Holme Spinney was situated about one mile east of the Barnby Church in the parish of Sutton. It was held at Domesday by Gilbert de Gant, and passed through several de Gants until Simon St Liz married Alice de Gant. Simon St Liz gave it to Elyas Foliat who built a wooden Motte and Bailie in about 1155, later replacing it with a stone building in 1166. The ownership was given to Roger, son of Rienfred, but it was disputed over several generations. Marjorie Foliat had married Wischard Ledet who was one of the Barons that opposed King John. Their daughter, Christiana, finally made a successful appeal and it was agreed to settle the appeal by trial of champions in 1225. William son of Roger of Rienfred represented his father and Gaufried Le Cruir was the other champion. It was settled in Christiana’s favour, her grand daughters being the last to live at Holme in 1396.
From the mid 13th century, during the reign of King Henry III, there is an increase in the number of preserved records for Newark and the surrounding area and they provide details of who was living in the local area, including Barnby, as seen in the following deeds:
John, son of Richard de Dornetorp, dwelling in Barneby, grants to Robert Fulloner, of Newerk, and Matilda his wife, the moiety (a half ) of a toft in Barnebygate, which Henry Chaplain, of Sybtorp, sold him, lying on N. side of Barnebigate, namely, that moiety next the messuage (a dwelling house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use) of Richard Novnus, pistor (baker), towards the W. abutting on the house of the Bishop in which is the oven and on the highway, to hold of the Bishop of Lincoln to whom 18d. rent. For this he receives of the said Robert and Matilda, four marcs and 3/8. Witnesses, Robert Payn, Isaya Payn, Ivo Durant, Hugh de Brampton, Hugh de Hampton, Walter Marscall, Walter de Hampton, Thomas de Spaldeford, William Wace.
In 1272 the village was noted as Barneby Juxta Neuwerk. The Church appears in Archbishop Romeyne’s register, ‘for in 1287 Romeyne gave receipt to the Dean of Bingham for £10, received by the hands of Laurence de Nottingham, Clerk, from the fruits of the Church of Barnebi’. The register also tells of the great legal tussle between Andrew de Neville and John de Dyve starting in 1287 over the right of advowson (the right of making the appointment of clergy for a vacant position). The dispute was decided in the de Neville family’s favour by 1303 and Andrew’s successor, Jollanus de Neville, was the likely builder of the Church that stands today and he presented the living to Henry de Sutton in 1310. It is thought that the current Church was built on the site of an earlier church, mentioned in the Domesday book. The de Neville’s were descendants of barons who had come over with William the Conqueror from Normandy. Various Nevilles have been mentioned in the area since this time and the family are still landowners in the area; however, a family connection from this period has not been proven.
Last updated: 10 November 2000