Wragby

Description and Travel

Wragby is both a village and a parish in the Wolds, 142 miles north of London, 9 miles WNW of Horncastle and 10 miles ENE of Lincoln. Panton parish lies to the east and West Torrington parish to the north. The parish covers about 1,600 acres.

Wragby village was for centuries a small market town. It lies astride the old Horncastle Road (now the A158 trunk road) where it is crossed by the Louth Road (now the A157). If you are planning a visit:

• By automobile you will find Wragby at the junction of several main roads. You may take the A167 arterial road west out of Louth or the A158 trunk road north out of Horncastle. Alternatively, you may take the A158 east out of Lincoln.
  
  
• Visit our touring page for visitor services.
  
  

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Census

• The parish was in the Wragby sub-district of the Horncastle 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 All Saints.
  
  
• In 1838, the current church was built, about a quarter mile from the old church.
  
  
• The old church was used as a mortuary chapel and the burial field kept in use.
  
  
• The Diocese of Lincoln declared the Old Church chancel redundant in July, 1980. In October of that year the church was demolished and the site used to expand the burial ground.
  
  
• The new church seats about 330 people.
  
  
• Here is a photo of All Saints Church, taken by Ron Cole (who retains the copyright):
  
  

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Church Records

• The Anglican parish register dates from the year 1567.
  
  
• We have a small extract of the parish register for you to examine and add to.
  
  
• The LFHS has published several marriage and burial indexes for the Horncastle Deanery to make your search easier.
  
  
• The Wesleyan Methodists had a chapel here, built before 1900. 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 Wragby sub-district of the Horncastle Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which began in July, 1837.
  
  

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History

• A Library and reading room were established here in 1856.
  
  
• The Thursday market day was extinct by 1900. The old Market House was used as a fire station.
  
  
• A cattle fair was held twice each year; one on May 1st and one on September 29th.
  
  
• A flower show and foal show was held annually in July.
  
  

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Maps

• The national grid reference is TF 1378.
  
  
• You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer map, which has a scale of 2.5 inches to the mile.
  
  
• See our Maps page for additional resources.
  
  

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Politics and Governance

• The parish was in the western division of the ancient Wraggoe Wapentake in the East Lindsey district in the parts of Lindsey.
  
  
• For today's governance, see the East Lindsey District Council.
  
  

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• In 1697, Sir Edmund TURNOR founded a chapel and almshouses for 12 widows or widowers of Wragby. These were rebuilt in 1840.
  
  
• As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, the parish became part of the Horncastle Poor Law Union.
  
  

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Population

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Schools

• A Free Grammar School was established here in 1632 by Wm. HANSARD. It was later merged with the National School. The school was rebuilt in 1775 and a new building erected in 1839. the school was enlarged in 1893 to hold up to 130 children.
  
  
• The existing Wragby Primary School is on Silver Street, Lincolnshire, LN8 5PJ. Tele: 01673 858477.
  
  
• For more on researching school records, see our Schools Research page.
  
  

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