Church Heritage Record 621644

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Thimbleby: St Margaret

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Thimbleby: St Margaret
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

621644
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Lincoln
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Lincoln
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Horncastle Group

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Thimbleby

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (data verified 14 Nov 2024)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Photograph of the west elevation as seen from the B1190.
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

May 2014
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Archbishops' Council
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Catherine Townsend

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Rebuilt in 1744 on site of a 14th century church, and again by local architect James Fowler (1828-1892) in 1879 in the Decorated style. A short stone spire has been removed from the belfry at the west end on health and safety grounds.

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

Work in progress - can you help?

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Cathedral and Church Buildings Division (2014) Research into the Presence of Bats in Churches [Digital Archive/Data]
CCB project, summer 2014, to ascertain the presence or absence of bats in church building
Catherine Townsend (May 2014) Exterior image of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret
James Fowler (1878/80) Church plan of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Church plan of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret
Catherine Townsend (May 2014) Interior image of Thimbleby St Margaret [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of Thimbleby St Margaret
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/15073/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~131544~118930 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 08382

Coverage - 1878-1880

Created by ?FOWLER, James: b. 1828 - d. 1892 of Louth

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TF 240 700

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

County:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Lincolnshire County

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

Thimbleby is situated one mile west of the market town of Horncastle, and 16 miles east of Lincoln, to the west of the Lincolnshire Wolds. The church is located on a bend in the B1190 (route from Lincoln to Horncastle) and at the eastern end of a historic street. Many of the buildings along it are listed and several houses date to the 16th and 17th centuries and, unusually for the area, have thatched roofs. These and the church are included within a designated conservation area. A red brick former school building, built in 1857 and now the village hall, is located on the street west of St Margaret’s.

The B1190 passes around the churchyard, forming its south and west boundaries, with the church forming the focus of views on approach from the west. Dawber Lane, which leads to the former vicarage (Grade II listed) passes the north boundary and the house is situated beyond hedges and trees to the east.

The church occupies a raised, grassed churchyard bound by wood fences. It contains many trees and also many burials, including early 19th century headstones. It remains open. A path with a handrail leads up from the road at the west, it has two steps and then slopes towards the west door. A footpath crosses the churchyard to the south-east corner where a stile is formed of a stone slab (apparently with brass indent – not noted on site). The path is lined by conifers. There is no designated parking area.

Church Plan

Church plan of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Church plan of 621644 Thimbleby St Margaret
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Ground plan by the architect of the second rebuilding.
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
1878/80
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
ICBS
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
James Fowler

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

West tower (short spire has been removed), nave, chancel and south vestry.

Dimensions

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

[Approximate] Nave 12 m (40ft) x 6 m (20ft), chancel 6 m (20ft) x 4 m (13ft).

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

151 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

The village has Anglo-Saxon origins and is recorded in the Domesday Survey as Simbelbi. Historic links with Abbot of Kirkstead. 40 households were recorded in the parish in 1563, and virtually the same number c.1715. Changes in farming methods (and perhaps the arrival of the canal and railway to Horncastle) saw the population rise in the 19th century.

A church was first built on the site in the 14th century, and is believed to have been a larger building than its subsequent replacements. The church is recorded as having been in a bad state of repair in 1662 following the Archdeacon’s visitation and the church was pulled down in 1744. An inscribed stone which leans against the pulpit inside, records this date. The church was rebuilt a second time, this time designed by James Fowler (1828-1892) of Louth in 1879. His work included enlarging the chancel, renewing the windows and reseating the naves. An ICBS grant application funded the works which also included a new vestry and organ chamber as well as general repairs.

The churchyard contains burials which pre-date the current church, including 18th century headstones to the Boulton family, south of the church. Other local families are remembered.

Archaeological records identify a Neolithic or later prehistoric axe found in the vicinity as well as Roman or historic enclosures. Nearby Horncastle was a Roman settlement in Horncastle so Roman finds are unsurprising. There is further anecdotal evidence of Roman finds within close proximity of Thimbleby. Records also identify an Anglo-Saxon girdle hanger to the east. Langton wind mill (Grade II listed) was built in 1861 to the south-east. It ceased operations in 1936. There is a WWII pillbox recorded to the south.

In view of the recorded and anecdotal finds, and existence of an earlier church on the site, the archaeological potential is considerable. There are many trees within the churchyard and these are protected as a result of conservation area status. There is evidence of bats inside the church.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

The west elevation of the church has a central projecting tower surmounted by octagonal belfry with louvred lancets on each facet and clock face. A short stone spire is currently missing. This elevation is the most visible to those passing the church along the B1190.

