Hundreds of years of history from Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and Market Deeping
Delve back up to 200 years ago in our Mercury Memories, with the support of the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust.
10 years ago
November 9, 2012
There was grim news on jobs for Stamford this week when some of the town’s biggest employers revealed they are planning big cuts.
Cummins Generator Technologies is cutting 95 jobs as it tries to cope with dwindling global demand.
The news was broken to about 800 staff at the company’s factory and offices in Barnack Road, Stamford this week.
The cuts will be made across the Stamford operations and talks have begun with the Unite union trying to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum.
Animal feeds manufacturer Alltech UK, which has a factory in Ryhall Road, Stamford, and a warehouse in Pinfold Road, Bourne, wants to move its manufacturing operation closer to its raw material production facility in Belgium.
As a result 43 of about 90 staff who work at the Stamford and Bourne sites could lose their jobs.
And staff at the Dorothy Perkins and Burton clothing shops in High Street, Stamford, have been told the stores will close in February.
Members of a group set up to help pub and club-goers in need during weekend nights out ate seeing success in their work.
The Stamford Street Pastors began patrolling Stamford town centre in April 2010, offering help to anyone who needs it.
The groups picks up broken bottles, gives support to people who have had too much to drink and offers prayers if people request them.
Tom Nottidge has been a member since the group was set up.
He said people out in Stamford during the weekends have come to know and accept the help of the pastors.
He added: “We used to get people reading our hats and asking what a street pastor was.
“It went from that to about 80 or 90 per cent of people we meet knowing exactly what we are there for.”
The pastors work closely with the police, reporting any incidents they see without getting involved unnecessarily.
Tom added: “We found out that in the year after we started, street violence on Saturdays dropped by 26 per cent.
“Secondly, I was talking to a paramedic at my church who asked me when we had stated.”
A waste firm has been granted permission to use a landfill site for another 15 years.
Augean was due to stop disposing of a range of commercial and industrial wastes at its landfill site in Thornhaugh in December next year.
The firm had applied to extend the length of use of the site until December, 2028.
On Tuesday Peterborough City Council’s planning and environmental protection committee approved the extension.
Augean group technical director Dr Gene Wilson said: “We are very pleased that committee members supported this application.
“There is a clear regional and local need for the extension to the time of the waste management operations at Thornhaugh landfill site which has been recognised by the committee.”
25 years ago
November 7, 1997
Speeding drivers are to be targeted in a major new police initiative to cut accidents on Lincolnshire’s roads.
The force is planning to install speed cameras on around 30 additional sites across the county.
Although the cost of buying and installing cameras approaches the £40,000 mark, police officers believe it is a wise investment.
Lincolnshire Police spokesman Inspector Russ Hardy said: “The cameras are expensive, but even if they help to save just one life they will be worthwhile. The costs of dealing with a fatal accident are far higher.
“People have got to be aware of the dangers of speeding, especially now foggy and icy conditions have arrived.”
Lincolnshire County Council is working closely with the police to locate sites and Paul Coatup, the county’s assistant chief engineer, is convinced cameras work.
He said: “Figures show that cameras reduce accidents on specific roads by 16 per cent, and cut speed-related accidents by 56 per cent. Those falls are quite dramatic.”
Road safety will be further enhanced by a new stategy to speed up the process of traffic-calming applications. The county council has over 500 outstanding requests for action and receives around 375 additional requests each year.
A haulage boss fears for the safety of is workers after a £20 million Harrier jet crashed 300 yards from his depot on Friday.
The plane came down as the pilot, based in Germany, was returning from a training course at RAF Coningsby.
Bernard Howard, managing director of PC Howard, King’s Cliffe, has written to RAF Wittering on several occasions asking for the flight paths of Harriers to be changed.
He said: “We heard the plane overhead, and then the engine just seemed to die. It could easily have hit one of our warehouses. We saw the pilot eject safely before the plane went down, and the blast from the crash blew leaves off the trees.
