< Back Stamford Post Boxes: A History By Trish Auciello Introduction Stamford is not unique … but it is unusual for a small town like ours to have post boxes from six different monarchs, from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, all we are missing is King Charles III. This article traces the historic locations and monarchs of post boxes in Stamford. It concentrates on Queen Victoria to King George VI, with a few notable ones from Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Most of the historic information has come from the various directories, such as Dolby, which listed locations from 1855 up to 1939; unfortunately, these don’t give precise locations or the type of box, and there are some anomalies and omissions. Descriptions of the current locations of post boxes are correct as of April 2026. First some background to set the stage for the entrance of the post box. The Postal Service before 1840 The first letters were carried by horse, with recognised places and persons responsible for providing horses and post-boys, and many old hostelries were used, including Stamford, which was the 8 th stop on the London to Berwick route, later extended to Edinburgh. Mail coaches on the London to Edinburgh route were introduced in 1786. In the 1830s, postal rates were expensive and anomalous, charged by the number of sheets (no envelopes) and the distance travelled. The recipient paid the postage upon delivery and this system was subject to abuse e.g. if the recipient recognised the writing and knew that their relative was well enough to write, they could refuse to pay the postage, leaving the Postal Service out of pocket. It was usual for the sender to take the letter to the receiving office themselves, which could be some miles away, although some places had a Bellman who would collect mail. Records were kept of each letter, sender, and recipient, which was a major administrative burden. The Penny Black Sir Rowland Hill conducted a review of the Postal Service in the late 1830s and recommended a much cheaper, pre-paid system, using an adhesive stamp to show that postage had been paid. This started in May 1840 with the introduction of the Penny Black stamp. It cost one penny for letters up to half an ounce (14 grams) no matter the distance. Hill’s thinking was that a cheaper system meant more people would send letters and eventually lead to profits. He was proved right as nationally the number of letters sent more than doubled in 1840. In Stamford itself, an average of roughly 1,700 letters was sent each week in November and December 1839; in one week in January 1846, this had risen to 5,760. Post Boxes With the increase in mail, a more efficient system was needed to collect letters ready for the mail trains. Anthony Trollope, now more famous as a novelist, worked for the Post Office as a surveyor, and had probably seen roadside letter boxes in France and Belgium. He proposed a similar system in Britain, and a trial started with four boxes in Jersey in 1852 and others in Guernsey in1853. None of these boxes remains in use. The first post box in mainland Britain was installed in Carlisle in 1853. There was no standard design, although nearly all were pillar, but some were fluted, others hexagonal, or had ornate decorations. Some early boxes had vertical slits, with an internal flap that moved to the side. By 1857, horizontal slits were usual with a flap over the aperture and a protruding cap. Wall boxes first appeared in 1857, and lamp boxes in 1896. The “Resources” section, at the end of this article, lists books and websites where more information can be found on the progression to the boxes used today. Cyphers As the Royal Mail service, nearly all post boxes show the cypher of the monarch at the time they were manufactured. There are some without a cypher, known as “anonymous” that were issued in error. Here are the names of the monarch, their dates, and their cypher. The small Victorian wall boxes just show the initials VR. An interesting side thought – Edward VII was a colourful character and his cypher has a flourish to it, by contrast George V was a quiet, reserved man. His cypher shows only “GR” and not “GVR”, as he was the first George with post boxes and felt “GR” was quite sufficient. Stamford’s First Post Box The first post box in Stamford was installed on High Street St. Martin’s in October 1855 in the same year that London installed its first post boxes. This was in the reign of Queen Victoria (VR 1837-1901) and was reported in the Stamford