Braceborough And Wilsthorpe
History
Both Braceborough and Wilsthorpe are found in the 1086 Domesday Book. Braceborough varies in spelling as "Braseborg," "Breseburc" and Breseburg, whereas Wilsthorpe is spelt "Wivelestorp". At the time of Domesday, Wilsthorpe contained 20 households, and Braceborough, 13.5. Wilsthorpe households contained 10 villagers and 10 freemen; Braceborough had 6 villagers and 17 freemen. Both villages were classed as medium-sized settlements, and both had ploughlands: Braceborough with 5.5 ploughlands, worked by 5.5 men's plough teams, and Wilsthorpe with 4 ploughlands worked by 1 lord's plough teams and 2.5 men's plough teams. Each village had meadow land – both of 40 acres (0.16 km) – but Wilsthorpe had other resources such as 12 acres (0.05 km) of woodland and 2 mills. Braceborough was in the manor of Greatford which was assessed to have a taxable value of 5.5 geld units; the households were assessed at a quite large value of 4.5 geld units. Both Wilsthorpe and its head manor were assessed at a medium value of 4 geld units. The 2011 census shows that since Domesday the number of households has risen to 119.
In the 1870s Braceborough was described as: "...on river Glen, 5 miles SW. of Bourn, 2230 ac," and Wilsthorpe to be: "6 miles NE. of Stamford, pop. 81."
Braceborough had its own railway station known as Braceborough Spa. The station was opened by the Bourne and Essendine Railway on 16 May 1860, and was renamed Braceborough Spa Halt on 19 February 1934. It closed on 18 June 1951. The Bourne and Essendine Railway became part of the Great Northern Railway on 25 July 1864. The old station house has been privately owned since 1968.
Population
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Population_Change_of_the_Civil_Parish_Braceborough_and_Wilsthorpe_from_1801_to_1961.jpg/220px-Population_Change_of_the_Civil_Parish_Braceborough_and_Wilsthorpe_from_1801_to_1961.jpg)
The 2011 Census gave civil parish population as 305, an increase in population from the 268 recorded in the 2001 Census. The graph shows a steady rise in population for the first 40 census years. However, in 1971 there is a sharp drop in population to just above 200 – by the following census the population had recovered and peaked. Since the 1980s there has been a steady decline in population size, until recently, when it began to grow once again.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Population_Change_in_Braceborough_and_Wilsthorpe_%282001_to_2011%29.png/220px-Population_Change_in_Braceborough_and_Wilsthorpe_%282001_to_2011%29.png)
Data from the 2001 and 2011 census shows that the majority of the population of the civil parish consists of people aged 30 to 59, shown in the steep rise on the graph. The proportion of the population this group holds has remained steady since the 2001 census, changing from 132 to 133. However, the civil parish's older population of over-65's has increased from 42 to 66 in the 10-year period. The population of under-30's was 77 in 2001, and increased by 1 to 78. The teenage population, 16- to 19-year-olds, was 18 in 2011.
Landmarks
The Church of St Margaret in Braceborough and the church of St Faith in Wilsthorpe are both listed buildings under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. St Margaret's is listed as Grade I and St Faith's, Grade II*, both churches being of outstanding architectural or historic interest. In 1715 James Fowler restored St Faith's and later in 1859 a Mr. Kirk of Sleaford restored the church of St Margaret. Both Churches are part of the Uffington Group in the Stamford Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln. The incumbent is The Revd Carolyn Kennedy.
The civil parish has numerous listed buildings, particularly Grade II listed. One in particular is the Grade II Old Rectory in Elliot's Way, Braceborough. The Old Rectory, of Tudor style, was built in 1848 by William Thompson. Other listed buildings include Braceborough's Grade II Old Hall Farmhouse, built in the late 17th century.
In Wilsthorpe is the site of a possible Roman villa discovered through aerial photography which identified cropmarks. The villa is described as: "...aisled timber building of four bays, standing close to a rectangular enclosure, which was bounded by a ditch."
References
- ^ "Wilsthorpe civil parish". Vision of Britain. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Parish Council". Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Wilsthorpe Civil Parish". Domesday Map. University of Hull. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Braceborough Civil Parish". Domesday Map. University of Hull. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ "Braceborough and Wilsthorpe (Parish): Key figures for 2011 census: Key statistics", Neighbourhood Statistics, Office for National Statistics
- ^ Bartholomew, John (1887). "Gazetteer of the British Isles" (1st ed.). Edinburgh: A. Fullerton and Co. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Butt, R. V. J (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 41. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1.
- ^ Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing. p. 119. CN 8983.
- ^ Historic England. "Braceborough Spa Halt (506986)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 18 March 2013.
- ^ Braceborough and Wilsthorpe. "Age Structure 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ "Age Structure 2001". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ Historic England. "St Faiths, Wilsthorpe (1062675)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ^ Historic England. "St Maragret, Braceborough (1360151)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ^ "Parish record on Diocese web site". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Listed Buildings in Braceborough and Wilsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England". British listed buildings. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ "The Old Rectory". Listed Buildings in Braceborough and Wilsthorpe. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ "Old Hall Farmhouse". Listed Buildings in Braceborough and Wilsthorpe. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ Historic England. "Wilsthorpe Roman Villa (348304)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 18 March 2013.
External links
Media related to Braceborough and Wilsthorpe at Wikimedia Commons