Holywell Hall, Lincolnshire

[1] The house is in the civil parish of Careby Aunby and Holywell in the district of South Kesteven, south-west Lincolnshire, in England.

Records show that there has been a manor at Holywell since the 12th century or earlier and a well is still present beneath an old yew tree near the lake.

[2] In 1575 Holywell was purchased by Robert Goodhall and later his family built a large L-shaped house of which the core and a gable end remain.

In 1732 at the time of his marriage to Sarah Knipe (1706-1763) he made substantial alterations and additions to Holywell Hall.

[7] The couple had no sons so their eldest daughter Etheldred Ann Reynardson inherited the property when Jacob died in 1811.

She married in 1806 General Thomas Birch who took the additional name of Reynardson when the couple became the owners of Hollywell Hall.

[8] He was fond of reading books and was interested in poetry and on one occasion in 1820 invited the famous poet John Clare to Holywell Hall.

[11] Charles had a strong interest in driving coaches and he wrote a book called “Down the Road: Reminiscences of a Gentleman Coachman”.

When the couple became the owners of the property they changed their name to Acland Hood Reynaldson in accordance with the terms of the inheritance.