Aveland was a Wapentake of Kesteven from the time of the Danelaw until the Local Government Act 1888. Its meeting place was The Aveland at grid reference TF 0675 2961 in the parish of Aslackby.[1]

Aveland
Large modern field, bare-soiled under a heavily clouded sky. It is September of a dry year, and the harvest has been in for over a month and the land prepared for next year. It looks bare and harrowed to a very smooth surface. Distant woodland frames the field.
Aveland Moot
There was once a moat in this field, now only visible on crop marks. It is thought to have been the meeting-place of the Aveland Wapentake.[1]
Aveland is a former wapentake of Lincolnshire, east of Grantham and south of Sleaford
Aveland is a former wapentake of Lincolnshire, east of Grantham and south of Sleaford
Location in Lincolnshire
LocationLincolnshire, England
Coordinates52°51′00″N 0°24′58″W / 52.85°N 0.416°W / 52.85; -0.416
TypeWapentake

Origins

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Aveland was probably established as an administrative unit soon after 921 when Edward the Elder ably assisted until 918, by Æthelflæd had restored English rule in the part of the Danelaw represented by Kesteven.

The wapentake included the ancient parishes of Aslackby, Billingborough, Birthorpe, Bourne, Dembleby, Dowsby, Dunsby, Folkingham, Haconby, Haceby, Horbling, Kirkby Underwood, Laughton, Morton, Newton, Osbournby, Pickworth, Pointon, Rippingale, Sempringham, Spanby, Swaton, Threekingham and Walcot;[2] some of which have since been amalgamated.

There is documentary evidence from the Domesday survey onwards for a settlement called Avethorpe in the parish of Aslackby but no actual location is known.[3]

Decline

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Between 921 and 1888, the administrative significance of the wapentake was reduced by many small steps. The first was as a result of the invasion of England by Swein in 1013. The Kesteven people supported it so that, when order was restored, the shire of Lincoln was set up and given powers over the wapentakes. Subsequently, piecemeal, privileges were given to lords of the manors in Aveland so that it became progressively less significant. By 1250, there was little power left.[citation needed]

Modern usage

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References

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  1. ^ a b Historic England. "The Aveland moat (348358)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Aveland Wapentake through time", Vision of Britain. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Avethorpe (348363)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Aveland details from the district council". Archived from the original on 11 November 2005.
  5. ^ "The Aveland High School" Archived 16 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine, St. George's Academy. Retrieved 15 June 2015
  6. ^ "Organization of Aveland and Ness with Stamford Deanery". Archived from the original on 1 August 2009.
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