Member Ann Lillywhite gave us a very informative talk supported by photographs of the various chapels in and around the town on the history of Methodism on the evening of 1st August. This was well supported by members and guests, and proved to be a good discussion point.

Our trip to International Bomber Command Centre at Canwick was in glorious sunshine and our guide Phil gave us an excellent tour highlighting the history of bomber command and its missions, he also told us about the long journey to establish a fitting memorial to the many men who lost their lives in this crucial part of WWII and many others since that conflict who came under Bomber Command. The spire is thought provoking especially with Lincoln Cathedral as a focal point through it; the many, too many, names on the engraved panels are sobering.  

The exhibition inside the Chadwick building was well balanced and offers new ways of learning about the lives of the crews and their support teams and how their actions affects everybody, both at home and in the axis countries.

Caroline had researched the crew of a Canadian flight that crashed at Braemar Farm in Middle Rasen and she located them on the panels and left a small wreath with the crews names on.

A very informative day.

Our thanks go to Sue Lucas for a very informative and fun visit to the racecourse on 2nd May, we learnt lots about the history of the racecourse and also got to see the usually off limits places like the jockeys room. Sue also had a slide show for us while we enjoyed a warm drink and biscuits. A very enjoyable evening.

February 7th Evening visit to the Old Railway Station

“The Old Railway Station is fully restored and full of History” that is what it says on the leaflet, so members of Rase Heritage Society went to check it out.

The historical displays are very interesting as too is the information about how the building was restored.

It is open Monday to Friday 9.30-3pm, for more information

www. marketrasenstation.com

On Thursday 6th December 2018 the Society was visited by Widow Smith who came to tell us how things were in Market Rasen back in 1818.  Widow Smith had fallen on hard times following the death of her husband, William, who had been a licensed  hawker  and having failed to get help from the Parish she was making ends meet through having a stall in the market place where she sold what was left of William’s trade.  Taking us through the social and political events of 1818 in Market Rasen month by month, she gave us an insight into how the town was governed at that time and introduced us to many of the people of the town and the events that were most important in their lives – births, marriages and deaths.  She had taken in Elizabeth Sanderson, a young unmarried servant woman who, in the mores of the time, had disgraced herself and was pregnant.  This act of kindness told us a lot about Widow Smith being a woman who identified with those who, like her, had to cope with difficult challenges in their lives.  Elizabeth helped Widow Smith with her stall.  She gave birth to Sarah in December.  The Church was important in the town not just for its religious role but because the parish was the unit of local government so the Vicar, Rev Matthew Barnett, was a significant figure as was John James Clarke, one of the churchwardens. John was a draper in the business of his father, Richard.  Also prominent was Zephaniah Barton a doctor (often referred to as surgeon).  He was a friend of the Tennyson family who were also prominent in the town.  The roles of the solicitors Thomas Rhodes and Mr Vine were important.  Widow Smith’s circumstances were such that she was not one to take kindly to what she saw as the petty restrictions place on her by those who thought themselves ‘better’ than her because of their superior social standing so her dealings with ‘the great and the good’ of the town were never easy, she treating them with as much suspicion as they did her.

For this very interesting insight into the early nineteenth century life of Market Rasen we must thank RHS member Caroline Foster who researched the times of Widow Smith and introduced her to us through time travel. A very enjoyable meeting to end 2018.