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News from around the County: 20092009 News : Contents BOOK LAUNCH Cllr Jenny Rowe  The Co-authors Neil Wright’s book Sutton Bridge: An Industrial History was officially launched by Jenny Rowe, district and parish councillor, at a crowded gathering at Sutton Bridge Westmere Primary School on Saturday 28 November. Dave Start, Chairman of the SLHA Publications Committee, took the chair. Both Tony Worth, Lincolnshire’s Lord Lieutenant and SLHA Patron, and Francis Pryor, local resident and nationally known archaeologist, spoke to give the book their strong endorsement. After the formalities Neil and Beryl Jackson (who had made a substantial contribution to this revised and enlarged edition) signed copies. Buy the book
HISTORY OF SUTTON BRIDGE The modern port on the Nene Neil Wright, SLHA Chairman, gave an illustrated lecture on the remarkable history of Sutton Bridge to a packed room at the society's headquarters on 15 November. A sequence of three bridges - all with fine pedigree - have spanned the Nene and linked Lincolnshire to Norfolk. The manner in which three railway companies brought lines to the settlement resulted in a peculiar S-shaped station. An ambitious dock built in the C19 only survived for a few days before the banks collapsed. Today the bridge remains an important transport link, and both the riverside quay and a gas-fired power station have brought new life to Sutton Bridge.
ANGLO-SAXONS IN LINCOLNSHIREA well-attended day conference organised by SLHA on the theme of Anglo-Saxons was held at the Riseholme Campus of Lincoln University on Saturday 3 October. Abstracts of the six lectures can be read here. LINCOLNSHIRE WATERMILLS Alvingham Mill  Cogglesford Mill  Branston Waterwheel
THE TEMPLUM OF THE DIVINE AUGUSTUS On Wednesday 23 September, Henry Hurst, who is a Fellow and Reader of Classics in Churchill College Cambridge, and Director of Studies in Classics, described his excavations in the heart of Rome over several seasons. He spoke to an appreciative audience of over sixty members about the architectural complexities and mysteries surrounding the Temple of the Divine Augustus, close to the Temple of Castor and Pollux, in the Foro Romano. Built in about 95 AD, it was a massive cultic centre attached to the Palace of Domitian where ritual meals and other rites associated with the Imperial cult took place. He spoke of its original 'pagan' use, and its apparently smooth transition after Constantine to become the home of a Christian religious community. Within the walls of this imperial pagan 'templum' a church was built dedicated to the Mother of Christ; the Church of Sancta Maria Antiqua. Study of its adaptation and transition, from a pagan temple and community to a Christian Church and monastery, was shedding fresh light on Rome itself during an era of religious, architectural and social change. CONFERENCE FOR INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGISTS Moulton Mill  Bulb Museum  Bulb Museum  Deeping St Nicholas
 Pinchbeck Marsh  Dodds' Smithy, Spalding  Corus Steelworks, Scunthorpe  Owston Ferry Museum
Smaller premises on their itineraries included the Kinema in the Woods at Woodhall Spa, tileworks at Barton and Rundle’s engineering works in New Bolingbroke. Lincolnshire has more preserved windmills than any other county and conference delegates visited several including Moulton, Maud Foster (Boston), Ellis’s (Lincoln), Alford and Barton on Humber. They also drove past others such as Bilsby, Metheringham, Sneath’s at Lutton and Sibsey Trader mill. Thompsons the millwrights repair windmills all over the country and delegates visited their premises in Alford on one tour.  Owston Ferry  Dogdyke Pumping Station  Bass Maltings, Sleaford  Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
SLHA is very pleased to have attracted such a prestigious event to Lincolnshire, with the leading industrial archaeologists in the UK coming here to learn about Lincolnshire’s industrial and transport history, and to see what has survived. DIAMOND JUBILEECongratulations to the Friends of Gainsborough Old Hall on reaching 60 years. They worked really hard in their early years to save the hall and they still continue to support it in many ways. Their annual series of lectures is excellent. ROMAN WRAWBY Congratulations to the Wrawby Local History Group on being awarded the 2009 Current Archaeology Jeffrey May Award for their excavation of a Roman Villa site. After publishing a book on Victorian Wrawby the Group turned to archaeology and began a field-walking project in an area where aerial survey looked promising. The excavation discovered a Roman building which was most likely of timber with painted plaster walls. A detailed article has appeared in the monthly magazine Current Archaeology
