No. 50 : Winter 2002/03

Clayton, Shuttleworth & Co – early successes and a strike - Neville Birch
Describes the early days of this Lincoln firm's manufacture of portable steam engines (later they were the world's leaders) and an early dispute over pay and working conditions. Also a list of customers in 1850.
John Wray (1776-1851): Vicar of Bardney, 1806-1851 - June Benton
Wray, son of a former Bardney schoolmaster, took the living of the village and proceeded to bankrupt himself by re-building the vicarage and extensively restoring the church. A fascinating account of his attempt to avoid penury and imprisonment.
Shop Blinds - Peter Stevenson
A short piece recalling these ubiquitous, attractive and useful features of yesterday's shopping street.
Childhood Memories of Grantham - C Ayre
Personal recollections of the home and lifestyle of writer's grandparents in the 1940s and 50s. A vivid picture is also painted of the streets of Grantham.
Digging at Old Seaford - a letter from Margaret Jones, 1960
Margaret Jones was the joint leader of the archaeological dig at Old Sleaford, which identified a medieval church and found famous Iron Age coin moulds. The letter, written in a lively personal style is addressed to Dr Dorothy Owen.
George Tennyson and the Clergy Daughters' School - Jim Murray
Describes the association of George Tennyson (grandfather of Alfred) and William Gray of York and how both had links with Casterton Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale, school for daughters of impoverished clergymen and, famously, attended by the Bronte sisters.
News from New Zealand: Colonial Secretary Alerted - Brian T Thornalley
Account of the author's family from the Burgh/Wainfleet area and in particular of Samuel (1835-1881) whose untimely accidental death in a gravel pit near Auckland led to a lengthy inquest and ultimately action by the Colonial Secretary to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Coal in Lincolnshire - Les Gostik
A brief account of trial digging in 1798 at Quarrington, near Sleaford, giving the constituents of the various strata to a depth of 479 feet. Excellent potable water was produced, but no coal.
Short items: Great Tom (Lincoln, St Paul's); photographs of council housing; the Coronation Channel, Spalding; Page Woodcock, Lincoln pharmacist; Lincolnshire folklore and customs.
Obituary: Jim English of Gainsborough author and local historian, who gave valuable service to Lincolnshire Libraries, Lincolnshire Methodist History Society, SLHA, Friends of Gainsborough Old Hall and the annual Brackenbury Event.