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Market Rasen

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Market Rasen, market town and par., Lincolnshire, on river Rasen, 13½ miles NE. of Lincoln and 144 N. of London by rail, 1,220 ac., pop. 2,612; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks, 1 newspaper. Market-day, Tuesday. Market Rasen has a stock market every second Tuesday.
 
From: John BARTHOLOMEW's "Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)"

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Archives & Libraries

  • ,a href="https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/directory-record/63992/market-rasen-library">Market Rasen Library is situated on Mill Road opposite the Community Health Centre. The library has been at this location for 50 years.
     
  • Jonathan THACKER has a photograph of the Market Rasen Library on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2013.
     
  • The Library is normally open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of each week.
     
  • The Library has "Family History Support' on the First Saturday of every month 10.00am-11.00am.
     
  • at last look, the Library offered "Social History Tutorials, on the first Tuesday of every month", to help you find out more about local villages and parishes.
     
  • The library has computers available with an Ancestry account. You can also scan photographs and print out meterial found online.
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Bibliography

Books, photographs and maps of Market Rasen can be found at Francis FIRTH website.

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Cemeteries

  • The Cemetery is on the east side of town on Legsby Road. It was originally 1.5 acres in Feb. 1855, when it was opened, but was expanded in 1908 to two acres. The town council administers the cemetery.
     
  • John FIRTH has a photograph of Market Rasen Cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2011.
     
  • Michael PATTERSON has a photograph of the original cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2006.
     
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Census

  • The parish was in the Market Rasen sub-district of the Caistor Registration District.
     
  • Check our Census Resource page for county-wide resources.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1841H.O. 107 / 642
1851H.O. 107 / 2115
1861R.G. 9 / 2349
1871R.G. 10 / 3423
1891R.G. 12 / 2623 - 2624
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Thomas the Apostle.
     
  • The church nave was rebuilt in 1862.
     
  • The top of the church tower was restored in 1884.
     
  • The church seats 526.
     
  • Here is a photo of St. Thomas's Church, taken by Ron COLE (who retains the copyright):
     
image
  • David BEVIS has a photograph of St. Thomas' tower on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2012.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1561.
     
  • We have a handful of entries in our parish register extract. Your additions to this are welcome.
     
  • The Lincolnshire FHS has published several marriage indexes and a burial index for the Westwold Deanery to make your search easier.
     
  • The Wesleyan Methodist chapel, in Chapel Street, was built in 1862 to replace a smaller chapel built in 1800.
     
  • The Primitive Methodist chapel, in Jameson Bridge Street, was built in 1866.
     
  • The Free (United) Methodist chapel, in Union Street, was built in 1861.
     
  • The Catholic church is dedicated to the Holy Rood and was built in 1824 on King Street, then enlarged in 1869. For information and assistance in researching these chapels, see our non-conformist religions page.
     
  • Colin BABB has a photograph of Holy Rood Catholic Church on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2008.
     
  • Check our Church Records page for county-wide resources.
     
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Civil Registration

  • The parish was in the Market Rasen sub-district of the Caistor Registration District.
     
  • Check our Civil Registration page for sources and background on Civil Registration which began in July, 1837.
     
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Description & Travel

Market Rasen is a both a parish and a village of the same name. It lies 15 miles north-east of Lincoln and 12 miles west of Louth. Linwood parish lies to the south and Middle Rasen parish to the west. The parish only covers about 975 acres.

Market Rasen was described by Charles Dickens as the "sleepiest town in England." If you are planning a visit:

  • Market Rasen lies on the A46 trunk road about midway between Lincoln and Grimsby. The A631 also passes through the heart of the village as it winds between West Rasen and Louth.
     
  • Or try the Market Rasen Mail site.
     
  • Like to watch the horse races? Then check out Market Rasen Racecourse, the only one in Lincolnshire.
     
  • Photograph of Market Rasen can be found at Alamy Stock Photoes.
     
  • Check out our touring page for resources.
     
You can see pictures of Market Rasen which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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History

  • In 1822, we have this report of emigrants from Market Rasen in the Strabane Morning Post (a Portable Document File).
     
  • A railway station opened here in 1848 on the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire branch line.
     
  • The Corn Exchange was designed by Henry GODDARD and was completed in 1854.
     
  • The town had a county police station in 1912, on Dear Street. John RAWDING was the inspector and he had 18 constables.
     
  • Tuesday was the day for the corn market, as well as the cattle market.
     
