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.
{55}
[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, 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. {56a}
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. {56b} 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; but although they still retain
the church, none of the family have been buried there since 1794. 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 around the verge;
“Orate p’ a’iabs 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 1811, the population of this parish amounted to 290, and the number of
houses to 51.