Springthorpe

Description and Travel

Springthorpe is both a parish and a village about 4 miles east of Gainsborough and 9 miles south of Scunthorpe. The parish itself is bordered on the north by Corringham parish, on the east by Willoughton parish, to the south by Heapham parish. The parish covers around 1,300 acres and includes the hamlet of Stourgate (or Sturgate).

Springthorpe village is near the River Till, which passes one half mile to the west of the village. If you are planning a visit:

• Take the A631 trunk road east out of Gainsborough and turn right immediately after Corringham. The village is about 3/4 of a mile ahead.
  
  
• Visit our touring page for more sources.
  
  

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Census

• The parish was in the Willingham sub-district of the Gainsborough Registration District.
  
  
• In 1891, the subdistricts were re-organized and the parish placed in the Marton sub-district of the Gainsborough Registration District.
  
  
• The North Lincolnshire Library holds copies of the census returns for 1841 through 1901.
  
  
• 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. George and St. Lawrence. This is the only church in England with this dedication.
  
  
• The origin of the church is uncertain. The tower is reputed to be Saxon, pre-Conquest.
  
  
• There is a story that a young girl named Mary HILL died on Shrove Tuesday in 1814 when she pulled one of the bell ropes and was dragged up against the belfry floor above. In a glass case just inside the Norman doorway is the Maiden's crown. This is one of three carried at her funeral by three maidens dressed in white. They also carried three garlands and three white gloves. These garlands are carried at the funeral of any unmarried girl and are a symbol of chastity.
  
  
• The church was restored in 1865 and again in 1876.
  
  
• The church seats 130.
  
  
• Richard CROFT has a photograph of the church nave on Geograph, taken in May, 2008.
  
  
• Here is a photo of St. George and St. Lawrence Church, taken by Ron COLE (who retains the copyright):
  
  

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Church Records

• The Anglican parish register dates from 1558.
  
  
• The Lincolnshire FHS has published several marriage and burial indexes for the Corringham Deanery to make your search easier.
  
  
• The Primitive Methodists built a chapel here in 1831 and replaced it in 1898. For information and assistance in researching these chapels, see our non-conformist religions page.
  
  
• Check our Church Records page for county-wide resources.
  
  

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Civil Registration

• The parish was in the Willingham sub-district of the Gainsborough Registration District.
  
  
• In 1891, the subdistricts were re-organized and the parish placed in the Marton sub-district of the Gainsborough Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which began in July, 1837.
  
  

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Maps

• The national grid reference is SK 8789.
  
  
• You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer #271 map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
  
  
• Check out Cassini Maps to see what they have.
  
  
• See our Maps page for additional resources.
  
  

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Military History

• RAF Sturgate opened here in September, 1944. By then, the war had moved to mainland Europe, so no operational sorties were flown from this field. It did however serve as a training site for a number of units.
  
  
• RAF Sturgate closed in January 1946.
  
  
• The airfield reopened in June 1953 as a USAF Strategic Fighter Wing.
  
  
• Military operations cesed in 1964.
  
  
• A portion of the airfield is now operated by the Lincoln Aero Club Ltd.
  
  
• The Control Tower has been referbished and the field now operates as Sturgate Airport.
  
  

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Politics and Governance

• The parish was in the ancient Corringham Wapentake in the West Lindsey district in the parts of Lindsey.
  
  
• The parish is also in the Soke of Kirton.
  
  
• Check out Springthorpe Village website for the Lay Subsidy Roll of 1327 and the Survey of Kirton Soke, 1616.
  
  
• The citizens of the parish do not wish to have a formal Parish Council so they schedule a Parish Meeting to decide civic and politial issues.
  
  
• For today's district governance, see the West Lindsey District Council.
  
  

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• A charity was established by Thomas WEST and James and Sarah HILL, based on interest from £21, to be distributed to the poor.
  
  
• After the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, this parish became part of the Gainsborough Union Workhouse.
  
  
• Bastardy cases would be heard in the Gainsborough petty session hearings.
  
  

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Population

Year	Inhabitants
1801	176
1831	194
1841	209
1851	300
1861	260
1871	237
1881	214
1891	176
1901	163
1911	161

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Schools

• A Public Elementary School was built here in 1872 for 60 children. It was later enlarged to hold up to 100 children.
  
  
• The parish has an online list of pupils, but I have no idea how far back it goes.
  
  
• For more on researching school records, see our Schools Research page.
  
  

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