Strange but true

 

TALES OF THE UNUSUAL CULLED FROM THE ARCHIVES

OF OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND ELSEWHERE

 

FEEDING THE POLITICIANS: In the year 1301, King Edward I called a Parliament at Lincoln which was held in the Chapter House of the Cathedral. This Parliament was attended by about 300 members and their attendants. So, in order to feed them, food had to be collected from other parts of the county. They sent to Bourne for meat and in the accounts of the Parliament, it is shown that they paid "Walter de Auclound two shillings and eight pence for carrying two carcases of beef and 10 carcases of mutton from Bourne to Lincoln, a distance of over 30 miles". Sitting in Parliament, even in those days, must have been dry work for it appears from the accounts that this body of 300 men drank 3,121 gallons of beer in 3 days. Fortunately for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, beer was cheap at that time, only costing one penny per gallon. - from Bourne and People associated with Bourne by J T Swift (1925).

 

A WAYSIDE BABY: A poor travelling woman arrived at her unexpected place of confinement on the high road at the end of Morton village near Bourn, on Thursday 4th May, where she was delivered of a female child: she was afterwards removed, and kindly received into a private house which was near. Within a few hours of the birth of the infant, it finished its short course of life. Feelings of sympathy were excited for the surviving mother and the greatest attention was paid to her: medical aid was soon produced and she is now doing well. This is the second occurrence of the same kind which has taken place at or near the same spot within the last eight years. The poor woman is now removed to the Union-house [workhouse] at Bourn until she is able to resume her journey. - from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 17th May 1850.

 

THE DAY DELIVERY of letters in Bourn, which previously took place shortly after 3 o’clock in the afternoon, now commences about 11.30 a m. The train, which heretofore was due at Bourne at 10.58 a m, is now timed so as to reach Bourn at 11.20. By this alteration, a letter posted in London early in the morning may be delivered at Bourn the same day about noon. – news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 9th November 1860.

 

A NARROW ESCAPE: On Saturday morning last, an accident occurred in Bourn which, had it not been for the remarkable fortitude and self-possession of the lady occupying the vehicle, might have proved of very serious consequence. After the departure of the 8.30 am train, Mrs L C Lawrance, of Dunsby Hall, was proceeding from the train in a small four-wheeled carriage driven by her coachman when the horse became unmanageable and started off at a furious pace along South Street. When opposite the Mason's Arms, the coachman was thrown out but Mrs Lawrance, with extraordinary presence of mind, immediately assumed the driver's seat. The coachman's legs got entangled with the reins by which he was drawn along the ground between 30 and 40 yards and it is miraculous how he escaped with his life. The horse ran its head into Miss Barwis's window and a considerable portion of the stone wall underneath the window was displaced by the collision, the fore wheels of the vehicle at the same time coming into contact with the kerb stone, which is about six inches higher than the road, whereby the horse was thrown down and Mrs Lawrance pitched out of the vehicle, fortunately, however, sustaining very little or no injury. Nor did the coachman or horse appear to be seriously injured. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 28th August 1863.

 

DEATH ON THE LINE: A facetious correspondent sends us the following account of a fatal accident on the Bourn to Essendine railway: On Wednesday last week, a rumour was  circulated in this town that a person had met with his death upon the line. This of course caused serious reflections in the minds of the sympathising public and numerous questions were asked, as to name and native place of the deceased. Fox was given as the name but the place could not be defined. It afterwards transpired that the victim was not a biped but a quadruped, frequently known as Reynard the Fox. It is supposed he had been out to a Christmas party, indulged too much, stopped too late, and that in crossing the line, he was knocked down and killed by the engine. His head and brush were forwarded to a well known bird-stuffer in Bourn to be preserved as a memento. The timely disclosure of the facts prevented a gentleman from seeing the fatal spot, after taking his railway ticket. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 28th December 1866.

