Roxby Church & Village A Look at the History
Roxby church and Roxby village are steeped in history and it’s little wonder when you look at the location.
A commanding view of the Humber Estuary means it’s a natural settlement and as such takes us back to Roman and Saxon times
St Mary’s church is over 600 years old and whilst much of the original building has been lost during rebuilds and restoration there are still some massive stones left which go back to the original Saxon building.
There’s also a window to the south side which looks of Norman origin. James Fowler was there, as ever it seems, before me and was responsible for rebuilding the north arcade in 1875
Roxby Church in Lincolnshire
The Romans in Roxby
The Romans were certainly in the village, perhaps not a surprise given the potential of the location and its proximity to the Roman Road Ermine Street.
In 1699 a Roman mosaic was discovered, Fowler published a drawing of it 100 years later. Various excavations discovered a Roman tessellated pavement and building though it wasn’t exposed fully and properly until 1972 - sadly showed signs of considerable damage - it now lies beneath a garden I believe.
St Mary’s Church
The whole surrounding area would appear to be drenched in ancient history with finds of everything right back to Neolithic flint tools and scrapers.
Not far from Barton on Humber and Barrow Haven it’s clearly an area that has a lot more history and information to give up.
If you know of anything please do let us know, anything of interest, anecdotal, historic or perhaps simply memories - please do leave a comment and we’ll build as big a picture of the town history as possible.
All the best
Rod
Amiguru said,
June 7, 2010 @ 1:55 pm
Rod,
On Wednesday 13th. June 1887 The Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society had a trip to Roxby and reported thus:
“The feature which chiefly distinguished this day’s excursion was the inspection of the magnificent Roman mosaic pavement at Horkstow, and the less elaborate, but beautifully designed, pavement at Roxby, both of which had been uncovered by their proprietors for the inspection of the Society.
The former, discovered in 1798, and figured by Mr. Fowler, of Winterton, in his magnificent series of plates issued at the beginning of the century, is justly called by Mr. Gambier Parry, who describes it at length in his Ministry of Fine Art (p. 157), as ” one of the most important in England. ” Among the subjects portrayed is the usual one of Orpheus attracting the beasts, and a very spirited representation of a two-horse chariot race. Four chariots are engaged. One of the chariots is upset, its wheel broken, and a dismounted horseman is rescuing the unlucky falling charioteer. In another, one of the horses is falling head foremost.
The two other chariots are at full speed. In another part the pavement exhibits in its spandrils four male busts of calm dignity, having on each side of them small crosses formed of red tesserae, which are probably to be regarded as conventional ornaments, without any religious significance.”
Holding my horses,
Neville
Amiguru said,
June 7, 2010 @ 3:00 pm
Rod,
Picking up the traces again, the report goes on:
“ROXBY
The pavement at Roxby was next visited, having been specially opened for inspection by V. D. Gary Elwes, Esq. This is smaller than that at Horkstow, and exhibits only the fret or guilloche and other conventional patterns, with an entire absence of pictorial scenes. The ornamentation, however, is excellent of its kind, surpassing Horkstow in accuracy of drawing and arrangement.
The church at Roxby is a charming little Decorated building, all of one date, with a really magnificent series of lofty canopied sedilia, with ogee[ that word again;) ] canopies and tall pinnacles of very unusual sumptuousness in the chancel, and a priestly effigy, richly vested, under a monumental recess in the south aisle. A piece of pre-Norman stone-work in the west wall of the north aisle indicates the early foundation of the church.”
Dismounting,
Neville
Rod said,
June 7, 2010 @ 6:22 pm
Neville,
that’s very interesting indeed, great to get some more detail of the Roman pavement - it sounds more intricate than I’d imagined or indeed was suggested elswhere.
Great stuff - some flesh on the bones
Regards
Rod
Lexie Elliott -Taylor descendant said,
June 20, 2010 @ 5:23 am
Hi Rod,
In the description of St Mary’s on the NorthLincs.com website includes the line ” the south aisle also contains a piscina, and has a window in memory of the Taylor family”. My mother was a Taylor and her father and his family lived in Roxby, in the years around 1875, and I am anxious to explore this link to Roxby further. Any suggestions as to who I could contact? I live in Australia, so an email address would be great.
Any help would be fantastic,
regards
Lexie
Rod said,
June 20, 2010 @ 8:22 am
Hi Lexie,
I don’t know of anybody in specific you could contact I’m afraid - although somebody seeing your comment at some point could prompt a response so it’s worth checking back
Best of luck with the search
All the best
Rod