“I have written to the various station commanders at Wittering and asked them to move the flight paths to the south, or to the north over the woods, but to no avail. Instead they insist on flying over my offices where 100 people work.”
This is the second crash in six months involving a Wittering Harrier. In May a Harrier crashed half-a-mile from the A1 near Easton-on-the-Hill – bringing the total number of jets the RAF lost this year to four.
RAF Wittering station commander Group Capt Chris Moran said: “Safety remains the number one priority in all flying operations. Having flown a Harrier for some 18 years, I retain confidence in its safety record, which is comparable to similar fighter aircraft.”
Schools in Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings can slash between £2,000 and £6,000 from their bills by plugging into Powersavers 1998.
Hot on the heels of Energy Efficiency week, the Powersavers competition, run by British Gas and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, aims to help primary and secondary schools become more energy efficient by simply identifying ways to save around their school – the more creatively the better.
Winners not only save cash, they also stand a chance of winning up to £3,000 as well as vouchers from Argos and Homebase.
Most schools spend more on heating and lighting than they do on books and equipment.
50 years ago
November 10, 1972
A move to help old folk who are unsteady on their feet in frosty weather has been made in Stamford.
Members of the town’s Toc H group want to see a handrail put up in the steep Nag’s Head passage so pensioners can use it for support.
Toc H member and local butcher Mr Charles Dutton says: “The old folk tumble over like nine pins in that passage when its frosty.
“And with the opening of the precinct changing the bus routes more people than ever are having to use the passage.”
The handrail call came in a general discussion on the precinct, which members thought was generally a good thing. They thought it was right that individuals were regarded as more important than cars.
An exhibition for “entertainment, instruction and bare-faced propaganda for the cause of nature conservation” was opened at the Charles Read Grammar School, Corby Glen, on Monday, by the Earl of Ancaster.
Lord Ancaster is patron of the Lincolnshire Trust for Nature Conservation and also chairman of the Willoughby Memorial Trustees, in whose hall the exhibition was staged.
He said: “The Lincolnshire Trust is one of the oldest, most active, and successful of county trusts.
“It is good of the Bourne group have been able to produce such a good exhibition. I hope it makes everybody interested in the nature around them.”
The exhibition, which was organised by Mr Philip Grimes, and is run by the Bourne group of the Lincolnshire Trust.
Miss Lesley Dunn shows what geology reveals about the primeval state of South Lincolnshire with a wide selection of local stones and fossils.
Mr John Parker, the local head forester, has staged an exhibition on forestry and deer, plus a series of paintings of trees and a map of local woods in South Lincolnshire.
Life in a hedgerow is depicted by Mrs Patricia Stubley, with some beautiful drawings of hedgerow flowers, and Mr Charles Hughes is concerned with life underground, and shows soil sampled of various areas.
An operation is taking place on the Empingham reservoir site this morning to save a plant which is said to be the only one of its kind in Rutland.
It is knows as the lesser reedmace (Typha Angustifolia), a type of bulrush and it was discovered by Mrs J. D. Buchanan, of the Rutland Natural History Society.
It was proposed to replant these clusters in the bed of the stream on land belonging to the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Colonel T. C. S. Haywood, at Gunthorpe.
The weather has given workmen an unexpected bonus at the site of the multi-million pound Empingham Reservoir.
It was thought that work would have to stop last month on the massive earth shifting operation for the building of the dam.
But until this week conditions have been dry enough for the earth -carrying trucks to carry on.
Some drivers are working 14 hours every day during the summer to pick up weekly wage packets of about £110.
100 years ago
November 10, 1922
Prize-Winning Fruit – At the Imperial Fruit Show at the Crystal Palace, the first prize in the class for dessert apples (three plates of James Grieve and three of Ribston Pippin) was awarded to the Marquess of Exeter, Burghley House, and he was also second in the culinary apples class. For six plates of pears his lordship won the first prize, and in the same class Sir George Whichcote, Aswarby Park, Sleaford, was highly commended.
