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

February 17, 2012

Forty-nine jobs have been lost at a well-known building firm after it announced its intention to appoint administrators.

Staff and creditors of Bowman, of Cherryholt Road, Stamford, have been left reeling after it was revealed the firm had submitted a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators at Court.

Insolvency practitioners FRP Advisory confirmed on Wednesday that only a skeletal staff remains at the stricken firm.

Bowman’s directors had tried and failed to restructure the company through a Company Voluntary Agreement. It is now expected that Evolution Business Recovery Services will be appointed with FRP as joint administrators.

Bowman, which was established in 1886 and was previously known as E Bowman and Sons, underwent a rebranding last year.

The company is tied to the history of Stamford and has worked on many of the town’s listed buildings during its 125-year lifetime, such as the spire and tower of St Mary’s Church in 1912.

A school kitchen will be used to cook hot meals for pupils from other schools.

Lincolnshire County Council has granted itself permission to change the use of the kitchen at St Gilbert’s Primary School in Foundry Road, Stamford, so meals for other schools in the area can be made there.

The new “hub” kitchen will now be able to prepare up to 900 meals per day for schools without on-site cooking facilities.

Executive councillor for children’s services, Coun Patricia Bradwell, said: “Meals can now be transported from the kitchen site at Stamford St Gilbert’s which will mean many additional children throughout the area can enjoy locally sourced, freshly prepared school meals/

“These kitchen ‘hubs’ are important in allowing small local schools to access meals for their children and provide healthy, nourishing food to help them through the school day.

Meals for St Gilbert’s pupils are currently cooked by Sleaford company The Farm Kitchen.

The council estimates the kitchen will provide an average of 500meals for surronding schools.

Engineer Grant Creasey is so dedicated to raising awareness of the work of charity WaterAid that he is missing Valentine’s Day and his wife’s birthday to fly out to Zambia.

Grant, 32, of Ross Drive, Stamford, flew out to Africa on Sunday for his second visit to the continent having previously travelled to Uganda in 2006 to build homes for orphans.

He was selected for the trip as a representative for Anglian Water, which he designs electrical systems for as an engineer with Black & Veatch.

Grant said: “This visit is about getting the connection with where the money we raise is going, to see it in action in these projects in the third world.

“We often do fundraising towards WaterAid because it was founded by the water companies back in 1981 so we have a close affinity with it.

“This is a chance for me to see where that money goes and understand how it’s being spent on the ground.”

25 years ago

February 14, 1997

Stamford is preparing to play its part in a national musical festival to celebrate the Millennium.

Arts 2000 was launched in 1991, to celebrate Britain’s artistic achievements, and lay the foundation for cultural life in the year 2000. Every year, a different artform has been launched, and this year it is the turn of opera and musical theatre.

Stamford Arts Centre will be staging five events in the next four months, as part of the celebrations, including work by Hayden and Shakespeare as well as two brand new productions.

The idea behind promoting opera and musical theatre is to prove that it is not something for a limited group of people to enjoy.

As well as Stamford, plays will be staged throughout Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, as well as Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Year of Opera and Musical Theatre will include more than 1,200 performances in total, by 5,000 performers in 130 towns and cities, featuring 21 British composers and 16 world premieres, including two in Stamford.

Stamford businesses are losing thousands of pounds and motorists are facing long traffic delays due to major road repairs in the town centre.

Re-surfacing and road strengthening work began at the Scotgate crossroads on Wednesday last week and retailers believe trade has plummeted as a result.

Keith Frith, general manager of Somerfield, West Street, said: “My trade has been affected very badly. Traffic jams have caused horrendous problems – we are losing hundreds of customers who can’t even get into the car park because of the queues.”

The Mobil garage on Scotgate has also lost customers and small businesses have not escaped either.

Michael Jeffs, owner of Just Wheels, North Street, said: “Things have been very quiet – people can’t get to my shop so they just drive by and go somewhere else.

