Threekingham


Threekingham is a village in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 233. It is situated on the A52 Grantham to Boston road, south from Sleaford, and close to the A15 Threekingham Bar roundabout. Mareham Lane, the Roman Road aligned with King Street, crosses the A15 at Threekingham.

History

The name of the town means "home of Tric's people." Tric is a Brittonic personal name, though it is unclear whether Tric himself was a Briton or whether he was descended from Anglo-Saxon migrants but given a name borrowed from Celtic speakers who possibly lived nearby. Either way, Threekingham itself is a Germanic name, given by speakers of Old English.
A folk etymology that developed in the later Anglo-Saxon period derives the name from "home of the three kings," supposedly because three Danish kings were buried there; however, this is incorrect.
Threekingham parish church is dedicated to St. Peter ad Vincula. The village public house is the Three Kings Inn.
The Medieval Stow Fair was held nearby, less than to the south. It is possible that it was the site of the early medieval nunnery founded in the late 7th century by Saint Werburh, dedicated to Saint Æthelthryth, and probably destroyed by the Danes c. 870.
There are ancient earthworks and a mound called Threekingham Beacon to the west of the village. The post-medieval garden features overlie much older earthworks and tumuli. The remains of a moated manor house are in Hall Lane.
There is a marking the entrance to Laundon Hall.