Norton Disney Church & Village History
Norton Disney lies idyllically alongside the River Witham in Lincolnshire and has a lovely little church to compliment it.
It further benefits from being richly endowed in monuments - it’s a good one this please do give it a quick look
There’s a rule of thumb when it comes to churches, any that are open are devoid of effigies - all those with a knight effigy or interesting monument are locked !
However, here was an exception, not only that but exceptional as well.
The church which serves the small village is dedicated to St Peter and once belonged to Sempringham Priory. The tower is Early English in style and circa 15th century with a fine array of gargoyles, grotesques and imps.
There’s been plenty of restoration covering several periods but all nicely done. Inside there are 13th and 14th century remnants including arcade bays.
The most obvious features inside are the monuments though some having a direct connection to the village - namely that of the Disney family.
The Disney family were Norman and originated from Isigny near Bayeaux and lived in Lincolnshire from the 13th century onwards - well onwards until King James II lopped the head off William Disney for his part in the Monmouth Rebellion.
That’s not it for history either - before all this the Romans were there !
St Peter’s Church in Norton Disney Lincolnshire
According to Arthur Mee a despondent farmer annoyed at only being able to cultivate weeds in a patch of field decided to dig it out - he found a wall that was 6 feet deep and two Roman pavements ! The Roman villa is an L-shaped building built 1st century AD it was also defended by a ditch, resplendent with bath house and two mosaics extant.
Roman finds have continued to show including 3 burials, pottery and roof tile as well as a large quantity of coins !
? ~ Any Suggestions ?
There’s trace of prehistoric settlement, a medieval moated manor, ridge and furrow, Bronze Age and a Neolithic stone axe - just about everything - it’s a fantastic area
Late 13th Century Knight Effigy ~ A Disney or d’Isigny
The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the village as Nortune, Disney being added after d’Isigny family, no mills etc mentioned and the books names only Countess Judith.
RAF Swinderby, opened late 1930s, was later renamed RAF Norton Disney and brief initial research suggests it was involved in supplying other RAF bases.
I shall return to the military history in another post as I need to revisit and record what remains of the RAF base.
Joan Disney - Effigy mid 14th Century
As you can see Norton Disney has a history which stretches from flint tools to mustard gas with everything in between.
I’d like to encourage others to add anything they know or come across so we can put more historical flesh on the fascinating villages bones.
If you know anything or have any experience then please do leave a comment - thank you
All the best
Rod
The Dinosaur said,
September 26, 2010 @ 8:37 pm
Rod, it may be of interest to you that Walt Disney’s ancestors came from Norton Disney, in particular a Norman knight Robert d’Isigny. Several generations later the family moved to Gowran in Co.Kilkenny and from there to the U.S.A.
David Smith said,
September 26, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
What’s the difference between Bing Crosby and Walt Disney
Bing sings and Walt Disney!
History Hunter said,
September 26, 2010 @ 10:20 pm
From the Norton Disney Parish Magazine:
There are five Disney monuments in St Peter’s, depicting two William’s, two Joan’s, a Richard and a Hautacia.
Set in a low, arched recess is an effigy of Joan D’Isney, hands clasped to breast, dressed in a wimple with hanging drapery to the feet - her costume dates her to the early 14th century.
Also carved in stone are a second Joan, and Sir William who was the son of the chapel’s founder. He is dressed as a knight in full armour.
In the best position on the floor of the chapel is the effigy of a late-14th-century lady dressed in a long, close-fitting habit. She lies on a low plinth, hands clasped, with her head on two diagonally set cushions. Angels are carved at her shoulders. The inscription reads “Here lies Hautacia, daughter of William Disney, Lord of Norton”
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Now from the descriptions I’m guessing the first photo will be Hautacia, the second is Sir William (Jnr) and Joan (the bride) and the third is Joan from another angle.
Oddly, well maybe not, there are also effigy’s (effigies? effigii?) of both Sir William D’Isney’s (father and son) at St Peter’s Church in Kingerby too. They were Lords of the Manor there in the 14th and 15th centuries. The D’Isney’s were also Lords of the Manor in Thundridge in Hertfordshire!! They got around a lot!!!!
Amiguru said,
September 26, 2010 @ 11:38 pm
‘Hautascia’
Rod said,
September 27, 2010 @ 8:16 am
Dino,
fantastic stuff - you’d think that would be common knowledge really - Walt Disney and a Lincolnshire connection.
Fantastic - many thanks.
Best
Rod
Rod said,
September 27, 2010 @ 8:17 am
HH,
sterling work - well played sir !
Great info and thanks for putting a name to the effigy
Best
Rod
Mick Deakin said,
September 27, 2010 @ 6:18 pm
Found this in ‘Place Names of Lindsey’
“In 1539 William Holles bought lands in the burgh of William Disney of Norton, termed ‘Hardbeanthynge’ from their having belonged to the Hardbean family”
Regards,
Mick
Rod said,
September 27, 2010 @ 6:43 pm
Mick,
that’s a superb reference and what a great word:
Hardbeanthynge
Google that, the very definition of original content
Best
Rod
Mick Deakin said,
September 27, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
Rod,
Don’t know whether the -thyng is a corruption of some other word, but a ‘Thing’ used to be the term for a district meeting place.
M.S. said,
January 25, 2011 @ 7:26 pm
My mother was a Disney, my grandfather was William Disney from Queniborough in Leicestershire, the name William is present with cousins of mine too, it seems that the name William is present through the family tree since the days of William D’Isigny!
Gordon Trueblood said,
August 21, 2012 @ 6:03 am
A little trivia: on 26 June 1669, Molineux Disney (the ancestor of Walt Disney) sold the Norton Disney manor house to Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle. Christopher Monck, Duke of Albemarle was the son of George Monck, the 1st Duke of Albemarle and one of eight Lords Proprietors given in 1663 title to a huge tract of land in America which became the Province of Carolina, the present-day American states of North and South Carolina. The County of Albemarle and the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina were named after him. The County of Albemarle was eventually divided into 14 counties, one of them Pasquotank County, North Carolina - which is where I am from.