Hundreds of years of history from Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and Market Deeping
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
April 5, 2013
Plans for a pub chain’s move to Stamford and Oakham are moving forward in the last week as two councils have backed their plans.
JD Wetherspoon has applied to open pubs in Stamford and Oakham and both town councils have recommended the plans in their areas for approval by the planning authorities.
In Stamford the firm has submitted plans to South Kesteven District Council to transform the Rutland and Stamford Mercury office, in Sheep Market.
The pub will cost £1m and create 50 jobs for people in the area.
At a Stamford Town Council planning committee meeting on Tuesday, councillors said they would welcome the pub and voted to support the plans.
Chairman of the committee Coun Harrish Bisnauthsing (Lib Dem) said: “I think it will be a good ting for the town because it will add choice.”
In Oakham, the company is hoping to move into the former Royal British Legion building in High Street.
At an Oakham Town Council planning and parks committee meeting on Wednesday last week, councillors voted to support the plans.
Two teenagers who have been busy clearing the streets have been thanked for their hard work by council officers.
Eli Wade, 13, and Charlie Tyler, 14, have spent the last two months litter-picking whenever they get the chance and have cleared a huge amount of the Rutland Heights estate where Eli lives.
The Mercury publicised their efforts in February and now they have been recognised with a letter of thanks from South Kesteven District Council.
The council has also provided extra recycling bags, litter pickers, gloves and high-visibility jackets, and arranged for extra collections for the waste they collected.
Waste and recycling service manager Pat Swinton said: “The two lads have done a fantastic jobs and really aided our efforts in collecting litter in that part of Stamford.
“We hope this letter of thanks and card show that we as a council value the contribution they are continuing to make.”
A lorry driver risked his own life and the lives of train passengers when he tried to jump the lights at a level crossing.
The lorry, a large brown goods vehicle, struck the barriers at the level crossing in King Street, Lolham, near Helpston, at about 10am on Tuesday.
Trains running through the area were delayed by four hours after the incident and the road was closed by police while new barriers were installed.
PC Sean White, investigating for British Transport Police, said the driver was lucky no one was seriously injured.
He said: “Instead of stopping, the driver carried on through the crossing. The vehicle collided with the barriers, seriously damaging them.
“This not only caused inconvenience to local drivers, who were diverted and had to find alternative routes and to rail passengers whose journeys were disrupted, but we are lucky there were no injuries.”
25 years ago
April 3, 1998
The future of Stamford’s historic town band is under threat from a cash crisis and lack of members.
Stamford Brass, known to many as Stamford Town Band, is facing a shortfall of £3,000 by the end of the year.
And it only has 19 members – nine short of a full band.
The band, formed in 1885, was conducted by Stamford’s famous composer Malcolm Sargent during the First World War.
Band chairman David Johnson said: “We are desperately short of cornet players. And going by our present bookings we will only have enough money at the end of the year to either pay the rent on our rehearsal room or pay the musical director – we can’t afford to do both.”
If a solution cannot be found, the band will fold, but Mr Johnson and band treasurer Bob Rennard are adament everything will be done to secure the band’s future.
Mr Rennard said: “We are looking at a number of activities to rescue the situation.
“We may be forced to start making our members pay subscriptions and reduce rehearsals to once a week.
“We are also going to start approaching businesses to see if we can get them to sponsor different aspects of the band – be it the musical director, the rehearsal room, or whatever.”
Stamford’s living memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales, began to take shape on Saturday.
Townsfolk and groups who donated trees gathered at Burghley Park to plant then on the site of the Princess Diana Memorial Wood.
Mayor and Mayoress of Stamford Coun Alec Burt and his wife Rene joined Lady Victoria Leathan, custodian of Burghley House, to plant their trees.
The appeal for the memorial was officially launched by Coun Burt in February, and has been gathering momentum as more donations were received.
Mayor’s officer Denis Seward said: “It was an absolutely wonderful success. Trees and shrubs were also purchased on the site and planted.
“It was a memorable day for everyone involved, and a unique day in the history of Stamford.
”Everybody mucked in and got their hands dirty, and they weren’t put off by the drop of rain we had.”
Centrepiece of the memorial, which contains designs from pupils at Stamford primary schools, was a talking point among those on the site,
The future of a residential home threatened with closure will hang in the balance until June.
Chater House in Ketton is under occupied and costs Rutland County Council £100,000 more to supply care to the 20 elderly residents than if they were to purchase care from the independent sector.
The home, which opened in 1969, does not conform to registration standards as there are too few bathrooms and the bedrooms are not an appropriate size.
Consultations will continue over the next two months with staff, residents, relatives and relevant organisations to decide the future of the home.
Residents will also be assessed to look at their individual needs.
Council director of social services Keith Franklin told a meeting of the social services committee on Monday the £100,000 saved from Chater House could pay for 12,000 hours of care for elderly residents who still live in their own homes.
50 years ago
April 6, 1973
Campaigners in the Deepings are ready to do battle with the authorities over the threatened postponement of a multi-thousand pound sports complex.
The complex, expected to cost £654,000, would serve the whole of the Stamford and Bourne area.
