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Plans for new Stamford AFC ground in our Mercury Memories and other Christmas stories from across Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings




Festive stories feature in this week's Mercury Memories.

Every week we take a walk down memory lane, looking at stories up to 200 years ago, thanks to the support of the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust.

25 years ago: December 19, 1997 – Fun five: Sara Tatlor, Megan Adams, Freya Guerge, Tanya Gibbins and Gemma Graham enjoy themselves on a stall at Northborough Primary School Christmas fair
25 years ago: December 19, 1997 – Fun five: Sara Tatlor, Megan Adams, Freya Guerge, Tanya Gibbins and Gemma Graham enjoy themselves on a stall at Northborough Primary School Christmas fair

10 years ago

December 21, 2012

Sports facilities in Stamford could get a £5m boost if revised plans for a new football stadium get planning permission.

Stamford AFC and Burghley House Preservation Trust have formed a partnership with New College Stamford to draw up a new proposal for the stadium to include a sports hall, gym and associated teaching and changing rooms.

The football club and trust, which already have outline permission to build a stadium in Ryhall Road, say the new facility would be used by New College students, the football club, community groups and other sports clubs.

Representatives from the partnership presented the revised plans at a Stamford Town Council meeting on Tuesday night.

College principal Andrew Patience said: “If planning permission is granted, we will have a fantastic facility which will greatly benefit our students.

“Having a modern, purpose-built, sports facility will make a huge difference.

“We hope that planning permission is granted and that we can develop a football and education facility that Stamford will be proud of.”

Gifts are being handed out to people of all ages across the Mercury area after the public responded in huge numbers to several Christmas appeals.

Fundraising groups and businesses in Stamford, Bourne, the Deepings and Rutland asked people to think of those less fortunate than themselves.

The Rotary Clubs of Stamford St Martin’s and Uppingham both held Christmas tree appeals.

They placed tags with the age and gender of a child on trees in businesses, health facilities and other locations and asked people to bring back a gift worth £5 to £10.

One tree was placed in the Mercury office and Stamford St Martin’s Rotarians George and Jan Hetherington made three trips to pick up presents.

George said: “We collected more than 200 presents from Stamford alone. It’s great to see people donating.”

The Stamford club is supporting the South West Lincolnshire branch of Home-Start, Peterborough Family Action, The Rudolf Appeal, Boston Pilgrim Hospital, the mother and baby unit at Peterborough Prison and children with Down’s Syndrome.

The Uppingham club is supporting Home-Start in Melton Mowbray, which also covered Rutland.

Engineers have begun preliminary work on a scheme to replace a level crossing with a bridge.

Network Rail workers were in Tallington this week to carry out an assessment of the area.

The company wants to close the level crossing in the village and build a bridge over the railway line.

The bridge would be joined to the A1175 by two link roads.

Network Rail is working with Lincolnshire County Council on the project. Former Tallington parish councillor Ken otter has been campaigning for the bridge for a number of years.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are looking at whether a change to the current set up is appropriate and required at this stage.”

25 years ago: December 19, 1997 – Ann O'Neill, chairman of Parentline UK national executive, Coun Denis Hoyes, Sue Spiers, chairman of Parentline (East Midlands), and volunteer Julie Diff, with guests at the opening of Parentline's Stamford office
25 years ago: December 19, 1997 – Ann O'Neill, chairman of Parentline UK national executive, Coun Denis Hoyes, Sue Spiers, chairman of Parentline (East Midlands), and volunteer Julie Diff, with guests at the opening of Parentline's Stamford office

25 years ago

December 19, 1997

A living memorial to commemorate Diana, Princess of Wales is to be placed in the grounds of Burghley Park for the people of Stamford.

The Princess Diana Memorial Spinney, approved by Stamford Town Council on Tuesday, will be on land between the cricket ground and the Station Gate entrance at Barnack Road.

Mayor Coun Alec Burt immediately agreed to officially launch an appeal next month toallow residents and businesses in the town to contribute towards the memorial.

An anonymous donor has already offered £5,000, conditional on the involvement and support of the people of Stamford, and governors of the Burghley House Preservation Trust have welcomed both the donation and the council’s support.

The trust will dedicate the land on which the spinney will be planted and will take full responsibility for its upkeep.

Burghley Estate agent Philip Ling said: “The spinney will be enclosed by post and cross rail fences, with four wicket gates allowing access to the public at each corner.”

Heartless thieves have taken cash from two Stamford churches and broken into a third.

All Saints’, St George’s and St Mary’s churches were raided between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

The intruders targeted the safes with St George’s suffering the most as they took around £400 - the whole of the weekend’s collection.

The Rev Kim Swithinbank, Rector of St George’s, said: “Something like this makes you think what kind of people would do such a thing.”

