Asterby is situated about 6½ miles from Horncastle in a north-easterly direction, being approached by the road to Scamblesby and Louth, but diverging from that road northward shortly before reaching Scamblesby. The Rector is the Rev. J. Graham, J.P., who has a substantial residence, erected at a cost of £1,200 in 1863, and standing on the slope of a hill in good grounds. Letters, _viâ_ Lincoln, arrive at 10 a.m. Not much can be gathered of the early history of this parish. It is named in _Domesday Book_ Estreby; this may mean the “buy,” byre, or farmstead, of the Saxon Thane Estori. But, according to another interpretation, the three elements of the name are As, or Aes, tre and by; the first of these implying “water,” the second “a way” or “passage,” the third a “homestead,” the whole thus meaning the Homestead by the water-way; and so probably referring to the river Bain, which forms the boundary between this parish and Ranby; its breed of trout being not unknown to anglers of our own day. According to the Domesday survey this manor belonged to the Norman noble Ivo Taillebois, doubtless through his marriage with the Saxon heiress of the Thorolds, the Lady Lucia. And she conveyed to the Priory of Spalding certain “temporalities,” _i.e._, rents of lands, here, as well as at Scamblesby; her uncle Thorold, Vice-Comes, or Sheriff, of Lincolnshire, being the founder of that institution, and she herself one of its chief benefactors. In the Priory Charters this parish is also called Esterby. Ivo, however, was only this lady’s first husband, and, as is mentioned in the “Notes” on various other parishes with which he was connected, he died without issue; and on her re-marrying, {15a} her great possessions passed to the Romara family, subsequently to the Gaunts, and were then gradually broken up, and dispersed among their various descendants. Only a few fragmentary records of former owners can now be found. By Will dated 31st July, 1585, Edmund Dighton, of Little Sturton, leaves lands in Asterby and elsewhere to his son Robert, and also his leases of land held by grant of the late Abbot of Kirkstead, and a house called Beadway Hall. The Dighton’s were a wealthy family, originally engaged in commerce in Lincoln, but afterwards acquiring considerable property in various parts of the county, and taking a good position. The headquarters of the family were at the Old Hall, of which traces still remain, in Little Stourton; a daughter of Thomas Dighton “of that ilk” married Edward, 2nd son of the 1st Earl of Lincoln, of that line, temp. Elizabeth; she eventually, on the death of his eldest brother, becoming Countess of Lincoln. {15b}