 

GRUESOME FIND IN THE WELLHEAD: Considerable excitement was created in Bourn on Sunday by the announcement that a portion of the body of a child had been discovered by some boys in the Wellhead. Information of the fact reached the police and in the course of the day, the Wellhead and the back water of the mill stream were searched but without discovering anything further. The portion of the body found was an arm (from the shoulder) of a newly-born infant, contained in a box, with a stone attached to it by a string, and was found only a few feet from the side of the Wellhead. On the evening of the same day, information was volunteered to the superintendent of police by the person who threw into the Wellhead the box and contents as described, and he gave the following explanation of the affair: A short time since, a medical student (a friend of the informant's) came to Bourn on a visit and brought with him the arm in question for the purpose of some experiments. On returning to the medical college, he inadvertently left it behind him. He, however, wrote to his friend to bury it, by which it was proposed to do in the garden. To this there was some demur, and the young friend unwisely determined to throw it into the Wellhead. This was done on the evening of the 10th instant, and it was discovered on the 16th., as previously stated. From the information thus volunteered, and from inquiries made by the police, there can be no doubt that there has been no child destroyed, as was supposed when the discovery was made. - from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 21st January 1870.

 

A DEADLY SANDWICH: On Saturday morning last, John Mee, hakwer and confectioner, of Deeping St James, attempted to commit suicide by taking a threepenny packet of "Linnell's vermin killer", which he himself had purchased at Mr Linnell's shop at Market Deeping the same morning. On purchasing the poison, he went home and spread it on some bread with lard, and ate the greater portion of it. Mr Deacon, surgeon of Market Deeping, was immediately called in and used every effort to save his life. He is now considered out of danger. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th April 1870.

 

SERIOUS FIRE NARROWLY AVERTED: On the afternoon of the 26th ult, a fire broke out on the premises of Mr J B Roberts, chemist, of North Street, Bourn. It appears that an apprentice, George Story, was preparing a mixture of turpentine, beeswax, and other ingredients, over a gas apparatus (similar to those used for cooking) on the counter of the shop. It is supposed that on moving the pan containing the preparation, the fumes came into contact with the flame from the gas, and were instantly ablaze. The youth had the presence of mind to run out of the shop with it, but, in doing so, he spilt a portion upon his right hand and the right leg of his trousers, and upon the shop floor, by which the floor and the youth's clothes were set on fire and his hand and leg burned rather severely. He is said to be progressing favourably and probably will be able to return to his occupation in the course of a short time. The fire upon the floor was at once extinguished and the damage to the shop was very little. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 3rd May 1872.

[NOTE: The incident did not affect Mr Story's career because in April 1877, he received a certificate from the Pharmaceutical Society which entitled him to practice.]

 

MARATHON WALKER: On Wednesday of last week, William Richards, of Oxford, walked 50 miles in 12 hours, starting from the Market Place in Bourne between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning, walking 6¼ miles on the Deeping road and back, repeating the journey four times. Ten miles out of the 50 were walked backwards and the whole distance was completed about a quarter before eight in the evening. Richards is about 30 years of age and his weight is about nine stones. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 22nd August 1873.

 

DRASTIC ACTION: A servant girl in the employ of Mr May, of Lound, near Bourn, having quarrelled with her fellow servants, went to an upper window on the evening of the 30th ult. and threw herself into the yard, a depth of 25 feet. When picked up, she was unconscious and had evidently received severe injuries. The girl has been nine years in the service of Mr May. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th October 1875.

 

SINGULAR CASE OF ENTOMBMENT AND ENDURANCE: A little pet dog belonging to Mr Bland of Obthorpe, near Bourn, was missing from home for a fortnight. No tidings could be heard of it from any source, when at the end of that time, Mr Creasey of Obthorpe, who with his son was searching for lost sheep, on passing a hollow willow tree, heard faint whines, and on going nearer, felt sure a live animal was inside. A small hole at the base of the tree was with a knife made large enough for a man’s hand, and after a great quantity of decayed wood had been removed, the living skeleton of little Trinket was drawn out and kindly carried home, where, after slaking its apparently intolerable thirst with water, it was given at intervals, small quantities of new milk. Its usual playfulness has now returned upon recovery. It is supposed it chased a rabbit and entered the hole at the bottom of the tree, and scratching inside filled up the place of egress, hence the 14 days’ imprisonment without food or water. – from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 27th June 1877. 