Father Nigel Gibson, of St Mary’s, said: “We only had £4 stolen, but that is because we had taken the weekend’s collection from the safe. These people have only gone for the safe, as there were other things they could have taken. It makes me sad to think people have attacked churches in this way.”

The Rev Neil Russell, vicar of All Saints’, said: “We are happy with our security and they did not get into the safe. The way they got in was a very dangerous operation and they did some damage to an interior door between the chancel and vestry.”

50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – You can see by the happy faces that Christmas is just around the corner. This was a scene at a party from pensioners at the Northfields Hotel, Stamford
50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – You can see by the happy faces that Christmas is just around the corner. This was a scene at a party from pensioners at the Northfields Hotel, Stamford

Stamford Museum says goodbye to a long-serving member of staff this week, as museum assistant Michael Key retires after almost 16 years.

A party was held at the museum on Saturday for Mr Key and his colleagues.

During his time at the museum he has witnesses many changes. He said: “When I came here, there was only John Smith, who was curator until he retired in January, and myself running the museum, and we built it up to its present state.

“Now we are able to do family activities and school parties more easily, as well as guided tours and walks, which we weren’t able to do before.

“The annual Winter Lecture Series has become very successful, and also the range and size of our temporary exhibition programme has expanded.

“We have developed as a local history and family history resources centre.”

Mr Key said he was particularly pleased with the quality of exhibitions at the museum.

He has always been interested in local and industrial history, and has some ideas about what he wants to do in his retirement.

He intends to keep in touch with Stamford Museum and hopes to spend some time writing a history of Mirrlees Blackstone.

But he was certain about what he would miss after leaving on his last day: “I shall miss working with a team of talented and pleasant people. I will miss the pleasure and enjoyment of working with them.”

50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Stamford's new pedestrian precinct echoed over the weekend to songs both sacred and secular. Christmas shoppers could take their choice from the band of the Stamford Salvation Army playing carols, or the gay melodies tinkling out of a fairground organ on loan to Stamford Round Table
50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Stamford's new pedestrian precinct echoed over the weekend to songs both sacred and secular. Christmas shoppers could take their choice from the band of the Stamford Salvation Army playing carols, or the gay melodies tinkling out of a fairground organ on loan to Stamford Round Table

50 years ago

December 21, 1972

A gamekeeper incredibly escaped injury when he was shot during a clash with poachers at Easton-on-the-Hill on Sunday night.

Twenty-four-year-old Mr Richard Fountain was saved by the thickness of the two coats on his back.

For the shotgun pellet was stopped from ripping into his skin by the clothing.

Later his wife told the Mercury: “It was a miraculous escape. I dread to think what would have happened if he hadn’t been wearing two coats.”

Mr Fountain had clashed with the two shotgun-carrying men at Holme Wood, Easton at about 9pm on Sunday.

Police said there was an exchange between the men and the gamekeeper during which one of the men got an eye injury. Soon afterwards the men ran off and a shot was fired.

Detectives from Stamford and Corby this week started a search for the two mystery men in the wood.

A plea to let buses use Stamford’s pedestrian precinct has been turned down by the Borough Council.

Bartons Transport – faced with mounting losses since the precinct opened and forced to change their route – want to take their buses into the High Street at a maximum of 10mph.

But the council will hear none of it.

Instead they want Bartons to switch their present North Street and East Street route to one they feel would provide a better town service.

They suggest buses use Radcliffe Road, North Street, Scotgate, Red Lion Square, St John’s Street, St Mary’s Street, St Mary’s Hill, Wharf Road, Brazenose Lane, St Paul’s Street, and Ryhall Road.

This week a spokesman for Bartons said a number of complaints about the present service had been received.

Most people wanted the buses to return to the precinct.

But the spokesman said: “We have received no suggestion from the council about changing our present route. We cannot comment until we do.”

More than 100 people signed a petition last month calling for a re-routing of the town service.

And pensoners had complained about a long walk from the bus stop to the post office to collect pensions.

The well-established Bourne Christmas prize stock show, run since its inception in 1936, by Lyall and Company, of Bourne, continues making progress.

This year’s exhibits in cattle, sheep and pig sections, on Thursday, were of high standard and made good prices.

While the number of cattle entered was the same as for last year, the 25 pens of sheep (five a pen) were 10 pens up on last year. Pig entries at 52, were an increase of 18.

“This was one of the best shows for years,” Mr Harry Lyall said. “The show goes from strength to strength. There was more stock, and excellent trade was done in cattle, sheep and pigs.”

Mr N. A. Taylor, of Morton, won the champion beast award, this exhibit, weighing 10½ cwts, fetching £379.26 at £37 a cwt.

