Beside the established church, there are in this town a society of Wesleyan Methodists, a small congregation of Calvinistic Baptists, and a newly formed society of primitive Methodists.
THE SOKE OF HORNCASTLE.
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: