News from up to 200 years ago from Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings in Mercury Memories
A range of stories from up to 200 years ago 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.
10 years ago
February 8, 2013
Residents have voiced their shock this week as it emerged an important piece of Stamford’s history is to be sold at auction this month.
The Grade II listed three arch structure on the corner of Bath Row and Castle Dyke, which is all that remains of the former 14th century castle is being advertised by Leicester auctioneers Kal Sangra.
The corner building is protected by the Ancient Monument Act.
The building is most probably the remains of the Great Hall and comprises outhouses with three splayed arches with the centre having an ancient iron studded door.
The structure has a guide price of £20,000 to £25,000 plus VAT. It is being sold on February 20 at Leicester Racecourse from 5pm.
Chairman of the Stamford Urban Group Don Lambert said: “It is a historic part of old Stamford and I want to know what it means to put it up for sale like this.
“It is such an important part of the town’s history this should become a real priority. I feel something needs to be done to protect this historic piece of our town’s history.”
The author of a Royal British Legion newsletter was reporting on an awards ceremony when his own name was read out as a winner.
Steve Bonde was awarded the Courtesy Cup at the Lincolnshire branch’s county conference for his work in writing the LegionLincs newsletter.
Steve, who joined the Stamford branch in 1997, spends up to 30 hours a week writing newsletters for the county branch as well as his local one.
Speaking after winning the award, he said: “It was a total surprise. I was not expecting it.
“I was at the conference as a branch delegate and had my head down taking notes for the newsletter when my name was read out.”
LegionLincs is usually released every two months and is filled with reports from legion activities in the region.
Steve said: “The idea is to show the branches how we are all doing.”
A father and daughter have enjoyed an emotional first meeting years after they began searching for each other.
Allan Young, 62, of Lambeth Walk, Stamford, was delighted when his 43-year-old daughter Sarah finally tracked him down and they spoke on the phone for the first time.
He said: “I’m ex-directory but she went through all the A Youngs in Stamford and got through to Adrienna Young, who just happens to be a near neighbour of mine.
Adrienna came over and told me about this strange phone call and gave me Sarah’s phone number.
“When I rang she said I’m Sarah your daughter and we couldn’t say much for crying, except that we’d tried to find each other and we’d love to meet up.”
Sarah, who now lives in Cleethorpes and has three children and one grandchild, began searching for her father when she was 18.
She knew he was from Stamford so she had visited on numerous occasions trying to research her family history. She discovered his full name when she applied for her adoption papers a few years ago.
Sarah said it was a friend’s insistence that she make a new effort to find him that led to the breakthrough.
25 years ago
February 6, 1998
A new £30,000 Jaguar XJ8 has been delivered to South Kesteven District Council – after an extra £1,000 was spent on garage alterations.
The vehicle replaces the J-reg Ford Scorpio used to drive the council chairman to official engagements.
The garage which houses the chairman’s car had to be extended to cope with the extra length of the Jaguar.
Since he took office in May 1996, SKDC chairman Coun Ken Joynson has travelled 38,000 miles on more than 300 civic occasions.
He has defended the council’s choice of a 3.2 litre V8 Jaguar following criticism from some council tax payers.
“The chairman’s car does get a lot of use. There are a number of people in our society who do things for the benefit of other people without any reward.
“We need transport to take the chairman to civic events where many of these people are congratulated for the tremendous amount of work they do.
“The reason we need a large car is because chairmen regularly travel with their consort, vice-chairman and vice-chairman’s consort, and we need a driver because of the high mileage.”
Coun Joynson also believed the Jaguar will be as cost-effective as any other car the council could have chosen.
Plans for a flagpole at Market Deeping were deferred after councillors failed to agree on the best place to hang it.
The town council’s application to attach a flagpole to the town hall was considered by South Kesteven District Council planning committee.
As a town councillor, Reg Howard declared an interest in the scheme and left the chamber before discussion began.