50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Stamford's new pedestrian precinct echoed over the weekend to songs both sacred and secular. Christmas shoppers could take their choice from the band of the Stamford Salvation Army playing carols, or the gay melodies tinkling out of a fairground organ on loan to Stamford Round Table
50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Stamford's new pedestrian precinct echoed over the weekend to songs both sacred and secular. Christmas shoppers could take their choice from the band of the Stamford Salvation Army playing carols, or the gay melodies tinkling out of a fairground organ on loan to Stamford Round Table

100 years ago

December 22, 1922

Guardians Appointment – At a meeting of the Stamford Guardians on Monday, the Marquess of Exeter presiding, the Master reported that of eleven girls at St. George’s School six had received prizes and one a certificate. Dr. W. A. Hawes was appointed deputy district medical officer.

Christmas Dividends – Numerous Stamford sick and dividing clubs have shared out their surplus funds during the past week. Among the dividends paid are the following – Crown and Anchor £1 0s. 3d. each to 70 members; Half Moon, £1 1s. 10½d., 55 members; O’Brien’s Arms, 18s., 35 members; Reindeer inn,17s. 11d., 62 members; Carpenter’s Arms, £1 1s. 5d., 96 members; White Hart, 17s. 9d., 55 members; Wheatsheaf, £2 2s 7d., 143 members; Chequers’, 17s. 2d., 49 members; Brewery inn, £1 4s. 8d., 71 members; Hit or Miss, £1 4s. 6d., 54 members; Green Man, 17s. 4½d., 60 members;Bull and Swan, £1 1s. 6d., 51 members; Sun and Railway, 17s. 9d., 23 members; Burghley Arms, 103 members, 18s. 1d.; Queen’s Head, 45 members, 23s.; Great Northern Hotel, 62 members, 15s.5d.; General Gordon, £2 5s. each, 43 members; Balloon, £1 0s. 8d., 24 members; Roebuck 19s. 3d., 43 members; at the Hole-in-the-Wall each member received £1 0s. 10½d.

Winning the Christmas Dinner – Turkeys, pheasants, fowls, etc., were given as prizes at the Stamford Conservative Club Christmas whist drive on Wednesday night. There were 148 players, and Mr. W. D. Green was M.C. Mr. A. E. Dixon presented the prizes to: ladies: Miss Furze, Miss Blake, Mesdames Frisby, Ireson and Belton, Miss Bond (mystery), Miss Garner (highest score at half-time) and Mrs. Laughton (booby); gentlemen: Messrs. H. Dalton, A. Walker, F. Wilson, F. G. Green, G. Naylor, G. Green (mystery), F. Parrish (booby), and A. Dodds (Highest score at half-time). Mr. T. Wright, by guessing correctly the weight of a fowl, won it.

l Captain Orme’s Charity – By reason of the fact that they have attended divine service at St. George’s church, Stamford, regularly during the past twelve months, unless prevented by sickness, three widows, Mrs. Gamble, Cornstall-buildings; Mrs. Dobbs, Cornstall-buildings; and Mrs. Ireland, Priory-road, were the recipients of £8 8s. each on Thursday (St. Thomas’s Day) from Capt. Orme’s Charity. Fifty St. Thomas’s half-crowns were also distributed, and several tons of coal apportioned amongst the poor of the parish.

Bourne

A Near Miss – In connection with the recent Swimming Club dance, a cake competition was held, the public being invited to guess the weight of an iced cake made by Mrs. B. A. Pick. The competition realised over £5, and the cake was won by Mrs. W. Brook, North-street, who guessed 8lbs 2½ozs., the guess being 1 drachm above the actual weight.

Corn Exchange Company – The annual meeting of the Bourne Corn Exchange Company was held on Friday, when Mr. W. E. Hill presided. The accounts were passed and a dividend of 1 per cent. declared. Messrs. T. W. Mays and G. H. Mays were re-elected directors.

50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Some of the children who took part in Bulwick Church Nativity play, pictured at the crib on Saturday
50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Some of the children who took part in Bulwick Church Nativity play, pictured at the crib on Saturday

150 years ago

December 20, 1872

One of the heaviest of the numerous floods which have this year submerged the lane’s intersected by the river Welland caused considerable alarm on Tuesday night to the dwellers by the waterside in Stamford. Early in the afternoon the meadows were completely covered, and as the night advanced the bulk of water gradually increased: at midnight it was over a portion of Wharf-road, Bath-row, and Water-street, and invaded the floors of some of the houses and the stabling and premises where horses and other animals were kept. The latter had to be promptly removed. Messrs. Chaplin and Horne’s horses being amongst the number. On Wednesday the water continued to rise, and the low-lying thoroughfares adjacent to the street were impassable. Traffic on the Stamford and Sibson railway was completely stopped, the flood having washed away the ballast from a part of the line opposite Uffington meadows. The overflow of the Gwash at Ryhall inundated part of that village.

