LANGTON-BY-SPILSBY, a parish, with a village, in Spilsby district, Lincoln; on a branch of the river Steeping, 3 miles N of Spilsby, and 5 W by S of Willoughby r. station. Post-town, Spilsby. Acres, 1,590. Real property, £2,117. Pop., 188. Houses, 33. The property has belonged, for eight centuries, to the family of Langton. The family mansion, Langton Hall, was burned in the time of Henry VI., and has been thrice rebuilt,—the last time in 1866. Cardinal Langton, of the time of King John, Dr. W. Langton, of the time of James I., and Bennet Langton, the friend of Dr. Johnson, were born here. Three barrows, called Spellow hills, are near the village. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lincoln. Value, £340.* Patron, B. Langton, Esq. The church is modern, in the Grecian style; and has an octagonal tower. There are a parochial school, and some charities.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))