District planning officer Graham Oxborough said it involved placing a bracket in a decorated area which included carved stone, and recommended that permission be refused.
Coun Vic Bulmer-Jones, chairman of Deeping St James Parish Council, said: “It has been suggested that the parking area in the Market Place would be a more suitable place for a flagpole.
“I don’t know how long it would last there after a Friday night – or maybe something else other than a flag would be hanging from it by Saturday morning.
“It’s a very small bracket and I can’t see any objection to the plan.”
Coun Ray Auger said: “I believe the flagpole was requested by public demand, brought about in the situation surrounding the death of Princess Diana – there was nowhere to hang a flag. I would fully support the plan.”
However, other members were concerned about the position of the bracket, and moved deferral of the plan to investigate placing the flagpole elsewhere on the town hall.
Councillors are facing tough choices over whether to target public toilets as a cost-cutting measure next year.
Rutland Council’s environmental services committee discussed its budget proposals for 1998/99 last Thursday.
But members said they were unhappy about including toilets, which cost £22,800 a year to maintain, in the two per cent saving required by the policy and resources committee.
All committees were asked to identify areas which would be under threat if a two per cent saving was made, but the final decision on cuts would be in the hands of the policy and resources committee.
Coun Derek Iliffe said: “People depend on public conveniences. It’s absolutely criminal to consider scrapping them.”
50 years ago
February 9, 1973
Angry residents at Ketton have mounted a big protest against a plan that will bring bulldozers into their village centre.
Rutland County Council want to demolish the 116-year-old disused school and put a grey brick-built library in its place.
And villagers feel the scheme would ruin the appearance of their High Street.
Letters of protest have been sent to the Department of the Environment and Rutland and Stamford MP Mr Kenneth Lewis.
A special parish meeting to discuss “battle” plans is planned for next Wednesday in the Methodist Hall at 7.30pm.
The County Council say the school, which went out of use six years ago, is in an extremely bad condition with rot, woodworm and a dangerous roof.
But locals are furous that the first they knew of the whole thing was when the Council asked for tenders for the demolition job in the “Mercury”.
Mr John Stedman, chairman of Ketton Village Trust, said: Although this building is of no architectural merit, it is a stone building with character, forming an important part of the High Street’s appearance.”
A plan to give alarm bells to local old folk may soon be given a trial run.
Said Stamford’s MoH, Dr. H. Ellis Smith this week, “It is still very much a subject for discussion, but we have been in touch with the local social services committee about it.
“The first thing to find out however, is how much it will cost.
“What we want is something robust but not too extravagant.
Dr Ellis Smith said that he foresaw the bells in the shape of buttons that would be pressed when help was needed and could ring out from somewhere under the eaves of the house.
“A lot has been talked about putting in phones for elderly or sick people but I think that in some cases they could find it difficult to dial. Pressing a button would be much easier.”
The doctor added that if the idea was tried out in a small way it would be likely to be provided for elderly or sick people they thought needed it most.
“It’s a good idea, and likely to be tried out, but at this stage we have to be careful not to commit anyone else to anything,” he added.
Producer director and cameraman, Jeremy Perkins, of Queens Road, Bourne, will know on February 19 just how successful his first attempt at movie-making has been.
It has take him 2½ years to piece together, film, and prepare for public presentation, the story of the historical Bourne family, the Digby’s, of Red Hall.
Now, he is putting the finishing touches to his work in readiness for showing the sound film in Bourne Tudor cinema, a week on Monday.
Entitled “The House of Digby”, the film covers the period 1727-1836.
To ensure accuracy, Mr Perkins has been involved in deep researches into history, and close co-operation with local associations, families and farmers, and tradespeople.
