Silk Willoughby is a village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 299.[1] It is situated 2 miles (3 km) south from Sleaford.
There are a number of council and rented properties within the village in addition to owner-occupied housing, both old and new. There are several listed buildings including a Manor House and a former rectory.[2]
The parish of Silk Willoughby comprises approximately 2,500 acres (10 km2) of arable and grazing land. The ecclesiastical parish is part of the benefice of Quarrington and Old Sleaford.[2]
The parish church is dedicated to St Denis. The modern diocesan records use the name "St Denis"' for the church, but the National Monuments Record shows it as "St Denys".[3]St Denis or Denys are alternative spellings for the same person. The nearby church in Sleaford uses the Denys spelling.
Several air accidents have occurred in the parish. On 4 June 1944, a B-24 crashed in a field after being abandoned mid-air[4] and on 7 June 1962, a Hawker Hunter T7 stalled and crashed, killing both crew.[5]
Silk Willoughby won the Best Kept Village award in 2007[2] and 2013.[6]
'Butt Mound' and 'Folk Moot' are names given to two bowl barrows to the west of St Deny's church.[8] Years of agriculture have reduced them somewhat.[citation needed]
The shaft of a medieval wayside cross, dedicated to St Matthew stands on a modern base in what is believed to be the original location, now the corner of School Lane.[9]
The church of St Denis was built in the 12th century in Decorated style, and extended in the 14th in Perpendicular. It was extensively restored in the early 20th century.[10]
