Grasby: Walking and History on the Edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds

The parish of Grasby lies on the north-eastern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The present-day village sits on the south-facing escarpment of the Wolds. Its landscape and building history offer different ways to understand the place.

Landscape and traces of earlier routes

A route believed with high probability to be prehistoric connected settlements along the chalk escarpment. Between Caistor and Bigby, its course is now followed by the A1084. Within the parish, medieval field remains survive at three locations in the form of ridge-and-furrow earthworks. These traces complement the surviving buildings with evidence of earlier land use.

Churches and historic buildings

The Church of All Saints retains parts dating from the 13th century and was largely rebuilt by J. Hakewill in 1850 and 1869. The south doorway features a reused Early Gothic arch with dogtooth ornament dating from the early 13th century. Here, a surviving medieval feature meets the extensive 19th-century redesign.

The former vicarages also have different building histories. The Grange is a Grade II listed 19th-century building that was formerly a vicarage. The Old Vicarage and The Old Vicarage Cottage are two Grade II listed buildings that originally formed a single vicarage. They date from the 17th and late 18th centuries and were altered in the 19th and 20th centuries.

A medieval point of reference is the transfer of 1142: Grasby, together with other lands including Audelby, was transferred to Thornton Priory. In the separate, nearby settlement of Clixby stands All Hallows Church, a 13th-century parish church that now belongs to the parish of Grasby. Only the chancel survives from its original fabric. The churchyard west of the church also contains the remains of a cross.

Walking the Viking Way

The Viking Way provides a practical reference for planning a walk. The section between Barnetby le Wold and Caistor is an 8-mile linear route and takes about four hours. From Caistor, a section of the trail can be walked north to Grasby and Bigby. This gives you both an approximate time for the route between Barnetby le Wold and Caistor and a direction of travel focused on Grasby and Bigby. Check current route details before setting out.

Refreshments and views

The Cross Keys Inn serves food made with high-quality local ingredients. From the inn, views extend across the Wolds; on clear days, Lincoln Cathedral can be seen on the horizon. Details of what the establishment offers may change. If you are planning a visit, check the latest information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Dunholme, Coningsby, Lissington, Sutton Bridge, South Hykeham, Somersby, Eastoft, Saxilby

For the broader travel overview: Lincolnshire.