100 years ago
February 9, 1923
Old People Entertained – The inmates of the workhouse spent a most enjoyable time on Thursday on the occasion of the annual tea given by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Pepper) and Mr. J. Brown. An excellent repast was provided, and amongst those present were the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. J. Brown and Mrs. Goodyer (a lady Guardian). After tea an excellent entertainment arranged by Mrs. H. M. Lenox (who accompanied throughout) was contributed by Mrs. J. Laws, Miss Chapman, Miss I. Carpenter, Miss Smith, Mr. and Mrs. A. Lenox, Mr. L. Woods, Mr. Blundell, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Frisby. During the evening sweets, tobacco, etc., were distributed.
Stamford’s Diminishing “Preserves”
At the annual meeting of the Stamford Infirmary Governors, on Monday, the Marquess of Exeter presiding, Mr. E. Clark said he was rather afraid they were becoming hemmed in by the Lincoln, Leicester, and Peterborough Hospitals, who were gradually encroaching upon the Stamford preserves. Rippingale, Cottesmore, and Bourne had all been taken by the other places.
Mr. W. Turnill remarked that the Leicester Infirmary appeared to cover all Rutland.
The Chairman said that some time ago a scheme was commenced by the Ministry of Health whereby the country was mapped out in districts, and Peterborough took Huntingdon and Cambridgeshire, where there was no hospital organisation. Stamford was included in the Lincoln district. He believed he was a member of a committee that dealt with such matters in the district, but he had never been summoned to any meeting as yet.
Parish Social – In connection with St. George’s church, Stamford, a social was held in the schoolroom on Friday. The arrangements were in the hands of the Rev. S. H. and Mrs. Wenham, and the churchwardens. A very enjoyable entertainment was contributed to by Miss Atter , the Rev. S. H. Wenham, Mr. A. Bowles, Mr. W. G. Parker, Miss West, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Lenox. Mrs. Wenham and Mr. E. P. Buzzard accompanied. Refreshments were provided by Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Wheal and Miss Cross.
Less Drunkenness – At the annual Stamford Brewster Sessions, on Saturday – Mr. H. T. Daniels in the chair – Supt. Duffin’s report for the year was presented. This stated that there are 69 licences, giving an average of 143 persons to each. There had been no change in the number. Only ten cases of drunkenness had been reported, six of which had been against non-residents. The figures for the past six years were: 1916, 28; 1917, 10, 1918, 47; 1919, 22; 1920, 32; 1921, 26. All the houses had been well conducted. The magistrates renewed all the licences.
Limiting Road Costs – At the meeting of the Bourne Rural District Council on Thursday the Highways Committee recommended the Surveyor’s estimate for district road expenditure for the ensuing year should be reduced from £14,675 to £13,000, the same as in the current year. The proposal was approved.
150 years ago
February 7, 1873
The committee appointed at a public meeting to procure the holding of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society’s show of 1874 at Stamford assembled at the Town-hall on Friday; the Mayor in the chair. It was stated that in the event of the exhibition being held at Stamford the Marquis of Exeter had generously offered Burghley park for the site of the show. A resolution was unanimously adopted that Mr. Phillips, Mr. Cross, of Carlby, and Mr. Wortley, of Ridlington, be a deputation to wait on the Council of the Agricultural Society to ascertain the probability of Stamford being selected for the exhibition. Messrs. Johnson and Laxton consented to act jointly as hon. secretaries and treasurers to the local committee.
Stamford Local Board – On Tuesday evening last, there was a meeting of the Sanitary Committee, but less than half the members were present. The Clerk read a letter from the secretary to the Gas Company, agreeing to allow certain deductions for gas last year, and offering to light the public lamps without any increase on last year’s contract. The offer, considering the immense rise in the price of coals, was declared to be a most liberal one on the part of the Gas Company, and it was gladly accepted. Several plans submitted for proposed alterations in buildings were sanctioned; but plans for the erection of some small tenements on the North-road, near Clock cottage, were rejected, it being evident that the requisite accommodation for healthy dwellings could not be effected. The surveyor was instructed to consult Mr. Hunt, brewer, who is about to make extensive alterations on his premises in Water-street, about the possibility of widening the footway leading from the Albert bridge to the railway station. In the early part of the meeting the Mayor was asked whether there was any truth in a rumour that the Town Council wished to sell the Portico as well as the Shambles and the Gaol. His Worship said he for one would never consent to the disposal of the Portico.
