Yesterday's meeting went really well. The Lincolnshire Dripping Cake was sampled and declared a great success, then seconds were eaten. The shortbread was a partial success. The books all stimulated a lot of discussion.
However, it was one very plain brownish/orangey coloured book, a very slim volume, which held the biggest surprise.
It was written/compiled by a friend's aunt. To be more accurate, I should say the author is really the aunt of her husband, but the short version is my lazy way of explaining it.
The subtitle of the book is "A Book of Parsonage Recipes" - quite appropriate for this blog. I enjoy using it and so does one of the older members of the group, who always makes her Christmas puddings from a recipe in the book. She has two copies, both bought by her mother, back in 1961, when the book was published. Her mother gave her one copy, then the other one eventually came to her as well.
It transpires that the writer is still alive and well. Her husband was a vicar in a village not too far away. She is in her 90's now and still doing pretty well. She has recently completed some raised embroidery work, which I hope to see at some time - by photograph.
It is of a Green Man (a face surrounded by leaves and branches) who used to grace the gatehouse of an old manor house in the next village from here. Since 1904 it has been kept safe, mounted in the wall of a stable block on a farm.
My friend will pass on our appreciation of the book next time she visits.
At the meeting I was also given a badly damaged letter, dated 1837, which had spent many years sitting in the attic of a large house in our village. The ink is faded, the writing is difficult, but from what I have managed to glean so far it is a fairly long poem about Crusaders, specially written to show that more respect should be shown to a 12th century effigy of a crusader who reclines in slumber in a quiet corner of a local church.
The church was rebuilt in about 1862, so I hope that he is now more comfortable than he was at the time the letter was written.
More about that as I manage to decipher the writing.
Glad the talk went well, gives you a good feeling after. Not sure what happens to bequest money now, it is still collected from what I am told but as to were it goes I cannot tell you. Have a look in your local church you might find one there
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bill! I want to pop along there tomorrow to photograph the crusader so I'll take a look around and see if I can find anything.
DeleteWonderful! Everyone had fun. And you learned things.
ReplyDeleteGives a warm feeling, to know, that one of the authors, is still alive and accomplishing. Raised embroidery work, of The Green Man! Must be lovely! She still has use of her eyes and her hands!
Please share the picture of it, when you receive it.
Would there be any way, to write this author a note, and send it to her? I'll bet she would be very, very pleased, to hear from you. Someone who has collected her book, and who values it.
With being given the 1837 letter, you are becoming the curator of many Village items. Wonderful! These things are lost, if not in the care of someone, who cares.
Lovely post!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a lovely idea, Luna. I have some lovely notepaper, you are right, she would probably really enjoy receiving such a letter. I spent a couple of hours working on the letter today, very tricky. The writing is faded, very stylised (200years old) writing, and it has been torn and then stuck together, very badly, long ago. The sellotape is yellowing, edges are curling, writing has been partly removed. I think I have about half the letter done so far, which is more than I expected.
DeleteOMG ..What a interesting journey ... I would love to see the embroidered work of the ‘ Green Man” but am equally intrigued by the crusader, who definately should be cared for ... There is such a wealth of history in your area which I greatly admire ... It ’s wonderful the you are on the trail fo such a worthy cause....Good Luck !!!
ReplyDeleteHello Zaa, I suffer from ... let's call it a healthy curiosity about places and buildings, I like to dig and delve, ferret out the hidden history. I hope to see at least a photograph of the embroidery, it sounds very special.
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