Читать книгу Records, Historical and Antiquarian, of Parishes Round Horncastle - J. Conway Walter - Страница 7

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Asterby is situated about 6½ miles from Horncastle in a north-easterly direction, being approached by the road to Scamblesby and Louth, but diverging from that road northward shortly before reaching Scamblesby. The Rector is the Rev. J. Graham, J.P., who has a substantial residence, erected at a cost of £1,200 in 1863, and standing on the slope of a hill in good grounds. Letters, viâ Lincoln, arrive at 10 a.m.

Not much can be gathered of the early history of this parish. It is named in Domesday Book Estreby; this may mean the “buy,” byre, or farmstead, of the Saxon Thane Estori. But, according to another interpretation, the three elements of the name are As, or Aes, tre and by; the first of these implying “water,” the second “a way” or “passage,” the third a “homestead,” the whole thus meaning the Homestead by the water-way; and so probably referring to the river Bain, which forms the boundary between this parish and Ranby; its breed of trout being not unknown to anglers of our own day.

According to the Domesday survey this manor belonged to the Norman noble Ivo Taillebois, doubtless through his marriage with the Saxon heiress of the Thorolds, the Lady Lucia. And she conveyed to the Priory of Spalding certain “temporalities,” i.e., rents of lands, here, as well as at Scamblesby; her uncle Thorold, Vice-Comes, or Sheriff, of Lincolnshire, being the founder of that institution, and she herself one of its chief benefactors. In the Priory Charters this parish is also called Esterby.

Ivo, however, was only this lady’s first husband, and, as is mentioned in the “Notes” on various other parishes with which he was connected, he died without issue; and on her re-marrying, [15a] her great possessions passed to the Romara family, subsequently to the Gaunts, and were then gradually broken up, and dispersed among their various descendants. Only a few fragmentary records of former owners can now be found.

By Will dated 31st July, 1585, Edmund Dighton, of Little Sturton, leaves lands in Asterby and elsewhere to his son Robert, and also his leases of land held by grant of the late Abbot of Kirkstead, and a house called Beadway Hall. The Dighton’s were a wealthy family, originally engaged in commerce in Lincoln, but afterwards acquiring considerable property in various parts of the county, and taking a good position. The headquarters of the family were at the Old Hall, of which traces still remain, in Little Stourton; a daughter of Thomas Dighton “of that ilk” married Edward, 2nd son of the 1st Earl of Lincoln, of that line, temp. Elizabeth; she eventually, on the death of his eldest brother, becoming Countess of Lincoln. [15b]

Elizabeth Hansard, of Gayton-le-Wold, widow, by her Will, dated 17th March, 1591, makes her father, John Jackson, of Asterby, executor, and the guardian of her children, Edward, Margaret, and Mary Hansard; and leaves all her property to them, except 20s. each to her brother Thomas Jackson, and her brother-in-law William Hansard. These Hansards, a knightly family located in this county at South Kelsey (also of Beesthorpe and Thornton), were of very old extraction; tracing their descent from Ughtred, Earl of Northumberland in the reign of Edmund Ironsides, who came to the throne A.D. 016. [16] South Kelsey, their chief seat, passed to the old family of the Ayscoughs, by the marriage of Sir Francis Ayscough to the Hansard heiress, Elizabeth, in the middle of the 16th century. Both Hansards and Ayscoughs were connected with many of the leading county families.

John Guevera, of Stenigot, by Will dated 18th March, 1607, leaves his manor of Stenigot and all his premises in Asterby (certain portions being excepted) to his “Sonne Francis, his heir apparent, on his coming of age,” and specifies that “till then he be held content by Sir Nicholas Saunderson, knight, of Fillingham, and Captaine Henrie Guevera, of Barwick.” These Gueveras were of Spanish origin, probably coming to England in the train of Catharine of Arragon, or in attendance on King Philip of Spain, Queen Mary’s husband. Spain was then a flourishing country, and they soon acquired property, and took their position among the landed gentry, Francis Guevera being named among the Herald’s List of Gentry in 1634. Sir Nicholas Saunderson, here named, of Fillingham, was grandson of Nicholas Saunderson, of Reasby, in the parish of Stainton-by-Langworth. He was made a baronet in 1612, and Viscount Castleton in 1628. The family was involved in the Lincolnshire Rebellion of 1536. The manor, and greater part of the parish, are now in the hands of trustees of the Trafford family, who are also patrons of the benefice. Messrs. W. Pinning and Benjamin Harrison are also landowners, and Mr. James Walter has a large and picturesque farmhouse with good grounds and surroundings.