Church Parade – The members of the Cecil and Priory Lodges of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes headed by the band, attended the harvest festival service at St. Michael’s church, Stamford, on Sunday.
A Declining Institution? – The St. Simon and St. Jude stock fair, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday, appears to lose some of its old-time importance as one year succeeds another. Sheep and horses were put up for sale on Wednesday, but there were few sheep, and the prices realised are unquotable. For horses there was a better trade, the best cart animals fetching up to £40, two-year-olds from £21 to £27, yearlings £12 to £15, and foals 9½gs. to 12½gs. Mr. J. T. Holmes, the local agent for Molassine Meal, attended the fair, and was welcoming his patrons at 35, Broad-street: while Mr. J. H . B. North was visited by several inquirers for the various makes of agricultural machinery for which he is agent. Messrs. W. and J. Brown made an attractive display at the Butter Market, Red Lion-square. At their depot in St. John’s-street, Messrs. Motors and Tractors, Ltd., welcomed their clients, where inquiries were many for the ever-popular Ford commercial vehicles and Fordson tractors. The firm states that the Fordson seems even more in demand than in the past, and the sales have been exceptional. There was not a very large show of cattle on Thursday. Three-year-old bullocks made up to about £20 apiece; two-year-olds about £20; calving and in-calf cows met a fairly good trade.
Coun. Pepper’s Enthusiastic Re-Election – The Town Council unanimously re-elected Coun. J. W. Pepper. Coun. Col. L. H. P. Hart proposed his appointment, and Coun. G Chapman seconded, paying tribute to the dignity and ability with which he had carried out his duties. Replying, the Mayor said nothing could give him greater pleasure than to serve his town a second time. A vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress for their services during the past year was proposed by Ald. Dobbs and seconded by Coun. Dyer.
Achievement of Personality – Anniversary services in connection with the Bourne Congregational church were held on Sunday and Monday, when Professor McKenzie, of Nottingham, was the special preacher.
Labourer’s Challenge.- To hold his contention that the older generation can give points to the younger ones in husbandry, Charles Smith, a 58-year-old labourer, of Mill House, Stowgate, is open to engage in a wager of £10 to plough and sow, reap and mow, stack and thatch, hedge and ditch, clip and wind wool, or any work on a farm against anyone within a ten-mile radius.
150 years ago
November 8, 1872
Stamford Infirmary – The treasurer desires to acknowledge the following collections: North Luffenham, £4 17s 1d.; Little Casterton church, £2 3s. 9d.; Colsterworth, £3 6s.; Wesleyan chapel, Falkingham, 8s.; Midland Railway Company’s workmen, £2 11s. Miss Julia Tryon has sent a second parcel of old linen to the
institution.
Stamford St. Simon and St. Jude fair on the 8th and 9th inst. is expected to be very largely attended, the restrictions on the movement of cattle in this part of the country having ceased. It is anticipated there will be a more plentiful supply of beasts than has been witnessed for the last few years.
The celebrated harpist Aptomas, who has on three or four occasions delighted the lovers of music in Stamford with his extraordinary performances, is announced to give popular recitals at the Assembly-rooms next Tuesday.
The Weather of October – Observations taken at Tickencote, Rutland at 9 a.m.: Rain fell on 21 days; the greatest fall of rain in one day was on the 21st, when 0.36 in. was registered. The total fall of rain for the month was 3.88 inches. In October, 1871, it was 1.33 inches. The total fall from January 1st to October 31st was 28.36 inches – about 2864 tons of water per acre for the last ten months – Wm.
Hayes.
