This is a pleasant, small village, about 2½ miles from Horncastle, the
chief approach to it being by the so-called “Ramper,” the great Roman
road, connecting the two Roman fortresses, Lindum and Banovallum (Lincoln
and Horncastle), and still one of the best roads in the county. The Park
of Edlington, now the property of the Hassard Short family, is a
pleasantly undulating enclosure, adorned with some very fine trees;
although of late some £3,000 worth, chiefly of outlying timber, has been
converted into cash. The ground is varied by small copses, which afford
excellent pheasant and rabbit shooting; as also do two covers, about two
miles from the Park, called Edlington Scrubs; and there are also some
very gamey plantations, belonging to the estate, situated about two miles
north-west from Woodhall Spa. The estate comprises about 2,700 acres,
and is fully five miles long from one end to the other, being intersected
by portions of other parishes. There was formerly a substantial
residence, with stew ponds and extensive gardens, at the upper or
northern end of the park, {34a} with the parish road running behind it,
covered by lofty trees. Here, it may interest the botanist to know that
the plant “Butcher’s Broom” (Ruscus Aculeatus) grew plentifully, although
it now seems to be extinct, having been improved away. From this
position there is a very fine view, extending many miles to the south and
west, over very varied country. While the late Mr. Hassard Short himself
resided here, he had frequently coursing parties, hares being then very
plentiful, to which, among others, the present writer, as a boy, and his
father, were always invited. This residence was, however, pulled down
sometime “in the fifties,” the owner, for the sake of his health,
preferring to reside in the south. It was for a time, however, occupied
by a Mrs. Heald, {34b} and her nephew George Heald, Esq., a fine-looking
young fellow, who held a commission in the Guards. And hereby hangs a
tale. In riding in the Park, in London, he made the acquaintance of the
famous coquette, and adventuress, Lola Montez, created Countess of
Landsfeldt by the King of Hanover, whose mistress she was. Being a
mixture of Spanish and Irish blood, she possessed all the vivacity of
both those races, with a gay dash in her manners, and considerable
beauty, along with an extremely outré style of dress. Thus she
fascinated the young man, as she previously had done her late Royal
Master. He married her, although she was said to have been already
married to a Captain James. The charm soon lost its power, and as a
means of ridding himself of her, his friends prosecuted her for bigamy.
Sergeant Ballantine in his autobiography gives the whole particulars
(vol. II., p. 106), but he does not remember the result of this action.
She was of a temper so violent, that she commonly carried arms, and was
almost reckless of what she did. Young Heald came at length to live in
almost hourly fear for his life. I well remember his coming down to a
hotel at Horncastle, to receive rents; when he sat at table, with a
loaded pistol at each side of him. I knew him and his aunt well, and
from the latter I received many kindnesses. The poor persecuted young
man soon passed from mortal ken; but the lady migrated to America, to
seek higher game once more; but a fracas having occurred, in which she
shot someone in a railway carriage, her career also was brought to a
close.
The earliest mention which we have of this part of the Manor of
Edlington, is as being part of the Barony of Gilbert de Gaunt (some of
that name, still residing as farmers in the parish). He probably, or his
ancestors, acquired the property, from what was a common source, in that
day, viz., from the great Norman Baron, Ivo Taillebois, on whom William
the Conqueror bestowed the rich Saxon heiress, the Lady Lucia, the
representative of the wealthy family of the Thorolds, and near relative
of King Harold (see my records of Old Bolingbroke). He held this Manor
till about the year 35 Ed. I., or A.D. 1307. It then passed to the
Barkeworthes; Robert de Barkeworthe being the first of them to reside in
the parish, as owner of Poolham. They were a family of wealth and
position in the neighbourhood at that period. There is a legal document
called Feet of Fines (file 98 [39]), of date A.D. 1329, in which William
de Barkeworthe, and ffloriana his wife, on the one part, and Robert de
Haney and Alice his wife, on the other part, lay claim to considerable
property, in Claxby, Normanby and Ussylby, in which the former establish
their claim. In 1351, William de Barkeworthe presented to a moiety of
the chapelry of Polum. But in 1369, Thomas de Thymbelby presented. This
marks the period when the property passed from the Barkeworthes to the
Thimblebys. A Walter de Barkeworthe died in 1347, and was buried in the
Cloister of Lincoln Cathedral. At the period of this transition (1369),
another Feet of Fines exists, between Thomas, son of Nicholas de
Thymelby, with several others, on the one part, and Richard, “son of
Simon atte See,” on the other part, by which the said Richard surrenders
lands in Claxby, Normanby, Tetford, and other property, to the said
Thomas, son of Nicholas de Thymelby and his friends (“Architectural Soc.
