Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings news from up to 200 years ago in our Mercury Memories
Every week we take a look at what was making news up to 200 years ago in our Mercury Memories section.
This is done with the kind support of the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust.
10 years ago
November 16, 2012
Organisers of the new foodbank in Stamford have been overwhelmed by the number of people using their service.
Stamford Foodbank began giving out donations to people in need from All Saints and St John’s Church Hall in Scotgate in July.
The team which set up the scheme were not sure if there would even be demand for such a service.
But after three months the bank has fed more than 130 people and given out more than a ton of food.
Organiser Nicola Dunkin said: “It is going amazingly well.We had no idea what to expect. We knew there were people who needed food but we had no clue how many. We probably wouldn’t have come up with that number. This reaffirms that there is a need here in Stamford.”
The foodbank is open to people who have been selected by care professionals such as doctors, health visitors and social workers because of their situation.
“We get a complete cross-section of society – single people, families, young and old,” she said.
Members of a social club committee say they are “upset and disappointed” at the news the building’s owner is withdrawing its support.
Last week, Cummins Generator Technologies, announced it would no longer be supporting the social club in Wharf Road, Stamford.
The firm, which also announced that it was axing 95 jobs, said it did not make financial sense to keep supporting it because it had been under-used for years.
The firm owns the building and matched the membership fee paid by its members.
Fred Wade, who has been a member of the club’s committee since it opened in the 1970s, said the club is well supported.
Mr Wade had to step down as secretary of the committee in October for health reasons and his son Tom took over the role.
Mr Wade, of Churchill Road, Stamford, said: “They called my son to a meeting and said they were going to shut it within six months.
“I am absolutely devastated because I am one of the founder members of the club. I would say 70 per cent of the club is against it.”
Mr Wade said he was disappointed there had been no consultation with committee members ahead of the meeting with his son, which happened on Monday last week.
A county council has responded to complaints about badly-painted double yellow lines.
Highways workers from Lincolnshire County Council repainted the double yellow lines in St Mary’s place, Stamford, last week.
But the paint has run among the cobbles.
The council’s area highways manager Kevin Brumfield said: “We are currently refreshing the line for when parking enforcement starts on December 3 so that the parking restrictions are clear to motorists.
“It is always harder to put material on road surfaces like this but out contractor is going back to see if the appearance can be improved.”
Liz Heesom, who lives in the road, said: “This beautiful medieval church precinct has been spoilt by the careless and unsightly ladling out of thick yellow paint.”
25 years ago
November 14, 1997
Newage International is injecting thousands of pounds into Stamford’s youth services over the next three years.
The engineering company has been negotiating with Stamford YMCA and has agreed a five-figure funding package.
The news has been welcomed by campaigners fighting to improve youth services in the town.
In the three-year deal Newage, Stamford’s largest employers, will pay for a trainee youth worker to join the two-man team which runs after-school services at Queen Eleanor School.
Michael Coates, Newage organisational development officer, said: “We have a history of supporting local causes through our charitable committee. Our employees make contributions direct from their salaries, and then we match that.
“Aside from the other projects we support in the town, we decided to provide additional funds to focus on one project in particular. We received a large number of applications, but finally chose YMCA as the work they do for the young in Stamford is invaluable.”
Police have warned Stamford pensioners to be on their guard against rogue builders turning upon the doorstep, after thousands of pounds in cash has been handed over in the last six weeks.
Elderly people in Lincoln Road and Doughty Street have complained to police and trading standards of alleged poor workmanship after having work done by builders.
George and Betty Cooper, of Lincoln Road, had work done on their guttering. Mrs Cooper said: “We needed the guttering replacing as it has been up 50 years and George can’t climb the ladder anymore.
“They never had any proper scaffolding which first alarmed us, and the work on the guttering was terrible. When it started raining it began dripping and looked like it was going to cave in.”
Mr Cooper said: “When we tried to get them back we only had a mobile number to call, these were either switched off or the boss wasn’t there – we just couldn’t get anywhere with them.”
They companied to trading standards and police but were told there was little they could do as they did not have an address for the company.
Villagers facing the loss of their local pub have decided to buy it and run it themselves, raising the necessary £200,000 by selling shares at £100 each.
The Olive Branch pub at Clipsham closed its doors for the last time on Sunday after serving the 50-home community for around 200 years.
Devastated that their social hub was to disappear, villagers decided to launch a campaign to buy it, forming their enterprise as a private limited company.
Organiser Mike Hastings said: “The pub, along with the church, is our social centre, the heart of the village, so we have decided to buy it and run it ourselves. It’s better than putting your money in a building society.”
The investment will be secured by the property – and entitles shareholders to perks including dividends, plus 10 per cent discount off meals. There will also be an annual general meeting to vote for a board of directors. “We’d like people to get involved,” said Mr Hastings.
Accountants Moore Stephens, of Stamford, have agreed to issue the share prospectus and proposal, acting as an address for anyone buying shares. They will also take care of the money.
50 years ago
November 17, 1972
An attempt to save Greatford primary school from closure failed on Wednesday after the village was called a “snob area”.
