OS grid reference SK913453 Country England Post town GRANTHAM Shire county Lincolnshire Dialling code 01400 | Region East Midlands Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district NG32 District South Kesteven Civil parish Hough-on-the-Hill | |
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UK parliament constituency Sleaford and North Hykeham | ||
Gelston is a village in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) west from the A607 road, 5 miles (8 km) north from Grantham, and in the civil parish of Hough-on-the-Hill, a village 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north-east. The population is included in the civil parish of Brant Broughton and Stragglethorpe.
Contents
Map of Gelston, Grantham, UK
The village is included in the ecclesiastical parish of Hough-on-the Hill, part of the Loveden Deanery of the Diocese of Lincoln.
History
According to A Dictionary of British Place Names, Gelston could be "a farmstead or a village of a man called Gjofull" – 'Gels' from an Old Scandinavian person name and 'ton' Old English for "enclosure, farmstead, village, manor [or] estate".
Gelston is referred to in the 1086 Domesday account as "Chevelestune" in the manor of Hough-on-the-Hill, and in the Loveden Hundred of Kesteven. It had 26 households, 18 villagers, 6 smallholders and 2 freemen, with 16 ploughlands, a meadow of 146 acres (0.6 km2) and a woodland of 200 acres (0.8 km2). In 1066 Earl Ralph was Lord of the Manor; after 1086 this transferred to Count Alan of Brittany, who also became Tenant-in-chief.
In 1885 Kelly's Directory noted: "at Gelston there is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists; and an ancient cross". The Wesleyan chapel was built in 1839, closed in 1958, and is now a private residence. The medieval limestone cross dates from the 15th century, is Grade II listed and a scheduled ancient monument.