The Rectory, close by, is a commodious and substantial residence in good grounds. In a field to the south of the gardens are remains of former stews, or fishponds, and two rather large boulders, [95] which have evidently been ice-borne, and like many others in the neighbourhood, are of carboniferous “Spilsby” sandstone of the Neocomian period. The soil of the parish generally, is a heavy clay; and in a brickyard adjoining the Horncastle and Wragby road, are numerous ammonites and other fossils.
There is a yearly rent charge of £6 left by Heneage Smith, in 1616, for the education of poor children, which is paid out of the estate of Coningsby C. Sibthorpe, Esq.; 14s. 2d. was left by William Marshall, in 1557, for poor parishioners, to be paid out of land at Minting, but this has fallen into abeyance. Edmund Turnor, Esq., is lord of the manor but C. C. Sibthorpe, Esq., owns the greater part of the soil. “Midge Inn,” which has the reputation of formerly being the haunt of the highwayman, who lightened the pocket of many a traveller on the King’s highway, is on the Horncastle and Wragby road in this parish, which is in the soke of Wragby.
Hemingby.
This parish lies 4 miles north by west from Horncastle, on the river Bain. Letters, via Horncastle, which is the nearest money order office, arrive at 9.30. The Incumbent is the Rev. E. S. Bengough, who has a commodious Rectory. The register dates from 1579.
The Church is dedicated to St. Margaret. A previous structure, erected in nondescript, “Grecian,” style, in 1771 (a period when so many of the churches in the neighbourhood were re-modelled in the worst taste), consisting of nave, chancel, and low tower, with three bells, was re-seated in 1856, when additional accommodation was provided. A west door, made of bog oak, from a large tree dug up, when the railway line was made between Boston and Lincoln, was presented by the Rev. E. Walter, Rector of Langton. The entire fabric was restored in 1896, at a cost of £1450, and re-opened in January of that year, through the liberality and exertions of the Rector, Rev. E. S. Bengough, aided by handsome donations from Earl Manvers, the family of the late Rector, Rev. G. Thackeray, and others. The tower was entirely re-built and the chancel enlarged. A relic of a former medieval church was found in the pavement of the nave, consisting of a slab, carved with two quatrefoils, with shields in the centre of each. This was placed in the wall of the chancel, above the east window. The pulpit, of carved oak, was the gift of the family of the Rev. G. Thackeray, the late Rector. The architect was Mr. W. Scorer, of Lincoln. The bells, of the 18th century, bear the names of the founders, Mears and Stainbanks, of London.
At the date of Domesday Book, the great Norman Baron, Ivo Taylebois, owned land in this parish, as Earl Harold had done before him. Baldric, one of the Earl’s vassals, had there one carucate, and two villeins, and two bordars, and seven sokemen, who had two carucates, and half a mill, worth 7s. yearly, and 30 acres of meadow. There were three carucates, rateable to gelt. The manor, held by Edric, had six oxgangs, also rateable to gelt. Its value, temp. Edwd. the Confessor, was 60s., in Domesday 100s.
Among the gentry of Lincolnshire, enrolled in the List made by the King’s Heralds, at their visitation in 1634, was Ambrose Shepard of this parish (Everard Green, F.S.A., “Lincs. N. & Q.,” p. 105).
In Liber Regis, the living was valued at £17 8s. 6½d., now at £500; 423 acres being allotted at the enclosure in lieu of tithes and the old glebe. In 1722 the benefice was in the gift of the Rev. Mr. Carr of Newcastle-on-Tyne; after that the patronage was vested in King’s College, Cambridge.
There is an endowed School, for master and mistress, founded by Jane Dymoke, widow of the champion, in 1727, and endowed by her in 1736, for teaching the children of the poor of the parish, “to read, write, spin, and card wool.” Commodious schoolrooms for boys and girls have been erected in late years. Lands in Woodhall yield an income of about £110 a year. There is a rent charge of £5 on a farm in Asterby, and £568 in consols. The whole yearly income is about £130, besides residence and 20 acres of land for the master. Four almswomen receive 2s. 3d. weekly, with an allowance of fuel. Four apprentices are provided for with a premium of £10, and £3 a year for clothing, during the 7 years of their service. The late Mrs. Baker, in 1848, also left the interest of £500 to be distributed in coals among the poor of the parish. The living is now in the gift of King’s College, Cambridge; but by an Inquisition held at Boston, 12 Henry VII. (A.D. 1497) it was found that Sir John Ratclyff, knight, besides considerable other property in the county, was seised of the advowson of Hemingby, and alternate advowson of Skyrbeck, but he being attainted, in the 11th year of that King, his property passed to Andrew Dymmock, as the Kings “Solidat” (soldier). (“Linc. N. & Q.,” iv., p. 11.) In 1711 Leonard Smelt, Esq., presented to this benefice; in 1722 the Rev. Mr. Carr, of Newcastle, gent.; and King’s College for the first time in 1768.