Journ.,” vol. XXIII., p. 255). There is another Feet of Fines, in 1374,
between Thomas de Themelby, John de Themelby, Parson, and others, on the
one part, and John de Toutheby, and his wife Alianora, on the other part,
which assigns the Manor of Tetford, and advowson of the church, to the
Thymelbys. In 1388, John, son of Thomas de Thymelby, presented to
Tetford. The Thimbleby pedigree is given in the Herald’s Visitation of
1562.
In 1333, at a Chancery Inquisition, held at Haltham, “on Friday next,
after the feast of St. Matthew,” the Jurors declare, that Nicholas de
Thymelby, and his wife Matilda, hold land in Haltham, of the right of the
said Matilda, under the Lord the King, as parcel of the Manor of
Scrivelsby; also that the said Nicholas held land in Stikeswold, of the
Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, by the service of paying them ijs and vid
yearly; and also that he held lands in Thymelby, under the Bishop of
Carlisle. Further inquisitions show that Nicholas de Thymelby, and John,
his brother, also held lands in Horncastle and over (_i.e._ High)
Toynton, under the said Bishop of Carlisle; that Thomas de Thymelby
presented to the Church of Ruckland in 1381; and that John, his son,
presented to the Church of Tetford, April 4th, 1388. In 1427, it was
found that the heirs of John de Thymelby, held by their trustees, lands
“in Polum and Edlynton.”
In 1439, William Thymelby, Esq., Lord of Polum, presented to the Benefice
of Somersby, having already presented to Tetford. He seems to have
married Joan, daughter of Sir Walter Tailboys, a descendant of the same
family, from which sprang Ivo Taillebois, the great Norman Baron,
previously mentioned, from whom Gilbert de Gaunt probably acquired his
land in Edlington. {37a} Richard Thimbleby, in 1474, obtained the
Beelsby estates, through marriage with Elizabeth, daughter and heir of
Sir Thomas Beelsby, knight, and widow of Sir John Pygot, Knt. He died
(1522) possessed (in right of his wife, who was coheir of Godfrey
Hilton), of the Manors of Beelsby, Holton-le-Moor, Horsington, Harpswell,
Harleston, Thorgansby; and a share of the advowson of Horsington; John
Thymelby, his son, succeeded him (Escheator’s Inquisitions, 14 H.S., No.
24). To show the religious fanaticism in the reign of Elizabeth, even
among Protestants, note the following:—A Thimbleby of Poolham, A.D. 1581,
was thrown into prison by the Bishop of Lincoln (T. Cowper), for refusing
to attend Protestant services. His wife was near her confinement, but
she begged to see her husband, she was treated so roughly that the pains
of labour seized her in her husband’s dungeon. She was nevertheless
detained in prison without any nurse or assistant, and a speedy death
followed; her husband also dying soon afterwards in prison from the rough
treatment which he underwent there. (“The Church under Queen Elizabeth,”
by F. G. Lee, II. p. 60). I have given these details to show the
importance of the family of Thimbleby.
