Bitchfield

Description and Travel

Bitchfield is a village and a parish on the River Glen, 3 miles north of Corby and 8 miles southeast of Grantham. The parish covers about 1,350 acres.

If you are planning a visit:

• By automobile, take the A52 trunk road east out of Grantham and turn right (south) onto the B1176 arterial road. Bitchfield is about six miles along that road.
  
  
• Visit our touring page for more sources.
  
  

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Census

• The parish was in the Colsterworth sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• In 1890, as a result of the Poor Union reorganisation, the parish was placed in the Grantham South sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Census Resource page for county-wide resources.
  
  
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
  
  

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Church History

• The Anglican parish church is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen.
  
  
• The church was built in the 10th century and enlarged in the 12th century.
  
  
• The church seats only about 100 people.
  
  
• The church was restored in 1873.
  
  
• There is a photograph of St. Mary Magdalen's Church on the Wendy Parkinson web site under "Still more Lincolnshire".
  
  
• Here is a photograph St. Mary's Church supplied by Ron Cole (who retains the copyright):
  
  
  

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Church Records

• The Anglican parish register dates from 1674.
  
  
• The Lincolnshire FHS has published several marriage indexes and a burial index for the Beltisloe 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 Colsterworth sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• In 1890, as a result of the Poor Union reorganisation, the parish was placed in the Grantham South sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which started in July, 1837.
  
  

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Manors

• Bitchfield House is a relatively modern manor house. In 1882 it was occupied by Mr. Joseph GRUMMITT.
  
  

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Maps

• The national grid reference is SK 9828.
  
  
• You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer #247 map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
  
  
• See our "Maps page for additional resources.
  
  

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Names, Geographical

• The name Bitchfield is from the Old English Bill's+feld, or "Bill's field". In the 1086 Domesday Book, the village is given as Billesfelt.
  ["A Dictionary of English Place-Names," A. D. Mills, Oxford University Press, 1991]
  
  

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Politics and Governance

• The parish was in the ancient Beltisloe Wapentake in the South Kesteven district in the parts of Kesteven.
  
  
• For today's local governance, contact the South Kesteven District Council.
  
  

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• As a result of the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, the parish became part of the Grantham Poor Law Union.
  
  

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Population

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Schools

• A School Board, of 7 members, was formed on 16 November, 1875. The "Bitchfield United District" covered Bassingthorpe, Bitchfield and Boothby Pagnall parishes.
  
  
• A Board School was built in 1877 to hold up to 70 children.
  
  
• For more on researching school records, see our Schools Research page.
  
  

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