J Conway Walter

Records, Historical And Antiquarian, Of Parishes Round Horncastle J Conway Walter

is situated about five miles from Horncastle in an eastern direction, lying between Somersby on the north-east, Greetham nearly west, and Hagworthingham almost south. It includes the hamlets of Stainsby and Holbeck. The register dates from 1627. Letters, via Horncastle, arrive at 10 a.m. At Tetford is the nearest money order and telegraph office, although there is in the village an office where postal orders and stamps can be obtained. The principal owners of land are Earl Manvers, the representatives of the late Mr. Pocklington Coltman, of Hagnaby Priory, and F. W. S. Heywood, Esq., of Holbeck Hall. The antiquity of the parish is implied in its name. "Ash" is the Danish "esshe" the pronunciation still locally used, and "by" is Danish for "farmstead." Indeed, the whole of the neighbourhood was overrun by the Danish Vikings, as is shewn by the termination "by," which is almost universal, as in Stainsby, Somersby, three Enderbys, Spilsby, etc. The ash was probably the "moot" tree of the village, beneath whose spreading shade the elders sat in council. This tree was formerly held sacred. The "world-tree," or "holy ash" of the Danish mythology called by the Druids "Yggdrasil" was supposed to have its top in heaven and its roots in hell "Asgard and the Gods," by Wagner.