Hameringham .
Hameringham is about 4 miles from Horncastle, in a south-east direction, the road passing through Mareham-on-the-Hill. The marriage register dates from 1744, those for burials and baptisms from 1777. Letters, via Horncastle, arrive at 10 a.m.
We know little of the early history of this village; it is not named in Domesday Book, but in a list of military tenures, of the reign of Henry I. about A.D. 1108, the “Hundred of Hamringeheim” is mentioned, and “Count Richard,” probably the Norman Earl of Chester, is said to hold there eleven carucates and four oxgangs, or nearly 1400 acres, and Gilbert Fitz Gocelin had four oxgangs, or about 60 acres (“Old Lincolnshire,” vol. i. pp. 213, 214).
In the year 1208 Henry, son of Geoffrey, granted to Ralph, Abbot of Revesby, and his successors, an oxgang of land and a messuage in Hameringham; the said Ralph giving to the said Henry 20s., in consideration thereof.
In the year 1529, Jane Sheffield, widow, of Croxby, in her will dated 7 January, refers to a deed of feoffment, dated 4 June, 8 Henry VIII., whereby Sir John Sheffield, Parson of Hameringham, and others are feoffed of certain lands, for her life; Sir John Sheffield and Alexander Amcotts, Gent., being supervisors. (“Lincolnshire Wills,” page 6, No. 14).
In 1540 John Angevin of Ashby by Horncastle, by will, dated 10 Oct. makes his wife Margaret, executrix, and confirms to her lands in Ashby and Hameringham, to remain in her hands “unto suche tyme, as all suche goods as I am bownden, and myne heyres, in covenants by indenture to Sir Rycherde Warde, and to Sir Robert, be fully paid.” To which is added, in a different hand, “I Robert Awngeven agreed to this wyll.” The Angevins disappear in the 17th century; but one of the family held land in Hameringham in the reign of Henry VIII. (“Lincolnshire Wills,” p. 28, No. 72). By will, dated 20 April, 1545, Robert Angevin, of Langton by Horncastle, leaves his land in Hameringham to his son William. (Ibidem p. 36, No. 96). [83]
By will, dated 10 Sept. 1612, George Litilburie, of Somersby, leaves to his nephew Jeffery Litelburie all his apparell, and lands in Winceby and Hameringham. He wishes his armes to be “sette in the walle (of the church) as my grandfather’s was at Ashby (Puerorum).”
Among the Revesby charters is one, of date 1198, whereby Richard I. grants and confirms to the monks of Revesby certain lands in Hameringham, Enderby, and elsewhere (Dugdale v. 456).
By a deed in the reign of Richard I., or John, William, son of Gaufrid, clerk, of Hameringham, gives to the monks of Revesby 9 acres of arable land in Hameringham, a meadow called “Baldvinegaire [84a] and pasture near the 9 acres, and other lands; free of all service,” save that the monks are to pay to the donor annually “two spurs of the cost of one nummus,” at Michaelmas.
By a deed early in the 13th century Symon, son of Hugo, of Dunsthorpe, gives to the monks one toft in Hameringham, and 10 acres, and one selion in a place called Thyrne, and 2 selions in Pesedalegate, [84b] free from all claims.
In the reign of Henry III. Juetta, daughter of Alan, of Hameringham, gave to the Abbey of Revesby, 4 acres of arable land, for the purpose of gate-alms. In the reign of Edwd. I. Robert Cressaunt of Tuluse gave his rights and claims on lands in Tuluse, Hameringham, and elsewhere, to the monks of Revesby, on condition that they pay to him and his heirs annually 8s. Alicia the daughter of William, son of Alward of Hameringham, in the same reign, gave a half toft for the Revesby almsbox; with pasturage rights for 26 sheep and 4 cattle and 4 pigs in Hameringham; the monks to pay to her 6d. annually.
Sir Lionel Dymoke, by will, dated 15 Ap. 1512, bequeathed “for churche walke in hameringham xxd. to John Sheffield parsone of hameringham,... to pray for me, my wyf Anne, and my wyf Jane deceased, and for all christen soules.” “Linc. N. & Q.” iv. p. 12.
