St James', Dry Doddington

St Peter's, Claypole

Although the church is now known as St Peter’s, early Church records refer to St Peter’s and St Paul’s and this is the likely original dedication.

There was a church in the village in Saxon times, probably built from wood. In the Domesday Book, there is a reference to a church and one priest. This original church stood for 150 years and then was replaced by a small church, which over two centuries there were three building phases.

In the 13th century, the church comprised of the first tower stages and a small aisle, within the current pillars and as far as the steps to the chancel.

There was a separate Lady Chapel, erected by Thomas de Sacto Laudo, the South Mediety Rector [1234-1316] close by the Church and this was incorporated into the new building. The three sedilia, south wall door and lancet windows, which are dated 1275 are all found in the modified building dated 50 years later.

In the early 14th century, the nave was built adding the aisles and transepts and another level of the tower, which now houses the clock. A larger Chancel, together with a sacristy were built to replace the existing one. A spire was added to the tower, a south porch was added as well as the nave battlements. The church door is from this phase. The original roofline of the chancel is visible on the east end of the nave. The wooden screen and baptismal font date from this phase. There are five bells in the tower.

St Peter's can seat between 150 and 175.

All Saints, Fenton

Our church dates back to the 14th century.

Seating 150 persons, the parish register dates from 1537 and the Bishop's transcripts start in 1544.

The church chancel was rebuilt in 1830 and the building thoroughly restored in 1875.

Fenton Hall (Old Manor Hall) was built in 1507 as the seat of the Lucas family. It partially burnt down around 1771 and its remains converted into a farm house, occupied by the Thurlby family in the late 1800's and by the Codd family in the early 1900's.

St Martin, Stubton

Stubton is a small village and civil parish in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. The village is situated 8 miles (13 km) North of Grantham and 5 miles (8 km) south-east from Newark on Trent, in Nottinghamshire. Adjacent villages include Claypole, Fenton, Beckingham, Dry Doddington, and Brandon.

​Stubton Parish Council was established in the early 1970s, and normally meets 5 or 6 times per annum, with a calendar date set by agreement at the end of the previous meeting.

This small rural village consists of a single settlement which has developed in broadly linear form at the junction of four secondary roads leading from neighbouring villages. In the main, properties are set back from the roads with generous, well-tended grass verges. The village centre, defined by the pleasant open aspect of the crossroads, provides for a small village green, complete with flag pole, original red telephone box, stylish wooden bus shelter, commemorative bench and a planted horse trough. Black metal estate fencing which delineates adjacent property boundaries, contributes to the intimate rural character of the village centre.

The built environment consists of both mixed heritage and more modern properties. A centrally located small Grade II manor house is one example of the former, built from local limestone, with steeply pitched red pantile roof. Located adjacent to Bemrose Croft on the Brandon Road is the former old school house, of single story construction with white painted brick walls and slate pitched roof. This was converted for domestic accommodation some years ago.

​Within the village there are also a number of late 18th and 19th century farm houses and cottages, constructed of red brick with red clay pantile roofs.

The small, neat Grade II listed church of St Martin Stubton is constructed of dressed limestone, with square tower and crocketted pinnacles. Its walled churchyard provides a tranquil green space at the eastern edge of Stubton. Adjacent to the church is the Old Rectory, which, dating back to the 1850’s, is built of brick with stone quoins and a slate roof. The house sits elegantly within its parkland setting with a southerly orientation, taking in the expansive views towards the escarpment at Hough-on-the-Hill.

Stubton has approximately 170 villagers, occupying 77 households. There is a very strong community ethos, and always willing to participate in community activities. A team from the village was responsible for initiating and overseeing the construction of a new Village Hall in 2000, with considerable help from the millennium lottery fund which also made a significant contribution to major repairs to the church tower in 2010. The local community gave generously and helped with local fundraising.

​In 2011 the churchyard was cleared with volunteer help and there is always a good turnout for the frequent litter picks to keep verges and hedgerows clear.

Stubton has won the Lincolnshire Best Kept Village three times, and 2021 being the SKDC Best Kept (small) village.

There are three voluntary organisations operating in the village. These are

\- Stubton Parish Council
\- Stubton Village Hall
\- The Parochial Church Council of St Martin's, Stubton

All Saints, Westborough

Westborough is mentioned in the Domesday Book as already having “a priest there, and a church, and there are 120 acres of meadow”, but it is unknown when the first Saxon church was built on this site. Two small circular openings in the north wall are thought to be remnants of the earlier Saxon church on this site. They can be seen better from the outside of the building.

The church that we see now was built on nearly its present scale in the early 13th century, with a nave of three wide bays with narrow aisles, a long chancel without aisles, and a western tower.

The 13th century octagonal font is beautifully carved with interlaced designs.

In the late 14th or early 15th century, there was further building: transepts were added to the north and south of the nave; the Nave roof raised to provide a clerestory; the small chapel or sacristy was added on the North side of the Chancel, and a Porch built over the South door.

There are interesting old Oak bench ends reset into more modern seating in the Chancel: one showing the Devil licking the backs of those at prayer. The walls have much original plaster, and two painted panels remain: the figures of Time and Death.

It is thought that the brick porch at the North door was added in the 18th century, and the Tower extensively rebuilt.

In 1951 a large restoration project was begun to restore and repair the church.

​The Mediaeval Cross

It is unusual to find a mediaeval cross complete with base, shaft and knop. It is thought that the capstone now lies at the north end of the village. The cross was most likely used for both religious purposes, such as preaching and a central point for processions, and as a secular meeting place for the village people to hear news, proclamations and announcements.