East Kirkby is situated just below the steep slope of the Wolds, near
their southern extremity, between 7 and 8 miles south south-east of
Horncastle, 6 miles south-west from Spilsby, and 9 miles north-east from
Tattershall. From Horncastle it is approached _viâ_ Scrivelsby and
Moorby. It is contiguous, on the east, to Revesby.
This in one of the 220 odd parishes in the county which possessed a
church before the Norman Conquest. At that period it seems to have been
united with Revesby, since in Domesday Book (1080–86) “Cherchebi” and
“Resuesbi” are given together, and it is stated that “the whole manor and
all that belongs thereto is six miles long, and six miles broad.” There
are 12 carucates (or 1440 acres) rateable to gelt (_i.e._, 2_s._ to the
carucate); and the same extent of arable land (or 2,880 acres in all);
with (in Saxon times), 54 socmen, and 14 villeins. The great Norman
Noble, Ivo Taillebois, Chief of the Angevine troops of the Conqueror, was
lord of this manor, through his marriage with the wealthy Saxon, Lady
Lucia, heiress of the Thorolds. On his death early in life—a death not
regretted by her, for the marriage had been forced upon her by the
Conqueror—she re-married, with hardly a decent delay, Roger de Romara,
about 1093; and by him had a son, William de Romara, who was created Earl
of Lincoln. This William founded Revesby Abbey in 1142, and, by an
interchange of lands, while retaining Revesby, Moorby, Wilksby, &c., as a
compact property, he separated East Kirkby as a distinct domain. Among
those with whom exchanges were effected was one Ivo, a priest, who held a
church at Thoresby, probably standing on the site of the present Revesby
church. In lieu of this, the Earl gave to Ivo the church of East Kirkby
with its appurtenances, and a toft near the churchyard. In the 13th
century, the family of de la Launde (represented, down to recent times,
by the Kings, of Ashby de la Laund, near Sleaford) were manorial lords
{121} of East Kirkby, while the Earls of Exeter (as shewn in Notes on
Revesby, &c.) had the manor of Thoresby and Revesby, &c. East Kirkby, as
well as Revesby, was in the soke of Old Bolingbroke, and, as parts of the
Duchy of Lancaster, the Sovereign would be the superior lord of the
various manors in that soke, or “Honour,” as it was named, as being
connected with royalty. Accordingly, in 1604, we find that Sir V.
Skinner, of Bolingbroke, was appointed by the crown keeper of Kirkby
Park, the site of which is still shown on old maps; and, according to
“Liber Regis,” in 1762 the Sovereign presented to the benefice, although,
by some arrangement, William Ellis, Esq., had presented in 1719. The
manor now belongs to R. Maidens, Esq., and Dr. T. Robinson, but most of
the soil belongs to the Stanhope or Coltman families, the patronage of
the benefice being in the hands of the former.
Among the Revesby charters and deeds, printed by the late Rt. Hon. E.
Stanhope, is one (No. 27) of Alan Smerehorn, of East Kirkby, dated 1165,
by which he gives a watermill and premises to the Abbots of Revesby, with
the right to draw water through his land, from Bolingbroke to Kirkby; the
Abbey thus being supplied with water. {122} He also, by another deed
(No. 28), conveys to the Abbey his rights in certain lands in Kirkby,
undertaking all claims and services due to the King, in return for which
the Revesby Monks confirm to him certain rights in Hagnaby.
By a deed of the same period, Alan, son of Walter of Kirkby, gives his
feudal rights, in certain lands in Kirkby, to the monks, with lands in
Hagnaby and Engcroft in Stickford, free of all claims from the King.
A charter of Richard I. (“Dugdale,” v. 456) confirms to the Monks of
Revesby, among other possessions, 620 acres of land in E. Kirkby, and
part of Kirkby Wood, along the road called “Swinistigate” (No. 40 B).
N.B.—There is still a Swinecote in Revesby. Various other deeds assign
to the monks lands given by William son of Ivo, of Kirkby (No. 43); by
Alan son of Walter of Kirkby (No. 45); by Lucy widow of Walter Faber, of
Kirkby (a “Smith?”) a meadow, “to decorate and strew the monk’s choir.”
