Caistor Rural District
Caistor was a rural district in Lincolnshire, Parts of Lindsey from 1894 to 1974.
It was formed by the Local Government Act 1894 from Caistor rural sanitary district. It entirely surrounded, but did not include, the town of Market Rasen.
It was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, becoming part of the West Lindsey district.
[1] Situated in the north of Lincolnshire in the Lindsey Division, the Rural District of Caistor extended to 119,092 acres and comprised 40 civil parishes. From its most northerly parish of Brocklesby, near the Humber, to Lissington in the extreme south is a distance of about 20 miles. From Swinhope in the east of the District to Waddingham in the west is about 16 miles. Market Rasen was a separate Urban District within that area. Caistor lies 25 miles north-east of the city of Lincoln, nine miles north of Market Rasen, nine miles south-east of Brigg and 12 miles south-west of the port of Grimsby on the North Sea Coast. London is 160 miles distant by road and 152 miles by rail. The characteristic physical features of this District are the Wolds on the east which rise to 548 feet above sea-level at Normanby, this being the highest elevation in the whole of Lincolnshire. The western parishes comprised fertile, low-lying lands along the valley of the river Ancholme, a tributary of the Humber. The river Rase, rising near Tealby and flowing through the Rasens, mingles its waters in the Ancholme at Bishop-bridge, near Glentham. There is much attractive scenery in the District, particularly where the western slopes of the Wolds break into picturesque valleys with their sparkling rivulets running down to the inland plain. Much of the District is well wooded, especially to the east of Market Rasen and north of Caistor. The history of this District goes back many centuries. Caistor was a Roman station and a place of importance in even earlier times. Now the secluded villages, with their mediaeval Halls and ancient churches, present a typical picture of rural England; yet in and around them are imprints of the earliest history of England.
LOCAL INFORMATION Churches : In addition to the parish churches there were a large number of Methodist and some Congregational chapels in the District. The nearest Roman Catholic churches were at Market Rasen and Brigg; but there is a chapel at Osgodby.
Climate : Situated on the dryer side of Britain, the climate here is bracing with a clear air and a good sunshine record. The limestone hills of the Wolds protect a great part of the District from rigorous east winds.
Education : The elementary schools provided a sound education. The old-established Grammar School at Caistor offered modern secondary education. There were also a few private and preparatory schools in the neighbourhood. Caistor Yarborough Secondary School was built in 1938.
Housing : Prior to 1939 the District Council had built 171 houses. Post-war development included 138 houses erected and a further 118 approved. Through the sound judgment of the Council all these were of the traditional type of construction, no temporary or prefabricated dwellings having been erected.
Industries : Agriculture and its associated rural undertakings continued as the principal industries of this District. The soil produced excellent crops of roots, including sugar-beet, potatoes and carrots. Dairy farming was carried on to a lesser extent. There are about 390 farms in the District and some 400 small-holdings of 50 acres or under. At Nettleton there is a small ironstone mine; lime quarries and sand and gravel pits were worked in certain parts of the District.
Local Government : The District was administered by the Caistor Rural District Council whose Offices were situated in South Street, Caistor. The 41 councillors were elected triennially. The District comes within the county area of Lindsey.
Public Services : An abundant supply of piped water was provided in 20 parishes, with schemes being carried out and planned to cover the other 20 parishes of the District. Electricity was distributed through the Yorkshire Electricity Board. Gas from Caistor Gas & Coke Co. Ltd. was available in Caistor which is the only parish with street lighting. Sewage Disposal Schemes were in operation in Caistor, North Kelsey and Middle Rasen; but were being extended to other parishes as rapidly as possible.
Recreation & Sport: Cricket, football and other sports clubs were established throughout the District. Village halls provided facilities for dances, whist drives and other regular social functions. Branches of the British Legion, Women's Institute, Youth and other organisations were active in all the larger villages.
Transport: The District was served by the Eastern Region of British Railways with the line from Grimsby to Lincoln through Barnetby and Market Rasen. In addition to the Regular Bus routes across the District which passed through Caistor and Market Rasen, there were a number of local services on market days.
A BRIEF HISTORY The history of Caistor goes back almost as far as the history of mankind in the country. Centuries before the coming of the Romans Neolithic man settled in the area. Later the Britons established a permanent community at Caistor (Caer Egarry) and made it into a strongly-defended town. Then the conquering Romans, nearly 2,000 years ago, converted this into a military station. During the Occupational period of some four centuries the surrounding countryside was administered from this "caestra" by the Roman officials and was garrisoned by detachments from the legions of Rome. Coins, pottery and other relics of this era have been excavated here. The military site enclosed nearly 61 acres and parts of its massive walling still can still be found in the occupied area. When the Romans finally withdrew both their soldiers and their officials from Britain the Norsemen, no longer in fear of opposition from trained defenders, began to harry the East Coast settlements and ascend the rivers in their powerful war-galleys in search of plunder. Undoubtedly Caistor suffered at the hands of these invaders; but, as so many local place names show, the Danes later settled down in this district as peaceful colonists. The history of Caistor can be traced on through Saxon days when, according to the writings of the Venerable Bede, it was known as Tunnaceaster and must have been a town of some importance when the present day cities of Kingston-upon-Hull and Great Grimsby were merely coastal hamlets. In the 11th century came the second conquest of Britain following the Battle of Hastings. The Normans gradually subjugated the country from south to north and Caistor soon had its Norman lord. History throughout the later centuries did not seem to interfere unduly with the life of this town except for a brief interlude at the hands of the Parliamentarian's during the Civil War.
References
- ↑ Caistor Rural District Council Yearbook
Coordinates: 53°30′N 0°18′W / 53.5°N 0.3°W