Skirbeck is a suburb and former
civil parish in the
Borough of Boston in the county of
Lincolnshire, England. Skirbeck is a long v-shaped formation wrapped around the south and east side of
Boston parish. It has been incorporated into the Borough of Boston since 1932. It is in the Pilgrim ward of the Boston Borough Council. Skirbeck includes the hamlet and former civil parish of Skirbeck Quarter which was on the west side of the
River Witham and was a separate parish from 1866 to 1932.
History
That name originates from the words "skirn" and "bekkr" meaning "clear stream".
Skirbeck appears in two entries in the ''
Domesday Book'' of 1086, when it was recorded as consisting of a total of 42 households and had two churches and two fisheries.
St Leonards Hospital for ten poor people, was founded around 1220 and was held by the
Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headqu ...
from about 1230. It was later united with the Preceptory at
Maltby. In 1542 it was granted to Charles
Duke of Suffolk, and may have continued as an
almshouse
An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) was charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the medieval era. They were often targeted at the poor of a locality, at those from certain ...
. It appears to have been located on the west side of the Maud Foster Drain, opposite the present Hospital Bridge. An old house known as Jerusalem House may have been built of material from the hospital, however this has been disputed by the St Leonards Trust who believe the present bedehouses stand on the site of the original hospital.
The parish church is set by the bank of the
River Witham, and is thought to predate the foundation of
St Botolph's Church in Boston. Dedicated to
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas of Myra, ; la, Sanctus Nicolaus (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greeks, Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor (; modern-da ...
it is a Grade II*
listed building dating from the 13th century. It was restored between 1869 and 1875 by
Sir George Gilbert Scott, and in 1899 a restoration of the western tower took place. Between 1933 and 1935 a
chancel by LT Moore was added.
The Grade II* listed Hussey Tower was a 14- and 15th-century brick tower with an octagonal turret, originally known as Benyington Tower. It was sold to Boston Corporation and dismantled after 1545 when it was forfeited by
Lord Hussey
The barony of Hussey has been created three times in the Peerage of England. Of these, one creation is abeyant while the other two are extinct or forfeited respectively.
The first creation was in 1295, for Henry Hussey. This creation became abe ...
.
Boston
Workhouse was built in 1837 by George Gilbert Scott. It was built near the site of the
medieval hospital of St John. The Grade II listed front range of the workhouse still exists, but the rear ranges were demolished in 1980.
Boston
House of correction was in Skirbeck Quarter and was erected in 1809. From 1826 it was only used to hold prisoners for trial, and after 1837 Boston borough gaol became available and Skirbeck House of correction closed. In 1849 it was converted into a
lock-up.
Holy Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...
Grade II listed church in Skirbeck Quarter, which was a
chapel of ease
A chapel of ease (or chapel-of-ease) is a church architecture, church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently.
Often a chapel of ea ...
to Skirbeck, was built 1846–48 by Sir George Gilbert Scott. In 1988 it was added to by John Webster of Leeds.
Saint Thomas Church in Skirbeck Quarter started as a classroom of the original school building in 1866, and in 1885 became a "tin tabernacle". Need for a permanent brick building was recognised and the church was begun in 1909 and completed in 1912. It was built by
Temple Moore and is a Grade II listed building.
Skirbeck Woad mill closed down in 1938, the last miller was Thomas Booth.
Destinations
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Villages in Lincolnshire
Boston, Lincolnshire
Former civil parishes in Lincolnshire