What’s in a name? Boothby Graffoe
Continuing our series on Lincolnshire villages with unusual names, we turn the spotlight on Boothby Graffoe.
Situated in North Kesteven on the A607 Ermine Street, an original Roman road, Boothby Graffoe takes its name from two sources: Booth, a ‘farm/settlement’, which refers to a herdsman’s temporary shelter and Graffoe, meaning ‘grove hill spur’.
Here, King John of France was imprisoned in 1359 having been taken prisoner after the Battle of Poitiers, before being removed to the Tower of London.
Sir Saier de Rochford undertook to keep safely the King of France for which service he was allowed two shillings per day.
In 1309, this quadrangular castle with circular towers at the corners was given to King Edward II and continued as crown property until it was sold by Charles I in 1628. Thereafter the castle continued in private ownership. The castle remains were converted to a farmhouse in the 19th century.
The parish church of St Andrew was built in 1842 at an estimated cost of £1,000, designed by W A Nicholson, in Gothic revival style.
A church on this site is mentioned in the Domesday Book and it is thought that there have probably been at least three churches in this position, with one destroyed during a storm in 1666; an inscribed tablet under the west window dated 1626 the only survival from the earlier building.
In the 20th century, two stained glass windows were presented by Mrs Marfleet in 1906 and two in 1908 by Miss Marfleet as a memorial to the late C E Marfleet Esq of Boothby Hall.
The Hall (known as Boothby House) was built in 1867 in a carved Victorian Italianate style, with its own gas-making plant, conservatories, orchid house, aviary and vinehouses.
In St Andrew’s churchyard, an ornamental stone cross on an octagonal three stepped plinth on a large square base commemorates servicemen lost in World War One.
Made by Arthur Howson, a monumental mason from Tentercroft Street, Lincoln, from Hopton Wood stone, it was unveiled by Revd H R Hall, Lt Col Hodgkinson, together with local clergy and dignitaries on 13th November 1921, with the words ‘Honour, Justice and Liberty’ carved in bold relief.
Up to date and Boothby Graffoe is now on the map with a new generation through comedian, singer-songwriter James Rogers (aka Boothby Graffoe) who was born in Hull and attended Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Horncastle, claiming to be the only comedian in the world named after a Lincolnshire village!
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Grantham school joins Carol Service in celebration of town’s hospital![]()
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Pupils from St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy are taking part in the first Carol Service to celebrate the special relationship Grantham and District Hospital has with the town and surrounding communities.![]()
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The school children will join in the singing of favourite Christmas Carols as well as perform their own set musical piece at the Carol Service on Thursday 11th December at 7pm, in St Wulfram’s church, Grantham.![]()
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Deputy Head Teacher Olivia Mumford said: “The Carol Service is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to share the joy of music while showing appreciation for the incredible work done at Grantham and District Hospital. It’s a privilege to support such an important event in our town."![]()
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The Carol Service has been organised by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity, who work closely with staff at Grantham and District Hospital and provides those extras for staff and patients that NHS budgets are unable to fund. ![]()
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Further details on the Grantham NHS Carol Service can be found by visiting www.ulhcharity.org.uk/news/christmas-carols-at-grantham-st-wulfram-church-in-thanks-for-towns-sup...