Mercury on Friday 26 th October 1855. The black and white photograph below shows the box outside St. Martin’s Church; it probably wasn’t a coincidence that it was opposite the Burghley Estate Offices. The post box appears to be hexagonal, and may have been similar to this one still in use today in Framlingham, Suffolk. I don’t know how long this box remained in use, whether in this location or elsewhere. A sub post office was opened in High Street St. Martin’s in 1897 closer to the town bridge; a photograph in the Francis Frith collection of the post office doesn’t show a post box outside it – did people still use the old box, in its original location, or perhaps relocated nearer the bridge? The current box on St. Martin’s, near the corner with Water Street, is a George V (GR 1910-1936) pillar box. This box has the remains of a frame on top which would have held a sign showing the direction of the nearest post office. Stamford’s Second Post Box The Stamford Mercury in December 1959 mentions that the post master had applied to install an “iron letter-box somewhere in St. Peter’s-street” and a meeting was arranged to choose the location. The book “Stamford Postal History” gives the location as Tinwell Road, perhaps they meant “the road to Tinwell”? It was described as the “new type”, probably a cylindrical pillar with a horizontal aperture, not that different from modern boxes. In the directories, the location is sometimes described as St. Peter’s Hill and sometimes as St. Peter’s Street. In 1896, Potter’s Directory says Hill and Dolby’s says Street. The black and white photograph below dates from 1913, and shows a box outside 32 St. Peter’s Street, which was the yard of John Woolston, a well-known local builder. In more modern times, it was a car dealership, and is now the Stamford Eye Clinic. The current box is a George V pillar box outside 22 St. Peter’s Street. This used to be a hardware shop and is now a firm of accountants. Victoria (1837-1901) Boxes still in use There is only one Victorian pillar box still in Stamford, it’s on St. Mary’s Street , opposite St. Mary’s Hill, and was installed around 1896-97. The other Victorian boxes still in Stamford are all wall boxes. There is one on platform one at the Rail Station , installed between 1868 and 1871. Another is on Scotgate , installed at about the same time. It’s outside number 48, part of a kitchen showroom. The last remaining VR wall box is in Torkington Street , in the wall of a now closed sub post office. The sub post office was previously on Casterton Road ; when the post office moved to Torkington Street, the box moved as well. However, the directories don’t show a box on Casterton Road until 1909, during the reign of Edward VII (EVIIR 1901-1910) and Torkington Street is not mentioned at all. Previous Victorian Post Boxes Wharf Road – the directories show a box on Blackfriars Street from 1874 to 1896, then one on Wharf Road from 1897 onwards. Did the box move or was it described differently? At some stage, the box has been changed to an Eliabeth II (EIIR 1952-2022) wall box, opposite the entrance to the Wharf Road car park. Conduit Road 1891-1896, Recreation Road 1897-1903, Bentley Street Sub Post Office 1904 onward - these three boxes pose a conundrum. It seems too much of a coincidence that the dates they appear in the directories follow on if they’re not connected in some way. Perhaps Conduit Road was a wall box, with a small capacity. The roads north of New Cross Road were being developed around this time, and Recreation Road would have seen more foot traffic than Conduit Road, and a pillar box may have been installed here to handle a larger volume of mail. The same box was probably described as Bentley Street sub post office, when it opened, as it was only about 50 yards away. The current box on Recreation Ground Road is an Elizabeth II, recently converted to solar. High Street first appears in the directories in 1876, described as being near the (fire) engine house, which was at the back of the portico – the current library building. The portico was a butcher’s market with the police station in the small section on the left. The present box is an Elizabeth II pillar box at the front of this section. St. Paul’s Street – another conundrum. The earliest mention is in 1872, exact location or type unknown, and the latest is 1882, both very much Victorian. The current box is an Edward VII wall box outside what locals will know as the Boys School/Grammar School/Stamford Endowed School, however this box