Mrs. Elizabeth Woodcock, A married woman 42 Years of Age, of Impington, a Village 3 miles North of Cambridge, lost her way in returning hom from Market, on Saturday Evening, Feb.y 2.d 1799 & was buried 7 feet deep in the Snow...
Cambridge, Published May, 29.th 1799. Republished by J. Hatt, Peas Hill, Nuly 29.th 1849, Proprietor of the Views of Cambridge &c.
Scarce engraving. 265 x 209mm (10½ x 8¼"). Damage to margin on right.
A portrait of Elizabeth Woodcock, who survived being trapped in a snowdrift for eight days. Mrs Elizabeth Woodcock, a resident of Impington and wife of Daniel Woodcock, went to Cambridge market on Saturday 2nd February 1799. She sold her eggs and butter and started to return home. Her last stopping place was The Three Tuns at the top of Castle Hill. Heavy falls of snow had already occurred when she replenished her flask with brandy and left for home on her horse. She was thrown from her horse in the fields to the east of Impington, and was unable to remount. Shaken and numbed with cold she took shelter under a hawthorn hedge. The snow drifted over her until she was completely covered. Early next morning she heard the church bells ringing for morning service. She also heard the voices of passers-by in the distance, but was unable to attract attention. On the Monday she made a hole in the snow above her and made a flag of her red handkerchief which she tied on a stick. This flag led to her discovery but not till another week had passed. On the following Sunday, the Parish Clerk of Impington, William Munsey, saw the flag while out walking, discovered Mrs Woodcock, got help, and rescued her. She had been buried under the snow for eight days, and was conscious most of the time. She heard a church clock striking the hours, and the church bells on two successive Sundays. After her rescue, tragically she did not survive long. She was taken ill and died on 24th July at the age of 43.
[Ref: 49638] £130.00
Scarce engraving. 265 x 209mm (10½ x 8¼"). Damage to margin on right.
A portrait of Elizabeth Woodcock, who survived being trapped in a snowdrift for eight days. Mrs Elizabeth Woodcock, a resident of Impington and wife of Daniel Woodcock, went to Cambridge market on Saturday 2nd February 1799. She sold her eggs and butter and started to return home. Her last stopping place was The Three Tuns at the top of Castle Hill. Heavy falls of snow had already occurred when she replenished her flask with brandy and left for home on her horse. She was thrown from her horse in the fields to the east of Impington, and was unable to remount. Shaken and numbed with cold she took shelter under a hawthorn hedge. The snow drifted over her until she was completely covered. Early next morning she heard the church bells ringing for morning service. She also heard the voices of passers-by in the distance, but was unable to attract attention. On the Monday she made a hole in the snow above her and made a flag of her red handkerchief which she tied on a stick. This flag led to her discovery but not till another week had passed. On the following Sunday, the Parish Clerk of Impington, William Munsey, saw the flag while out walking, discovered Mrs Woodcock, got help, and rescued her. She had been buried under the snow for eight days, and was conscious most of the time. She heard a church clock striking the hours, and the church bells on two successive Sundays. After her rescue, tragically she did not survive long. She was taken ill and died on 24th July at the age of 43.
[Ref: 49638] £130.00