The Horncastle area of Lincolnshire - home of the Vinters
If a place name ends in '-by', then it was a Viking settlement; as '-by' meant 'town' or 'village' in the Viking language. There are many examples around Horncastle, such as Coningsby, Revesby, Wood Enderby, and Kirkby-on-Bain.
Horncastle
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Horncastle is a Lincolnshire market town. Its history goes back to befo
re
the Roman invasion. The name is derived from its position between the Rivers
Waring and Bain - "Hurncastre" or "Hyrnecastre" means "Fortress in the
corner". -
St Mary's Church was built on the highest ground between the two rivers; parts of it date from the late 12th or early 13th centuries.
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Horncastle was once famous for its horse fairs, when people would travel from all over Europe to purchase the quality livestock.
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Horncastle workhouse. Courtesy of Simon Meeds
Local famous people:
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Edward Stanhope, Lord of the Manor, MP and local benefactor, is commemorated by the Stanhope Memorial in the market place.
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Sir Joseph Banks, famous explorer and botanist, and an important landowner in the area.
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William Marwood, a cobbler and executioner for the United Kingdom from 1872 to 1883. His shop was in Church Lane, and he practised his famous long drop technique in Lindsey Court.
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The Dymokes of Scrivelsby Court: the Royal Champions.