KIRTON-in-LINDSEY, a market-town and parish,
in the wapentake of CORRINGHAM, parts of LINDSEY,
county of LINCOLN, 18 miles (N. by W.) frbni Lincoln,
and 147 (N. by W.) from London, containing
1480 inhabitants. The manor was granted by the-
Conqueror to his  half-brother, Robert of Mortaigne,
the first Earl of Cornwall, subsequently bestowed by-
Edward II. on the widow of his favourite, Piers Gave-"
stone, and, having again reverted to the crown, was
given by Edward III. to William, Earl of Huntingdon,
at whose death it became the property of Edward the
Black Prince, who gave a third part to Elizabeth, the
widow of the late earl, and the remainder to the Earl
of Chandos. It again became attached to the duchy of
Cornwall, to which it now belongs. The town, is situated
on the western declivity of an eminence commanding
an extensive view of the surrounding country  On
Kirton Green stands the duchy court-house, where the
manorial courts are held, and where the records are kept.
The quarter sessions for the parts of Lindsey are held
in the second whole week after Epiphany and Easter, on
the first Friday after July 7th, and.on the Friday in the
first week after the 11th of October. The house of correction
is a large stone building, consisting of a centre
and two wings; in the centre is the court-room, also
used as a chapel, and over it the grand jury-room j the
gaoler's apartments are in the western division; the
male prisoners occupy the south, and the females the
north, wing. This place is within the jurisdiction of a
court of requests for the recovery of debts not exceeding
£ 5, the jurisdiction of which extends over the
borough and parish of Boston, and the wapentake of
Skirbeck and Kirton, excepting the parishes of Gosburton
and Surfleet. The market is on Saturday; and fairs
are held on the 18th of July and the llth of December,
for cattle and pedlary.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the peculiar
jurisdiction and patronage of the Sub-Dean of Lincoln,
rated in the king's books at £6.13.4. The church, dedicated
to St. Peter and St. Paul, has a considerable portion
in the early style of English architecture, with later
insertions; it contains some circular-headed windows,-
and in the interior are some curious oak seats, screenwork,
and piscinae. There is a chapel of ease at
Brothertoft, in this parish. There are places of worship
for Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists, both of the New .
and Old Connexion. The free grammar school, endowed
with about £70 per annum, is now con ducted on the National
system, and contains about eighty scholars. About
one hundred children are instructed in a Sunday school.