England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Coleby All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Coleby lies in southern Lincolnshire roughly 6 miles south of the city of Lincoln. Coleby sits immediately west of the A607 road which links Lincoln with Grantham along the Jurassic limestone escarpment that dominates this part of the county. Coleby is just one of a string of villages formed along this landscape feature, it sits on the top of the escarpment with extensive views westwards. Coleby is a mid-sized village which forms a distinct "L" shape along the lane which connects it to the A607 and then southwards along its High Street. To the northwest the village is dominated by the grounds of Coleby Hall which retains its early 17th century frontage despite more recent changes. The village economy has two distinctive trends, the usual Lincolnshire arable farming being supplemented by extensive quarrying of the oolitic limestone for local building. Today a few hikers pass through following the local Viking Way Trail which connects Oakham with the Humber Bridge and passes through the village. Modern developments have come and gone from the parish, a branch railway line linking Lincoln to Grantham passes along the base of the escarpment but has closed and been largely dismantled. Coleby is drained northwards by the nearby River Brant which soon meets the Witham, passes through Lincoln and turns back strongly southeast to reach the North Sea through the port of Boston. Coleby is sited at around 80 metres above the sea above a 60 metre drop to the west, the spot height of 82 metres at the A607 is the local high point. Coleby parish covered close to 2,600 acres making towards the larger end of the scale locally, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 450 parishioners. Domesday Coleby was large enough to be recorded amongst the largest 20% of settlements in the land by population, difficult to credit against today's modest village, its assets shared but largely held by King William offered 14 ploughs and some meadows, a more truer reflection of its status.

The Church

All Saints church sits at the main village crossroads within a quadrant formed by Church Lane and Far Lane and at the top of High Street. The western tower is the oldest part of the church with dating from the pre-Conquest 11th century and Saxon in style, it carries a Perpendicular set of adornments but its base stages are ancient. 12th century Norman Romanesque styling can also be found with the 2-bay northern arcade,southern doorway and chancel arch from this early period. Whilst the northern arcade is 12th century Romanesque its southern equivalent dates from the 13th century and shows Early English Gothic styling. This style is repeated in the church's chancel which shows many lancets characteristic of this 13th century style. Various detailing from the Perpendicular period may also be found but most are modifications to earlier work. Typical Victorian restorations in two phases, the last in 1864, modified again the early church but left much, thankfully, for us to admire today. On-street parking is best on the slightly wider High Street south of the site, the main entrance has metal gates passing through the tall limestone walling which surrounds the churchyard, once within the churchyard is open and uncluttered with no obstacles for the photographer.