After another generation or two, Matthew Thymbleby’s widow of Poolham,
married Sir Robert Saville, Knt., who, through her, died possessed of the
Manors of Poolham, Edlington, and several more. Confining ourselves here
to Poolham, we find the Saviles, who were members of the Saviles of
Howley, co. York (now represented by Lord Mexborough, of Methley, co.
York, etc., etc., and the Saviles, of Rufford Abbey, co. Notts.),
continuing to own Poolham until 1600, when Sir John Saville, Knt., sold
it to George Bolles, Esq., citizen of London, whose descendant, Sir John
Bolles, {37b} Bart., sold it to Sir Edmund Turnor, of Stoke Rochford. It
has recently been sold to Dr. Byron, residing in London.
As we have, thus far, chiefly confined ourselves to the owners of the
hamlet of Poolham, we will now make some rather interesting remarks upon
the old Poolham Hall, and matters connected with it. The old mansion was
probably built originally on a larger scale than the present farm house.
It is enclosed by a moat, in the south-west angle of which stand the
remains of a chapel, or oratory, now in the kitchen garden; they consist
of an end wall and part of a side wall, each with a narrow window. The
font, a few years ago, was taken away, and in order to preserve it from
destruction, it was placed, some twenty years ago, in the garden of
Wispington Vicarage, by the Vicar (the late Rev. C. P. Terrot), a great
ecclesiastical antiquarian. It has further again been removed by the
present writer, and, on the restoration of the Church of St. Margaret, at
Woodhall, in 1893, it was once more restored to its original purpose, as
font in that Church, being further adorned by four handsome columns of
serpentine, the gift of the Rev. J. A. Penny, the present Vicar of
Wispington. Near the chapel, there was till recently, a tombstone,
bearing date 1527. This stone was a few years ago removed, and now forms
the sill of a cottage doorway in Stixwould. The writer should here add
that, on the moat of this old Hall being cleaned out a few years ago,
there was found in the mud, beneath the chapel ruins, a curious object,
which at once passed into his possession. It proved to be an ancient
chrismatory, of which there has never been found the like. The material
is terra cotta, with peculiar primitive ornamentation, of a pale stone
colour, containing two divisions, or wells, with spouts at each end, each
having been covered with a roof, although one of them is now broken off,
curiously carved. The use of the chrismatory, was, in mediæval times,
connected with baptism; as the child was brought into the church, it was
sprinkled with salt, and at the font it was anointed with oil. The two
wells were meant to hold the salt and oil. As I have said, it is unique.
Its use was first explained to me, by Sir Augustus Franks, of the British
Museum. It has been exhibited among the ecclesiastical objects of art at
the Church Congresses, at Norwich, London, Newcastle, Northampton, and
other places. It has created very great interest, and has been noticed
in various publications. According to Ecton’s “Thesaurus,” this chapel
was connected with Bardney Abbey, but it is now a ruin, and unused. The
population is limited to three houses, and the most convenient place of
worship is Woodhall, St. Margaret’s.
We will now revert more especially to Edlington. We have mentioned
Gilbert de Gaunt as among the first owners, but this applies, more
strictly to the hamlet Poolham. Edlington proper, is evidently a place
of great antiquity, the name is derived from “Eiddeleg,” a deity in the
Bardic Mythology (Dr. Oliver’s “Religious Houses on the Witham”); the
whole name meaning the town of Eiddeleg. In connection with this, we may
mention that, until about three years ago, when it was destroyed by
dynamite, there existed an enormous boulder, standing on a rising ground,
about sixty yards from the present highway, on the farm of Mr. Robert
Searby, which weighed about 10 tons, its height being about 10ft., width
4ft. 6in., and its thickness about 3ft. This would be just the Druidic
altar, at which the Bardic mysteries, in the British period, might be
celebrated. In 1819, while digging a field in Edlington, some men found
several heaps of ox bones, and with each heap an urn of baked clay.
