The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

HUSSEY TOWER. 243
1562. Hussey Tower is called "Benyngton" Tower' in 1564, when the Tower
and the pasture under it were rented for 56. per annum. The fore-house, called
~ — i- -- _rrl,, —,~"S -
Hussey Tower.
the Gate-house, was taken down in 1565, — this fronted, we think, on South End,and the remainder of the residence was repaired by the Corporation. In 1656,
a committee was appointed to survey the Tower and adjoining grounds, when it
was found that C" they were much prejudiced by salt water, which had overflowed the same, spoiled the pits, and injured the ground;" many repairs were
stated to be necessary: the yearly value of the whole was 331.; it was then
rented by Joseph Whiting.2 In 1702, the "brew-house" was declared ruinous,
and it and the " mill-house" were directed to be sold and taken down, and a good
and substantial gable ordered to be built at the end of the house left standing.
In 1725, the house and building adjoining Hussey Tower were ordered "to be
sold and removed to the ground;" there was after this nothing attached to or
near the Tower except a stable. The buildings removed sold for 751. HIusSEY
HALL, which stood adjoining the road leading to Skirbeck, almost immediately
at its junction with South End at this time, is represented in the engraving
in the following page.
In 1728, the lead and timber of the Tower were taken for the use of the
Corporation. In 1773, part of the premises was leased to a sail-maker; and, in
1779, a survey was made of the Tower 3 (most probably the old hall), with a
In the rental of the Guild of Corpus Christi acres of pasture, in 1715, the rent being 141. and
(1489), " Richard Benyngton Toure" is mentioned, 7lbs. of brawn per annum. The first year's rent
and stated to be near "vacant ground in Beton was allowed for repairs.
Lane." 3 Lord COLERAINE, in 1730,informed the Gentle2 The Whiting family occupied this property from man's Society at Spalding, of which he was a member,
1627 to 1668, except for a short period, when John that "he had in his possession a gold ring formerly
Tooley rentedthe Tower and part of the land. Mr. enamelled, with the Blessed Virgin and Child, beButler rented it in 1671 for 10, fine, 131. annual tween another holy lady and St. Michael, supposed
rent, and a collar of brawn of 14l1bs. weight. John to have belonged to a nun, and found in the old
Brown, beer-brewer, rented it in 1683; and Mr. brick towerofBoston."' —SadingSociety'sMinutes.
William Hart was tenant of the Tower, and five