SLEAFORD (NEW), a market-town and parish
in the wapentake of FLAXWELL, parts of KESTEVEN,
county of LINCOLN, 18 miles (S. S.E.) from Lincoln,
and 116 (N. by W.) from London, containing, with the
hamlet of Holdingham, 2220 inhabitants. The name
in ancient records is written La Ford and Eslaforde,
which has been corrupted into Sleaford, and the epithet
New given to distinguish it from Old Sleaford, an adjoining
parish. A castle appears to have been erected
here at an early period, but of its history there are few
records, and of the building only some trifling remains.
The town is situated on the main road from London
to Lincoln; it is of respectable appearance, and is
gradually improving in buildings and importance;
it is well paved and lighted,. and the inhabitants are
supplied with water from an adjacent 'spring, called
Bully, or Boiling, wells. A small theatre was erected
in 1824. A canal connects this town with Boston,
Lincoln, and the Trent navigation, and thus promotes
the prosperity of its general trade. The market is on
Monday; and fairs are on Plough-Monday, Easter-
Monday, Whit-Monday, August llth, and October
20th, for horses, cattle, sheep, and provisions. The
quarter sessions for the parts of Kesteven are held
here by adjournment from Bourne. The old town
hall, being greatly dilapidated, has been pulled down,
and a handsome edifice, in the later style of English
architecture, erected.
The living is a discharged vicarage, in the peculiar
jurisdiction and patronage of the Prebendary of Lafford,
or New Sleaford, in the Cathedral Church of Lincoln,
rated in the king's books at £8. The church, dedicated
to St. Denis, exhibits some fine specimens of almost
every style of English architecture, and consists of a
nave, aisles, a large chapel on the north side, and a
chancel: at the west end ia a tower, erected about
1150, which is by far the most ancient part of the building
j it is in the early style of English architecture, and
is surmounted by a spire of later date, one hundred
and forty-four feet high; an enriched spiral staircase
leads to it on the south side. In the chancel are three
fine stalls, in the later style; at its entrance are the
screen and canopy of the ancient rood-loft. The entire
structure is replete with interest: there are several
ancient monuments, chiefly belonging to the family of
Carr-, formerly lords of the manor. There are places
of worship for those in the Connexion of the late Countess
of Huntingdon, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists.
The free grammar school was founded, in 1604,
by Robert Carr, Esq., who endowed it with £20 per
annum: the master, who must be a graduate of one
of the Universities, is appointed by the'Marquis of
Bristol, as owner of the " late fair castle of Sleaford,"
for which he pays to the crown £40 per annum; the
children of the town and neighbourhood are instructed
gratuitously. A school was endowed with lands by William
Alvey, in 1729, for the instruction of poor children':
twenty boys and twenty girls are educated. An
hospital, for a chaplain and twelve poor men, was
founded and endowed by Sir Robert Carr, Bart., in 1636;
the almsmen have weekly allowances of ten shillings
and sixpence each, and a certain quantity of coal, with
comfortable apartments, and the chaplain a salary of
£20 per annum, to officiate in a chapel attached. The
Bishop of Lincoln had anciently a magnificent palace
here, in which King John sojourned a few days, but no
part remains except the foundations; it is supposed
to have been destroyed by Cromwell. A branch of the
Ermin-street passes through this parish, and that of
Old Sleaford.