Delve into the past of Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and Market Deeping

December 9, 2011

Half of the responses to a consultation on a new parking policy came from Stamford residents.

Lincolnshire County Council consulted people on its plans to take control of parking powers from the police, meaning it would then be responsible for issuing parking fines.

The county council received 133 responses during the consultation, of which 66 came from people living in Stamford who were requesting residents’ parking schemes.

People in Stamford have previously spoken out against the plans because they fear they will be penalised for parking outside their homes if a two-hour time limit is enforced.

Coun William Webb (Con), who is responsible for highways and transport, said: “Although we didn’t get a huge response to the draft parking policy consultation, most came from Stamford residents.”

A town crier competition which attracts entrants from across the country has been cancelled.

Market Deeping Town Council has decided not to hold the competition next year to save money and to allow the new crier time to settle in.

Amanda Bosworth officially took over the post at the Market Deeping Christmas Festival on November 27.

The previous crier, Brenda Willison, stepped down after moving to Matlock in Derbyshire.

Mayor of Market Deeping, Coun Bob Broughton, said the competition, which usually takes place in the spring, would be back in 2013.

“It has been a well attended event. We always mix it with a market and a children’s competition.

“But the council felt that there was not enough time to organise a competition.

“We are going to give the new crier time to settle into the role.”

Scrapping next year’s competition will save the council £700. Councillors last month agreed to increase the town’s precept to help keep the Deeping St James Youth Centre open.

The council has also taken on an extra park keeper and needs £7,500 to pay their wages next year.

A theatre group raised £750 for charity with its latest performance.

College Players put on Below Stairs at Stamford Arts Centre between November 9 and November 12 with 50p from each ticket sale being donated to Cancer Research UK, as well as bucket collections at its performances, including two which were sold out.

The donations were made at the request of play author Alan Lewis, who battled cancer and asked for donations instead of a royalty fee.

College Players’ secretary Michelle Cooper said: “We had fabulous support from people, both in terms of coming to see the shows and donating towards the charity.”

The money was presented to Annie Thompson, who is manager of the Cancer Research UK shop in St Paul’s Street. Stamford.

Michelle said: “They were absolutely overwhelmed and couldn’t believe how much we had raised.”

25 years ago

December 6, 1996

The Stamford area is being targetted by travelling criminals – and the new trend in hit-and-run crime will probably get worse when Grantham gets CCTV next year.

Deepings and Stamford traders are being warned to be on their guard because criminals will head down the A1 to avoid getting caught on the new spy-tv security cameras.

Inspector Dave Shakespeare, speaking after a gang hit six Stamford shops on one night, warned that when Grantham switches on its CCTV criminals will move on to other areas.

Inspector Shakespeare said: “I’m convinced CCTV will reduce crime in Grantham, but there is no doubt that the Grantham criminals are going to go elsewhere. People need to start looking towards security, and reconsider keeping cash on the premises.”

His warning comes after attempted break-ins at six shops in Stamford on Monday. Thieves tried to gain access to Tuppenny Rice, Castle Street, Nelson’s Butchers, Red Lion Square, Jumpers, Maiden Lane, and the Arts Centre, St Mary’s Street.

At Gooch’s coffee shop and Yummy’s sandwich bar, Castle Street, thieves broke in and stole £70 from the tills. They also got in to Stamford Tile Centre in St Mary’s Street, but nothing was stolen.

An accusation of “indecent haste” has been levelled at plans to merge Stamford Chamber of Trade with its Peterborough counterpart.

Stamford chamber members met at Lady Anne’s Hotel last Wednesday to hear Ken Shackleton, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, explain the benefits of the two groups joining forces.

Stamford chamber had been keen to link in with the bigger organisation and called last week’s meeting to further discuss the benefits.

But member Peter Shough, of Peter Shough Associates, said: “There has to be a lot more detailed discussion about how the financial issues and governance are going to operate.”

He called the merger a “super idea”, but suggested it should be looked at “calmly” and in a longer timescale. “There are a tremendous number of unresolved issues.”

Mr Slough, a former presidents of Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke of “indecent haste” to merge the two groups.

Education secretary Gillian Shephard has given the final go-ahead for Arthur Mellows Village College, Glinton, to opt out of local authority control.

The college has travelled a long and sometimes rocky road to achieve grant-maintained status which will see it control a budget of almost £2.5 million.

A group, which has campaigned against opt-out, this week stressed it would now put the fight behind it.

Andrew Nash, a member of the anti-lobby, said: “We don’t regret the stand we took and still believe our position was the right one. We regret the Department took so long to report its decision because I believe the delay was damaging to the school.”

But he said that was past and it was now important for everyone to back the school and work for what was best for students.

He also called on governors to improve communication when other difficult issues cropped up.

Chairman of the Governors Gilmour McLaren on Monday said he was “relieved” at the Government’s final approval.

“It’s been a long road. We don’t have time to be pleased. We have got a lot to do and have got to get on with it”

He said the college expected to be able to maintain services, but the delay could put back plans for further development.

50 years ago

December 10, 1971

Stamford’s proposed pedestrian precinct came a step nearer this week with news that High Street will cease to be a trunk road from next Friday.