 

ON BOURN STATUTE DAY, during the busiest part of the time, a pheasant was observed to enter the shop of Mr J W Nichols, general dealer, West Street, Bourn, while there were several customers in the shop, and walked through the shop into a room behind, where it was captured by Mr Nichols, who kept it in confinement for three or four days, during which time it laid two eggs. Mr Nichols has since returned it to one of the gamekeepers. – news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 30th May 1879. 

 

A FRIEND IN NEED:  A somewhat out of the ordinary case of begging was heard before magistrates at Bourne on September 23rd against Gustave Henderson, aged 17, a native of Brunswick, USA. The court was told that after failing to get a ship at the London docks, he was making his way to Hull but on his journey north, was found begging in the streets of Bourne. The chairman, Lieut-Colonel William Parker, told the accused that he ought to have known that begging was not allowed and he should have sought refuge at the union [workhouse]. He had been in jail for a week but would be allowed to go free and warned not to beg any more otherwise he would most certainly be apprehended again. At this point, a gentleman stepped forward and addressed the court: "I am a minister and if I might be allowed to speak on behalf of the foreigner, I would be glad to subscribe half-a-crown towards paying the lad's fare to Hull." He then handed round his hat to the people in the courtroom and very quickly collected a further 5s. and the accused left the court with his new friend. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 31st October 1884.

 

A CRAVING FOR DRINK

Martha Rosling of Swayfield was charged at Bourn petty sessions on the 5th inst. with stealing a gold watch and chain valued at £15 from the wife of the Rev Richard Cooper, the Rector of Swayfield [since 1878]. Mr Stapleton, prosecuting, claimed that Mrs Cooper had visited the home of the prisoner's mother in the village and fell asleep in a chair and after she got home at night, missed her watch and chain. When questioned by the police, the prisoner denied all knowledge of the property but inquiries subsequently revealed that she had pawned the items for £4 at Mr Heaton's in Grantham. While in custody, the prisoner had written to her sister in Gonerby "the downright straightforward truth" about the affair, that Mrs Cooper was tipsy and gave her the watch and chain to raise money for more drink. This was her defence. The Rev R Cooper said in evidence that he had been married for 13 years and during that time his wife had been under partial restraint in consequence of her state of mind, which had been upset by literary work. Mr Stapleton explained to the court that Mrs Cooper's mental disease took the form of craving for drink, though for seven months before the unfortunate outbreak, she had been free from it. When in this condition, she would give to the prisoner, and other persons, things for the time being in exchange for beer. If the prisoner had taken the watch and restored it to Mr Cooper, there would have been an end to the matter; but instead of that, she pledged it [at the pawnbroker's shop] under a false name and denied any knowledge of it to the policeman for six days afterwards. After a somewhat lengthy absence, the chairman of the bench, Lieut.-Col William Parker, said that the magistrates had no doubt about the prisoner's guilt and it was a very bad offence. Whether or not, when Mrs Cooper came to her house, she invited her to take a sleep with the intention of robbing her, they could not say but they were satisfied about this: that the prisoner stole the watch and she would be sentenced to six weeks' hard labour. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 13th November 1885.

 

AN ENTERTAINING EGG: A Cochin China hen belonging to Mr Henry Berry, of Bourne, on the 13th inst. laid an egg of extraordinary size and peculiar structure. It has two perfect shells, the outer shell containing two distinct yolks; inside this is a perfect egg with one yolk. The egg weighed 8¼ ounces and is 7½ inches in circumference. This Cochin produced a similar egg in 1886 and another in 1887 and it has also laid upwards of a score of similar eggs but without a shell to the outer egg, the two yolks and the centre egg being plainly visible. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 24th February 1888.

 

PONY STEALS BARN DOOR: On Monday morning, a pony belonging to Mr J Chamberlain, Bourn Spice Mills, ran away with a barn door attached to it. The animal had been tethered to the insecure door and, taking fright, escaped with its strange appendage. After sustaining considerable injury, the pony was captured in Back Lane. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 19th April 1889.

