Willoughby de Eresby, M.P., Lord of
the Manor; Sir H. M. Hawley, Bart., J.P.; F. Sherwin; J. Rodgers; J.
Burcham Rogers, J.P.; Mrs. Evison; the rector, Rev. Canon A. Wright,
M.A., J.P., Rural Dean and Canon of Lincoln. Smaller owners, about 50.
The only gentleman's seat now existing is the hall, the residence of J.
B. Rogers, Esq., J.P.

The old custom of ringing the pancake bell on Shrove Tuesday is still
kept up. The annual feast is held in the week after St. Michael's Day,
the patron saint. The "Ignitegium," or curfew, was rung within the last
35 years, but has been discontinued, the parish being now lighted by gas.

There are a few field names, indicating the former "woodland and waste"
{204} character of the locality. The Ings, or meadows, so common
throughout the district; Oatlands; Scrub Hill, scrub being an old
Lincolnshire word for a small wood; Reedham, referring to the morass;
Toothill, probably a "look-out" over the waste; Langworth, probably a
corruption of lang-wath, the long ford; Troy Wood, may be British,
corresponding to the Welsh caertroi, a labyrinth or fort of mounds. The
hamlets are Dogdyke, a corruption of Dock-dyke (the sea having once
extended to these parts); Hawthorn Hill, Scrub Hill. There is an
enclosure award in the possession of the clerk of the Parish Council.

The parish register dates from 1561. The church plate is modern, chalice
and paten dated 1870; the flagon is older and more massive, but has no
date. The Earl of Ancaster is patron of the benefice, a rectory, with
good house, enlarged about 30 years ago, and 500 acres of glebe.

The National School was built by subscription and government grant in
1836, at a cost of about 230 pounds, exclusive of the site, which was
given by the late Sir Gilbert Heathcote. It was enlarged in 1875 at cost
of 300 pounds. The master has 3 pound per annum, left by the Rev. R.
Kelham in 1719, also the dividend of 100 pounds 3.5 per cent. reduced
consols, bought by the bequest of the Rev. Mr. Boawre, Rector, in 1784.

The charities are Banks, _viz._ 2 pounds a year from land in Haltham, for
bread for the poor; Metham's, for poor widows, from houses and land in
Wisbech, left by Geo. Metham in 1685; Lawrence's, for coats for poor men,
from land in Leake, left by Robt. Lawrence in 1721.

The Horncastle canal traverses the parish, but is now a derelict.

There was formerly a castle in this parish, the residence of a family of
the name of Con