Willingham by Stow, which was mentioned in the Domesday book, is six miles south of Gainsborough and twelve miles north of Lincoln. It has always been a mainly arable farming community with twenty farmers working the land in the late 19th century compared with just a handful now. St.Helen's church dates from the 11th century with registers that document events as far back as 1562 . The Methodist Chapel on High Street (No longer a place of worship) was built in 1885. There have been many business's in the village over the years but now there are two pubs, The Half Moon and The Fox and Hounds, plus the Howson Care Centre which is situated on Marton Lane. Lord Hawke was born in Willingham Rectory (1860)