is not mentioned in any directories up to 1939. Did this box move from another location in town, but why isn’t it mentioned? Tinwell Road , first mentioned in 1891, so not the location of the second post box as “Stamford Postal History” stated. Its exact location and type are unknown. There are two boxes currently: a George V (GR 1910-1936) pillar box at the bottom of Roman Bank, and an Elizabeth II lamp box at the corner of Exeter Gardens. Water Street , there is a box listed as near the Iron Bridge (Albert Bridge) between 1876 and 1937, type unknown. In 1938, it has moved to Newtown , which rises from the end of Water Street to Barnack Road. The change in location may have been to bring it closer to Stamford East Station; was the same box moved or was a newer one installed? The current box is an Elizabeth II lamp box outside the old station building. Wothorpe Road was first mentioned in 1898, lastly in 1934. Was this actually Wothorpe Road in town or outside near Wothorpe itself? There was a sub post office on High Street St. Martin’s and a box at the station so would a box on Wothorpe Road have been necessary? Edward VII (1901-1910) boxes There are only two Edward VII boxes in Stamford, the wall box previously mentioned on St. Paul’s Street , and another wall box on the corner of Priory Road and Cherry Holt Road installed 1909-1910, the photo below is a close up of the cypher. Possible other Edward VII boxes Broad Street , this was first mentioned about 1905, presumably Edward VII but it may have been a Victoria box being reused. It was a wall box at the junction with Ironmonger Street, the outline of the box can still be seen, although partly hidden by an electricity box. The current box is an Elizabeth II pillar box next to Browne’s Hospital. Was this a direct replacement or had the earlier one already been replaced? If an Edward VII, was it moved to St. Paul’s Street? Queen Street , a box was installed in 1905; as with Broad Street, we can’t be certain if it was a VR or EVIIR. The current box is an Elizabeth II wall box. Empingham Hill/Road , the first mention of a box is in 1909, would this have been at the lower end when there was a VR wall box close by on Scotgate, or was it further up, near or at the present location? The current box is a George VI (GVIR 1910-1936) wall box on the corner of Empingham Road and Foundry Road. George V (1910-1936) post boxes I’ve already mentioned three George V pillar boxes in Stamford: St. Martin’s , St. Peter’s Street , and Tinwell Road . There are two other pillar boxes in town: Ermine Way , near the junction with Empingham Road. this is not mentioned in the directories up to 1939, perhaps a re-used GVR box was installed after WWII. Sussex Road , on the corner of Cornwall Road, probably described as New Cross Road in the directories, and first mentioned in 1934. This has an attached red painted drop box, where the postal service left mail waiting to be delivered to individual addresses. This is the only attached drop box in town, all the others are lamp boxes, and grey in colour. They are not used nowadays. There are only two GV wall boxes in Stamford: Radcliffe Road , in the wall of the cemetery, first mentioned in 1939 when it should have been George VI, another box being reused, but from where? Kesteven Road , outside the shop, previously a sub post office. This is another anachronism: George V was king between 1910 and 1936, Kesteven Road post office was opened on 1 st February 1957. I have no way of telling where the box came from, whether it was relocated from Stamford or elsewhere. Edward VIII – the jewel in the crown The Dolby Directory first lists a post box on Ryhall Road in 1908, which was probably Edward VII. The description of the location was changed to Ryhall Road sub post office in 1924. The photograph below shows the Burghley Tea and Coffee Tavern, incorporating the post office, with a wall box by the door. Unfortunately, the photograph isn’t clear enough to show the cypher. Edward VIII only ruled from 20 th January 1936 to 11 th December 1936. There were about 270 boxes manufactured during his short reign, but many were altered after his abdication, with the doors being replaced. It’s estimated that about 160-170 remain, and we have one in Stamford, which was installed as a pillar box outside the sub post office mentioned above. This is now a barber’s shop. The sub post office has had alterations to the entrance, and an extension was built in the late 1960s. It looks as if the front has been replaced as