< Back Royal Air Force Wittering Christmas Menu 1942 Submitted by Chris Hunt A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

The Portico c1860 BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL The Portico c1860 The infilling of The Portico, which was completed in 1906 with extensions at the rear is today’s Public Library. Stamford Borough Council bought the White Lion Inn as the site for The Portico with the Butcher’s Shambles behind running back to Broad Street. Constructed between 1804 and 1808 this photograph (c1860) shows members of the Borough Police Force in attendance. To the left we can just see the Police Station and to the right the house for the Town Beadle. The Portico was also used to store the town’s Fire Engine. In 1961 a small museum was opened in the building and today (2025) houses the Discover Stamford permanent exhibition. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Trace the heritage of Stamford’s vintners and brewers, whose cellars once stocked the town’s most refined tastes. Breweries & Merchants Trace the heritage of Stamford’s vintners and brewers, whose cellars once stocked the town’s most refined tastes. Barrel Ring & Opener

< Back CATHOLIC CHAPEL IN STAMFORD 1851. Parish of All Saints. Submitted by Chris Hunt Erected February 1834. Separate building. Used exclusively as a place of divine worship. Free sittings, Yes. On 30th March (1851). In morning General Congregation 170., Sunday School 51. Remarks. The number of Catholics attached to this mission may on a fair average be estimated at about four hundred, but owing to a variety of causes, say, distance and want of decent apparel a regular attendance cannot be expected. Signed Thomas J. O’Connor, Catholic Priest, Incumbent Source Lincolnshire Returns of the Census of Religious Worship 1851. Edited by R.W.Ambler, M.A. Published by the Lincoln Record Society Volume 72 (1979) page 3. A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

Blackstone Engine Plate BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Blackstone Engine Plate, No.100717, Carters Patent The first factory on Blackstone’s new Ryhall Road ten-acre site was completed in 1887. The firm of Blackstone and Company Limited was formed in 1889 and traded under this title until the mid-1930s. The future was seen as being in oil engines and so in 1896 the company acquired the sole use of the Carter Brothers patents along with oil engine patterns, castings, parts and fittings. The brothers, Frank and Evershed, were employed by the company and received a royalty of ten shillings per horse-power on each engine that left the factory that used their patents, with a minimum payment of fifteen shillings per engine. They continued to innovate the design of engines into the early 1930s. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

