Stamford skatepark approved as we look back at stories up to 200 years old in Mercury Memories
Every week we take a look back at stories up to 200 years old, with the support of the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust.
10 years ago
October 19, 2012
Skateboarders, BMXers, inline skaters and scooter riders are celebrating after an application to build a new skatepark on Stamford was approved.
Campaigners clapped and cheered when the plans were unanimously approved by South Kesteven District Council’s development control committee at a meeting in Grantham on Tuesday.
Councillors defied the advice of planning officers, who recommended the plans for a skatepark on the Recreation Ground be refused because of concerns over noise.
The plans were submitted by Stamford Town Council on behalf of the Stamford Skatepark Committee, which has raised £150,000 for the new concrete skatepark since the old wooden ramps were taken down because of safety concerns in 2008.
The council chamber in Grantham was packed with skatepark supporters eager to see the new park given the green light.
A generator manufacturer has been successful in a bid for a share of £14m of Government funding to invest in creating new jobs.
Cummins Generator Technologies, based in Barnack Road, Stamford, is one of five firms in the East Midlands included in the latest round of grants from the Regional Development Fund.
Cummins was one of a number of firms bidding for a share of the £14m set aside for the region. This is the third round of Regional Growth Fund grants, which are intended to help businesses outside London create jobs.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “This cash injection for Cummins Generator Technologies is part of a major Government drive to create and protect thousands of jobs that will last in the parts of the country where they’re needed most.”
A civic society has won a £42,000 heritage lottery grant to restore a sundial and another grant to replace it with one to mark its 50th anniversary.
Stamford Civic Society was given the funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project in partnership with All Saints’ Church to restore the sundial.
The grant is all the more special for the civic society because it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Chairman of the civic society Gwyneth Gibbs said: “Stamford Civic Society is delighted to have the resources to enhance the heritage learning opportunities of our young people, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“We are also very grateful to the Harry Skells Trust for enabling a new sundial to provide a lasting memorial for our 50th anniversary in this very special year of celebrations.”
The Heritage Lottery Fund money will be used to conserve an early 18th century sundial, which is on the southern parapet of All Saints’ Church and overlooks Red Lion Square.
The Harry Skells Trust has also awarded a £5,000 grant to install a new sundial in the same place to mark the society’s 50th anniversary and also commemorate the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
25 years ago
October 17, 1997
A doctor who helped ambulance staff tend victims of a head-on collision is calling for extra safety measures along the A43 in Stamford.
Dr Richard Griffiths’ plea comes after he came across the accident between a car and motorcycle on his way home from work.
Dr Griffiths, a consultant anaesthetist at Peterborough Hospital, wants the 30mph speed limit extended from Stamford Junior School, along the length of Wothorpe, and improved warning of the tight bends approaching Stamford.
Dr Griffiths, of First Drift, Wothorpe, said: “I frequently witness crazy driving when I walk my children to school. That portion of the road is a blackspot and there is little warning of the bends as you approach from both directions.
Officers from three different police forces attended the accident - Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire - and Dr Griffiths believes the fact that the road covers three counties within a few hundred yards could hinder progress in extending the speed limit.
He wrote to Lincolnshire County Council area surveyor Kevin Brumfield to ask if something could be done to reduce the risk of accidents, and his letter was passed on to the highways
department.
Nigel Simons, county senior engineer, said: “The problem is that the A43 is a truck road, and the responsibility of the Highways Agency, which has its own policy on roads outside schools.”
Grants for work to historic buildings in Market Deeping are not being used, according to South Kesteven District Council.
The Conservation Area Partnership (CAP) scheme began in April 1996 for three years to provide cash for work to historic buildings in the Market Deeping Conservation Area, to preserve and enhance its character.
The annual budget is £35,000 - £10,000 each from SKDC and Lincolnshire County Council and £15,00 from English Heritage.
However, despite high grant levels and targeted publicity, the budget was underspent by £7,500 in the first year, and this year £10,000 has yet to be allocated.
The current grant rate is 40 per cent, and for restoration work 70 per cent.
