Braceby is a village in the civil parish of Braceby and Sapperton, in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The village includes a roadside nature reserve sheltering 250 species of plant life.
| Braceby | |
|---|---|
 St Margaret's Church, Braceby | |
  Braceby Location within Lincolnshire | |
| OS grid reference | TF016354 |
| • London | 95 mi (153 km) S |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SLEAFORD |
| Postcode district | NG34 |
| Dialling code | 01529 |
| Police | Lincolnshire |
| Fire | Lincolnshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Parishes and buildings
Braceby lies to the south of the A52 road, about 6 miles (10 km) east of the market town of Grantham. It has a population of just under 30. Braceby belonged to the historical wapentake of Winnibriggs and Threo,[1] and within that to the Soke of Grantham.[2]
The church, St Margaret's, dates back to the 13th century, but was restored in the 19th.[3] The ecclesiastical parish is one of seven in the North Beltisloe Group in the Deanery of Beltisloe and the Diocese of Lincoln.[4] From 2006 to 2011 the incumbent was Rev. Richard Ireson.[5] Services at Braceby are held monthly, and at Easter, Harvest time and Christmas.[6]
Many village buildings, especially those dating from the 16th and 17th century, are built in part of limestone quarried in the district, at places such as Ancaster.[7] The population peaked about 1861, when there were 168 inhabitants in 37 houses, but the population declined rapidly. By 1970 it was under 20, but a decision by the local landowners, the Welby family, to sell off empty and unwanted cottages led to some recovery and saved the church from closure.[8]
In 1921 the civil parish had a population of 76.[9] On 1 April 1931 the parish was abolished and merged with Sapperton to form "Braceby and Sapperton".[10]
Nature and land use
The 65 roadside nature reserves maintained by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, under a local-government scheme dating back to 1960, include one that covers both verges of the Braceby–Walcot road south-east of the village.[11] The list of plants found at this reserve runs to 250 species. Notable among them are early purple orchids (Orchis mascula), common orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and cowslips (primula veris).[12]
Livestock farming (cattle and sheep) in the village has largely given way to arable since the 1970s, but a small amount of permanent grazing remains. Some mixed woodland has also been planted.[13]
References
External links
Media related to Braceby at Wikimedia Commons- Location map of Braceby
- Aerial view of Braceby
- Braceby Village web site
- North Beltisloe web site
