Stamford potholes and Rutland road repairs feature in Mercury Memories
The state of roads across the area features heavily in this week's Mercury Memories.
Every week we take a look at what was making the news up to 200 years ago, thanks to the support of the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust.
10 years ago
February 22, 2013
A Mercury campaign to improve the state of our roads is paying off after officials said most potholes reported by readers had been filled in.
Readers have reported roads with one or more potholes or where the surface was in need of repair.
We passed 31reports on to Lincolnshire County Council which says 90 per cent have been fixed.
County councils have been given millions of pounds of Government cash to spend on repairing roads over the next two years.
Executive councillor for highways and transportation William Webb (Con) said: “I’m please to say that we’ve already been able to fix a large number of the potholes that were reported to us by the Rutland and Stamford Mercury.
“The remainder are scheduled to be repaired as soon as possible.
“As a council, we invest more than £50m in road repairs each year, and over the next two years we’ll spend a further £6.5m to tackle potholes in Lincolnshire.
“We have the fourth biggest road network in the UK, so we rely on the public to report potholes to us.”
A theatre has stepped in to provide a new home to groups and bingo players after a social club was forced to close its doors.
The Theatre Lounge bar at Stamford Corn Exchange, in Broad Street, will host the Cummins Social Club bingo nights from March 25.
Regulars at the nights, which are held every Monday and Thursday, were devastated in November when they learned the social club in Wharf Road would have to close.
Cummins Generator Technologies, which owns the clubhouse, decided to withdraw its support for the club in a bid to save money.
The social club committee began working to find a new home for the bingo nights and the numerous clubs and organisations that hold their meetings in the clubhouse.
And this week it was confirmed that the Theatre Lounge bar will be the new home for the bingo nights.
Corn exchange manager Judith Mackie said: “The Theatre Lounge wasn’t being used to its full potential, especially at the start of the week.
“We had this space we could offer them so they could continue the bingo. We have a lift so access is really easy.
“We have also taken on some of the other groups that have meetings at the club.
“We wanted to support the community because there are so few places people can go to enjoy that sort of thing.”
Places are still available for the next meeting of Stamford Clandestine Cake Club.
The event will be held on March 3, between 2pm and 4pm. The venue changes every month and is kept secret until a few days before when it is revealed to people who have registered.
But organiser Sophie Douglas said the venue was particularly special for the March meeting and urged people to sign up.
The theme is surprise, inspired by the venue’s Garden of Surprises, and can be a cake that wows when cut into or a recipe using flavours you wouldn’t expect. The cake must be large enough to be cut into up to 12 pieces.
25 years ago
February 20, 1998
Rats in Stamford could drive tourists out of town if numbers multiply in the warm weather.
Fears have been expressed the epidemic witnessed in the town last year could be just around the corner.
Coun Geoff Winson, chairman of the cemetery and allotments committee, warns that mild temperatures will encourage the creatures to breed. And figures from South Kesteven District Council confirm a rise in rodent numbers in Stamford compared to the same time last year.
The problem first surfaced last November went rats were stripping green areas bare at the Uffington Road allotments and were seen at nine different location in the town. Emergency action was taken, and a pest controller was brought it who terminated them during early morning missions.
Coun Winson told the Mercury: “The allotments were dealt with straight away but I’m very concerned they could easily come back with the mild weather we’re having. The last thing Stamford needs is to have rats in the summer when a great number of tourists arrive. The creatures are very good at not being seen, so if one is spotted the chances are there are plenty more.”
Requests for traffic calming in Lincolnshire have been dealt a blow after the county council agreed to meet just half of the cost of scheme.
Stamford Town Council planning committee members were disappointed to receive a letter stating their authority would have to find the rest of the money for schemes which could cost up to £50,000.
Deputy Mayor Coun Derek Bell told a meeting this week: “Surely this is the county council changing its rules so it doesn’t have to provide any traffic calming. There is no town or village which can contemplate finding that amount of money.
