Belchford is one of our largest villages, lying at a distance of about 5
miles from Horncastle, in a north-east direction, and buried in a valley
among the wolds. It was anciently among the possessions of the
Conqueror’s nephew, Ivo Tailebois, which he acquired by his marriage with
the Lady Lucia, the wealthy heiress of the Thorolds. Tithes and
territory here were assigned by her to the Abbey of Croyland, as well as
to its cell, the branch Priory of Spalding. There were two mills here,
valued in Domesday book, at 18s. 8d. yearly. The acreage is large; Ivo
had five carucates in demesne, or some 600 acres, while villeins,
bordars, and soc-men, occupied nine carucates, or about 1080 acres; there
were 360 acres of meadows, and six carucates (720 acres) reateable to
gelt. The arable land was a mile long, and a mile broad, which was a
large proportion. The acreage is now 2480, the population more than 400.
By an indenture, 28th October, 1641, we find Sir Thomas Glemham owning
lands in Belchford and Oxcombe, as well as other places, which he sold to
Sir Matthew Lister, and his brother Martin Lister, subsequently the
Listers of Burwell Park. The Listers, however, sold the Belchford lands
again to Sir Thomas Hartopp, about 20 years later. Mr. Robert Charles de
Grey Vyner is now Lord of the Manor, but much of the land belongs to the
Epton, Reed, and other families. At the inclosure, land left by Henry
Neave to the poor, was exchanged for two acres, now let for £5 15s.,
which is distributed among the poor at Christmas, as well as a rent
charge of 4s., left by Mrs. Douglas Tyrwhitt. Letters, _via_ Horncastle,
arrive at 9.30 a.m. The nearest telegraph office is at Tetford.
Of the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, little can be said which is
satisfactory, at the present time. It was rebuilt in 1781, in the
characteristic poor style of that period. Some years ago it became
almost unsafe, and the walls were strengthened to prevent their falling.
The chancel was rebuilt in 1859–60; and in 1884–5, the church was
reseated, the plaster ceiling removed, a new floor supplied, and fresh
windows inserted; but once more it is in a bad and unsightly condition,
gaps and fissures appear in the walls, the tower is much out of the
perpendicular, and only kept together by bands of iron. The north wall
is only relieved by one very plain Georgian window. The east window, a
triplet in the early English style, is perhaps the best feature in the
church. It was put in by a former Rector, Rev. W. Anthony Fitzhugh. The
font, which is octagonal and perpendicular, formerly stood in St. Mary’s
Church, Horncastle. The pulpit, of old oak, came from the private chapel
of Lord Brougham, who was a relative of the late Rector; it has some
quaintly-carved panels, and other portions in the same style lie unused
in the church. The baptismal register has an entry of a baptism
performed by Dr. Tennyson, father of the Poet Laureate. The register
dates from 1698.
Some embellishments have been introduced in the chancel of late by the
present Rector. An Italian crucifix, behind the Communion table, with
devices representing the keys of St. Peter, and sword of St. Paul, the
patron saints, with vine leaves and grapes, and a central chalice. There
is a scroll below these, bearing the words, “Ecce panis Angelorum Factus
cibus Viatorum.” The church ornaments include a processional cross of
18th century foreign work. An effort is now being made to accomplish a
thorough restoration of the church. A flint implement was found in the
parish in the year 1851, and fossils of the Echinus and other kinds have
been found. The name of Belchford may be British; Bel (Baal) being the
Druid name of the Sun-God and “fford,” is Welsh (or British), for road; a
more pleasing, if more fanciful, derivation, has been suggested, viz.:
that the prefix is connected with the words “bellow” and “bell,” and
refers to the tinkling music of the ford on the brook, which passes
through the valley.
In an ancient register of Spalding Priory, of date 1659, is an extract
from a charter of the foundation of the Priory, in which it is stated
that one Thorold, ancestor of Lucia, Countess of Lincoln and Chester, and
wife of Ivo Tailebois, gave the Tithes of Belchford, Scamblesby, etc., to
the Priory. The name is there spelt Beltisford, which would seem to
favour the former of these two derivations. In Domesday Book it is
Beltisford, further confirmatory of the same.
A former Rector of this Benefice was somewhat of a “character.” He was a
_bon vivant_, though not of an objectionable kind. He was popular among
his clerical brethren, and, like several others, gave an annual clerical
dinner, which was attended by them from considerable distances. One of
the special features of the repast, was a leg of mutton, with port wine
sauce, which, as well as the wine, might be said to be “old.” The
cellars of the rectory were very cool, and he usually had a leg which had
been hanging for a quarter of a year, half a year, or more. At one of
the last of his dinners, the joint had been in the cellar, specially
preserved, for more than twelve months, but, served as it was, with a
good surrounding, it was unanimously declared to be excellent.
The Rev. Egremont Richardson was long remembered by many friends, for his
kindly, genial qualities.
Since the above remarks on the church were written, the fabric has, in a
great measure, been worthily restored. The architect, Mr. Townsend, of
Peterborough, employed Messrs. Thompson, of Peterborough (who have
restored Peterborough Cathedral), and they have done the work thoroughly.
The tower, in a dangerous condition, has been taken down, and will not be
rebuilt until funds allow it, but otherwise the restoration is complete.
Five decorated windows have been introduced into the former dark walls, a
vestry has been added, and the walls of the nave have been beautifully
decorated. The chancel walls are relieved with terra cotta, of the 17th
century style, the roof having black and white arrow-head work. The
choir stalls are stained green, and decorated in harmony with the walls.
There is a new altar-table of oak, its panels being richly painted. The
nave is furnished with chairs, in place of the old pews. The church is
heated with the Radiator system, on the Italian principle, supplied by
Messrs. J. Ward & Co., of Horncastle, being the first church in the
neighbourhood furnished with this apparatus. In the porch is preserved a
relic of the past, an old stoup, or holy water vessel, found in the
Churchwarden’s yard. This has been done at a cost of about £900, and a
further sum of £700 or £800 will be needed to restore the tower. The
chief donors to the work have been the Rawnsley family, and Lord Heneage.