Lincolnshire: Widdershins
- Eleanor Conlon
- 12 hours ago
- 13 min read
Where is Lincolnshire?
In our episodes about Lincolnshire we talked about lots of interesting places and things, so here are some pictures and links if you're interested in finding out more!
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park
A great family day out for all ages, with Bengal Tigers, one of only two Black Leopards on display in the UK & one of the World’s largest parrot rescue centres!
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park is now the county’s premier animal attraction highlighting the joys of offering long-term sanctuary to animals from all over Europe.
Enjoy an amazing day out full of animals, set within 25 acres LWP is home to The National Parrot Sanctuary where you can get to see over 1000 talkative parrots. We also house the only White Lions in Northern England & our beautiful Bengal Tigers.
Fosters of Lincoln and Little Willie
On the 29 September 1915, military dignitaries were invited to come and see something interesting at the William Foster and Co Ltd factory on Firth Road in Lincoln. When the War Office dignitaries arrived inside a large marquee, they saw a wooden mock up of a new weapon: The Tank.
To say that the military were impressed would be a huge understatement, and Fosters design team were told to have to complete machine ready for testing as soon as possible.
The workers at Fosters astounded everyone when in early January 1916, around three months later, they announced that their prototype machine 'Little Willie' was now ready for military testing. The initial trials were undertaken in the peaceful surroundings of Burton Park, near Lincoln. When these went without fault, the tank was sent to Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire for further testing.
Little Willie sailed through them all, taking trenches and boggy ground in her stride. The answer to the barbed wire had been found at a small, agricultural manufacturers in Lincoln and it was called the tank.
World Egg Throwing Championships
The World Egg Throwing Federation is an organization that promotes the sport of egg throwing. It promotes a number of different variations of games including Russian egg roulette, throw and catch, static relay, target throwing and egg trebuchet.
The organization discourages the use of eggs in the role of vandalism. The championship has been held annually in Swaton, England since 2006.
Amcotts Moor Woman
Amcotts Moor Woman is the name given to a bog body discovered in 1747 in a bog near Amcotts, Lincolnshire, England, who lived sometime between A.D. 200 and 400.
In the summer of 1747, a peat digger unearthed the body of a woman through roughly six feet of peat moss. The man quickly fled after his shovel struck a shoe with partial remains of a human foot still inside. The following October, Dr. George Stovin, after hearing of the discovery set out with his team to finish the excavation. Dr. Stovin concluded that the woman's body was bent so her head and feet were close to touching. Stovin described the skin of the corpse to be strong. With the body, a pair of shoes were found, one of which was damaged by the shovel of its discoverer.
The sandals were said to have tawny colour and to be pliable. The bones of the woman's foot were found inside of the sandals, as the bones of the arms and thighs were found inside of the skin. The hand and fingernails were described to have been well preserved, however, they had been lost when they were sent for study.
The Grimsby Imp
Grimsby Minster is an imposing church in an otherwise quiet fishing town. However, a 700-year-old legend states that it was once tormented by an imp that was sent by the Devil himself.
The tale connects the Grimsby Imp to the Lincoln Imp, and claims that both were sent by the devil to wreak havoc. As the story goes, the imps were so good at their job that God sent an angel to deal with them. The angel warned the imps, commanding them to repent or else.
One of the imps listened and hid under a table, while the other bravely started throwing rocks at the angel. The angel then turned that imp into stone, creating the Lincoln imp. He then warned the other imp to stay out of trouble.
The remaining imp agreed but of course, had no intentions of keeping its word. And so it traveled to Grimsby where it started to terrorize the neighborhood again.
The angel returned and decided to smack the imp on its backside and turned him into stone.
Some believe that the carving is not actually an imp, but a man who is bending over to hold the beams up with his back.
Stuffed Pig's Chine
Ingredients
1kg pork chine
2 bunches of flat leaf parsley
2 onions
1 clove garlic
Thyme
2 leeks
Pork stock
Salt
Pepper
Method
Cut deep slashes (not all the way through) into the pork and rub generous amounts of salt into the meat and sit in fridge overnight.
Wash and pat dry, then chop or blitz together half the parsley, leeks, 1 onion, 4 garlic cloves and thyme.
Stuff the mixture into the holes made earlier. Place into a large roasting tray with the pork stock thus covering the meat, but not too high as it will overflow in the oven.
