Trip to Lincolnshire
by Bo Dahlqvist
In the Brussels South station’s departure hall
The NT travellers joined up almost all
but some had unfortunately had to cancel quite late
we all hope that they will soon recuperate.
The train left on time and under the Chanel we went
and we arrived in London without any event
We mounted in the couch and without having to wait
we were on our way to Wimpole Estate
It was a big house and a ground of thousand acres
where they were growing the cereals used by the NT bakers
In the house we saw two libraries and rooms nicely decorated
and in a bedroom a bed so elaborated that it became exaggerated.
We could visit the farm where they kept pigs, horses and cows
and a big walled garden with a big green-house.
After the visit we drew on to Lincoln where we would stay
and after a drink and a dinner it was the end of the first day
The second day was reserved to discover the Lincoln city.
The visit of the cathedral and the castle were organised by the committee
but in the afternoon we strolled around on our own
down the Steep hill to the river and back up again on cobblestone
In the evening we had dinner in a nicely decorated large hall
and after the bus ride back which was enjoyed by us all
The Tattershall Castle was on the program for the third day
a large tower with 6 million bricks made by local clay
six meter thick walls covered by tapestries that were old
a project in the 15th century that was very bold.
In the afternoon we went to Gunby estate
a nice cosy house, a garden and a tea-room where we ate.
The Thursday it was time for Boston with three specific places to see
and learn about Mayflower and why the inhabitants had had to flee
The Fydell House had a nice garden and the guildhall was next to it
an old building where the guilds had meetings and shared their wit
and then the St Botolph Church the Stump
with a collection of old books on parchment and lump.
On the way back from Boston we stopped at Belton Estate.
The last owner was friend with Edward VIII and that became his fate.
The house is grand with a formal garden, an orangery with exotic trees
and a large pond with a boathouse where you could enjoy a gentle breeze.
The bus then took us back to Lincoln we saw the towers well before
the bus started to climb the steep roads leading to the hotel door.
The next day started with a cathedral from 1108 but which has several times got extensions
It is called Southwell Minster and has in 1884 become a cathedral with large dimensions.
Then we went to see the workhouse which was built to lodge the poors
a bit like a prison but they were allowed at their demand to walk out the doors
but to be lodged and fed they had to work and the aim was to reduce the cost
and with this system their lives were hard but they did not get totally lost
The next stop was in Newark not south of New York but on the Trent
and first of all to the Civil War museum we went
where we learnt about the horrors and the reasons for the war
between the King and the parliament , two camps both in uproar.
The Newark castle which in the old days blocked the river Trent
is mirroring in the river water but a ruin to a large extent.
On the Saturday morning we set of to Peterborough
with a large cathedral with a Jesus on a cross that glow
and then on to the golden pheasant to have a farewell meal
quickly served with cod and Eton mess it was an excellent deal
and then most of us took the bus down to the station.
To join the group next year there is no hesitation.
Dear Bo ,
I am full of admiration for your glorious poem of our interesting trip !
Tried before to congratulate you , but it didn’t pass through the blog machine …
An even as the sun is very hot
We shall forget not …
That’s a very bleak try , yours is much better !
Nelly