Unfortunately none of these urns were preserved, so that we are unable to
say whether they were of Roman make, or of earlier date. They imply
heathen sacrifice of some kind, and were close to a Roman road; still the
existence, already mentioned, of an earlier Bardic worship, would favour
for them, an earlier origin.
From Domesday Book (completed circa 1086), we gather (1st) that among the
possessions of the King (William the Conqueror), there were 4 carucates,
_i.e._ 480 acres of land, with proportionate sokemen, villeins, and
bordars. The whole land of the parish being reckoned at 6,960 acres. Of
this extent, the Saxon Ulf, so often mentioned as an owner in this
neighbourhood, had 10 carucates (or 1,200 acres). Egbert, the vassal of
Gilbert de Gaunt had 480 acres, a mill, always a valuable possession, as
all dependants were bound to have their grain ground there; 90 acres of
meadow, and 210 acres of wood land, in all 780 acres. A Jury of the
wapentake of Horncastle, declared that the powerful noble Robert
Despenser, wrongfully disputed the claim of Gilbert de Gaunt, to half a
carucate, or 60 acres, in Edlington, which in the time of Edward the
Confessor had been formerly held by one Saxon, Tonna.
Edlington was one of the 222 parishes in the county which had churches
before the Norman conquest, but as the number of priests serving these
churches was only 131, it is doubtful whether it had a resident minister,
it being more probably that it was served by a Monk of Bardney Abbey, to
which (according to Liber Regis) it was attached. Here again we have a
trace of Gilbert de Gaunt being Lord of the Manor of Edlington, as well
as of the subdivision of Poolham. The Monastery of Bardney was
originally one of the few Saxon foundations, and established before the
year 697. It was however reduced to great poverty by the Danes, under
Inguar and Hubba, in 870, 300 monks being slain. It remained in ruins
some 200 years, when it was restored by Gilbert de Gaunt, who succeeded
to some of the property of Ulf, the Saxon Thane, already named. Gilbert
de Gaunt had 54 Manors conferred upon him; being nephew of the Conqueror,
and among the several which he bestowed on Bardney, was Edlington. At
the dissolution, it would revert to the King, and (as we are here reduced
to conjecture), we may well suppose that it was one of the many Manors in
this district conferred by Henry VIII., on Charles Brandon, Duke of
Suffolk, among whose descendants these vast possessions were subsequently
divided. In Dr. Oliver’s learned book on the “Religious Houses on the
Witham,” it is stated that Bardney had land in Edlington, that the abbot
had the advowson of the benefice, and that before the King’s Justices, in
the reign of Ed. I., the abbot proved his right, by act of Henry I.,
confirmed by Henry III. to the exercise of “Infangthef, pit, and gallows
at Bardney.”
In “Placito de Warranto,” p. 409, he claimed, and proved his right, also
to a gallows at Edlington (as well as at Hagworthingham, and Steeping,
and Candlesby); and in connection with this, it is interesting to note
that, as at Bardney, there is a field called “Coney Garth” (Konig Garth),
or King enclosure, where the abbot’s gallows stood; so at Edlington there
is a field (the grass field, in the angle, as you pass from the village
road to the high road, leading northward), which is still called “Coney
Green,” which name moderns of small education, suppose to be derived from
the numbers of conies, _i.e._ rabbits, which abound there; but in which
the antiquarian sees the old Konig-field, the King’s enclosure; and in
that field, doubtless, stood the abbot of Bardney’s gallows; {41} just as
the Abbots of Kirkstead had a gallows in Thimbleby. On this Edlington
Coney Green, I have found bricks of an early style, with various mounds
and hollows, indicating buildings of some extent, and probably belonging
to the King.
In the year 1897, the Rev. J. A. Penny, Vicar of Wispington, discovered
and published in “Linc. N. and Q.,” some very interesting Bardney
charters of the 13th century, which make many mentions of Edlington. In
one case they record the gift of a bondman, and his progeny to Thomas de
Thorley, living in Gautby, the slave being William, son of Peter
Hardigrey, of Edlington; among the witnesses to the deed of gift being
Master Robert, of Poolham, Simon, the Chamberlain of Edlington, and
others. Date, 22nd May, 1281.
