The name
Elsham is interpretated as "Elli's homestead" or "homestead or village of a man called Elli". The earliest mentions of the village are in around 1086 when it is refered to as Eleham or Elesham.
More information can be found in:
- Cameron, Keith - The Place Names Of Lincolnshire
- Mills, A D - A Dictionary of English Place Names.
The place
The village of Elsham was once home to a priory of Austin canons, the only trace of which is the old fishpond now in the grounds of the 18th century hall. The Hall was extensivly renovated in 1933 by Guy Elwes and was opened in 1970 as Elsham Hall Country and Wildlife Park -promoting enjoyment of the countryside and wildlife and an appreciation of the arts and rural crafts. Having been renovated in the early 1870s the village church of All Saints dates back to the 13th century.
Population history
| Year |
Population |
|
1801 |
310 |
|
1811 |
347 |
|
1821 |
383 |
|
1831 |
471 |
|
1841 |
458 |
|
1851 |
448 |
|
1861 |
409 |
|
1871 |
443 |
|
1881 |
502 |
|
1891 |
457 |
|
1901 |
434 |
|
1911 |
424 |
|
1921 |
421 |
|
1931 |
358 |
|
1941 |
N/A |
|
1951 |
554 |
|
1961 |
257 |
|
1971 |
275 |
|
1981 |
313 |
|
1991 |
380 |
Entry from Kelly's Trade Directory for 1900
Elsham (or Aylesham) is a parish and a village, with a station 11/2 miles south east on the Yorkshire Branch, and 2 miles north of the junction at Barnetby of that and the Lincoln branches with the main line of the Great Central (late M. S. and L.) railway, 4 north-east from Brigg and 167 from London, in the North Lindsey division of the county, parts of Lindsey, north division of Yarborough wapentake, Brigg petty sessional division, union and county court district, rural deanery of Yarborough No. 1, archdeaconry of Stow and diocese of Lincoln. The church of All Saints is a building of stone, in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, with vestry and chamber above, and a small western tower containing 3 bells; it was restored in 1873-4, at a cost of £2,419, by the trustees of the late J. G. Corbett esq.; Col. Sir John D Astley bart. presented the stain glass window in memory of Reginald Leonard, his second son, who died in 1870: the base of the tower forms a porch, in which are two stones carved with figures: the chancel retains its piscina and a brass to the Thompson and Corbett families, 1702-1868: in 1896 a clock and inscribed brass were erected in memory of the late Sir John Dugdale Astley bart. of Elsham Hall, MP d, 1894, and a memorial window has been placed to the late John and Sarah Dunn, and Muriel Elsden: there are sittings. The register dates from the year 1566. The living is the vicarage, net yearly value £97, including 3 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of Sir F. E. G. Astley Corbett bart. and held since 1899 by the Rev.George Lewthwaite BA of Keble College Oxford. Here is a small Wesleyan Chapel, seating about 100 persons. The Primitive Methodists hold their services in a private house. The charities amount to £6 yearly. Elsham Hall is a modern building of brick, standing in a park of 150 acres, the property of Sir Francis Edmund George Astley-Corbett bart. of 45 Cadogan Gardens, London SW, lord of the manor and sole landowner. The soil is limestone and sand; subsoil, marl. The chief crops are wheat, turnips, barley and oats. The area is 4,154 acres; rateable value, £5,323; the population in 1891 was 457.
Parish Clerk, David Whitehead.
Post Office (Railway Sub-Office. Letters should be addressed R.S.O. Lincoln). - Jabez Reed, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive at 7.30am and 2.30pm; dispatched at 9.40am and 5.50pm week days only. Postal orders are issued here, but not paid. Worlaby is the nearest money order office; the telegraph office is at the railway station.
National School (mixed), built in 1872 and enlarged in 1895, for 180 children; average attendance, 73; William Edwin Beeston, master; Miss Norcliffe, infants' mistress.
Holdings in North Lincolnshire Local Studies Library
- Boast, Nevison G. Elsham church and parish; a brief history with selected walks. 1998.
- Worsley, Giles. Elsham Hall, Lincolnshire. [in] Country Life, vol180 no 4650,1986 pp1020 -1023. 1986.
- Geipel, Nancy. The Sultry Glebe. 1987.
References in the Star Newspaper Index
- Goods trains collide LLS 25.11.1905 page 8c.
- New burial ground consecrated LS 29.04.1911 page 8f.
- Memorial Cross unveiled LS 06.11.1920 page 6d.
- Frodingham Ironstone discovered here LS 05.03.1921 page 6b.
- All Saints Church - new bells dedicated LS 09.08.1926 page 8c.
- Conservative and Unionist gathering held here SFS 04.08.1934 page 4a.