Asterby is situated about 6½ miles from Horncastle in a north-easterly
direction, being approached by the road to Scamblesby and Louth, but
diverging from that road northward shortly before reaching Scamblesby.
The Rector is the Rev. J. Graham, J.P., who has a substantial residence,
erected at a cost of £1,200 in 1863, and standing on the slope of a hill
in good grounds. Letters, _viâ_ Lincoln, arrive at 10 a.m.
Not much can be gathered of the early history of this parish. It is
named in _Domesday Book_ Estreby; this may mean the “buy,” byre, or
farmstead, of the Saxon Thane Estori. But, according to another
interpretation, the three elements of the name are As, or Aes, tre and
by; the first of these implying “water,” the second “a way” or “passage,”
the third a “homestead,” the whole thus meaning the Homestead by the
water-way; and so probably referring to the river Bain, which forms the
boundary between this parish and Ranby; its breed of trout being not
unknown to anglers of our own day.
According to the Domesday survey this manor belonged to the Norman noble
Ivo Taillebois, doubtless through his marriage with the Saxon heiress of
the Thorolds, the Lady Lucia. And she conveyed to the Priory of Spalding
certain “temporalities,” _i.e._, rents of lands, here, as well as at
Scamblesby; her uncle Thorold, Vice-Comes, or Sheriff, of Lincolnshire,
being the founder of that institution, and she herself one of its chief
benefactors. In the Priory Charters this parish is also called Esterby.
Ivo, however, was only this lady’s first husband, and, as is mentioned in
the “Notes” on various other parishes with which he was connected, he
died without issue; and on her re-marrying, {15a} her great possessions
passed to the Romara family, subsequently to the Gaunts, and were then
gradually broken up, and dispersed among their various descendants. Only
a few fragmentary records of former owners can now be found.
By Will dated 31st July, 1585, Edmund Dighton, of Little Sturton, leaves
lands in Asterby and elsewhere to his son Robert, and also his leases of
land held by grant of the late Abbot of Kirkstead, and a house called
Beadway Hall. The Dighton’s were a wealthy family, originally engaged in
commerce in Lincoln, but afterwards acquiring considerable property in
various parts of the county, and taking a good position. The
headquarters of the family were at the Old Hall, of which traces still
remain, in Little Stourton; a daughter of Thomas Dighton “of that ilk”
married Edward, 2nd son of the 1st Earl of Lincoln, of that line, temp.
Elizabeth; she eventually, on the death of his eldest brother, becoming
Countess of Lincoln. {15b}
Elizabeth Hansard, of Gayton-le-Wold, widow, by her Will, dated 17th
March, 1591, makes her father, John Jackson, of Asterby, executor, and
the guardian of her children, Edward, Margaret, and Mary Hansard; and
leaves all her property to them, except 20s. each to her brother Thomas
Jackson, and her brother-in-law William Hansard. These Hansards, a
knightly family located in this county at South Kelsey (also of
Beesthorpe and Thornton), were of very old extraction; tracing their
descent from Ughtred, Earl of Northumberland in the reign of Edmund
Ironsides, who came to the throne A.D. 016. {16} South Kelsey, their
chief seat, passed to the old family of the Ayscoughs, by the marriage of
Sir Francis Ayscough to the Hansard heiress, Elizabeth, in the middle of
the 16th century. Both Hansards and Ayscoughs were connected with many
of the leading county families.
John Guevera, of Stenigot, by Will dated 18th March, 1607, leaves his
manor of Stenigot and all his premises in Asterby (certain portions being
excepted) to his “Sonne Francis, his heir apparent, on his coming of
age,” and specifies that “till then he be held content by Sir Nicholas
Saunderson, knight, of Fillingham, and Captaine Henrie Guevera, of
Barwick.” These Gueveras were of Spanish origin, probably coming to
England in the train of Catharine of Arragon, or in attendance on King
Philip of Spain, Queen Mary’s husband. Spain was then a flourishing
country, and they soon acquired property, and took their position among
the landed gentry, Francis Guevera being named among the Herald’s List of
Gentry in 1634. Sir Nicholas Saunderson, here named, of Fillingham, was
grandson of Nicholas Saunderson, of Reasby, in the parish of
Stainton-by-Langworth. He was made a baronet in 1612, and Viscount
Castleton in 1628. The family was involved in the Lincolnshire Rebellion
of 1536. The manor, and greater part of the parish, are now in the hands
of trustees of the Trafford family, who are also patrons of the benefice.
