ingsby, but no traces of it remain, unless it be in an
ancient dovecote, placed among some fine trees to the east of the
village.

The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a large, and originally a fine,
church, consisting of nave, with north and south aisles, an apsidal
modern chancel, and a massive western tower. This latter is of
Perpendicular date, very plain, but of excellent ashlar work; it has a
clock and six bells. The ground stage has open arches to the north and
south, with a groined roof above, and a thoroughfare through it. In the
eastern wall of the south porch is a stoup, which was formerly open, both
within the porch and outside it. Over the porch is a parvis or priest's
chamber. Outside the church, near the top of the wall of a cupola-shaped
finial of the rood loft turret is an old sun dial. The interior of the
nave has a massive heavy roof of beams somewhat rudely cut, with traces
of former colouring.

The four western bays of the arcade are Early English, with low arches,
the easternmost bay seems to have been added at a later date, the arch
higher and wider. The moulding between two of the north arches
terminates in a head, on each side of which an evil spirit is whispering.
Another terminal is the head of a woman wearing the "branks," or "scold's
bridle." On the south side of the chancel arch is a rood loft staircase
turret, of which both the lower and upper door remain.

At the restoration in 1872 the clerestory windows were spoilt by being
reduced in height; externally their original design remains. In the
centre of the nave are two large sepulchral slabs, once bearing brasses,
which are now gone, representing two civilians and their wives. The
apsidal chancel is quite out of keeping with the rest of the fabric.
There are some remains of the old carved oak screen, and south of the
communion table is an Early English capital, with piscina behind it.

[Picture: St. Michaels Church, Coningsby]

The Notes on Churches, by Gervase Holles, shew that in his time (circa
1630) the windows of this church abounded in coloured glass, of which not
a vestige remains. He gives, among the devices, the arms of Marmyon,
Dymoke, Hillary, Welles, Hattecliffe, Umfraville, Willoughby, Ros,
Tateshale, Bernake, Crumwell, Huntingfield, Rochfort, Beke, Boucher,
Waterton, Hebden, Deyncourt, France and England, &c. {205}

Among the rectors of this parish have been two poets, one the laureate of