< PreviousLINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGELincolnshire’sdisplay includes vivid representations ofCrowland’s watery geography in the DarkAges of the C7th and its early riverbankdevelopment; a helpful overview beforeyou explore. We shall return to the abbeyin due course.Archaeological evidence showshabitation around 3,000BC but asettlement that eventually became amarket town had developed by the earlyMiddle Ages. This was beside a riverconfluence, the legacy of which is today’sunusually wide streets; especially Northand West Streets with their centralgreens. Both watercourses were coveredover in the C19th. Many of the cottagesare of mud and stud construction –though with modern facings - and severalare thatched; note especially theornamental cup and saucer of thetearooms. Of the inns the “Abbey” iscirca 1730 whilst the George and Angel(1714) is the only inn in England withthat name.Crowland’s unique three-arched TrinityBridge stands at the site of the riverheritageexploredIn this and future articles our aim willbe to examine places, events, people andperhaps some “modern” industrialarchaeology, indeed anything that hascontributed to the creation of the historiccounty we enjoy today. There will be nostrict chronological approach; we shallskip back and forth over the centuries –indeed the millennia – as we exploreLincolnshire’s past. Our first “visit” is toCrowland, which holds an importantplace in our ecclesiastical history beingthe site of the only pre-conquestmonastery in the county.Crowland lies in Lincolnshire’ssouthernmost fenlands – indeed it is onlyjust in Lincolnshire - and is famous as thesite of the monastic cell of St Guthlac. Agood place to start any visit is the abbey.There a new inter-active audio-visualWelcome to our new series about Lincolnshire heritage.We begin in the south of the county at Crowland.CROWLAND ABBEYwith Hugh Marrows70-71_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:44 Page 1includedEthelbald whoseaccession to thecrown Guthlacforesaw. Ethelbald sworethat if this came to pass hewould build an abbey atCroyland. Guthlac died in AD714 andtwo years later – as king – Ethelbald laidthe foundation stone and endowed theabbey with extensive landholdings. Thename Croyland is still retained by theabbey and its rather lengthy thoughappropriate dedication is to Our Lady, StBartholomew and St Guthlac.The church we see today is the remainsof the fourth abbey here. Ethelbald’sabbey, a Benedictine foundation, wasoverrun and burnt down by the Danes inAD870 and it was threequarters of acentury before Abbot Turketyl began arebuild in AD946. This second abbey waslargely destroyed by fire in AD1091 andalthough rebuilding was undertaken thatwork was all demolished and a thirdNorman-style abbey was begun by theFrench Abbot Joffrey in AD1109. Thisagain was mostly burnt down in AD1143,followed by later piecemeal buildingwork and alterations until the “final”fourth abbey was completed in theAD1420’s.An intriguing relic of the C9th Danishinvasion is St Theodore’s skull. Theinvaders approach was anticipated andmany monks fled but Theodore refusedto leave his abbey and remained prayingat the altar where he was killed. Centurieslater a skull was found that has nowLINCOLNSHIRETODAY71LINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGEconfluence. Early charters of AD 716 andAD943 mention a bridge here –presumably of wooden construction –but the present stone one is circa 1375.The Catswater from the south met theWelland flowing along West Street hereand combined they continued down thepresent-day North Street. The stonestatue, representing Christ with world inhis hands, was placed on the bridgearound 1720 having been removed fromthe abbey west front.There are two interesting short strolls.First to The Lake beyond the West Bank.Walk up the north side of the causewayover a series of small bridges to the RiverWelland returning alongside the lakeitself. This is the remains of achannel/canal that once linkedCrowland with the river and had a smallwharf at the town end. The secondoption is to the south of the abbeyacross Snowden’s Field, bequeathed toCrowland in 1912, for perhaps the finestviews of the abbey.And so to St Guthlac and the abbey. Aformer soldier Guthlac renounced themilitary life for that of a hermit, andarrived by water with his boatman and aservant at the island of Croyland on StBartholomew’s Day AD699; an eventdepicted as one of the four scenes fromhis life in the quatrefoil over the navearch on the abbey’s west front. Theircells were probably situated a little to theeast of the present abbey site.Guthlac was soon recognised as a manof great holiness whose spiritual wisdomwas sought by many visitors. Theseundergone modern dating tests and isestablished as being approximately midto late C9th and of male gender; it alsohas a hole in it that British Museumexperts confirm as being consistent witha blow from behind. The skull is thusinterpreted as being St Theodore’s.Although not on public display it canusually be seen by asking one of theabbey guides.Following Henry VIII’s Act ofSuppression in AD1536 most monasterieswere dismantled but at Crowland thechurch nave and two aisles were grantedto the town as the parish church. Eventhis was then further damaged duringthe Civil War, which saw the townchange hands three times, with the naveroof finally collapsing in AD1720. It issobering to