Rabbits To Russia Via Risby

The 7th May 2013 BASH meeting was an illustrated talk by Lily Betts entitled "RABBITS TO RUSSIA VIA RISBY" - the story of the Glanford Brigg rabbit fur trade going back over two hundred years.

This was a fascinating talk describing how rabbit furs were exported as far as Russia and China. The Black and Silver-Grey were the highly prized furs while other colours were considered to be only suitable for "women of evil life". A directory of 1826 indicated that this area employer more workers in this fur trade than any other part of the country. Lily showed the quality of the fur in the form of a coat worth over £1000 that she brought to the meeting.

BASH is now on its summer break and the next meeting will be in September.

Report and meeting photograph by Phil Allen