LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

Marsh Fen and Town 31 Long Sutton

August 26, 2024 at 10:23 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

A Dane's view of Long Sutton, how a run on the Bank was prevented, and a former colleague of my great-grandfather ages me. #marshfenandtown #History

youtu.be/XXnOeSbOrfs?...

A look at cabbage growing in the Fens

September 17, 2025 at 7:44 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

In 1867 Mr Tatam of Deeping Fen pontificated about the young girls working in local fields. Extract from my book #marshfenandtown

August 23, 2025 at 6:37 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

A look at the history of cabbage growing in the Fens. #History #RuralHistory #marshfenandtown

www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/cabbage

Cabbage

Farming for Producers #marshfenandtown #farming

October 1, 2025 at 5:14 PM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

After WW2 the supply from farmers direct to food processing increased rapidly especially in meat production seeing a transfer from local supply and markets to one via supermarkets. Thus relationship between farmer and consumer transformed. #marshfenandtown

youtube.com/shorts/EZ7XO...

Towns and Land Use #marshfenandtown #land #farming #conservation

August 30, 2025 at 6:29 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

In 1906 Henry Pickering gave what is possibly the earliest account of punt gunning on Cowbit Wash in the 1840's. #marshfenandtown

August 24, 2025 at 5:53 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

This video is clipped by blue sky despite it's alleged 3 minute allowance.
Full version here
youtube.com/shorts/AdnLt...

Marsh Fen and Town South Lincolnshire and Beyond

September 3, 2025 at 6:24 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Land becomes cultivated or grade 1 by the efforts of man. It then gets built on by the efforts of man, negating the work that has gone before. #marshfenandtown. What value is lost or gained as towns grow like the rings of a tree trunk?

September 3, 2025 at 6:20 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Today's excerpt from #marshfenandtown illustrates how swift and organised action by SUDC ensured Spalding received it's Sugar Beet factory and other towns lost out. A feat it would be doubtful could be achieved in a timely manner today

August 12, 2025 at 7:09 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

1941 was the first time I see Albert Seaton of Gedney Hill have a telephone. A rare thing in those times. It's hard to believe the telephone did not start to be common in households until the 1980's . When did you first have a phone.? #marshfenandtown

August 11, 2025 at 5:57 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

In introduction to my writing if you are interested in the history and social development of the Fenland area of South Lincolnshire and the changing relationship between town and countryside #MarshFenandTown

www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/marsh-f...

I sat down and started writing a book in March 2022. The idea of a book was spawned just over thirty years ago when I was a young bank clerk working for Barclays Bank in Holbeach and Long Sutton. My b...

THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE TO INDUSTRY IN LINCOLNSHIRE IN THE 19TH CENTURY

August 26, 2024 at 10:58 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Today's post considers the past and present importance of Agricultural Machinery businesses in the Lincolnshire area #MarshFenandTown #ruralhistory
www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/the-imp...

In 1890 the industry of Lincolnshire was described thus:“Lincolnshire being almost wholly an agricultural county the manufactures are, with one exception, unimportant. The exception is the Agricultura...

Marsh Fen and Town South Lincolnshire and Beyond

June 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

#marshfenandtown #ruralhistory #socialhistory #farming #wildfowling #lincolnshire. Any of these interest you check out my book.
www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/marsh-f...

After much work I have now published the full version of my book "Marsh Fen and Town South Lincolnshire and Beyond". It is a hard back book just under A4 size consisting of 450 pages, over 250,000 wo...

Agricultural Labour - May Hirings

August 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Most of us are familiar with the word Decoy referring to a wooden, or plastic model of a duck or pigeon, but in this case the word Decoy refers to a system of nets used to trap birds. #History #RuralHistory #MarshFenandTown
Find out more here: www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/decoys-...

September 15, 2024 at 5:49 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

This post looks at the historical May Hirings of agricultural workers. #agriculturalhistory #labour #farming
#MarshFenandTown

www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/agricul...

In May 2019 a meter high statue was unveiled in Hall Place, Spalding commemorating the times when Spalding had a May Hiring Fair where agricultural workers would be signed on for the year by their emp...

Holbeach the Centre of the Universe

September 2, 2024 at 8:38 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

#History #SocialHistory #MarshFenandTown #Lincolnshire
“I went to Kings Lynn once, its over-rated Holbeach has got everything I want.” Thus to this old man from a nearby village Holbeach was the centre of the Universe.

www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/holbeac...

When I worked in Holbeach there was an old boy used to come into town most market days from Holbeach St Marks by catching a lift with the post van. He was in his eighties and explained to me that he h...

Decoys - part 2 notes on more Lincolnshire Decoys

October 4, 2024 at 6:26 PM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Dowsby Decoy was owned by the Rev. Thomas Foster of Ryhall who took 12,908 ducks in one season. #History #RuralHistory #MarshFenandTown

Learn more about Lincolnshire decoys here:

www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/decoys-...

DOWSBY DECOY - “……….towards Sleaford, we soon get to another group of six old Decoys, all within three miles NE of Dowsby, the most southern of which is the famous Dowsby Decoy” Dowsby Decoy was owne...

Oysters #marshfenandtown #fishing #oysters

September 15, 2024 at 5:53 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

As oysters are being introduced to the North Sea a reminder of the past. youtu.be/5DBaYqMPqG4?...

April 19, 2026 at 6:44 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Marsh Fen and Town explores the balance between people and the environment. #marshfenandtown

youtu.be/KkR93KZ4agE?...

Balance

Would you drink milk containing boric acid? Food adulteration has been a hazard throughout time with the risk of poisoning it can create. Boric acid is used in insecticides and fungicides, so possibl...

November 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Remember stubble burning? #ruralhistory #socialhistory #marshfenandtown

November 4, 2025 at 7:52 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

An incident of adulterated milk. #marshfenandtown www.farmersfriendlincs.com/post/adulder...

Adulderated Milk

Marsh Fen and Town 14 Social Mobility

September 10, 2025 at 5:16 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

My great grandfather went from a working class background kept home from school on Mondays by his mum to stoke the peat oven in Soham to becoming an area manager in the Prudential. I explain how such social mobility is harder nowadays. #marshfenandtown #socialmobility

youtu.be/cQ0mXZysMS0?...

The Afghan #marshfenandtown #immigration

September 9, 2025 at 7:19 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

I've collected many migration stories and some are included in my book Marsh Fen and Town Sounds Lincolnshire and Beyond #marshfenandtown #migrants

youtube.com/shorts/5zBIX...

The English Immigrant #marshfenandtown #identity

September 4, 2025 at 5:49 AM

Andrew Elsden

@farmersfriend.bsky.social

Our history of migration is in our genealogy. Our nationality is in our hearts. #marshfenandtown

youtube.com/shorts/sdHhB...