The name
Two different meanings of the village's name are given in the texts consulted. Both agree that the name relates to a farmstead but other aspects differ. Mills states that the village name translates as 'farmstead of a man called Skalli' while Eminson believes it to mean 'farm settlement at the mooring waters of the river pools' referring to near by Scawby Brook.
More information can be found in:
- Eminson, T.B.F. Place and River Names of the West Riding of Lindsey, Lincolnshire.
- Mills, A.D. A Dictionary of English Place Names.
The place
Scawby is located around three miles from Brigg. The village shares the dedication to St Hybald with its neighbouring village Hibaldstow. St Hybald was a seventh century saint who it is said is buried at Hilbaldstow. This parish church has its roots in medieval times with incumbents being listed back as far as 1219 and John de Godeton. The church contains a number of fine monuments for the Nelthorpe family with whom Scawby has strong links.
Richard Nelthorpe (1569 - 1640) brought the manor of Scawby in 1626, in the 90 years since the dissolution the manor had changed hands no less than five times. On Richards death the manor was inherited by his eldest son Edward while his younger son John received Baysgarth in Barton. It was john who acquired the baronetcy and became Sir John Nelthorpe in 1666. Sir john's lasting legacy is the founding in 1669 of Brigg Grammar School, which still exists today under the name of Sir John Nelthorpe School.
Population history
| Year |
Population |
|
1801 |
518 |
|
1811 |
658 |
|
1821 |
838 |
|
1831 |
942 |
|
1841 |
1050 |
|
1851 |
1606 |
|
1861 |
1570 |
|
1871 |
1586 |
|
1881 |
1549 |
|
1891 |
1595 |
|
1901 |
1561 |
(Note: Figues for 1911 onwards not available)
Entry from Kelly's Trade Directory for 1900
Scawby-cum-Sturton, with the hamlet of Scawby Brook, is a parish and village, with a station, 1.5 miles south from the village, on the main line of the Great Central (late M. S. and L) railway, 2.5 south-west from Brigg and 163.5 miles from London, in the North Lindsey division of the county, parts of Lindsey, Eastern division of the wapentake of Manley, petty sessional division of Brigg, Glanford Brigg union, Brigg county court district, rural deanery of Manlake, archdeaconry of Stow and diocese of Lincoln. A part of the old parish of Scawby, which adjoins the township of Brigg, now forms a part of Brigg civil parish, having been added in 1892. The church of St. Hybald is a building of stone, in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave of three bays, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower, containing a clock and three bells: in 1842 it was entirely rebuilt (with the exception of the tower) at the expense of the parishioners: the chancel was reseated with oak stalls in the early part of 1876, at a cost of about £110: the organ was much enlarged in 1872, at an expense of about £70: there are eight stained windows and several mural tablets to the Nelthorpe family, 1632-1865: the church was lighted with lamps in 1889 at a cost of about £17: the church affords 350 sittings. The register including part of Brigg dates from the year 1558. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £210, including 200 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of R.N. Sutton Nelthorpe Esq. and held since 1898 by the Rev. John Lenthals Davids. The Mission Room at Scawby Brook was erected about 1891 at a total cost of about £150, and a vestry hall was added in 1895; it will seat 100 persons. Here is a small Weslyan chapel, built in 1834, and a Primitive Methodist chapel, built in 1895. Reading rooms, with a library containing about 600 volumes, were established in 1858. The Red Well is a strong chalybeate spring, the waters of which are very beneficial. Scawby Hall, the seat of Robert Nassau Sutton-Nelthorpe esq. D.L., J.P. stands in a park of 170 acres, which contains two lakes, the larger covering about 10 acres. Scawby Grove is the residence of Joseph Cliff esq. D.L., J.P., R.N. Sutton-Nelthorpe Esq. who is lord of the manor, and Joseph Barnard and George B. Cuthbert esqrs. are the principal landowners. The soil is sandy ; subsoil gravel. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans and peas. The area is 3,325 acres of land and 24 of water; rateable value, £7,075; the population in 1891 was 964.
Storton (or Sturton), a hamlet of Scawby, is half a mile south of the village, and close to the railway station. Scawby Brook is one and a quarter miles northeast.
Holdings in North Lincolnshire Local Studies Library
- Russell, Rex - The Enclosures of Scawby 1770-1771, Kirton in Lindsey 1793-1801 and Hibaldstow 1796-1803. Published by the Barton branch of the WEA 1970.
- Charlesworth, Eric - St. Hybald's Church, Scawby 1990.
- Monumental Inscriptions - St. Hybald, Scawby. Recorded by Addison, Gillian, Knight, Hilda and Walker, Joyce on behalf of Lincolnshire Family History Society 1995.
References in the Star Newspaper Index
- Visit to village by "Daily Mail" wireless LS 22.12.1923 5e.
- Schools closed due to Whooping Cough LS 19.1.1924 5a.
- Outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease - 130 animals destroyed at Brackenhill Farm SFS 11.2.1928 8b.
- Story of local ghosts SFS 17.4.1937 10d.
- Short historical item about digging a well in village in 1695 SFS 26.8.1939 11b.