This stop valve cover was noted in the footway just south-west of the church.

CRDC is the abbreviation of Caistor Rural District Council which was formed in 1894, and abolished in 1974 with the creation of West Lindsey District Council.

Jean Howard, August 2023

On the A46 between Caistor and Grimsby, St Nicholas's church in Cabourne has a Norman tower, western doorway and font.

There is a surviving Early English lancet window in the chancel though most of the windows date to a Victorian restoration.

Mark Acton, 2008

The church was restored by A W Blomfield in 1872.

Peter Kirk Collection, 1997

A view of the church from the north.

The church is listed Grade II* see https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359766?section=official-list-entry

This view of the church exterior reveals the blocked narrow eleventh century north door.

It also shows the roofs of nave and chancel in flat red tile, the string course below the upper stage of the tower and the corbel table below the tower pyramidal roof.

Jean Howard, August 2023

A view of the church from the northeast.

Although the east window of three lancets is obscured by young trees, this aspect highlights the twin openings and huge central baluster in the tower window at belfry level.

The bell stage dates from the 1872 restoration by A W Blomfield.*

Jean Howard, August 2023

* Sir Arthur William Blomfield (1829-1899) was an eminent architect in the late Victorian period. His other work in Lincolnshire includes St Peter in Eastgate and the Bishop Grosseteste University chapel - both in Lincoln. Sir Reginald Blomfield was his nephew. 

Viewed from the south.

To the east of the porch the windows are of Early English style lancets, pairs beneath an overarching hood mould.

The building material is local ironstone with limestone ashlar dressings.

Both the eastern gable and the gable above the chancel arch are topped with stone crosses.

Jean Howard, August 2023

A view of the church from the south-east.

Jean Howard, August 2023

Quickfall Gladwin headstone.

Jean Howard 26 August 2023

The original doorway in the west wall of the tower has chamfered imposts and a simple hoodmould.

Jews' Court collection, 1977

Cabourne St Nicholas W door

The west doorway has round headed arch with voussoirs and plain tympanum within an arched moulding, and large impost blocks. 

Jean Howard, August 2023

A rare example of a surviving, though blocked, low-side window.

These windows are always just to the east of the chancel arch, low in the wall, were originally fitted with wooden shutters and mostly on the south side of the chancel.

Though there have been a number of explanations for the use of such windows, that of being for the giving of communion to lepers is now discredited.

Opinion is divided between their being for ringing a hand-held Sanctus bell or for opening to disperse the smoke of incense.

Jean Howard, August 2023

This window, to the west of the south porch, is the only example from the fifteenth century at St Nicoholas's.

Jean Howard, August 2023

The porch dates wholly from the nineteenth-century restoration.

Jean Howard, August 2023

The tower of St Nicholas's dates from the eleventh century (with typical twin bell openings) but has been extensively rebuilt and restored over the years.

Jews' Court collection, 1977

This view shows the narrow keyhole window in the west face of the tower. Up to the level of the string course the tower masonry dates from the eleventh century.

Jean Howard 26 August 2023

This view underlines the steepness of the tower roof, shows the lead apex and the cockerel weather-vane.

Jean Howard, August 2023

The belfry openings are so appropriate for an early tower and similar to those at nearby Rothwell, but are absent from the 1796 drawing by C. Nattes.

They clearly date from the late nineteenth-century restoration. 

Jean Howard, August 2023