Laceby, United Kingdom

In April 1268, John de la Linde (or Launde), seneschal of the city of London, bought his father-in-law, Hugh de Neville's debts of £10. 16s. owed to Henry III, and £28 owed a money lender, Manasser of Brodsworth. In return, he received 'the right to the demesnes, homages, services, villeinages, the advowson of the church, the woods, the meadows, the pastures, the mills, the gardens as well as all other things' belonging to Laceby manor.

In the 13th century, John's son, Walter de la Laund (or Launde), Lord of the manor of Laceby, married Cecilia, daughter of Jordan de Essheby (or Ashby). After the death of her brother, Cecilia was the sole heir to her father, and inherited his manor, which became known as Ashby de la Launde.

In 1314/15, Walter divided Laceby manor, and the advowson of the church between his daughters Joan and Cecilia, and their respective husbands, John de Dallyngregge, and Herbert de Flynton. He retained the bailiwick of West Perrot and the manor of Broomfield, Somerset.

In a talk given to a meeting of the Lincoln Diocesan Architectural Society, held at Grimsby in 1859, Edward Trollope, discussed the disagreements between Grimsby and Laceby over the payment of port and road tolls and described Walter as that 'local tyrant', adding "I scarcely dare to mention his name even now," which drew laughter from the audience.

In the 1830s, during a period of low wages, protests against Irish agricultural workers broke out in Lincolnshire. In the Laceby area it was the farmers themselves who were targeted: 'if you do not raise [workers] wages, you must suffer by consequence' read one written warning from the time.

In 1834, the village had two principal residences; Laceby Hall, 'on the lofty summit of a hill', occupied by H. C. Oxendon, and Laceby Manor house, occupied by P. Skipworth.

In 1885 Kelly's Directory describes Laceby as a "well-built village" in the Parliamentary borough of Great Grimsby, with an 1881 population of 1,017. The parish area was 2,063 acres (8.3 km2), in which was grown chiefly wheat, oats, barley and turnips. Commercial occupations included five farmers, three of whom pursued other trades as butcher, cattle dealer, or miller. There were three market gardeners, two butchers, one of whom was a cattle dealer, two shoe makers, two grocer & drapers, two carriers, a blacksmith, wheelwright, saddler, beer retailer, baker, miller, flour dealer, coal dealer, tailor, builder, joiner, carpenter, a machinist & steam thrashing machine proprietor, a publican at the Waterloo Inn public house, and a bailiff to one of the major landowners. The sub-postmaster was also a pharmaceutical chemist and insurance agent. The village contained a post office and Stanford's Charity School.

In 1933 Kelly's noted an increase of parish land to 2,122 acres (9 km2), and a 1921 population of 1,120. Further observations not included in 1885 were a Temperance Hall, built in 1872 for 250 people, and a cemetery of 1+1⁄2 acres (0.01 km2), formed in 1875, in the control of the Parish Council. There was now a Laceby Sanatorium, and a Laceby Reading Club. Buses now linked the village to Grimsby, Caistor, and Scunthorpe. 1933 commercial occupations included four farmers, four market gardeners, a smallholder, two builders, three shopkeepers, a butcher, baker, saddler, blacksmith, beer retailer, boot maker, carrier, a carpenter & joiners, and the publican at the Waterloo Inn. The post master's duel trade, previously a chemist, was now a grocer. Trades existing that did not exist in 1885 were a cycle dealer & agent, a confectioner, hair dresser, fried fish dealer, motor engineer, fruiterer and a seed agent. There was also a dairy, and agricultural engineers.