Divisional Road Engineer Mr G. Stockley said that the order re-routing the trunk road for High Street to Wharf Road would take effect from Friday.

This removes the last major obstacle from the path of the scheme to create a High Street pedestrian precinct in Stamford.

The proposal is that the precinct will run from Ironmonger Street’s junction with High Street to Red Lion Square.

The precinct order would be in force from 8 am to 6 pm from Monday to Saturday. Loading and unloading would be allowed beween 8 am and 10 am and 4 pm to 6 pm.

Objections have been coming in the past few weeks to the Borough Council’s plans to demolish the old Boat and Railway Inn on St Mary’s Hill.

A spokesman for Kesteven County Council said that the number of objections received by Tuesday was in double figures.

The Council had been notified that other objections would be submitted in the near future.

In Post Office streamlining, resulting from the Hardman report, there are distinct possibilities of Bourne eventually losing its Crown Post Office.

Should this happen, the present Post Office would be replaced by a sub Post Office such as existed in Eastgate until a few months ago.

The information about possible degrading came when Mr E. J. Overell, assistant head postmaster, Peterborough, last week replied to a question from Coun Percy Wilson, chairman of Bourne Post Office advisory committee.

“We feel that we may be one of the areas to get de-grading and we would not look very favourably on this,” said the chairman. “We feel that this has been on someone’s mind since, for some time, the Post Office has had land in Bourne on which to build a new Post Office.”

Mr Overell replied: “There is always the possibility of any small office, such as Bourne’s being down-graded.” he was not in a position to be more specific.

Nearly 300 are expected to be affected by the closure next year of five British Steel iron ore mines in the area.

The mines affected are at Colsterworth, Market Overton, Exton, Buckminster and Sproxton. The Market Overton and Buckminster mines are due to close during the first half of next year.

Nothing is known about the closure date of the other three mines, other than it will be during 1972.

Consultations have started with the trade unions concerned at Buckminster and Market Overton, where about 90 people are involved.

A spokesman for BSC’s Corby works said: “We are doing our best to re-deploy as many people as possible and will be going into individual cases.”

The mines at Colsterworth, Exton Park and Sproxton are controlled by the Corporation’s Scunthorpe works.

About 200 people would be affected by the closures.

100 years ago

December 9, 1921

Old Age Pensions – The Stamford sub-committee met at the Town-hall on Friday evening, when there were present Messrs. H. T. Daniels (chairman), E. Joyce, F. K. Parker, A. Cliff, S. Dear, and R. W. Dodman (clerk). Three questions resulted in pensions being discontinued, owing to the receipt of poor-law relief, and six claims were provisionally or otherwise allowed. At the Uffington sub-committee in the afternoon, when there were present Messrs. S. J. Cole (chairman), W. Kelby, C.Woolley, and the Clerk, a question had the effect of increasing a pensioner’s allowance.

Satisfactory Wesleyan Finances – The quarterly meeting of the Wesleyan circuit was held at Stamford on Monday, when the Rev. J. Westcombe, superintendent minister, presided over a good attendance. The financial statement, presented by the stewards – Messrs. E. Clark and H. Green – was considered satisfactory, and the stewards were thanked for their services and re-elected, and the foreign missionary report, submitted by the Rev. J. Westcombe, was considered very gratifying.

Christmas Shopping With Stolen Money – An eleven-year-old Stamford boy was at a children’s court on Wednesday ordered to receive six strokes with the birch rod for stealing money from a local shop.

The court sat at 10 o’clock, but, although the magistrates, Messrs. R. Bell (in the chair), R Tidd and A. T. Smith, waited for a quarter of an hour, the accused did not put in an appearance, and eventually the sitting was adjourned.

Half-way up St. Mary’s-hill, however, the boy, accompanied by his mother, was met by the witnesses, and upon the court resuming the mother expressed her regret at being late.

The lad was charged with stealing 30s. from Alice Woodbridge, of 34, High-street.

From the evidence it appeared that a cash box was left on the counter of the shop for about an hour-and-a-half, and accused entered and helped himself. He proceeded to Messrs. Curry’s shop and purchased a clockwork railway and a toy tea set, requesting the manager to keep the good for him until Christmas.

P.s. Fieldsend said the boy admitted taking 10s. Insp. Sindall said accused was beyond the control of his mother.

Remarkable Work By High School Girls – Opinions have many times been expressed regarding the capacity of the English to manufacture toys to compare with the cheap goods placed on our markets by foreign competitors, but on Friday a collection of these articles, manufactured in Stamford, demonstrated that not only is it possible for the work to be done in properly-equipped factories, but also that school children can make wooden playthings which would leave many products of German firms a long way behind.

The toys formed only part of an exhibition of clever work done by scholars at the Girls’ High School. The keynote of the establishment is originality, and a notable feature is the fact that the exhibits comprised work done in ordinary school hours and not specially prepared specimens for show.

150 years ago

December 8, 1871

Stamford Infirmary – The treasurer has received £2 2s., being the amount of collections at Preston church after harvest thanksgiving services.