It was due to be built this year – but now Kesteven County Council have taken a look at the cost and are having second thoughts.
Their finance committee meet on April 18 to decide if the scheme can go ahead this year after all.
But even before the meeting protest moves are being made by the Deeping School Association, whose committee will circulate a petition calling for the complex to be speeded up.
They point out that:
- There is a complete lack of recreational facilities in the booming Deepings rea.
- The publicity given to the complex has attracted people to the Deepings on the promise which has been unfulfilled.
- The Deepings Comprehensive School now serving a wide catchement area will need the new complex. Otherwise money will have to be spent providing separate school recreation facilities.
- Experience shows the complex could be viable and self-supporting.
A discovery made last week may prove that Dr E. C. Till, of St George’s Square, Stamford, was right when he brought forward the suggestion last week in “Topics and People” that the site of Stamford’s old Eleanor’s Cross was near Fox Dales, Stamford, and not further south in Casterton Road.
For a piece of Barnack stone has been found in a field Dr Till believes was the site, which could be a piece of the memorial (which dates back to the 13th century).
Mr H. W. Pond drew the attention of Mr R. Grimwood, of Doughtly Street to this piece of stone, knowing Mr Grimwood to be interested in such matters as a member of the local Archaeological Society.
Mr Pond, of Casterton Road, saw the stone because he is to build a bungalow on a plot of land in the vicinity.
The site is about 100 yards above the former Sawyer’s Arms Inn (now Drum and Monkey).
Mr Grimwood had the fragment, weighing about two cwt, taken to St Leonard’s Priory for storage and identification.
Stamford’s cheap bus fares scheme for pensioners staggered off the ground this week … but only just.
Only a paltry one out of every 100 old folks in the town have so far taken up the offer of cut price journeys.
The scheme, introduced by Stamford Borough Council, has been badly hit by the withdrawal of Bartons, who operate the town service, and United Counties.
Only 20 pensioners have applied for their cut rate ticket books, which contain a hundred free 2p tickets.
In December the council had estimated that about 2,000 people would be eligible for the scheme.
Borough Treasurer Mr W. R. Cooke thinks it would have been a much better service if Bartons and United Counties had joined the scheme.
The two companies have refused to operate the cheap fares unless they are paid the annual administrative costs of just £75 by the council.
100 years ago
April 6, 1923
New Overseers - The following have been appointed overseers in Stamford for the ensuring year: St. Martin’s Within: Messrs. G. Miles and T. Hart; St. John’s: Messrs. J. T. Eayrs and F. Hare; St. Mary’s: Messrs. R. Mould and G. Flitton; All Saints’: Messrs. F. Beardsall and Jas. Gray; St. Michael’s: Messrs. L. E. Hardingham ad S. H. King; St. George’s: Messrs. G. G. Curtis and A. P. Evershed.
“Terriers’” Dance – bout 100 were present at a dance at the Drill-hall, Stamford, on Saturday night, arranged by the Territorial Sports Club. C.Q.M.S. Wilson, Corp. Popple and Priv, Duff were the M.C.’s and the music was provided by Mr. H. Jones’ orchestra. A guessing competition in aid of an indisposed member was won by Mr. S. Moore.
To Give The Children A Treat – A very successful whist competition and dance were held on Easter Monday at the Drill Hall under the auspices of the local R.A.O.B. Lodge in aid of the Poor Children’s Outing Fund. There were 250 players at whist. Mr. Hodson acted as M.C. and prizes were awarded to the eighteen successful couples by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Pepper). The winners of the valuable first prize were Miss Barton and Mr. Miles. The attendance was considerably augmented for the dance. Mr. G. A. Harper’s orchestra providing a programme of pleasing items. Messrs. J. Bradbury and Manks officated as M.C.’s.
Unlucky Policeman - “My horse was ‘Leighton.’ The race began but my horse did not win, ‘Scamp’ was the winner,” said P.s. Fieldsend at the Stamford Police Court when William Henry Doubtfire, Doncaster, was summoned for running in the Stamford Fair a game of chance – to wit a racing game. He pleaded guilty.
The sergeant said the defendant had a circular stall, in the centre of which was a spinning wheel with twelve extending arms, cardboard horses being attached to the ends. They were swung round by a crank worked by defendant. Witness paid 3d.and received a card bearing the name “Leighton.” “Scamp” won the race and the holder of the card bearing that name received a small box of chocolates. He was satisfied it was purely a game of chance, no element of skill entering into it.
Defendant: Did you hear anyone complain, wasn’t everyone satisfied? - The one that received a prize was. I didn’t win.
Defendant: You didn’t stop long enough. (Laughter).
Doubtfire told the magistrates he had been attending Stamford Fair for 20 years and had never been stopped before.
He was fined £5, the magistrates later lowering the penalty to £2.
Bourne’s Oldest Woman Resident – The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon of Mrs. Goodley, South-street. Deceased had reached the age of 92 years, and was the oldest female resident in the town.
Ancaster Cup Final – The final of this competition was played on Monday afternoon in the presence of a record crowd of 3400. Corby beat the holders Bourne by 2 goals to 1.