SUNDAY STROLL AROUND HEIGHINGTON  On a brilliantly sunny Sunday afternoon, 16 August 2009, the chairman of the Local History Team, Mrs. Brenda Webster, treated members to an excellent tea in Heighington Village Hall, but it had to be earned. The forfeit was to follow her trail and study some of the history of the village. After an introductory talk, Brenda provided notes which gave details of the history and owners of the various properties to which she had added anecdotal titbits. One amusing one concerned the house where the lady had a pet rat which used to take its food on the table. Another house needed a new shop front after the original was destroyed by a cart with a heavy load pulled by a runaway horse coming down Lintin’s Hill.   Members were impressed with the number of quality stone houses - many with immaculately manicured gardens. Brenda pointed out several properties which had been given the facelift of a new facade to bring them into the fashion of the time. A village stone mason had built a pair of houses using brick – why when so many in the village were of stone? Several dwellings were double pile and many were very large. Members concluded the residents must be wealthy to be able to afford to live there. Brenda also mounted an exhibition of photographs and documents on the history of Heighington. Other such visits would also be appreciated to give our members a chance to take a closer look at more of Lincolnshire’s fine villages.
TENNYSON'S LINCOLNSHIRE  On 11 July members of SLHA joined with the Tennyson Society and the Lincolnshire Methodist Society for the annual Brackenbury Lecture at the historic Raithby Chapel, near Spilsby. Professor Mark Seaward of Bradford University was the speaker; Tennyson's Lincolnshire, an Environmental Perspective, his title. Professor Seaward brought together his deep understanding of Tennyson's early life in the local area (he is a longstanding member of the Tennyson Society) and his specialist knowledge of wildlife and the environment (he is professor of environmental biology) to provide a new angle on Lincolnshire's most famous poet.
WEEKEND TRIP TO KENT Greenwich  Thames Barrier  Rochester Castle  Down Hill House
 Chatham Dockyard  Chatham Dockyard  Duxford  Duxford
A.G.M. AT BOURNE Pearl Wheatley & Catherine Wilson The 2009 Annual General Meeting of SLHA was held in Bourne on 20 June, attended by over 40 members. The Society President, Catherine Wilson, took the chair; Mr Tony Worth, Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and SLHA Patron, was present. Pearl Wheatley, Chairman of the Society for some 10 years, stepped down and was replaced by Neil Wright. Stewart Squires and Chris Lester were elected vice-chairmen.
 Red Hall, Bourne  Baldock's Mill, Bourne In the afternoon visits were made to three nearby sites: Baldock's Mill (Bourne Heritage Centre, with displays devoted to local motor-racing legend Raymond Mays, the world-renowned fashions and cosmetics of Bourne-born couturier Charles Worth, and Bourne's railway history); Red Hall (fine three-storey Jacobean house, at one time part of the railway station, now restored and managed by the Bourne United Charities); and Bourne Abbey (the magnificent parish church, once part of an Augustinian priory).
BERNARD SULLIVANIt is with regret we record the passing of Bernard Sullivan at the end of May. Bernard became a volunteer for the Jews’ Court Bookshop about 1991 and extended his interest and support for SLHA very soon after. He took upon himself the role of marketing manager which included organising book stalls for conferences and meetings out of Jews’ Court. He attended meetings over the County until ill health prevented him for loading his car and transporting crates of books. He was instrumental in making this activity easier and making the stand more attractive. There were a number of off-prints from the Society Journal lying in stock which he processed, using his computer skills, to give an extra income.  Bernard had served in the RAF and later became Mayor’s Officer for Lincoln City. He developed a keen interest in the present and past administration of Lincoln and tabulated a list of civic officers from medieval times using the City archives. Among his other specific interests was the Lincoln Races from the time they took place on Lincoln Heath to their demise on the West Common. Bernard was content to make a study and deposit it in Jews’ Court library along with some of his photographic albums. He never sought other glory. He had access to his ‘own desk’ in Jews’ Court Library and was the cause of roars of laughter every Tuesday. Life was full of fun when Bernard was around. He was a devoted father, grandfather and was proud of many great grandchildren. We are most grateful to him for being part of SLHA family for nearly 20 years and we miss him. We extend our sympathy to all of his family. VISIT TO RAF CRANWELLThe sun shone brightly on RAF Cranwell when a group of SLHA members made a two-hour visit to the prestigious training establishment near Sleaford on 12 June. Details were given by the guide about the history of the college and some of its eminent staff, students and visitors. In 1916 Cranwell was a base for Royal Navy Air Service but with the creation of the Royal Air Force it took on a training function (even though many of the naval terms continued to be applied to the base and its operation). The present impressive main building in red brick and Portland stone was completed in 1933. Several fine portraits and group photographs were admired in the entrance hall and adjoining corridors. These included full length paintings of the Queen and Prince Philip, and a portrait of Prince Charles dated 1971 when he was training at Cranwell. Former cadets identified in college group photographs included Frank Whittle, Douglas Bader and Peter Townsend. The tour concluded in the fine library.   
