[Transcription © SA Whittle-Bruce 2004]

Lincolnshire - Digby

William White's History,Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire 1842

Digby, 6 miles N. by E. of Sleaford, is a retired village in the vale of a small rivulet; and its parish contains 364 souls, and 2351 A. of land. It was formerly a seat of the Digby family, one of whom was created Earl Digby, of Digby, county of Lincoln, and Viscount Coleshill, county of Warwick, in 1793. The manor was sold by the Thornton family, to Sir Dudley Rider, and mow belongs to the Earl of Harrowby, who owns all the soil, and the great tithes. The Church (St. Thomas-a-Becket) is a neat Gothic fabric, with a lofty spire, rising from an embattled tower, in which are three bells. The vicarage is united with the rectory of Bloxholm. In the village is an ancient cross, in a high state of preservation. The parish was enclosed in 1720. In July, August and September 1604, no fewer than 134 people died here of the plague. In 1761, Henry Young left nine acres of land, at Frieston, o this parish, and directed the rents to be dispensed yearly as follows:-20s. for four poor widows; and the remainder for the eduction of poor children. In 1802, the trustees received £146. 9s, 6d. for part of the land taken form the Hobhole drain, and it is now at interest. The remainder of the land is let for £17. 10s. per annum. Out of this income, a schoolmaster receives £20. 16s. 9d. yearly, for teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic, to eight free scholars.