150 years ago
April 4, 1873
At a meeting of Stamford St. George’s church committee, on Tuesday, it was proposed that, on account of the deficiency of church accommodation, it is desirable that the present system of appropriation of sittings be discontinued on the ground floor of the church, that those sittings be declared free, and that the sittings in the galleries be re-allotted. An amendment to the effect that all the sittings in the church, both on the ground floor and in the galleries, be declared free, was carried by a majority.
A Land Society has been formed in connection with the Stamford Permanent Building Society. The Marquis of Exeter has consented to become President of the Building Society.
Stamford Gas Company – The annual meeting of shareholders was held this morning, when a dividend of 10 per cent. was declared, and the officers were re-elected.
Stamford Midlent fair was brought to a conclusion on Saturday last, the fine weather of the entire week having been most enjoyable, after the long period of wet and cold which had prevailed. The attendance of visitors on Friday was larger than had been known for some years, and it is stated the proprietors of the various exhibitions and places of amusement were satisfied with their receipts. At Wombwell’s menagerie there was a succession of visitors, and the large area which the numerous vans of rare and valuable animals enclosed was crowded from noon until nearly midnight. Nearly all the exhibitions, shooting galleries, &c., were removed on Saturday morning, their destination being Grantham. Notwithstanding the mass of people was such as to almost block up Broad-street, Red Lion-street, and Red Lion-square, the police did not hear of a single case of pocket picking.
We are glad to learn that the sufferers by the accident last week in the Sheep-square, Stamford, (several persons having been severely injured in consequence of a wooden horse belonging to a steam round-about having become detached and forced with violence upon the onlookers), are gradually recovering, and that a report that one of them was in a dying condition was much exaggerated. It was at one time feared that Mr. C. Richardson would lose his eye-sight, but there is now every hope that the eye will not be permanently injured.
At the Stamford Union Board on Wednesday it was announced that one of the small-pox patients at the temporary hospital on the Lings had died, and that another female of the family had been seized with the malady. We are glad to state that the disease has not extended to the town.
Railway Accident – The return excursion train which was due to leave London at 10 minutes before 12 on Saturday night last arrived at Bourn between 3 and 4 o’clock on Sunday morning. When near the platform at Bourn station the engine came into violent collision with two empty carriages which were standing upon the line, driving them completely through two very strong gates at the South-street crossing, one of the gates being smashed to splinters, and the carriages considerably damaged.There were nine passengers (including two ladies) in the carriage attached to the engine, and we have not heard of anyone sustaining greater injury than a severe shaking. On gentleman’s hat was smashed to such an extend that he has put in a claim for a new one.
200 years ago
April 4, 1823
On Monday last George Allen, dealer in matches, was committed to gaol until the sessions for begging in the streets of this borough. He said he came from Mayfield in Staffordshire, that he was 61 years of age, and that he had not been home for the last 14 years.
On Tuesday night, Mr. Hunt’s Leicester and Stamford waggon was robbed (whilst stopping at Uppingham for a short time) of a large box filled principally with umbrellas. The box and all the articles except three were fortunately discovered in a field near Uppingham on Wednesday morning. It appears that the thieves had been mistaken in thinking the box contained articles of more importance than umbrellas.
On Tuesday last there was a swarm of bees on the premises of Thomas Henson, at Barnack, near Stamford – a circumstance very remarkable, considering the severe weather we have lately had.
An inquest was held in Dowsby Fen on the 21st ult., by Samuel Edwards, Gent.coroner, on the body of Mr. George Eldred, a respectable farmer there, who died in consequence of the injury he received from a thrashing-machine. It appeared to the Jury ,that on Wednesday the 19th Mr. Eldred was employing himself upon the stage of the thrashing-machine (worked by six horses), and that whilst in the act of untying wheat-sheaves for the purpose of supplying the person who fed the machine, one of his legs accidentally slipped between the rollers: the limb was in consequence so dreadfully mangled, that the three surgeons who attended Mr. Eldred deemed amputation necessary, and the leg was taken off about 11 o’clock on the night of the same day, but the deceased was previously so much exhausted from loss of blood, that he survived the operation only half an hour. Verdict, died in consequence of the fractures accidentally occasioned by the said machine, which with the horses were found deodand, and a nominal fine was put thereon.
And on Thursday the 27th ult. Mr. Edwards held an inquest at Spalding, on the body of James Holmes, who dropped down dead near the High-bridge at that place. Verdict, died by the visitation of God. The sudden surprise which this melancholy event occasioned, so much afflicted his aged widow that she expired on Sunday morning.
On the 24th ult. an inquest was held at the Reservoir in the parish of Surfleet, by C. Mastin, Gent. coroner, on the body of Ann Timm, aged 72, who was discovered by two boatmen floating down the river on the preceding morning. After a careful investigation, the jury returned a verdict of found drowned.
The Royal Assent was last week given to an Act to rectify a mistake in an Act passed in the 3d year of the present reign, for more effectually improving the roads leading from Lincoln to Peterborough, and several other roads therein mentioned, and for making a new branch road to communicate with the said roads from Bourn to Spalding.
