Monument record MLI88545 - General settlement record for Horncastle

Summary

Horncastle has existed since the Roman period and survives to the present day.

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

(For further information on settlement in Horncastle, please see PRN 43886 for the medieval settlement and PRN 43306 for the post-medieval settlement.) The name Horncastle originates from the Old English and means ' the Roman town on the horn-shaped piece of land (between the River Bain and River Waring). Horncastle is also identified with Banavallum, which is a primitive Welsh or Celtic name meaning strong spur. The Old English horn or horna translates the first element of the Celtic name Banno, this suggests that the name Horncastle was given by people who knew the meaning of both words. {1} Domesday records lands being held by the King and Queen consisting of two mills and a manor. A population of forty-one is recorded. {2} The population in the 1377 poll tax returns records that 303 people paid tax. Two fairs are recorded; one was granted in 1230 for a six-day fair between 10th-15th June and a one-day fair was held on 10th August. {3} The population of Horncastle continued to grow and the Diocean Returns records approximately 220 families between 1705-1723. A charitable grammar school was also open by this time. {4} By 1801 the recorded population was 2015 peaking in 1851 at 5017 it the fell steadily and is recorded in 1901 as 4118. {5} There was a recession in Horncastle in the 17th century. However the 19th century saw a boom, partly caused by the opening of the Horncastle Navigation Canal, which provided a link with Boston and Lincoln. Horncastle is particularly famed for its horse fair which began in the 13th century. {6} Two linear features and three post holes, all undated, were revealed in February 2012, during trench evaluation at 7 The Wong (PRN 46424a). One of the post holes contained a bovine tooth and two sherds of animal bone. {7}{8}

Sources/Archives (8)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: Kenneth Cameron. 1998. A Dictionary of Lincolnshire Place-Names. Page 66.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: C.W. Foster and T. Longley. 1924. Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey. Page 1/91.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Graham Platts. 1985. Land and People in Medieval Lincolnshire. Appendix 1.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: R.E.G. Cole. 1913. Speculum Dioeceseos Lincolniensis sub Episcopis Gul: Wake et Edm: Gibson A.D.1705-1723. Part 1: Archdeaconries of Lincoln and Stow. Page 66.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: William Page (ed). 1906. The Victoria County History: Lincolnshire - Volume 2. Page 370.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). Page 394.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2012. 7, The Wong, Horncastle. PCAS site code: TWHE12.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2012. 7, The Wong, Horncastle. LCNCC 2012.25.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 25895 69576 (1140m by 765m)
Civil Parish HORNCASTLE, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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