Aswarby

North of Osbournby, the main road curves around the delightful park of Aswarby, where stand fine mature oaks. Once the seat of the Tudor Carres of Sleaford, it later passed to the Whichcote family. The Tudor Mansion was extended by London Architect H. E. Kendall in 1836. Sadly it was pulled down in 1951, but the stables - also by Kendall - remain, and form the house for the present inhabitants who are descendants of the Whichcotes.

As with many place names in Lincolnshire, Aswarby ends in 'by' which means settlement or place-of in old Danish. The whole name could mean "Ausuert's By" the place of Asuert from the Old Danish name of Aswarth. It was recorded in the Domesday book as Asuuardebi.

The small and neat estate village is tucked away from the main road beside the gateway to the park. The estate was laid out in 1845-51 by Sir Thomas Whichcote. The old cottages that had stood on the south side of the church were cleared away at that time. The new cottages, in stone and with slate roofs stand in a line in groups of two or three with generous gardens. A low timber paling fence runs alongside the pavement edge. The cottages are in a Tudor style.

Further down the village street is the agent's house with the estate offices forming a walled courtyard. Beyond, in the open countryside are two red brick model farms in a late Georgian style identical except for their dates: Elms Farm is 1848, and Thorns Farm is 1852. Behind Thorns Farm stands the full range of farm buildings complete with barn, stables, cart shed and enclosed crew yard.
There are lovely views across the park, and one or two interesting features to catch the eye. Near the entrance are fifty-or-so circular brick piers with pyramidal stone copings, standing in pairs in a long line. These formed a rose pergola and would have been built as part of the gardens to the grand house of 1836.
In the middle of the park are a lovely pair of 18th-century gate piers which marked the grand axis of the demolished house. Even more of a strange sight, is the large mound in the Park, close by the main road. Pear-shaped in plan, it is said by some to be an ancient burial mound or barrow but locals report it to be the grave of an elephant which died in a travelling circus in Victorian times!