Lincoln Victoria Cross hero Charles Sharpe’s trench attack is immortalised in the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
He [Corporal Charles Clarke] captured an enemy trench single-handedly and led a successful assault on another in the German lines near Rouges Bancs in northern France during the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915.
The official citation published in the London Gazette on 29th June 1915 states –
‘When in charge of a blocking party sent forward to take a portion of the German trench, he was the first to reach the enemy’s position and using bombs with great determination
and effect, he himself cleared them out of a trench fifty yards long. By this time all his party had fallen and he was then joined by four other men with whom he attacked the enemy with bombs and captured a further trench 250 yards long.’
Tags: Charles Sharpe, Defence Matters, Lincoln, The Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Trench Attack, VC, Weekend away, WW1, WWI
This is a very ornate cast iron urinal, dating from around the turn of the 19th/20th century. It was removed from the Woodhall Junction Station and brought to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in 1972.
The very thin flat casting of iron is an example of the great skill of engineers of the time. Today it would not be possible to make such thin and flat designs, as the additives used in the casting process are now considered too damaging too the environment.*
*Information taken from a signboard at The Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Tags: History, Lincoln, Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Weekend away
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Northumber- land, Tynemouth, Tynemouth Priory, Weekend away
On my recent visit to Lincoln Castle, to view the art instalation ‘Poppies Wave’ I noticed a mother duck and her cute ducklings sitting at eye level on a wall.
By the time I got back from looking at the poppies the mother duck and some of the ducklings were on the ground below the wall. Four ducklings however were running frantically backwards and forwards on the top of the wall squeaking loudly whilst mum waited patiently.
A Lincoln Castle grounds attendant gently herded the ducklings along the wall towards mum, when all but one wildly jumped off the wall to join the others. The last one eventually launched itself off the wall landing on its back needing a little assistance to right itself. For a few moments it looked like it was wounded, but all of a sudden it joined the back of the line of ducklings following mum. Eventually the eight ducklings lined up in a row following their patient mum.
I was so relieved to see that the last duckling was not harmed and was able to walk in line behind mum as she led her offspring through the castle grounds. In fact I was so relieved that the little one didn’t come to any harm, I watched the ducklings walking off rather than take any photos 
The last photo is courtesy of Mr C who had not witnessed the unfolding drama of the ducklings and their mum.
Tags: Child, Ducklings, Lincoln, Love, Mother, Weekend away
The Jew’s House is one of the oldest surviving domestic dwellings in the country.
Built around 1150, the house was almost certainly occupied by a merchant who would have lived upstairs and traded downstairs. One name linked with ownership is Belaset of Wallingford, a woman executed in 1287, possibly on a trumped up charge, for clipping coin – paring the edges of coins to acquire illicit gold or silver.*
The Jews’ Court next door was built much later and probably takes its name from a synagogue that is thought to have been situated near by. The Jew’s Court is currently headquarters of the county’s historical society.
During the 11th and 12th centuries Lincoln was very prosperous, largely through its wool trade. The Jewish community played a big part in the city’s development, especially as money-lenders – an occupation forbidden to Christians. Jews even helped fund the building of the cathedral. However their wealth and the fervour of the Crusades inspired resentment. Persecution in 1266 was followed by expulsion in 1290. Many saw this as an opportunity to rid themselves of their debts.*
*From the Pitkin City Guide to Lincoln
Tags: Lincoln, The Jew's House, The Jews' Court, Weekend away