SKDC chief planning officer Graham Oxborough said: “To obtain the most benefit from the CAP scheme, it is clearly desirable that all the allocated funding is used, but this is dependent on the response from the owners. The opportunity to provide this level of funding for repair and restoration work at Market Deeping is unlikely to arise again,and it is equally unlikely that the scheme will be extended beyond 1999.”
A cancer charity in Stamford which prides itself on having become a town “landmark” is facing a staffing crisis.
The Imperial Cancer Research Fund shop in High Street, Stamford, is facing closure on certain mornings due to a lack of volunteers.
A volunteer recruitment week starts on Monday in the hope that it will attract helpers to keep the shop open full-time.
People will have a chance to see what work the shop does. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer will be given full training.
Shop manager Susan Saunders said: “This shop has become a landmark in the town. We’ve been here so long and we have so many loyal customers and donators.
“Unfortunately, we just don’t have enough staff to keep the shop open full-time. The volunteers we do have are mainly the original ones who have been here since day one and have all shown extreme loyalty to the fund.
“But there just aren’t enough of them.”
50 years ago
October 20, 1972
Stamford’s new trial pedestrial precinct has sparked off suggestions to move the town’s busy Friday market away from Broad Street.
Some local people feel that the move would improve the town’s parking situation by releasing parking spaces taken up on Fridays by the traders and their stalls.
Mr M. S. Lee, president of Stamford Chamber of Trade, foresaw snags for both market traders and High Street shopkeepers.
“It’s a fairly narrow road and traders would not be able to park their vehicles behind their stall as they do now,” he said.
But Mr Lee allowed that the idea would solve the parking problem on Fridays, when spaces in Broad Street are taken up by the market.
“In Stamford, Friday is traditionally a good shopping day – because of the market,” he said.
“If it were not for the market, Friday might become just another shopping day, like Monday or Tuesday.”
A nine-strong family of Asian refugees for Uganda arrived in Stamford on Tuesday afternoon to start a new life at Windmill Cottage, Tinwell Road.
Mr Aboul Talab and his family were met at the door of their new house by the Mayor of Stamford (Coun Alex Brodie) who handed over the key, and by the Town Clerk (Mr Harold Bedford).
The family arrived by minibus from Peterborough railway station just in time for tea.
Appetising smells from the kitchen greeted them, where WRVS Central Organiser Mrs W. Michelsen, was putting the finishing touches to the meal.
She served up soup, to warm the children in their thick coats, followed by beefburgers and vegetables, and fresh fruit.
But first of all, the Talab family were shown around their new home, provided by Stamford Borough Council.
The four-storey six-bedroomed house had been made into a homely and welcoming place by the local WRVS.
A bright coal fire blazed in the grate of the lounge, and the pantry was well-stocked with groceries, many of them given by local shopkeepers.
“We had to be careful not to include pork,” said Mrs Michelsen, “because Mr Talab is a Moslem, and we had to make sure that it was not contained in the cooking fat.”
The house had been painted throughout, and made comfortable with full furnishings and floor coverings.
Uppingham Parish Council is to re-site a seat donated by a widow in memory of her husband because, say local residents, its present site “constitutes an invasion of our privacy.”
It was planned to put the seat, presented by Mrs Helen Laurence, alongside the new west path on Beast Hill, which was landscaped recently.
Two couples, Mr and Mrs M. A. Warwick and Mr and Mrs R. Adams, wrote complaining to the council and they also attended Monday’s meeting.
Their letter said that people using the seat would be able to look into the bedroom of 11 South View and into the kitchen and sitting room of No 9. There would also be no privacy in the gardens of both houses.
100 years ago
October 20, 1922
Municipal Elections – The six retiring members of Stamford Town Council are all seeking re-election on Nov. 1st, and at a meeting of the Labour Party on Friday evening Mr. C. Lucas, St. Leonard’s-street, and Mr Large, Emlyn’s Fields, were chosen to contest St. George’s and All Saints’ wards respectively. It was decided not to contest St. Mary’s ward this year.
