Osbournby

The modern Mareham Lane runs from near Graby, Lincolnshire, due north for about 10.5 miles to Sleaford. Much of its length follows the route of a Roman road, Margary number 260, which ran for about 16 miles from Bourne to Sleaford (Margary, I.D., 1955. Roman roads in Britain, volume 1)

From this point to its end at Sleaford, 5 miles to the north, Mareham Lane is followed by parish boundaries, a common feature of Roman roads.

Flat Lincolnshire, with clayey soils developed over Jurassic mudstones.

Built in 1881 (replacing a medieval church at a different site), but made redundant in 1973 Link . Services are now being put in to allow use as a home.

Formerly the Brickmakers Arms public house. Brick making was common on Lincolnshire's Jurassic clays.

TL7511 : Power line junction gives a description of a similar structure

On the west side of the Roman road, Mareham Lane, Link reports "A large area of complex cropmarks, including enclosures, hut circles and boundary ditches, is visible on aerial photographs. These are likely to represent a late Iron Age and/or Romano-British settlement."

The busy Peterborough to Lincoln route bisects the village

Grade I listed The Domesday Survey records a church on this site in 1086 in the possession of Gilbert of Ghent the wealthiest landowner on the county at that time. The present church dates from the twelfth century onwards and consists of a western tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel, and south porch. The west end of the church is probably the oldest part dating from 12th or early 13th century with walls made of rubble which is 8ft thick in places. The South aisle once extended to embrace the tower but this section was demolished. Most of the church was constructed in 1320 with the nave, south aisle chancel and porch being rebuilt at this time. The western tower is from the thirteenth century and is of three stages with a plain parapet. The belfry stage has fourteenth century windows. The south porch, dating from the fourteenth century has arcading above the side benches with ogee headed panels. The nave has four bay arcades with thirteenth century octagonal piers. At the east end of the south aisle there is a door which once led to the rood loft. Only the lower portion of the rood screen remains at Osbournby. There is one modern stained-glass window to the north wall. The chancel has a fine fourteenth century sedilia with ogee arched heads and Crocketts with human head stops. There is also a piscina and aumbry. The nave has a number of good fourteenth century bench ends with various subjects including Adam and Eve, and St George and the Dragon. There is a twelfth century tub font with intersecting blank arcading, presumably from an earlier church. At the south west end of the nave there are commandment boards. There is a small organ by Harston of Newark, circa 1890. The church was restored in 1873 by Charles Kirk when the roof was replaced and the east window and pews were installed (cost £1,460). In 1965 the tower was found to be dangerously cracked and bulging and had to be strengthened. The clock which was removed from the tower face dates from 1740 and now resides in the North Aisle.

A huge area of tarmac. One feels there should be a green.

Founded 1839, rebuilt 1871 Link . Current status?

The footpath on the right leads to Aunsby

This pleasant cycling byway, extending 1¼ miles east from Newton, ends abruptly at Newton Gorse woodland, ahead.

The path passes Newton Gorse woodland, ahead, crosses the A52, and continues to Osbournby.