“It’s only months since the roads were dug up last time to replace the gas mains.”

John Smith, owner of newsagents W H Howard, Red Lion Square, said: “A quarter of my trade is passing trade, and the roadworks have halved that. This sort of thing has been going on for years and it’s time the council sorted out some compensation for us traders.

“There are more shops shutting. Stamford’s going to be a ghost town in 10 years’ time.”

A moment of musical levity punctuated otherwise serious discussions at the latest Stamford Chamber of Trade meeting.

A suggested name change left members wondering whether their future lay on the concert platform or in the business world.

The humorous interlude came during final talks on whether Stamford Chamber should merge with Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

But serious debate gave way to derisory chortles as members heard they might have to change their title – to the Stamford Chamber Group.

Stamford Chamber of Trade president Don Lambert declared that he did not play any musical instruments.

Sam Howell, of S. R. Howell Chartered Accountants, labelled the idea “potty”.

And the association of the words chamber and potty caused a little mirth.

GPCCI had proposed that if Stamford joined it, it would have to drop the words commerce and trade from its name.

50 years ago

February 18, 1972

Despite a power cut, the show went on at Ryhall Village Hall on Friday evening where a capacity audience had gathered for a folk concert.

Organised by the village’s Attic Folk Club, the concert featured Group 3 from Derby (better known as the former Lonesome Travellers) and Ken Reed from Worksop.

Local performers were Phil Heeney, Peter Nelmes, Tony Greaves, Nancy Mitchell and Pete Chapman as MC.

“The cut came right as we were about to begin at 8 pm,” said club treasurer John Fordham.

“But we were supplied with lamps and candles and various electrical equipment, and we managed to rig some more lights up from car batteries.”

The concert – the second put on at the hall by the club – was in aid of Ryhall parish church.

Mr and Mrs Gordon Turnill, whose studio in St Mary’s Place, Stamford, must be the longest established in the town, retired last week after 45 years in the photographic business.

The couple, who were both keen amateur photographers when they met, opened their premises in July 1927, and were married at All Saints’ Church, Stamford, in September the same year.

A local man, Mr Turnill’s father farmed at Manor Farm, Wittering, at the beginning of the century.

The family made a move to North Lincolnshire but returned to the district to live at Little Casterton in 1909.

An Old Stamfordian, Mr Gordon Turnill studied the art of professional photography with the Oakham and Melton firm of Heawoods.

Both Mr Turnill and his wife have taken photographs of a variety of subjects but, over the years, their chief speciality – and the line for which they have become renowned locally – has been joint combination in taking children’s portraits.

“I amused the children,” says Mrs Turnill, “while my husband took the pictures.”

The newly-formed Bourne swimming club will have concessions, Bourne Urban Council decided, on Tuesday.

The club will use the Abbey Lawn pool between 7 am and 8 am on weekdays, between 7 am and 9 am on Sundays, and three weekday evenings will be set aside for the club’s use between 8.15 pm and 9.30 pm.

Club members will be season ticket holders for the pool, and council nominated Couns R. B. Cliffe, J. H. Wright, and Mrs M. Cooper as its representatives at meetings with the club committee.

Council will favourably consider an application likely to be made by Bourne Town Football Club to use the pool for a sponsored swim in early summer.

From 11.45 am to 12.30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Witham Hall school will have the use of the pool and will use it for the school’s sports on July 6 and 14.

Dr H. Ellis-Smith, medical officer of health told Bourne Urban Council, on Tuesday: “Confirmation has been received from the secretary of the East Anglian Regional Hospital Board, Cambridge, stating that the Board have no intention of closing the Butterfield Hospital, in spite of rumours which have been circulating locally.” For this information, council recorded its grateful thanks.