Harvest Festivals in Stamford area – The harvest thanksgiving services were commenced on Thursday at St. John’s church, the Rev. F. J. W. Taverner (Wing), a former Rector of the parish, preaching. The services were continued on Sunday, the preacher being the Rev. S, H. Wenham. Special music was provided by the choir, and good congregations attended all services. The inhabitants of Wothorpe district on Sunday held their harvest thanksgiving service in a barn, which was prettily decorated. The Rev. F. Davenport conducted, and the Rev. S. Wenham preached. The collection in aid of the Stamford infirmary and other charities, amounted to about £8.
Property Market – At the Crown Hotel, Stamford, on Friday Messrs. Richardson offered for sale the following property: The Maltings, North-street, together with two cottages, No. 47 and 48, North-street, sold to Mr. Gus. Peasgood for £430. Messrs. Stapleton and Son were the solicitors. Twelve dwelling-houses, No. 32 to 43, Reform-street, producing a gross annual rental of £235 6s., were offered in separate lots. Six, Nos. 32 to 37, were sold to Mr. H. W. Pond, Queen’s-walk, for £150 each, and the remainder were withdrawn. Messrs. Phillips, Evans, and Dalton were the solicitors concerned in these lots.
Pleasure Fair Tolls Yield £500 To Help The Rates – At a meeting of Stamford Town Council, on Tuesday, the Fairs and Markets Committee submitted a statement in respect to the Mid-Lent pleasure fair. This showed that the total receipts amounted to £505 3s. 6d., and after payment of expenses there was a net sum of £489 10s. to go towards the relief of the rates. The Committee recommended that the sites for the 1923 fair be let by tender, as usual, and it was resolved to advertise them in the “Stamford Mercury” and the “World’s Fair.”
Harvest Festival – Harvest thanksgiving services at Bourne Abbey church were held on Friday and Sunday. The service was conduced by Canon Grinter, who was assisted by Rev. E. H. Fletcher and Mr. J. H. D. Grinter. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. T. H. Bailey, Rector of St. Mary’s, Stamford. Mr. W. R. Leary, the organist, was responsible for the musical arrangements, and the choir rendered an anthem. On Sunday the preacher was the Bishop of Lincoln. In the afternoon the Bishop addressed a men’s gathering, when there was a large attendance, and the theme of the Bishop’s address was “Peace on Earth.” He said he was pleased to hear that a movement was on foot in Bourne to establish a branch of the League of Nations’ Union.
150 years ago
October 18, 1872
5th Lincolshire Rifle Volunteers – The members of this corps, accompanied by the band, at the joint invitation of Mr. Thompson, Lieut. W. Thompson, and Mr. R. P. Thompson, marched to the Firth Farm on Wednesday last for drill, and were entertained afterwards to a capital luncheon. A meeting of the members and friends of the corps is convened for Saturday next, at the Corn-exchange, Stamford, to devise means for increasing the numerical strength of the corps. We understand a greater inducement will be offered to young men in the purchase of uniforms than is now the case. Monday next is the day for the annual inspection of the corps by an officer appointed by the War-office, and it is essential in order to gain the capitation grant, that two-thirds, i.e. at least 40 members, should be present.
Dr. Arthur Clay, formerly of Stamford, and lately practising as a physician in Japan, who died a short time ago, after devising by will certain legacies, left the residue of his property, amounting to 15,000 Mexican dollars, to the Stamford and Rutland Infirmary; but it is apprehended the bequest will become void under the Statute of Morimain, and that the money will go to the next of kin.
Madame Lemmens-Sherrington’s concert at the Assembly-rooms, Stamford, on Monday evening last attracted a full audience, the seats at the upper end of the room being well filled, and the second and third divisions being completely crammed.
The harvest festival at St. John’s church, Stamford, on Tuesday last, was not numerously attended in the morning, but a very liberal response was made to the impressive sermon of the Rev. J. G. Lonsdale, who appealed for contributions towards the cost of enlarging the parish schools. In the evening, when the Rev. A. C. Addy was the preacher, there was a larger congregation. The two offertories produced £18 18s.