Cover with baking parchment and then foil and slowly braise the pork at gas mark 1-2 for about 5 hours or until the meat becomes soft and falls apart with a fork.
Set aside to cool in the stock, to cool until you can handle it.
Flake the pork, removing the parsley mixture (we don’t need this anymore). Soften the remaining onion garlic in a pan, then blitz with the parsley as earlier (this will give the terrine a better vibrate green texture).
Layer some pork into a terrine mould, then season and layer some parsley mixture. Repeat until the mould is full.
Chill in the fridge overnight to set the terrine.
Harlaxton Manor
Harlaxton Manor is a Victorian country house in Harlaxton, Lincolnshire, England. The house was built for Gregory Gregory, a local squire and businessman. Gregory employed two of the leading architects of Victorian England, Anthony Salvin and William Burn and consulted a third, Edward Blore, during its construction. Its architecture, which combines elements of Jacobean and Elizabethan styles with Baroque decoration, makes it unique among England's Jacobethan houses.
Harlaxton is a Grade I listed building on the National Heritage List for England, and many other structures on the estate are also listed. The surrounding park and gardens are listed Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It is now the British campus of the University of Evansville.
The Lincolnshire Poacher
"The Lincolnshire Poacher" is a traditional English folk song associated with the county of Lincolnshire, and deals with the joys of poaching. It is considered to be the unofficial county anthem of Lincolnshire.
Lincoln Cathedral
First built in 1072, Lincoln Cathedral is one of Europe’s finest Gothic buildings.
Once described by Victorian writer John Ruskin as "out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have", Lincoln Cathedral is not to be missed.
With the Norman invasion of Britain in the 11th century, William the Conqueror commissioned Remigius de Fécamp, the first Bishop of Lincoln, to build Lincoln Cathedral. Foundations were laid in 1072 and on May 9th, 1092, it was consecrated, two days after the death of Bishop Remigius.
At the time of its consecration, Lincoln Cathedral was the head of the largest diocese in England - extending from the Humber to the Thames.
After fires and earthquakes had demanded rebuilding of some of the cathedral, it took on a Gothic style of architecture. When the central spire was eventually raised in 1311, it became the tallest building in the world, taking the mantle from the Great Pyramid of Giza.
This lasted until 1549 when the spire collapsed in a storm.
One of the Lincoln Imps
Despite its size, the cathedral is filled with intricate detail. In Lincoln Cathedral the architects of the Gothic style perhaps reached the pinnacle of their art; it is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Lincoln.
Lincolnshire Sausages
Whether you’re having a full English breakfast, bangers and mash, toad in the hole or a sausage casserole, you can’t beat Lincolnshire sausages!
Plump, juicy and bursting with flavour, there’s a lot to love about our county delicacy. As the name suggests, the sausages were first created right here in Lincolnshire and they’re still very much associated with the region to this day.
The powerful flavour of sage gives the Lincolnshire sausage its unique taste. Its open texture owes to an emphasis on coarsely grinding the meat used in making the sausage.
It is thought that it was first created in the 19th century. Unfortunately, however, no one knows exactly when, or by whom. The earliest recorded reference to a recipe for Lincolnshire sausages dates back to May 1886. However, the award-winning Grimsby butcher John Petit has claimed that his family recipe is the first, dating back to 1810.
Although its origins are still disputed, there’s one thing that no one can doubt: the popularity of the Lincolnshire sausage. The sausage recipe has proved a huge hit ever since it was first created. As such, they are now readily available all over the UK.
The Kingdom of Lindsey
The Roman city of Lindum Colonia was founded in the eastern section of the tribal territory of the Corieltavi.
Popularly known as Lindum (modern Lincoln), this seems to have produced Caer Lind Colun in the Brythonic language, with 'caer' meaning 'fort', and 'lind colun' being a shortening of Lindum Colonia.
The Barnetby le Wold Bull Rider
The city may have been the core of a post-Roman kingdom or an independent district under a Romanised magistrate in the early fifth century, but evidence for the history of the region until the tenth or eleventh centuries is extremely sketchy.
British Museum video about The Witham Shield
It might just as easily have remained under Britain's central administrative control, but perhaps not for long.
A kingdom seems to have been founded circa AD 480 by a newly-arrived group of Angles, perhaps intermingling with Germanic peoples who had been settled there beforehand as foederati, as well as with the native population.
