England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Caistor St Peter & St Paul

The Parish

The parish of Caistor lies in northern Lincolnshire about 23 miles north of the county town of Lincoln and 11 miles southwest of the port of Grimsby. Caistor is a small market town which sits on the A46 road which connects the two above-mentioned places. Caistor has a long history, a Roman site with extensive archaeological discoveries grouped around an oval "station" it is nevertheless away from the chief Roman arteries through the county and its function is debated. During the Dark Ages it has associations with Hengist and Vortigern whilst in 827 it was the scene of a battle between rival British kingdoms which saw the Mercians take a heavy defeat. More calmly it became a small market town dealing with the exchange and central functions of a typical rural small town in a largely arable farming area. Trades that are infrequently required flourish in these central places and the market acted as both a commercial hub as well as a focal point for meetings. Today Caistor remains a small town, much improved by a bypass taking the busy A46 away from the centre. Caistor sits at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds and springs flow from the base, merge to head west to the much man-modified River Ancholme, turning north to reach the outer Humber Estuary and the North Sea. Caistor is sited at around 80 metres above the sea, midway between the lowlands to the west at 20 metres and the higher Wolds reaching local heights of close to 150 metres within a mile or two. Caistor parish was on the large size for this county, albeit not overly so, it covered around 3,200 acres and would have supported a population of close to 2,000 parishioners. In Domesday times Caistor was held by King William, himself, the assets recorded were few just 4 ploughs and some meadow-land but there were 4 mills and a large population so it is likely they were under-recorded being a royal property.

The Church

St Peter & St Paul's church sits within the Roman station and has some very early material included within its fabric. The megalithic quoins either side of the tower are dated to the 11th century by Pevsner. The tower is a classic hotchpotch of styles and dates. Begun in the 12th century it shows a bell-stage of Norman Romanesque yet with early English Gothic tracery, a top-stage in the Decorated style whilst its battlements are once again Early English Gothic alongside Perpendicular styled pinnacles. Most of the remainder of the church is Early English Gothic in style, of the early 13th century, typically, however, the clerestory, added to improve internal lighting, was added in the 15th century and is Perpendicular. A major restoration took place spanning 1856 to 1863 and again in 1873 further work occurred to result in today's church. The church sits, appropriately enough on the southern side of Church Street, which has street parking but can be busy from the local school. The churchyard is slightly elevated, banked by a stone wall. Sadly the church is tightly enclosed on the southeastern aspect which limits the views available for photography.