The Rectory, close by, is a commodious and substantial residence in good grounds. In a field to the south of the gardens are remains of former stews, or fishponds, and two rather large boulders, {95} which have evidently been ice-borne, and like many others in the neighbourhood, are of carboniferous “Spilsby” sandstone of the Neocomian period. The soil of the parish generally, is a heavy clay; and in a brickyard adjoining the Horncastle and Wragby road, are numerous ammonites and other fossils. There is a yearly rent charge of £6 left by Heneage Smith, in 1616, for the education of poor children, which is paid out of the estate of Coningsby C. Sibthorpe, Esq.; 14s. 2d. was left by William Marshall, in 1557, for poor parishioners, to be paid out of land at Minting, but this has fallen into abeyance. Edmund Turnor, Esq., is lord of the manor but C. C. Sibthorpe, Esq., owns the greater part of the soil. “Midge Inn,” which has the reputation of formerly being the haunt of the highwayman, who lightened the pocket of many a traveller on the King’s highway, is on the Horncastle and Wragby road in this parish, which is in the soke of Wragby. HEMINGBY. This parish lies 4 miles north by west from Horncastle, on the river Bain. Letters, _via_ Horncastle, which is the nearest money order office, arrive at 9.30. The Incumbent is the Rev. E. S. Bengough, who has a commodious Rectory. The register dates from 1579. The Church is dedicated to St. Margaret. A previous structure, erected in nondescript, “Grecian,” style, in 1771 (a period when so many of the churches in the neighbourhood were re-modelled in the worst taste), consisting of nave, chancel, and low tower, with three bells, was re-seated in 1856, when additional accommodation was provided. A west door, made of bog oak, from a large tree dug up, when the railway line was made between Boston and Lincoln, was presented by the Rev. E. Walter, Rector of Langton. The entire fabric was restored in 1896, at a cost of £1450, and re-opened in January of that year, through the liberality and exertions of the Rector, Rev. E. S. Bengough, aided by handsome donations from Earl Manvers, the family of the late Rector, Rev. G. Thackeray, and others. The tower was entirely re-built and the chancel enlarged. A relic of a former medieval church was found in the pavement of the nave, consisting of a slab, carved with two quatrefoils, with shields in the centre of each. This was placed in the wall of the chancel, above the east window. The pulpit, of carved oak, was the gift of the family of the Rev. G. Thackeray, the late Rector. The architect was Mr. W. Scorer, of Lincoln. The bells, of the 18th century, bear the names of the founders, Mears and Stainbanks, of London.