Transcribed from the 1908 W. K. Morton & Sons edition byDavid Price,
We are indebted for the engraving of this seal to the courtesyof Miss G. M. Bevan, author of Portraits of the Archbishops ofCanterbury, published by Messrs. Mowbray & Co.,London.
p.va
History of Horncastle,
from the
earliest period to the presenttime.
ILLUSTRATED.
by
James Conway Walter,
author of
Records of Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood, Parishesaround Horncastle,
The Ayscoughs, The Coitani, &c.,&c.
HORNCASTLE:
W. K. Morton & Sons, Ltd., Printers,High Street,
1908.
p. viiPREFACE.
The following pages may truthfully be said to be the result oflabours, extending over many years, and of researches indirections too many to tell.
Born within almost a mile of Horncastle, and only by a fewmonths escaping being born in it, since his father, on firstcoming to the neighbourhood, resided for a time in Horncastle, [0] the author, from his earliest years(except for periodical absences) has been connected with thelife, social or civil, of the place, probably more closely andmore continuously, than any other person living, in likecircumstances.
The notes on which this compilation is based were begun morethan 30 years ago. While writing a volume of Records ofmore than 30 Parishes around Horncastle, published in1904; and, before that, while describing about as many more, in avolume, Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood, published in 1899,he had constantly in view the crowning of the series, by thehistory of the old town, round which these sixty, or more,parishes cluster; the haunt, if not quite the home, of hisboyhood, and familiarized to him by a life-long connection.
For this purpose sources of information have been tapped inevery possible direction; of public institutions, the officialrecords, and title deeds, where available, have been carefullyconsulted; especially should be here mentioned various deeds andcharters, which are quoted in Chapter II, from the archives ofCarlisle Cathedral, which have not hitherto been brought beforethe public, but of which the author has been allowed free use,through the courtesy of the librarian. These are of specialvalue, from the long connection of the Manor of Horncastle withthe See of Carlisle.
In other cases the author has been allowed the privilege ofmore private tes