Another is a declaration of Thomas de Thorley, living in Gautby, that he
grants to Master William Hardegrey, Rector of Mareham, all the lands and
tenements which he owns in the village and fields of Edlington; among the
witnesses being Simon, son of John, the Chamberlain of Edlington; Richard
King of the same, Simon the Francis of Edlington, and others.
Another charter states that, “I, William, son of William of Wispington,
have granted, and by this deed confirmed, the gift, to William Hardigrey,
of Edlington, clerk, all my toft, with its buildings, lying in the parish
of Edlington, which is situate between the public highway, and the croft
of Richard, son of Henry King, for ever. Among the witnesses being
Simon, the Chamberlain of Edlington, John, his son, Alured of Woodhall,
and others. Given at Edlington, the Wednesday after Michaelmas, A.D.
1285. (30th Sep., 1285), and 13th year of the reign of King Edward I.”
We further get disconnected notices of various owners of, or in,
Edlington, but I can not make out a connected series.
For instance, in a Chancery Inquisition, 13. Ed. I. (12th May, 1285),
held by order of the King, among the jurors are Henry of Horsington,
Robert, son of the Parson of Horsington, Hugh Fraunklyn, of Langton,
William de Wodehall, of Edlington, and others. Thus the William de
Woodhall, already named, was a proprietor in Edlington, as early as 1285.
We find, in a Final Concord, Nov. 22nd, 1208 (three-quarters of a century
earlier than the preceding), between Andrew, of Edlington, plaintiff, and
Alice, daughter of Elvina, who acted for her, the said Andrew
acknowledged the said Alice to be free (he had probably claimed her as a
bond-slave, in his house, or on his land, at Edlington), for which Alice
gave him one mark. It was only in the reign of Henry VI. that a servant
was permitted, after giving due notice to leave his place, and take the
services of another (23. Hen. VI. c. 13). Before that, all were the
property of their owners, unless given their freedom for some special
reason. Here is another proprietor in a dispute, on 10th Nov., 1208,
between Thorold, of Horsington on the one part, and John, son of Simon,
of Edlington. The said Thorold surrendered for ever, certain lands in
Edlington, to John and his heirs, another family of proprietors, at the
same date as the previous.
In November, 1218, in a Final Concord, between John, of Edlington, and
Hugh, his tenant, as to the right to certain lands in Edlington, it was
agreed that John was the rightful owner, and for this, John granted Hugh
certain other lands, but in case Hugh died without issue, they were to
revert to John, of Edlington. He would seem, therefore, to have been
rather a large proprietor.
The will of Richard Evington, of Halsteade Hall, was made, on 22nd
January, 1612, by which he leaves his lands in Edlington, and other
places, to his two sons, Maurice and Nicholas Evington.
On 23rd December, 1616, Edward Turnor, clerk, of Edlington, made his
will, the details of which do not here concern us, beyond showing that he
was Vicar.
The parish register dates from 1562, beginning with Thomas fforeman, the
sonne of William fforeman, christened 2nd February, 1562. This register
is very peculiar, as it gives the baptisms down to 1700, then the
marriages from and to the same dates, then the burials from and to the
same dates. This is very unusual, the common arrangement, in those
times, being to give the baptisms, marriages, and burials under the same
dates all together. The present book is the copy on paper, of the
original on parchment or vellum. Among some of the surnames are
Billinghay, Padison, Melborn, fford, Hollywell, Kaksby, Stanley, Gunby,
Brinkels (Brinkhills), William, son of Thomas Bounsayne, gent., bap.
Jany. 12th, 1605. Margaret, daughter of John Elton, gent. (and a
sister), baptized October 29th, 1611; and Siorach Edmonds, Vicar, 1617.