there’s no sign of the earlier box in the modern brickwork. If it was Edward VII, is it a candidate for the St. Paul’s Street box? GEORGE VI (1936-1952) boxes There are three George VI pillar boxes in town: Casterton Road , as previously mentioned, it would have been a VR or EVIIR when first included in the directories in 1909. The current GVIR box is north of the traffic lights, not far from Vence Close. This is on the grass verge and is sinking into it, the ground is almost up to the bottom of the door. Lindsey Road , on the corner of Kesteven Road, this must have been one of the last George VI boxes to be installed in town, as the houses on Holland Road, Lindsey Road, Witham Close, and Kesteven Road were first inhabited in 1950. Rutland Road, on the corner with Lincoln Road, probably installed post WWII. The door of this box is also almost at ground level, in this case because repeated tarmacking has raised the level of the foot path. There are four George VI wall boxes in town: Empingham Road, on the corner with Foundry Road, as previously mentioned. Little Casterton Road , near the junction with Lambeth Walk, opposite the shop, not mentioned in the directories so probably post WWII. This box is a little shy and can often be found hiding in the ivy. Stamford Post Office, All Saints’ Place . These don’t have a cypher but they are in the extension to the building that was built in 1937. Elizabeth II (1952-2022) I’ve mentioned some of the Elizabeth II boxes already. A full list of all of them is at the end of this article. Solar Boxes Two Elizabeth II boxes have recently been converted to solar in Stamford, on Recreation Ground Road and outside the Stirling Road post office. They have been fitted with new caps with a solar panel and the doors have been altered with a larger aperture so they can take parcels up to a shoe box in size. The solar panel provides power for an app which is needed to send parcels, provide proof of posting etc. Royal Mail have said they will only change Elizabeth II boxes, so our Edward VIII should be safe. Charles III (2022- ) We don’t have a Charles III post box in town; Royal Mail don’t proactively offer to install new boxes but communities or new estates can ask for a box to be installed if they show a need and no other boxes are close by. The new estate on what was Williamson Cliffe’s old works doesn’t have a box, and with new estates being planned for Ryhall Road and possibly Casterton Road, we might see a Charles III one day. Summary As with most historic research, even with such relatively modern events, it’s difficult to achieve complete accuracy. I hope you’ve gained some interesting knowledge, even with the questions and puzzles that remain. I have also written a self-guided walk, about 60-70 minutes long, around the boxes of six monarchs in the town centre, which can be found on the Stamford Local History Society website. Trish Auciello © May 2026 Acknowledgements Thanks are due to: Chris Hunt, Chair of the Stamford Local History Society, who first sparked my interest, and who provided the old black and white photographs. All other photographs were taken by the author. Paul Hewitt, committee member of the Letter Box Study Group, who set this process in motion by asking if I knew where Stamford’s 38 post boxes were. Lea Rickard and the staff at Stamford Library for their help with the directories. Resources Books: Stamford Postal History, by W G Stitt Dibden and L Tebbutt – out of print but Stamford Library has a loan copy Old Letter Boxes, by Martin Robinson (Shire 2000) ISBN 978 0 74780 446 8 The Letter Box – a History of Pillar and Wallboxes, by Jean Farrugia (Centaur Press 1969) ISBN 978-0900000140 Pillar Boxes, by Jonathan Glancey (Chatto and Windus 1990) ISBN 978-0701134471 Online: The Letter Box Study Group www.lbsg.org Various Facebook groups Twitter/X – #PostboxSaturday , usually not for technical information but interesting photographs of post boxes in the UK and worldwide A walk around Stamford town centre post boxes www.stamfordlocalhistorysociety.org.uk Museums (check out their websites as well): The Postal Museum, London WC1 – www.postalmuseum.org Colne Valley Postal History, Essex – www.cvphm.org.uk Oakham Treasures, not in Oakham but near Bristol – www.oakhamtreasures.co.uk Other Interesting Boxes not found in Stamford (hint: Lincoln is a good place to visit) Penfold – a standard pillar box design between 1866 and 1879, very popular but expensive to make – there’s one in Lincoln in Exchequer Gate near the