  • On 27 February 2008 a significant earthquake had its epicentre approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north-west from Market Rasen, near the neighbouring parish of Middle Rasen. The earthquake, which according to the British Geological Survey measured 5.2 on the Richter Scale, struck at a depth of 11.6 miles and was felt across much of the UK from Edinburgh to Plymouth.
  • Bernie TAUPIN, lyricist and long-term collaborator with Elton JOHN spent his teenage years here.
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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference TF108892 (Lat/Lon: 53.387884, -0.336113), Market Rasen which are provided by:

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Medical Records

  • A hospital was founded here in 1612 by George St. POLL of Snarford, for the maintenance of eight indigent men.  The hospital was still in operation in 1912, with five residents, but access to historical medical records is unknown.
     
  • The Market Rasen Dispensary was established here in 1856 to aid the poor.
     
  • The Cottage Hospital was built in Deer Street in 1869, again with a primary focus of the poor. The hospital only had room for six patients.
     
  • In 1882 Mrs. Joan COLES was the matron of the hospital.
     
  • For 1900 through 1913 Mrs. Edna CASSWELL was the matron of the hospital.
     
  • In 1920 the Market Rasen Dispensary had merged with the hospital and the local nursing association. It was now called the Market Rasen Dispensary, Cottage Hospital and District Nursing Association. In 1930, the hospital still held 8 patients who paid a small fee for the weekly room and board.
     
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Military History

  • K Company of the 1st Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers was established in 1860. In 1872, Captain Henry Croft CHAMBERS, commanding; Lieut. Harry BROOKS; Samuel CHAPMAN was the drill instructor and G. ELWICK was the sergeant.
     
  • In 1882, Arthur A. PADLEY was the Captain; Frank B. COUSANS was the 1st. Lieut.; H. P. PADLEY was the 2nd Lieut.; Peter LOGAN was the drill sergeant; and W. COCKING was the quarter-master sergeant.
     
  • In 1885, Captain Frank B. COUSINS, commanding; Edward Wm. BARTON, acting sergeant; Peter LOGAN, drill sergeant.
     
  • Peter LOGAN was born in Ireland circa 1836.
     
  • The Market Rasen War Memorial was unveiled on 18 June 1922 and stands in front of the Methodist Church.
     
  • David HOWARD has a photograph of the War Memorial Cross on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2016.

the inscription on the War Memorial reads

TO THE
GLORY OF GOD
AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS TOWN,
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR,
1914 - 1918,
FOR THE CAUSE OF
FREEDOM, HONOUR, AND JUSTICE,
THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED.
"AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, AND
IN THE MORNING, WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM"

 

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Military Records

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Names, Geographical

  • The place-name 'Market Rasen' is first attested in the 1086 Domesday Book.
     
  • The town and parish are named after the River Rase, which runs through it.
     
  • The second half of the name is pronouned RAY-sen, like raison
     
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Names, Personal

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Newspapers

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Politics & Government

  • The parish was in the south division of the ancient Walshcroft Wapentake in the West Lindsey district in the parts of Lindsey.
     
  • In 1894, the town established itself under an Urban District Council of 12 members.
     
  • Kelly's 1913 Directory of Lincolnshire places the parish in the East Lindsey district of the county.
     
  • You may also contact the Market Rasen Town Council, but they are NOT staffed to assist with family history questions.
     
  • Today's district governance is provided by the West Lindsey District Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard on the 1st Tuesday each month at the Market Rasen petty session hearings in the police station.
     
  • In 1612, St Poll Hospital was founded by Sir George St Poll (also given as St. PAUL). These almshouses are still operating.
     
  • Richard CROFT has a photograph of St. Poll Hospital on Geo-graph, taken in November, 2008.
     
  • The Common Lands were enclosed here in 1779.
     
  • As a result of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, this parish became part of the Caistor Poor Law Union.
     
  • The Catholic Church erected almshouses in 1845. The three inmates lived free of rent and received £20 each year.
     
  • Richard CROFT has a photograph of Young's Almshouses from 1845 on Geo-graph, taken in January, 2009.
     
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Population

 YearInhabitants
1801774
18211,166
18311,428
18412,022
18712,815
18912,497
19112,296
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Schools

  • The Willingham road (boys) school was built in 1822 to hold 150 children. The girls' school was built in 1870 and an Infants' school in 1868.
     
  • The Catholic school on King street was closed in 1909.
     
  • The Wesleyan Methodists built a school here in 1873 to hold 240 children.
     
  • Market Rasen's De Aston School (founded 1863) has a website at De Aston School, with history. It was erected in 1862 on Willingham road as "the De Aston Grammar School." In 1904 new classrooms were added.
     
  • Market Rasen's secondary school is De Aston School, a co-educational 11-18 former comprehensive school now an academy member with approximately 1,300 pupils
     
  • Chris has a photograph of De Aston School on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2013.
     
  • Rod TEMPERTON, hit songwriter for Michael Jackson who was born in Cleethorpes was at school here.
     
  • See our Schools page for more information on researching school records.