Delve into the past of Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and the Deepings
10 years ago
The county council scholarship scheme which gives bright children in Stamford free places at the endowed schools will definitely end next year.
Lincolnshire County Council’s education department says it is not able by law to reinstate the scholarships. And current legislation also means it is unable to build a grammar school in the town.
The council now intends to try to persuade more parents to send their high-achieving children to Stamford Queen Eleanor School.
The department’s assistant director Andy Breckon praised Queen Eleanor for the progress it has made and said headteacher Wendy Hamilton was trying to raise the profile of the school.
“However it is fair to say that the Queen Eleanor has not been able to raise its profile significanty in the community to make massive change of perception,” Mr Breckon said.
“A lot of this is about perception and that is what we need to recognise, that remains a challenge for Queen Eleanor and education in Stamford.
“A lot has been done, we have put new buildings in Queen Eleanor, a lot of training and support, changes of headteacher and the school is making good progress.”
A construction supplier hopes to attract a new buyer to protect its workforce after going into administration.
Stamford-based C&G Concrete Ltd, which has 120 staff, called in the services of PriceWaterhouseCoopers on Monday. It follows tough trading during the winter when business dropped because concrete cannot be laid in harsh weather conditions.
But a spokesman for the administrators said they were hopeful of finding a new buyer for the company, which produces aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and mortar for the construction industry.
Joint administrator Eddie Williams said C&G is a well-known business within its local markets with a strong reputation for quality and service, which was making significant progress in terms of its performance.
“It is early days but there has been a number of serious expressions of interest in the business and our main priority will be to quickly progress these interested parties to the completition of a sale of the business.”
Excitement is building for a fairytale festival.
This year’s Stamford Festival will kick off with the traditional float parade through the town on June 25 and entries are flooding in.
The theme is fairytales and almost 20 clubs, organisations and schools have signed up to take part.
The parade begins a week of fun and festivities and a few surprises are planned.
Sarah Clarke, chairman of the Stamford Festival Committee, said: “We are hoping to organise a special event for the final Sunday, which will be a bit different but a good day out.
“We are just waiting for confirmation from the town council then we can begin to plan fully.
“People can expect fun and excitement and maybe something a little bit out of the ordinary.”
The parade is organised by the Stamford and District Kiwanis and will feature floats from schools, community and youth groups, dance clubs, the Royal British Legion and the fire brigade.
25 years ago
Morrison’s supermarket in Stamford is set to undergo a multi-million pound refurbishment.
Almost every department is to be modernised, introducing what the company calls its market street concept, by which every food type is sold from individual counters.
Extra staff will be needed, but it is too soon to decide how many.
Changes have been in the pipeline for the last three years, but only now has Morrison’s been able to reveal specific details. Work will start next month.
And while no figure has been put on the cost, it is understood to be several million pounds.
Store manager Roy Coplestone said: “These are major changes and everyone at the store is going to have to work awfully hard, but customers will be delighted.”
Opening times will remain the same and disruption will be kept to a minimum as separate departments close for work.
Around 25,000 people shop weekly at the Uffington Road supermarket, making it one of the busiest of Morrison’s 81 stores. Nearly 400 people work there.
The new-lookstore is set to be ready in early December.
Traders in the Stamford area have welcomed what they see as an apparent U-turn in the Government’s approach to town centre shopping.
Environment secretary John Gunner told the first international congress on town centre management that town centres are fighting back against out of town development.
He is convinced that prospering town centres will lead to safer streets.
Bourne’s businessmen see greater co-operation between community groups to get the full potential out of town centres.
Brian Mongomery, spokeman for Stamford Chamber of Trade, said: “Mr Gummer’s words are excellent news. I’m delighted that the Government is taking an interest and this reflects a complete change of policy.”
Mr Gummer said: “We encourage action before conditions in town centres become terminal. This has meant altering the balance in planning policy to favour town centres rather than out of town shopping.
