Roman work. Several Roman coins, chiefly of the Emperor Constantine, have been found in and near it. Embosomed in groves of fine timber, stands a seat of C. B. Massingberd, Esq. CALCEWORTH WAPENTAKE contains the following parishes and hamlets:-Aby with Greenfield, Anderby, Belleau, Calceby, Cawthorpe Little, Claythorpe hamlet, Cumberworth, Gayton, Hogsthorpe, Huttoft alias Hightoft, Legbourn, Haugh hamlet, Mablethorpe, Mumby cum Chapel, Reston South, Sutton, Swaby, Thedlethorpe All Saints, Thedlethorpe St. Heten's, Thoresby South, Tothill, Trusthorpe. Alford, Beesby, Bilsby with Thurlby, Claxby, Farlsthorpe, Hagneby with Hannah, Marltby le Marsh, Markby, Rigsby with Ailsby, Saleby with Thoresthorpe, Strubby, Ulceby with Forthington, Well with Mawthorpe, Willoughby, and Withern with Stain. ALFORD Is a small town, having a market weekly on Tuesdays, and two fairs annually. Camden says it owes these privileges to Leo, Lord Welles, who obtained a grant for them of Henry the Sixth. But in the Magna Britannia it is asserted, that they were obtained by William Lord Welles, in the time of Edward the First. The town consists principally of one street, about a quarter of a mile in length, and is watered by a small rivulet. Leland thus describes its appearance in his time: "Alford, 16 miles from Boston, a mean market, in Low Lindesey Marsh, thakkid and redid, and a brooke cometh by it." The church is an insignificant building, and the chancel is at present thatched. There is a considerable Z z 2 * Itin. V. VII. 50. a considerable grammar-school, the governors of which present to the vicarage of Salesby. The number of houses, stated under the population act, is 229, of inhabitants 1,040. At BELLEAU, so called from the excellent springs of water which issue from a chalk hill* in the vicinity, are the remains of what has been termed The Abbey, but are now considered those of a house belonging to the Earls of Lindsey. The ruins consist of two gateways, and part of a turret, which shew it to have been a place of considerable importance. Over one of the entrances is a grotesque head carved in stone. The walls are covered with ivy, and overtopped by lofty ash trees. After the termination of the civil war, this place was sequestered to that eccentric character Sir Henry Vane, who amused himself here on Sundays, in assembling and preaching to his country neighbours. It is now the property of Lord Gwydir, in right of his wife, Lady Willoughby de Eresby. The church of Belleau is of considerable antiquity, and Gough observes, that it " belonged to the neighbouring monastery of Ailby." For this he refers, however, to no authority, and no mention is made of such religious house, either in Dugdale or Tanner. Near the village of WELL, adjacent to Alford, on a heath, are three curious Celtic barrows, which are contiguous to each other. In the year 1725 were found, contained in two fair urns, six hundred Roman coins. "The church," Mr. Gough says, "has been lately rebuilt in the form of an elegant Grecian temple." At HAGNEBY, three miles and a half E. by N. of Alford, was an abbey of Premonstratensians, dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury, and founded by Herbert, son of Alardi de Orreby, and Agnes Near this place is one of the finest springs in the county, being sufficient to turn a large mill immediately at its source. Agnes his wife, in the year 1175. At the suppression it contained nine canons, whose annual revenues were valued, according to Speed, at 981, 7s. 4d. THORESBY is a handsome seat of Mrs. Wood, relict of the late William Wood, Esq. who was proprietor of this lordship. The waters descending from a number of chalk hills in the vicinity here joining, form a rivulet, which, increased by the springs of Belleau, runs to Witham, whence it might be made, at a small expence, navigable to the sea, the fall from hence to Saltfleet being little more than five feet. Maplethorpe has a comfortable bathing house, resorted to, during the summer months, by families from Louth and other neighbouring places. CANDLESHOE WAPENTAKE contains the parishes of Addlethorpe, Burgh, Croft, Friskney, Ingoldmells, Northolme, Orby, Skegness, Wainfleet All Saints, Wainfleet St. Mary's, Winthorpe.