Bridge across the former Horncastle and Kirkstead Junction Railway now the Spa Trail. Located at National Grid Reference TF 241 662.

"The Horncastle and Kirkstead Junction Railway was a seven mile long single track branch railway line in Lincolnshire, England, that ran from Horncastle to Woodhall Junction (opened as Kirkstead) on the Great Northern Railway (GNR) line between Boston and Lincoln. There was one intermediate station, Woodhall Spa.

The line opened in 1855 and was worked by the GNR, but the H&KJR company remained as an independent entity until 1923. The short line suffered from road competition after that time, and the passenger service was withdrawn in 1954, although a goods service was retained until 1971"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horncastle_Railway 

DB 9 January 2022

The small stone and brick church of St Michael at Martin by Horncastle lies next to a farm.

There is a Norman doorway and a narrow Norman and Early English chancel arch leading to a tiny sanctuary.

"A precious, forgotten little building" according to Henry Thorold.*
* "Lincolnshire Churches Revisited" published by Michael Russell, 1993.

Mark Acton, 2013

See more images of this church

Extensive repairs in brick to the west end of St Michael's are apparent. The church was constructed in greenstone.

July 2013

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"The church of St. Michael is a plain but ancient edifice of stone, in the Norman and Early English styles, consisting of chancel and nave only; a recess in the west end of the nave contains one bell; the chancel arch is Late Norman: there is a piscina on the south side of the chancel, and in the north wall an arched recess:

the east window is a memorial to the Rev. John Bainbridge Smith, rector from 1824:

the font was presented in 1851 by the late J.Wadham Floyer esq. of Martin Hall:

in 1877 the chancel floor was relaid, the nave refitted and a pulpit of Caen stone erected, and the unused north doorway converted into a window, the entire cost being £240:

there are 70 sittings"

DB 24 August 2019

White's Directory of Lincolnshire 1856 states :-

"Wm. Gilliat, Esq., J. W. Floyer, Esq., and the Clinton family, own nearly all the parish; and the two former gentlemen have neat houses here, and are patrons of the Church (St Michael,) which is a venerable thatched fabric.

The rectory, valued in K.B. at £6. 4s. 3d., and now at £144, is in the incumbency of the Rev St George Kirke, B.A., of Woodhall Lodge"

Unfortunately the thatched roof referred to has been replaced by slate. 

DB 24 August 2019

"C12, C13, C15, C17 with C18 and C19 restorations.

Squared greenstone rubble with some brick patching and ashlar dressings, slate roofs with stone coped gables.

Nave and chancel"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146950 

DB 24 August 2019

"The 2 light chancel east window is C13 but with C19 top"

" In the chancel is a trefoil headed C13 piscina and beside the altar a late C12 waterleaf statue bracket"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146950 

DB 24 August 2019

Looking back through the chancel arch and into the nave.

DB 24 August 2019

"Marble wall plaque to John Oldham d.1818, topped by an urn, with poignant inscription"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146950 

"SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MR JOHN OLDHAM, WHO, TO THE INEXPRESSIBLE GRIEF OF HIS FAMILY, AND SINCERE REGRET OF HIS FRIENDS, ON THE 19TH OF FEBRUARY 1818, WAS MOST  AWFULLY SNATCHED FROM HEALTH AND LIFE BY A BRAIN FEVER; IN THE 37TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.

ALSO OF A SON, COLBY GRAVES, WHO DIED IN HIS INFANCY"

DB 24 August 2019

C19 encaustic tiles in the sanctuary.

DB 24 August 2019

This general view of the interior of St Michael's shows the narrow chancel arch with Norman responds.

The arch is steep and has Early English moulding.

The east window is thought to be Norman.

July 2013

Looking west towards the font.

In the north wall of the nave, on the right in this image, is a Transitional arched recess for a tomb. 

All fittings are C19.

DB 24 August 2019

The capitals - one volute, the other scalloped - to the shafts of chancel arch.

July 2013

C19 font in C13 style.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146950 

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states "the font was presented in 1851 by the late J.Wadham Floyer esq. of Martin Hall"

DB 24 August 2019

C19 pulpit.

DB 24 August 2019

C15 window with C19 stained glass. 

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states "the east window is a memorial to the Rev. John Bainbridge Smith, rector from 1824"

This should in fact be a reference to the glass in the west window which is imaged here. 

DB 24 August 2019

The Norman south door at St Michael's.

This Romanesque arch has lozenge decoration with palmettes as part of the pattern.

July 2013

Shaft capitals bear small human masks.

DB 24 August 2019