Christmas Holiday – The principal tradesmen of Stamford, following the example of the shopkeepers of many other towns, have decided to close their respective places of business from Tuesday evening to Friday morning for the purpose of affording their assistants an opportunity of spending Christmas with their friends. The Midland coal wharf will also be closed for the same time.

Yesterday evening the groom of Mr. Kendrick, of Great Casterton, having accompanied his master to one of the railway stations in Stamford and returned home, drove down the yard to the Gwash to wash the vehicle and the horse’s legs. Owing to the swollen state of the river the horse and trap were carried away by the current. The man, whose name is Frederick Ford, nearly lost his life as the result of his foolish act, he being rescued with great diificulty; and the horse, a very valuable animal, was drowned. It was quite dark when the affair happened. This morning search was made for the horse and trap which were found near the Rev. J. Place’s bridge.

Stamford Union – It was incidentally mentioned at the Board meeting on Wednesday that the Sanitary Committee of Rural Guardians had determined not to join with the town and other Unions in the appointment of a Medical Officer of Health, but that they were anxious to make arrangement with two of the present medical officers of the Union for the discharge of the requisite duties. It is understood that the Guardians of the Oakham and Uppingham Unions are willing to enter into negotiations with the Stamford Local Board for the joint appointment of a qualified Medical Officer of Health. The number of inmates last week was 10 less than in the corresponding week of last year, and the recipients of out-relief were 41 less, but the large number of 43 wayfarers were received in the tramp wards last week.

Billingboro’ – The principal tradesmen of this place, with Horbling and Pointon, have decided to close their places of business on the 26th inst.

  • On Saturday last Mr. Thos. Ato, of Pointon Fen, had the misfortune to get one of his hands severely crushed in a turnip-cutting machine, but under medical treatment he is going on favourably.
  • On Monday evening next a theatrical entertainment of no mean character is intended to be given in the Public-hall, Billingboro’, by gentlemen amateurs. The surplus funds are intended to be appropriated towards a charitable object.
50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Children and mothers posed for this festive group picture at Easton-on-the-Hill playgroup's Christmas party at the village's Bluebell Inn on Thursday
50 years ago: December 21, 1972 – Children and mothers posed for this festive group picture at Easton-on-the-Hill playgroup's Christmas party at the village's Bluebell Inn on Thursday

200 years ago

December 20, 1822

On Monday a robbery was committed in the house of Widow Wright, in the Sheep-pens of this town. The poor widow’s reservation of 50s. for rent, was stolen from a drawer, which was broken open for the purpose; and a number of articles of wearing apparel,belonging to her and two female lodgers, were also taken away. Two persons who have absconded are suspected, but at present a pursuit of them has been ineffectual.

On Sunday evening last, some daring offender entered the stable of Mr. Newton, farmer, at a lodge-house within a mile of Market Deeping, at the early hour of 8 o’clock, and stole thereout his nag mare, with which the villain rode off in view of the man-servant, whom he threatened to shoot if he made any disturbance; and this threat so alarmed the man that he dare not pursue the thief; however, in the course of half an hour, the mare returned, all over dirt: it is supposed she threw her rider, and by that means got away from him. The servant, hearing her in the yard, went out and replaced her in the stable; but, strange to relate, she was again stolen by 9 o’clock, when Mr. Newton, coming home, missed the mare, and immediately pursued the robber. It is supposed that he was close at the villain’s heels, as the mare was left tied to a hedge about a mile from the premises. Mr. Newton replaced her in the stable, and kept watch against further attempts through the night. Extraordinary as this account may seem, we are assured that it is perfectly consonant with the facts.

Caution To Wood-Stealers – At the meeting of the Magistrates at Bourn on Saturday last, Sarah Jackson and Mary Wells, two notorious hedge-breakers and wood-stealers at that place, were upon conviction committed for one month to Falkingham castle.

Riding On Shafts – A farmer’s servant at Uffington was convicted in the penalty for this offence, under the last Act, which the Surveyors of Turnpikes have directions strictly to enforce. And this week two other offenders have been convicted of riding on the shafts of their waggons on the turnpike between Stamford and Deeping, and paid the penalties of 10s. each, to avoid commitment to prison.

Committed to Oakham gaol, on Monday last, (by the Earl of Winchilsea,) William Jones, vagrant, on suspicion of having stolen a brass pan from the premises of John Rudkin, of Egleton. And on Wednesday, (by S. Barker, Esq. and the Rev. W. Baker,) John Berry, of Oakham, for having on Monday evening forcibly taken from the person of Mrs.Mary Robinson, of Oakham, a ten-pound promissory note, the property of her husband, John Robinson.

A melancholy affair happened at Leicester on Monday afternoon. Six boys, on their return from school, went to slide on a pond near the Infirmary, when the ice broke and let them all in, and four of the number were drowned.



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