Lincoln Museum
Located in the heart of the city, Lincoln Museum offers a unique insight into the history and archaeology of Lincolnshire, alongside an impressive art collection and a wealth of treasures at the Usher Gallery.
The Fiskerton Log Boat, c.400 B.C.
Lincoln Museum offers artefacts from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages, Roman, Saxon, Viking and Medieval eras.
Spilsby Brooch, c.9th century
The Usher Gallery boasts a wide collection of ceramics, clocks, watches, silver and miniatures as well as artwork from esteemed artists like Turner, Lowry and Grayson Perry.
Roman Knife Handles
Lincoln Castle
Built almost 1000 years ago by William the Conqueror, Lincoln Castle has witnessed some of the most dramatic events in English history.
After William the Conqueror's victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he faced continuing resistance and ordered the construction of a castle at Lincoln as part of his strategy to control the rebellious north of the kingdom.
The castle's commanding position not only afforded far reaching views, it also served as a reminder to the local population that the Normans were in charge.
Centuries earlier, the Roman invaders had built their legionary fortress on this hilltop. In 1068, the Normans constructed their motte and bailey castle here, re-using the remaining stone walls of the later Roman city, Lindum Colonia.
The castle walls were built in stone in the late 11th century, replacing the temporary wooden palisade. Lucy Tower, a permanent stone 'shell' keep replaced the first wooden keep on the earth mound.
Tattershall Castle
Rising proudly from the flat Lincolnshire fens, Tattershall Castle, with its huge Gothic fireplaces and church-like windows, was designed to impress. Built by Lord Ralph Cromwell, Treasurer of England, it was designed to show off his wealth, position and power.
The Great Tower is one of the earliest and finest surviving examples of English medieval brickwork and was saved from exportation to America by Lord Curzon of Kedleston in 1911.
Crowland Abbey
Crowland Abbey was a monastery of the Benedictine Order in Lincolnshire, sixteen miles from Stamford and thirteen from Peterborough. It was founded in memory of St. Guthlac early in the eighth century by Ethelbald, King of Mercia, but was entirely destroyed and the community slaughtered by the Danes in 866.
Refounded in the reign of King Edred, it was again destroyed by fire in 1091, but rebuilt about twenty years later by Abbot Joffrid. In 1170 the greater part of the abbey and church was once more burnt down and once more rebuilt, under Abbot Edward. From this time the history of Crowland was one of growing and almost unbroken prosperity down to the time of the Dissolution.
Richly endowed by royal and noble visitors to the shrine of St. Guthlac, it became one of the most opulent of East Anglian abbeys; and owing to its isolated position in the heart of the fen country, its security and peace were comparatively undisturbed during the great civil wars and other national troubles.
Lincolnshire Wolds
This is a wonderful area of countryside with some of the most beautiful, unspoilt scenery in the East Midlands.
There are rolling hills and hidden valleys, gentle streams and nestling villages.
Most of the Lincolnshire Wolds was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1973 following considerable local campaigning. This designation means the landscape is some of Britain's finest countryside.
It is a living, working landscape, with woodland, grassland and abandoned chalk pits providing important habitats for rare flowers and wildlife.
Lincolnshire Marshes
Lincolnshire’s grazing marshes stretch from Grimsby to Gibraltar Point just inland from the coast.
The wildlife of the marshes was once rich and varied with vast swathes of seasonally wet grassland crisscrossed by a network of ditches. The land was dry enough for livestock to graze during the summer months, but created ideal conditions for flocks of waders and birds such as lapwing and snipe. Ditches provided ideal habitat for water voles and otters, dragonflies and damselflies.
The area’s culture and history is closely associated with traditional farming methods using livestock to graze fertile, moisture retaining, ancient pastures where species rich hay meadows were cut for forage.
Around the villages, land was cultivated, producing ridge and furrow features. Archaeological evidence shows saltmaking dating from the Bronze and Iron ages and impressive churches mark former wealth and patronage.
Many of the marshes historic features still remain, as do swathes of wet grassland some of which has been recreated in recent years.
St Andrew's Church, Stainfield
St Andrews church was built on the site of the only Benedictine priory in Lincolnshire; finds of sculptural and architectural fragments from the 14th century indicate the site of the priory church and buildings.
