Honington has a rich and varied history. The obvious sign of previous residents within our local area is Honington Iron Age hill fort (aerial photographs below). However, other signs exist. Recent aerial imagery over the north of the parish enables the Iron Age settlement, a scheduled ancient monument, to be seen within the crop patterns.
Evidence of the boundary ditches can be seen on the right of the image with further ditches visible near the wood on the left. Running through the settlement, the darker green area indicates the former route of Honington Beck before its course was modified in later years to enable more extensive agriculture.
Photograph of a stone tool discovered in a village garden
Even earlier settlement probably existed in the area. A stone tool discovered in a village garden possibly dates from the Bronze Age or earlier. Clearly visible are the marks made when working the implement and damage along the cutting edge indicates that the tool has been used.
Honington Hill Fort is a well-preserved site consisting of 3 banks and 2 ditches. Although known as a fort it is more likely to be a defended settlement. Iron Age finds including spears, bridle-bits and swords have been discovered at the site along with Roman coins indicating later use.
Photographs of Honington Hill Fort taken on 4th November 2006 by Ian Bracegirdle (link will open in a new window).
The following photographs of Honington Hall before its demolition in the 1940's are courtesy of Lost Heritage - England's Lost Country Houses.
Further detail on Honington history and particularly our war memorial can be found here: https://www.loveden.org.uk/villages/honington/ (link will open in a new window).
The following book is a detailed account charting the successes and failures of various inhabitants of Honington parish, as well as showing how the affairs of a small countryside village were often inexplicably linked to the wider social, political and economic forces at work within England.
English History Reflected in a Lincolnshire Village
Dr. Bruce J Holley
Sponsored by RMR software: Distributors of Psion shareware programs
85 pages
210 x 147 mm Paperback
ISBN: 0-9541883-0-6 (2002)
RRP: £6.50 plus £1.00 postage and packing
Copies are available within the village directly from Dr Holley.
Links to organisations concerned with Lincolnshire history:
Lincolnshire Family History Society
Lincolnshire Historic Environment Record: Honington
Lincolnshire History and Heritage