“Can you imagine the reaction if we put an extra £50,000 on council tax to meet the cost of scheme on Casterton Road and Empingham Road? A parish council could never raise that amount of money in its lifetime.”
But Coun Philip Keddell argued: “We have got to recognised it could open the door for local people to make some contribution to their own scheme.
“The problem is there are more than 500 requests for traffic calming, and very little money available for them.”
Children from Rutland who go to a Church of England or Catholic secondary school will no longer get a ‘free ride’ if council proposals are passed.
Rutland Council plans to charge each child 50p per day to bus them from the county to either St Paul’s RC Comprehensive in Leicester or Bishop Stopford School, Kettering.
It will save the council a mere £2,000 each year.
Headteacher of St Paul’s RC Comprehensive, Edward Hayes, is appalled by the proposals and has written to MP Alan Duncan and the council to register his concern.
He said: “For parents with two to three children it is going to amount to a lot of money. I just think it is unfair. The children will have to pay 50p coming from Rutland, but those who come to school from Market Harborough will come for free. If our community wants to send its children to a Catholic school that is their right, but they should not be penalised just because they are coming from Rutland.”
Mr Hayes said about 30 pupils, who are all Catholics, use the bus every school day.
50 years ago
February 23, 1973
A lifeline may be thrown to the 100 workers who face losing their jobs at the Martin-Markham farm machinery works in Stamford.
For talks aimed at a possible takeover have raised hopes that production could yet continue at the Ryhall Road factory.
One worker told us this week that he had been told there was a 50-50 chance of some jobs being saves.
But all this is just another drop in a sea of speculation over Martin Markham, who have been linked with Stamford since the 1890’s
The drama over the company started at the week-end with rumours of a close-down buzzing around Stamford.
And the company confirmed the truth of the rumour in a statement on Tuesday.
It said “a number of adverse factors” had made it necessary to stop production at Stamford in the very near future.
The entire workforce of 100 would be issued with redundancy notices within the next few weeks, said the company.
After a lengthy debate, Bourne Urban Council on Tuesday turned down – at least, temporarily – a recommendation from its estates committee to take the market stalls from North Street and West Street.
Had the committee had its way, the stalls would have been sited on the council’s car park in West Street. But protests from several councillors ended by the matter being referred back for further discussion.
Coun Mrs Margaret Birkbeck was all for moving the stalls.
“It will alter the character of the town,” she said, “But sentiment must give way to common sense.”
To move the stalls to the car park would ease loading and unloading, would facilitate erecting and dismantling, and would provide for a higher standard of hygiene, Mrs Birkbeck contended.
Coun John Wright stressed the market place being one of Bourne’s treasured features.
“I have lived in Bourne for about 20 years and will be sorry to see the market go,” he said. “Compromise is essential.
“All West Street car park does not belong to us, and the question is whether it is big enough to hold all the stalls. We should think again before moving the stalls out of the streets.
Exton Village Hall was packed on Saturday night for its official re-opening after extensive renovation and modernisation.
A great many of the people who had made the repair scheme possible were able to be present.
The hall was closed in November, 1970, because it had become unsafe and it was learned that an estimated £3,706 was needed to make it fit for use again.
An entertainments committee was formed with the object of raising at least a quarter of the money for the repair bill. The remaining three-quarters was promised in grants by the Department of Education and Science, Rutland County Council and Oakham RDC.
Since then a wide variety of events have been held and so successful has been the all-round effort that Mr. W. Francis, management committee chairman, was able to announce on Saturday that the total of £1,927 had been raised by voluntary effort, making additional improvements possible.
100 years ago
February 23, 1923
Lantern Mission Services – At All Saints’ church, Stamford, on Thursday, the first of the weekly Lenten mission services was held, when an illustrated address was given by the Rev. G. D. K. Clowes, Rector of Little Bytham.. The lantern was under the supervision of Mr. F. Hare.
