of 5 pounds, left by John Dymoke, Esq., of Haltham, who in 1634 is named
among the Heralds' List of Gentry, for yearly distribution by the
overseers among the poor. The children attend the school at Roughton.

The church is one of the most interesting in the neighbourhood. The
chancel was restored and an open roof put up in 1881, at a cost of 250
pounds. The nave was restored in 1891, at a cost of 300 pounds. The
sanctuary was paved with Minton tiles by the late Lady Dymoke. The most
remarkable feature is a semi-circular tympanum over the door in the south
porch, which is of early Norman, or possibly Saxon date. It has
sculptured on it in somewhat rude fashion a Maltese cross within a
circle, a second circle running through the limbs of the cross, a square
with three-quarter circles at its corners, and semicircles midway of each
side, which form the extremities of another cross, and between the limbs
are roundels. Below is a figure resembling a fish, also four rows of
triangles, and other complicated devices. The east window is a very fine
flamboyant one, of date about 1350. Some of the sittings have very old
rudely-carved poppy heads of oak. There are very fine carved oak
canopies over two long pews in the north aisle, for the Champion Dymokes
and their servants. There is a piscina with two fronts in the south wall
of the chancel, and a series of three stone sedilia, in the north wall is
an aumbrey. There is an incised slab to one of the Dymokes. The tower
has three bells, and the bell chamber is closed by ancient boarding, on
which are the ten commandments in old characters, and very curious Royal
Arms of Charles I. The church plate consists of pewter paten, silver
flagon and chalice, with date 1764, given by Mr. John Dickinson.

In the village there is an old hostel, partly of the Tudor style, with
pointed gable ends, projecting upper storey, and constructed externally
of brick and woodwork.

As to the early history of this parish little is definitely known.
According to _Domesday Book_ it was among the possessions of the
Conqueror, and his steward, Robert Dispenser, held it under him.
Probably like other parishes in the soke of Horncastle, the manor was
held by Gerbald d' Escald, his grandson Gerard de Rhodes, his son Ralph
de Rhodes, sold by him to the Bishop of Carlisle, &c. Of the ownership
of Ralph de Rhodes we have evidence in a Feet of Fines, Lincoln, 9 Henry
III., No. 52, containing an agree