His lordship's secret wine cellar

The lives of those who went before are usually recorded in dates and places but it is the personal anecdotes that bring them alive. George Pochin, for instance, was Lord of the Manor of Bourne Abbots for 37 years, from 1761 until he died in 1798. Among his achievements was the building of the Abbey House near the church in 1764, a fine mansion that for some unexplained reason was demolished in 1878 and the stone used to build a new vicarage, now the Cedars retirement home.

He was Colonel of the Leicestershire Regiment of Militia, Deputy Lieutenant and a magistrate in the counties of Leicestershire and Lincolnshire and a plaque in the chancel of the Abbey Church records his life. It says: "In his public capacity, he was deservedly efficient. A good soldier, faithful, upright and active magistrate of inflexible probity and unwearied attention. His benevolence and uniform integrity gained the respect and love and all who knew him. He died May 15th, 1798, aged 66 years."

What it does not say is that George Pochin also liked the occasional tipple, usually a glass or two of good wine. In the grounds of his new house was an Early English blank arcade, probably the south termination of the abbey cloisters, and in the absence of suitable storage facilities he hit upon the perfect solution to keep his bottles at the right temperature. He made a recess in one of these compartments and fitted it with a lock and key to keep it safe were it to be discovered by others.

His secret cellar remained secure for several years but one day, on going for a bottle of this wine to receive a particular friend, to his surprise he found the recess empty, every bottle having been taken away. On the robbery becoming known, the pilferers came forward and acknowledged the offence. They were workmen and while employed in effecting some repairs or alterations to the church, a brick fell from the wall. One of them put his arm into the aperture and brought forth a bottle of wine. It was partaken of by him and his companions and much enjoyed and they at once came to the conclusion that it had been placed there by the monks of the abbey a thousand years before and having made a successful search for more, they took possession of the whole of the hidden treasure and consumed it with some pleasure.

Their fate, unfortunately is unknown, but given the nature of their confession and belief in providence as to the source of their largesse, it is doubtful if any action was taken against them. George Pochin must have sought out another safe place for his wine and perhaps there are many more bottles still intact in a hidden place within the church precincts, having remained undiscovered for more than two centuries after his death.

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