Page:Highways and Byways in Lincolnshire.djvu/442

 the patron saint, over the west window of the tower, much like that at Frieston. On a tombstone in the churchyard is the following:—

Interred here lies Anne the wife Of Bryon Johnson during life The 25th day of November In 68 he lost this member.

He only survived her two months, and the next inscription is:—

Now Bryon is laid down by Anne 'Till God does raise them up again.

This rhyme might do for Norfolk or Devonshire, but is not Lincolnshire.

And now two miles more bring us to Skirbeck on the outskirts of Boston. The only interesting feature of the church here is in the columns of the nave, which have four cylinders round a massive centre pillar, all four quite detached except at the bases and capitals, which last are richly carved. We shall find exactly similar ones at Weston, near Spalding. We now follow the curving line of the Haven with its grassy banks right into Boston. The splendid parish church, the sight of whose tower is a never-failing source of delight and inspiration, stands with its east end in the market-place, and its tall tower close on the bank of the river. It has no transepts as the Great Yarmouth church has, but, apart from its unapproachable steeple, it is longer and higher and greater in cubic contents than any parish church in the kingdom. The tower, 288 feet, is taller than Lincoln tower or Grantham spire, and is only exceeded in height by Louth spire, which is 300 feet. The view of it from across the river is one of the most entirely satisfying sights in the world. The extreme height is so well proportioned, and each stage leads up so beautifully to the next, that one is never tired of gazing on it. Add to this that it is visible to all the dwellers in the Marsh and Fen for twenty miles round and from the distant Wolds, and again far out to sea, and is as familiar to all as their own shadow, and you can guess at the affection which stirs the hearts of all Lincolnshire men when they think or speak of the 'Owd Stump,' a curious title for a beloved object, but so slightly does it decrease in size