Kesteven Education Committee accepted a committee recommendation to close the school and now only a meeting of the County Council can save it.
Ald. J. H. Foster appealed for the school not to be closed and said that the area would develop as Peterborough expanded.
He explained that there would soon be a total of 49 new homes in Greatford and neighbouring Braceborough and Wilsthorpe.
“The people in the village are very content with the present system. As more people move to the area, they will want to retain the village school.”
Coun A. E. Robinson said that he could not support the view.
“This is a snob area in inverted commas. Any development will have to be very carefully looked at by the planners.
“I can’t support this plea to keep the school open,” said Coun Robinson.
Only six members were in favour of Ald Foster’s amendment.
Ryhall Parish Council, on Tuesday, learned from their Clerk (Mrs M. Taylor) that, although two letters had been sent to Rutland Surveyor Mr G. Sellick, repairs had not yet been carried out to the White Bridge.
As the bridge is in a dangerous condition, it was agreed that the Clerk should press for action.
It was reported that the E. M. Electricity Board were terminating the rental agreement for street lighting, from April next year, after which it will be necessary for the Council to purchase the equipment at its residual value of £309.90. Annual saving on rental charges will be £54.51, but they have also given notice of an increase of five per cent on maintenance charges.
Complaints had been received from residents of Balk Road regarding the trees obstructing light. The Clerk was instructed to write to Ketton Rural Council asking is some branches can be lopped back and all dead wood removed.
Gasmen launched a big investigation after a young Stamford housewife collapsed unconscious in her fume-filled kitchen on Tuesday.
The incident happened as three other families complained at being deprived of heating for days on end during the town’s big switch to natural gas.
Victim of the fumes was 25-year-old Mrs Jacqueline Hughes, whose home was converted three weeks ago.
She got up to make the breakfast at her Tinwell Road home and found the house smelling strongly of what seemed to be gas.
Mrs Hughes tried to open the kitchen door to get some air – but as she did so she keeled over and slumped to the floor.
It is now believed to have been nearly an hour before her 14-year-old sister, Sue, discovered her.
Mrs Hughes’ husband was in London on business. So Sue and Mrs Hughes’ one-year-old baby Lisa were the only other people in the house. They were not affected.
Later a doctor was called to give oxygen treatment and Mrs Hughes was taken to Peterborough Hospital. She was discharged two hours later and has now recovered.
100 years ago
November 17, 1922
£80 From Poppies – The sale of poppies on Friday and Saturday, together with the collections undertaken in the schools and various works of the town, realised £83 12s. 7½d. Mrs. T. W. Pinder, of Newstead, assisted by Miss Bessie Seccombe, was the organiser. The proceeds will be divided between the local branch of the British Legion and Earl Haig’s Fund for Disabled Ex-Servicemen.
Fire Brigade Leader Honoured: At the annual meeting of the North Eastern District of the National Fire Brigade Association, held at Kettering, on Thursday, Capt. A. Bacon, of the Stamford Fire Brigade, was elected chairman for the year. It was decided to hold the annual district competitions at Peterborough on Whit-Monday next year.
New Justices Take the Oath – At the conclusion of the business at the Stamford police court, on Saturday, three new magistrates were sworn in – Messrs. A. Cliff, G. Chapman, and S. Dyer.
Territorials’ Dance – The Armistice night dance, organised by the Territorials, and held in the Drill-hall, was attended with great success. Q.M.S, Wilson, and Lance-Corpl. Harper were the M.C.’s and the music was supplied by Mr. H. Jones’s orchestra. There was a very large number present.
Knocked Down By Cycle – Wm. Rhodes, 7, Zebra-cottages, an employee of the Stamford Corporation, was knocked down by a bicycle in Scotgate on Saturday evening and sustained as abrasion over the left eye and bruises. He was taken to a house near by, where Dr. Greenwood attended to his injuries, and later he was conveyed home.
An excess of water in a sample of butter sold by Joseph Eayrs, grocer, High-street, Stamford, led to his appearance at the police-court on Saturday. He was represented by Mr. Godfrey Phillips, and pleaded not guilty to a charge of selling half-a-pound of butter adulterated with 17.80 per cent of water.
Defendant said he sold the butter just as he had purchased it. He had been in the business for 37 years, and that was the first complaint he had made against him.
The Mayor said the defendant would be given the benefit of the doubt, and the case was dismissed.
Bourne
An Oft-Debated Subject – The Board of Guardians on Thursday received a letter form the Ministry of Health concerning public vaccination, and the Clerk asked for instructions, remarking that nothing had been published regarding vaccination for some years. Mr. F. J. Clarke proposed that the Board take no action in the matter, and Mr. Hall seconded, remarking that he was dead against vaccination. Canon Layng moved an amendment that public notices be issued. He considered it was absurd people going against the opinion of the medical profession. Miss Bell seconded. Nine were favourable to the amendment, and five voted for the proposition.
