High Toynton
Lincolnshire

This small secluded village is one and a half miles east of Horncastle on the A158 road to Skegness. Most of it lies in Church Lane on the south side of the road.

The old 13th century church was rebuilt in 1872 and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It stands on a mound on the corner of the lane but is  difficult to spot because of trees and high hedges.

A brass lectern in the church records the names of fourteen men who went to the Great War and all returned, three having been wounded.

WITH THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD
FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL SOLDIERS FROM HIGH TOYNTON
WHO TOOK PART IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919

Sgt.

 W. S. MAXWELL  

Pte.

S. HODSON

"

 F. BLANCHARD  

"

F. MARSHALL

"

 W. RICHARDSON *  

"

H PARISH

L. Cpl.

 R. BLADES  

"

C. WILLIAMSON

Spr.

G. H. BOUCHER

  

"

B. STAPLES

Pte.

 J. BAKER  

Rfm.

E. W. STAPLES *

"

 A. H. BLADES *  

"

 W. W. BLADES   * WOUNDED

THIS DESK IS AN OFFERING FROM THE PARISHIONERS
AUGUST 1919.

      

There are also two lists in Old English script in glazed frames hanging  opposite the main entrance. One titled “Duty’s Call” is difficult to read, (or photograph) because the script ink colours have faded badly.  It lists six men who joined the Colours in the Great War in answer to their Country’s call.

Duty’s Call

The following is a list of High Toynton persons who have joined the Colours in answer to their Country’s call

With the Territorials who have volunteered for Foreign Service
Lance Corp’l F. Blanchard. 2189.

With the R.F.A.
Gunner B Staples. 165749. 55th Battery.

With the Coldstream Guards
Private W. Richardson. 11018.

With the Army Service Corps
Private E. Staples.

With the Royal Engineers
Lance Corp’l W. S. Maxwell 94E14      Sapper G. H. Boucher. 155118

The other list is of five High Toynton persons who served in WW2 and all returned safely. The Old English script of this one is more readable, but not easy to photograph in poor available light.

It is easy to agree with the closing sentence in this village’s entry in the Lincolnshire volume of  The Kings England series edited by Arthur Mee, “High Toynton has good reason to call itself a Thankful Village”.

With thanks to Terry Munson for text and photographs.

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