Stow (or, archaically, Stow-in-Lindsey) is a village and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is north-west of Lincoln and south-east of Gainsborough, and lies along the B1241 road. The total resident population was 355 at the 2001 census, increasing to 365 (and including Thorpe in the Fallows) at the 2011 census.
The parish of Stow, which includes other localities such as Coates, is today a mixture of modern brick and older stone-built housing, some of the latter being thatched. The village has a public house, the Cross Keys, a Methodist chapel, and the remains of a large minster church.
There is another Stow in Lincolnshire, the site of a lost village and medieval fair, between Threekingham and Billingborough. The location is now known as Stow Green Hill. There is also Shepeau Stow near Spalding.
History
Stow dates back to Roman times and in the Anglo-Saxon period was known as Sidnaceaster ("ceaster" meant fortification or camp).
Stow means "Holy Place". There is evidence of Roman activity within the village, including the discovery of ancient coins, ruins and foundations from this period.
Around 1640, the rector's son, George Clifford, moved from Stow to Amsterdam. His grandson George Clifford III became the (patron) of Carl von Linné the Swedish botanist.
Governance
Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lincolnshire from a very early time, Stow lay within the Well hundred of the ancient Parts of Lindsey, The building remained in ruins until an abbey was built in 1040, reputedly by Bishop Eadnoth II.