Records, Historical and Antiquarian, of Parishes Round Horncastle

by J. Conway Walter

Sotby.

Sotby, also in Liber Regis, called Saltby, lies to the west of Ranby, about 2 miles to the north-west of Great Stourton, and is about 8 miles north-north-west from Horncastle. Letters, via Wragby, arrive at 9.30 a.m. This manor, in the reign of the Conqueror, was granted by him to his half-brother, Odo, Bishop of Baieux, [182] along with many other demesnes, as mentioned more fully in the account of Ranby. Ralph the vassal of Odo is mentioned in Domesday Book, as holding “4 carucates,” or 480 acres, with 16 socmen and 3 villeins. The Saxon thane, Ulnod, had about the same extent. The church had 150 acres of meadow. At an Inquisition, held 1 Edward II. (No. 107, 11 April, 1308), it was shewn that Philip de Kyme, enfeoffed his son, William de Kyme, of the manor of Sotteby, held by the service of half a knight’s fee. This William, in 1334, enfeoffed his nephew, Gilbert de Umfraville, of the manor. He was Earl of Angus. William’s widow, Joan, married as her 2nd husband, Nicholas de Cantelupe, who, through her, held the manor of Baumber. (“Architect. S. Journal,” 1897, pp, 69, 70). This Nicholas de Cantelupe, founded a chantry in Lincoln Cathedral, dedicated to St. Nicholas. It is situated to the east of the great south door, under the lesser east window. On the north side of this chantry, are two altar tombs, one of which, having a figure clad in surcoat of mail, is the sepulchre of Lord Cantelupe. In the pavement below, is a slab, in memory of his wife, the Lady Joan. She founded a small chapel on the east side of the south transept, dedicated to St. Paul. According to “Testa de Nevill,” Simon de Kyme, at an earlier date, held lands in Sotby, in chief from the king (circa, 1242). (“Linc. N. & Q.,” iv., p. 174. Compare Oldfield’s “Hist. Waynfleet,” p. 168).

By a Close Roll, 9 Henry VII., No. 30, it is shewn that Sir Robert Dymmok, knt., was, with others, seized of the manor of Sotby, A.D. 1494.

By an Inquisition, taken 31 May, 1495 (10 Henry VII.), it was found that Robert Taillebois, died seized of the manor of Sotby, held from the king, by the service of half a knight’s fee. (“Linc. N & Q.” ii., p. 141). His ancestor, Ivo Taillebois, had lands in Baumber.

The abbot of Bardney had a pension from Sotby, as he also had from Edlington and other parishes in the neighbourhood. At the Lincolnshire Rising, in the reign of Hen. VIII., Thomas Yoell, parson of Sotby, though old and blind took a prominent part in the movement, along with the rectors of Low Toynton, Belchford, and others. In 1798, Thomas Roe was rector. The Rev. John Bainbridge-Smith, D.D., headmaster of the Horncastle Grammar School, held the rectory of Sotby, with that of Martin-by-Horncastle and the perpetual curacy of Baumber, from 1828 to 1854; he was also Honorary Chaplain to the Duke of Newcastle. He was succeeded at Sotby, by his son, John Bainbridge-Smith, and the latter rebuilt the chancel of the church, St. Peter’s, and made other improvements in 1858–9. The register dates from 1658. Among the entries is a record that in the year 1728, there were sixteen burials, but no cause for that excessive mortality is named. The second Rev. J. Bainbridge-Smith married a daughter of Judge Haliburton, of Nova Scotia, the author of “Sam Slick,” “The Old Judge,” “Nature and Human Nature,” &c. He was for some years chaplain at Smyrna.

When the chancel was taken down in 1858, some interesting relics were discovered. A sepulchral arch was opened at the north-east end, supposed to lead to the burial place of the founder of the Pre-Conquest Church. It was constructed of grey stone. Three very ancient windows, also of grey stone, and blocked with rubbish, were opened, on the splays of which were found frescoes, the figures being, so far as they remained, very distinct. One was a crowned figure, seated, and holding a sceptre in his left hand, the right hand being stretched out in the attitude of judgment or command, but the lower part of the arm was wanting. Another was a female figure, with long tresses, and a robe with lengthy train behind. A third, was one figure complete, probably the Saviour, with the head only of another figure, facing him, probably the Magdalen; both heads being surrounded by a nimbus. The Saviour’s attitude, with uplifted finger, indicated the giving of some command, probably the Noli me tangere. The fourth subject was apparently a rude representation of the last supper, the Saviour being in the act of taking the cup. [184] Copies of these frescoes were made, and are preserved with the registers. The present writer has copies, from which this description is given.

When the south and east walls were taken down, a very ancient doorway, probably Saxon, of grey and red sandstone was found; close beside it was another doorway of later date. Towards the east end of the south wall, was found a beautiful geometrical window, the inner arch much broken. This had apparently been the original east window, but in later times broken up, and some of the fragments built into the wall in various parts. All this seemed to indicate that a Saxon church had existed, that it was rebuilt about the time of the Norman Conquest, with stone found in the neighbourhood, that in the 13th century it was adorned with frescoes, an east window, of Lincoln stone, &c. The new chancel was re-opened by the Bishop of Lincoln, in 1859. (Extract from “Lincolnshire Times,” Nov., 1859).

The chief features of the present church are as follows:—The font, modern, octagonal, and plain. A former very small font, with small bowl remains, sunk into the base of a recess in the west wall. A small metal, portable font, is also preserved in the rectory, which was formerly used. The chancel arch is probably Saxon. It is very low, with massive supports, has been mutilated, but is still in fairly good condition. In the south wall of the chancel is a double piscina, supposed to be peculiar to the 13th century. In the north chancel wall is an easter sepulchre, with an aumbrey above, having a trefoil moulding in a 13th century arch. The east window is modern, with three lights. In the south wall is a two-light window, in memory of J. B. Smith, D.D. In the floor of the chancel, in the centre, is a slab commemorating John Porter, rector from 1658 to 1688–9. In the north wall of the nave is one square-headed window; in the south wall are two similar windows. On the north wall there is a tablet to J. Scholey. There is only one small bell hanging in the bell turret. Altogether this church has some very interesting features. In the parish chest, with the registers, is a copy made by the late rector, of the transcripts in the Archidiaconal Registry, dating from 1556 to 1590.