Lincolnshire

:This article is about the English administrative county. For the Illinois village, see Lincolnshire, Illinois; for the Kentucky city, see Lincolnshire, Kentucky.

Culture

Lincolnshire is a rural area where the pace of life is slow. Sunday is still largely a day of rest, with generally only shops in Lincoln (and some of the larger market towns) and on the North Sea coast remaining open. There is a relatively high proportion of elderly and retired people, and this is reflected in the many of the services, activities, and events. An example of this is the relatively large number of garden centres and plant nurseries, although this is also partially attributable to the due to the longstanding agricultural heritage of the county.

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Unofficial anthem

The unofficial anthem of the county is the traditional folksong, 'The Lincolnshire Poacher', which dates from around 1776. A version of the song was the theme to BBC Radio Lincolnshire for many years.

Related Topics:
The Lincolnshire Poacher - 1776 - BBC Radio Lincolnshire

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Search for a flag

In August 2005 BBC Radio Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire Life magazine launched a vote for an unoffical flag to represent the county. The six competing designs suggested by locals can be viewed and voted on herehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/asop/places/lincolnshire_flag.shtml.

Related Topics:
BBC Radio Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire Life

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Accent and dialect

The accent and dialect words of Lincolnshire are poorly known outside the county when compared to Scouse or Cockney, which have received far more media exposure. The effects of modern media, education, and in-migration to the county have indeed diluted the traditional accent, and many dialect words have been lost. However, the accent certainly exists, and a native 'Yeller Belly' will still easily pick out a Lincolnshire speaker, even distinguishing between the various parts of this large county - the northern residents of Lindsey tending towards Yorkshire dialect; the south-east of the county (Holland and the Fens) more like that of East Anglia.

Related Topics:
Accent - Dialect - Scouse - Cockney - Media - East Anglia

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In common with most other Northern and Midlands dialects in England, "flat" a is preferred, i.e. {{IPA|}} over {{IPA|}}, and also in words like water, pronounced watter. Similarly, {{IPA|}} is usually replaced by {{IPA|}}. Features rather more confined to Lincolnshire include:

Related Topics:
Northern - Midlands dialects

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• Elaboration of standard English {{IPA|}} or {{IPA|}} into a complex triphthong approximating, and often transcribed -air- or -yair-. For example: "mate" {{IPA|}}; "beast" {{IPA|}}; "tates" (potatoes) {{IPA|}}.
• An equivalent elaboration of standard English {{IPA|}} - commonly {{IPA|}} in Northern England - into -ooa-. For example "boat" {{IPA|}}.
• Insertion of an extra schwa into the standard English diphthong {{IPA|}}. For example, the town of Louth is pronounced {{IPA|}} by some inhabitants.
• Vocabulary: "duck" as a term of endearment or informal address, "mardy" meaning upset or angry, "while" as a substitute for standard English "until", and the inimitable salutation "now then!?" (hello), sometimes written nairn to reflect pronunciation, but often drawn out into a sing-song nyEEEAaairn-myeeeaaairt!!! in the mouth of the more rural and traditional speaker.

Lincolnshire has its own dialect 'champion', a farmer from the village of Minting called Farmer Wink (real name Robert Carlton), who has produced videos about rural life, narrated in his broad Lincolnshire accent, and who has a regular slot on BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

Related Topics:
Farmer - Minting - Farmer Wink - Videos

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Food

Lincolnshire has a number of interesting local dishes:

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• stuffed chine - this is roasted and sliced belly of pork, stuffed with a strong sage, or parsley stuffing (other ingredients are normally kept secret). Served cold, it's considered by many in the county to be an acquired taste
• haslet - a type of pork loaf, also flavoured with sage
• Lincolnshire pork sausages - most butchers in Lincolnshire have their own secret recipe for these and a competition is held each year to judge the best sausages in the county
• Batemans ales - a beer brewed in Wainfleet and served in many pubs in the county and further afield

Events

Every year the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society stages the Lincolnshire Agricultural Show on the last whole week of June at its showground at Grange de Lings. First held in 1869, it is one of the largest agricultural shows in the country, and is attended by around 100,000 people over its two day opening.

Related Topics:
Lincolnshire Agricultural Society - Lincolnshire Agricultural Show - Grange de Lings - 1869

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Since World War II, RAF Waddington has been home to the Waddington International Air Show, which usually takes place on the last weekend in June. The two day event attracts around 100,000 people each year.

Related Topics:
World War II - RAF Waddington - Waddington International Air Show

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