Prosecution of Felons Association – The annual meeting of the Stamford and St. Martin’s Association for the Prosecution of Felons was held on Thursday. The accounts, presented by Mr. Godfrey Phillips on behalf of the Clerk (Mr. V. G. Stapleton), showed that in addition to £10 invested in War Stock, there was a balance in hand of £18 17s. 9d. The following were elected on the committee: Messrs. C. Dalton, C. Miles, T. Hart, J. E Cumberland, S. Farrow, Dean Swift, C. W. Hall, and C. Roberts.
Postal Officials Dine – A most enjoyable evening was spent at Mrs. Barton’s cafe on Thursday, on the occasion of the staff dinner of the Stamford Post Office. Mr C. Rawbone (post-master), who presided, supported by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Pepper), Mr. Papworth (late postmaster), Mr. C. H. Cunnington, and Mr. A. T. Andrews (representing the Union of Postal Officials), proposed the “Postmaster-General”, which was replied to by Mr. Papworth. “The Mayor ad Corporation” was proposed by Mr. C. H. Cunnington, and replied to by the Mayor. During the evening an excellent programme was contributed by Miss Papworth (who accompanied throughout), Miss D. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. A. Lenox, Messrs. E. Edinborough,Walter Malcolm, E. Smith, Cunnington, F. Laughton, G. A. Green, and artists from the Palace.
Free Optical Treatment – At a special meeting of the Stamford District State Lodge of the M.U. Of Oddfellows on Saturday, it was decided that, in addition to free hospital and nursing treatment, members should be provided with optical treatment, including expenses travelling to and from an eye hospital, and the provision of the necessary appliances.
Profit On Gas – The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Stamford Gas Co. was held on Thursday, the Chairman (Mr. James Ringham) presiding over a small attendance. The price of gas had been reduced by 1d. per therm, equal to 4½d. per 1000 cubic feet. The report was adopted, and a dividend on the Ordinary Stock of 8 per cent., less income tax, was declared.
The Town’s Accountants – The only nominations received for the positions of Borough Auditors on Wednesday were those of the retiring officials (Mr. J. G, Robinson and Mr. Walter Goodley) who are therefore re-appointed without the necessity of an election.
The Wrong House – A Sunderland man, John Davis, who admitted having been on the road seven years, wassent to prison for 14 days on Wednesday for begging. He knocked at the door of the house of P.c. Anderson, and asked for a “copper.”
150 years ago
February 21, 1873
Lincolnshire Agricultural Show – Mr. Phillips, one of the deputation appointed by the Stamford Committee, to attend the meeting of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society on Friday, to invite the society to hold its annual meeting of 1874 at Stamford, reported to the Mayor the result of his visit. He said the society, although admitting the advantages to be derived from holding the show at Stamford in 1874, considered that Grantham had a prior claim, and they decided to hold next year’s show at that place: 22 voted for it being held in Grantham, and 13 for Stamford. Therefore, there was no chance of the show being held at Stamford before 1876, or 1877.
We understand the committee of Stamford Town Council appointed to consider the practicability of appropriating land for the building of cottages have agreed to recommend a site at the back of East-street, near the Conduit, where there is ground eligible for the erection of 40 or 50 tenements. It is proposed to let the land on a long leases.
On Tuesday night a lecture on “Compulsory Vaccination” was given to a thin audience in the Corn-exchange by Mr. J. Pickering, F.SS., of Leeds. After sketching a history of smallpox and vaccination and of the action of the Legislature to counteract the disease, he endeavoured to show that smallpox is not decreased by vaccination, that vaccination is the cause of dire diseases and of a heavier death-rate, and that the best protection against smallpox is secured by cleanliness and the due observance of sanitary laws. Fortunately this pernicious doctrine has very few disciples.
