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• West Sussex, Artefacts, Boole - Lincoln Excavations - Ayscoughfee Hall - Lincolnshire Non-Conformity

• Dennis & Joan Mills

News Archive: 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011

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NON-CONFORMITY IN LINCOLNSHIRE: WEEKEND CONFERENCE

The annual SLHA residential conference was held at Bishop Grosseteste University College over the weekend 10 to 12 February on the theme of Non-Conformity. Topics covered were:

• Catholic Communities in Lincolnshire from Reformation to Emancipation – John Wilford
• Thomas Grantham and the Baptist Explosion – Bob Kershaw
• Methodist Variety Show – Linda Crust
• The Huguenots – Kathy Chater
• Moulton Seas End Primitive Methodist Chapel – Abigail Hunt
• Monksthorpe Baptist Chapel – Hilary Healey & Bob Kershaw
• Quakers in Lincolnshire – Brenda & Peter Knudssen

On Saturday afternoon visits were made to two Lincoln High Street churches: the Unitarian Chapel and Central Methodist Church. See images
February 2012

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AYCOUGHFEE HALL: THE HISTORY OF A FINE BUILDING

The South Holland History Group enjoyed a very interesting and well presented talk by Julia Knight, the Museum Officer, about Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding on 27 January. This beautiful house was built about 1420 for Richard Ailwyn, a wool merchant, and it is believed that it was granted to Sir William Ayscough from Stallingborough in north Lincolnshire sometime after 1506. The hall was subsequently known as Ayscoughfee, the suffix signifying the territorial grant made to a knight of the realm.

No records exist of the Ayscoughs actually living at the hall although the second son, Sir William Ayscough, sometimes lived in Spalding. A number of different families occupied the hall after 1520, the most well known of which were the Johnsons, who were there until 1851. The hall and gardens were sold by Isabelle Johnson to a committee of Spalding citizens in 1898 for sum of £2100. Thus the building came into public use, and today is administered by South Holland District Council on behalf of the people of Spalding. This Grade One building has exceptional quality and the townspeople are rightly proud of their great house.
February 2012

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RECENT EXCAVATIONS IN LINCOLN

The opening archaeology lecture of the 2012 season on 18 January provided City Archaeologist Mick Jones with an opportunity to describe the highlights of fieldwork and research in Lincoln in the past year. Among the excavations summarised were investigations at both Bishop Grossesteste University College, where work adjacent to the library revealed Roman and medieval suburban remains, and at Lincoln College, where Roman burials as well as occupation associated with the Dominican Friary to the west were uncovered. A trench at Edward King House also found medieval pits and part of a Roman building, and on Auden Close more graves were found, within the precinct of medieval St Giles’ hospital. More details of these excavations and others outside the city will be given at the 14 November meeting by the excavators themselves.

The talk also included news on recent publications and current post-excavation work on Lincoln, including both popular books and the two final volumes in the Lincoln Archaeological Studies series. The progress report on repairs to and interpretation of visible remains included the Roman east gate and St Paul-in-the Bail, where improved lighting of the well and a new panel about its contents have now been installed.
January 2012

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DENNIS AND JOAN MILLS

Long-standing SLHA members, Dennis and Joan Mills (shown left), have recently been made Life Members of the Society in recognition of their outstanding contribution. Through their research and publications, as well as their advice and willingness to share their experience, they are inspirational members of the Society. In March 2011 SLHA published Lincoln Connections: Aspects of City and County since 1700 as a tribute to Dennis on his eightieth birthday. Details of the book
January 2012

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WEST SUSSEX TOUR; MUSEUM ARTEFACTS; GEORGE BOOLE

In the now well-established tradition, SLHA members were treated to a variety of short but entertaining talks in a “Sunday Special” on 22 January. Ken Hollamby gave an illustrated preview of the attractions in West Sussex and Hampshire being visited in this year’s study tour. These include Chichester (where the University provide our accommodation), Fishbourne Roman Palace, Weald and Downland Museum, Amberley Museum, Arundel Castle and Cathedral, and Fort Cumberland. We hope this very interesting programme attracts a large group. Booking details

Recent acquisitions at The Collection were the theme of Antony Lee’s talk. He first mentioned the Roman intaglio ring, Anglo-Saxon pendant (right), bronze boar statuette and Roman gold coins already featured in Lincolnshire Past and Present, and then described in detail six gold coins, minted under Charles V of Spain in the period 1790-1801, which are part of a much larger hoard found near Lincoln over recent years. The museum has also recently acquired a Chinese Hellbank Note, of no monetary value as currency but burnt at funerals as part of a traditional ritual.

Dave Kenyon of the University of Lincoln spoke about George Boole (1815-1864), who was born in humble circumstances in Lincoln. Boole developed his interest in Mathematics while running a small school in Pottergate in the city (left) and the exceptional quality of his work led to a professorship in Maths at Queen’s College Cork. His seminal work on the logic (Boolean Algebra) which underpins computer science is widely recognised. Dave is doing all he can to ensure there will be appropriate international celebrations of Boole’s birth/death in 2014/15. Read a more detailed biography.
January 2012

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