Braceborough and Wilsthorpe

Both Braceborough and Wilsthorpe are found in the 1086 Domesday Book. Braceborough varies in spelling as "Braseborg," "Breseburc" and Breseburg, whereas Wilsthorpe is spelt "Wivelestorp". At the time of Domesday, Wilsthorpe contained 20 households, and Braceborough, 13.5. Wilsthorpe households contained 10 villagers and 10 freemen; Braceborough had 6 villagers and 17 freemen. Both villages were classed as medium-sized settlements, and both had ploughlands: Braceborough with 5.5 ploughlands, worked by 5.5 men's plough teams, and Wilsthorpe with 4 ploughlands worked by 1 lord's plough teams and 2.5 men's plough teams. Each village had meadow land – both of – but Wilsthorpe had other resources such as of woodland and 2 mills. Braceborough was in the manor of Greatford which was assessed to have a taxable value of 5.5 geld units; the households were assessed at a quite large value of 4.5 geld units. Both Wilsthorpe and its head manor were assessed at a medium value of 4 geld units. The 2011 census shows that since Domesday the number of households has risen to 119. In the 1870s Braceborough was described as: "...on river Glen, 5 miles SW. of Bourn, 2230 ac," Braceborough had its own railway station known as Braceborough Spa. The station was opened by the Bourn and Essendine Railway on 16 May 1860, and was renamed Braceborough Spa Halt on 19 February 1934. It closed on 18 June 1951. The Bourn and Essendine Railway became part of the Great Northern Railway on 25 July 1864. The old station house has been privately owned since 1968. ==Population==

The 2011 Census gave civil parish population as 305, an increase in population from the 268 recorded in the 2001 Census. ==Landmarks==

The Church of St Margaret in Braceborough and the church of St Faith in Wilsthorpe are both listed buildings under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. St Margaret's is listed as Grade I and St Faith's, Grade II*, both churches being of outstanding architectural or historic interest. In 1715 James Fowler restored St Faith's and later in 1859 a Mr. Kirk of Sleaford restored the church of St Margaret. Both Churches are part of the Uffington Group in the Stamford Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln. The incumbent is The Revd Carolyn Kennedy. The civil parish has numerous listed buildings, particularly Grade II listed. One in particular is the Grade II Old Rectory in Elliot's Way, Braceborough. The Old Rectory, of Tudor style, was built in 1848 by William Thompson. Other listed buildings include Braceborough's Grade II Old Hall Farmhouse, built in the late 17th century. In Wilsthorpe is the site of a possible Roman villa discovered through aerial photography which identified cropmarks. The villa is described as: "...aisled timber building of four bays, standing close to a rectangular enclosure, which was bounded by a ditch." ==References==