Delve into the past of Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings with Mercury Memories
10 years ago
Stamford faces eight weeks of disruption from Monday, when major gas main work begins.
The National Grid is carrying out a £92,000 gas main replacement project and workmen will be digging up High Street to replace about 300 yards of old metal gas pipes with durable plastic ones.
The work will take place in four phases and will coincide with the Mid Lent Fair, as well as Easter break and several bank holidays.
It means Red Lion Square will be closed for two weeks immediately after the fair has left town on April 9.
Concerned traders have warned the disruption could drive away customers during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
And they have been left in the dark about the timing of the work thanks to an administrative error.
Deliveries to shops will be restricted to certain times and a one-way system will be introduced in High Street.
A planning application to build a new football stadium and housing estate is due to be submitted by the end of April.
Burghley House Preservation Trust is working with Stamford AFC to create the new ground off Ryhall Road.
Burghley is hoping to sell off the Daniels’ current stadium in Kettering Road for housing.
The club and the trust have been working on the bid for more than two years and a public exhibition on the plans was held two years ago. They hope to build a 1,500 capacity stadium with 110 car parking spaces and two pitches.
The trust’s estates director David Pennell said: “It is important that the plans suit not only the football club but the people of the town and we have been working hard to get this balance right.
“Having taken on board the outcome of public consultation and listened to the feedback from local people, the latest plans for the new football stadium has relocated the proposed car park to the far northern side of the site.
“The state can only relocate the football stadium when permission has been obtained and ultimately the land in Kettering Road will be sold but he hope that these plans will now move forward to provide Stamford with a modern football stadium to be proud of as well as developing the facilities for the town.”
Plans to lower short stay car parking charges in Stamford have been given the green light.
South Kesteven District Council approved plans to lower short stay car parking charges in Stamford and Grantham to 2008 levels during their meeting on Thursday last week.
The council has frozen council tax levels at last year’s levels. The bill for a Band D property is £1,367.73.
The district council faces a cut in its Government grant from £10.14m to £8.29m in 2011/12. It will be reduced further to £7.34m in 2012/12, a cut of 23.32 per cent over two years.
The council agreed to invest £4.2m over the next four years to buy land and property to help new business needs and members agreed to set aside £80,000 over the next four years to help shops improve their fronts.
Work will also start in the autumn on the £2.35m town centre re-development in Bourne.
25 years ago
Shocked staff at Stamford Hospital heard yesterday that the in-house bid for all ancillary services had failed.
Non-medical workers say they have been “sold down the river” and fear for their rights after the contract was awarded to outside firm Matthew Hall.
Under Whitehall’s compulsory competitive tendering regulations, the hospital’s parent company, North West Anglia Health Care Trust, has to market test its services.
One member of staff said: “We understand that the company wants to make £1 million of cuts in the first three years. How can that be done if standards are to be maintained and wages kept the same? Matthew Hall will take on the same terms and conditions, but our bonus schemes could be altered.”
More than a quarter of a million pounds owed to South Kesteven District Council has been written off.
Bad debts of over £150,000 were written off by members of the council’s finance and land committee, bringing the total arrears lost this financial year to more than £250,000.
Councillors heard that the £150,000 was mostly made up of unrecoverable business rate debts owed by a number of companies, several in Stamford and the Deepings, that have gone bust, ceased trading or whose owners’ whereabouts are unknown.
The rest of the four-figure debts are mainly from former housing tenants.
District council treasurer Chris Farmer has already called off attempts to recover arrears worth £103,000 – comprising 600 poll tax debts totalling £50,000, another £27,000 owed by 120 businesses and £26,000 in rent arrears from former tenants.
Mr Farmer said: “Our approach is always tough. Nothing is written off until we are absolutely certain the debt is irrecoverable.
“However, there comes a point when the cost of pursuing a debt that is unlikely to be paid exceeds the return that might be available.”