(No. 56). While Henry Smerehorn gives to them his “servant Robert, son
of Colsvan, with all his chattels” (No. 53); and Alan Smerehorn, of
Kirkby, gives a plot “ad portam josep.” (at the Joseph gate), among
several others, taking on himself all claims to the king or others (No.
58). The seal of Smerehorn is a round one with the device, a man blowing
a horn. Gaufrid, son of Alan Buche, of Kirkby, gives land in E. Kirkby
specially as “gate alms” for the poor (No. 68); the same Gaufrid also
confirming the gift made by his brother Walter, of a meadow in Goutscroft
(No. 70). N.B.—“Gout,” or, writ fully, “go-out,” means a spring issuing
from a hill side, of which there are many on the Wold slopes
(Streatfeild, “Lincolnshire and the Danes,” p. 174). {123a} Alan de
Cuilter, of Kirkby, among other lands, gives a place (placeam) called
“gayres” (No. 101); gaire meaning a triangular plot which requires
ploughing a different way to the rest of the ground. {123b} A meadow in
Kirkby is given by Nicholas son of Roger, of Miningsby, towards
maintaining “the light before the image of St. Nicholas in Kirkby Church,
every St. Nicholas’ day.” (No. 119).
There are other deeds connected with East Kirkby, but these are typical.
We give here some other records connected with East Kirkby, which are of
more or less interest, taken from “Lincolnshire Wills.”
William Saltfletby, alias Massenge {123c} of “Kirkby juxta Bolingbroke,”
by his will, dated 3 January, 1443, requests that he may be buried in
Kirkby Church; and leaves money to the church, as well as to the Church
of St. Peter in Eastgate, Lincoln; also to his daughter, his wife, and
her daughter, certain lands in Kirkby, Miningsby, and West Kele; and his
house opposite the Church of St. Peter, Eastgate, “called the Gryffin.”
The witnesses are Robt. Drydyke, Vicar of Kirkby (N.B.—The place-name
Drysykes occurs in Salmonby); John Cokeryll, chaplain of the same; and
Hugh Wellys, clerk.
Richard Skepper, of East Kirkby, by will dated 26 May, 1556, requests to
be buried in the church; and leaves to his sons, Thomas, George, and
Edward, and daughters, Bridget and Anne, his copyholds in Kirkby,
Miningsby, Bolingbroke, Waynflete, Irby, Thorpe, and Friskney. N.B.—This
was a family from Durham.
John Ballet, parson of Nether Toynton, by his will, of 17 April, 1558,
leaves his “gown, that the Bishop of Ely gave him,” to Mr. Goodryke, of
Kirkby {123d} and a gold ring; he also leaves money to repair the roads
between Fulletby and Horncastle.
Connected with the Goodricks, by marriage, were the Littleburies,
descended as is shown elsewhere {124a} from a very ancient knightly
family, originally seated in south Lincolnshire, and hence we find the
following will of Humphrey Littlebury, of East Kirkby, dated 1 Sep.,
1568, by which he leaves all his lands in Hagworthingham to his son John,
who is to pay to his brother Edward xxli a year “for his _exhibition_,”
{124b} during the widow’s lifetime; the annuity to cease when the said
Edward becomes a “counsaler,” and able to provide for himself. He
bequeaths his lands in Hareby, East Keal, Keal Cotes, and Raithby, to his
daughter Ann, “if she will be ordered by her friends, Sir John Kersey and
John Littlebury,” and if she will not, then “never a penny.” It would
rather appear, from this testamentary provision, that the said daughter
Ann was somewhat of a wilful “hussy.” Sir John Kersey would be one of
the family who came in for a share of the Revesby estates after the
extinction of the direct line of the Dukes of Suffolk. To his daughter
Dorothy he leaves “one hundred marks” with a like proviso. To his son
John he leaves a “ring with the seal,” _i.e._, the family signet; also
“one silver salt, vi. silver spoons, 1 silver goblet, gilt, a flat silver
piece, and 1 of my silver pots I bought in London.” Reference is then
made to an Inventory of Lyon Goodricke, deceased, which was bequeathed to
testator’s wife, Winifred, and Edward Goodricke, her son. The testator
had married (1) Ursula, co-heir of Sir John Kersey, knt., of Grove, co.
