Digby
- The parish was in the Sleaford sub-district of the Sleaford Registration District.
- Check our Census Resource page for county-wide resources.
- The Anglican parish church is dedicated to St. Thomas-a-Becket and was built in the Gothic style with a tall spire.
- The church seats about 150.
- There is a photograph of St. Thomas-a-Becket church on the Wendy Parkinson web site.
- Here is a photo of St. Thomas's Church, taken by Ron Cole (who retains the copyright):
- The Anglican parish register dates from 1560.
- The Lincolnshire FHS has a Loan Library service which has the parish registers on microfiche for Baptisms from 1679 to 1813 and Marriages from 1679 to 1733.
- The LFHS has published several marriage and burial indexes for the Lafford Deanery to make your search easier.
- There was an Wesleyan Methodist chapel built in the parish in 1879. Check our Non-Conformist Church Records page for additional resources.
- Check our Church Records page for county-wide resources.
- The parish was in the Sleaford sub-district of the Sleaford Registration District.
- Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which began in July, 1837.
This village and parish are 6 miles north of Sleaford, on the B1188 trunk road. The parish covers about 2,350 acres.
The village is in the vale of a small rivulet (the Digby Beck). If you are planning a visit:
- By automobile, take the A15 trunk road north out of Sleaford, take a right on the B1191 arterial to Ashby, then right at Ashby to drive out to Digby village.
- Consider staying at Woodend Farm, LN4 3NG; tele: 01526-860347.
- See our touring page for more sources.
- The village contains an ancient cross.
- In 1604, during the warm months of July, August and September, no fewer than 134 people died here of the plague.
- Digby Manor was formerly a seat of the DIGBY family. The manor has also been owned by the THORNTON and RIDER families. In 1842 through 1872, the manor belonged to the Earl of Harrowby.
- The national grid reference is TF 0854.
- You'll want an Ordnance Survey "Explorer 272" map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
- See our "Maps" page for additional resources.
- Digby was the site of a military airfield in World War One. It was used for training until 1935/6. Following that, it was home of Fighter Command's 12 Group. Several aircraft from Digby played an important role in the Battle of Britain. In 1940, the Canadian 402 (of the RCAF) was posted here and in 1942 Digby became an official Canadian airfield. At the end of WWII, it was transferred back to the RAF.
Here's a newspaper clipping mentioning the village. Unfortunately, the newspspaer's name is lost, but the date is 13 Oct. 1917: Diane Maltby
DIGBY
DIED OF WOUNDS.- We regret to report the death of Lce.-Corpl. Bertie Bloy, who died of his wounds on September 28th in France. Deceased was the second son of Mr. George Bloy, and had been at the Front for some time. Mr. Bloy has received a kind and sympathetic letter from the chaplain. Though severely wounded in the head and arms, Mr. Bloy was quite conscious, and in his last moments asked the chaplain to recite the beautiful hymn. "The King of Love My Shepherd is", he himself joining in at the last line of the verse. It will be remembered that his elder brother was wounded at Mons, and the youngest son both are doing their bit. The deepest sympathy is felt for Mr. Bloy and family. After the evening service at the Parish Church on Sunday special prayers and the National Anthem were sung for Sir Douglas Haig's great victory.
And from 27 Oct. 1917: Diane Maltby
DIGBY
GOOD LUCK!- Miss L. C. King, who joined the W. A.. A. C., has just been drafted to the Front, and we wish her success in her new undertaking.
- The parish Common Lands were enclosed in 1720.
- In 1761, Henry YOUNG left nine acres of land at Frieston as rental income for this parish. 20 shillings per year went to four poor widows. The remainder went for the education of poor children.
- In 1802, the parish trustee received £146, 9 shillings and 6 pence for part of the land taken for the Hobhole drain. The money was deposited and the interest used to care for the poor.
- After the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, the parish became part of the Sleaford Poor Law Union.
| Year |
Inhabitants |
| 1801 |
242 |
| 1841 |
364 |
| 1871 |
307 |
| 1881 |
304 |
| 1891 |
344 |
| 1911 |
341 |
- There was a school here before 1842. In that year it housed eight free scholars from the parish. It was enlarged in 1897.
- For more on researching school records, see our Schools Research page.
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[Last updated: 12-August-2008 - Louis Mills]