The stone walls have ashlar surrounds and stone repairs are evident. A sill continues around the building beneath the windows. Corner buttresses are irregularly placed along the nave. A plinth also continues around the base of the church. The three-bay nave is pierced by two-light windows with trefoil heads. The chancel is lower than the nave and has a single light window to north and south walls and 3-light east window. A gabled vestry and organ chamber projects to the south, with a two-light square headed window in the south elevation and a door in the east. Each of the gables around the building is surmounted by a stone cross finial. Each window has hoodmoulds with uncarved stops either side.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Who:
James Fowler
Role:
Architect
From:
01 Jan 1878
To:
31 Dec 1880
Contribution:
designed current church

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

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Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
CHANCEL (19th century)
NAVE (19th century)
TOWER (COMPONENT) (19th century)
VESTRY (19th century)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
ASHLAR (19th century)
SANDSTONE (19th century)
STONE (19th century)
TILE (19th century)

Interior Image

Interior image of Thimbleby St Margaret
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Interior image of Thimbleby St Margaret
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Photograph of the inside of the church, looking east.
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
May 2014
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Catherine Townsend

Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

Access is up three steps at the west end, which enters the base of the west tower. A record of the church describes a fragment of the old church, featuring a shield, within the west doorway. The floor is paved in quarry tiles. Encaustic tiles with text mark the entry into the nave. The lettering is obscured by temporary boards laid over them. Above the west door is a balcony into the tower space, lit by a two-light west window. It is currently screened by polythene.

The single nave has exposed stone walls and is ceiled by a pitch pine hammer-beam roof resting on plain corbels. The ceiling is plastered between the rafters. Three sets of two-light windows pierce the nave walls, most containing clear glazing in diamond leaded panes. Suspended from the beams are overhead electric heaters and light bulbs with no shades. There is a cleared area behind a wood partition in the north-west corner, and the font is raised on a step in the south-west corner. Pine pews are fixed to raised wood pew platforms either side of the aisle. The aisle is laid in flagstones and is covered by a strip of carpet, hiding iron grills from an old heating system.

At the east end, beneath a low pointed chancel arch is a low stone chancel wall. Between its central opening is a single step. The floor throughout the chancel and sanctuary is paved in glazed and encaustic decorated tiles. Facing each other to north and south sides are choir stalls with carved oak frontals. Behind those to the north is a single light window, whilst behind those to the south is an organ. The space is ceiled by an arch-braced roof.

The step up to the sanctuary is paved with tiles which read ‘come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden and I will refresh you’. Further text in the chancel step is obscured by carpet. To the east of the organ and behind it is the vestry with an east door and a fireplace in the west wall. The sanctuary has a tabernacle in the north wall and a two arched stone sedilia set within the south wall. A curtain forms the backdrop to the altar with a three-light window over head.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

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Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR (19th century)
BELL (1 of 1)
FONT (COMPONENT) (19th century)
INSCRIBED OBJECT (18th century)
LECTERN (19th century)
ORGAN (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PLAQUE (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PULPIT (20th century)
RAIL (20th century)
REREDOS (19th century)
STAINED GLASS (WINDOW) (20th century)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

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Collapse Portable Furnishings and ArtworksPortable Furnishings and Artworks
BOOK (17th century)

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TF 240 700

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has the following evidence of bats: Data gathered summer 2014

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

Moderate
Setting Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Margaret's is a local landmark, whose position in the bend of a road gives the building some streetscape presence , as does its location at the end of a historic high street. The site is of considerable archaeological potential, there having been a church on the site since the 14th century.
Fabric Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Moderate
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church, which was rebuilt by a local architect, Fowler, is of local to moderate architectural significance.
Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Contents are mostly of local significance.
Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?

Church Renewables

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 0
Total number of animal species 0
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 0
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 0
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Oliver LackAdded SourceWed 04 Jan 2023 16:25:12
Oliver LackRemoved asset source linkWed 04 Jan 2023 16:24:47
Anna CampenModified asset data - Modified the Significance descriptionThu 06 Jul 2017 15:49:45
Anna CampenAdded object typeThu 06 Jul 2017 15:43:42
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeThu 06 Jul 2017 15:42:48
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeThu 06 Jul 2017 15:42:24
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeThu 06 Jul 2017 15:41:53
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeThu 06 Jul 2017 15:40:53
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeThu 06 Jul 2017 15:40:19
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeThu 06 Jul 2017 15:39:42
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