reflect that today’s abbeycomprises just the north aisle of themonastery church – a mere fragment ofthe original.Enthusiastic guides are regularly onduty in the abbey to give tours or answervisitor’s questions and there are severalleaflets/maps available including a towntour giving extra information on localhistory, plus the Trinity Bridge and StTheodore.CHRIST STATUE TRINITYBRIDGESt THEODORE'S SKULLTRINITY BRIDGEAND ABBEY70-71_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:44 Page 272 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGn fact it’s not science fiction it’s here and now!driverless car research has just received a £20million boost from the Government and forms part ofthe government’s £100 million Intelligent MobilityFund. The money will enable manufacturers to developautonomous shuttles that will carry visually-impairedpassengers and fund new simulation trials forautonomous pods. Believe it or not, driverless vehicle trials are alreadyunderway on our roads and the government isprioritising investment in this technology so theautomotive sector can keep pace with rapiddevelopments in the US, Germany and the Far East.If this sounds like some kind of April fool you’d bewrong. As Business Secretary Sajid Javid explains, “ourcars of the future will be equipped with theLook,nohandsWe’re growing more familiar with automation inour cars – we now have park assist, where a carcan parallel park with little or no input from thedriver and brake assist, where a car will sensedanger and start braking way before you see thedanger. So should we be surprised thatdriverless cars are already being tested on ourroads?74 ÁI72-78_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:41 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY73COUNTY MOTORING72-78_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:41 Page 274 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGtechnologies that will make getting fromA to B safer, faster, and cleaner.” Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin,called the announcement a “landmarkmoment” and industry specialists seem tobe welcoming the news too. BVRLA ChiefExecutive, Gerry Keaney says “As thepurchasers of nearly half of all newvehicles sold in the UK each year, thevehicle rental and leasing sector will play amassive role in driving the uptake of next-generation cars, vans and trucks. Ourmembers will be developing the mobilityservices and business models of thefuture.”The UK industry’s voice, the Society ofMotor Manufacturers and traders (SMMT)has long been a proponent - their opinionfound the development of connected andautonomous vehicles would help generate320,000 jobs in the UK, delivering hugebenefits to society and the economy.In the first ever comprehensive analysisof the UK opportunities provided by thisnew technology, KPMG estimate thesenew vehicles will deliver a £51 billionboost to the UK economy and reduceserious road traffic accidents by more than77 Á72-78_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:41 Page 3XERULE THE ROAD FOR LESS.THE ART OF PERFORMANCEGet ready to rewrite the rules. With its F-TYPE inspired design, the Jaguar XE is a wake-up call for every other car in its class. With an engine range that delivers thrilling performance and impressive efficiency, the XE redefines the sports saloon.Contact us today to book a test drive.Official fuel consumption for the Jaguar XE range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 24.4-64.2 (11.6-4.4); Extra Urban 46.3-83.1 (6.1-3.4); Combined 34.9-75.0 (8.1-3.8). CO2 Emissions 194-99 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ.*Important Information. Based on an XE Diesel Saloon 2.0D standard specification. Contract Hire subject to status. Over 18s only. You will not own this vehicle. Must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Excess mileage charges (at 11p per mile). The promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotion and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles ordered by 31st March 2016. Provided by Jaguar Contract Hire a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport, SK3 0RB. Vehicle shown is an XE Diesel Saloon 2.0D 163PS Prestige 4dr 16 with optional Glacier White paint.36 month term. Model pictured (including optional metallic paint) from £357 a month, plus initial rental in advance of £2,139. Based on a mileage of 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges apply.Marshall Jaguar is an introducer and not a provider of Contract HireMarshall Jaguar LincolnOuter Circle Road, Lincoln LN2 4HW01522 411 227www.marshall.lincoln.jaguar.co.ukTHE JAGUAR XE PRESTIGE FROM £347A MONTH ON PERSONAL CONTRACT HIREPLUS INITIAL RENTAL OF £2,084*72-78_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:41 Page 4Official Fuel Economy Figures for the new MINI Convertible range: Urban 35.8-64.2 mpg (7.9-4.4 l/100km). Extra Urban 55.4-80.7 mpg (5.1-3.5 l/100km). Combined 46.3-4.3 mpg (6.1-3.8 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 100-142 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. *Test drive is subject to status and availability. ^Holding deposit is refundable. Holding deposit taken up to and including 4 March 2016.STAY OPEN.With the electric roof down, nothing will get in the way of your 360o view – not even parking or the weather, thanks to the parking camera coming as standard and the optional