100 years ago

February 17, 1922

“The Gondoliers” - Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera “The Gondoliers,” will be performed by the Stamford Amateur Operatic Society at the Assembly-rooms on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week. The evening performances commence at 8 p.m., and on the Thursday there is to be a special matinee at 3p.m. The performances will, doubtless, maintain the prestige of this popular organisation and those desirous of obtaining seats should make early application at Messrs. Denning’s, Broad-street. The opera has been previously performed by the society. The whole production being under the expert directorship of Dr Malcolm Sargent, it is hoped that the performances will add another to the many successes achieved by the society.

Pounds Sterling and Avoirdupois – The results of the Pound day at Stamford Infirmary on Friday exceeded all expectations. In only two articles were the amounts received less than those of the last year, namely, eggs and potatoes. At one time it was thought that the number of pounds received would be much less than last year, as the schools were closed, and the children’s quota usually amounts to some hundreds of pounds. Nevertheless, in spite of that and the difficult times, 1894 lbs. of domestic articles, including 102 lbs. of apples, 51 lbs. of beans, 73 lbs. of currants, 130 lbs. of flour, 125 lbs. of jam, 88 lbs. of rolled oats, 238 lbs. of potatoes, 198 lbs. of rice. 280 lbs. of sugar, 98 lbs. of tea, 247 eggs and £35 15s. 9d. have been received by the Matron, who desires to thank all contributors for, to use her own words, “the response has been extraordinary.”

Salvation Army – In connection with the Sunday school in Stamford, the annual prize-distribution took place on Thursday evening last week, when Mr. H. Deer presented awards to 60 children.

St John’s Social – The annual social in connection with St. John’s church, Stamford, was held at the Assembly-rooms on Thursday evening last week, and was a great success, about 350 being present. Miss Sandall, who was assisted by a number of other church workers, arranged an excellent programme, including a demonstration of ball-room dancing. Refreshments were provided, and a silver collection was taken in aid of parochial funds.

Lowest Charge For Lunatics – At a meeting of the Board of Guardians on Monday, the Marquess of Exeter presiding, it was reported that the Northamptonshire County Asylum authorities had fixed the maintenance for pauper lunatics at 18s. 8d. per week, which, it was pointed out by the chairman, was the lowest figure charged in the area.

Bourne – Young Guests – On the evening of the 8th inst., the children of the Congregational Sunday school were entertained to tea by Mr. T. W. Mays, and to a miscellaneous programme, and the scholars attending the Baptist Sunday school were given their winter treat and lantern entertainment by Mr. A. Stubley.

150 years ago

February 16, 1872

Stamford and Rutland Savings Bank – The first quarterly meeting of the year was held at the Bank yesterday (Thursday) the Rev. D. E. Jones in the chair, when the securities and accounts were examined and audited, The receipts from depositors amount to £3585 0s. 5d. in 775 sums, against £3636 14s. 3d. in 781 sums for the corresponding quarter of last year. The withdrawals amount to £4642 6s. 9d. in 266 sums, against £4345 18s. in 248 sums for the corresponding quarter of last year.

Stamford Union – At the weekly meeting of the Board on Wednesday last (Mr. Fysh in the chair) letters were read from the Local Government Board granting certificates of efficiency to the schoolmaster and schoolmistress and sanctioning payments according to the grade. The pauper inmates continue below the average, there being 53 less than in the corresponding week of last year.

Housekeepers are recommended to weigh their bread. A correspondent informs us he has weighed five 2lb. plain loaves from one of the Stamford bakers, and found all of them from 2oz. to 3oz. short weight.

Stamford Candlemas fair – There was a very small supply of horses, beasts, and sheep at this fair on Monday and Tuesday last, and exceedingly high prices were realised. Horses in particular were remarkably limited in number, and good animals were quickly bought up at exorbitantly high prices. Beasts for grazing purposes sold readily at £15 to £22; and fat animals made 9s. 3d. per stone. Some fat maiden heifers, belonging to Mr. Aldwinkle, of Uffington, were sold by auction, by Mr. J. Richardson, at prices ranging from £26 5s. to £23 per head. There was also a brisk demand for sheep; wether sheep made from 70s. upwards, one lot sold by Mr. Fowler, of Manton, fetching 96s. each; lamb hogs sold at prices ranging from 50s. to 65s. per head. Some pens of shearlings, belonging to Mr. Wilders, of Casterton, were sold by auction, by Mr. Richardson, and made respectively 76s., 80s., 80s., 85s., and 86s. per head. A pen of fat ewes, disposed of in the same way, realized 77s. per head.

