Algarkirk

Description and Travel

Algarkirk is a rural parish near the mouth of the River Welland, 7 miles southwest of Boston, just south of Kirton-in-Holland and northwest of Fosdyke. The parish covers 2,740 acres of rich grazing land, mostly flat fenland, drained by many small canals, principally the Five Towns Drain.

The small hamlet of Algarkirk is actually just outside of Sutterton. It is separated from the bulk of the parish by the A16 trunk road that runs north to Boston. If you are planning a visit:

• Bicycling and bird watching are popular local pastimes.
  
  
• Take the A16 south out of Boston.
  
  
• For a bus schedule from nearby cities, check our Transport web page.
  
  
• See our touring page for visitor services.
  
  

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Census

• The parish was the heart of the Kirton sub-district of the Boston Registration District.
  
  
• We have an extract of a small portion of the 1901 surname index which you are welcome to review or add to.
  
  
• Check our Census Resource page for county-wide resources.
  
  
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
  
  

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Church History

• Although there are no surviving Saxon churches in the Fens, there is evidence of a 9th century church at Algarkirk. A booklet on local archeaology is "Beridges, Benefice and Bricks: an Algarkirk Miscellany," by H. Healy, edited by C. J. Sutman, 1994.
  
  
• The Anglican parish church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul.
  
  
• Some parts of the current structure retain fragments of the earlier Norman church, but the oldest parts are in the tower and the transepts.
  
  
• St. Peter and St. Paul Church was thoroughly restored in 1850-51.
  
  
• The church seats 300.
  
  
• In 1867, a second church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, was erected in Algarkirk Fen.
  
  
• There is a photograph of St. Peter and St. Paul's Church on the Wendy Parkinson Church Photos web site.
  
  
• Here is a photograph St. Peter and St. Paul's Church supplied by Ron Cole (who retains the copyright):
  
  
  

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Church Records

• The Anglican parish registers exist from 1561 (some sources give 1678).
  
  
• The LFHS has published several indexes for the Holland West Deanery to make your search easier.
  
  
• Check our Church Records page for county-wide resources.
  
  

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Civil Registration

• The parish was in the Kirton sub-district of the Boston Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which began in July, 1837.
  
  

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History

• When the Romans came to Lincolnshire, the local tribe was the Coritani.
  
  
• After the Romans left, this area became the northern portion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.
  
  
• The Danes came in 870 and scoured the villages and countryside, but in 873 started to settle in the area. They were driven out in 941, but left their names behind in many of the local place names. Seventy years of occupation may have had some impact on the local gene pool, but Danish surnames are rare.
  
  
• Some residents of Algarkirk are identified in the Lay Subsidy of 1334.
  
  

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Manors

• The old manor house here is called Toop's, or Hiptoft Hall.
  
  

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Maps

• The national grid reference is TF 2935.
  
  
• For a map, click on MultiMap.
  
  
• You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer #249 map, which has a scale of 2.5 inches to the mile.
  
  
• See our Maps page for additional resources.
  
  

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Names, Geographical

• The name means "church of a man named Algar". Algar was the Saxon Earl of Mercia who was slain in the neighborhood in a battle with the Danes in 879. His chief mansion was reputed to be at a place called Hill Six-Acres near the center of Algarkirk parish.
  A. D. Mills, "A Dictionary of English Place-Names," Oxford University Press, 1991.
  
  
• The name is pronounced "Aljuhkirk" by the locals.
  
  
• In recent decades, the name has appeared as two words; "Algar Kirk".
  
  

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Politics and Governance

• Tthe parish was in the ancient Kirton Wapentake in the parts of Holland.
  
  
• For today's governance, visit the local Boston Borough Council site.
  
  

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• In 1625, Sir Thomas MIDDLECOTT's Hospital was founded as a poorhouse for up to ten people of Algarkirk and Fosdyke, and it was sited in Fosdyke parish. In 1842, a resident of this almshouse received 5s. weekly, and each year was given a cauldron of coal and a gown or coat.
  
  
• In 1627, John KNOTT left £1, 2s and 8d. for the poor.
  
  
• In 1630, Richard ROBERTS left 2s and 6d. for the poor.
  
  
• In 1693, Carolus BERIDGE left £2 and 12s. revenue from an acre of land for the poor.
  
  
• As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, this parish became part of the Boston Poor Law Union.
  
  

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Population

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Schools

• The first school was erected in Algarkirk in 1625, alongside the new church in Algarkirk Fen.
  
  
• A new school was built in 1857-58 to hold up to 150 children.
  
  
• See our Schools page for more information on researching school records.
  
  

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