“They should be places where people want to shop, be entertained, enjoy themselves, meet friends and, perhaps most important of all, to live. Therefore they must also be safe.”
Bourne Chamber of Trade chairman Ken McCormack said: “I agree that greater liasion between town council and business is needed. We need to regenerate our town centre, filling empty shops. But there needs to be co-operayion between the chamber, town council and Bourne Civic Society.”
Plans to implement a strategy which will lead Lincolnshire and South Kesteven into the next century have taken a further step.
Last week Lincolnshire County Council sent out copies of its draft structure plan, which looks at policies for the county until the year 2011.
The paper, which has been put together as a requirement of the Town and Country Planning Act, will work alongside South Kesteven District Council’s Local Plan which was recently adopted by councillors.
The key aims of the draft structure plan includes accommodating housing needs, increasing availability and choice of employment, reducing unemployment, improving communications networks, promoting alternative modes of transport in larger towns and enhancing areas of historic, architectural and natural interest.
Under the county’s proposed plan Stamford, Bourne and The Deepings are identified as defined towns and have been earmarked for the highest proportion of housing development.
It states that up to the year 2011 there is a requirement for the development of 68,000 homes, with 16,000 planned for the South Kesteven District with in the region of 11,000 being built in the South Lincolnshire triangle.
50 years ago
Opposition is beginning to mount against Stamford Borough Council’s possible redevelopment of part of Bath Row for high quality flats.
The Borough Council gave the provisional go-ahead to the redevelopment of a site west of the Old Bath House at their last meeting.
This decision was taken although Coun Mark Stott proposed that no further action should be taken in the matter. His proposal was seconded by Coun Mrs Winifred Smith.
Stamford Civic Society secretary Mrs G. E. Miles said that although her society had not yet considered the matter, she personally was very much against such a scheme.
“This has not yet been considered by the committee but I would say that our view would depend very much on the design of the building.
“My personal view is that three storeys with garages underneath will almost certainly spoil the view.”
Borough Council housing committee chairman, Coun A. T. Brodie told the “Mercury” that it was very difficult to comment at this stage.
“We have no full-scale ideas or any real plans,” he said. “This is only the opening gambit. We don’t know that this is going to happen any more than you do.”
Plans to provide a covered swimming pool for Stamford at a cost of £6,000 have been abandoned by a team of money raisers.
This was revealed on Monday at the annual meeting of the Stamford Indoor Swimming Pool Project by chairman Mr David Wilson.
He said, in his report: “We shall, however, be carrying on with our fund raising activities in order to improve the general amenities at the town pool.”
Last year the Project gave £1,650 to the Borough Council to go towards the cost of installing electrical heating apparatus at the pool.
Mr Wilson commented: “At times the Project seemed to be fighting an uphill battle, but with the heating of the pool the hard work has been worthwhile.
“We can feel proud that the public are now able to enjoy the fruits of the committee’s and helpers’ work with the use of the heated pool,” he added.
Summing up his year in office as chairman of Bourne Urban Council, Coun L. W. H. Warner, said last week that he had only two regrets – that inflation was not cured and production had not
increased.
On a strictly local basis, however, he and Mrs Warner had enjoyed being in office, and the chairman thanked everyone who had co-operated with them.
“I am grateful for the support you have given me, and I must say that I have endeavoured to do my best to represent the town of Bourne and to enhance its great possibilities.”
100 years ago
Bourne Guardians Meeting – The fortnightly meeting of the Board of Guardians was held on the 12th inst., when Rev. F. Fisher Taylor, who presided, welcomed Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Sneath, the two co-opted ladies. The Clerk reported that he had an application from the Cardiff Union for this Board to accept settlement of a man now an inmate of the Cardiff institution, but the relieving officer had been unable to verify the particulars given, and the Board refused to accept settlement. The parishes of Aslackby, Careby and Corby had failed to notify appointments of overssers, and in each case the retiring officials were reappointed. The House Committee reported that during the fortnight 119 vagrants had been relieved.
