Ropsley

Census

• The parish was in the Colsterworth sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• In 1891, the parish was in the new "Grantham South" sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Census Resource page for county-wide resources.
  
  
• The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
  
  

Top

Church History

• The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Peter.
  
  
• The church appears to date from Norman times. Some parts of the church appear also to be of Saxon origin. The building dates back to at least 1380.
  
  
• There is a photograph of St. Peter's Church on the Wendy PARKINSON web site under her "Still more Lincolnshire churches".
  
  
• Richard CROFT has a photograph of "St. Peter's Church on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2006.
  
  
• Here is a photo of St. Peter's Church, taken by Ron COLE (who retains the copyright):
  
  

Top

Church Records

• The Anglican parish register dates from 1558 and includes Little Humby.
  
  
• The Lincolnshire FHS has published several indexes (marriage and burial) for the Beltisloe Deanery to make your search easier.
  
  
• The Wesleyan Methodists had a chapel here, erected in 1837. For information and assistance in researching these chapels, see our non-conformist religions page.
  
  
• Check our Church Records page for county-wide resources.
  
  

Top

Civil Registration

• The parish was in the Colsterworth sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• In 1891, the parish was in the new "Grantham South" sub-district of the Grantham Registration District.
  
  
• Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration starting in July 1837.
  
  

Top

Description and Travel

This large parish and village are about 6 miles east from Grantham. Somerby parish lies to the west. Little Humby is a hamlet in this parish. The parish covers about 3,070 acres.

If you are planning a visit:

• This place is the source of the River Eden, which becomes the River East Glen a little further downstream.
  
  
• On the outskirts of the village is a 12-hole golf coursees.
  
  
• The Ropsley Rise picnic area is a wide open grassy place. The picnic area is an excellent place for children to kick a ball about, or have an evening barbecue. The adjacent woodland is not open to the public.
  
  
• Visit our touring page for more sources.
  
  

Top

History

• In a field off Bridge End road, a Roman camp is said to have existed.
  
  
• Ropsley is the birthplace of Richard FOX, the Tudor Bishop who funded the Grammar School at Grantham and Corpus Christi College at Oxford.
  
  
• J. THOMAS has a photograph of the Ropsley Fox Pub on the west side of the village on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2012.
  
  
• The web page author has been advised that the Ropsley Fox is closed, but their website is till active.
  
  
• The Green Man Pub in Ropsley claims to be the only pub in the village.
  
  

Top

Maps

• The national grid reference is SK 9934.
  
  
• You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer #248 map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
  
  
• See our "Maps page for additional resources.
  
  

Top

Military History

• J. THOMAS has a photograph of the War Memorial in the heart of the village on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2012.
  
  

Top

Military Records

• Michael PECK advises: Ropsley War Memorials have now been recorded, there are three. One is in the village centre and records both WW1 and WW2 names, one is inside the church and records WW1 names only and the third is a window in the church dedicated to an individual. There are no numbers, ranks or arms of service noted. (Please note the difference in the surname of the first name mentioned in WW1) Names recorded are:
  
  

1. Gerald Christopher Brewster
2. Kenneth George Corton
3. Joseph Leslie Crow
4. William Philip Dales
5. Wilfred Marlow
6. Kenneth Smith (GC)

1. Robert Waterfield Abbott
2. Thorpe Atkinson
3. John Thomas Barber
4. Albert Bee
5. John Thomas Briggs
6. Robert William Brothwell
7. Percival HE Chantry
8. Ernest Henry Chappell
9. Arthur Dean
10. John Doughty
11. Harry Dunmore
12. George Edward Freestone
13. George William Hare
14. Walter Hodson
15. James Kent
16. Cyril Joseph Kitchen
17. Hugh Lloyd
18. Joseph Lloyd
19. Harry Morley
20. William Peatman
21. Albert Henry Tindale
22. Charles Henry Willows

A beloved younger son William Philip Dales of Little Humby who did not return from an operational flight over Ostend 5th November 1941. Aged 22. The window depicts a Sgt Pilot (Royal Air Force) and the face seems to be some sort of photographic reproduction of the actual face of Dales rather than the usual stylised stained glass face, possibly interesting if you are connected to this man.

You can find more information on each name listed above at the "Roll of Honour website for Ropsley.

Top

Politics and Governance

• This place was an ancient parish in Lincoln county, and become a modern Civil Parish when those were established.
  
  
• The parish was in the ancient Winnebriggs and Threo Wapentake in the South Kesteven district in the parts of Kesteven.
  
  
• In March, 1887, this parish gained a parcel of land from Somerby Civil Parish.
  
  
• This Civil Parish was abolished in April, 1931, and all 3,061 acres were amalgamated into a new Civil Parish called "Ropsley and Humby Civil Parish".
  
  
• You can contact the local Ropsley and Humby Parish Council regarding civic or political issues. They are NOT staffed to assist you with family history questions.
  
  
• For today's district governance, contact the South Kesteven District Council.
  
  

Top

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• Bastardy cases would be heard in the Spittlegate (Grantham) petty session hearings.
  
  
• As a result of the Poor Law Amendment Act reforms of 1834, the parish became part of the Grantham Poor Law Union.
  
  

Top

Population

Year	Inhabitants
1801	402
1811	440
1841	673
1851	777
1861	845
1871	766
1881	647
1891	597
1911	510

Top

Probate Records

Ros DUNNING provides a transcript of the will of Dorcas BATEMAN of Little Humby.

Top

Schools

• The first school was built here in 1717, endowed by James THOMPSON. This building was rebuilt around 1805 due to a fire.
  
  
• A Public Elementary School was built here in 1874, then enlarged in 1894.
  
  
• Each year around harvest time the school holds a harvest festival, the children march from the school to the church holding their offerings. The food that is collected is then raffled off.
  
  
• For more on researching school records, see our Schools Research page.
  
  

Top

Return to the Alphabetical Index

© 2004 EnglandGenWeb Project