Extract from History, Gazetteer & Directory of Lincolnshire by William White 1856

1856 HELPRINGHAM, a large retired village, 7 miles S.E. of Sleaford, has in its parish 829 inhabitants, and 3089 acres of land, including a tract of fen, crossed by the Car Dyke, and extending 3 miles eastward to Bicker Fen. It was enclosed in 1773. The high land is chiefly clay, and produces fine crops of wheat and beans. The fen has partly a clayey silt, and partly a moory soil, but is now well drained and fertile. Lord Willoughby de Broke is lord of the manor of Helpringham-with-Bicker, and owner of about 500 acres; and the rest belongs to Mr. John Tomlinson, (owner of Knott hall,) and many smaller proprietors. Thorpe Latimer, now a farm of about 400 acres, nearly a mile S. of the village, was a seat of the Latimers for some centuries after the Norman Conquest; and their mansion appears to have been strongly fortified, for its site is still surrounded by a broad deep moat, crossed by a bridge, which now leads to an orchard, in place of the hall of the feudal lords. Lord Willoughby de Broke, the present owner, being heir general of the Latimers, is also Baron Latimer. The Church (St. Andrew) is a large and handsome structure, consisting of a nave with aisles, a chancel, and a south porch, with a lofty tower and spire at the west end, containing a clock and five bells. A wooden screen, of Gothic workmanship, separates the nave and chancel; and in the south wall of the latter are three ornamented niches or stalls, and a piscina, under a Saxon arch, with round pillars. The spire was so much injured by lightning in May, 1854, that nearly half of it had to be rebuilt. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £8. 3s. 4d., and now at £180, is in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Frederic Latham, M.A. It was formerly in the appropriation of Bourn Abbey. At the enclosure, land was awarded in lieu of tithes, and the vicar’s allotment is 102A 2R. The Baptists and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here, the latter built in 1841. Here is also a small Independent chapel, erected in 1846, by Mr. Robert Cook. The Poor’s Land, allotted at the enclosure, is 20A., let for £40 per annum, which is distributed in coals. The poor have also £2 a year, as the rent of a rood of land, left by an unknown donor, and upon which a, cottage has been erected. On the village green are the steps and pedestal of an ancient cross. Here are two sick Clubs and a Clothing Club.

Thorlby Joseph - tailor

Thorlby Wm. - butcher

Thorlby John - farmer

Thorlby Joseph - farmer

Thorlby Edward - saddler

Thorlby John - saddler

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Other Helpringham facts:-

Helpringham is a parish in its own right and it includes the hamlet of Thorpe Latimer.

Odinance Survey Grid Reference is TF 1340

In the Wapentake of Aswardhurn

Registration District and Poor Law Union of Sleaford

Registration Sub District of Aswarby

Deanery of Lafford

Methodist Circuit of Sleaford

Pre 1974 Civic District of Kesteven

Post 1974 District Council of North Kesteven

Records available in the Lincolnshire Archives:-

Parish Registers:

Baptisms 1558-1943

Marriages 1558-1919

Burials 1558-1955

Banns Books 1824-1859 & 1891-1925

Bishops´ Transcripts 1561-1812 & 1813-1843

Secondary Transcriptions: 

Marriages 1559-1626 (register)

Marriages 1627-1640 (BT´s)

Settlement Certificates 1752, 1755, 1769, 1774

Settlement Examinations 1802,1810, 1816, 1825

Removal Orders 1780, 18?7-1828

Bastardy Records 1775, 1810, 1828

Apprentice Indentures 1762

Register of purchased graves, Hale Road Cemetary 1931-1961

Burial Fees receipt book 1955-1966.

 

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