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Belton, a large village,2 miles N. of Epworth, has in its parish 1642 souls and about 8000 acres of land, including Carhouse, Mosswood, Woodhouse, and Westgate, 1 mile W. and N.W.; Beltoft, 1.5 mile E.; and Sandtoft, 3 miles W.N.W. of the village; also Temple Belwood, the elegant mansion of R.P. Johnson, Esq.,embosomed in an extensive grove, 3 miles N. of Epworth; and Hurst Priory, the handsome seat of Cornelius Hartshorn Stovin, Esq., pleasantly seated near the New Torne river or drain, 2 miles S. of Crowle. A fair is held at Belton, on September 25th, chiefly for the sale of line or flax, which is extensively grown in the neighourhood. Thos. Lightfoot Esq., is lessee of the manor, under the Crown, but the soil belongs to many freeholders and copyholders, the largest of whom are R.P. Johnson, Esq., (owner of about one third of the parish;) the Corporation of Lincoln, owners of the rectorial land and tithes, (worth £1500 per annum;) C. H. Stovin Esq., Earl Manvers and the Dent, Tomline, Ingilby, Tyas, Belwood, Skipworth, and other families. There lies near the surface, in this parish and neighbourhood, a stratum of excellent gypsum; and a quarry has lately been opened, on an estate belonging to the Reverend Thos. Skipworth, who has erected a steam engine, and other machinery, by which it is manufactured into plaster for floors and ceilings &c., and into lime for manure; to all of which purposes it is admirably adapted: indeed, as a fertiliser of the soil, it is highly beneficial; and one ton, which may be had for £1. 15s., delivered on the Trent, is a sufficient top-dressing for four or five acres.
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