Sometimes the truly wondrous does happen. When that occurs, it etches a sharp, memorable line in a life.
In my most recent book, Them Without Pain, a true incident from Leeds history is the catalyst for everything that happens. In 1696, goldsmith Arthury Mangey was hanged for coin clipping – which was treason, as it debased the coinage. In his trial it was alleged that he had a secret workshop on Middle Row, the shops and workshops behind the Moot Hall in the middle of Briggate (see the superb cardboard model).
In 1825, the Moot Hall and Middle Row were finally demolished, opening up the town’s main street. But as the workmen tore down walls, they discovered…a hidden workshop, with two pairs of metal shears, a bowl and an Elizabethan coin.
In the book, Simon Westow is there, and in the hidden room he also finds a body. That provides the spark for everything that happens.
Why had no one looked for the room at the time of the trial? Did the things in there really belong to Mangey or had he been set up?
We’ll never know. But some of what was found has remained and will be used in an exhibition on Leeds writing later this year.
Yesterday I was giving a talk at Abbey House Museum, where I’m writer-in-residence. I had the real privilege of holding these shears, of touching history. Maybe Arthur Mangey really did use them to commit treason over 300 years ago and I was able to share that with him. A connection across the centuries.
I’d written about them, and they were real. Now that’s magic, isn’t it?
Forgive me for ending on a crass commercial note, but in the UK Amazon has both Kindle and hardback editions at very low prices. See here.
Chris Nickson 