Swineshead, Wigtoft, and Wyberton, with the two extraparochial places of North Forty Foot Bank and Wastlands.

DONINGTON, OR DONNINGTON,

Is a small town, which has a weekly market on Saturday, and two fairs annually. A new road, called Bridgend Causeway, has lately been made across the fens, from this town to Folkingham, which has greatly contributed to the convenience of the neighbourhood during winter, as the road, previous to this improvement, was almost impassable in that season. A free school was erected and endowed here in A, D. 1718, by Thomas Cowley, Esq. who left all his estates to be divided among, and applied to the use of, the poor of every parish in which they respectively lay, and for other beneficent uses; of which 4001. per annum came to the poor of Donington. This place is noted for the sale of hemp and hemp seed. The number of houses appears, by the returns made to government in 1801, to have been 216, of inhabitants 1,321.

In digging for foundations behind the school-house, was discovered a vault, four feet square, built of hewn stone, containing an urn filled with red earth. And amid the ruins of some ancient buildings, a few glazed earthen vessels, specimens, it is supposed, of ancient pottery made at Bolingbroke, were found.

ALGARKIRK has a handsome church. In the church-yard is an image of stone, said to be the statue of Algar, Earl of Mercia, who, with his gallant stewards, Wybert and Leofric, so valiantly opposed the incursions of the Danes, over whom, near this place, he obtained a decisive victory, A. D. 870, but paid for it with his life the following day.

SWINEHEAD, OR SWINESHEAD,

Is a small market town, containing, as stated by the returns made to parliament, 290 houses, and 1,544 inhabitants. It is famous

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famous for having been the first resting place of King John, after he lost the whole of his baggage, and narrowly escaped with his life, when crossing the marshes, in his military progress from Lynn to Sleaford, the castle of which latter place was then in his possession. He left this town on horseback, but being taken ill with a dysentery, was moved in a litter to Sleaford, and thence to his castle of Newark, where he died on the following day. Matthew Paris, and other historians, ascribe the king's death to a fever, which was brought on by vexation, and heightened by imprudently eating peaches, and drinking new cyder. But an author who lived about a century after the event, asserts, that the king died in consequence of poison, administered to him by a monk of a religious house which then existed at Swinehead *. was an abbey of cistertian monks, founded by Robert Greslei, A. D. 1134, and valued at the dissolution, according to Dugdale, at 1671. 15s. 3d. per annum. Gilbert de Holland, Abbot of Swinehead, was cotemporary with, and a particular friend of, St. Bernard. He wrote the life of that saint, and died and was buried at Thoulouse, in the year 1280.

This

Of the abbey buildings no vestiges are left; but a mansion was erected out of the ruins by one of the family of Lockton. In the church, a handsome spacious building, with a lofty chancel, is a monument of Sir John Lockton, who died A. D. 1610.

In the parish of Surfleet, is CRESSEY HALL, the property of Mr. Heron, a descendent of Sir John Heron, Knight, who was privy counsellor to Henry the Seventh, whose mother was here once sumptuously entertained by Sir John; and the state-bedstead on which she lay is described by Stukeley to be made of curiously embossed oak. It is preserved in a farmer's house in the neighbourhood. The house was handsomely rebuilt by Sir Henry Heron, Knight of the Bath, who died in 1695, and lies buried in the church. This was once a private chapel, and appears to have

* See this circumstance discussed by Mr. Pegge in Archaeologia, Vol, IV. p. 29.

have been built about the year 1309, as an inscription over the door, respecting the licencing of the building, contains that date.

At this place is a vast Heronry, which has been, however, considerably reduced of late, on account of the damage the birds do to the lands. The herons resort here for the purpose of repairing their nests about February, and settle in the spring to breed. They are numerous and gregarious, and their nests so crouded together, that Mr. Pennant observes, that in Scotland he has seen eighty on one tree.