Cheerful Crowds and Sunny Scenes
Burghley Low Park, kindly placed by the Marquess of Exeter at the disposal of the organisers, was again the scene of a mammoth carnival and fete in aid of the Stamford town effort on behalf of Stamford Infirmary, on Whit-Monday. The preliminary arrangements were overshadowed by the great industrial crisis and the gaunt figure of unemployment, and the crowning misfortune descended on the promoters just as their efforts were about to be consummated, when holiday train services were suspended. Happily, however, the most needful adjunct to success was realised when the sun smiled down on the scene the day long, and contrary to the anticipations of many, crowds of some thousands turned out and gave themselves up to the spirit of carnival and incidentally, of charity.
The Mayor (Mr. A. Cliff) again took the lead in the matter of organisation, and his energy and enthusiasm must have inspired his many helpers, who had come forward with a spontaneity that in itself deserved success. The Deputy Mayor (Ald. E. S. Bowman) was one of his most zealous henchmen, and Mr. S. E. Laxton, as the general secretary, put in an enormous amount of time and energy in a spirit of worthy devotion to the cause.
Stamford and Rutland Infirmary – Week ending May 17. Admissions and discharges of patients: - In – admitted 9, discharged 4, in house 25; out – admitted 5, discharged 7, on books 68; medical attendant, Dr. Hutton-Attenborough; weekly board, The Marquis of Exeter, Mr. R. W. Dodman, Comdr. Crichton-Maitland, Mr. T. P. Greenwood, Mr. E. A. Hutton-Attenborough, Mr. H. F. Young, Mr. Wightman, Mr. Phillips. Acknowledged with thanks: - Flowers, Mr. Carter; eggs, Mr.Smith; children’s books, Amalgamated Press Ltd.; 7s (don.), proceeds from “May Bush,” Albert Crane and Sister.
Fat Stock Show Society – The committee, in furtherance of the suggestion put forward at the annual meeting recently, have decided to include in the schedule for the next exhibition a class of four beasts, in which the substantial prizes of £10 and £5 will be given. The premiums in several cases have been materially increased. Full detail of the schedule will be advertised at an early date.
Obituary – The death occurred at Peterborough on Thursday week of Mr. William Savage, a former builder and contractor, of Stamford.
150 years ago
Stamford Union – At the Board meeting on Wednesday a letter from the Poor-law Board was read, enquiring the cause of the resignation of the master and matron so soon after their appointment; and another from Mr. Peel, the Poor-law inspector, expressed a hope that the persons next appointed would have sufficient courage to conduct the establishment without fear of incurring odium, of which the present officers complain. In consequence of Union paupers on entering the house having been sent to the tramp ward for probation, it was ordered that a probationary ward be at once provided for the reception of persons residing within the Union who may obtain orders for the house. The whole of the female children and some of the males being in the infirmary in consequence of suffering from a skin disease it was determined that the medical officer should be invited to meet the Board next Wednesday on the subject. The porter having sent in his resignation an advertisement was ordered to be inserted in the Mercury for a person to succeed him. Mr. Rollinson, who has for a number of years been a most efficient relieving-officer for both the Stamford and Barnack districts, announced his intention and that of Mrs. Rollinson of becoming candidates for the office of master and matron of the Union-house. The number of in-door paupers was 146; corresponding week of last year 189: decrease 43.
The Subscription Hearse – An adjourned special meeting of the Stamford Burial Board was held on Tuesday evening last: present, Mr. Fysh (in the chair), the Rev. B. O. Bendall, and Messrs. Paradise, Chapman, Dinnis, Bromhead, Richardson, Smith, and Desborough. The business of the meeting was to consider tenders for the working of the subscription hearse. The following offers were made; Peter Kettle would supply horse and driver at 2s. 6d. each funeral, and would find standing room for and keep in order the hearse at 1s. a week; Wm. Middleton, 4s. 6d. each funeral (including housing, &c. of hearse), of £18 per annum; James Scholes, 5s. 6d.,or £30 a year; John Redmill, £40. Mr. Kettle’s tender was unanimously accepted, a quarter’s notice to be given on either side on terminating the contract. It was determined that the fees to be charged for the use of the hearse should be as heretofore, viz., 3s. each funeral; if with plumes, 6s. An order was then made for the handing over the hearse to Mr. Kettle, and the Board at the same time directed to be conveyed to Mr. Wade an acknowledgement of the punctuality and liberality he had uniformly observed in the discharge of his duties with respect of the hearse.
