Atton Place

Atton Place on Eastgate is one of the oldest houses in Lincoln.  First mentioned in the accounts of the Dean and Chapter in 1441, it was originally a single storey building.  The building was included in a Parliamentary survey of 1649.

Reputedly named after Canon John de Aton (or Acton), Prebendary of Welton Ryval from 1329-1351. who lived here 1324-1326.

The building was re-fronted in a typical Georgian style in the late 18th century, an extra floor was added in the late 19th century, the house was made up of the properties visible in the image, but divided into two properties about the same time.

The building remained a priests' house for many years.  

It later became the County Assembly Rooms and a ladies boarding school, the large ground floor room was cleared for balls and other functions, the room was 40 ft long by 20 ft wide, entered through the central doorway at the front. The County Assembly Rooms moved in 1744 when the new building opened in Bailgate.  The school closed sometime later and then became the Judges Lodgings until 1810.  

For most of the next 100 years the house became a private house, Since the second decade of the 20th century, it has been home to a group of surgeons, an architect and interior designer, and now an estate agent.

People who lived and worked here 

In 1840 it was the home of 31-year-old Harriet Bainbridge's Boarding and Day Academy, her father Thomas' Academy was situated at 1 Michaelgate, her brother George founded the Bainbridges department store in Lincoln High Street.  Harriet married Richard Waddington, an Ironmonger, in early 1841 and later moved to 3 Guildhall Street.  Harriet died in April 1885.

In 1851 Henry Moss, Town councillor silk mercer & master employing 17 hands, lived here with his wife Louisa, 5 children, nephew, 10 employees and 3 servants.  

1857 Miss Thomas - Preparatory school for young gentlemen, formerly at 31 The Park

1932 Douglas Darbyshire, surgeon

What’s this Lincolnshire Stuff?

Posted on August 10, 2013

Lincolnshire Longwool Sheep

Lincolnshire Longwool was once one of the most important breeds of sheep in this country. These sheep made the fortunes of many families in Lincolnshire: the wool from the sheep was exported to Europe and the sheep were walked to London and killed for their mutton and lanolin.

By the late 18th century sales of Lincolnshire wool had been in decline for many years. The Revd Gideon Bouyer was Rector of Theddlethorpe St Helen and of Willoughby from 1771 to 1810, noticing the poverty and lack of work available in the area, founded a village school, set children spinning and started the Stuff Ball.

The first Stuff Ball was held at the Windmill Inn, Alford in 1785. Lincolnshire Stuff was the wool from the Lincolnshire Longwool, in the early days ladies would be given free admittance to the ball if they were wearing a dress made of Lincolnshire Stuff and the same for men if they were not wearing silk or linen; a different colour for the Stuff was chosen for each year to ensure the ladies always wore new dresses, the colour for the first ball was orange.

By 1789 the ball had become so popular it was moved to the County Assembly Rooms in Lincoln. The ball had been previously held in November but was moved to January.

Woollen dresses can be very warm during dancing and in 1803 the rule for free admittance was changed: the ladies were admitted free if they took six yards of the better stuff or 10 yards of the plainer material.

The Stuff Ball continued until 1929 but was revived in 1938, finally ending in 1947 when the Patroness, Lady Worsley, chose mauve and silver as the stuff colours.

The Lincoln Stuff factory was on the corner of the High Street and what is now Robey Street, becoming a boarding house after the Stuff trade declined and then subdivided in private houses.

Link: http://www.lincolnlongwools.co.uk/