Description

Belleau, a village and a parish in Lincolnshire. The village stands 1 mile W from Aby station on the G.N.R., and 4 1/2 miles NW by N of Alford. The parish includes also the township and chapelry of Claythorpe; and its post town is Alford, which is the money order office; telegraph office, Aby railway station. Acreage, 704; population of the civil parish, 74; of the ecclesiastical, with Claythorpe and Aby, 470.

The name Belleau is derived from some fine springs of water arising from chalk rocks. Ruins exist of a large mansion, formerly a seat of the Lords Willoughby de Eresby, and afterwards of the Earls of Lindsay. The lands were given in the time of Cromwell to Sir Henry Vane. The living is a rectory, united with Aby and Claythorpe, in the diocese of Lincoln; joint gross yearly value, £320 with residence. Patron, the Earl of Ancaster. The church is an ancient edifice, with a small tower; contains a fine effigy of a crusader, and was very thoroughly restored in 1862.