Willoughton

Willoughton is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) west from the A15 road, 13 miles (21 km) north from Lincoln and 3 miles (5 km) south from Kirton Lindsey. According to the 2001 census the village had a population of 330, increasing to 341 at the 2011 census.^[1]

Willoughton
St Andrew's Church, Willoughton
Willoughton Location within Lincolnshire
Population	341 (2011)
OS grid reference	SK930931
• London	140 mi (230 km) SSE
District	West Lindsey
Shire county	Lincolnshire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Gainsborough
Postcode district	DN21
Police	Lincolnshire
Fire	Lincolnshire
Ambulance	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency)
List of places UK England Lincolnshire 53.426926°N 0.601379°W / 53.426926; -0.601379

The name 'Willoughton' derives from the Old English wilig-tūn meaning 'willow tree farm/settlement'.^[2]

Old Primitive Methodist Chapel

The church of St Andrew was built in 1794 to replace earlier buildings on the site, and was restored in 1888. It is of Georgian style.^[3] There was a Primitive Methodist chapel,^[4] built in 1866, replacing an earlier chapel of 1837. It closed in 1979 and has since been converted into apartments.^{[citation needed]}

Willoughton has a post office and village shop, a primary school, village hall and a public house, the Stirrup.

The folklorist, historian and archaeologist Ethel Rudkin lived in the village for much of her life.^[5]

Lincolnshire preceptories

Until their disbandment in 1312, the Knights Templar were major landowners on the higher lands of Lincolnshire, where they had a number of preceptories on property which provided income, while Temple Bruer was an estate on the Lincoln Heath, believed to have been used also for military training.^[6] The preceptories from which the Lincolnshire properties were managed were:^[7]

• Aslackby Preceptory, Kesteven (TF0830)
• Bottesford, Lindsey (SE8907)
• Eagle, Kesteven (SK875672)
• Great Limber, Lindsey (TA1308)
• Horkstow, Lindsey (SE9818)
• Witham Preceptory, Kesteven (SK928205)
• Temple Bruer, Kesteven (TF0054)
• Willoughton Preceptory, Lindsey (SK923931)
• Byard's Leap (SK990494) was part of the Temple Bruer estate.