The settlement of Clixby formed a two-row street village along the south-west to north-west through-way. Though initially smaller than Grasby and with a smaller township, Clixby fared through the medieval period at least as well as its neighbour and emerged in the mid 16th century slightly larger. It had suffered a severe decline by the later 17th century, perhaps through enclosure and the creation of the substantial residence; then after some renewed growth, which caused it to be mapped as still flourishing in 1824, was depopulated in the early 19th century evidently in reaction to the provisions of the poor rate - labourers walking into work from the open settlements of Grasby or Caistor. {1} Earthworks of the settlement were plotted from aerial photographs as part of the National Mapping Programme. {5}