Hundreds of years of history from Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and Market Deeping
Wetherspoon moves to town, plans put forward to demolish a historic building and a man charged for being drunk in a Stamford Street.
These are just some of the stories from this week's Mercury Memories, which delves into stories from up to 200 years ago thanks to the support of the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust.
10 years ago
December 7, 2012
A major pub company has revealed plans to spend more than £2m on new new town centre pubs in Stamford and Oakham.
JD Wetherspoon has signed a contract to revamp the Mercury’s offices in Sheep Market, Stamford.
And it is planning to turn the former Royal British Legion building in High Street, Oakham into a pub.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said the chain, which has more than 600 pubs across the country, would invest £1m in its Stamford enterprise, creating about 40 jobs.
A similar amount of money would be invested into the Oakham pub.
Mr Gershon said: “We are keen to open new pubs in both Stamford and Oakham. There is still a lot to do in terms of getting to the stage of opening. However, we are certainly moving in the right direction.”
He said planning applications would be submitted in the near future but that both pubs would be in keeping with the Wetherspoon brand. They would be music-free, family friendly, serve food all day and specialise in real ales, he said.
The Mercury is now looking for alternative premises in Stamford. Its lease on the Sheep Market building expires in May.
Editor Eileen Green said the Mercury would remain at the heart of the community.
Primary school pupils have planted hundreds of trees as part of a project to commemorate the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
Every pupil at William Hildyard Primary School in Market Deeping has planted a tree to help create a woodland in the school grounds to celebrate the jubilee.
The 500 trees were donated by the Woodland Trust, which aims to plant more than six million trees during the year.
The school asked pupils to come up with a name for the new area and the suggestion put forward by Year 4 class, the Forest of Dreams, won.
Parent governor Liz Blackler said: “It was a lovely week.the children have thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Residents in Stamford town centre will be able to buy a waiver ticket so they can park outside their homes without getting a parking fine.
South Kesteven District Council is introducing the ticket, which will go on sale on Monday and cost £155, as an additional option after offering reduced price permits for its long and short stay car parks.
The waiver ticket allows people to park unrestricted on roads which have time limits.
Wardens acting on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council started issuing tickets to drivers parked illegally on Monday and 29 tickets were given out in South Kesteven on Monday and Tuesday.
The district council has agreed the waiver ticket scheme with Lincolnshire County Council and says the cost ensures compatibility with the charges for the discounted car park permits.
District council leader Linda Neal (Con) said: “Residents within the scheme boundary can choose to use our existing scheme if they want to, but they now also have the option of choosing on-street parking is they would prefer.”
25 years ago
December 5, 1997
Home owners celebrated yesterday as travellers who descended on the former Exeter School site in Stamford finally packed up and moved on.
Just one caravan was left behind on Thursday which is likely to be towed away in the next few days.
But residents now fear the legacy the travellers will live on for weeks because of the mess they have left behind.
Chris Cox, of Dickens Drive, said “It’s very good news they have gone but this is just the start of things as far as the clean-up operation goes. There is no way children will be able to play on the area because of the human waste and this has attracted seagulls who are scavenging on what they’ve left behind.”
Tom Earl, of Sutherland Way, said: “We’re not at all happy about the time that it’s taken to do something. We have put up with so much and the site is an absolute disgrace. It’s a filthy sea of mud, the chain fence round the site has been destroyed and it’s going to cost thousands of pounds to decontaminate and clean up.”
The need for a town forum in Stamford has been highlighted by Stamford Civic Society’s chairman David Heeley.
Mr Heeley spoke about the work of the society over the past year at the annual meeting.
He highlighted how active the group has been in the town – including contributing to the traffic forum, supporting the chamber of trade’s bid to regenerate Stamford and helping South Kesteven District Council with a conservation area appraisal.
He said: “In Canterbury they have set up a town forum to present the ideas of the smaller groups, so why not Stamford?
