Braceby

Braceby lies to the south of the A52 road, about 6 miles (10 km) east of the market town of Grantham. It forms part of the civil parish of Braceby and Sapperton and has a population of just under 30. Braceby belonged to the historical wapentake of Winnibriggs and Threo,[1] and within that to the Soke of Grantham.[2]

The church, St Margaret's, dates back to the 13th century, but was restored in the 19th.[3] The ecclesiastical parish is one of seven in the North Beltisloe Group in the Deanery of Beltisloe and the Diocese of Lincoln.[4] From 2006 to 2011 the incumbent was Rev. Richard Ireson.[5] Services at Braceby are held monthly, and at Easter, Harvest time and Christmas.[6]

Many village buildings, especially those dating from the 16th and 17th century, are built in part of limestone quarried in the district, at places such as Ancaster.[7] The population peaked about 1861, when there were 168 inhabitants in 37 houses, but the population declined rapidly. By 1970 it was under 20, but a decision by the local landowners, the Welby family, to sell off empty and unwanted cottages led to some recovery and saved the church from closure.[8]

The 65 roadside nature reserves maintained by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, under a local-government scheme dating back to 1960, include one that covers both verges of the Braceby–Walcot road south-east of the village.[9] The list of plants found at this reserve runs to 250 species. Notable among them are early purple orchids (Orchis mascula), common orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and cowslips (primula veris).[10]

Livestock farming (cattle and sheep) in the village has largely given way to arable since the 1970s, but a small amount of permanent grazing remains. Some mixed woodland has also been planted.[11]

• Media related to Braceby at Wikimedia Commons
• Location map of Braceby
• Aerial view of Braceby
• Braceby Village web site
• North Beltisloe web site