The concluding performances of Mr. Betjemann’s opera company at the Corn-exchange, Stamford, drew very large audiences and abundance of applause. Beyond the efficiency of the vocal artists the comic attributes of some of the actors were highly enjoyed, all the farces represented eliciting continuous laughter.

At meeting of the Stamford Union Assessment Committee was held on Tuesday: Lord Kesteven presiding. The propriety of altering the assessment of the Stamford and Essendine, the Stamford and Sibson, and the Great Northern railways was discussed, but no decision as come to at this meeting. The assessment of the Water-street station and premises was referred back to the overseers of St. Martin’s, as was the proposed assessment by that parish of the ironstone diggings on the Burghley estate.

Bourn – At a committee meeting of the Bourn Library, held on Tuesday evening last, the secretary was ordered to prepare a new catalogue; and it is hoped that all persons having books belonging to the library will return them in the course of the present week, in order to facilitate the stock-taking.

200 years ago

February 15, 1822

At Stamford fair on Tuesday the show of beasts was not large, and in the early part of the morning there was some tendency to improvement in prices, but the report of Monday’s Smithfield market was known by eight o’clock, and damped the spirit of business. The sale of both stores and meated beasts became as dull as ever. The horse fair was principally on Monday: prices were certainly not better than of late. Mr. Brown, a respectable farmer of Stretton, in Rutland, was swindled by a fellow who paid him for a good horse in two ten-pound notes of the Newark bank of Pocklington and Dickinson, which stopped payment 13 years ago. Mr. Brown discovered the fraud in a short time, but the swindler in the interim had ridden away with the horse.

A woman who calls herself Mary Aldridge has been committed to Huntingdon gaol, for having in her possession a large quantity of counterfeit silver coin of which she could give no satisfactory account. She went from Stamford by the Newcastle coach on Thursday night the 7th inst., with the intention as she stated of returning after she should have possessed herself of a parcel which was addressed to “Mrs. Thompson, Huntingdon, to be left till called for.” That parcel, it had been ascertained before she called at the coach-office, contained 108 half-crowns and 40 shillings, all counterfeits of the coin of the late reign. The woman had left Huntingdon on the preceding Monday for Stamford, in company with two other females and a little boy and girl; they had been for some time in the former neighbourhood, sleeping occasionally at public-houses, and at other times in a caravan, on which was painted the name of “John Aldridge,” and over the door, the Freemason’s Arms. Two men accompanied the caravan, having the appearance of hawkers; the ostensible trade of the party was that of selling pocket-books, purses, hardware, and linen shawls. Previously to this discovery in Huntingdon, much base coin had been circulated in the neighbourhood. The woman who has been apprehended, assumed the different names of Willins, Thompson, Gowe, and Aldridge. It is supposed that the party to which she belongs are with their caravan yet in the neighbourhood of Stamford.

On Thursday the 7th inst. four persons of Cliffe (three of the name of Goodliffe and one of the name of Cunnington) were committed to prison on charges of poaching. They are stated to be part of a gang who lately severely beat young Rayson, gamekeeper of the Marquis of Exeter. One of them conducted himself so violently after his apprehension that it was found necessary to send him off in irons. Nineteen other poachers have been impeached by one of the Goodliffes.

A correspondent who dates from Pinchbeck observes, that the late floods, and the slowness with which they pass off from some parts of the fens, strongly prove the necessity of an improvement in the river Welland by opening the sands below Fosdyke Bridge. The drainage of the rivers Glen and Welland, and by the Vernatt’s cut, is alike impeded by this removable accumulation at a certain point of the estuary.