William Wilberforce 1759-1833

I love to make people like each other better.

Quoted by Travers Buxton

Welcome to

Clay Lane

Straightforward English

English Literacy Inspired by the Vision of NL Clay

Clay Lane is a website for people who care deeply about the language and heritage of the English people, and who want to know more about them because they understand how important these things are for our future. It is inspired by textbooks written by Yorkshire schoolmaster NL Clay, and used in English schools and homes from the 1920s to the 1960s. Clay Lane is ideal for those who prefer traditional methods, traditional content, and the option of one-to-one human contact.

Read famous (and not so famous) passages from history, legend, biography, politics, poetry and fiction, and try your hand at exercises similar to those Clay gave to pupils in secondary schools before the educational changes of the 1960s. Use what you find here to improve your command of good, clear, correctly spelled and punctuated English, or just browse for pleasure.

Everything on Clay Lane is free to use. Share your creativity with me, and if you’d like a little help, just ask. See Email Support.

“The course should train pupils to observe, learn more of the world they live in, think clearly, use the imagination and to speak clearly.”

NL Clay, Think and Speak (1929)

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Blog Latest

November 2

One More Pounce

A Welshman was not keen on handing over his employer’s money just because Tom Dorbel had a gun.

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Clay Lane Blog

Stay informed about new posts, revisit posts from the Archive, try your hand at some brainteasers from the 1930s classroom, and listen to classical music.

About Clay Lane About NL Clay

The Copy Book

Hundreds of short passages of history, fiction and poetry from Britain and around the world, with study notes and brainteasers on grammar and vocabulary.

Authors Subjects

Think and Speak

Exercises in expression and imagination based on those given to pupils aged 12-13 in English schools in the 1930s.

Exercises Word Games

Comfortable Words

The King James Bible of 1611, a model of straightforward English made for reading aloud, with a selection of prayers and hymns.

Hymns KJV Bible Prayers

Word Games

A selection of games with words and their letters, including Crosswords, Polywords and the Honeycomb Game.

Add Vowels Honeycomb Polywords

The Tale of Years

Find Copy Book posts in chronological order, from the story of Abraham to Julius Caesar, and from Caratacus to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Featured Post

From The Surrender of Vercingetorix

Vercingetorix on his splendid horse, his jewels and armour gleaming in the sunshine, rode quickly round the tribunal. Then vaulting from his horse he threw his sword and spear at Caesar’s feet, and, without a sword, seated himself upon the steps of the throne. Even the Roman soldiers were touched at the sight of this splendid hero who thus gave himself up for his country.

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Featured Exercise

Homonyms Find in Think and Speak

Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.

1. Base. 2. Host. 3. Grass. 4. Stable. 5. Notice. 6. Stall. 7. Junk. 8. Pitcher. 9. Draw.

Show Suggestions

For each word above, choose one or more suitable meanings from this list.

1. The bottom or foundation of something. 2. A declaration that employment will be terminated. 3. Attract. 4. E.g. a lawn. 5. Delay, hold up. 6. Equal number of points in a game. 7. Throw a party; one who throws a party. 8. A poster, sign. 9. One who throws the ball in baseball. 10. Something worthless. 11. A berth for e.g. horse, donkey or cow. 12. A dishonourable person or accusation. 13. (Of a car engine) stop unexpectedly. 14. A very large number (e.g. of soldiers). 15. Not liable to collapse. 16. A horse’s bedroom. 17. Espy. 18. Extract. 19. Inform (to the police). 20. Pull along. 21. Make a picture. 22. Table in a market. 23. Bric-a-brac, something useless such as mass-marketing emails. 24. A Chinese sailing boat. 25. Jug. 26. A military headquarters.

Featured Subjects

Liberty and Prosperity

Posts 169

Stories from Britain and elsewhere confirming the social and economic benefits of keeping politicians and their cronies out of the trade and business of ordinary people.

Free Speech and Conscience

Posts 23

Passages defending the right and obligation of every citizen to judge whatever is good and true, and to talk back to those who govern him.

Abolition of Slavery

Posts 36

Heart-breaking tales of slavery, in which Britain played a shameful part; and heart-warming tales of Abolition, in which she played a courageous one.

India

Posts 89

Stories from the ancient and mighty civilisation of India, from classical mythology to the Mughal Emperors, the East India Company and the British Raj.

Poets and Poetry

Posts 58

Passages from English verse, from Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf to Shakespeare’s sonnets, Tennyson’s Charge of the Light Brigade, Kipling’s If and many more.

Sport and Sportsmen

Posts 27

Stories from the world of cricket, football and other sports, and the men and women who have played them.

See All