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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Boston
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(35,000 in 1991) Town in Lincolnshire, on the *Wash near the mouth of the river Witham, which was a major port in the Middle Ages. The huge tower of the 14–15C church of St Botolph, 88m/288ft high, is a landmark for miles around and is known as the Boston Stump. It was from here that the main group of *Pilgrim Fathers set off in 1608 on the travels which would take them eventually to the New World. In the Guildhall the cells are preserved in which they were imprisoned after their first abortive attempt to leave, in 1607. The city of Boston in the USA was named because many of the leading settlers had come from the district around this English coastal town.
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