St Peter
Newton on Trent, Lincolnshire
The church is of Norman origin but has undergone considerable changes to its layout over the years.
On this site Katherine Swynford, mistress of John of Gaunt, lived and worshipped, come and find our about their famous love affair and court scandal at the Katherine exhibition.
Kettlethorpe, Lincolnshire
Most visitors to Kettlethorpe are interested mainly in its associations with Kathryn Swynford, the third wife of John of Gaunt, through whose children the royal houses of Tudor, Stuart and Hanover traces their descent from the Plantagenet kings of England. This interest was stimulated by the publication in 1954 of Anya Seton's very popular novel about her called 'Katherine'. The manor of Kettlethorpe was conveyed to Sir Thomas Swynford in 1356 and on his death, five years later his son Sir Hugh succeeded to the estate. Katherine, who became the wife of Sir Hugh, was daughter of Sir Payne Roelt, a knight in the retinue of Edward III's queen, Philippa of Hainault. Sir Hugh died in 1371 and Katherine became the mistress of John of Gaunt who was then no more than 30 years old. Little is known about Katherine's activities and it is uncertain how many years she spent at Kettlethorpe. Part of her life was spent in Anjou for some, or all of her children were born at Beaufort. There are documents that record that she was engaged in improving the property at Kettlethorpe by the purchase of land and in 1383 Richard II gave her a licence to enclose and mark a park of 300 acres and woods at Kettlethorpe. Eventually after 20 years as mistress, Katherine married John of Gaunt at Lincoln on 13th January 1396. He only lived for another three years however, dying a few months before his son Henry Bolingbroke, succeeded to the throne. Katherine survived him for only four more years, dying on 10th May 1403, having been Lady of Kettlethorpe for over thirty years. She was buried in Lincoln Cathedral, her son Henry Beaufort being at the time the Bishop of Lincoln.
Newton on Trent, Lincolnshire
The church is of Norman origin but has undergone considerable changes to its layout over the years.
Torksey, Lincolnshire
St Peter's dates from the 12th century with later extensions, have an interesting font with a Spode font basin that was installed in 1814 and the front of the altar is formed from the tomb stone of the last abbess of Torksey.
Saxilby, Lincolnshire
The church of St Botolph is of considerable interest since it has indications of building in four different architectural styles over a period of some 900 years.