< Back Peterborough GNR Loco v Stamford Rutland Ironworks November 9th 1895 Chris Hunt The Ironworks journeyed to Peterborough on Saturday to fulfil their engagement with the Loco team. There was not a large attendance considering the great rivalry that exists between these old opponents. The teams were composed as follows: Ironworks . – Goal, Morris; backs, Rudkin and Middleton; half-backs, Avery, T.Braunston and Glithero; right wing, C.Atter and Pentelow; centre, Burcombe; left wing, Miller and J.Atter. Loc. – Goal, Shaw; backs, Randall and Palmer; half-backs, Pearson, F.Palmer and Bean; right wing, Cannon and Darnill; centre, Fox; left wing, Burbage and Garner. Referee, Mr Carter. The home team won the toss, and the Reds had to face the breeze in the first half. The opening exchanges were in the favour of the visitors, whose forwards displayed admirable combination. Burbage early showed up well, and from him alone did it appear that much danger was likely to ensue. J.Atter and Miller passed nicely down the left and the sphere was lifted over to the right. C.Atter secured and with a clinking shot drew first blood for the Reds. A few minutes later the homesters were giving Rudkin and Middleton plenty of employment. The first mentioned back dropped the sphere down the right wing and C.Atter, getting the better of a tussle with Palmer and Randall, was on the point of shooting at very close range when he was ruled off-side, most unfairly, as he had beaten three opponents. Following this piece of work, the referee awarded a corner against Avery, who was yards from the ball. The visitors showed great dissatisfaction at this, but matters reached a climax a few minutes later when a home forward standing almost under the cross-bar slipped the leather into the net from a shot by a half-back at long range. In spite of all protestations to the contrary, the referee adjudged this point to be a legitimate one. These most disgraceful decisions caused RUCTIONS and a lively scene ensued. The visitors decided to take no further part in the contest, but did not leave the field. They kicked the ball off from the centre, but offered no opposition to the homesters, who under the personal direction of the referee took the leather down the field and put in between the Reds’ sticks. The important but perverse functionary whose abominable decisions had caused this miserable state of affairs informed the Loco players that they must be careful not to get “off-side". J.Atter took exception to this mode of procedure, but was politely requested to “shut up”. The spectators were talking in knots on the playing piece, and Mr J.Atter, town clerk of Stamford, and the father of the left winger, stepped on to the field with a view of pointing out duties of a referee to the “knight of the whistle”, but he was ordered off and promptly complied with the request. The Ironworks simply kicked the ball when necessary to keep it in play, such as in the case of goal-kicks and throwing in, and by so doing did not lay themselves open to the charge of leaving the field without the referee’s permission. Several of the home players had adjourned to the neighbouring pub to discuss the matter, but were ordered to resume their position on the field and were cautioned. Again was a farcical order of the referee complied with, and the Loco took the ball down the field and scored a fourth point. Half time arrived with the score reading Peterborough Loco 1 goal Rutland Ironworks 1 goal Referee 3 goals. The forty-five minutes in the second half were whiled away by the players in any way they chose, as long as they remained on the ground. Pipes were lighted and discussions friendly and otherwise took place. Before the players were allowed to leave the field the darkness spread its mantle over the scene, and stars became visible. A more unsatisfactory game can scarce be imagined, and it is evident that scenes of a similar but milder nature are not rare on the Loco ground, as the spectators acquainted the visitors that they were as bad as Boston and Spalding. ************ The Stamford and Rutland Guardian’s football comments in 1895 were written under the by-line ‘Half –Backs’ and he stated that: The “game” at Peterborough on Saturday, “Ironworks v Peterborough G.N.Loco”, was a perfect fiasco, and it is high time that the Association interfered in the matter of referees. It is only fair to the Loco players to say that the majority of them were equally disgusted with the decisions of the ruling official. Note The above article appeared in the Stamford and Rutland Guardian of Friday November 15th 1895. It shows that criticisms today’s crowds express about referring decisions are nothing new. A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back Harriet Swanson and William Blades. Two 19th-century market traders Keith Hansell 2024 When writing my book ‘Stamford Fairs & Markets’ I tried to add flesh to the bones of those who once sold their wares within the town, whether on a daily basis, or at one of the town’s weekly markets. It was inevitable that some would slip through the net, only to be discovered once the book had been published. William Blades, a fishmonger of Stamford, and Harriet Swanson. a butter seller from Belmesthorpe, were two such people. Harriet Swanson ‘ Suspected Child Murder at Stamford’. That was the headline from a report in the Stamford Mercury on Friday the 6th of October 1845. Harriet Swanson, a single woman of about 24 years of age, had gone to the Shepherd and Shepherdess public house around 1pm, as per usual, before leaving to sell butter in the Friday market. When returning around 6pm, she asked the landlady, Mrs. Sanderson, if it was possible to stay the night. Whilst being shown her room she announced that she was about to be confined and begged that she might not be turned away. About an hour later, at Swanson’s request, Mr. Edward Barber, surgeon, was called and was quickly in attendance. On entering the room he found the prospective mother in bed, with a man sitting by the bed-side smoking a cigar. After the man had departed, she told Mr. Barber that her name was Elisa Deacon, and that she resided with her brother and sister at Oakham and had come to Stamford thinking she might be better managed, having neither father nor mother. At eleven that evening she gave birth to a ‘ perfect and healthy’ female. When returning the following morning, Mr. Barber again found the child in good health and laying beside her mother. When asked if she had put the child to breast, she replied she had not, as she intended to “ put the child out ”, and that the nurse, who was in attendance, had the care of feeding her. On the Saturday afternoon, Swanson said that her daughter had made some gurgling noises in her throat. About six that evening, when the nurse took the child from its mothers arms, the child’s face and hands were black but it came to again after only a few minutes. After returning the child to its mother, the nurse left the room for a few minutes, but quickly returned when the mother called out that her child was dead. Mr. Barber was immediately sent for and on his arrival undressed the child but found no marks of violence, except a slight indentation on the upper lip, like the mark of a single finger-nail. The following day a post mortem examination took place but found nothing to indicate the cause of death. The inquest that followed lasted for four hours, and in the course of the investigation, Mrs. Sanderson admitted that Swanson, and the man seen on Mr. Barber’s first visit, often met at her house, sometimes going into the bedroom but generally into the front parlour. Swanson also stated that William Templeman, of Carlby, was the child's father and that he gave her a sovereign on Friday night to meet her immediate expenses. William Blades Or ‘ Pugnacious Blades’, as the Stamford Mercury headline called on Friday July the 18th 1862. Below is the transcript of that report. “A Fight, which though short was anything but sweet for one of the combatants, occurred between two fishmongers of Stamford named William Holland and William Blades, in the fish-market at the Portico on Monday morning. There seems to have formerly been a kind of partnership between the two present rivals. They had both been indulging too freely in beer, and the dispute arose in consequence of Blades attempting to carry off a box of herrings, which he fancied belonged to him. To this course, however, Holland strongly objected, having an impression that he was being robbed and high words ensued, which ended in a scuffle: the boxes were smashed, and the herrings strewn over the pavement. The disturbance being upon the very threshold of the police-station, acting-sergeant Leech interposed threatening them with “durance vile” if they did not desist. In defiance of this caution, however, they resumed the fight with increased animosity and violence, but were at last separated and locked up until their passion had cooled. They were ordered to answer for their drunken and disorderly conduct at the police-station on the following morning, but Blades was so severely punished and his vision so obscured, both eyes being deeply mortgaged, that he could not find his way to the station: the case was therefore adjourned till Wednesday, when they appeared before the Mayor (R. Bromhead, Esq.). and Edward. Cayley, Esq., and were discharged. Blades face showed such strange inequality of surface and variety of that, as would have been tested to their utmost the enamelling abilities of the notorious Madame Rachel”. Notes. The Shepherd and Shepherdess public house was located in Castle Street, Stamford, and was first recorded in 1831, later changing its name to The Castle and finally closing in 1959. From the sale particulars of 1893 it consisted of a parlour and smoke room located at the front of the building, with the bar and tap room behind. It also had five bedrooms, store-room, cellar and wash-house. The Portico, erected c.1807, stood in Stamford’s High Street, on a site formerly occupied by the White Lion public house. The fish market was situated behind the Portico, comprising two rows of covered stalls with a centrally placed pump. Market days were Monday’s and Friday’s. Blades vision must have been severely impaired as he only lived yards away from the police station in Rubbins Court on Stamford High Street. The report makes reference to a Madam Rachel, real name Sarah Russell, who operated a fraudulent cosmetic parlour in the 1860s, at 47a New Bond Street in London. She promised her female clients that she would make them beautiful forever but in truth she was no more than a con-artist, applying dangerous substances to her clients’ skin, with the inevitable results. A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back Obituary and Records - November 15 1801 This being the anniversary of the Stamford bull-running day was, in consequence of its falling on a Friday, postponed until the following day; after the bullards had enjoyed as much sport as they thought fit in St, George’s-street, a wider field of operation was afforded the poor animal, which, quitting the town, crossed the river Welland in the direction of its home (Bainton), when Benj. Overton, a horse keeper of the town, whilst violently perspiring, out of breath, and in a state of intoxication, plunged into the Welland after the fugitive bull, and, as might be expected, struck with the intense cold, sunk to rise no more, although every effort was made to save him. Source: Obituary and Records for the Counties of Lincoln, Rutland & Northampton by Justin Simpson, page 18. Printed by William R Newcomb, Stamford 1861. Submitted by Ronnie Teasdale. A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