Cathedral. Modern copies can be found near tourist sites or other attractions. Gold – the above box in Lincoln has been painted gold, in honour of Paralympian Sophie Wells after the 2012 London Olympics. Search online for a full list of gold boxes. Double – the closest oval double boxes are in the centre of Bourne, the centre of Market Deeping, and in Cathedral Square, Peterborough. There is one on Clacketgate in Lincoln, west of the High Street. Rectangular double – on the High Street in Lincoln. Edward VII pillar boxes are quite unusual, there’s one on Clacketgate in Lincoln, east of the High Street. Edward VIII wall box, in Bawdsey, Suffolk. Possibly the only EVIIIR wall box remaining, it’s a Ludlow type used by sub post offices. Charles III – the first one, a pillar box, was installed in Cambourne, west of Cambridge, in July 2024. Stamford Post Boxes – the full list as at April 2026 is here: Victoria – VR Pillar - St. Mary’s Street, outside King West estate agents Wall - Stamford rail station, on the platform Wall - Scotgate, outside the Home kitchen showroom Wall - Torkington Street, off Casterton Road Edward VII - EVIIR Wall - St. Paul’s Street, outside Stamford School Wall - Priory Road, on the corner of Cherry Holt Road George V - GR Pillar - St. Martins, opposite the George Hotel Pillar - St. Peter’s Street, next to the accountants Pillar - Tinwell Road, on the corner of Roman Bank Pillar - Ermine Way, on the corner with Empingham Road Pillar - Sussex Road, on the corner of Cornwall Road Wall - Radcliffe Road, in the cemetery wall Wall - Kesteven Road, outside the shop Edward VIII - EVIIIR Pillar- Ryhall Road, near B&M. Very rare, probably about 160 still in existence. George VI - GVIR Pillar - Casterton Road, just north(ish) of the traffic lights Pillar - Lindsey Road, on the corner of Kesteven Road Pillar - Rutland Road, on the corner of Lincoln Road Wall - Empingham Road, on the corner with Foundry Road Wall - Little Casterton Road, opposite the shop, on the corner of Lambeth Walk Wall – Stamford Post Office, All Saint’s Place – no cypher Elizabeth II - EIIR Pillar - High Street, outside the library Pillar - Broad Street, near the War Memorial Pillar - Recreation Ground Road, opposite the end of Bentley Street Pillar - Green Lane, on the corner of Edinburgh Road Pillar - Sutherland Way, outside the shops (Stirling Road Post Office) Pillar - Morrison’s lobby Lamp - Barnack Road, near Abbot’s Close Lamp - Water Street, outside Welland Mews Lamp - Tinwell Road, on the corner of Exeter Gardens Lamp - Lonsdale Road, opposite the Danish Invader Lamp - Caithness Road Lamp - Arran Road Lamp - Primrose Way 1 Lamp - Primrose Way 2 Lamp - Hardwick Road, on the corner with Casterton Road Lamp - Cambridge Road, on the corner of Charles Road Wall - Wharf Road, opposite the car park Wall – Queen Street A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back The Night of the Coventry Blitz - 1940 On the night of November 14th and into the morning of November 15th 1940, squadrons of German planes flew over Stamford on their way to bomb Coventry. That night, as on many others, fire watchers were readying in cities, towns and villages for the ever-expected arrival of the War to their communities. In Stamford, fourteen-year-old Eric Hunt, too young for the Army or the Home Guard, was on duty as a fire watcher at the top of Lowe, Son, and Cobbold’s brew house on North Street, wondering who was getting bombed tonight. Memories of Eric Hunt. A printed copy can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back Stamford Mid-lent Fair in the past Submitted by Keith Hansell Stamford Mercury March 1724 William Newzam, cutler in Stamford, selleth all sorts of London, Birmingham and Sheffield cutlery ware etc, either wholesale or retail, with all sort of white or yellow buttons for livery. Likewise hath laid on a fresh stock of fine tea, coffee and chocolate where gentlemen, ladies and others may be accommodated with as large or as small a quantity as they please. NB, during the time of the fair he will sell as cheap and as good as the Londoners, or any fair keepers whatever. Stamford Mercury March 1894 The pleasure fair was in full swing yesterday (Thursday), although tomorrow is the popular day. Several of the attractions were opened on Monday night. About the average amount of ground space has been taken up, but there are more shows than usual, the stalls and bazaars being fewer in number. The novelties this year include two of Edison’s phonographs and two fine circular