To hundreds of sweet-sucking mischievous boys and girls who peered through the darkness to watch their idols at the Picturedrome in Broad Street, Stamford, Maud Pepper was a familiar figure of authority.
Many years later this pensioner can relax in the knowledge that she may well be the envy of those children, for on Saturday she celebrated her 100th birthday and retains a youthful glint in her eye.
Her stepson Les Pepper, of St. Martin’s, Stamford, will attest that Maud still has the ability to keep the unruly on the straight and narrow.
“She keeps me in order,” he said.
Maud has lived at Whitefriars, the residential nursing home, in Ryhall Road, Stamford, since August last year.
On Saturday friends, who are themselves in their 80s and 90s, and relatives were there for a special birthday party.
Maud’s secret of longevity is a healthy lifestyle. “I’ve been good and clean and never ill aside from the effects of old age. And I’ve always behaved myself,” she said.
Maud will best be remembered as the cashier at ‘Doddies’ – the Picturedrome – in Broad Street, Stamford, until it closed and became the auction rooms.
Her husband Percy died in 1970, but Maud now enjoys the company of Les, grandson Paul and great granddaughters Natalie and Sophie.
50 years ago
Stamford Borough Council elections in May could be the most closely fought for years, with as many as 17 candidates contesting eight seats.
There are six seats to be contested as is normal in the elections, and an extra seat in St Mary’s Ward caused by the death of Coun Terence Fitzpatrick.
The retirement of Ald George Gray means that a councillor will be elected to the aldermanic bench and this could cause vacancy number eight.
The senior councillor is Coun George Riley and if seniority is followed at the aldermanic election at Tuesday’s council meeting the eighth vacancy will be in St George’s Ward.
Stamford Labour Party are making a major effort at these elections and announced this week that they will fight every vacant seat.
And although the Conservatives have not announced all their candidates they will obviously be fighting hard to retain their overwhelming hold on the council.
Date for the elections is May 13.
The present composition of the council is 15 Conservative councillors, one Labour and one Independent; five Conservative aldermen, and one Independent.
Bourne Urban Council will recommend to Kesteven County Council the making of a Bourne conservation area.
The proposed area, the idea of Coun Jack Burchnell, and backed by Bourne planning and development committee, would comprise land from Abbey Lawn in the east to the Well Head park in the west.
It would take in the Abbey church and vicarage, the Cedars, Brook Lodge, Cavalry House and adjoining old almshouses, Digby Lodge, Baldock’s Mill, the Memorial Gardens, the Red Hall, and other places in the vicinity, including several historical buildings and ancient monuments.
In the opinions of the county Planning Officer and of the consultant architect on historic buildings, the house, 29 South Street, Bourne, empty for some time, is worth preserving.
The property is a scheduled historic building and is eligible for grant under the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act.
The county authority has suggested that it employs Mr Bond to prepare a renovation scheme for Bourne Council. The building would also qualify for grant under the Housing Act.
The Council will ask for a scheme to be prepared, and the matter of renovation will be considered at a meeting of the housing committee.
It was reported to South Kesteven Rural Council yesterday that contractors for the Deepings and district sewage scheme had laid a further 275 yards of seven-inch piping in West Deeping and Tallington, and manholes were being constructed as pipe-laying progresses.
Water pumped from trenches into Tallington village drain caused local flooding and the overflowing of septic tanks, and became a potential danger to traffic. Now, however, arrangements had been made to dispose of this water outside the village.
Work had continued on the laying of six-inch rising mains comprising 6 ins diameter piping, and 230 yards had been laid between West Deeping and Tallington. Along Deeping Common Road, 85 yards of 10-inch piping had been laid.
With the exception of a short length of five-inch main near Towngate, all raising mains had been tested.