TRIP TO ARBOR LOW AND CROMFORD MILL, DERBYSHIREOn Saturday 16 May, forty-two members aged between 8 and 80 visited one of Derbyshire’s highest and most exposed prehistoric monuments. Arbor Low is a hilltop stone circle, 80 metres across, formed by up to 50 stones weighing up to 4 tons each. These are surrounded by a deep horse-shoe shaped moat and bank, with further stones forming a ‘
'cove' or inner sanctuary at the centre. Sometimes called Derbyshire’s Stonehenge, Arbor Low has an atmosphere redolent of thousands of years of religious ritual – a veritable cathedral to custodians and pilgrims of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Close by is the Bronze Age ‘Gib Hill Barrow’ that countless pilgrims have climbed over the centuries.   
(Special thanks to Dr Mick Jones who organised our pilgrimage and led our pilgrim band as a true archaeological guide and mentor, if not Bard, Chief Druid, and High Priest on that holy mountain.) John Wilford ALONG THE SLEAFORD NAVIGATION New Footbridge, Sleaford  Cogglesford Mill  Evedon Church  Evedon Water Tower
After lunch time was spent at the intriguing church at Evedon (leaning tower, monuments, fine C18 gravestones) and the nearby 1915 Water Tower (now converted and extended for residential use). Back in Sleaford a visit was made to the former site of a limekiln - later the site of the town's electricity works - and a walk was taken westwards along the Slea to see evidence of the former branch railway line to RAF Cranwell. (Particular thanks to Stewart Squires for making the arrangements and to Michael Turland for sharing his local knowledge.) JEAN SCOTTWe announce with regret the death of Mrs. Jean Scott on Friday, 8 May. Jean was a very active member of Lincoln City Community. She served as a magistrate for some time, but we shall remember her most as Chairman and later President of FLARE. Jean was very much a hands-on chairman who campaigned for full recognition of the archaeological heritage of the city. As from April 1st 2009 FLARE became the archaeology committee of the SLHA, at which time she became a Vice-President of the Society. There has not been an opportunity to acknowledge this at a function and it is also sad she has not been able to give the planned talk on Gilbert Scott, architect, an ancestor of her family. FLORA A R MURRAY Miss Flora A R Murray, OBE, MA, BSc died on 1 May at the age of 96. Flora came from Yorkshire but prided herself on her Scottish roots. She grew up, went to school and university in Hull, graduating in economics. Her first job was in 1935 in Lincoln as assistant to Major North Coates, Director of Lindsey Rural Community Council. Flora was to stay in post until retirement in 1974, being Director after the death of Major North Coates. Her work covered many aspects of life in Lincolnshire, among a few being parish councils, sports, drama, music, young farmers, and care of the elderly. Her first award was in 1970 when at a Buckingham Palace presentation she was awarded a certificate for her work in promoting sport in the County. Major North Coates was instrumental in setting up the Lindsey Local History Society, which eventually became the Lincolnshire Local History Society and eventually The Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. Flora administered this until she retired and took an active part in committees, functions and week-long and week-end schools both in and out of the County. SLHA faced a problem in finding a chairman in 1990, so at the age of 77 she took on the job. The Society had just moved to Jews’ Court and Flora found there were a few problems in that records were not up to date – certainly not, she considered, up to her standard. In two years the administration was ship-shape. This was not the end. Flora served on the Executive and Local History committees