The church, dedicated to St. Peter, was for some years in an unsatisfactory condition, but during recent years it has been gradually undergoing restoration. It was formerly larger than it is now, having had a north aisle. The tower was half taken down towards the close of the 18th century, and rebuilt, the plinth of the tower buttress on the south side of the west door being said to be the original one of the 12th century. There are three bells. In 1896 the chancel was taken down and extended about 6ft. in length, the interior face of the walls being constructed of rubbed sandstone, in courses obtained from a quarry in the parish. The exterior character of the old work was carefully preserved, and a dressed stone plinth-course inserted. The old east window with wooden framework was removed and a stone traceried window introduced, filled with tinted glass. The floor was paved with encaustic tiles in place of ordinary bricks, and the communion table raised 18 inches above the body of the church, by three steps. A new altar rail of oak, with standard of wrought-iron and brass, was put up, and the roof was made of open timbers covered with match boards and slates. This work was done by Mr. R. Mawer, builder, of Louth, under the direction of Messrs. Mortimer and Son, architects, of Lincoln. The entire cost was defrayed by the present rector. Since then other improvements have been effected. The tower, in a dangerous condition, was partly taken down in 1898, and the bells rehung in new oak framework. A handsome altar cloth was presented by Lady Wigan. The nave floor has now boards in place of the old damp and unsightly bricks. It has been supplied with new seating of pitchpine. This work was entrusted to Messrs. Thompson & Sons, of Louth, and is thoroughly satisfactory. Inspired by these efforts, a generous donor, Mrs. Woodall, presented a massive oak lectern in memory of her parents who for many years worshipped in this church, and the whole fabric is now at length, through the exertions of the rector, liberally seconded by Mrs. Graham, a credit to the parish. Old features of interest in the church are the chancel arch, which is Early English; and in the south chancel wall, near the reading desk, is also a three-light Early English window, containing some fragments of very old glass, the new east window being a copy of this. In the north wall of the nave are two bays of the former aisle blocked up, with a grinning figurehead between the arches. In a frame affixed to the north wall is the text, from Eccl. v., 1, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools.” The font is old, having an octagonal bowl, with plain shields on each face, the shaft also being octagonal and standing on a pediment of three steps. In the south wall of the chancel, outside, is a mutilated slab bearing an inscription in memory of “Samson Meanwell, who departed this life Feb. 17, 1744, in ye 63 yeare of his age.” Nearly opposite the west door is a very old yew-tree, which may well have supplied the village archers with their bows in the days of Crecy, Poictiers, and Agincourt. The benefice is now held jointly with that of Goulceby. It was formerly in the gift of the Dymokes. Dame Jane Dymoke presented in 1711 and 1725. She also gave church plate. The patronage then passed to the Crown, who presented in 1771 and 1784, after which the Trafford Southwell family acquired it, with the manor, and presented in 1807.

Near the church is a field named Hall Close, where there are traces of a large residence; and here, about the year 1821, were dug up three human skeletons and an ancient dagger.

The poor of the parish have the benefit of a bequest made by Anthony Acham, for them, and for those of Goulceby; who also, in 1638, founded a school for the two parishes, with Stenigot.

We have only to add that the pilgrim to Asterby, who has an eye for rural scenery, will be gratified on his way thither by an extent of view not often to be found. He can take in, at one and the same moment, a prospect reaching almost 30 miles, including Lincoln Cathedral and miles beyond it to the north-west; and embracing Heckington and other fine church spires, with Tattershall Castle to the south-west, and extensive woods, corn fields, and meads to vary the scenes between.