THE river Bane, rising at the village of Ludford, takes its course in a
direction nearly south to join its waters with those of the Witham.
After meandering through an extent of country about fourteen miles, it
receives at Horncastle, the tributary stream of the Waring, and
abundantly supplies the town, conveniently situated at the confluence of
the two rivers. From hence continuing a gently winding course, it washes
Tattershall and its moorlands, before it falls into the larger river to
increase its waters to the sea.
In the year 1792, an act of parliament was obtained for making the Bane
navigable from the river Witham, through Tattershall to Horncastle. {35}
The act, after reciting the names of the original subscribers,
incorporates them by the name of “The Company of Proprietors of the
Horncastle Navigation in the County of Lincoln,” giving them perpetual
succession and a common seal, and empowering them to raise £15,000. in
three hundred shares of £50. each. The interest of these was not to
exceed £8. per cent. No person was to be the possessor of less than one
share, nor to hold more than twenty. As circumstances might require,
they were authorized to raise £1,000. more, by shares or mortgages of the
tolls.
The tollage allowed by this act was, for goods passing the whole length
of the navigation, 2_s._ per ton; from the Witham to the seventh lock,
1_s._ 9_d._ per ton; and from the Witham to the fourth lock, 1_s._ 3_d._
per ton; excepting lime, lime-stone, manure, or materials for roads, for
which, only half the already mentioned tolls were to be taken.
The works were commenced in the year 1793; but, when about two thirds
were completed, the whole of the funds to be appropriated to their
execution were already expended. After suffering the canal to remain
several years in this unfinished state, the company applied again to
Parliament, and in the year 1800 another act was obtained, enabling them
to raise £20,000. more by subscription amongst themselves, by admission
of new subscribers in shares of £50. each, by mortgage, or by granting
annuities. The limitation of shares and interest were repealed by this
act; and the tonnage rates advanced to 3_s._ 3_d._ per ton for the whole
length of the navigation, 2_s._ 7_d._ to the seventh lock, and 1_s._
8_d._ to the fourth; lime, lime-stone, manure, and materials for roads
excepted as before from the payment of full rates.
Shortly after the works were recommenced, the plan of completing them by
an entirely new canal was adopted in preference to that which they had
before pursued of rendering the Bane navigable. It was therefore at the
village of Dalderby diverted from the course of the natural stream, and
carried on in a less varied track to the point of junction between the
waters of the Bane and Waring: from hence it was continued in the
divergent courses of these two rivers, to the more extreme parts of the
town of Horncastle. It was completed in September, 1802, and on Friday
the seventeenth of that month the vessels entered the town. The canal is
sufficiently deep to navigate vessels of fifty tons burthen.
From this town to the river Witham the distance is about eleven miles, in
which the stream has a fall of eighty-four feet.
THE PRESENT STATE OF THE TOWN, FAIRS, MARKETS, &c.
ALTHOUGH this place was favored at an early period with a charter for a
market, which in the time of Henry the eighth appears to have been well
frequented, yet it remained for many years little more than a
considerable village. {37} From the earliest accounts it seems to have
been gradually encreasing; but it was not until later years, when a new
impulse was given to the agricultural interests of the country, that it
began to exhibit material evidences of extention and improvement.
From a plan of the town drawn by Dr. Stukeley, in the year 1722, it
appears at that period of time, now the lapse of a century, to have been
little more than half its present extent. This plan, not having been
made from actual survey, cannot be considered as an accurate
representation: nevertheless it is calculated to give a tolerable idea of
the state of the town at the time it was executed. It is traditionally
asserted that at that period scarcely a brick house was to be found in
the parish; the early erected dwellings being all constructed with clay
walls and covered with thatch; thus evidencing that common character
which Leland the antiquary assigns to the towns of this part. The clay
buildings have for the most part disappeared, and brick structures are
now erected in their stead; and from the spirit of improvement which has
lately been evinced, they will doubtless in a few years be entirely
removed. The rebuilding of many houses in the principal streets in a
handsome manner, within the last twenty years, has given to the town an
air of respectability; but the effect which would be produced by these
buildings in its general appearance, is materially diminished by the
narrowness and irregularity of the streets. At this time the number of
houses may be computed at about seven hundred, and of inhabitants, about
three thousand five hundred.
