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LINCOLNSHIRE, 



LINCOLNSHIRE. 



630 



ance that the breed of cattle and sheep be of the most profitable kind ; 

 and it is found that no county possesses finer breeds of horses, oxen, 

 and sheep. The Lincolnshire horses are celebrated for their size and 

 power. Homcastle fair is the great resort of all the London dealers, 

 who piirchase hunters and carriage-horses at very high prices. The 

 best hunters are bred on the higher and drier lands, but they are 

 generally turned out for a time in the richer pa.stures to give them 

 flesh before they are sold. The oxen which are preferred for grazing 

 are the short-horns and some crosses of long-horns. 



There are not many dairies in Lincolnshire : breeding and fatting 

 are considered more profitable and less troublesome. There is however 

 some excellent cheese made of the Stilton kind. The sheep which 

 are bred in this county are principally of the long-wooUed, commonly 

 called Leicesters ; but the counties of Lincoln and Leicester differ only 

 in the great proportion of fen lands to be found in Lincolnshire. The 

 rich upland pastures are similar in both counties. The old Lincoln 

 sheep are larger than the improved Leicester, carry a heavier fleece, 

 and are hardier ; the Leicesters however are generally preferred, from 

 their greater propensity to fatten. A cross which partakes of the 

 qualities of both breeds has been produced, and is preferred by some 

 for the fens. The breed of pigs haa been much improved of late years 

 by judicious crossing. 



Ditrisiom, Towm, ike. — Lincolnshire has long been divided into three 

 ' parts,' as they are termed — Lindsey, Kesteven, and Holland. Lindsey 

 is by far the largest, including the north and north-eastern parts of 

 the county. The name Lindsey, like that of the county, is derived 

 from Lindura, the Roman name of Lincoln. From Lindum, with the 

 subjoined epithet Colonia, came Lincoln, and thence Lincolnshire ; 

 and from the name without the epithet, Lind-sey. The latter part of 

 ' this name appears to be the Saxon ' ey,' an island ; ' the Isle of 

 Lindum,' a name safiiciently descriptive of the district, which is 

 insulated by the sea, the Humber, and the Trent, the Fosse Dyke and 

 the Witbam, with their connected marshes. Kesteven comprehends 

 the south-western part of the county. Holland comprehends the rest 

 of the county, including the greater part of the fens. These divisions 

 are of great antiquity ; they are also characterised by distinct natural 

 features. The insular character of Lindsey has been noticed : the 

 Wolds, or chalk hills, form the nucleus of it. Kesteven is distinguished 

 by the steep slope of the Cliffe Row, which overlooks the valley of the 

 Witham ; and Holland, like its continental namesake, is distinguished 

 by its fens. 



Lincolnshire is further divided into wapentakes, hundreds, and 

 sokes. These, with their situation in the county, are as follows : — 



I. Parts of Lindsey. — Aslacoe, wapentake, central ; liolingbroke, 

 soke, central ; Bradley Haverstoe, wapentake, north-east ; Calceworth, 

 hundred, east ; Candleshoe, wapentike, east ; Corringbam, wapentake, 

 north-west ; Gartree, wapentake, central ; Hill, hundred, central ; 

 Homcastle, soke, central ; Lawress, wapentake, east ; Louth Eske, 

 hundred, north-east ; Ludborough, wapentake, north-east ; Manley, 

 wapentake, north ; Walshcroft, wapentake, central ; Well, wapentake, 

 east ; Wraggoe, wapentake, central ; Yarborough, wapentake, north ; 

 Lincoln, city and liberty, central. 



II. Parts of Kesteven. — Aswardhum, wapentake, central ; Aveland, 

 'wapentake, south ; Beltisloe, wapentake, south ; Boothby Qraffb, 

 wapentake, west ; Flaxwell, wapentake, central ; Langoe, wapentake, 

 central ; Loveden^ wapentake, west ; Ness, wapentake, south ; Winni- 

 briggs and Threo, wapentake, south-west ; Qrantham, borough and 

 soke, south-west. 



III. Parts of Holland. — EUoe, wapentake, south ; Kirton, wapentake, 

 south-ea'it ; Skirbeck, wapentake, south-east. 



The county contains the city of LiscoLX ; the boroughs and market- 

 towns of Boston, Orajjtham, Orimsbt, and Stamford ; and the 

 market-towns of Alford, Babton-upojj-Humbeb, Bolingbroke, Bourne, 

 Caistor, Corby, Crowle, Deeping, Donington, Epworth, Falkingham, 

 Qainsboroooh, Glanford Brigo, Holbeacb, Horncastle, Kirton, 

 LorxH, Market Rasen, Sleaford, SPALDrNO, Spilsby, Swineshead, 

 Tattershall, Wainfleet, and Wragby. To these may be added the 

 now disused market-towns of Binbrook, Burton-upon-Stather, Crow- 

 land or Croyland, Navenby, and Saltfleet. Of those printed in small 

 capitals an account is given under their respective titles ; the others 

 we notice here. 



Alford, population 2262, distant 34 miles E. by N. from Lincoln, 

 consists chiefly of two streets, which are paved ; the shops are lighted 

 with gas. The church, a stone building of the 13th century, has been 

 repaired with brick. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, Inde- 

 pendents, and Baptists have places of worship. The Free Grammar 

 school, founded in 1 576, has an income of about 2002. a year ; the 

 number of scholars is about 30. There are National and British 

 schools. Brewing, tanning, and rope-making are carried on. The 

 market is on Tuesday : fairs for cattle and sheep are held on Whit- 

 Tues&ay and on November 8th. Near the town is a medicinal spring 

 called Holy Well. 