 

CATTLE POISONING: A singular case occurred at Bourn last week resulting in the death of four beasts valued at £60 and causing injurious effects upon the person who dressed the animals. In consequence of the indisposition of some of his stock, Mr Benjamin Ayre, farmer, of the Light Dragoon Inn, Star Lane [now Abbey Road], procured half a gallon of a certain chemical solution which had been recommended as a wash. Mr Ayre dressed the coats of four beasts, diluting about a wine-glass full of the solution with about two gallons of water. He applied it with a brush, rubbing the animals down the centre of the back and on the saddles. Within a day or two, the animals became very ill and refused to eat. Suspicious of the efficacy of the remedy, he used oil to counteract the action of the solution. The beasts, however, became worse and were apparently in fearful agony until Saturday morning when three died. On Sunday morning, the fourth died. Mr John Holmes, veterinary surgeon, was called in during the latter part of the week and expressed his opinion that the animals were suffering from poison. Mr Ayre was himself seriously affected through his hands coming into frequent contact with the solution. His hands are swollen and apparently paralysed. On Sunday, he complained of pains in his body and another medical gentleman was summoned. Mr Ayre is now progressing favourably. Mr Holmes has submitted portions of the deceased animals to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London, for analytical examination. The stock was not insured. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 4th April 1890.

 

AN UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE: Accompanied by Canon Edmund Venables, the Precentor, and Canon Edward Leeke, the Chancellor, the members of the Lincoln Cathedral choir visited Bourn Abbey Church en route for Grimsthorpe Castle. After giving the members an historical and archaeological description of the interior of the Abbey Church, Canon Venables was proceeding to describe the west front and tower when an awkward contretemps brought the lecture to an abrupt termination. Stepping backward to secure a better view, he fell into the Bourn Eau. Happily, the water was shallow and he easily got out. The party afterwards proceeded to Grimsthorpe Castle, spending an enjoyable day. They dined at the Black Horse Inn. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th July 1890.

 

COAL DEPOSITS FOUND IN BOURNE

Lignite, or brown coal, is now being unearthed in the shaft of the new railway tunnel through Stamford Hill [at Toft] west of Bourn. This hill, as we have already stated, is mainly composed of the argillaceous rock known as Oxford clay, which is here excellently adapted for the manufacture of fine red bricks. The excavation now proceeding reveals the fact that the lower part of this formation consists of shale. This bed of shale is composed of hardened vegetable matter, the remains of an ancient forest, condensed by the overlying rock. The most superficial inspection betrays the original fibres of the woody stems that composed it, crossing each other in all directions. We have further verified this by microscopic examination. The alumina of the lower strata of clay is strongly impregnated with the oxide of iron. The shale unearthed possesses the properties of coal for it will readily burn. Indeed, these "brown coals", as they are called,  were used for fuel in some parts of Germany and Austria. Portions of the stems of plants peculiar to the carboniferous period, which generally occur in the shales and sands forming the "roof" of a coal seam, have been found. Though it would be both unscientific and ridiculous to hastily deduce from these superficial evidences the existence of coal in the underlying strata, it is only natural that the progress of the excavations should be observed with keen interest alike by local geologists  and by commercial men. 
- news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 13th February 1891.

 

A CLEVER CAPTURE: About four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, Mr George Coales, butcher, Market Place, Bourn, missed a loin of mutton that had been exposed for sale in his shop. He at once gave information to the police. At first, no clue whatsoever could be obtained as to the delinquent as no one had been seen about this time in the locality. Police Constable Fowler, who is well known throughout the district as an astute detective, speedily instituted a searching examination. At twenty minutes past four, he entered the Royal Oak inn and noticed four navvies busily engaged roasting a fine joint of mutton. By cautious inquiries, his suspicion fell upon one of them. Indeed, the chain of evidence was so complete that Constable Fowler charged him with the theft. The navvy frankly admitted it, saying it was no use denying his guilt as he had been fairly tracked down. At 4.30 pm, the prisoner was received into custody at the Bourn police station. The case deserves record as a smart piece of police work. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 17th July 1891.

