During a recent walking holiday in the Cotswolds, I visited the church of St Mary the Virgin in the village of Ilminster. Once inside, I spotted carvings of mice on some of the pews and recognised these. Kilburn in North Yorkshire is the home of Mouseman, Robert Thompson, the famous furniture maker. He was born in 1876 and dedicated his life to carving and joinery using English Oak. Each piece of furniture includes the now famous mouse symbol. According to their website … ‘the story told by Robert Thompson himself is that one of his craftsmen remarked that they “We all as poor as church mice” Whereupon Robert carved a mouse on the church screen he was working on. That particular mouse has never been found but it has continued as a trade mark of quality and dedication to craftsman ever since.’ In Kilburn there is a visitor centre (charges apply) which allows visitors to experience what life must have been like for Robert in the late 19th century. The cache (a nano) is located in the pretty village, a short distance from the visitor centre. There is ample roadside parking. Take your own writing implement.
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