Mary, the daughter of Robert Brookley, gent., bapt. Nov. 2nd, 1652; with
others.
This list shews a considerable number of landed proprietors in the
parish; there being no one pre-eminent landowner.
Among the Christian names, which occur in the oldest register, are
Bridgett, Muriall, Rowland, Judith, Dorothie, Anthony, Hamond, Cicilie,
and others.
George Hamerton, gent., and Sarah Hussey, were married June 21st, 1699.
[These Hamertons were a wealthy family in Horncastle, owning a large
block of houses at the junction of the east and south streets. The
initials of John Hamerton and his wife, remain there, over the
fire-place, in an oak-pannelled room. I believe they were connected with
the Hamertons, of Hamerton, co. York.]
John Corbet and Isabell Thylley were married, December 6th, 1660. [The
Corbets have been a long-established family in Lincolnshire, and also
taking a leading position in Shropshire, in Sir Andrew Corbett, Bart].
In register III., is a note, “Thomas Barnett, of Thimbelby, found dead in
Edlington parish, and was buried Sep. 6th, 1798”; also, “Deborah Bell,
aged 95, buried November 7th, 1804.”
In the 2nd register book, among other entries are these:—The Rev.
Tristram Sturdivant, Vicar, buried August 3rd, 1755. (The clerk, William
Blow, had died 2 years before). Belmirah, daughter of Thos. Clarke of
Horncastle, and Mary, his wife, buried Feb. 23rd, 1773.
The 3rd register has the following:—Mr. Wells’ youngest child (of
Poolham), christened by me, William Wells, at Poolham, baptized by Mr.
L’Oste (then Vicar), at Woodhall Church, named Charles, Aug. 11, 1794.
[The Wells’ resided at Poolham down to about 1850. They were wealthy
gentlemen farmers, and were most generous to the poor, and supported the
church in every possible way, as I know from my own experience, and that
of my father].
Margaret Spencer, a traveller, commonly called “Scotch Peg,” she being a
Scotch woman, was buried (at Edlington), Sept. 2, 1789. In the 2nd
Register again we have, among the surnames, Greenland, Walesby, Bouchier,
Soulby, Bates, Longstaffe, Falkner, Bullifant, Gaunt, Elsey, Sturdivant,
Bontoft, Darwin, and others.
We have just mentioned the name of Soulby. I find from the returns made
by Government, that Charles Soulby, and his brother Edward, both payed
the tax for male servants, the former for 2, the latter for 1, in the
year 1780.
Among the Gentry of Lincolnshire, a list of whom was made by the Royal
Heralds in the year 1634, is Thomas Tokyng, of Edlington, with Ambrose
Sheppard, of Hemingby, Robert and John Sherard, of Gautby, Thomas Morgan,
Esq., of Scrivelsby, &c., &c. John Rolt, of Edlington, declined the
honour, there being some slight “duty” chargeable on the distinction.
Ralph Palframan, clerk, was presented to the Benefice of Edlington, by
his brother Anthony, merchant of the staple, at Lincoln, by an assignment
of the advowson made for this turn by the late Abbot of Bardney. William
Palfreyman was Mayor of Lincoln in 1536, probably the father. He was
instituted A.D. 1569, on the demise of Leonard Nurse. “Architect, Soc.
Journ.,” vol. xxiv., p. 15.
The Church of Edlington is dedicated to St. Helen, the mother of the
Emperor Constantine, who was, by birth, a Yorkshire woman. The edifice
was re-built, with the exception of the lowest part of the tower, in
1859–60, at a cost of £1146. It consists of a nave, south aisle,
chancel, and substantial tower of 3 tiers, with 3 bells. The font is
square at the base, octagonal above. The tower arch at the west end is
the original Norman, and the only part remaining of the original
building. The upper part of the tower is in the Early English style.