 

AN ACCIDENT NARROWLY AVERTED: Considerable excitement, and no little alarm, was caused on Sunday morning shortly before morning service by the sight of a runaway horse with brougham attached, careering at full gallop through the streets of Bourn. There being no occupants in the carriage, it was feared that this was the precursor to the tidings of a fatal accident. It appears that as Captain Pritchard, of Cawthorpe Hall, and his family, were preparing to start for church, the horse, in backing, turned restive and bolted. Captain Pritchard had happily, just prior to this, requested his wife and children to leave the carriage where they had been seated. The horse took a roundabout race by way of North Street, South Street, Thurlby Road, the Austerby, Queen's Bridge and Eastgate, and was finally checked at the second bridge, as police Superintendent Willerton Brown drove up in pursuit. Considering the number of people around at the time, it is marvellous that no casualty occurred. Both horse and carriage were uninjured. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 27th May 1892.

 

A PHENOMENAL swarm of bees is reported by Mr William Redmile Garner, farmer and shopkeeper of Dyke, and honorary secretary for the Bourne district of the Lincolnshire Bee-Keepers Association. Last week, he had a swarm of bees weighing 24lb. The average weight of a swarm is about 4lb. An ordinary swarm contains about 5,000 bees, thus the swarm in question may be computed to contain 120,000 bees. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 29th June 1894.

 

AN UNUSUAL MOTH was captured one night last week by Mr Pike of Bourne. It was a specimen of the rare convoluting hawk moth (Spinx convolvuli), a species which is often met with on the Continent but very rarely taken in England. It is a fine male specimen. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 12th October 1894.
[Note: this moth was probably wrongly named and should have been the convolvulus hawk moth or Agrius convolvuli].

 

A RARE OCCURRENCE: While ringing one of the bells at the Abbey Church in Bourne on Monday evening, Mr John Howe, a hairdresser, of Church Street [now Abbey Road], met with a serious accident. He was taken up by the bell rope and fell down from a great height. His right leg was broken just above the ankle. Dr John Gilpin was speedily in attendance and skilfully attended the injury, which is of a severe nature. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 22nd February 1895.

 

A GOOD AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION: A young Houdan pullet, the property of Dr James Watson Burdwood [Medical Officer of Health for Bourne], becoming crop-bound, was operated upon. The crop was opened to the length of five inches, the inner one was sown up with a continued suture of horsehair, the outer with five silver sutures. A large round substance was removed, almost as firm as, and resembling, a cricket ball. The substance weighed 8 oz. and measured 11 in. in circumference. The pullet was fed on soft food for 20 days. Her hospital was a hamper to which she regularly retired, making a peculiar noise for the lid to be closed. After a month's illness, she made a good recovery and was anxious to return to her companions in the poultry run. She was welcomed with a loud clucking and now goes to roost as usual. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 24th December 1897.

 

PERILOUS  JOURNEY: A cat was found on the centre bogie beam under a railway carriage at Bourne railway station on Saturday morning. Pussy, who was in a state of great trepidation,  had journeyed on her perilous perch from King's Lynn to Saxby, thence to Bourne, where she was discovered. The unbooked passenger has become domesticated in the goods shed. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 18th November 1898.

 

A COURAGEOUS ACT: On Friday afternoon, soon after 4 pm, two horses attached to a dray took fright on coming from Walter Fulcher's timber yard and bolted at a furious pace down North Street. The driver, William Smith, in the employ of Mr Pick of Thurlby, was thrown out. As there were a number of people passing, and many children just returning home from school, there was the greatest fear of some calamity. Police Constable Charles Spurr was passing and, perceiving the danger, he dashed forward without a moment's hesitation and caught hold of one of the madly careering animals. At great peril to himself, he held on and, after a hard struggle, succeeded in bringing the animals to a standstill near Messrs Foley's [at the corner of Meadowgate]. He led them into Mr David Pick's yard [baker and corn dealer in North Street]. Two men mending the roads had a narrow escape. Their barrow was completely smashed. The pluck and presence of mind displayed by Constable Spurr merit the highest praise. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 9th December 1898.

