Hameringham is about 4 miles from Horncastle, in a south-east direction,
the road passing through Mareham-on-the-Hill. The marriage register
dates from 1744, those for burials and baptisms from 1777. Letters,
_via_ Horncastle, arrive at 10 a.m.
We know little of the early history of this village; it is not named in
Domesday Book, but in a list of military tenures, of the reign of Henry
I. about A.D. 1108, the “Hundred of Hamringeheim” is mentioned, and
“Count Richard,” probably the Norman Earl of Chester, is said to hold
there eleven carucates and four oxgangs, or nearly 1400 acres, and
Gilbert Fitz Gocelin had four oxgangs, or about 60 acres (“Old
Lincolnshire,” vol. i. pp. 213, 214).
In the year 1208 Henry, son of Geoffrey, granted to Ralph, Abbot of
Revesby, and his successors, an oxgang of land and a messuage in
Hameringham; the said Ralph giving to the said Henry 20s., in
consideration thereof.
In the year 1529, Jane Sheffield, widow, of Croxby, in her will dated 7
January, refers to a deed of feoffment, dated 4 June, 8 Henry VIII.,
whereby Sir John Sheffield, Parson of Hameringham, and others are feoffed
of certain lands, for her life; Sir John Sheffield and Alexander Amcotts,
Gent., being supervisors. (“Lincolnshire Wills,” page 6, No. 14).
In 1540 John Angevin of Ashby by Horncastle, by will, dated 10 Oct. makes
his wife Margaret, executrix, and confirms to her lands in Ashby and
Hameringham, to remain in her hands “unto suche tyme, as all suche goods
as I am bownden, and myne heyres, in covenants by indenture to Sir
Rycherde Warde, and to Sir Robert, be fully paid.” To which is added, in
a different hand, “I Robert Awngeven agreed to this wyll.” The Angevins
disappear in the 17th century; but one of the family held land in
Hameringham in the reign of Henry VIII. (“Lincolnshire Wills,” p. 28, No.
72). By will, dated 20 April, 1545, Robert Angevin, of Langton by
Horncastle, leaves his land in Hameringham to his son William. (Ibidem
p. 36, No. 96). {83}
By will, dated 10 Sept. 1612, George Litilburie, of Somersby, leaves to
his nephew Jeffery Litelburie all his apparell, and lands in Winceby and
Hameringham. He wishes his armes to be “sette in the walle (of the
church) as my grandfather’s was at Ashby (Puerorum).”
Among the Revesby charters is one, of date 1198, whereby Richard I.
grants and confirms to the monks of Revesby certain lands in Hameringham,
Enderby, and elsewhere (Dugdale v. 456).
By a deed in the reign of Richard I., or John, William, son of Gaufrid,
clerk, of Hameringham, gives to the monks of Revesby 9 acres of arable
land in Hameringham, a meadow called “Baldvinegaire {84a} and pasture
near the 9 acres, and other lands; free of all service,” save that the
monks are to pay to the donor annually “two spurs of the cost of one
nummus,” at Michaelmas.
By a deed early in the 13th century Symon, son of Hugo, of Dunsthorpe,
gives to the monks one toft in Hameringham, and 10 acres, and one selion
in a place called Thyrne, and 2 selions in Pesedalegate, {84b} free from
all claims.
In the reign of Henry III. Juetta, daughter of Alan, of Hameringham, gave
to the Abbey of Revesby, 4 acres of arable land, for the purpose of
gate-alms. In the reign of Edwd. I. Robert Cressaunt of Tuluse gave his
rights and claims on lands in Tuluse, Hameringham, and elsewhere, to the
monks of Revesby, on condition that they pay to him and his heirs
annually 8_s._ Alicia the daughter of William, son of Alward of
Hameringham, in the same reign, gave a half toft for the Revesby almsbox;
with pasturage rights for 26 sheep and 4 cattle and 4 pigs in
Hameringham; the monks to pay to her 6_d._ annually.
Sir Lionel Dymoke, by will, dated 15 Ap. 1512, bequeathed “for churche
walke in hameringham xxd. to John Sheffield parsone of hameringham, . . .
to pray for me, my wyf Anne, and my wyf Jane deceased, and for all
christen soules.” “Linc. N. & Q.” iv. p. 12.