Notts, and (2) Winifred, daughter of Henry Sapcote {125a} of Lincoln, and
widow of Lyon Goodricke, of East Kirkby.
We have noticed, above, a Richard Skepper, of East Kirkby, whose will was
dated 26 May, 1556. We find later, the will of George Skeeper, of
Boston, evidently the same name, of date 28 Sep., 1606, in which he
desires to be buried “in ye parish church of East Kirkby.” The name
still survives in this neighbourhood.
Another name still occupying a position in the county is that of Booth,
and we find that William Booth, of East Kirkby, by will dated 31 Oct.,
1584, left property to his brother George’s children in Cheshire, to his
brother Edward’s children, of Rand, to George Booth of Thorpe, and to
Thomas Booth, his brother’s son; appointing as his executors, Sir Thomas
Scales and John Scales, his sons-in-law.
We have named, above, Edward Goodrick, of East Kirkby. He died in 1615,
and by his will, of 16 August in that year, he left the bulk of his
property to his son Lyon, but £35 from lands in Suffolk to his daughter
Washbourne, besides £400, in the hands of Sir Thomas Jenney, as her
portion; “a best bed” to another daughter; and “bedsteads of those in
Suffolk,” to four other daughters, all married, “2 Jacobuses to each as a
token of my love.” Small sums are bequeathed to his cousin, Richard
Palfreyman, {125b} and his godson, Nathaniel Palfreyman; to his servant
John Tupholme 20s. besides his wages 13s. 4d. His “grandson John
Godricke to have the manor of Stickney when 22 years old,” and his cousin
Richard Palfreyman to have it meanwhile; paying “a penny a year to Lyon
Godricke.” The will was proved at Horncastle by Lyon Goodrick and
Richard Palfreyman, 25 Oct., 1615.
A name which we cannot omit to notice in connection with East Kirkby is
that of Silkstone; there being a monumental slab in the parish church of
Robert de Silkeston, who died in 1347. Among 14 documents in the
possession of Porter Wilson, Esq., of Louth, this Robert is a principal
party in 13 of them; by which lands are conveyed to him by Ranulphus, son
of Baldwin de Thorpe, in Ireby; by Robert, son of Philip de Kirkeby, in
Kirkby; by Walter de Kirkby, in Kirkby; by Hugo de Hatton, lands in
Kirkby; by Walter, son of Robert de Langena, lands in Kirkby; Robert, son
of Adam Pertrich, of Bolingbroke; Alan, son of Walter de Kirkeby, and
William, son of Henry de Kirkeby, give him other lands in Kirkeby;
Beatrice, widow of William Wriht, of Miningsby, gives him lands in
Miningsby; John de Waynflet gives him lands in that parish; and Robert de
Swylington, Thomas de Marketon, Rector of Hareby, and Robert de
Miningsby, chaplain, grant to him lands in “Kirkby, Winthorpe, Thorp,
Waynflet, Irby, ffriseby (Firsby), Boston, Leek, Wrangel, Stepying,
frrisseneye (Friskney), Bolynbrok, and Menyngesby,” by Deed, given at
Kirkebi, 26 Dec., 29 Ed. III. (1355). Robert de Silkeston thus became a
proprietor of large estates. At a later period Sir Robert Sylkeston had
issue Alicia, who was “maryed to Robert Grynne.” {126} A large portion
of the property passed to that family, and through them to the Skeppers
already mentioned; and from them, by marriage, to the Loddingtons; one of
whom, Thomas Loddington, was Vicar of Horncastle in the early years of
the 18th century; his name being on one of the church bells with date
1717.
Sir John Browne, knight, resided here for several years, holding lands in
East Kirkby, conveyed to him by Lionel Goodrick in 1616, and on a dispute
arising between him and the Skeppers, already mentioned, an agreement was
made, 20 May, 1619, by which Sir John granted to Richard Skepper certain
property, for 2,000 years, at a peppercorn rent, Richard Skepper in
return granting to Sir John, other lands for a like term and
consideration. (Mr. R. W. Goulding, “Linc. N & Q.,” vol. v. p. 75).