Fifth Lincolnshire Volunteers – The annual Christmas prize shooting will take place on Saturday the 16th and Wednesday the 20th inst. There are not less than twenty prizes to be competed for, and the lowest will exceed in value the entrance fee. The Marquis of Exeter has given £2, and others have liberally subscribed to the prize-list. The usual winter drill for recruits has commenced, in the Corn-exchange.

Mr. A. Clay, formerly of this town, who is now we believe practising as a surgeon in Japan, has presented a very rare and costly suit of Japanese armour to the Stamford Institution. The armour is made of plates or bars of copper inserted in wadded silk, and as soon as it has been properly mounted will well repay inspection.

Stamford Union – Notwithstanding the severity of the weather there are 58 persons less in the Workhouse than in the corresponding week of last year. The receipients of out-relief are, however, more numerous, though the cost is somewhat less, viz. 856, at an expenditure of £94 7s 7¼d., against 794 and £95 13s. 2½d. The number of casuals relieved in the house during the week was 27. The Clerk read communications from the Local Government Board, one of which sanctioned a scale of dietary for the children, which gives them meat once a week oftener than previously. It was reported from the committee appointed to consider the property of establishing a self-aiding medical club throughout the Union that the subject had been fully discussed at a meeting held on the previous Friday under the presidency of the Marquis of Exeter, and that is was determined that a club should be established. It was mentioned that the most convenient time for members to pay their subscriptions had been well considered, and that it was thought advisable it should in the first year be made in two payments, viz., at Lady-day and at Michaelmas, but that the benefits of the club should commence on the 1st of January next. One of the Guardians expressed a doubt whether the plan would be successful, as, he said, the poorer classes in his parish looked to the Union doctor in time of sickness, and the men would rather spend any surplus in drink than in making provision for cheap medical attendance.

Billingboro’ – The annual meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Missionary Society was held in the Methodist chapel on the 28th ult. The attendance was not so large as usual, owing no doubt to the inclemency of the evening. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. W. Jackson, the district superintendent, and other ministers and friends, after which a collection was made.

The want of a building for teaching the scholars belonging to the Wesleyan Sunday-school at Billingboro’ having been long felt, it has been decided to erect one on a small piece of land belonging to the trustees at the east end of the chapel. The necessary plans have been prepared, and, after one or two matters have been agreed upon, it its expected the building will be proceeded with.

200 years ago

December 7, 1821

On Friday evening the 30th ult. the Nassington carrier (Mrs. Blackwell), on her return from Stamford market, was stopped near Whitewater toll-bar by two ruffians who demanded her money. As she happened to have her son (a lad) and another person riding in the cart with her, a dispute and struggle arose with the highwaymen, during which the Newcastle coach was fortunately heard to approach, on which the offenders made off towards Barnack, without having effected a robbery. We understand a warrant has been issued against two persons of Whittering who are suspected of this attack.

On Saturday last an inquest was held at the Queen’s Head inn, Skirbeck, before Mr. Mastin, coroner, on view of the body of John Marshall, well known round that neighbourhood as a collector of sheep-skins, who expired on the road between Boston and Hildike Bar. Verdict, by the visitation of God.

On Sunday, at Bicker, on a child named Thomas Parker, who was so shockingly burnt by its clothes taking fire in the momentary absence of its mother, that it languished until the next day, when death put an end to its sufferings. Verdict, accidentally burnt.

And on Monday, at Miningsby, on a young woman who went out to milk the cows, and being thought to be absent rather longer than usual, was searched for and found lifeless. Verdict, by the visitation of God.

On Tuesday evening, as early as five o’clock, some depredators entered the cook-shop of Mrs. Jopling, in the Cornhill, Stamford, and stole part of a round of beef and a quartern loaf, with which they got clear off.

The Wood Sales of Sir M. Cholmeley, Bart.

To be Sold by Auction,

By Mr. Widdowson,

One Hundred and Nineteen Lots of Capital Oak Trees, with the Poles and Underwood, marked and standing in Easton, Burton, and Corby Woods: viz.

Easton Wood Sale, containing Forty-eight Lots, will be holden, at the White Lion Inn in Colsterworth, on Wednesday the 12th day of December, 1821.

The Burton Wood Sale, containing Thirty-five Lots, and Corby Wood Sale, containing Thirty-six Lots, (total 71,) will be holden, at the Public House in Burton, on Thursday the 13th day of December, 1821, being the following day.

Any further information respecting the particulars of the sales may be had of Mr. Nidd, of Burton or of Mr. Evans,of Easton.

Dnner will be on the table at One o’clock on each of the said days, and the sales will begin immediately after.

Credit, on approved security, will be given until Martinmas, 1822.

Turnpike-Road

From James Deeping Stone Bridge to Morcott.

Notice is hereby given,

That a Meeting of the Trustees of the said Road will be holden, at the George and Angel Inn, Stamford, on Thursday the 17th day of January next, by Eleven o’clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of taking into consideration the sum of money to be given to Mr. McAdam as a remuneration for his trouble in superintending the said road. By order,

Nath. Farrant, Clerk,

Stamford, 6th December, 1821.