rain warner app.Be the first to drive the new MINI Convertible – secure yours today at Soper of Lincoln for just £100 holding deposit^.Feel the rush of MINI’s legendary go-kart feeling in the open air – book a test drive* at sopermini.co.ukSoper of Lincoln Roman Way, South Hykeham Lincoln LN6 9UH Tel: 01522 688 889THE NEW MINI CONVERTIBLE. ARRIVES 5 MARCH.72-78_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:41 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY77COUNTY MOTORING25,000 a year by 2030. Crucially, it also forecasts the UK will bea global leader in the production of thisnext generation of vehicles.But, while the new technology pleasessome the public are less enthused. Threein five motorists worry about the safety offully autonomous vehicles.Part of that concern seems to be basedon the theory that, the moretechnologically advanced a vehicle getsthe more potential there is for them tobreak down. And over half of the 2,000drivers polled fear that technology failingwould result in the vehicle breakingdown. The research also revealed that 40per cent simply mistrust the concept of aself-driving car with a fifth of motoristseven stating it scares them.The research, which was conducted byContinental Tyres, is part of its ‘VisionZero’ commitment, which aims toeliminate road accidents throughinnovative tyre technologies andautomotive systems.Despite concerns, the 2,000 peoplesurveyed did express what they considerto be major advantages of driverlessvehicles; the top being the possibility ofsafer roads, more efficient and reducedjourney times, and having to concentrateless. Yet, when asked about their view on78 Á72-78_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:41 Page 678 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGthe prospects of autonomous vehicles a quarter of UKmotorists believe that motoring and technology companiescould exaggerate what is possible.Mark Griffiths, Safety spokesman for Continental Tyres said: “There are very exciting times ahead with the advent ofautomated technology, though with any advance comesconcerns. As a leading automotive business we play animportant role in educating people about safety, right acrossthe vehicle from our automotive systems to our premium tyreranges.”The results are released just before the end of CES (theConsumer Technology Show) where connected cars have beenone of the hot topics, yet just five years ago no automotivebrands were present at the show – an indicator of how fast-moving the area is.The top ten list of advantages ofautonomous driving as identified byUK motorists in the study are:1.Road safety2.More efficient / reduced journey times3.Less concentration required4.Reduced insurance costs (through fewer accidents)5.Opportunity to use mobile6.Increased mobility for non-drivers7.Opportunity to eat in the car8.Opportunity to read in the car9.More productive use of time10.Opportunity to use tablet/laptopDriverless Audi A8 whisks film starDaniel Brühl to red carpet72-78_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:41 Page 7LINCOLNSHIRETODAY79CARINGThere comes a point in any person’s lifewhere they are forced to consider whatthey are going to do for the future. It ishuman nature to become less able as weage, and what was suitable for us twentyyears ago might not be feasible now. It’simportant however, that people are awarewhat options are available, and what theyentail. The most common wish is for a personto continue living in their home, with asfew changes to their lifestyle as possible.People want to continue beingindependent, and can often feelembarrassed at any changes they feelthey have to make for their ownconvenience. While certain conditions aregoing to require more specific care, suchparticularly if they are used commonly.Thankfully when it comes to traversingthe staircase, there is always the clearoption of a stairlift to fall back on. Thesecan be relatively inexpensive to haveinstalled, but will often require bringingin a professional to look at your housebeforehand, no two sets of stairs are thesame after all, and the task really needs tobe done safely. Something else to consider should be away of answering the door in case ofvisitors. Whether it’s family, a visitingcarer, or a door-to-door salesperson,constantly being forced to get up andmake one’s way to the door can easilywear a person out. Intercom systems,particularly if you can have some form ofremote entry lock in place, can enable aperson to at least determine who isMaking the best choiceMany elderly people wish to hold onto their independence aslong as possible, so what can be done to help achieve this?SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/TYLER OLSON81 Áas those suffering with Dementia, it’s stillpossible to maintain independence andlive in your own home.What must often happen, is a period ofadapting the home, and yourself, toaccommodate your needs – as well aswhat needs you might have later on.Simple tasks can become more difficult astime goes on, and taking steps to makethem easier sooner, rather than later, canprevent not only potential injury but keepmental health strong by empowering aperson to look after themselves. It’s important therefore to catalogueeach task that might become moredifficult with age, and what steps one cantake to fix them. Perhaps the mostobvious problem is that of staircases,79-83_Layout 1 24/02/2016 14:11 Page 1Next >