On Saturday the Rev. Canon Browne and Mr. Jos. Phillips complained to the Borough magistrates of the state of darkness in which, on the previous evening, the town had been left, and the great inconvenience suffered by persons who had to go into the streets, owing to the obscurity of the moon and no provision being made for the lighting of the public lamps. Except in thorough-fares where light was reflected from the shop windows, it was almost impossible for a person not well acquainted with the locality in which he was walking to grope about. The Magistrates said they had experienced the inconvenience complained of, and the Mayor promised to bring the subject before the Local Board. It was remarked that under the regime of the Improvement Commissioners the superintendent of police had discretionary power given him to order the lamps to be lighted on occasions when the moon was densely obscured.
Stamford Union – The business at the Board meeting on Wednesday last was very light, and the applicants for relief were mostly old and disabled people. The pauper inmates numbered 142, as against 150 in the corresponding week of last year; and the recipients of out-relief numbers 828, at a cost of £93 11s 0½d., as against 892 at a cost of £96 10s. 1¾d. The Clerk reported that two patients had been brought from Northamptonshire Lunatic Asylum, according to order, and that they both were quiet and harmless.
A few days ago a child named Burton, between three and four years of age, whose parents live in Gas-street, Stamford, was playing with her sister in a room at the top of the house, when she was pushed against the window, and fell out on to the road. She was very seriously hurt, but no bones were broken. She fell from an altitude of 18 feet.
200 years ago
February 21, 1823
An inquest was held at Uffington on Friday last, by Samuel Edwards, Gent. coroner, on view of the body of Ann Barker, spinster, aged 24 years. It appeared in evidence that the deceased had, whilst in a state of frenzy, on the 28th of January last, swallowed a quantity of sublimate of mercury, a rank and deadly poison, from the effects of which she lingered until Thursday the 13th inst. and then died. It is most extraordinary that although the friends of the deceased were immediately apprised that she had taken the poison, yet no medical assistance was procured until a week afterwards, by which time her system was so much exhausted as to render all human efforts unavailing. Verdict, lunacy.
l An inquest was held at Croyland on Monday last by the same coroner, on view of the body of Robert Edis, an infant six months old, who died on the preceding Friday in consequence of his mother having by mistake administered laudanum, which was sold to her for antimonial wine. The seller of the medicine has subjected himself to great reprehension; for at the time the medicine was sold, he (from circumstances which appeared in evidence) ought to have used more than ordinary caution in selling any of the contents of the bottle labelled “antimonial wine,” laudanum having been mixed therewith.
Wm. Steel (better known by the appellation of Boston Billy) has been fully committed for trial at Norwich, for stealing a mare the property of Mr. R. Roberts, of Pinchbeck. In this county. T. H. Jackson, Esq, of Stamford, has recovered his horse, which Steel took to Norwich on a second venture, after he had disposed of Mr. Roberts’. A hand-bill announcing the first robbery, fell into the hands of the ostler at the inn at Norwich, the day after Steel had sold the mare and left the town: the ostler well remembered the man, and on his going again to the inn, a few days afterwards, with Mr Jackson’s horse, which he had stolen from Stamford in the interval, caused him to be apprehended.
On Friday morning the 14th inst. A man who was confined for an assault on Mr. Holland of Wigtoft, broke out of Skirbeck house of correction. He effected his escape in the following singular manner: he first broke his iron bed stock into several pieces, and with his blankets formed a kind of ladder; he then wrenched the lock off the door of his cell, and got into the passage leading to the yard, over the wall of which he effected his escape with the iron and blankets.
One day last week, a gannet, of Soland goose, (pelecanus bassanu of Linnaeus,) was picked up dead in a field near Uppingham.
During the night of Friday the 14th inst. the shop of Mr. Tyler, tailor, in the Market-place at Uppingham, was broken open, and robbed of several new articles of wearing apparel, among which was a large quantity of shoes and half-boots, belonging to Mr. Collier, shoemaker, of Brigstock. Nothing likely to lead to the discovery of the depradators has yet come to light.