100 years ago
Additions to War Memorial – The following names, which were inadvertently omitted from the Borough of Stamford War Memorial on the wall of Browne’s hospital, in Broad-street, have been recently added: Sec.-Lt. A. Evans; Sgt. W. Ball. Sgt. G. E. Walker, Pte. R. Dennis, Pte. W. V. Moore, Pte. A. E. Smith, Pte. W. Walker, Pte, J. Wright, Sec.-Lt. A. F. Taverner, Sgt. G. Hitchcock, Pte. T. W. Barrett, Pte. A. Newbolt, Pte, G. H. Waite and Pte, J. Walkyier. One of the panels had to be removed and re-cast and the names have been added on at the end of those previously inscribed.
Organ Recital – Dr. C. Cooper Francis, of St. Mary’s church, Peterborough, gave an organ recital at the Wesleyan chapel, Barn-hill, on the 3rd inst., in the presence of a good congregation. Mr. H. Gibson (Peterborough) was the solo violinist, and the vocalist was Miss T. V. Riddington. Mr. H. Green presided, and the Rev. J. Westcombe proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Francis. A silver collection for trust funds amounted to £10 4s.
Railway Dividends – The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Stamford and Essendine Railway Company was held at Burghley estate-office on Friday, when the statement of accounts for the half-year ended Dec. 31 last showed a balance available for dividend of £2358 14s. 5d. Dividends at the rate of 4 per cent. and 5 per cent. per annum on the respective preference shares of the Stamford and Essendine line, at the rate of 3½ per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares of the same line, and at the rate of ¾ per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares of the Sibson Extension line, all less income tax, were declared.
Property Sale – At the Crown Hotel, Stamford, on Friday afternoon, Messrs. Reedman, Son and Mason offered for sale by auction the freehold residence, No. 34, St. Martin’s, which at £750, was knocked down to Mr. J. A. Greaves. Messrs. Stapleton and Son, Stamford, were the solicitors acting for the vendors.
Bourne Guardians – The fortnightly meeting of the Board of Guardians was held on March 3rd, when Rev. J. Carvath presided. The Board decided to obtain 15 loads of wood from Mr. Brown, of Kirkby Underwood. Mr. Kelby and Mr. Atkinson were deputed to make the purchase of two tons of potatoes. The chairman read a letter from Mr. T. Mee resigning his seat as a Guardian owning to his being so much away, and the Board accepted the resignation and expressed their thanks to Mr. Mee for the services he had rendered to the Board and the Assessment Committee. The clerk was directed to take steps to have the vacancy filled. The chairman expressed the pleasure of the Board at having Mr. Rastall with them again, and that gentleman acknowledged the sentiment and also the receipt of the letter sent him during his illness. The Kesteven Insurance Committee were having money withheld from them that they had spent on tuberculosis patients, and Mr. F. J. Clarke said there were others suffering who ought to have treatment but the Kesteven Committee could not find accommodation for them.
150 years ago
At St. Mary’s church, Stamford, on Sunday last, the sum of £7 7s. 11½d. was collected on behalf of the fund for providing seed for the French peasant farmers.
As there are Christy Minstrels and Christy Minstrels so there are Japanese Troupes and Japanese Troupes. One of the latter, announced to appear next week at the Corn-exchange, Stamford, is alleged to be the genuine company from Japan, called the Tycoon’s Troupe, and composed of the same individuals who so long performed at the Crystal Palace.
The clock of Browne’s Hospital, Stamford, is being fitted in the new tower constructed for its reception, and many people will be glad to hear that it is likely to be set going in the course of a week or two.
A fire broke out at Ryhall on Saturday morning last, which resulted in the death of a pig and the partial destruction of a cottage. It appears that the wife of the labourer who occupied the premises left home on an errand in the village, and during her absence a relative who was digging in the garden adjoining the house noticed the pig stye and part of the cottage in a blaze. Assistance was obtained: the doors and windows were torn out, the tiles were taken off the roof, the furniture was removed, and the fire was left without further food. The pig-stye was totally consumed and the pig was burnt to death. The fire is believed to have been caused by the children playing with lucifer matches.
Rutland - the Earl of Gainsborough, Lord-Lieutenant of the county, has appointed Henry de Stafford O’Brien de Stafford, Esq. to be a Deputy-Lieutenant.