On the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. that sovereign granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in consideration of his “acceptable and long service,” “all manner of houses, messuages, &c.,” along with the lands, hitherto belonging to the monastery of Revesby, including property in Hameringham, and nearly 50 other parishes, to be held of the crown, on payment of the fifth part of one soldier’s service, and an annual payment of £28 to the Court of Augmentations every Michaelmas, the duke’s title to date “from March 1, in the 29th year of our reign (1538).”
[These different documents are among the Revesby charters, printed by the late Right Honble. E. Stanhope, M.P.]
The benefice of Hameringham was formerly charged with a pension of 6s. to the Prior of Bullington. In the early part of the 18th century, the Chaplin family would seem to have been proprietors here, as Mr. Thomas Chaplin presented to the benefice in 1712 and 1720. The manor now belongs to the Coltman family, who are also patrons of the benefice; and there are several smaller proprietors.
Scrafield, which has now no church, is united to Hameringham. Some of the communion plate is ancient, being Elizabethan, the rest is modern, being presented by the late Rector, Rev. Joseph Coltman.
Hameringham church, All Saints, stands appropriately on almost the highest ground in the vicinity, so that the parishioners may look, and wend, upward to it. It was restored by the present Rector, the Rev. Brice Smith, in 1894, the architect being Mr. Hodgson Fowler. It now consists of nave, chancel, and south aisle. It has, doubtless, gone through vicissitudes at various periods, as is evidenced by remains and records. In 1800 there was no chancel in existence. In 1820 a chancel was built by the then Rector, the Rev. Joseph Coltman. There was at one time a much larger edifice, of which the foundations were discovered by the present Rector, in preparing for the restoration. The chancel arch is Early English. The west window is modern, perpendicular in style. In the north wall of the nave is one window, perpendicular, of three lights, near the pulpit. The pulpit is of plain oak, with the old hour glass frame still affixed to it, and containing an ancient hour glass, recovered from a villager. These remnants of the days of long discourses are now very rare. There is still one in the church at Cowden, near Edenbridge, Kent. The arcade of the south aisle is of the 13th century, renewed in the 14th century with Lincoln stone. It consists of three bays, with two octagonal pillars having carved capitals; the eastern-most support is a circular, single, small shaft, apparently Norman, with carved capital, different from the others; where the moulding of the two eastern arches meet, the corbel is a King’s head; these two arches are considerably broader than the western one, which is pointed. This western pillar is the original 13th century one. The south wall is of the late 12th century, and the south porch arch is the original. In the south wall are two windows east of the porch, and one west of it, each having two lights, and a quatrefoil above, style perpendicular. There is a piscina near the door. The roof of the restored nave is of modern pitch pine. The chancel roof is considerably below the chancel arch. It is apparently of wood, and has formerly been divided into panels. The chancel is so long, that the communion table is placed 7 or 8 feet west of the east wall, and the space behind, shut off by drapery, forms a vestry. The east window, in perpendicular style, is of 3 lights, with six smaller lights above, within the arch. The font is a very old and interesting one, octagonal, on an octagonal shaft; the devices, quatrefoils, &c., on the faces of the bowl are much mutilated, those on the shaft are perpendicular mouldings on 5 sides, and on the three other sides are grotesque figures, much mutilated, the centre one being winged, and supposed to represent St. Michael. It stands on a plain oblong slab. There is one good medieval bell, the other being the “Sanctus bell,” re-cast in the Jubilee year 1887, as it had become cracked. The entire church is built of Spilsby green sandstone, faced in the porch with red Dumfries stone.
The visitor to Hameringham from Horncastle, looking south and westward, will see some beautifully wooded scenery, around Scrivelsby Park, Haltham, and beyond towards Revesby, Tattershall, &c. the view extending even beyond the Fens; with the spires of Heckington and other churches towering up in the dim distance, twenty miles or more away, a most delightful prospect. Conspicuous among these objects is the magnificent tower, with its lantern, of what is commonly called Boston Stump.