“Why not create a town forum with members of the town council, chamber of trade, amenity societies, the bypass group and the civic society? So this year, I have tried to build links with these groups.”
He added: “I hope it is evident that the society is trying to build a joint approach to safeguard and enhance the town.”
Mr Heeley praised the work of long serving member Freda Clough who retired from the society after 35 years.
“Month in, month out, for many years she has scoured the planning register and the minutes of SKDC planning meetings to keep us aware of what was going on in the town – as well as providing unswerving support for the cause.”
Council tax payers are being warned to brace themselves for increases in their bills and cuts in services following the Government’s announcement on local authority spending next year.
Lincolnshire County Council will be allowed to spend £407 million, and says it will be unable to meet its spending requirements.
County Council deputy leader Coun Martin Hill said: “The grant settlement is a very tough one for Lincolnshire and will require difficult decisions.”
Peterborough City Council chiefs have described the first finance settlement as a unitary authority as “tough and challenging”,
The new authority will be responsible for all services from April, including services now provided by Cambridgeshire County Council, such as education, social services, transport and libraries.
The council’s spending assessment is £135.3 million, and has a limit of £137.5 million. This means the city’s council tax is likely to increased by £75 for a band D property.
Detailed proposals for all next year’s council budgets will be covered over the next few months, and figures for next year’s council tax bills are expected in February.
50 years ago
December 8, 1972
An avenue of more than 60 elms at Stamford cemetery is to be felled because the trees are dangerous to the public.
The trees, which have rotted, will be replaced by several different species in a planting programme next autumn.
Cost of the felling and replanting jobs is expected to amount to about £800.
A report to Stamford Burial Joint Committee says: “The rot present throughout the elms will cause shedding of branches at anytime without warning and serious damage or injury could occur.”
The killer Dutch elm disease is not blamed for the problem – although a few of the trees are reported to be affected by it.
Members of the committee think felling the rotten trees is the only answer.
And at Tuesday’s meeting, chairman Ald G. N. Riley appealed for public help in meeting the cost of the replanting job.
He said: “It would be a good idea if people paid for a tree and we would put their name tag on the tree when it was planted … something like that.”
One of the oldest buildings in Stamford could be at the centre of a row later this month.
Kesteven County Council are recommending to Whitehall that 9-10 St George's Street should be compulsorily purchased and the owner paid the minimum compensation.
The County Council feel that the building is being deliberately left to fall into disrepair.
This means it could be demolished and would make way for redevelopment.
The owner of the building, Mr Frank Dickinson, a Stamford butcher, would not comment on the allegation, but said: “I will fight against any move to compulsorily purchase this property.”
The house was to be demolished in 1971, but it is in the Stamford conservation area and the county planning committee decided to preserve the building.
And ever since Stamford Civic Society have shown great interest and concern for the building, regarded as one of the most architecturally interesting in the town.
At present the house is uninhabited and in a very poor condition.
A Tudor hall in Bourne moved into the twentieth century on Saturday.
The Red Hall, which is said to have connections with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, was officially opened as a community centre.
More than a hundred guests turned up in the pouring rain to see the beautiful old hall in its newly-renovated condition.
Cost of the facelift – carried out by Bourne United Charities under its chairman Coun Jack Burchnell – is expected to be £35,000.
So far £20,000 of the money has been raised.
The Red Hall, believed to be one of England’s finest Elizabethan buildings, has kept its Tudor charm.
But inside the three storeys, linked by priceless English oak stairways, will be used as an arts centre, museum, reception suite, lecture hall, assembly hall, boardroom, ante-room kitchen and toilets.
At Saturday’s opening the Earl of Ancaster said the Red Hall needed a lively future to put its restoration to good effect.
100 years ago
December 8, 1922
Knocked Down By A Motor-Car – While walking along the Ryhall-road, Stamford on Friday evening, Mr. J. S. Dixon, of 76 Rutland-road, was caught by the front lamp of a passing motor car driven by Mr. J. H. Gray, of Obthorpe Manor, Thurlby. Mr. Dixon was knocked down, and sustained a lacerated arm and thigh. Some passers-by took him to the Infirmary, where he remained until Sunday. He was slightly affected by concussion and shock.
