ASLACOE W APENTAKE Is Crossed from North to South by the Western Ridge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, and Averages About 10 Miles in Length and 8 in Breadth
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THIS division of I,incolnshire comprises more than half of the county, and has nearly a million acres of land. Exclusive of the city of Lincoln, it is divided into seventeen Wapentakes, two of which are the Sokes of Bolingbroke and Horncastle, and three of them are called Hundreds, as subsequently noticed with the population summary. Lindsey formed the North Division of Lincolnshire for Parliamentary purposes from the passing of the Reform Act to that of "The B.epresentation of the People Act, 1867," when the county was divided into North, South and Mid-Lincolnshire, and Lindsey apportioned between the first and last of these divisions, as noticed at page 2. Lindsey was anciently called Lindissi, from Lindum, the Roman name of Lincoln, and it gives the title of Earl to the Bertie family. It is about 56 miles in length, and from 24 to 34 in breadth, and possesses a great variety of soils and aspects, a large portion of it consisting of the high lands called the Wolds; but near the sea, the Humber, the T1·ent, and the Witham, it has extensive tracts of rich marshes, and near Tattershall and Bolingbroke are the East, West and Wildmore Fens, now enclosed, drained, and cultivated. It is bounded on the north by the Humber; on the east by the German Ocean ; on the south by the Parts of Holland and Kesteven, from which it is separated mostly by the river Witham ; and on the west, partly by Nottinghamshire, from which it is divided by the Trent, which, a few miles below Gainsbro', flows through Lindsey to the Humber, between the Wolds and the Isle of Axholme, which is bounded by part of Yorkshire, and is the north western portion of Lindsey. It is traversed by the Great Northern, the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire, and the Midland railways. Quarter Sessions for the Parts of Lindsey are now held at Lincoln and Spilsby only, those hitherto held at Kirton-in-Lindsey and Louth being discontinued, (see page 97) ; but Petty Sessions are held also at Lincoln, Gainsborough, Barton, Brigg, Grimsby, and many other towns. ASLACOE W APENTAKE Is crossed from north to south by the western ridge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, and averages about 10 miles in length and 8 in breadth. From either side of the W old ridge it is intersected by numerous small rivulets, flowing east and west, through fertile valleys. The high roads from Lincoln to Barton, and Gainsborough to Louth, meet in its centre at the celebrated Spittal Inn, but it is not penetrated by any railway, the nearest stations being at Brigg, Kirton, Market Rasen, and Gainsborough. Bishop Bridge, about the centre of its eastern border, is the commencement of the Ancholme navigation, which extends northward to the Humber. The whole Wapentake is in the Deanery of Aslacoe and Archdea· conry of Stow, and is in two divisions, containing 21 parishes, of which an enumeration, shewing their territorial extent and their population in 1871 will be found in the Appendix.* [• ED. NoTE.]-We are unable to give such enumerations of this and other Wapentakes in their proper places owing to the necessary returns of the last Census not being yet published. We however hope, by special favour, to be enabled to furnish a correct population table before the work is finished. BISHOP NORTON. BISHOP NORTON, a pleasant village, on the southern acclivity of a fertile valley, 12 miTes E. by N. of Gainsborough, 6 S.E. of Kirton-in-Lindsey, 9 N. by W. of Market Rasen, and 2 miles N.E. of Spittal, has in its township 870 souls, and 2359 acres of land, bounded on the east by the Ancholme navigation. Its parish, which includes also Atterby township, contains 4240 acres. The Bishop of Lincoln is lord of the manor of Bishop Norton, but the soil belongs to various copyholde;rs and freeholders. Sir M. J. Cholmeley, Bart., has a large estate here, part 9f which is in the manor of Orossholme, formerly a seat of the Lakes, whose arms still remain in one of the windows of the ancient mansion, now occupied by a farmer. Norton Place, lt mile S.W. of the village, and a mile N. of Spittal, is a handsome mansion, with pleasant grounds, and was the seat of the late John Harrison, Esq., but is now the property of his nephew, Sir M. J. Cholmeley, Bart., of Easton Hall, who occasionally resides here in the shooting season. The house has many handsome apartments, commanding views of the pleasure grounds, which are tastefully laid out, and have a fine lake, crossed by a stone bridge of three archee. The Ohurl'k (St. Peter), which is a neat modern structure, with a lofty tower and three bells, was reseated in 1868, at an outlay of £160, raised by voluntary contributions; and an organ, manufactured by Mr. Thomas Haigh Nicholson, of Lincoln, was placed in it. Near the chancel is the vault of the Harrison family. The benefice is a vicarage, valued in K.B. at £9, and now at £305, in the patronage of the Prebendary of Bishop Norton, now the Rev. Frederick Borradaile, M.A., and in the incumbency of his son, the Rev. .