This early nineteenth century house, in yellow brick, was built for the Westons when Rev Charles Fleetwood Weston was head of the family.

The Chatterton family were its occupants in the 20th century but it fell into a bad state of repair and was demolished in 1964.

More details about this house and its owners can be found in T R Leach and R Pacey's book, 'Lost Lincolnshire Country Houses: Volume 2', published by SLHA.  Buy a copy.

This column stands in a field to the north of the church. The Viking Way long distance footpath passes alongside it.

It was erected in 1770 by Edward and Ann Weston of Somerby Hall to celebrate 29 years of happy marriage. Sadly that same year Edward died, and it may be that Ann, his second wife, erected it to fulfil his wish.

The monument is listed Grade II: see -  https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1063373?section=official-list-entry 

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

The pillar is topped with a Doric capital above an encircling band of egg and tongue pattern. On the top of the pillar stands an urn with four snakes coiled around it and flames issuing above.

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

The pillar is supported on a deep rusticated base. Above there was once text on the south face which was recorded by G S Gibbons of Holton le Moor Hall and printed in Lincolnshire Notes and Queries. It read:

Deus nobis haec notia fecit/ quo beneficio accepto/ hoc quantulumcunque/ monumentum/ Edwardus et Anna Weston/ memorum animorum pignus/ anno felicis coniungii XXIX/ ruris empti XXI/ Georgii regis optimi X/ Christi redemptoris  MDCCLXX/ E.C./ S. (?) D.G.L.

This translates as: "It is God who has given us our life of peaceful leisure in the acknowledgement of which benefit and as a token of their gratitude by Edward and Ann Weston this humble monument is erected, and in the twenty-ninth year of their happy conjugal union, in the twenty-first year of this estate being bought, in the tenth year of our good and gracious King George III and in the seventeen hundredth and seventieth year of Christ the Redeemer."

Edward was a politician and writer who bought the estate at Somerby in 1750 from a relative. He and his descendants lived at Somerby Hall until the 1930s; the house was demolished in 1964. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Weston_(politician) 

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

St Margaret's is a worn ironstone church with a low tower and lies almost hidden by trees on the edge of the Wolds.

The building has 13th century features, but has undergone many later alterations, especially in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Monuments within include a fine 13th century effigy of a knight.

May 2011

Somerby St Margaret from NE.

The east window is early 18th century with raised keystone and impost blocks. It has been blocked and one of the blocking stones bears the incised lettering ‘EW 1864’, perhaps indicating when it was blocked, and by one of the Weston family.

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

Somerby St Margaret from S.

This view reveals how very low the tower is in relation to the nave. The church is Grade II* listed and, at the time of the visit, is ‘investigating closure’.

See: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359824?section=official-list-entry 

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

Somerby St Margaret from SW

St Margaret’s church stands on a hillside with woodland around it. It is mainly constructed of ironstone with ashlar dressings.

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

Chancel from SW.

The change in the profile of the south wall reveals what may be the position of a former crossing or a south chapel.

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

A gargoyle in the north wall of the nave is now bypassed by the modern rainwater goods.

Jean Howard 2 May 2024

The 19th century south doorway has moulding with human head dripstones. That to the east represents Queen Victoria.

Jean Howard 2 May 2024