Bolingbroke, population 980, is 29 miles E. by S. from Lincoln. A 

 caitle was built here by William de Romara, earl of Lincoln, which 

 mbsequently came into the hands of John of Gaunt, whose son, 

 Henry IV., was born in this castle, and took from it his surname of 

 Bolingbroke. The remains consist of the castle mount and the moat. 

 Daring the wars of Charles I. and the Parliament the castle was 



axoa nrv. tol. m. 



stormed and demolished. The church was at the same time partly 

 destroyed : it has a tower at the west end. In the town are a 

 Wesleyan chapel and National schools. Rope-making, browing, and 

 malting are carried on. Tuesday is the market-day. 



Binbrook, population 1285, formerly a market-town, 20 miles N.N.E. 

 from Lincoln, is a well-built place. Agricultural implements are made 

 here. Extensive rabbit-warrens are in the neighbourhood, and the 

 dressing of skins for furriers employs some of the inhabitants. The 

 church is a plain building with a tower. There are chapels for 

 Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, a National school, and a temper- 

 ance hall. A fair is held on Easter Tuesday. 



Burton, distinguished from other places of the same name as Burtoif 

 wpon-Slather, population 899, is situated on a hill near the right bank 

 of the jriver "Trent, 32 miles N. by W. from Lincoln. The town was 

 formerly more extensive, and had a market, which has been given up. 

 The church is a handsome structure, with a tower. There are chapels 

 for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, and a National school. Fairs 

 are held twice a year, and a feast at Whitsuntide. Ship-building and 

 malting are carried on. 



Corbij, population 958, is 33 miles S. by E. from Lincoln ; the 

 Roman Ermine-street passed through the parish. A market formerly 

 held here has fallen into disuse. The church is a large ancient 

 building, with a pinnacled square tower. In the town is a Wesleyan 

 chapeL Read's Endowed school had 42 scholars in 1851 ; its income 

 from endowment is about 49/. a year. There are stone-quarries in the 

 vicinity. 



Crowland, or Croyland, population 2466, is about 48 miles S.S.E. 

 from Lincoln. Roman antiquities have been discovered in the neigh- 

 bourhood. A monastery was founded here by Ethelbald, king of 

 Mercia, about the beginning of the 8th century. About 870, in the 

 reign of Ethelred I., this monastery, with several others, was destroyed 

 by the Danes. In the latter part of the 11th ceutuiy, the monastery, 

 which had been restored, was again destroyed by fire, but was 

 rebuilt a few years afterwards. The abbey, thus restored, increased 

 rapidly in wealth and reputation. At the dissolution, its yearly 

 revenues were estimated at 12172. 5». lid. gross, or 10832. 15». 10(2. 

 clear. The buildings of the abbey were much injured during the 

 siege of Crowland by the parliamentary forces under Cromwell : there 

 are yet standing however considerable remains of the church. The 

 architecture is chiefly of the transition style from Norman to early 

 English, but part is of the perpendicular style. On the west sidi3 of 

 the church, at the confluence of two streams, is a triangular bridge, 

 probably erected in the 14th century. It is used for foot-passengers. 

 The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have places of worship in 

 Crowland. Brewing, malting, and brick-making are carried on. A 

 market formerly held here has been removed to Thomey. 



OrowU, in the Isle of Axholme, population 3008, is 32 miles N.N.W. 

 from Lincoln, on the right bank of the old Don River. A market is 

 held on alternate Mondays during March, April, and May : fairs for 

 cattle, flax, Ac, are held on the last Monday of May, and on November 

 23rd. The church is a fine old Norman structure. The Wesleyan and 

 Primitive Methodists, Independents, and Baptists have places of 

 worship, and there is a Free school. Malting and flax-dressing are 

 carried on. 



Beeping, called also Market Deeping, population 1294, is 43 miles 

 S.S.E. from Lincoln. The town is close to the Northamptonshire 

 border, the navigable river Welland here forming the boundary. Boat- 

 building, brewing, malting, and rope-muking are carried on. The 

 market is on Wednesday, and is chiefly for pigs. The church contains 

 traces of Norman, and portions of early English architecture; the 

 tower and other parts are of perpendicular character. The Wesleyan 

 Methodists, Independents, and Baptists, have places of worship. 

 There is a Free school. A neat town-hall was built in 1839. A 

 priory was formerly established in the town. Beeping St. Jamei, 

 population 1849, is a village so near to Market Deeping as almost to 

 constitute one town with it. The church, originally a chapel built by 

 the monks of Croyland, is large and curious, chiefly in the Norman 

 and early English styles : it has a very high tower, with an octangular 

 spire ; in the interior is a curious Norman font. An ancient stone 

 cross in the village was rebuilt in 1819, and is now a police station. 



Donington, population 1867, about 31 miles S.S.E. from Lincoln. 

 The parish church is of perpendicular date, with a fine tower and 

 spire, which stands outside the south aisle, and forms the principal 

 entrance. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists and Bapti><ts have 

 places of worship. Cowley's Endowed schools, founded iu 1719, had 

 upwards of 300 scholars in 1853 : some of the scholars receive clothing 

 from this charity. The schools are free to all children of inhabitants 

 of the parish. In the upper school there is a head master with 3 

 assistants, one of whom teaches the classics. The junior boys school 

 and the upper and junior girls schools are conducted by female 

 teachers. 'The revenue of the charity is about 1 300f. a year, out of 

 which pensions are given to poor old men and women, apprentice fees 

 paid, the school supported, and other charitable purposes effected. 

 Saturday is the market-day : fairs for horses, cattle, &c., are held on 

 May 26th, September 4th, and October 17th. Rope-making, brick- 

 making, and malting are carried on. Hemp is grown to agreat extent; 

 and much hemp-seed is sold. 



Epworth, population 1944, about 30 miles N.N.W. from Lincoln, 



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