, one of them resided at Cawkwell, and had that manor and the advowson of the benefice. [128] Others had estates, and lived at various places in Yorkshire.
In the latter part of the 17th century another family, the Webberley’s of Addlethorpe, resided at East Kirkby. They intermarried with the Amcotts family, now represented by Colonel Cracroft Amcotts, of Hackthorne Hall, Lincoln. John Webberly, who was born here, was a strong partizan of Charles I., in his contentions with the Parliament. He did not die for his King on the field of battle like his compatriot Hallam, possibly of Bolingbroke (see “Notes” on Bolingbroke); but his support of the King, and his religious opinions (Socinian), subjected him to persecution, and, in 1648, to much suffering from imprisonment. He was afterwards expelled from Lincoln College, Oxford. (Weir’s History, Ed. 1828, vol. i. p. 415).
The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is pronounced by Mr. Jeans to be “one of the most interesting in this district, though sadly patched with brick, and defaced with ugly windows.” It is no longer used for services, a small modern church having been recently erected more conveniently near the village. The varied colouring of the edifice, from the combination of grey-green crumbling sandstone, with the red tone of the bricks, surrounded as it is also by lofty trees, render it a pleasing study for the artist, but its decayed condition inspires the fear that, unless tenderly dealt with, this interesting relic, may soon go to decay. It is to be hoped in the interest of archæology that this may be averted.
The original Saxon church was mostly replaced by a later fabric, but now ancient, of the 14th century. It consists of nave, aisles, chancel and tower, having two bells; this tower probably dating from early in the 13th century, occupies an unusual position, being attached to the south aisle towards the west end of it. Its lower storey forms a groined porch, having a head of the Saviour, rather rudely carved, as the central top of the vault. It has some early features, especially the window in its eastern face, but, we quote the late Precentor Venables, in a description given by him on the visit of the Architectural Society in 1894. Like the rest of the fabric, it has been patched and repaired at various periods, and most of the remains are debased. The battlemented upper storey is Perpendicular, the fabric generally being Decorated, of the 14th century. Of the windows, however, there are few surviving of that period, the west being the most noticeable. It is of two lights, beautifully designed, the mask heads of the hood moulding being remnants of an earlier style. The side windows, both of nave and chancel, were square-headed. One remains, to the west of the tower, portions of others remaining among modern degradations. The eastern windows of both aisles have flamboyant tracery, but now blocked and partly destroyed. The blocked arch of an entrance to a north chantry which has been removed, is seen in the north aisle wall. It must have been filled in at an early date, as the window inserted is of the Tudor period. The piscina of this chantry altar, with a square basin, is still to be seen outside the church. In the north wall of the chancel, a small two-light window is worth attention as an excellent example of the purest Decorated. The south chancel wall has three-light windows, with segmental heads and super-mullioned tracery of Perpendicular date; one of these has been removed to form a poor east window, in place of a good 14th century window, destroyed a few years ago. The eastern gable is surmounted by a good cross and saddle stone. The windows of the south aisle are of the meanest type. There is an arcade of four bays, with Decorated arches supported on very slender octagonal piers, which are too tall and slender, and which drive up the arches too high. The moulded brackets which serve as responds, being elaborately moulded, deserve notice. The roofs are very poor, being of a later period; one of the beams bears the date 1583. The chancel arch has been decapitated and blocked by boarding, but the rood-screen below is an unusually good specimen of Perpendicular. It has five bays, the centre being double the width of the others, and having still its panelled doors. It is 12ft. 4in. wide, and nearly 18ft. high. [129] (Dr. Mansel Sympson, “Architect. S. Journ.,” 1890, p. 209).
Parts of the parclose which formerly enclosed the chantries at the ends of the aisles, still remain. The Silkstone chantry on the south retains its decorated trefoil piscina.
In the floor of the south aisle is an incised slab, commemorative of Sir Robert Silkstone, the builder of the chantry and church. The late Bishop Trollope’s rendering of the Latin inscription, which is somewhat defaced, the slab being broken into four pieces, is as follows:—“Here is buried Sir Robert Silkstone. He erected this church and chantry. He departed hence in 1347, and on the 14th of June lost his life. To whom may God ever grant rest in Heaven. Amen.” The tradition is that he died an untimely death, if not by his own hand. (“Linc. N. & Q.,” 1896, p. 50).
The old oak seating remains at the west end, and there are fragments, scattered about, of other screen-work. In the north wall of the chancel is a narrow trefoil-headed recess, thought by some to be an Easter sepulchre; it has a curious carved panel, with three kneeling figures, supposed to be the three Maries, each holding a heart. The recess is an aumbrey, intended for the Host. The projecting basin, which Mr. Bloxam thought was a receptacle for “creeping silver,” is a piscina and the so-called carved “hearts” are boxes for spice. This portion of the service of the Mass is referred to by Barnaby Googe (1570), in the lines:—
“While frankincense and sweet perfume
Before the shrine they burn.”
The font is a good sample of Perpendicular, having a panelled octagonal bowl, supported on a panelled shaft, standing on a platform of steps; the panels contain heads and flowers. There are fragments of old stained glass scattered about the windows, and old encaustic tiles in the floor. A St. Edmund’s penny was found some years ago on the north side of the church, which the late Vicar, the Rev. G. Maughan, pronounced to have been issued before A.D. 905. Not far distant, in the year 1899, on some cottages being pulled down, there were found some fragments of dog-tooth pattern, and portions of columns and capitals, which are supposed to have come originally from Revesby; these are now in the garden of Mr. T. Coltman, at Hagnaby Priory.
The chantry on the north side of the church formerly existing, was called the Jesus Chapel. Here was buried William Goodrick, father of the Bishop of Ely, at his own request, by his will dated 20 March, 1517, to be buried “in the chapell of Jhus in my p’ysh church of Saint Nicholas.” [131] “On the viij. Kal. Nov., 1344, Robert de Silkestone presented” Thomas West, of Mucton, priest, to this chantry (then newly founded), and on Kal. June 1346, he presented “Rob., son of John Fowler, of Mithingsby, priest, to the same chantry.” (“Linc. N. & Q,” 1896, p. 51, note).