Somerby (or Somerby by Gainsborough[1]) is a hamlet in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east from the town of Gainsborough, and lies in the civil parish of Corringham.
| Somerby | |
|---|---|
  Somerby Location within Lincolnshire | |
| OS grid reference | SK849884 |
| • London | 140 mi (230 km) S |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Gainsborough |
| Postcode district | DN21 |
| Police | Lincolnshire |
| Fire | Lincolnshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
The settlement is best known as the home of Richard Topcliffe, the infamous Tudor torturer and persecutor of Roman Catholics. Topcliffe brought one of his victims, Anne Bellamy, to Somerby in 1593 where she had a baby - believed to be Topcliffe's. He died here in 1604.[2]
Excavations at Somerby in 1957 showed it was once larger, revealing 15th-century streets and house foundations, with finds ranging from the 12th to the 16th century.[3] Much of the medieval village of Somerby was the site of an ancient deer park which belonged to Somerby Park mansion.[4]
Somerby Park is described in the 1872 Whites Directory as "a commodious ancient mansion in the Elizabethan style".[5]
References
edit- ^ "History of Somerby by Gainsborough, in West Lindsey and Lincolnshire". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ Adrian Gray, 'Restless Souls, Pilgrim Roots', Retford: Bookworm, 2020, p179
- ^ Historic England. "Somerby (324874)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ^ Historic England. "Monument No. 891744". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ^ "Corringham (Great and Little Corringham)". Genuki. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