On the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. that sovereign
granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in consideration of his
“acceptable and long service,” “all manner of houses, messuages, &c.,”
along with the lands, hitherto belonging to the monastery of Revesby,
including property in Hameringham, and nearly 50 other parishes, to be
held of the crown, on payment of the fifth part of one soldier’s service,
and an annual payment of £28 to the Court of Augmentations every
Michaelmas, the duke’s title to date “from March 1, in the 29th year of
our reign (1538).”
[These different documents are among the Revesby charters, printed by the
late Right Honble. E. Stanhope, M.P.]
The benefice of Hameringham was formerly charged with a pension of 6s. to
the Prior of Bullington. In the early part of the 18th century, the
Chaplin family would seem to have been proprietors here, as Mr. Thomas
Chaplin presented to the benefice in 1712 and 1720. The manor now
belongs to the Coltman family, who are also patrons of the benefice; and
there are several smaller proprietors.
Scrafield, which has now no church, is united to Hameringham. Some of
the communion plate is ancient, being Elizabethan, the rest is modern,
being presented by the late Rector, Rev. Joseph Coltman.
Hameringham church, All Saints, stands appropriately on almost the
highest ground in the vicinity, so that the parishioners may look, and
wend, upward to it. It was restored by the present Rector, the Rev.
Brice Smith, in 1894, the architect being Mr. Hodgson Fowler. It now
consists of nave, chancel, and south aisle. It has, doubtless, gone
through vicissitudes at various periods, as is evidenced by remains and
records. In 1800 there was no chancel in existence. In 1820 a chancel
was built by the then Rector, the Rev. Joseph Coltman. There was at one
time a much larger edifice, of which the foundations were discovered by
the present Rector, in preparing for the restoration. The chancel arch
is Early English. The west window is modern, perpendicular in style. In
the north wall of the nave is one window, perpendicular, of three lights,
near the pulpit. The pulpit is of plain oak, with the old hour glass
frame still affixed to it, and containing an ancient hour glass,
recovered from a villager. These remnants of the days of long discourses
are now very rare. There is still one in the church at Cowden, near
Edenbridge, Kent. The arcade of the south aisle is of the 13th century,
renewed in the 14th century with Lincoln stone. It consists of three
bays, with two octagonal pillars having carved capitals; the eastern-most
support is a circular, single, small shaft, apparently Norman, with
carved capital, different from the others; where the moulding of the two
eastern arches meet, the corbel is a King’s head; these two arches are
considerably broader than the western one, which is pointed. This
western pillar is the original 13th century one. The south wall is of
the late 12th century, and the south porch arch is the original. In the
south wall are two windows east of the porch, and one west of it, each
having two lights, and a quatrefoil above, style perpendicular. There is
a piscina near the door. The roof of the restored nave is of modern
pitch pine. The chancel roof is considerably below the chancel arch. It
is apparently of wood, and has formerly been divided into panels. The
chancel is so long, that the communion table is placed 7 or 8 feet west
of the east wall, and the space behind, shut off by drapery, forms a
vestry. The east window, in perpendicular style, is of 3 lights, with
six smaller lights above, within the arch. The font is a very old and
interesting one, octagonal, on an octagonal shaft; the devices,
quatrefoils, &c., on the faces of the bowl are much mutilated, those on
the shaft are perpendicular mouldings on 5 sides, and on the three other
sides are grotesque figures, much mutilated, the centre one being winged,
and supposed to represent St. Michael. It stands on a plain oblong slab.
There is one good medieval bell, the other being the “Sanctus bell,”
re-cast in the Jubilee year 1887, as it had become cracked. The entire
church is built of Spilsby green sandstone, faced in the porch with red
Dumfries stone.
The visitor to Hameringham from Horncastle, looking south and westward,
will see some beautifully wooded scenery, around Scrivelsby Park,
Haltham, and beyond towards Revesby, Tattershall, &c. the view extending
even beyond the Fens; with the spires of Heckington and other churches
towering up in the dim distance, twenty miles or more away, a most
delightful prospect. Conspicuous among these objects is the magnificent
tower, with its lantern, of what is commonly called Boston Stump.