Lying on a shelf, a small black book, unopened in the last couple of years. Time to remedy that.
No photograph, because it really is just a small black book with tanned pages. It is a second edition of Forgotten Lincoln, and was published in May, 1898, cost one shilling.
It is a little treasure, filled with articles which were written for publication in the "Lincoln Gazette & Times". Of course I read it when I first bought it but have only used it once since then, which is a shame, for it is filled with stories.
Tales of the Romans in Lincoln, and Lincoln after they had left. Church stories aplenty, along with stories of the Cathedral, the Stonebow, Guildhall and Mint. Kings and Queens, castles and prisons, inns which no longer exist, churches which have vanished (their word) of Earls, Cromwell, Parliamentarians, and the Knights Templar. The list goes on.
The final chapter is entitled: Reminiscences. Four pages filled with interesting stories.
A small sample:
In 1035 there was a frost on Midsummer Day. So severe was it that much corn and fruit was utterly destroyed.
On September 7th 1809, it is recorded that for a wager a Sleaford waiter trundled a hoop from that town to Lincoln without once letting it fall or touch his body. The distance by road is 18 miles.
A stirring scene is recorded on Lincoln racecourse in 1831. A riot took place, booths were torn to shreds and carriages were set on fire. About 500 thimble-riggers and others fought against the townsfolk. The riggers and others taking out the legs of their "thimble-tables" to fight with, and would certainly have won the day but for the opportune appearance of about fifty fox-hunting gentlemen and farmers, who turned the tide.
Lincoln has know many dry summers, but never one when water was so scarce as in 1826. In that year Brayford Pool* was absolutely dried up and people actually took strolls across the bed of the same. Navigation was necessarily at a standstill. In the city the supply of water needed by residents had to be used with extreme care. At appointed times, twice a day, the Town Crier stood at St Mary's Conduit, and at that on the High Bridge, and doled out the water. This condition of things continued for nearly two months.
*Brayford Pool is a natural lake formed by a widening of the River Witham in the centre of Lincoln. It is the oldest inland harbour in the United Kingdom.
The book also features complete lists of Mayors, Bishops and High Sheriffs - which led me to have some reminiscences of my own.
More about those another day!
Your old books are fascinating. Great reading. Imagine trundling a hoop for 18 miles. And thimble-riggers rioting. Pray what are thimble-riggers?
ReplyDeleteA thimble rigger has three thimbles and a pea. They hide the pea under one of the thimbles and scoots the three thimbles around to confuse, then you have to guess which one has the pea...I used to do a similar thing with Toby, playing with a dog treat, he always won, of course!
DeleteWhat a fabulous book to have. I love things like this.
ReplyDeleteSo many modern books are large, high gloss, beautifully illustrated and yet they leave me cold on the content. This one is very plain and yet holds so much to excite and delight. It has reminded me (yet again) about the truth of that old saying about not judging a book...
DeleteHave had to look up what thimble riggers were, and also thimble tables...well they say you learn something new every day!
ReplyDeleteI remember looking it up the first time I read the book, so you are not alone.
DeleteThe complete lists of Mayors, Bishops and High Sheriffs are near and dear to the hearts of historians. In my township one trustee and I undertook to compile a complete list of trustees and clerks from the organization of the township. It is published on our website. It begins in 1811, and, sadly, has not been updated since 2010, when I first compiled it.
ReplyDeleteI hope that someone takes up the task at some point, after all your hard work.
DeleteI have just checked the Lincoln book, the list of Bishops starts in 1067, the Mayors 1314, and elected Sheriffs from 1408. So easy to flick through without fully appreciating just how much 'long hand' work and research went into them.
What a fascinating book, do you think there are many copies around?
ReplyDeleteI have just looked on abebooks, by using various filters (used, UK, etc) I was able to find one listed at a£2 something plus postage - a bargain!
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