Market Deeping – A vestry was held in Mr. Buzzard’s school-room on the 10th inst.; J. B. Mawby, Esq., in the chair. The surveyor’s accounts were examined and passed, and a poor-rate of 1s. 2d. and a highway-rate of 6d. in the pound were laid.
Langtoft Harvest Festival – The annual celebration of the harvest festival took place in the parish church on Sunday last. The altar and font were chastely decorated, and a profusion of the choicest productions of the earth was displayed in good taste and decorative order. An excellent sermon in the evening was preached to a crowded congregation by the Rev. F. Carrol, Rector of Tallington, and a collection was made in behalf of the parish school.
Bourn – The 26th anniversary of the Independent chapel took place on Sunday last, when two sermons were preached by the Rev. Alexander Murray, of Peterboro’. On the following day the usual public tea meeting took place; and at seven o’clock the same evening Mr. Murray preached the concluding sermon. The proceeds of the tea and collections amounted to about £20.
- We are requested to state that Bourn stock and pleasure fair is to be held on Thursday the 31st inst., and not on the 29th as in former years.
- The cups for the Bourn Agricultural Society, the Carlby ploughing meeting, and the coursing match at Wytham were all supplied by Mr. Pearce, of Bourn.
200 years ago
October 18, 1822
On Monday last was fully committed to Oakham gaol, (by S. Barker, Esq. and the Rev. W. Baker,) John Springthorpe the younger, of South Luffenham, farmer, for a rape on the body of Mary Smith, late of the parish of Morcott, single-woman, servant to Mr. Clarke, of that place.
Thomas Hunt, a labourer of Mr. Houghton’s at Keisby in the parish of Lenton, has been convicted (before the Rev. Wm. Waters) in the full penalty of 10s. beside costs, for stealing and carrying away a large quantity of rails and pails from the different fences of his master’s farms in that parish. It is hoped this may be a warning to others, who are too much in the habit of appropriating to their own use the property of their masters.
At Peterborough sessions on Wednesday (before the Venerable Archdeacon Strong, D.D. Chairman, the Rev. H. Freeman, Jos. Parsons, and Christopher Hodgson, Clerks) ---- Johnson pleaded guilty to an indictment for breaking into the shop of R. Bickerdike, wheelwright, of Bainton, and stealing divers implements, and was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.
A daring burglary was committed at Oundle about one o’clock on Thursday morning the 10th inst.: the dwelling-house of Mr. C. Ragsdale, master of Leatham’s charity-school, was broken into, by forcing away an iron bar of a window, through which the depredators entered the house, and robbed it of £13 18s. in bank-notes and cash, also of two silver table-spoons, four tea-spoons, (a pair of sugar-tongs and a salt-spoon they dropped in making off,) a quantity of currant wine in bottles, and some spirits. One of the bottles the thieves dropped and broke, and the noise of this accident awoke Mr. Ragsdale, who got to his chamber window just in time to see a man retreat over a wall 14 feet high, by which way he had come upon the premises. Mr. R. presented a pistol at the robber; but it, unfortunately for the ends of justice, missed fire. It is supposed that two persons were concerned in the burglary, as two glasses were left on the table of the room wherein they acquired their principal booty, and it was evident they had been used for drinking half a bottle of gin which had been deposited in a cupboard on the preceding night. The thieves left behind them a bunch of keys, and a chisel.
On Saturday the 12th inst. an inquest was held at Market Deeping, by Samuel Edwards, Gent.coroner, on the body of a child named Thos. Hudson, under two years of age, who on Thursday was accidentally run over by the wheel of a loaded waggon, and died almost immediately. Verdict, “Killed accidentally,” and a nominal fine was set on the deodand (the waggon and horses), there appearing to be no want of care in the driver.
And on Monday the 14th inst. an inquest was held at Bourn, by the same coroner, on the body of William Phillips the elder, who died on the previous Saturday suddenly and by the visitation of God.
The Leeds mail-coach was overturned on Wednesday morning, at Dronfield, near Sheffield. One passenger and the guard were slightly hurt.
