St Nicholas
Stenigot, Lincolnshire
This quaint parish church of St Nicholas holds a wonderful story within its walls, inside are memorials to two Spanish citizens of the Guevera family who came to England with Katherine of Aragon.
An unassuming grade II listed parish church, All Saints was rebuilt in 1908 reusing medieval fragments. Although simple in style and size it is however tenderly cared for.
All Saints has a slate roof and a gabled west bellcote containing a single bell. The building has simply one room, with the bellcote, nave and chancel in the same space as the north porch and vestry. Three of the windows are late 14th century. There is also a large 14th century octagonal font with St Andrew's crosses incised on each side.
Apart from being on the Viking Way, Goulceby also was the birthplace of William Marwood, the Lincolnshire hangman, who invented the ‘long drop’ system of execution. This style of hanging was deemed more humane than the traditional ‘short drop’. Born in 1818, Marwood took up trade as a cobbler based in Horncastle, before becoming a Hangman for the British Government. Marwood was one of two executioners to give their name to the character of the hangman in the British Punch and Judy puppet show. In Marwood's time there was even a popular nursery rhyme created which went: "If Pa killed Ma who'd kill Pa? Marwood.