a list of inquests < Back Death by Misadventure: Coroners' Inquests 1700-1850 - Part 2 John Hartley 1978 NOTES to list of Coroners’ Inquest papers – Stamford Town Hall http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/coroners-inquests.htm provides guidance on the general availability of Coroners’ Inquests papers nationally as well as a (very brief) bibliography. Currently (2012) no Coroners’ Inquest papers appear to be available online.This list gives only the barest outline of details: date, subject, verdict with some indication of cause of death and an indicator (by means of an asterisk - *) if evidence was presented to the jury, was included with individual files, and is now available.These records are not currently available for consultation, but some further details may be available by contacting this website. Please note that this list was compiled in the early 1970s after the discovery of these papers and has not been subsequently altered. The papers were the source for the article in the Stamford Historian vol.2 (1978) pp7-20 to be republished shortly on this website. A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back Regulations For Brewers in Fetching Water in 1666 By Chris Hunt It is ordered that noe comon bruer or victualler whatsoever inhabiting within this corporation shall fetch or cause to be fetched any water from St Michael’s conduit, the Leaden conduit, or from ye pump standing in ye parish of S John’s, for brewing, or for any other occasion whatsoever, but betwixt ye hours of 5 of ye clocke in ye morning and seven of ye clocke in ye afternoon upon pain to fforfeit for every tubb of water soe fetched before or after ye sayd houres ye some of four pence. April 26th 1666. Source Stamford Mercury Friday November 21st 1873 p4 Hall Book 2A/1/2 Note. The spelling has not been modernised. A printed version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back St John's Parish Stamford Owning Land in Ufford 1860 By Chris Hunt The parish of St. John, Stamford, has a small portion of land lying in Ufford, Southorpe and Newbery fields, the yearly rental of which, formerly amounting to £6 0s 0d, has been distributed on St Thomas’s day (December 21st) to the poor ratepayers. This year there will be for distribution £12 19s 0d, which Mr. Hayes, the occupier, has been paid into the hands of Mr. Walker, one of the overseers. The advanced rental was obtained during the overseership of Messrs. J.Ford and H.Moore by re-letting the land by auction; so that the poor of St John’s will have a greater gift distributed amongst them this year than in any previous year from the same source. Source Stamford Mercury Friday December 14th 1860 p4/c2 A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

World War Two Casket BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Stamford World War Two Casket At the end of World War Two, those from Stamford who had served in the military were presented with an Illuminated Address of Thanks by the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses on behalf of the inhabitants of Stamford. It was decided in 1945 to honour returning troops with a small oak casket, ‘A Token of Stamford’s Gratitude’, and was designed for untipped cigarettes. The recipient could take a small payment in lieu of the casket. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next