-Ashby, Braytoft St. Peter and St. Paul, Candlesby, Dalby, Driby, Firsby, Gunby, Irby, Portney, Scremby, Skendleby, Steeping Magna, Satterby, and Welton in the Marsh. BURGH Is a small town, situated on a knoll, or rising ground, în a marsh near the sea. According to Dr. Stukeley, here was once "a Roman castrum to guard the sea coasts, probably against the Saxon rovers. It is a piece of very high ground, partly natural, partly raised by Roman labour, overlooking the wide-extended marshes, perhaps in those times covered with salt water, at least in spring tides. There are two artificial tumuli, one very high, called Cockhill. In St. Mary's church yard, now demolished, Roman coins have been found". Burgh has a small market weekly, on Thursday, Z z 3 *Itin. Curios. p. 27. Thursday, and two annual fairs. It had formerly two churches, St. Mary's and St. Peter's; but the latter only remains, in which was a chantry, founded by John Holden. It consists of a nave, north and south ailes, with a fine embattled tower; the battlements not pierced, but ornamented with quatrefoils, a turret at each corner, and three others on each side. The angles of the tower are supported by double buttresses. A free school was founded in this town by one of the family of Le Hunt, but from neglect, it is at present become merely a sinecure. The popula tion returns, made under the late act, render the number of houses 135, and of inhabitants 716. "SKEGNESSE, sometyme a great haven town, was once wallid, having a castle; the old town clean consumed and eten by the sea. For old Skegnes is now buildid a poor new thing*." WAINFLEET Is a market town, situated in a marsh, on a small creek, through which the river Limb flows into Boston Deeps. This place, Dr. Stukeley affirms, was the Vainona mentioned by Ravennas; and whence he supposes the name evidently derived. "The ancient haven was near St. Thomas's church, now called Northolm; 'tis still very deep thereabouts, and appears to have been broad, being a pretty good river +." But by diverting the waters of the Fens more southerly, towards Boston, that place became the port town, in consequence of which the haven of Wainfleet was neglected. A road across the fen is still called Salter's Road, which Stukeley observes, was "probably the Roman road" between Banovallum and Lindum. Leland describes Wainfleet, in his time, as "a pretty market town, standing on a creke, near to the * Leland's Itin. Vol. VII. 50. + Itin. Curios. p. 27. sea. sea. To this town long small vessels. It hath been a very good town, and in it two churches. The school that Wainflete, Bishop of Winchester, made and endowed with 101. land, is the most notable thing. The Shippelets in hominum memoria came up to the school. The haven now decayith." Probably the town, before the decay of the harbour, stood higher up the creek; for the church of All Saints stands at a place called High Wainfleet. This is a handsome building, though apparently not older than the time of Bishop Wainfleet. It has a brick tower of modern date, and is going fast to decay. In the south aile of the church an alabaster monument still exists, which was erected by the pious bishop, to the memory of his father. Wainfleet St. Mary's, or Low Wainfleet, has nothing worthy of note. The school-house, founded in 1459, is yet standing, and has a handsome window, also two octagonal turrets. A nominal market is held on Saturday, and the haven affords security to vessels when driven on the coast, in tempestuous weather. The number of houses returned under the late act for taking an ac count of the population, was, in the parish of All Saints, 96, in habited by 506 persons. In the parish of St. Mary 66, occupied by 421 inhabitants. That great prelate, called WILLIAM OF WAIN FLEET, from the place of his nativity, according to the custom of the times among the clergy, was the eldest son of Richard Partin, Esq. the descendant of an ancient family in this county. He was educated at Oxford, where, being admired for the greatness of his abilities and acquirements, he was quickly preferred, and rose to great eminence in ecclesiastical preferments. He was made Bishop of Winchester, and was the munificent founder of that noble college, St. Mary Magdalene's, in his own university. BOLINGBROKE SOKE contains the following parishes:→→→ East division; Enderby Mavis, Halton Holegate, Hundleby, Z z 4 *Itin. Vol. VII. 50 and 204. Keal |