and became a Director of Lincolnshire Heritage Ltd (Jews’ Court Bookshop; she rarely missed a meeting of these or any of the Society's lectures and conferences. She always had a contribution to make. She was an honorary life member and Vice-President of the Society. Flora’s interests went beyond SLHA. She was a keen supporter of Lincoln Civic Trust, Lincolnshire Historic Buildings Committee, Lincoln Society of Arts, the Cathedral Music, Alford Manor House, University Women’s Association, Tennyson Society and many more. She had a prodigious knowledge of the County and its people. Perhaps the latter was her forte. A contact meant knowing all about them and their family. Many of her letters did not end with the business statement but would be added to by 'I hope your mother is better now and please give my kindest regards to you aunt' or some such personal attachment. As a committed Christian, Flora was not just a Sunday worshipper – she lived her belief and always put everyone before self. Her life has been one of dedication to the service of others – ever ready to go the extra mile. She fully deserved her OBE, awarded in 1972, and her MA awarded by Hull University. Her old world charm, her courtesy and consideration for others will be sadly missed. We have lost a great friend. CHRISTINA COLYERChristina came to Lincoln in 1970 to excavate at The Park - now the site of City Hall - and two years later was made Director of the newly founded Lincoln Archaeological Trust. In 1978 she moved away to take on community work in India. In recent years she cared for animals in Italy, where she died in July 2008. ALAN VINCEDr Alan Vince has died at the age of 57. He moved to Lincoln in 1988 to work for the Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology. He was a member of SLHA, Chairman of the Archaeology Committee from 1990-93 and Vice-Chairman of the Society from 1993-96. He was a distinguished archaeologist with a national reputation and we are fortunate to have had him working and writing in Lincolnshire. BETTY KIRKHAMBetty Kirkham of Hogsthorpe, member of SLHA since the 1960s, died in April 2009. She promoted archaeology in the Lindsey marsh area through digging, recording and surveying. Her speciality was saltern sites and she added considerably to our knowledge of the sites in her area. VOICES FROM THE PAST The annual SLHA Local History Conference at Riseholme (University of Lincoln) on Saturday 4 April looked at Oral History work in the East Midlands. Colin Hyde of the East Midlands Oral History Archive (University of Leicester) introduced the wide range of material from the past 50 years collected in Leicester. (The EMOHA website catalogue gives details of scores of recordings, many with sound clips.) Abi Hunt, lecturer at Peterborough College, described her postgraduate project on Lincolnshire Farming, 1939-2000, which has used many detailed interviews with men and women involved in agriculture.  Melton Museum The Carnegie Community Museum at Melton Mowbray, under the leadership of conference speaker Jenny Dancey, has managed impressive 'modern' projects on fox-hunting and local sports, both relying heavily on spoken contributions from local people.  The second half of the day heard shorter talks from: Mark Tindle (North East Lincolnshire Museums Service) - recordings of fishermen and others associated with the Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby; Martin Hollingsworth (Kirton in Lindsey Society) - a community oral history project that led to the book, Sticking the Pig, plus CD; Dave Taylor (North Lincolnshire Museum) - the story (partly based on OH work) of Riley's Crisps, Scunthorpe's second largest industry; and Brenda Webster (SLHA) - how a county-wide OH project was organised and the subsequent book, Ration Books and Rabbit Pie, evolved.
