Minutes of East Stockwith Council
Lincolnshire Homeopathy
Aegir prediction for East Stockwith
Our village is located about three miles north of Gainsborough, and is on the bank of the River Trent. The land is flat and about 3 metres above sea level, so would have flooded regularly, before the flood walls were built. The River Trent here is tidal, but too far up-river for sea water to reach; the tide reverses the direction of the river for about 2 1/2 hours twice a day.
There has been a settlement here for over 2000 years; the original people belonged to the Gain tribe. Because it is flood land, the soil is very heavy, and would be difficult to work without machinery. The river would have been exploited for eels, fish and wild fowl. The boats would be able to reach the sea, about 20 miles away, for additional fishing.
The name of the village comes from Danish "stocc hyp", meaning a landing place made from stocks of wood.
A major event here was the invasion by King Sweyne of Denmark in 1013. A fort was set up just inland. King Sweyne was murdered during a night of revelry in Gainsborough, and was succeeded by his son King Canute.
A church was first established here in 1292 when William de Stockworth was allowed to build a place of worship. This being because of the distance and difficulty in travelling to the mother Church in Gainsborough.
The ferry was an important feature of the village. The first written record of the area, in 1226, mention the ferry. The ferry opened trade routes to the west. Sadly the ferry is no more.