Some of these lands were known as Bonthelandes, (Boothlands), West-wang,
Wayteclif, Bulgaire, Inge-croft, Langemer-dayles, Goutscroft, &c.
Sir John Browne was 2nd son of Sir Valentine Browne, of Croft, “Treasurer
and Vittler of Barwicke, and Treasurer of Ireland in ye raigne of Queen
Elizabeth,” who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Monson, of South
Carlton, ancestor of Lord Oxenbridge. Sir John Browne was “Sergant to
King James in his privy chamber.” He married (1) Cicely, daughter of
William Kirkman, Esq., of Easter Keale, who only lived 20 weeks after
marriage; and (2), Francis, daughter of Richard Herbert, Esq., of
Montgomerie Castle. She was youngest sister of George Herbert, who wrote
the well-known poem, “The Country Parson,” and of Edward, Lord Herbert of
Cherbury, who was so prominent a figure in the time of Charles I. They
were nearly related to the Pembroke family, and descended from Sir
Richard Herbert of Edwd. IV.’s time. There is an elaborate altar tomb in
Croft church, with effigies of Sir Valentine and his lady above; and of
their eight sons and seven daughters on the panels below. Beside this is
an equally elaborate monument of Sir John and his 2nd wife. (“Arcitect.
S. Journal,” vol. viii. pp. 70, 71).
Another family, with a good old Saxon name, connected with East Kirkby,
were the Elands (Ea-land or Eyland), representatives of whom have lived
in this parish within quite recent times; the last of them being William
Fawcett Ealand residing at the High Hall in 1860–70. The name means
Island-land, or water land. {127a} Sir William de Eland was constable of
Nottingham castle in 1330, and M.P. for the county in 1333 (Baily’s
“Annals,” vol. i. p. 223). They possessed the “Honour of Peverel.” In
Baumber church there is a slab of John Ealand (obiit 1463) and his two
wives, in the north aisle. {127b} A branch of the family resided at
Raithby near Louth. Toward the close of the 16th century, one of them
resided at Cawkwell, and had that manor and the advowson of the benefice.
{128} Others had estates, and lived at various places in Yorkshire.
In the latter part of the 17th century another family, the Webberley’s of
Addlethorpe, resided at East Kirkby. They intermarried with the Amcotts
family, now represented by Colonel Cracroft Amcotts, of Hackthorne Hall,
Lincoln. John Webberly, who was born here, was a strong partizan of
Charles I., in his contentions with the Parliament. He did not die for
his King on the field of battle like his compatriot Hallam, possibly of
Bolingbroke (see “Notes” on Bolingbroke); but his support of the King,
and his religious opinions (Socinian), subjected him to persecution, and,
in 1648, to much suffering from imprisonment. He was afterwards expelled
from Lincoln College, Oxford. (Weir’s History, Ed. 1828, vol. i. p.
415).
The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is pronounced by Mr. Jeans to be
“one of the most interesting in this district, though sadly patched with
brick, and defaced with ugly windows.” It is no longer used for
services, a small modern church having been recently erected more
conveniently near the village. The varied colouring of the edifice, from
the combination of grey-green crumbling sandstone, with the red tone of
the bricks, surrounded as it is also by lofty trees, render it a pleasing
study for the artist, but its decayed condition inspires the fear that,
unless tenderly dealt with, this interesting relic, may soon go to decay.
It is to be hoped in the interest of archæology that this may be averted.