The entrances to the town, as well as its general aspect, have also been
improved by the inclosure of the fields by which it is surrounded. To
accomplish this an act of parliament was obtained in 1803, and carried
into effect the following year.
In no respect has the town changed more than in its trade; a large
proportion of its inhabitants having formerly been employed in the
tanning of leather, in which manufacture the yards on the south side of
the Far-street were almost exclusively occupied. About fifty years ago
the number of these establishments began rapidly to decline, and are at
this time reduced to two. Since the completion of the canal in 1801, a
considerable trade in corn and wool has been carried on here; about
thirty thousand quarters of the former, and three thousand sheets of the
latter being annually sent from this place. The town also from its
situation in a well inhabited district enjoys a large retail trade.
There are now three fairs for horses, cattle and sheep, held here
annually. The first, which concludes on the twenty-second of June, has
of late years declined very much, and though chartered for eight days
seldom continues more than three. The second, which terminates on the
twenty-first of August, has long been celebrated as the largest fair for
horses in the kingdom, perhaps it may be said in the world; it continues
about ten days, being three days more than the time expressed in the
charter. To this fair are brought for sale horses of all descriptions
from every part of the kingdom, to the number of many thousands; and
beside the most extensive dealers of this country, there are to be found
in the fair purchasers and dealers from different parts of the continent
of Europe, and even from America. The third fair, which is held on the
twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth days of October, was removed to this place
in 1768, from Market-Stainton, a decayed market town, about eight miles
distant, two hundred pounds being given to the lord of the manor of that
place, to permit the removal, one half of this sum was raised by
subscription amongst the inhabitants of this town, the other by William
Banks, Esquire, the then lessee of the manor. The market is now held
every Saturday, to which it was changed from Wednesday, the day mentioned
in the charter, probably in consequence of the markets at Boston and
Louth being also on that day; but the time at which the alteration took
place cannot now be ascertained.
On the south side of the church-yard is a building appropriated for the
purposes of a Dispensary, which is supported by public subscription.
Those to whom medical aid is administered are such of the sick poor, in
the town and neighbourhood of Horncastle, as are recommended by
subscribers; and the many to whom assistance has been afforded, evince
its utility in a striking degree. The Dispensary is attended every
Tuesday and Saturday morning by a physician, whose service is gratuitous,
and by an apothecary who receives a salary. These gentlemen visit such
patients as are unable to attend at the Dispensary. A female accoucheur
also belongs to the establishment. The number of patients admitted from
the commencement of the institution in September 1789, to September 1821,
was 9389.
In the year 1790 a Literary Society was established in this town, and
which since its commencement has occupied a room at the Dispensary as a
library. The property of this society is permanent and unalienable;
excepting that books considered unworthy of being preserved are disposed
of at the next anniversary but one after their purchase. The library
contains about eleven hundred volumes, and is open to the members two
days in the week. For several years the subscription was only ten
shillings and sixpence per annum; it was afterwards advanced to fourteen
shillings, and subsequently to one pound. Subscribers are now also
required to pay one pound on their admission. The society at present
consists of about forty members.
In the year 1807 the inhabitants of this town in conjunction with several
other towns and villages, in the county of Lincoln, made application to
parliament, and obtained an act for the recovery of debts not exceeding
the sum of five pounds. The commissioners hold their courts at this
place every fourth Thursday.
The education of the poor which has lately excited so much attention in
various parts of the kingdom, has not been neglected here. A school on
the Lancasterian or British system was established at a public meeting
held in October, 1813; and but a few days subsequently a meeting was held
at the church, when it was resolved to establish also a school on the
plan of Dr. Bell. Early in the ensuing year, buildings were erected, and
each system began to be acted upon. Both schools are supported by
voluntary contributions, and each contains about two hundred children.
Beside the established church, there are in this town a society of
Wesleyan Methodists; a small congregation of Calvinistic Baptists; a
society of Primitive Methodists, or ranters; and a congregation of
Independents.