I was in the UK last week and visited old disused Lead/Silver Mines around Derbyshire....in one of the museums was an interesting story on the term "Nicked" or stolen.
The story goes that in the heyday of Lead Mining when demand was high for the Lead, the Guild of Miners directed that every productive Mine must be worked and not left dormant.
If a Mine was not worked for 3 days and you fancied taking over the mine yourself you could place a "Nick" in the wooden headgear along with your mark/Name.
If you managed to get 3 Nicks you were then entitled to take your claim to the Guild and maybe get the mine for yourself.
In this case the Mine would be Nicked.
True? Who knows?
Cheers
Davo
The story goes that in the heyday of Lead Mining when demand was high for the Lead, the Guild of Miners directed that every productive Mine must be worked and not left dormant.
If a Mine was not worked for 3 days and you fancied taking over the mine yourself you could place a "Nick" in the wooden headgear along with your mark/Name.
If you managed to get 3 Nicks you were then entitled to take your claim to the Guild and maybe get the mine for yourself.
In this case the Mine would be Nicked.
True? Who knows?
Cheers
Davo