Messrs. W. Pinning and Benjamin Harrison are also landowners, and Mr.
James Walter has a large and picturesque farmhouse with good grounds and
surroundings.
The church, dedicated to St. Peter, was for some years in an
unsatisfactory condition, but during recent years it has been gradually
undergoing restoration. It was formerly larger than it is now, having
had a north aisle. The tower was half taken down towards the close of
the 18th century, and rebuilt, the plinth of the tower buttress on the
south side of the west door being said to be the original one of the 12th
century. There are three bells. In 1896 the chancel was taken down and
extended about 6ft. in length, the interior face of the walls being
constructed of rubbed sandstone, in courses obtained from a quarry in the
parish. The exterior character of the old work was carefully preserved,
and a dressed stone plinth-course inserted. The old east window with
wooden framework was removed and a stone traceried window introduced,
filled with tinted glass. The floor was paved with encaustic tiles in
place of ordinary bricks, and the communion table raised 18 inches above
the body of the church, by three steps. A new altar rail of oak, with
standard of wrought-iron and brass, was put up, and the roof was made of
open timbers covered with match boards and slates. This work was done by
Mr. R. Mawer, builder, of Louth, under the direction of Messrs. Mortimer
and Son, architects, of Lincoln. The entire cost was defrayed by the
present rector. Since then other improvements have been effected. The
tower, in a dangerous condition, was partly taken down in 1898, and the
bells rehung in new oak framework. A handsome altar cloth was presented
by Lady Wigan. The nave floor has now boards in place of the old damp
and unsightly bricks. It has been supplied with new seating of
pitchpine. This work was entrusted to Messrs. Thompson & Sons, of Louth,
and is thoroughly satisfactory. Inspired by these efforts, a generous
donor, Mrs. Woodall, presented a massive oak lectern in memory of her
parents who for many years worshipped in this church, and the whole
fabric is now at length, through the exertions of the rector, liberally
seconded by Mrs. Graham, a credit to the parish. Old features of
interest in the church are the chancel arch, which is Early English; and
in the south chancel wall, near the reading desk, is also a three-light
Early English window, containing some fragments of very old glass, the
new east window being a copy of this. In the north wall of the nave are
two bays of the former aisle blocked up, with a grinning figurehead
between the arches. In a frame affixed to the north wall is the text,
from Eccl. v., 1, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and
be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools.” The font is
old, having an octagonal bowl, with plain shields on each face, the shaft
also being octagonal and standing on a pediment of three steps. In the
south wall of the chancel, outside, is a mutilated slab bearing an
inscription in memory of “Samson Meanwell, who departed this life Feb.
17, 1744, in ye 63 yeare of his age.” Nearly opposite the west door is a
very old yew-tree, which may well have supplied the village archers with
their bows in the days of Crecy, Poictiers, and Agincourt. The benefice
is now held jointly with that of Goulceby. It was formerly in the gift
of the Dymokes. Dame Jane Dymoke presented in 1711 and 1725. She also
gave church plate. The patronage then passed to the Crown, who presented
in 1771 and 1784, after which the Trafford Southwell family acquired it,
with the manor, and presented in 1807.
Near the church is a field named Hall Close, where there are traces of a
large residence; and here, about the year 1821, were dug up three human
skeletons and an ancient dagger.
The poor of the parish have the benefit of a bequest made by Anthony
Acham, for them, and for those of Goulceby; who also, in 1638, founded a
school for the two parishes, with Stenigot.
We have only to add that the pilgrim to Asterby, who has an eye for rural
scenery, will be gratified on his way thither by an extent of view not
often to be found. He can take in, at one and the same moment, a
prospect reaching almost 30 miles, including Lincoln Cathedral and miles
beyond it to the north-west; and embracing Heckington and other fine
church spires, with Tattershall Castle to the south-west, and extensive
woods, corn fields, and meads to vary the scenes between.