Lincolnshire county page

Contents

Lincolnshire Towns & Parishes

Nearby Places

Swaby

Census

• The parish was in the Withern sub-district of the Louth Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Census Resource page for county-wide resources.
  
  
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
  
  

Return to top of page

Church History

• The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
  
  
• The church fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in 1827-28 as a small brick building. This was the third church built on this site.
  
  
• The earlier church was dedicated to Saint Margaret and was destroyed around 1658.
  
  
• The church seats 100 people.
  
  
• St. Nicholas Church is a Grade II listed building.
  
  
• There is a photograph of St. Nicholas Church on the Wendy Parkinson Church Photos web site.
  
  
• Here is a photo of St. Nicholas Church, taken by Ron Cole (who retains the copyright):
  
  

Return to top of page

Church Records

• The Anglican parish register dates from 1660.
  
  
• We have the beginning of a Parish Register Extract in a text file for your use. Your additions would be welcome.
  
  
• The Lincolnshire FHS has published several marriage indexes for the Calcewaith and Candleshoe Deanery to make your search easier.
  
  
• The burial index for Swaby at Calcewaith and Candleshoe Deanery covers only 1813-1900.
  
  
• A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built here, in Whitepit, prior to 1871, as was a Free Methodist chapel. For information and assistance in researching these chapels, see our non-conformist religions page.
  
  
• Check our Church Records page for county-wide resources.
  
  

Return to top of page

Civil Registration

• The parish was in the Withern sub-district of the Louth Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which began in July, 1837.
  
  

Return to top of page

Description and Travel

Swaby is both a village and a parish which lie about 6 miles north-west of Alford and 8 miles north of Spilsby. Burwell parish is just to the north-west and Belleau parish to the east. The parish covers just under 1,600 acres of land and includes the hamlet of Whitepit.

If you are planning a visit:

• By automobile, take the Louth/Spilsby Road (now the A16 trunk road). Swaby is about 8 miles north of Spilsby.
  
  
• See our touring page for visitor services.
  
  

Return to top of page

History

• The village is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book.
  
  
• In 1934 a pot with 178 silver denarii was found in the field called "The Bog".
  
  
• The village Hall sits on the site of the old Methodist chapel.
  
  

Return to top of page

Maps

• The national grid reference is TF 3877.
  
  
• You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer map, which has a scale of 2.5 inches to the mile.
  
  
• See our Maps page for additional resources.
  
  

Return to top of page

Military Records

From John Readman: "This Roll of Honour is displayed in the parish church of St. Nicholas, on a card, inside a wooden frame. The names are written in coloured inks."

"THE MEN OF SWABY WHO SERVED THEIR KING AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR 1914 - 1918 AND WERE SPARED TO RETURN"

Return to top of page

Politics and Governance

• This place was an ancient parish in Lincoln county and became a modern Civil Parish when those were established.
  
  
• The parish was in the Marsh division of the ancient Calceworth Wapentake in the East Lindsey district in the parts of Lindsey.
  
  
• In March, 1888, the Hall Wood parcel was transfered to Belleau Civil Parish.
  
  
• Kelly's 1913 Directory of Lincolnshire places the parish, perhaps in error, in the South Lindsey district of the county.
  
  
• For today's district governance, see the East Lindsey District Council.
  
  

Return to top of page

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• The Common Lands were enclosed here in 1791.
  
  
• After the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the parish became part of the Louth Poor Law Union.
  
  

Return to top of page

Population

Return to top of page

Schools

• The parish had a National School built here in 1857 for 120 children. This school closed in 1976.
  
  
• For more on researching school records, see our Schools Research page.
  
  

Return to top of page

Find help, report problems, or contribute information.