Bilsby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bilsby
Holy Trinity, Bilsby parish church
Bilsby
Population	487 (including Farlesthorpe2011)
OS grid reference	TF473766
• London	120 mi (190 km) S
District	East Lindsey
Shire county	Lincolnshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Alford
Postcode district	LN13
Police	Lincolnshire
Fire	Lincolnshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Louth and Horncastle
List of places UK England Lincolnshire 53°16′00″N 0°12′27″E / 53.266650°N 0.207499°E / 53.266650; 0.207499

Bilsby is a small village in the East Lindsey area of Lincolnshire, England. It's located on the main A1111 road, about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Alford. Two smaller settlements, Thurlby and Asserby, are also part of Bilsby parish. In 2011, the village and its surrounding area had a population of 487 people.

A Look Back in Time: Bilsby's History

Bilsby is a very old place! It was first mentioned in the famous Domesday Book in 1086, which was a big survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. Back then, it had 18 households. Some people think the name "Bilsby" might come from the Norse goddess named Bil.

Trains and Trams in Bilsby

Bilsby used to have a railway station called Mumby Road railway station. There were plans for Thurlby, a hamlet nearby, to become an important railway junction in 1897. This would have connected lines from a new port at Sutton-on-Sea to another in Warrington.

Alford – Sutton Tramway

A steam tramway also ran through Bilsby for a short time. The Alford and Sutton Tramway operated from 1884 to 1889. It carried people and goods from Alford to Sutton-on-Sea on tracks built right into the road. It was only open for five years before it closed.

Important Buildings and Landmarks

Bilsby has several interesting old buildings.

Holy Trinity Church

The Bilsby Parish Church, named after the Holy Trinity, is a very old and important building. It was built in the 15th century, which means it's over 500 years old! The church was repaired a lot in 1841. It has an 18th-century stone tower with special brick battlements (like the top of a castle wall).

Inside, the pulpit (where the priest speaks) is made from the trunk of a tree, with steps cut from another tree. There's a special stone slab inside that remembers Sir John Byllesby, who died in 1640. His family helped restore the church in 1918.

Bilsby House

Bilsby House is a large, grand house built around 1740. It's designed in the Georgian style. It stands where an even older house used to be, which was surrounded by a moat (a ditch filled with water) and had castellated walls, like a small castle. This older house was supposedly where the Byllesby family lived until 1616.

Bilsby Windmill

Bilsby Mill

The Bilsby windmill was built in 1861. It worked until 1932, grinding grain. Even though it's not used anymore and is missing its top, the tower of the mill is still standing. It's also considered an important historical building.

Thurlby and Asserby: Nearby Hamlets

Thurlby

Thurlby is mentioned in the Domesday Book just like Bilsby. It was a settlement with 18 households. Today, it's a small hamlet within Bilsby parish. However, in medieval times, Thurlby was a parish on its own and had a church dedicated to St Mary. Sadly, there are no signs of that church left today.

Asserby

Asserby is another hamlet in the area. Scientists have studied the earthworks (changes in the land from old buildings) and found that Asserby used to be bigger in medieval times than it is now. Unlike Thurlby, Asserby wasn't mentioned in the Domesday Book and never had its own church.

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Bilsby has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at the population from different census records:

Where is Bilsby?

Bilsby is located in a part of England called Lincolnshire. Here are some of the towns and villages around Bilsby:

Destinations from Bilsby

		Beesby, Maltby le Marsh, Theddlethorpe
	Tothby, South Thoresby, Swaby		Huttoft, Anderby Creek
		Bilsby
		Farlesthorpe, Willoughby, Welton le Marsh