Bellringers’ Visit – On Saturday the Whittlesey St. Mary’s church bellringers, at the invitation of Mr. G. P. Henson, of the Crown Hotel, visited Stamford, and, by permission of the Rev. F. Davenport, rang two 720’s of Plain Bob Minor and touches of Grand-sire Doubles on the bells of St. Martin’s. They were entertained to tea at the Crown Hotel.
Motor Accident – Mr. Elia Zerekideze, of London, was admitted to the Stamford Infirmary on Monday after suffering from shock, a broken nose, cuts and bruises sustained in an accident on the Great North-road, near Wansford. The injured traveller was riding a motor-cycle, which skidded, throwing the rider on to the road. A motor-car a little way ahead conveyed him to Stamford.
Fined For Drunkenness – At the Peterborough police court, on Monday, Robert Toon, Stamford, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in St. John’s-street, Peterborough, at 11.55 p.m. on Saturday. P.c. MacDonald said he visited the rear of a lodging house and found defendant asleep on a bench, and he aroused him and took him to the police station. Defendant said that he went over to see a football match and he stated that he had a situation at the Stamford Hotel, also that he had not touched any intoxicating drink for 14 months. Defendant was fined 10s., which was promptly paid.
Bourne
A Poor Return For Kindness – The magistrates on Thursday listened to a tale of ingratitude. In the dock stood William K.Mackintosh, a man of no fixed abode. He was charged with stealing £5 odd in money, the property of Emily Hollingsworth, and a bicycle of the value of £3, the property of Fred Hollingsworth, at Bourne, on November 25th. Prisoner belonged to the tramping fraternity, but had been potato picking in the district, and lodged with complainants’ parents. On Saturday he cleared off on the bicycle, which had been lent to him to travel backwards and forwards to his work, also taking the whole of the savings of the young lady. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and a list of previous convictions was put in. In sentencing prisoner to three months on each charge, the sentences to run consecutively, the Court ordered the money found on him to be handed over to Miss Hollingsworth.
The Old Grammar School – At a meeting of the Governors of the Secondary School, Bourne, on Tuesday, the Clerk reported a letter from the Board of Education with reference to the proposed sale of the Old Grammar School. Canon Grinter made an offer of £100 for the property with a free conveyance, and this was provisionally accepted.
150 years ago
December 6, 1872
Stamford Infirmary – The treasurer desires to acknowledge the following collections: - Wesleyan chapel, Stamford, £4 12s. 3d.; Primitive Methodist chapel, Stamford, 16s.
The only business at Stamford petty sessions on Saturday last was the election of a clerk to the Magistrates, in the room of Mr. Phillips, resigned. Mr. Atter being proposed and seconded, exception to the nomination was taken by one of the Magistrates, who contended that the offices of clerk to the Local Board and clerk to the Magistrates could not properly be held by the same person; but as no other gentleman was proposed, the Mayor declared Mr. Atter to be elected.
Stamford Union – At the Board meeting on Wednesday the clerk reported that the following parishes had neglected to pay the contributions last called for, viz., Barholm £35, Braceborough £57, Bainton £50, Essendine £112, Ketton £58, Ryhall £40, Southorpe £45, Tallington £95, Uffington £165, and Wilsthorpe £28. The weekly statistics showed the number of paupers in the house to be 131, or 11 less than in the corresponding week of last year, the decrease being mainly among aged people. The recipients of out-relief numbered 795, at a cost of £91 7s. 7½d.;against 834, at a cost of £958s. 4½d., in the corresponding week of last year. 36 wayfarers were received during the week.
