Snelland

{{Short description|Village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}

{{Infobox UK place

| static_image_name= All Saints' church, Snelland - geograph.org.uk - 186648.jpg

| static_image_alt=

| static_image_caption= All Saints' Church, Snelland

| country = England

| official_name= Snelland

| map_alt=

| coordinates = {{coord|53.311063|-0.384163|display=inline,title}}

| population= 91

| population_ref= (2001)

| shire_district= West Lindsey

| shire_county = Lincolnshire

| region= East Midlands

| constituency_westminster= Gainsborough

| post_town= Lincoln

| postcode_district = LN3

| postcode_area= LN

| dial_code=

| os_grid_reference= TF077805

| london_distance_mi= 130

| london_direction= S

}}

Snelland is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated approximately {{convert|9|mi|km|0}} north-east from the city and county town of Lincoln and about {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} from the town of Market Rasen. The civil parish includes the hamlet of Swinthorpe. The population at the 2011 census was included in the civil parish of Friesthorpe.

Snelland is listed in Domesday Book of 1086 as "Sneleslunt", with seven households.{{Cite web |title=Snelland {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TF0780/snelland/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=opendomesday.org}} The nearby deserted medieval village of Swinthorpe is listed as "Sonetorp", with three households.{{cite web |title=Swinthorpe |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TF0581/swinthorpe/ |accessdate=13 April 2013 |work=opendomesday.org |publisher=Anna Powell-Smith/University of Hull}} There is evidence that a Cistercian grange existed at Swinthorpe, attached to Kirkstead Abbey.{{PastScape|mname=Swinthorpe DMV|mnumber=892404|accessdate=20 July 2011}}

The parish church is a Grade II listed building built of limestone{{Cite web |last=Stuff |first=Good |title=Church of All Saints, Snelland, Lincolnshire |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101166277-church-of-all-saints-snelland |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}} and dedicated to All Saints. It dates from the 12th century when the original church was constructed. However, it was likely reconstructed in the 15th century{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=All Saints Church, Snelland |url=https://www.wragbygroupofparishes.org.uk/snellan1/page1/ |access-date=5 October 2023 |website=Wragby Group of Parishes}} and then it was restored and largely rebuilt in 1863 by Edward Browning of Stamford.{{NHLE|desc=All Saints, Snelland|num=1166277|accessdate=20 July 2011}} It was rebuilt in the early Decorated style. It has a bell gable which contains two bells.{{Cite book |title=The Lincolnshire Village Book |publisher=Countryside Books, Newbury & the LNFWI, Louth and the LSFWI, Sleaford |year=1990 |isbn=1 85306 077 1 |edition=Reprint 1994 |location=Newbury, Berkshire |pages=140–141 |language=English}} However, some of the original building remains with the south wall being the earliest part of the present building. Two windows on the south of the nave are in the late Decorated style of about 1440. Two further windows, of the same period were moved from their original positions during the later rebuilding of 1863. The first window is now the north-east window of the aisle. The second is a smaller window which is now in the Vestry and has been cut from a single stone. The Lincolnshire Architectural Society believes that this would have originally been positioned low as a side window in the chancel and would have served as a "leper's window". Aside from the windows, some medieval heads also remain from the earlier church.{{Cite web |title=Snelland All Saints |url=https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/all-saints-snelland |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=National Churches Trust |language=en}}

The rectory - which is next to the church - was built in 1862 and is now a private residence.

Snelland railway station opened in the village in 1848, and closed in 1965. It is built of Ancaster stone. The station is now a private residence.{{PastScape|mname=Snelland railway station|mnumber=507077|accessdate=20 July 2011}}

Prior to 1920, much of the farm land in Snelland and associated buildings were owned by the Porcelli-Cust family. The estate was auctioned in August 1920 {{Cite news |date=25 August 1920 |title=The Cust Estates |pages=5 |work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph}} after the death of Alice Marian Porcelli-Cust,{{Cite web |title=CUST Alice Marion Porcelli |url=https://www.friendsofnorthwoodcemetery.org.uk/burial-record/cust-alice-marion-porcelli/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Friends of Northwood Cemetery}} the widow of Lt.-Col. Allan Roger Charles Porcelli-Cust.{{Cite web |title=Burial Record for Allen Roger Charles Porcelli CUST |url=https://www.friendsofnorthwoodcemetery.org.uk/burial-record/cust-allen-roger-charles/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=www.friendsofnorthwoodcemetery}} The Cust family had hitherto been very active in Snelland and was responsible for some of the building, including the church.