 A rather forgotten village, Aunsby is reached by a narrow lane off the main A15 road, which bends its way across the open fields. On the north side of this lane, the two houses that form the hamlet of Crofton, can be seen. The settlement itself is surrounded by trees, through which the spire of the village church peeps.
It has an informal layout, very rural in character with broad unkerbed grass verges, hedges and mature trees. At the centre of the village is a triangular area that the narrow road loops round. On this is set one modern house, with the village pond, the churchyard with its low stone wall surrounding it, and a long narrow green at the west end.
Beside the churchyard, to the north, stands a disused farm yard; simple structures in limestone with pantile roofs.
In this village are a number of modern houses in red brick. At the east end of the village they are in pairs and there are also two short terraces. One terrace is dated 1845, but much altered. Toward the centre and west end the buildings are very spaciously set with tall hedges and plants surrounding them. An old red telephone box, unnoticed yet by BT, stands on a broad verge.
The old Rectory stands at the west end, suitably distant from the church. Built in typical mid-Victorian rock faced ashlar with Welsh slate roof, it has beside the road, the old coach house and stables now somewhat neglected. Aunsby is too small today to have its own rector. The present Rector lives at Folkingham and the rectory is now in private ownership. Even in 1851, the Rector - Octavius Luard, lived at Blyborough, and the Rector of Sleaford officiated for him.
Like the neighbouring villages, Aunsby too is part of the Whichcote estate of Aswarby Park. It also has a name of Danish origin, called Ounesbi in the Doomsday Book meaning "Ouden's"by/place. There is evidence in a number of fields where there are very undulating surfaces that Aunsby may once have been a larger settlement. |
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