The original Saxon church was mostly replaced by a later fabric, but now
ancient, of the 14th century. It consists of nave, aisles, chancel and
tower, having two bells; this tower probably dating from early in the
13th century, occupies an unusual position, being attached to the south
aisle towards the west end of it. Its lower storey forms a groined
porch, having a head of the Saviour, rather rudely carved, as the central
top of the vault. It has some early features, especially the window in
its eastern face, but, we quote the late Precentor Venables, in a
description given by him on the visit of the Architectural Society in
1894. Like the rest of the fabric, it has been patched and repaired at
various periods, and most of the remains are debased. The battlemented
upper storey is Perpendicular, the fabric generally being Decorated, of
the 14th century. Of the windows, however, there are few surviving of
that period, the west being the most noticeable. It is of two lights,
beautifully designed, the mask heads of the hood moulding being remnants
of an earlier style. The side windows, both of nave and chancel, were
square-headed. One remains, to the west of the tower, portions of others
remaining among modern degradations. The eastern windows of both aisles
have flamboyant tracery, but now blocked and partly destroyed. The
blocked arch of an entrance to a north chantry which has been removed, is
seen in the north aisle wall. It must have been filled in at an early
date, as the window inserted is of the Tudor period. The piscina of this
chantry altar, with a square basin, is still to be seen outside the
church. In the north wall of the chancel, a small two-light window is
worth attention as an excellent example of the purest Decorated. The
south chancel wall has three-light windows, with segmental heads and
super-mullioned tracery of Perpendicular date; one of these has been
removed to form a poor east window, in place of a good 14th century
window, destroyed a few years ago. The eastern gable is surmounted by a
good cross and saddle stone. The windows of the south aisle are of the
meanest type. There is an arcade of four bays, with Decorated arches
supported on very slender octagonal piers, which are too tall and
slender, and which drive up the arches too high. The moulded brackets
which serve as responds, being elaborately moulded, deserve notice. The
roofs are very poor, being of a later period; one of the beams bears the
date 1583. The chancel arch has been decapitated and blocked by
boarding, but the rood-screen below is an unusually good specimen of
Perpendicular. It has five bays, the centre being double the width of
the others, and having still its panelled doors. It is 12ft. 4in. wide,
and nearly 18ft. high. {129} (Dr. Mansel Sympson, “Architect. S.
Journ.,” 1890, p. 209).
Parts of the parclose which formerly enclosed the chantries at the ends
of the aisles, still remain. The Silkstone chantry on the south retains
its decorated trefoil piscina.
In the floor of the south aisle is an incised slab, commemorative of Sir
Robert Silkstone, the builder of the chantry and church. The late Bishop
Trollope’s rendering of the Latin inscription, which is somewhat defaced,
the slab being broken into four pieces, is as follows:—“Here is buried
Sir Robert Silkstone. He erected this church and chantry. He departed
hence in 1347, and on the 14th of June lost his life. To whom may God
ever grant rest in Heaven. Amen.” The tradition is that he died an
untimely death, if not by his own hand. (“Linc. N. & Q.,” 1896, p. 50).
The old oak seating remains at the west end, and there are fragments,
scattered about, of other screen-work. In the north wall of the chancel
is a narrow trefoil-headed recess, thought by some to be an Easter
sepulchre; it has a curious carved panel, with three kneeling figures,
supposed to be the three Maries, each holding a heart. The recess is an
aumbrey, intended for the Host. The projecting basin, which Mr. Bloxam
thought was a receptacle for “creeping silver,” is a piscina and the
so-called carved “hearts” are boxes for spice. This portion of the
service of the Mass is referred to by Barnaby Googe (1570), in the
lines:—
“While frankincense and sweet perfume
Before the shrine they burn.”
The font is a good sample of Perpendicular, having a panelled octagonal
bowl, supported on a panelled shaft, standing on a platform of steps; the
panels contain heads and flowers. There are fragments of old stained
glass scattered about the windows, and old encaustic tiles in the floor.
A St. Edmund’s penny was found some years ago on the north side of the
church, which the late Vicar, the Rev. G. Maughan, pronounced to have
been issued before A.D. 905. Not far distant, in the year 1899, on some
cottages being pulled down, there were found some fragments of dog-tooth
pattern, and portions of columns and capitals, which are supposed to have
come originally from Revesby; these are now in the garden of Mr. T.
Coltman, at Hagnaby Priory.
The chantry on the north side of the church formerly existing, was called
the Jesus Chapel. Here was buried William Goodrick, father of the Bishop
of Ely, at his own request, by his will dated 20 March, 1517, to be
buried “in the chapell of Jhus in my p’ysh church of Saint Nicholas.”
{131} “On the viij. Kal. Nov., 1344, Robert de Silkestone presented”
Thomas West, of Mucton, priest, to this chantry (then newly founded), and
on Kal. June 1346, he presented “Rob., son of John Fowler, of Mithingsby,
priest, to the same chantry.” (“Linc. N. & Q,” 1896, p. 51, note).