The monthly meeting of the Co-operative Society was held in their warehouse in Wellington-lane, Stamford, on Tuesday evening last. The secretary gave a brief account of the transactions, from which it appeared that the total amount of goods invoiced to the society is £439, £100 of which has been received within the last few days, to meet the demands for Christmas.The total amount of money taken during the eight weeks the society has been in business is £254. - Correspondent.
Bourn – On Monday evening last a public meeting was held in the Corn-exchange, to take into consideration the day for holding the market in Christmas week. Mr. Bell occupied the chair, Some gentlemen present thought it would be as well not to change the market-day, but keep to Thursday as usual, and make Tuesday the 24th or Friday the 27th a holiday;but in answer to this it was urged that the day most convenient for the young men to have a holiday would be the day from Christmas-day; and it was also stated as a feature in favour of making Thursday a “shut up” day that the banks would be (by charter) closed on that day. Considering all things, it was thought Tuesday the 24th would be the best day for the market and Thursday the 26th for the holiday. After the subject had been well discussed, a proposition to the effect that Tuesday the 24th be the market-day and Thursday the 26th the holiday was proposed by Mr. Thos. Harrison, seconded by Mr. Jas. Measures, and carried without opposition.
At Bourn statute, on the 28th ult., there was only a limited attendance, and not much hiring done, the Martinmas statute not being greatly used in this neighbourhood.
At a committee meeting of the Bourn Reading-room and Library, held on Tuesday evening last, it was arranged to hold the general annual meeting on the evening of the last Monday in December. Amongst other business it is proposed to appoint a new secretary and treasurer.
200 years ago
December 6, 1822
We have been honoured at our office this week with a call from the “wise woman” of Market Deeping, whose purpose was to complain of having been hardly dealt with before the magistrates at Bourn a few days ago, and to assure us that she had no pretension to be called a wise woman! We think it may be useful to promulgate this assurance gaven as it is by Mrs. Lucy Barber herself – particularly as we hear from very good authority, (though not Mrs. Barber’s own declaration to us,) that the carriers who pass from Stamford through the town in which she and her wonderful alder-tree have for a few years past flourished, have frequently conveyed as many as two or three persons at a time, who had come from Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire, to consult this fancied Sybil of the fens! Such is still the besotted superstition of some people! Mrs. Lucy Barber’s husband is a carpenter, at this time working near Grantham; she herself is a well-dressing, good-looking woman, not more than 35 years of age, and we should have thought could not “in her own country” have been mistaken for a prophetess.
On Thursday the 28th inst., Matthew Abbott, landlord of the Roebuck, and William Broom, landlord of the Hole in the Wall public-houses in this borough, were convicted of keeping open their houses during divine service on the preceding Sunday, and were fined in the mitigated penalty of 10s. each and costs.
An inquest held on Thursday the 28th ult. at Holbeach Drove, by Samuel Edwards, Gent. coroner, on view of the body of James Kitchen, an infant 18 months old, who fell into a vessel of hot water and was so dreadfully scalded that death ensued in a few hours. Verdict, scalded to death by accident.
An inquest was held at Fulney, near Spalding, on Monday last, by the same coroner, on view of the body of Anne Bromhead, (a servant to Mr. George Sharman, farmer,) who died on the preceding day. It appeared that the deceased had come to her death by receiving into her stomach a large quantity of white arsenic; it also appeared that when alive she was very deficient in intellect, and had at a former period of her life attempted suicide. The jury, after taking the depositions of a surgeon and a number of other witnesses, returned a verdict that at the time the deceased took the poison she was of unsound mind. She was only 22 years of age.
A meeting of the trustees of the turnpike-road from Bridgeford-lane, in the county of Nottingham, to the Bowling-green at Kettering, in the county of Northampton, was held on Thursday the 28th ult. at Uppingham, for taking into consideration the draft of a Bill for continuing the term of an Act passed in the reign of his late Majesty, and for other special purposes – Some propositions for diverting the course of this road, and for otherwise altering and improving the same, have lately been discussed, but it appears that the inadequacy of the funds will not, at present, admit of their being carried into execution.
