Then and Now: Ruth Crook of Grantham Civic Society looks back at a case in which an omnibuis driver was sued in 1869

In May 1869 there was a report on Grantham County Court before Sergeant Miller, writes Ruth Crook of Grantham Civic Society.

‘James Todd sued a man named Hollingworth, for damages occasioned by reason of the defendant, who was driver of the Angel and Royal Omnibus, having driven against a shutter the property of the plaintiff.

‘The case was adjourned from a previous sitting, and after hearing additional testimony his honor ruled that half the claim be paid – in other words to split the difference’.

A caution to Carriers was made. ‘A girl named Fanny Thornton sued Thomas Hall, driver of a carrier’s van between Grantham and Branston&c., for £1 13s. 10d., the value of the parcel of clothes which she gave into his charge, having been lost in transit, she being at the same time a passenger for Branston.

‘The defendant denied having received the goods in regular charge and stated he received no payment for their conveyance. His Honor holding the defendant liable gave a verdict for the plaintiff. – Amount claimed and costs.’