At lunchtime Tuesday 11th March 2025, we had a Sandwich Filler talk by Nicola Hallam on Lincolnshire Poachers in the 19th century.

Nicola gave an excellent talk giving an insight into Poaching and Poachers. Back then there was no welfare state, if you were poor or ill you had no money given you, you had to make do. Catching wildlife was fair game on common land up untill the Enclosure Act when the land was owned by the “well-to-do folk”, who claimed all things on their land was theirs too and taking it was a crime (Poaching).

Gamekeepers were often employed to protect their interests and deter poachers, sometimes using force and guns. If caught the poacher could be fined or imprisoned if there was no violence involved, if there was, much harder punishment could mean longer sentences or transportation. If someone was killed execution. Nicola even found a record of a poacher from Sutterby!

Many thanks Nicola we all enjoyed your talk and we hope to see you again.