The Heron, or Ardea Major of Linnæus, is a voracious bird; and, according to Buffon, exhibits a picture of wretchedness, anxiety, and indigence. It subsists on fish, frogs, water newts, &c. and occasionally flies to a great distance in search of food. In England this bird was formerly ranked among the royal game, and protected, as partridges and hares are now, by specific laws. Persons who destroyed their eggs were subject to a fine of twenty shillings for each offence. Heron-hawking was at that time a favourite diversion among the nobility and gentry of the kingdom, and at whose table this bird was deemed a choice dish. A passage in Shakespeare that alludes to the heron, has occasioned much controversy with verbal critics. Allusive, and as a reproach, to ignorance, it states, "He does not know a hawk from a handsaw, or heron-shaw." The latter is the common name of the fowl; but, in vulgar pronunciation, it is often called in this proverb, handsaw. An interesting account of the heron, with an accurate representation of it, are preserved in Bewick's "History of British Birds," Vol. II.

KIRTON, or KIRKTOWN, is described as a market town in most topographical works; but though it formerly possessed a weekly market, and two annual fairs, it is mentioned in Howlet's Views as only "a large village." a large village." In 1800 it contained 269 houses, and 1,238 inhabitants. The patronage of the living, which is a discharged vicarage, including the chapelry of Brother

toft, is vested in the Mercer's Company, of London. Kirton has been noted for its spacious and elegant church, which was formerly collegiate, and is said to have been built by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln; but its style of architecture displays a much later date. Being found much dilapidated and decayed, its chancel, tower, and transepts, were taken down in the year 1805. The tower was originally in the centre of the church, at the intersection of the transepts with the nave. When taken down, the stones were marked and numbered, and the whole have been employed in re-erecting a new tower at the western end of the church. The nave and ailes remain in their original state; and at the western end of the former is a semicircular arch, which is probably a part of Alexander's structure. Within the church is an handsome font, with eight faces, in each of which is a recessed panel, with a shield, On the pedestal is this inscription:-"Orate pro aia ALAUNI BURTON qui fontem istum fieri fec. A. D. м CCCC v."

ELLOE WAPENTAKE contains the parishes and hamlets of Cowbit, Croyland, Fleet, Gedney, Gedney Hill hamlet, Holbeach, Sutton, St. Nicholas hamlet, Moulton, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Sutton St. Edmund's hamlet, Sutton St. James's hamlet, Sutton St. Mary's, Tyd St. Mary's, Weston, Whapload, and Whapload Drove hamlet. The principal place in this, district is

HOLBEACH,

An ancient market town, consisting of 556 houses, and 2,683 inhabitants. Among the ancient foundations of this place may, be specified an hospital, which was endowed and established by Sir John de Kirton, Knight, about the year 1351. It was in

tended

tended to support a warden, chaplain, and fourteen poor pensioners. A free grammar-school was also founded here, by a licence from King Edward the Third, who granted certain lands for its support. Another free school was established here about the year 1669, by George Farmer, Esq. and the revenues for its support have been much increased by subsequent donations and bequests. In the market place was an ancient stone cross, supposed to have been raised about the year 1253; near which period Thomas de Malton, Lord Egremont, obtained the grant of a weekly market and an annual fair.

The chief building of Holbeach is the church, which is a large handsome structure; and consists of a nave, chancel, ailes, porch, and square tower. The latter is surmounted with an octangular ornamental spire. Each angle is charged with crockets, and each face has two windows, with canopies, &c. The north porch is rather curious, having two circular towers, with embattled parapets, at its extreme angles. Within the church are some fine monuments to the Irby family, and to the Littleburys, both of which formerly resided in this neighbourhood. Dr. Stukeley has given a plate, with some account of a fine altar monument, with a statue in armour of a person belonging to the latter family.

Holbeach has derived some eminence from two of its natives, one of whom was Henry de Rands, called, from the place of his birth, Holbech. After passing through different ecclesiastical offices, he was advanced to the bishopric of Lincoln. See some account of him in p. 623. The other native of this town was WILLIAM STUKELEY, M. D. C. M. L. F. A. S. and F. R. S. whose name and memory are respected by every true lover of English antiquities; and whose literary disquisitions will be always considered curious, and therefore interesting, to a certain class of readers and amateurs of books. He was descended from an ancient family in this county, and was born here November 7th, 1687. After receiving the first rudiments of education under Mr. Edward Kelson, in the free school of this town, he was ad