An interesting feature is a series of cross stitch embroideries. There are five panels in all, containing the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed.
Tattered banners used to hang in the church. Some say they were the battle standards of the Drake family; others that they were embroidered by the ladies of the Tyrwhitt family, and others believe they were the clothes of a wild man, who lived in the woods.
The Wild Man of Stainfield, so the legend says, was asleep on a bank by a pit, but his presence had disturbed a plover’s nest. The parent birds made such a noise that they attracted the attention of Tyrwhitt-Drake as he rode by, who saw the man and killed him.
No one seems to be able to set a date when he was supposed to have lived in the woods and kill cattle, sheep and, according to some versions, people too; explanations differ, but whatever the answers to these questions, the story of the wild man of Stainfield continues to interest those who hear it.
The Black Dog of Lincolnshire
In 1938, Lincolnshire folklorist, Ethel H. Rudkin published THE BLACK DOG, in Vol 49 of the journal of the Folklore Society.
Adapted from an earlier talk and several decades of collecting people's accounts across Lincolnshire, it stands as the best overview we have of the Black Dog phenomenon in the county.
In it she says of the people who she spoke to.
"The people who can supply these details are of the hard-working, normal, strong-minded type, who can tell you quite truly and simply what they have seen, because there is no doubt about it in their minds. They know that what they have seen is not a real dog--they will tell you as much."
Meetings with the black dog are often brief, oddly many stories share a similarity where the dog appears quite suddenly popping through a gap in a hedge or a gateway. Some people commuting a certain path might see it almost semi regularly, and in these cases the dogs seems to follow the same fixed route almost like a recording.
The Demon Church
St Botolph’s Church in Skidbrooke is among the most haunted spots in Lincolnshire and is a centre for unexplained paranormal activity.
The isolated, abandoned church has had many dealings with Satanist groups over the past few decades. Because of this, Skidbrooke has been the subject of much publicity due to reports of paranormal activity at the church.
Several ghosthunters have reported unusual goings-on at the building, and the church was nicknamed ‘the Demon church’ after it became popular with the Satanist groups of 1970’s and 1980’s.
In 2004, St. Botolph’s church was in the news for having been the place where animal sacrifices had taken place, and satanic graffiti had been found on the walls.
Visitors have reported seeing a ghostly monk on the site, seeing odd lights and hearing sounds of storms in calm weather, and hearing strange, unexplained noises at night.
The Isle of Axholme and "The Little Men of Wroot"
Map design © Alex Merrick
The Isle of Axholme was once an extremely remote area, and it must have teemed with stories and superstitions. The central part is clay, so giving a more substantial area for habitation than the surrounding wide, deep swamps.
But in these bogs were little islands of firmer ground such as Wroot, called the Island of Wroot in 1157.
The little creeping black flies that often appear before a thunderstorm are known as the "Little Men of Wroot" on account of a folktale that the men of the island were smote during a thunderstorm and cursed into insects.
The Tiddy Mun of Ancholme Vale
Old Norse homesteads stretch in a chain across ancient ridges, and the market town of Brigg (from the Old Norse “bryggja”, meaning ‘jetty’) marked narrow point in the sodden marshland that spilled out from the banks of River Ancholme.
Once called the Lincolnshire Carrs (from the Old Norse “kjarr”, meaning ‘swamp’), this isolated wetland in the shadow of the rolling Humber marked the southern boundaries of the Anglo-Norse world of the Danelaw, leaving their place names, dialect words and log boats behind them, and the boundaries between the world of spirit and the world of men.
These dark lonely waters drew hermits, Anchorites, and the Gilbertine priory of Newstead on Ancholme, and birthed tales of dead men’s voices and cold sepulchral fingers grasping at the ankles of the unwary, dancing will o’ the wisps leading travellers to their deaths, witches who rode blackened branches, and – in the words of folklorist Katharine Mary Briggs – “queer, primeval, dangerous spirits, breathing pestilence.”
According to a tale recorded by the folklorist and novelist Marie Clothilde Balfour in Legends of the Carrs (1891), when the Carrs were drained to reclaim marshland for farming, cows grew sick and died, milk curdled, ponies became lame, and walls collapsed in.
Tiddy Mun had once protected the Carr-dwellers from floods, but now their sacred soil and swamp had been violated. Their fury was as unstoppable and insidious as the treacherous swell that had once been his demesne...
Comments