The windows in the tower are copies of the former Early English ones, the
south arcade is perpendicular, with windows in the same style, and
consisting of 3 bays, with octagonal columns. The Chancel Arch is of
good Early English style. There is a good coloured two-light window,
near the pulpit, in memory of Margaret, the wife of J. Hassard Short,
Esq., who died Feb. 2nd, 1881. The subject of this window is the three
Maries, and the Angel, at the Sepulchre; combined with his wife, he also
by the same window, commemorated his daughter, Agnes Margarette, who died
17th Dec., 1867. Another coloured window was placed in the Church in
December, 1900, in memory of the late Squire, the subject being the
Saviour appearing to Mary Magdalene, at the Sepulchre. Both figures are
of life-size, the countenances being full of expression. It was designed
by Messrs. Heaton and Butler, and placed in position by Mr. C. Hensman,
of Horncastle; and forms a fitting companion to the window in memory of
his wife. It bears the inscription, “To the glory of God, in loving
memory of John Hassard Short, Esq., who died Dec. 4, 1893, this window is
erected by his daughter Marian.” The Shorts have held this estate for
four generations. The flooring is laid with Minton tiles, the church is
fitted with open benches, and pulpit of oak, with reading desk and
lectern of the same. These were the gift of the Lay Impropriators of the
Benefice, the Trustees of Oakham and Uppingham Schools. The organ is by
Stephenson, of Lincoln. The inscription on the 3 bells (according to
North, in his “Lincolnshire Bells”), 2 Royal Heads on each, Edwd. I., and
Queen Eleanor; Edwd. III. and Queen Philippa; Henry VI. and Margaret of
Anjou. Further details are given, as that Edlington had, in 1553, “three
big bells and a Priest’s bell.” Inscriptions now, on 1st bell “1824,”
2nd bell “I.H.S. Sancte Peter,” with diameter of 34 inches; 3rd bell
“I.H.S., Sancte Paule”; Priest’s bell, “T.L. TFCW., 1670,” with diameter
11½ inches.
There have been at least 5 Vicars within the last 50 years. The present
Vicar, is the Rev. E. H. Bree, formerly Curate of Belchford, who has a
good and commodious residence and premises, recently enlarged, and good
garden, pleasantly situated close to the Park.
We have said that the former old Residence of the Shorts was pulled down
several years ago; no building has been erected on the same scale or site
since, but a farm house was adopted as a shooting box, for members of the
family; and for the last three or four years this has been occupied by J.
R. Hatfeild, Esq., who rents the shooting. The Benefice is in the gift
of the Lord Chancellor, as representing the former Patron, the King.
Small as is the parish of Edlington, it has seen some stirring scenes.
On the day before the Battle of Winceby, near Horncastle, where the
Royalists were defeated by Cromwell, viz., on the Evening of Tuesday,
Oct. 10, 1643, a troop of Parliamentary Horse, commanded by Capt. Samuel
Moody, were surprised at Edlington, by the King’s forces, under the
command of Sir John Henderson and Lord Widdrington, of Blankney, and
there befell a rather sharp skirmish, in which the Parliamentary troops
had to fall back. Such was one violation of the quietude of the little
village. In older times, lying as it did, between the two Roman forts of
Banovallum (or Cornucastrum) and the ancient Lindum (or Lincoln), it
would often, in the time of the Roman occupation of the country, be
disturbed by the heavy tread of Roman Legions, and the accompanying music
of Roman Clarions.
History also tells us that “in the year of our Lord, 1406, Sept. 12, King
Henry IV. made a Royal procession from the town of Horncastle, with a
great and honourable company, to the Abbey of Bardney, where the Abbot
and Monastery came out, in ecclesiastical state, to meet him,” [Leland’s
“Collectanea”]. As by-roads did not exist, as they do now, we can hardly
doubt, that his line of route would be by the King’s highway, through
Edlington.
Surely, even in these days of easy locomotion, it can have fallen to the
lot of few villages, large or small, to have given to the gaze of their
rustic wondering inhabitants, such varied, and unusual scenes as these.