CHAPTER III 



BIRTHPLACE : LIMBER MAGNA 



The village of Great Limber, or, strictly speaking, Limber 

 Magna, now so well known in the sporting world for the stables 

 that in 1873 and 1874 produced two Grand National winners 

 in Disturbance and Reugny, is situated well to the north of 

 North Lincolnshire. It is some twelve miles west of the noted 

 fishing and seaport of Great Grimsby, about five miles south 

 of the vast new Immingham Docks, partly built upon land 

 held by John Maunsell Richardson's ancestors for generations, 

 and a mile and a half south of Brocklesby Hall, that fine old- 

 time seat of the Pelham family, now Earls of Yarborough. 



The spacious park surrounding this mansion, which with its 

 glorious old trees and fine springy turf is second to none in 

 England, formed, amongst many of its other joys, a grand 

 training-ground for horses destined to compete for the honours 

 of the turf — that is, to the privileged few, who like Maunsell 

 were allowed to enjoy its advantages. 



Now, although the county of Lincolnshire is by no means 

 all fenland, and quite flat, as it is generally supposed to be by 

 many people who have not taken the trouble to study the 

 geography of that county, it must be confessed, that unless a 

 Lincolnshire village nestles amidst the wolds, it often presents 

 a somewhat bare, not to say ugly appearance. 



Thus, Great Limber village, which is on comparatively 



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