| Dowsby | |
|---|---|
 Church of St Andrew, Dowsby | |
  Dowsby Location withinLincolnshire | |
| Population | 204 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TF113294 |
| • London | 90 mi (140 km) S |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bourne |
| Postcode district | PE10 |
| Police | Lincolnshire |
| Fire | Lincolnshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Dowsby is a village andcivil parish in theSouth Kesteven district ofLincolnshire, England. It is situated on the western edge ofThe Fens at the junction of the east–westB1397 road and the north–southB1177. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east fromRippingale and just south ofPointon. The civil parish includes the hamlet ofGraby. Nearby to the east, along the B1397 at Dowsby Fen, isCar Dyke.[1] The civil parish population taken at the 2011 census was 204.[2]
The name Dowsby is from theOld Scandinavian 'Dusi+by', for "farmstead of Dusi", appearing in theDomesday Book as "Dusebi".[3]
Hoe Hills (52°51′32″N0°20′37″W / 52.85889°N 0.34361°W /52.85889; -0.34361 (Hoe Hills)) was a group ofround barrows dating back to theBronze Age where Roman and Medieval finds have been made.[4][5]
St Andrew's Church, originating from the 12th century,[6] was mostly rebuilt and enlarged in 1864, althoughNorman fragments remain as part of the fabric. A recumbenteffigy of Etheldreda Rigdon, and sixbrasses to the Burrell family from 1682 lie in thevestry. Built into the outer wall of the southaisle are parts of aSaxon cross.[7][8]
On the edge of the fen was adecoy used to trap ducks commercially in the 19th century. These would almost certainly have been shipped for sale byrailway, probably fromRippingale railway station which was approximately a mile from the decoy.[original research?]
DowsbyGrade II* listedAnglican parish church is dedicated toSt Andrew.[6] Theecclesiastical parish is part of the Billingborough Group of theLafford Deanery,Diocese of Lincoln. The 2013 incumbent is the Rev. Anna Sorensen.[9]
Dowsby Fen falls within the drainage area of the Black SluiceInternal Drainage Board.[10]
Most employment in the parish is agricultural.The former rectory is now a care home for the elderly, providing some employment.The nearest shops are inBillingborough, 3 miles (5 km) to the north, the nearestpublic house in Aslackby, 2 miles (3 km) to the west.The bus service 401 operates toBourne on Thursdays, provided by Delaine buses.
52°51′13″N0°21′59″W / 52.85361°N 0.36639°W /52.85361; -0.36639 (Graby)
Thehamlet of Graby is situated 1 mile to the west of Dowsby, and on the line ofMareham LaneRoman Road. Graby incorporates the site of adeserted medieval village, withcropmark andearthwork evidence ofsunken lanes,crofts, ponds andridge and furrow field systems.[11]
Media related toDowsby at Wikimedia Commons Media related toGraby at Wikimedia Commons
