Kenneth Moore writes:
Hello all.
Can anyone shed any light on this. It is from a Trip Advisor review. I had not heard this before. Is it correct?
"When the money ran out for building the Cathedral, the King had the heads of the three richest families in Lincoln arrested, and held captive until they had paid a ransom to complete its construction. The tax collector was given the job of ensuring the money was paid in full, overseeing the whole operation. As a reward for their ‘generous donations’ the new benefactors of the Cathedral: Braud, Fricabon, and Weparis, were told their generosity would be remembered in all perpetuity, and their names can still be seen painted high on the ceiling in the cathedral naves. As a reward for his hard work, the tax collector was also to be rewarded and remembered. The three families banded together and paid for a statue of him to be mounted high in the Cathedral, to see what his perseverance in gathering the money had achieved. They had a less-than-flattering sculpture made of him, taking note of his small height, lack of good looks, and avaricious grin. He became forever known as ‘The Imp’, or T’ Imp.
"His sons were so ashamed of their father, and what he had done, that they refused to enter the same profession as him, and became cordwainers, or shoemakers. They realised that there was more money to be made in repairing shoes than making them, but needed to distinguish themselves from all the others doing the same thing. Using their father’s notoriety as T’ Imp, they became known as T’ Sons of T’ Imp. or T’ Imp’s Sons."
Many thanks
Kenneth Moore
Floor Guide
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