150 years ago
November 15, 1872
The expenses attending the enclosure of Stamford open fields will astonish people who have no idea of the cost of Acts of Parliament and of valuing and parcelling out lands. At a meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Council on Monday, the Town Clerk read a letter from Mr. Budwell, in which he stated that the total cost of the enclosure was £6150, and the share of expense falling upon the Corporation was £334 1s. 6d., which sum was required to be paid on the 13th inst., or interest will be charged thereon from that date. As the sum of £380 has been awarded to the Council for Corporation land now included in the Recreation-ground it is probable that sum will be employed to liquidate the valuer’s
claim.
A fire broke out about 1 on Wednesday morning on the premises of Mr. Everitt, adjacent to Thornhaugh mill, and before any assistance could be obtained two barley stacks, the produce of 41 acres, were in a blaze. Messengers were despatched to Stamford and Peterborough for fire engines, and in about two hours the brigade from Stamford arrived at the scene of the conflagration, and began playing on the burning stacks. The Peterboro’ engine followed, and was soon in operation, but the fire had got so much mastery that no portion of the barley was saved. The engines, however, were very effective in preventing the flames from extending to several other stacks and a barn which was in close proximity, and to prevent further mischief they were detained on the ground until noon. It is feared the outbreak was caused by incendiary. The property was insured.
We learn from the Building News that for the erection of a new brewery and additional tun room for Messrs. Melbourne of Stamford, the following tenders have been received: Pattinson £1985 14s. 5d.; Brown, £1980; Richardson, £1898; Halliday, £1815; Hinson, £1798.
It is a remarkable fact that the only two police charges arising out of the two days’ St. Simon and St. Jude fair at Stamford was a case of drunkeness, a tipsy drover from Peterboro’ having been locked up because he was too helpless to take care of himself.
An accident which proved very destructive happened on the Midland railway, between Stamford and Ketton, on Friday morning last. A train of loaded coal waggons (for Messr. Rickett and Smith, of London) was descending the incline from Ketton, when a drawbar of one of the trucks broke, and the engine with some of the waggons shot ahead some distance of the main part of the train. The engine driver, perceiving what had occurred, slackened speed, when the detached waggons, having gained great impetus, dashed into the others with terrific force. Seven or eight waggons were shivered to atoms, and 10 or 11 others were more or less damaged and thrown down the embankment, the contents of all being scattered about the line; the rails for some distance were also torn up. The trains to and from Stamford were delayed for two or three hours, until one line of rails had been cleared; and it was not until the next day that the other rails could be worked.
Bourn
Panaroma – Some of the incidents in the late war between France and Germany were illustrated by a panorama in the Corn-exchange, Bourn, on the evening of the 6th inst. The vocal selections were good, but the exhibition was on too small a scale to enable persons at the back part of the room to see the pictures distinctly.
200 years ago
November 15, 1822
On Saturday last a coroner’s inquest was held in this borough upon the body of Thomas Wiles, aged 29 years, who on the preceding evening was killed near Great Casterton. It appeared that the deceased, in company with his brother, was driving sheep from Stamford fair, when upon the hill leading to Casterton bridge they were overtaken by a butcher’s cart belonging to Mr. Ruff, of Exton, in which a lad was driving and conveying a young woman on her return from market; and although there was sufficient room for the cart to have passed the sheep, the deceased unaccountably went up to the horse and struck it upon the head with a stick; he then aimed a stroke at the driver, but missed him, and again hit the horse, which set the animal off at full speed down the hill: the consequence was, that Wiles was knocked down, run over, and killed on the spot; and the lives of the two persons in the cart were preserved only by the horse being stopped just before reaching the dangerous declivity of the road at the foot of the bridge. The body of the deceased was taken to Casterton (the residence of his father), but re-conveyed within the precinct of this borough for the purpose of the inquest. Verdict, accidental death. It is but justice to say that no blame attaches to the driver of the cart.
On Saturday night a Welch cattle-jobber, named Everard Lewis, a man 70 years of age, whilst sleeping at the Boat public-house in Stamford, was robbed of £38, under the following circumstances. He went into the house in the evening and applied for a lodging: before he retired, he took some refreshment, and a man known by the name of Long Harry, who lately travelled to fairs, as an assistant to Steel the horse-dealer, forced some conversation with the aged jobber. When the latter was gone to bed, Long Harry told the chamber-maid that he was a relation of his, and that they might as well sleep in the same room. No suspicion being entertained, the fellow was accordingly shown to another bed in the same room in which the old man slept; and it seems that, in the course of the night, he contrived to draw the Welchman’s small-clothes from under his pillow, and to take from the pockets £38 in bank notes, with which he got out of the house as soon as he could, leaving the doors open after him. The old man (who has the misfortune to be deaf) heard nothing of what was passing, and did not discover his loss until be arose early on Sunday morning and missed his small-clothes.
Novel Circumstance - Baptised at Leasingham church, near Sleaford, on Thursday the 7th inst. by the Rev. F. Gunniss, Rector, twenty-one children; all of whom, except one, were from the paper-mill, Leasingham Moor, and seventeen of them of two families, viz. nine for Mr. Cropper’s (the eldest 16 years of age), and eight of Mr. Clarke’s (the eldest 15). Mr. Robinson, of Sleaford, and Mr. Clarke, of the paper-mill, have imposed upon themselves an important duty, in acting as sponsors on this occasion for the whole twenty-one.