 

SHOCKING ACCIDENT: Whilst Mark Clay, a farm lad of Bourne, was harrowing a field near Thurlby on Friday, the horses suddenly bolted and the youth was dragged under the harrow, one of the prongs penetrating his abdomen. His head was also injured by a kick of the horse. No help was near and, as soon as he could extricate himself, Clay walked home, a distance of two miles, holding together the wound as well as he could in his agony. Dr Gilpin was immediately summoned. Hopes are entertained of the lad's recovery. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 12th May 1899.

 

GRIZZLY BEAR FOUND: A geological discovery by Mr Henry Goodyear, a farmer of the Austerby, Bourne, in his fen field near the Bourne Eau bridge, proves to be very interesting. The skeleton of the animal found in the clay bed of the ancient forest under the fen land has been presented by Mr Goodyear to the Geological Museum in Jermyn Street, London. Professor E T Newton, the eminent geologist, pronounces it to be the skeleton of a large bar of the grizzly type. In thanking Mr Goodyear, he expresses the wish that equal care might be taken of similar geological remains when discovered. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th March 1901.

 

IN THE LION'S DEN

On Tuesday night, Mr Joseph Edward Dallywater, a well known local character, entered the lion's cage of the Spanish travelling menagerie that was visiting Bourne and, facing the lion, remained while he smoked a cigarette, after which he emerged unscathed amid the cheers of a crowded audience. He had lived to tell the tale. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 1st December 1899.

The death occurred on Wednesday, after a lingering illness, of Mr Joseph Edward Dallywater, who some two years ago, was appointed to the office of Bourne town crier. In addition to this, he carried on the business of a chimney sweep, bill-poster and, at the time of his premature death at the age of 36, was landlord of the Red Lion Inn. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 13th September 1901.

 

MOTOR CAR COLLISION: A motor accident occurred on Thursday just in front of the police station in Bourne [then on the corner of North Street and Burghley Street], but had no very serious results. The car belonged to Viscount Enfield, who was himself a passenger, and he was accompanied by two ladies, with the driver. Just as the car reached the police station, Messrs Bray and Son’s fish cart turned out of the police station yard. A collision was inevitable. The driver of the trap pulled his horse up but the animal slipped on the granite setts that form the crossing and the driver of the motor car, who had it well in hand, at once applied the brakes. The car collided with the trap, both the wings of the former being damaged, the front lamp glass broken and the lamp bracket bent. The trap also suffered damage. The motor car was able to proceed on its journey to Burton Hall, Lincoln. - from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 23rd October 1908. 

 

MASSIVE VEGETABLE: A beanstalk has been pulled in the Bourne district of Lincolnshire measuring 8 feet 3 inches high and carrying 47 pods. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th August 1916.

 

WOMAN WHO MADE GRIMACES. - Some amusement was caused by an application made at Bourne Police Court on Thursday week for an ejectment order against William Ward, North Street. Mr Bell said that the application was made under the section of the Act relating to being guilty to conduct to the annoyance of occupiers of adjoining houses. Mrs Jane Allison, 36, West Street, the owner of the house, alleged that Mrs Ward had thrown water over her and Mr Ward had used very bad language towards her. William Allison, husband of the last witness, said they had got on well with the Wards until about a year ago. At times when he was in his garden, Mrs Ward had put her fingers to her nose to him. Mr Manning, a neighbour, also gave evidence, in the course of which he said he saw Mrs Ward throw half-a-brick which nearly hit him. When cross examined, he agreed that it was a question of “six of one and half-a-dozen of the other”. Major Merry, for Mr and Mrs Ward, submitted that, as Mr Bell had not put in the terms of the tenancy, the application must fall through. The magistrates agreed with this and the application was refused. – news report from the Stamford Mercury, 3rd September 1920. 

 

HOUSE COLLAPSES - BUILDING FALLS INTO RIVER; OCCUPANTS ESCAPE

An alarming incident occurred on Tuesday morning when a portion of a house on Bedehouse Bank in Bourne collapsed and fell into the river adjoining. The building was occupied by Mrs Starkey Parker and in the portion which collapsed, her son was sleeping. He was awakened in the early morning by the cracking of the walls and just managed to get from his bedroom to the one adjoining when the portion he had left collapsed.
Among the debris were some of the bed clothes which Mr Parker had thrown off when he escaped, together with a quantity of personal belongings, but money and other property was not recovered although the river was partially dredged.
The house is one of a number erected many years ago on what was then waste land and still retains the name of Bedehouse Bank, but the property has now passed to the Marquess of Exeter, as Lord of the Manor. The portion which fell was an annexe to the original building. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 5th September 1924.