Market Deeping – Mr. James Green, of Deeping St. James, and his housekeeper, were lately the victims of an itinerant dealer in spectacles, who sold them articles professedly silver-rimmed, which turned out, on their being submitted to a silversmith at Stamford, to be worth about 5d. p pair, the purchasers having been induced to give for them 18s. 6d. each. The hawker afterwards persuaded the housekeeper to take a gold-rimmed pair, saying he had made an exchange with the lady of the clergyman of Glinton, who is unmarried. The “gold” rims were in reality copper. The hawker was summoned to Bourn, but the Magistrates allowed the case to be withdrawn on the hawker reimbursing Mr. Green and his housekeeper, and paying all costs - together about £5.n
Bourn – On Sunday the 26th ult. one of the two boxes fixed in the lobby of the Independent chapel, Bourn, for the purpose of receiving the weekly offerings, was broken open and the contents stolen: the other box had been tried, but without success. From information received by the police two boys, named Jas. Hall and Thos. Brown, both of Eastgate, each about 13 years old, were apprehended on the 2d inst., charged with breaking open the box and stealing the money. They were taken before a magistrate on Friday, and remanded until the petty sessions at Bourn on the 16th, and admitted to bail. Hall used to attend the school, although not regularly: he kept watch while Brown broke open the box.
200 years ago
Great alarm was excited in the neighbourhood of Stamford on Monday and Tuesday by a run on the bank of Messrs. Eaton and Cayley, originating in some malicious or idle misrepresentation of the failure of a banking-house in London. It is almost needless to say that the alarm was groundless; public confidence is now fully re-established, and business is going on again without apprehension. It is difficult to account for a public panic, but easy to excuse those who having by the misconduct of some, are quick to believe a representation of danger from others. Mischievous indeed is the influence which the failure of several banks a few years ago still has upon society, as it gives to a malignant alarmist the power of disturbing a whole district. The rumour in the present case, we believe, was begun in Stamford, but it did not in the least degree extend to the more respectable part of the inhabitants, a great number of whom on Tuesday signed a public declaration of their entire confidence in Messrs. Eaton and Cayley, and their readiness to take their notes as usual, notwithstanding the alarm in the country. And on Wednesday, at Uppingham where, it being both a fair day and market day, (considerable exchange of notes was anticipated) which was the general assurance of the honor and efficiency of that town and neighbourhood to send the Clerk home to Stamford at night with care that he had taken out with him in the morning to meet the expected exchange. A declaration was numerously signed at Uppingham, by between 30 and 40 graziers of the first respectability in the neighbourhood dined together on the occasion at the Falcon inn, and continued until a late hour to give expression to their confidence and good-will. The pressure which took place for two or three days at the bank was wholly subsided, and the credit of the house is even increased by this new test of its stability.
On Friday the 2d inst. an inquest was taken at Normanton, before Geo. White, one of the coroners for this county, on the body of Robert Walton, a boy about 11 years of age, who was drowned in a pond in that parish on which he had ventured to slide. This youth was returning from school with several others, one of whom gave early notice of the accident; in consequence of which, the body was found and taken out of the pond, but too late to produce the desired effect, notwithstanding the means recommended for restoring drowned persons were employed under the direction of Messrs. Sharp and Smith for nearly three hours. Verdict of the jury, accidental death.
Slate Land, Collyweston.
To be Sold by Private Contract,
All that valuable Piece or Parcel of Slate Land, situate and being in Collyweston Field, in the county of Northampton, containing by measurement 1A.1R. 36P., as the same is now in the tenure or occupation of Mrs. Cotton, abutting North and West upon lands belonging to the Marquess of Exeter, and East and South upon the turnpike-road leading from Stamford to Northampton.
For price, and further particulars, apply to Mr. T. H. Jackson, attorney at law, Stamford.
N.B. The above piece of land was purchased, a short time since, at the sum of £340.
