THE village of Baumber or Bamburgh is situated in the hundred of Gartree,
about four miles northward of Horncastle, on the turnpike road leading
from that place to Lincoln. In the Domesday survey it is called
Badeburgh, which perhaps may signify Bane-burgh, or a town on the Bane,
that river forming the eastern boundary of the parish. At the period of
making that survey, Ulf and Gilbert de Gand are mentioned as proprietors.
{53a}
[Picture: Stourton Hall, Baumber, Seat of Joseph Livesey, Esquire]
The manor, together with the adjoining hamlet of Stourton parva, once
belonged to Thomas Dighton, Esquire, whose daughter and heiress was
married to Edward Clinton, second son of the first Earl of Lincoln. On
failure of male issue in the elder branch, the earldom devolved to the
son of this Edward, whose successors afterwards had the Dukedom of
Newcastle conferred on them. These estates continued in the possession
of this family until the latter part of the last century, when they were
sold to Thomas Livesey, Esquire, of Blackbourn, in the county of
Lancaster, whose son, Joseph Livesey, Esquire, the present proprietor,
resides thereon, in an elegant mansion, which was completed in 1810.
Part of the residence of the Earls of Lincoln is still standing.
The church at Baumber with all its appurtenances, and eight oxgangs of
land, were given by Gilbert de Gaunt to the monks at Bridlington, which
grant Pope Innocent the fourth, and the Bishop of Lincoln confirmed.
{53b} It is now a donative, extrajudicial. It was rebuilt about sixty
years ago, and is a very neat brick structure, consisting of a tower, a
nave with side aisles, and a chancel. {54} Under the chancel is the
vault of the Newcastle family, which was their place of sepulture
previous to disposing of their estates in this parish. Over the vault
are the following inscriptions:
“Here lieth the Body of Francis Clinton al’s Fynes Esq. Grandson of
Henry Lord Clinton Earl of Lincoln who departed this life Feb. 5 Anno
Dom. 1681.”
“Here lieth the Body of Priscilla the Wife of Francis Clinton al’s
Fynes Esq. who departed this life Febr. 15 Anno Dom. 1679.”
In the north aisle is a stone with this inscription in black letters
around the verge:
“Orate p’ a’iabus Joh’es Eland armig’i Alicie et Elisabeth uxor
ejusde’ qui Joh’es obijt xix die marcii aº d’ni millo cccclxxiii cuj’
q’rs a’iabs p’pciet’ de.”
In 1821, the population of this parish amounted to 319, and the number of
houses to 51.