The 14th century font has a massive
octagonal bowl, with large trefoils in each face, and grotesquely carved
heads at the angles; the shaft being plain octagonal. The improvements
were made in 1896, at the cost of the late Mrs. Stanhope.

The register dates from 1562. In recent years the incumbency of Claxby
Pluckacre, where the church had gone to ruins, has been annexed to the
rectory of Wilksby, the joint value of the two being about 300 pounds a
year. They are held by the Rev. P. O. Ashby, Chaplain of Revesby.

LANGRIVILLE & THORNTON-LE-FEN.

These are modern accretions to the Soke of Horncastle, made in the early
years of the 19th century. They are distant southward from Horncastle
about 13 miles; situated in a tract of land called Wildmore Fen, lying
about midway between Coningsby to the north, and Boston to the south. At
various periods inundated by the sea, this continued, to the end of the
18th century, more or less a region of morass; available in the summer
for grazing, but generally during the winter under water; when all cattle
had to be removed for safety to the lands under cultivation at the
homesteads of the farmers; and if by chance the farmer was behindhand in
removing them, and the floods became frozen, it was a common thing for
his cattle, while slipping about on the ice, to be split up, or, as it
was locally termed, "screeved," and so become helpless, and fit only for
slaughter. {209}

An Act of Parliament was passed in 1787 or 1788, and commissioners were
appointed, for the drainage of this and adjoining similar tracts; but
little was done until 1800, when the able engineer, Mr. John Rennie,
submitted his plans for the drainage to the commissioners. His first
report, dated April 7th, 1800, estimated the cost of draining Wildmore
Fen alone at 29,702 pounds; the total outlay, for that and adjoining
fens, being put at nearly 215,000 pounds. By 1812 these operations were
completed; and in that year an Act was passed making these lands
parochial, and assigning the two portions above named to the Soke of
Horncastle.

LANGRIVILLE.

Langriville, so called because it is near Langrick (or Long Creek) on the
Witham, has an area of 2,514 acres, including Langrick Ferry; rateable
value 3,300 pounds. The population is entirely engaged in agriculture.
The nearest railway station is at Langrick, in the parish.

It consists of the southern portion of Wildmore Fen, which at the
enclosure