Cat Babbleton and concerts

Here we are in mid October and as yet we have not had to put the heating on - it cannot last but while it does it certainly saves on oil! I have been cutting back my herb bushes this morning and  later while walking Molly could not resist picking up a few conkers. But it's many years since I have threaded one onto a bootlace!

Last week was busy. I attended a concert in Doncaster on the Wednesday and had a few minutes spare to explore the new archives building on Chequer Road. I had not made an appointment but the staff were very friendly and let me have a look round and explore the research room - I was the only visitor!!. I shall return.

And on Saturday I attended a lovely afternoon concert in Howden Minster. The Roscoe Piano Trio played to a packed audience of over 250, many of whom had not visited Howden before. The concert was organised by Howdenshire Music - https://www.howdenshiremusic.co.uk - whose aim  is to bring free high quality classical music to as wide an audience as possible.

I am particularly looking forward to an event they are organising in November with a specially commissioned piano piece celebrating 650 years of the Anglo Portuguese Alliance. There will be Portuguese themed drinks, Napoleonic war songs and a talk by a historian delivered in costume. I am reading up on my history!

My historical researches too have been wide ranging. A friend bought me a collection of postcards at a fair which were local to Saltmarshe and Laxton. Perhaps the most interesting one was of a bridge  near Yokefleet called Cat Babbleton. I know where it is - many years ago local farmer and enthusiastic historian Joe Martinson came to one of my classes and talked about it but I was surprised to see it as a postcard. It is not the only place with that odd name - others too seem to have an association with drains or water courses.

 A coloured version of the black and white postcard.

I am also busy researching a family from Laxton who emigrated to the Montreal area around 1829. Robert Bishop and his family left for a new life in Canada as did so many others around this time. My own family, the Nurses of Eastrington settled around Port Hope and I have found at least one other family, the Warners, who had Laxton and Blacktoft connections and who emigrated to the area around the same time. It was a hard time then for agricultural workers and a new life with the possibility of your own piece of land to farm was very attractive.

I have some details of emigrant families on my Howdenshirehistory.co.uk website.

Last month I gave a talk to Howden civic society about the pubs of Howden. I run a small  history group in the Scholfield village hall in Skelton. I was asked if I would give the talk to them too and  so on Monday 16th October at 1.30pm I shall show it again. It is open to anyone but at a cost of £5 pp to cover hall hire etc. If you are interested let me know on susanebutler@btinternet.com.

 The white track to the bridge is on the very bottom of this picture of Yokefleet.