Market Deeping – There was a good attendance at Mr. R. Searson’s sale of shorthorns on the 11th inst. The in-calf cows all made good prices, the top figure being 80 guineas, for the winner of the first prize at the Oakham show in 1869, purchased by Mr. Walton for the Marquis of Exeter. “Dairy Girl” was sold for 56 guineas to Mr. Rowland Wood, of Clapton. “Winter Rose,” a fine roan in-calf cow, was purchased by Mr. Pears, of Hackthorne, for 66 guineas: she had been a prize winner at Peterborough, Wellingborough, and Sleaford: this class made from thirty-five to forty guineas. Many of these cows had calves at foot, which were sold immediately after their dams. There were in all 73 lots offered for sale, the proceeds of which amounted to £2496 2s., giving, an average of 32½ guineas per head.
200 years ago
On Sunday night last a grey horse the property of Mr. Wm. Reeve, of Wansford, was stolen out of his stable in that town, and being ridden through the toll-bar by the thief, a clue was thus afforded to pursuit as soon as the animal was missed in the morning. He was traced, though the different bars, to Newark, where Mr. Reeve discovered that he had been sold, for ten guineas, by a person who lately lived as a horsekeeper at Wansford, to Mr. Hines, of the Crown and Anchor, Lincoln, in the fair held on that day in Newark. The offender was immediately apprehended, and after being taken before the Mayor and Magistrates, was committed for further examination. Mr. Reeve then followed Mr. Hines on the road to Lincoln, and coming up with him a short distance from that city, related the particulars of the theft, and had his horse restored to him. He returned to Newark;and the next morning was fixed for a second examination of the person in confinement; but at the appointed time the wretched man was found to have cut his throat in gaol, in so shocking a way as to leave no hopes of his recovery, and he died in a few hours afterwards. Verdict of the coroner’s jury, felo de se. The name of the wretched man was Appleby, but he was better known at Stamford and other places by the appellation of Little Bob.
The two convicts, George Crossland and William Cliff, were removed from the gaol at Oakham on Friday last, to Woolwich.
A short time ago, a hawk pursued a pigeon belonging to the dove-cote of Mr. Rickett, at Lolham Mills, and pounced upon it and brought his prey to the ground: one of Mr. R’s millers instantly fetched a gun, and without doing the smallest apparent injury to the pigeon, rescued it from its impending death by shooting the hawk dead on the spot: the pigeon instantly flew to its home in safety. The name of the excellent marksman, is Lewis Ridlington.
During a violent storm experienced at Swineshead on Sunday afternoon last, a goose, the property of Mr. Harrison, farmer, was struck dead by lightning: she had at the time gathered her brood under her wings, which proved so effectual a protection, that although the old bird was killed upon the spot, the young ones did not receive the slightest injury.
Castle Bytham, May 5 1821.
To be put out as Apprentices, Two stout healthy Girls and Two Boys. Enquire of the Overseer of the Poor of Castle Bytham. A Premium will be given.
Thurlby, May 11th, 1821.
Take Notice,
That Thos. Muxloe, late of Stamford, limeburner, deceased, is supposed to have left a Wife, she not living with him at the time of his death. Should this advertisement meet the eye of such a person, by personal application to the Stewards of the Thurlby Club, she may receive a Sum of Money allowed according to the articles of the said Society: and if not claimed on or before the 29th day of May, 1821, the said money will be paid to the next nearest Relative.
By order of Thos Featherstone, James Sharp.