 

AMONG THE CROCKERY – GOODS DAMAGED BY SHEEP. Messrs Lawson and Son, glass and china dealers of Boston, sued L Schmetzer, a butcher [of West Street], at Bourne County Court for £1 17s. 3d., being damage to crockery by defendant’s sheep. The facts, which were not disputed, were that plaintiff was driving some sheep to his premises and when near the market pitch occupied by the plaintiffs, the animals jumped in amongst the crockery and did damage to the amount claimed. Defendant contended that the goods were displayed on the highway and that there was no protection provided by the plaintiff. His Honour, giving judgment for the plaintiff, for the amount claimed, said that the goods were lawfully on the highway. – news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 26th March 1926.

 

THE CIRCUS HORSE: There were a number of milkmen who delivered around Bourne during the Second World War of 1939-45, one in particular being Morley Bradshaw who lived in Abbey Road opposite the entrance gates to the cricket ground. His dairy was at the back of a house opening on to Manning Road and he delivered his milk in a two-wheeled trap pulled by a multi-coloured horse which soon got a reputation in the town as "the circus horse" because of the tricks it got up to while out on the rounds. But one day, the horse excelled itself. Morley had loaded the trap with churns of milk ready for his rounds when the horse decided to perform one of its tricks and reared up, spilling the entire load of milk all over the road. Morley called on other dairymen in the town for assistance and they all rallied round to provide him with extra supplies to ensure that his customers were not left without their daily pint although it was rather a sacrifice for them because milk was rationed at that time. - from Memories of a Wartime Dairymaid by Winifred Pool, a member of the Women's Land Army, 1939-46.

 

MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES ARE OF BOURNE: In the late 1950s, it was my pleasure on Thursday mornings during the summer holidays to visit the pig market, actually the cattle market, where all manner of livestock were auctioned. With one or more siblings, it was a great thrill to wander about the empty pens and gangways, then get in the way as cattle or pigs were driven towards us so that we had to flee. Our shrieks increased the din of the squeals, bellows and clatter of the poor animals. Being the leader of the gang, I must have been a great nuisance, but with only the odd "Mind out of the way, duck", drovers and farmers alike were very forbearing. Except for Snitch. His real name was Harry and he was a crusty old chap who swilled out the cattle wagons and pig trailers, and we used to aggravate him until he snarled and turned the hose on us. He was something of a character and years later he was to become, by marriage, my great uncle. He drove a horse and cart and owned a smallholding where he stored all the clutter he somehow mustered. His house was built alongside a disputed right of way to the Klondyke piggery belonging to T W Mays and Sons and he regularly barricaded the road so that lorries could not pass. My husband, who worked for Mays, was sent to negotiate with his great uncle but to no avail. Although he lived in ramshackle conditions, old Uncle Harry was actually a man of means. - from Lincolnshire Within Living Memory, compiled by the Federations of Women's Institutes from notes sent in by members, published 1995. [NOTE: Uncle Harry was in fact Harry Barnatt (1884-1977) of Barnatt House, No 75 West Road, Bourne, who died a wealthy man.]

 


- headline from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 16th February 2001

 

NEWSPAPERS are particularly slipshod these days although many readers do not notice when the schoolboy howlers are confined to the small print of the village paragraphs. But last week, the Stamford Mercury, which regularly parades its reputation as Britain’s oldest newspaper, first published in 1695, must have caused its past distinguished editors to turn in their graves because the newspaper billboards throughout Bourne were covered with posters announcing Friday’s issue and containing a most blatant example of bad spelling and to make matters worse, the item they were publicising concerned Bourne Grammar School. Perhaps the staff at the newspaper should pop round to the school for some extra-curricula work on their English. 

- Rex Needle in his weekly Diary column on the Bourne Internet web site, Saturday 3rd November 2001.

 

Go to:     Main Index    Villages Index