Laven'gro

Which means 'wordsmith'- in Romani Gypsy, as defined by George Henry Borrow (1803-1881) in his book by that name.  And it is his gypsy name, given to him in Norwich by Jasper, his friend.  Before this he was given the name Sap-engro, or snake handler.

As a young child Borrows visits the Ossuary in the crypt of St Leonard's church Hythe.  This Crypt is unique in England as it contains over 1500 bodies in the form of bones.  At Barrow's time it was thought that the bones were from viking raiders, washed up on the beaches.  Recent analysis points to some being roman.

As a child, with a military father, Borrow also lived near and describes  Norman Cross, a Napoleonic Prison near to Peterborough, where some 6000 prisoners were kept in terrible conditions, fed rotting meat, and eventually released in 1814, after Napoleon was finally brought low.  There is a memorial post and the wardens house left to see today.  The camp towers and huts were apparently sold for firewood.  Also the imprint of the camp as seen from the air.

Imprint of the camp next to A1 (M)

Two miles from Norman Cross was Whittlesea Mere, a large 6 mile x 4 mile lake.  Borrow talks about meeting gypsies by the lake as a small child.  In 1846 the lake was drained using steam pumps and long ditches to the sea.  In the lake was found treasure (probably)from Ramsey Abbey, and some stone work that may have been lost overboard on a barge crossing the mere.  The treasures may have been deliberately through into the sea to save it from apostate oblivion.

Ramsey Abbey Gate House (NT)

Censor

Boat

17th Century Map with Whittlesea Mere drawn