Stamford Union – One of the applications for relief excited the indignation of some of the Guardians against the authorities of another Union. The applicant said his father-in-law, between 70 and 80 years of age, had resided with him at King’s Cliffe for 5 years, and he was now dangerously ill. He applied to the relieving-officer for relief and a medical order, but was refused on the ground that there had been “a change of Unions,” and he was advised to apply at Stamford. Having come eight miles he was informed that he had lost his time and his travelling for nothing, as the sick man having resided for five years in the Oundle district, there he must be relieved. The clerk was instructed to represent the hardship of this case to the clerk of the Oundle Union.
Billingboro’ – The price of coal was raised here on Monday last 2s. per ton, the best qualities are now selling at 31s. per ton.
On Sunday last two eloquent sermons were preached in Edenham church by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. After each service a collection was made for the Stamford Infirmary funds, resulting in the sum of £16 5s. The weather was unfortunately very inclement, or the congregations would have been larger.
200 years ago
February 7, 1823
In consequence of very deep snow in the North, particularly in Cumberland, the Glasgow up-mail coach which should have reached Stamford on Wednesday forenoon, did not arrive till 3 o’clock yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. It brought, we understand, the mail of two days for London.
The audacity with which horses are now stolen in this neighbourhood exceeds any thing of the kind before heard of. An instance has occurred of the theft of a horse from an inclosure the gate of which is immediately in front of an occupied house on St.Peter’s-hill in Stamford: about three o’clock last Monday morning the robber broke the gate to pieces, led out the horse, mounted, and rode away; and hitherto pursuit has been unsuccessful. The offender disturbed the inhabitants of the house by breaking the gate, and was distinctly seen by one of them. The horse belonged to T. H. Jackson, Esq. of the place. On Tuesday night the 21st ult. a horse the property of James Hurst, Esq. was also stolen, from a close opposite the lodges at the entrance to Burghley Park. The best, and almost the only, defence from such depredations, is the taking off of the shoes of horses, when turned out for a winter’s run. Thieves cannot then ride them far without applying to a shoeing-smith, which may occasion immediate apprehension, or will certainly essentially assist pursuit.
On Monday last an inquest was held in Deeping Fen by Samuel Edwards, Gent. coroner, on the body of Charles Hogan, a native of Ireland. It appeared in evidence that the deceased had left a public-house on the preceding Friday evening somewhat inebriated, and on his way to his lodging-house had fallen off his master’s horse, and remained so long upon the turnpike-road without assistance as to die from the inclemency of the weather. The driver of the Peterborough waggon saw and spoke to the deceased, yet had not the humanity to assist him. Verdict, died by being exposed to the inclemency of the weather.
On Monday se’nnight an inquest was held at Edithweston, Rutland, by J. Jones, Gent. coroner, on the body of John Stones, mason, who retired to rest on the preceding Saturday night in his usual health, and was discovered the next morning a corpse. Verdict, died by the visitation of God.
Money Wanted,
Bourn District of Road.
Notice is hereby given, that the trustees will hold a Meeting on Thursday the 13th day of February next, at the George and Angel Inn in Stamford, at Eleven ‘clock in the forenoon, when they will be ready to receive Proposals from any person or persons who may be willing to advance them the sum of £350, at 5 per cent. interest, in the four following shares, viz. three of £100 each, and one of £50, on the Credit of the Tolls under the Act of Parliament lately passed.
By order, W. Reed, Clerk.
Mr. William Hill, of Oundle, Baker, begs leave to return his grateful acknowledgements to his kind friends and neighbours for their very prompt assistance on the evening of the 27th ult. during the alarm of Fire on his premises, by which his property was rescued from the most imminent danger.