Nearly all the toll bars with which at one time Staford was hemmed in have now disappeared. On the 1st inst. the Tinwell and Uffington bars were taken down, and the only high-road in this neighbourhood on which a toll-bar still stands is that leading to Great Casterton: this will cease to exist in a short time. The demolition of the several toll-gates around Stamford has thrown on the town the burden of keeping in repair a great extent of roadway, which will add materially to the borough expenditure. However, under the present active management of the borough surveyor (Mr. J. Richardson) all the roads leaving from the town, as well as the town streets, are being got into sound condition, and will no doubt be kept so.
It is expected that two members of the Town Council will be nominated on Saturday for the Mayoralty, viz, Mr. Horace Wright and Mr. G. Mason.
Billingboro’ – Guy Fawkes-day passed off here very quietly, not a sound of a squib, rocket, or other explosive material being heard. At Horbling some mischievous person set fire to a valuable stack, the property of Br. Geo. Hy. Taylor, nearly the whole of which was consumed.
Bourn – On Sunday last a harvest festival was celebrated in the Abbey-church, which had been very tastefully decorated by some of the ladies of the parish. Over and beside the altar a quantity of flowers and ferns, arranged in pots, and fruit, in pretty baskets, made the chancel look very bright. The services commenced with holy communion at 8 a.m. At the usual morning service the Curate (the Rev. J. W. Campbell) preached, and administered the holy communion; and at 7 p.m. there was a full choral service, when the church was crowded with an attentive congregation. The singing throughout was very good. Over £10 was collected during the day for the National schools of the parish.
200 years ago
November 8, 1822
On Tuesday night a melancholy circumstance occurred at Swinstead, near Colsterworth. Mr. Robert Lowe, carpenter, of that place, after spending the evening abroad, returned home in a state of extreme intoxication, and swallowed a solution of white arsenic, which occasioned his death about half-past twelve o’clock. He has left a widow with a family of six young children.
We are concerned to state that as Mr. Bellamy, jun. of Stibbington, was shooting rabbits on Wednesday the 20th ult. his gun burst, and shattered one of his hands in a most shocking manner.
On Friday last a remarkably fine pike was caught by Mr. Balderston, of Oundle, whilst trolling in the river Nene near that town. Its length was 39 inches from eye to the fork, girth 19 inches, weight 17lb.
In the course of Wednesday night the 30th ult. twenty store hogs were stolen from the premises of Messrs. Cooper, farmers, at Barnwell Lodge, near Oundle; and on Thursday, at St. Neot’s market, two young men of Barnwell were detected with the above hogs, which they had offered there for sale on such terms as caused suspicion. They were in consequence taken into custody, and await the punishment due to their crime.
On Tuesday night the 29th ult. a flock of sheep, 76 in number, were stolen from the premises of Messrs. Samuel and Thomas Arnsby, bankrupts, at Tansor, near Oundle. It will be seen by an advertisement in our present paper, that the bankrupts themselves are strongly suspected to be the offenders, and a large reward is offered for their apprehension. It is pretty well ascertained that the sheep were driven from Tansor by the road through Glapthorne, pointing for Leicestershire.
Caution to Carriers – On Tuesday last, Charles Jinks, carrier, of Oundle, was convicted (by the Rev. Dr. Roberts, of Barnwell,) in the penalty of ten shillings, and costs, which amounted to 16s. 6d. for not having reins on his horses, he having two horses in his cart, and reins only to one.
Committed to Oakham Gaol, on Saturday the 26th ult. (by G. Fludyer, Esq.) for trial at the next sessions, Robert Crump, charged with stealing a quantity of straw from the premises of Mr. James Bennett, of Uppingham.
On Thursday the 31st ult. an inquest was held at Frampton, before C. Mastin, Gent. coroner, on the body of Mr. Richard Billyard, farmer, who had been found suspended by a cord tied to a beam in his stable. The jury returned a verdict, “That the deceased, labouring under a grievous depression of spirits, in a fit of derangement h himself.”
To Linen Drapers.
Wanted, by a young Man who is well acquainted with the London trade, a Situation as an Assistant. Letters addressed (post paid) to A. B., Post-office, Boston, will be meet with due attention.
