Lincolnshire county page

Contents

Lincolnshire Towns & Parishes

Nearby Places

South Witham

Census

• The parish was in the Colsterworth sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• In 1891, the parish was in the new "Grantham South" sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Census Resource page for county-wide resources.
  
  
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
  
  

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Church History

• The Knights Templar founded a preceptory here in 1164 on what is now known as Temple Hill.
  
  
• The Anglican parish church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
  
  
• The church was originally built in a cruciform layout, but parts were allowed to go to ruin and were removed.
  
  
• The church was restored in 1900.
  
  
• The church seats about 250.
  
  
• Here is a photo of St. John's Church, taken by Ron Cole (who retains the copyright):
  
  

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Church Records

• The Anglican parish registers exist from 1686.
  
  
• The Anglican churchyard was closed to further burials in April, 1893.
  
  
• Boyd's marriage index covers the period from 1688 - 1837.
  
  
• The Lincolnshire FHS has published several marriage and burial indexes for the Beltisloe Deanery to make your search easier.
  
  
• The Wesleyan Methodists and Congregationalists each built a chapel in the parish. For information and assistance in researching these chapels, see our non-conformist religions page.
  
  
• Check our Church Records page for county-wide resources.
  
  

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Civil Registration

• The parish was in the Colsterworth sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• In 1891, the parish was in the new "Grantham South" sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which began in July, 1837.
  
  

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Description and Travel

South Witham is both a village and parish on the River Witham 11 miles south of Grantham, less than a mile off the A1 trunk road to the west. The river flows north at this point, toward neighboring North Witham parish. The parish is bordered by Leicester and Rutland counties on the west and south. The parish covers about 1,770 acres.

If you are planning a visit:

• "Ermine Street," the old Roman "North Road" to Lincoln, crosses this parish.
  
  
• See our touring page for visitor services.
  
  

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Maps

• The national grid reference is SK 9219.
  
  
• You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer #247 map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
  
  
• See our Maps page for additional resources.
  
  

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Names, Geographical

• Witham is from the Celtic or pre-Celtic river name of uncertain origin, and the name appeared as Widme in the 1086 Domesday Book.
  [A. D. Mills, "A Dictionary of English Place-Names," Oxford University Press, 1991]
  
  

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Politics and Governance

• The parish was in the ancient Beltisloe Wapentake in the South Kesteven district and parts of Kesteven.
  
  
• For today's local governance, contact the South Kesteven District Council.
  
  

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• The Common Lands were enclosed here in 1796.
  
  
• There was a charity of £30 left by Richard HALFORD. The interest from this was distributed on St. Thomas day to poor parishoners who had been attending church services.
  
  
• As a result of the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, the parish became part of the Grantham Poor Law Union.
  
  
• Bastardy cases would be heard in the Spittlegate petty sessional courts.
  
  

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Population

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Schools

• The parish established a School Board in January, 1877.
  
  
• A Board School was erected in 1879 and enlarged in 1899.
  
  
• For more on researching school records, see our Schools Research page.
  
  

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