Little Bytham

The church of St Medardus and St Gildardus in Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, England, is a Grade I listed building. It is dedicated to two 6th-century French saints, St Medard and St Gildard (or Medardus and Gildardus); the dedication is unique in the UK. Virtually unknown in Britain, St Medard is still well known in France, with at least 25 towns or villages named after him (as St Médard or St Méard). Gildard, thought to be his brother, is less well known. The village fête is held annually on or near St Medard's feast day, 8 June. The earliest parts of the building are some Anglo-Saxon "long-and-short" stonework, visible externally at the southeast and southwest corners (quoins) of the nave. The church also has several Romanesque details dating from the Norman era, including a Priest's Door ("uncommonly ornate", according to Nikolaus Pevsner) with a finely carved tympanum; the empty circular niche in the tympanum is said to have held a relic; the birds in roundels to either side are probably eagles, as one is legendarily supposed to have sheltered Medard from the rain. Also Norman are the plain, undecorated arch into the tower, and the north door (late 12th century). The south aisle and the upper parts of the tower and spire are 13th century work; the intersecting tracery of the east window of the south aisle shows that it is slightly later, dating from around 1300, as does the nearby piscina. The chancel arch is probably also from the late 13th century, and the double piscina in the chancel may be of a similar age. The Easter Sepulchre in the chancel is in the slightly later (Decorated) style, but is a fairly crude example. A finely sculpted capital depicting a Green Man surrounded by oak leaves, similar to examples at nearby Kirkby Underwood and Greatford, also dates from c.1300. It is no longer in position, having been built into a wall, face inwards, and rediscovered during later restoration work.The stone base of the pulpit is dated 1590, and has a Latin inscription Orate et parate ("Pray and prepare"). Pevsner mistakenly gives this as Orate et Arate. The Listed Building entry is taken from Pevsner, with the same error.The churchyard contains the war grave of a Royal Engineers soldier of the First World War.

Little Bytham railway station was a station in Little Bytham, Lincolnshire on the Great Northern Railway main line. It closed in 1959. The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway crossed just north of the station. The GNR were given powers to build a junction but never did so. The nearest station on the M&GNR was at Castle Bytham.From 1857 to 1884, Little Bytham was the junction for the Edenham & Little Bytham Railway branch line to Edenham. The public house now called The Willoughby Arms, but then The Steam Engine was built as the terminus, although the track crossed into the GNR goods yard for interchange purposes.

Creeton is a hamlet in the civil parish of Counthorpe and Creeton in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated 3 miles (5 km) south west from Bourne and 3 miles (4.8 km) south from Corby Glen, on the River Glen. Creeton Grade I listed Anglican parish church is dedicated to St Peter. It is of late Decorated style. During restoration in 1851 the piers and arches of a former Norman aisle were discovered. The church holds a chained 1611 bible. In the churchyard are two examples of Saxon grave crosses, and 20 stone coffins considered to mark the interment of Cistercian monks of Vallis Dei abbey in the neighbouring Edenham parish.There are no amenities in Creeton; the nearest school is in Little Bytham, with shops in Corby Glen, Little Bytham and Castle Bytham, and a public house in Swinstead. The hamlet consists of approximately 20 households.

Counthorpe is a hamlet in the civil parish of Counthorpe and Creeton in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It adjoins the hamlet of Creeton and lies 5 miles (8 km) south-west from Bourne and 3 miles (5 km) south from Corby Glen, and on the River Glen. In the Domesday account Counthorpe is written as "Cudetorp". Before the Conquest lordship was held by Earl Morcar; after, Drogo de la Beuvrière became Tenant-in-chief.Counthorpe shares the Grade I listed Anglican parish church at Creeton, dedicated to St Peter. The church is of late Decorated style. A restoration of 1851 discovered the arches and piers of a former Norman aisle. The church holds a chained bible from 1611. Two examples of Saxon crosses stand in the churchyard, with 20 stone coffins considered to mark the interment of Cistercian monks of Vallis Dei abbey in the neighbouring parish of Edenham.Counthorpe was formerly a hamlet of Castle Bytham and had, up to the 16th century, its own parochial chapel, but was annexed to Creeton in 1860.Counthorpe is recorded in the 1872 White's Directory as a small village in the parish of Castle Bytham, but which, for ecclesiastical purposes, became on 30 June 1860 united with Creeton. The village was 2 miles (3 km) from Little Bytham railway station. At this time Counthope was a township of 78 people in about 130 acres (0.5 km2) of land divided between three farms; a farmer of one of these, at Counthorpe Lodge, was also a grazier.

Careby is the principal village in the a civil parish of Careby Aunby and Holywell [in which the population is included] in the South Kesteven district of South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England. The River West Glen flows through the parish, near Careby, forming part of the parish boundary.

Careby Aunby and Holywell is a civil parish in the district of South Kesteven, south-west Lincolnshire, in England. It stretches from the county border with Rutland in the west to the River West Glen in the east. The B1176 road from Corby Glen passes through Careby and on past Aunby toward Stamford. The main London to Scotland railway line passes through the parish, the line upon which Mallard took the speed record for the LNER.The total population in the 2001 census was 146, falling marginally to 143 at the 2011 census. The population in 1801 was 65, and had risen to 133 by 1911 The centre of the parish is near grid reference TF017157

Counthorpe and Creeton is a civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 97 across 45 homes.

Holywell is a tiny settlement in the civil parish of Careby Aunby and Holywell, in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies 5.5 miles (9 km) north from Stamford and 6 miles (10 km) south-west from Bourne. It is a collection of houses around a country house and park. The park includes a small private church dedicated to St Wilfrid. Ornamental lakes have been restored over the last 20 years, and new gardens laid out. In 2009 the gardens were open to the public through the National Garden Scheme. Two venerated springs are reported in the village, Holy Well and St Winifred's. Only the location of the first is known. There are no other place names associated with venerated springs in Lincolnshire, although other Holy Wells exist such as those near the site of Sempringham Priory and nearby Ryhall.

Holywell Hall is a building of historical significance in Lincolnshire and is listed on the English Heritage Register. The house is in the civil parish of Careby Aunby and Holywell in the district of South Kesteven, south-west Lincolnshire, in England. It is a 17th-century country house which was built by the Goodhall family and then purchased by the Reynardson family who owned it for the next two hundred years. It is a Grade II* listed building and now a venue for special events particularly weddings.

Bytham Castle was a castle in the village of Castle Bytham in Lincolnshire (grid reference SK992186.) The castle is thought to be of early Norman origin. The earthworks, on a hill above the village, are visible but nothing of the stonework is above ground. There is no public access to the monument. There is however a public footpath that runs alongside the castle mound and up a hill to give reasonable view.

Aunby is a village in the parish of Careby Aunby and Holywell, in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated north from Stamford on the B1176 road, and just south of Careby. Aunby consists of Manor and Lodge farms, and a deserted medieval village. The River Glen flows to the east of the village, next to the East Coast Main Line. Close to the west is Rutland.

Castle Bytham railway station was a station in Castle Bytham. It was Midland Railway property but train services were operated by the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (M&GN). The station and line closed in 1959 along with most of the M&GN.