England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Kirkby cum Osgodby St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of Kirkby cum Osgodby lies in the northern portion of central Lincolnshire roughly 5 miles northwest of the small market town of Market Rasen. Kirkby cum Osgodby sits just under a mile north of the A1103 road which is a linking road joining the A46 (Market Rasen to Caistor) road with the A631 (Market Rasen to Gainsborough) road. As you would expect there are two settlements, Kirkby with the church and to its east by a half mile Osgodby. Ironically of the 2 Osgoddby is the larger being a linear small village running for a quarter of a mile whilst Kirkby is a compact crossroads settlement around a "T" junction. Like most Lincolnshire parishes Kirkby cum Osgodby would have almost totally devoted its economy to arable farming with broad cereal fields dominating the open landscape. Kirkby cum Osgodby is drained westwards by the Kingerby Beck which soon reaches the man-influenced course of the River Ancholme and turns northwards, a dead-straight man-made cut swiftly passes the water north to the outer Humber Estuary and the North Sea. Kirkby cum Osgodby is sited between 10 and 20 metres above the sea in generally largely flat terrain with the escarpment of The Lincolnshire Wolds only distant some 4 miles to the east rising to 165 metres. At 2,000 acres Kirkby cum Osgodby parish was typically sized for the area, and acreage which would have supported a population of close to 450 parishioners. In complete contrast to today's small rural settlements Kirkby cum Osgodby in Domesday times was large enough to be amongst the largest 20% of settlements recorded, no fewer than 6 landholders held shares with assets totalling just 9 ploughs, small meadows it was the manor's 3 mills that were the income generators for the 42 households.

The Church

As already mentioned St Andrew's church serving the two villages sits within Kirkby to the northwest of the main "T" junction that forms the notional centre. Two distinct architectural eras are recorded in the church, the earliest fabric belonging to the Ear English Gothic period of the 13th century can be found at both eastern and western ends, the chancel is tentatively placed at its ending date of c1300 whilst the western tower is firmly from the 13th century, the chancel retains the characteristic tracery of the style which is often lost to later restorations. In between these two elements sits a nave rebuilt in Georgian times c1790 and possibly rebuilt again in 1825, at the time of this work the former aisles were removed. The lane leading west from the junction is narrow so careful parking to avoid blockage is required, the church is well screened from the road with an inconspicuous gate granting entry being marked with a white sign. Once through the hedging and bordering trees the churchyard is open and uncluttered with no obstacles for the photographer.