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Lincolnshire Day

Written By Ben Doyle

Aerial photograph of Lincoln Cathedral

Lincolnshire Day began in 2006 with a petition to formally recognise the Lincolnshire Rising, a rebellion that began in Yorkshire in October 1536 as a protest against Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries and England’s separation from the Roman Catholic Church.

Nine thousand Lincolnshire protesters marched to York, where Henry and his court were staying, and demanded the reintroduction of Catholic worship practices. Henry agreed to the demands of the Lincolnshire protesters, but soon went back on his word. The leaders of the uprising were executed and Henry’s Church of England reclaimed control of the city.

Today, residents of Lincolnshire commemorate that event by hosting Lincolnshire Day which celebrates the culture, traditions and history of the county.

Quick LinksHow to Celebrate Lincolnshire DayLincolnshire Food

During Lincolnshire Day, you’re bound to see a few Lincolnshire flags flying in windows and on cars. There will be events held across the county, from food and drink festivals and music concerts, to history talks and discounted rates for local attractions.

Many choose to show their participation in the festivities by dressing up in yellow; a homage to the term ‘Yellowbelly’ which refers to a person from Lincolnshire. Although there is no concrete explanation for this nickname, many origin stories have emerged over the years:

  • Soldiers of the Lincolnshire Regiment and Royal North Lincolnshire Militia wore bright yellow waistcoats – hence the term ‘Yellow Belly’
  • An old folk tale describes how, if a person born in Lincolnshire slept with a shilling on their stomach, it would turn to gold by morning
  • Originally ‘Yellowbelly’ may have been an insult aimed at those who spend their days poaching in the Fens and got covered in the yellow pollen as they stalked their game

Of course, these are just a few explanations behind the name. Do you have a better one? If so, tweet it to us @Lincolnshireorg using the hashtag #LincolnshireDay


Celebrate Lincolnshire Day Like a True Yellowbelly

Explore The Lincolnshire Countryside

Lincolnshire has some of the most beautiful and tranquil landscapes in the country; from the rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds and the epic expanses of the Fens, to the historic city of Lincoln and the bustling seaside towns. The county itself is largely given over to farmland and agriculture, which means there are plenty of fantastic walks and rambles to choose from.


Famous Lincolnshire Food And Drink

For true Yellowbellies, there are a few culinary traditions you must adhere to if you want to commemorate Lincolnshire Day in style! These include a meal of Lincolnshire sausages, followed by Lincolnshire Plum Loaf with Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese, washed down with a pint of Bateman’s ale. Perfect!

Lincolnshire Sausages

The people of Lincolnshire are friendly, welcoming and always happy to chat about pretty much anything. But, ask a local butcher his recipe for Lincolnshire sausages and you may find yourself turfed out the door before you can say ‘Yellowbelly.’

Lincolnshire Sausages are a prized symbol of the region and have been made here for as long as anyone can remember. The basic recipe is fairly standard; coarsely chopped or minced pork, herbs and bindings, but that’s about where the similarities end. Every butcher and sausage-maker adds their own unique twist to make their sausages the best.

The Lincolnshire Sausage competition takes place every year and sausage aficionados come from all over the region, and beyond, to try and wow the judges with their particular blend of ingredients.

Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese

Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese is made in only one place in the whole country and the locals are happy to keep it that way. Made at Ulceby Farm in Alford by master cheese-maker Richard Tagg, this hard cheese is made from unpasteurised cow’s milk and is shipped all over the world to cheese-lovers everywhere. They even make an amazing selection of cheese wedding cakes!

Since 1917, this family-run business has poured experience and expert care into its products and their cheeses, including goat and sheep selections alongside the original Poacher Cheese. Traditionalists like to have their cheese cut thickly and stacked onto warm Plum Bread (see below), while others like to take it up a notch with local Rarebit recipes, cheese soufflés or Hunter Pie.

Batemans Ales

Founded in 1874, Batemans Brewery originally only produced one local ale, but now this has grown to eight and Bateman’s are now well-established, not just across the county, but internationally as well.

The award-winning team creates both cask and bottled beers, from light and refreshing ales to rich and full-bodied bitters. Those of you who are eager to sample the many delights on offer can visit the brewery itself, or track down a local festival or event where the brewery is showcasing its wares – they travel across the country all year round so that everyone can get a taste.

Lincolnshire Plum Bread

Found in bakeries and tearooms across the county, Lincolnshire Plum Bread (sometimes known as Lincolnshire Plum Loaf) is becoming ever more popular.

The most common recipes for Lincolnshire Plum Bread include a variety of dried fruits, such as sultanas and raisins, soaked in tea and then baked into a slightly sweet dough. It is traditionally served with Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese, but any kind of cheese, or even just butter, will do.

Plum loaves are often given as gifts, especially around Christmas time, as an alternative to Christmas puddings or Stollen cake.

Stuffed Chine

You may never have heard of it before if you’re not from Lincolnshire, but Stuffed Chine is as popular here as ham and bacon. Stuffed Chine is made from salted pork neck, stuffed with parsley and cut into slices. It is typically served cold with chutney and, when sliced, creates an attractive green-and-white pattern between the pork meat and herb filling.

Grimsby Fish

Grimsby is well-known across the UK for supplying fresh fish and seafood, and in the 1950s it was the largest and busiest fishing port in the world. Today, Grimsby still exports a large percentage of its catch elsewhere but a good portion is snapped up by the locals on a daily basis.

Traditional Grimsby smoked fish has achieved recognition as a staple of Lincolnshire cuisine and in 2009 was awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the European Commission.

Need to stock up on decorative flags before this year’s Lincolnshire Day? We’ve got you covered;

About the author

Ben Doyle

Ben has lived in Lincoln in 2011 with his wife who has lived here all her life. With a background in writing, he has spent the last 12 years writing blog content, emails and eBooks for Lincolnshire's businesses. Today, he spends his time exploring our county and capturing its beauty on camera. When he's at home, he loves nothing better than to cook, using Lincolnshire's finest ingredients.

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