BUILDING A RAILWAY On Sunday 15 March a packed audience at Jews' Court heard Stewart Squires talk about the construction of the Bourne to Saxby Railway in the early 1890s. An album of excellent photographs had been taken at the time by the principal engineer, Charles Stansfield Wilson, showing bridges, viaducts, tunnel and station buildings in the course of construction. Mrs Hogan, great granddaughter of the engineer, has generously passed on this unique collection to SLHA, and Sunday's talk was framed around them. Stewart Squires and Ken Hollamby are preparing a book which will contain all 60 photographs together with background text about Wilson and the operation of the line (closed to passenger traffic 50 years ago in 1959). The book is to be published jointly by SLHA and the Lincoln Record Society later this year. See details
WOOLTON PIEThe SLHA annual week-end conference took place as usual at Horncastle Residential College, Horncastle, from 13 to 15 February 2009. The topic was food, starting with cereal production in the Iron Age and Roman periods and ending with rationing in the Second World War.  Woolton Pie: WW2 dish “Eat drink and be merry - food through the ages” was the title. Kate Nicholson of Leicester University explained the processes required to understand the growing of Emmer and Spelt (early varieties of wheat) in the Iron Age and Roman periods. Peter Brears of Leeds treated his audience to a survey of place settings and table decorations though the centuries. He gave a second talk on the ‘behind the scenes’ activities during the preparation of a medieval feast. The history of Lincolnshire potatoes was the subject of a talk by David Hopkins of Heritage Lincolnshire, while Maureen Sutton, an expert in Lincolnshire folklore and traditions, supplied many stories and traditions relating to food in the County. Brenda Webster, Chairman of the Local History Team at SLHA, explained how the government got prepared by stocking food supplies before the start of the war. She also led members through the various aspects of rationing which lasted until 1954. Saturday afternoon was in a lighter vein. A coach took the party to Bateman’s brewery in Wainfleet for a tour and a sample. The Chef at the college also played his part by providing a war time lunch at the end of the course. He served up Woolton Pie and Jam Roly Poly using recipes published by the Ministry of Food. Everyone left happy, having eaten well at the college and supped fine ale at Bateman's.
TENNYSON BICENTENARY CELEBRATIONS BEGIN AT JEWS’ COURT Tennyson statue at Lincoln 2009 sees the bicentenary of the birth of the Lincolnshire Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Over 30 events have been arranged in the county to celebrate this anniversary and the first was held at Jews’ Court on Sunday 12 January. Our first speaker was Grace Timmins who runs the Tennyson Research Centre in Lincoln Central Library. She described the poet’s family background and early life with amusing anecdotes about his eccentric relatives. Grace also gave flavour of some of the Research Centre’s many contents and produced one of the vast number of the poet’s clay pipes held there (Alfred began smoking at the age of 10 and was a heavy tobacco user throughout his long life). Visitors are most welcome by appointment to the Research Centre (Book in advance by writing to Tennyson Research Centre, Lincoln Central Library, Free School Lane, Lincoln LN2 1EZ, telephoning 01522 782040 or by e-mail grace.timmins@lincolnshire.gov.uk. Grace was followed by Joan Smith reciting some of Tennyson’s work. She mixed some of his better known poems (The Lotus Eaters, In Memoriam) with unfamiliar examples, including a delightful ode to his grandson (and namesake). (The afternoon was completed by Chris Padley who showed us his updated research into the mysterious history of the Caistor Canal with a series of ‘then and now’ images.) SLHA wish to thank all three speakers and also Kathleen Jefferson of the Tennyson Society for her assistance. Further information on the programme of Tennyson Bicentenary events can be found on www.tennyson2009.co.uk. LOCAL HONOUR FOR SLHA CHAIRMANTo mark the installation of Victor, Lord Adebowale, as its new Chancellor, the University of Lincoln has decided to make an annual award of the Chancellor's Medal for outstanding and dedicated service to the County of Lincolnshire. The first recipient of this prestigious award is the SLHA Chairman, Pearl Wheatley; she received the medal from Lord Adebowale as part of his installation ceremony on 12 December. The citation is for services to the heritage of Lincolnshire. HERITAGE AT RISKLincolnshire has more heritage sites at risk than any other county in the East Midlands region, according to a recent report from English Heritage. 43 Lincolnshire sites are on EH's Heritage at Risk register, though some of the data there is out of date and inconsistent. Now Heritage Lincolnshire is leading the county's response to the challenge to secure the future of its historic places. (See details on the Heritage Lincolnshire website.) The proposal from Heritage Lincolnshire is to train and support volunteers from local communities across the county in order to carry out a survey of all types of heritage. This information will then be fed into the County Council's Historic Environment Record and also the Heritage at Risk register. The county will then be well placed to target resources effectively and involve local communities in caring for the historic environment. English Heritage has launched another project concerning areas that may be at risk. This is the Conservation Areas at Risk Survey, and EH is requesting local amenity groups to make contact and so be kept informed of their campaign. The contact is Beth McHattie (phone 020 79733254) at English Heritage. |
