The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

1603

© Vivienne Smith, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Battle of Neville’s Cross Clay Lane

Ralph Neville spoiled David of Scotland’s alliance with France in the Hundred Years’ War

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1604

© Simon Armstrong, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

The Tale of Beggar’s Bridge Clay Lane

The proof of Thomas Ferres’s rags-to-riches tale is quite literally written in stone, but popular lore adds some tantalising and romantic detail.

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1605

© Philip Capper, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Black Agnes Dunbar Clay Lane

When Edward III sent the Earl of Salisbury to take her absent husband’s castle, Agnes brushed his attack aside - literally.

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1606

Photo from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs division. Licence: Public domain.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Clay Lane

A gifted composer of classical music in the romantic tradition, admired by Stanford, Elgar, and Sullivan.

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1607

© Jeff Buck, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

‘Nimrod’ Clay Lane

Edward Elgar suffered from depression, and ‘Nimrod’ is his token of thanks to the true friend who supported him through it.

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1608

© Marcus Obal, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Perfection is no Trifle Samuel Smiles

Michelangelo had a message for all serious entrepreneurs.

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