Freiston


Freiston is a village and civil parish in Lincolnshire, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 1,306. It is situated approximately east from Boston. The Greenwich Prime Zero meridian line passes between the village and Hobhole Drain.

History

In 1114 Freiston Priory of St James was founded by Alan de Creon for Benedictine monks - it became a monastic cell of Crowland Abbey in 1130. Nothing remains of the priory buildings that stood on the south side of the present church, except for a Norman doorway in the south aisle that opened into the cloisters.
Until 1974 the parish formed part of Boston Rural District, in the Parts of Holland. Holland was one of the three divisions of the traditional county of Lincolnshire. Since the Local Government Act of 1888, Holland had been in most respects, a county in itself. Before this, Freiston had been in Skirbeck Wapentake, Parts of Holland.

Community

Freiston is one of 18 civil parishes which, together with Boston, form the Borough of Boston local government arrangement, in place since a reorganisation of 1 April 1974 which resulted from the Local Government Act 1972. The parish forms part of the Coastal electoral ward.
The settlements of Haltoft End, north-north-west, and Scrane End, south from Freiston, lie within the parish On its eastern side, Freiston parish adjoins The Wash.
Freiston is the location of HMP North Sea Camp, a men's open prison.
Freiston Grade I listed Anglican parish church is dedicated to St James. The church was originally cruciform with a central tower. The existing tower is of Perpendicular style, and the parts of the nave are Early English. The roof and chancel were restored in 1763, and the whole building in 1871. An earlier rood screen was sold to the church at Fishtoft.