switchbacks, one of the latter being in the Square and the other in the Sheep-market, and both of them being illuminated by means of the electric light. Other attractions include a ghost show, a large roundabout in the Square, an exhibition of divers at work, and a small menagerie, with a large number of coconut shies, etc. Up to yesterday afternoon the attendance was about the average. Stamford Mercury March 1920 PLEASURE FAIR, - One of the largest in respect of space occupied, the Mid-lent pleasure fairs the main attraction of Stamford and district during the current week. Owing to the wintery weather on Monday the start was delayed, but on Tuesday the visiting showmen and roundabout proprietors were able to complete the erection of their respective stands and that evening the “fun of the fair” was in full swing. The most extensive site in Broad-street is occupied by Thurston’s electrically propelled scenic railway, a highly artistic and attractive erection, and close to are Headley’s interesting show of novelties, and Peter’s collection of living freaks of nature. More stories and a history of Stamford Fairs & Markets by Keith Hansell is available in print. A printed copy can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back THE ARCHIVE OF ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH, STAMFORD John S Hartley 2023 WHEN St Michael’s Church closed in the 1960s, a very large collection of parish books and papers was left in a vestry upstairs at the east end of the south gallery. A large (memory suggests a couple of metres tall, probably a metre and a half wide and perhaps 50cm deep – but memory may exaggerate!) glazed front bookcase contained items like rate books, vestry and poor law minute books. There were also papers and books which had gathered over many years, sermon notes, forms of service for various occasions and such like covered with the dust of ages! There was also a substantial, if not especially old, wooden chest containing several hundred bundles of paper, some neatly wrapped in old sugar paper, most tied up with string. It was clear that many had not been opened since their contents had been gathered rather more than one hundred years earlier. There was the occasional loose item, while some key documents, required for reference, had been saved in separate files. Some of the documents were numbered within bundles. Every year, after accounts had been presented to what is now called the Annual Church Meeting, those parish officers who had been responsible during the previous year collected the vouchers (often receipted bills) which supported their accounts. Members of the parish would have been able to check the vouchers against the account books as one means of proving fraud had not taken place. Once accepted the vouchers would have “become history”, often becoming waste paper unless, perhaps surviving until some energetic soul gathered them into some sort of logical order. Many probably succumbed to the waste paper drives of the Second World War. Amazingly hundreds of so-called vouchers, bills and receipts, with the other papers resulting from parochial administration, survived at St Michael’s from the eighteenth century. Before 1834 parishes acted as the unit of local government dealing with such things as the Poor Law, Workhouses, and Highways as well as all the ecclesiastical matters. So these surviving collected papers of St Michael’s were and are of considerable interest. The documents quoted below give a very small idea of the personal interest and significance of these papers – which were removed from St Michael’s for safe keeping at the Town Hall. Subsequently the parish books have been taken to Lincoln to be stored with the Diocesan Archives – hopefully the other papers are safely there also …. The family name appearing below will be familiar to many Stamfordians. The documents are self-explanatory, showing how people in extreme poverty were helped (perhaps) by the so-called Poor Laws. The first is dated the day before Christmas Eve (shades of Dickens?) REMOVAL ORDER Robert Glen Boughton & Family St Michaels PR 56/12 The Town or Borough of To the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of STAMFORD the Parish of All Saints in the said Borough, and to the in the County of Lincoln. Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Saint Michael there and to each and every of them UPON the Complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of All Saints aforesaid, in the said Borough unto us whose Names are hereunto set and Seals affixed, being two of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the said Borough, and one of us of the Quorum, that Robert Glenn Boughton, Sarah his wife and their four children namely Robert aged nine years Sarah aged seven years Henry aged four years and John aged six months Have come to inhabit in the said Parish of All Saints not gained a legal Settlement there, and that the said [RGB etc] Are now chargeable to the said Parish of All Saints………………… 23 December 1824 Vouchers – 16/49 8 Apr 1826 Boots for Glenn Boughton 16/35 11 May 1826 G Boughton’s rent paid 16/57 23 June 1826 G Boughton’s rent paid 16/21 29 Sept 1826 G Boughton’s rent paid 16/10 18 Jan 1827 G Boughton’s rent paid LETTER FROM ABOVE [spelling etc as in original] Ibid 26A/2 Stamford March 26th 1829 My Good Gentlemen, I sincerely hope and trust that you will pardon the liberty I have taken in troubling you with thease few lines as I can assure you that it is Necessity which compels me so to do. I beg leave to inform you that I am at this time indebted to Mr Robert Hunt the sum of £2 – 10 – 0 for a half years rent which became Due as Yesterday. I have been trying my best endeavours to get the money for him but I find it is impossible to get more than £1 – 5 – 0 of it and unless it is paid this Day me and my family shall be turned into the Streets. I can assure you that in consequence of the severity of the Winter and the Dearness of the Bread me and my family has been almost hined [??pined] and starved out as we have had only Ten Shillings per week to maintain seven of us with and it is constantly cost Seven Shillings per week out of it for Bread alone. Therefore I humbly trust that you will take it into your serious Considerations and Assist me with a trifle in this case and I promise never to trouble you any more and the Goodness shall forever be remembered with thanks and Gratitude by your humble servt. R. Glenn Boughton Thursday Afternoon Vouchers – 48/44 2 Oct 1829 Coffin for Boughton’s child ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE ABOVE Ibid 15/24 Undated but in Overseers Papers for 1833-4 My Good Sir I sincerely hope and trust that you will pardon the liberty I have taken in troubling you with thease few lines as I can Assure you that I am compeld by Necessity so to do. I am compeld to ask the goodness of you to let me have a trifle towards buying a pare of Shoes as I can Assure you that I am at this time quite bare foot so bad that I can scarce get to my work. I realy whould not have applied to you but my Family being so large and my Wages so very small I realy have it not in my power to get them. I have been measured for a pare at mr Spademans this month past which is to be twelve shillings. Therefore if you will take it into your consideration and assist me with a trifle for them I shall be very thankfull, and remain Yours &c Hunts Yard Robert Glenn Boughton You might ask many questions about these letters – could Boughton write or did somebody write these appeals for him? Did he really have to move from All Saints parish to St Michael’s? 70% of income spent on bread? What more do we know about Broughton and his family? But whatever the case may be – there were other letters among St Michael’s papers like these, many much older. And hundreds of bills and receipts also. It remains for someone to look at what was happening in each of the parishes in the town (not forgetting across the county boundary into St Martin’s). Poor Law studies, about its administration, used to be popular – but each parish had its own peculiar story to tell about, largely totally forgotten now. John S Hartley A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

Are you looking for local history books? The Stamford Local History Society may be able to help you find the publication you are looking for. View a list of our books here and contact us today. BOOKS Several books have been published by members and former members of SLHS. Other books are listed here that relate to Stamford. Most are held at Stamford Library, and some are still available from local bookshops, Amazon or other retail outlets, whilst others may be out of print. If you have difficulty in obtaining a copy you require please CONTACT us as we may be able to help. The Harrison & Dunn Story A History and Memoir Michael Lee Book Design ISBN 9781036911416 William Stukeley's Stamford A selection of drawings from Stukeley's Designs of Stamford Antiquitys John F H Smith FSA Spiegal Press Ltd ISBN Courts, Yards and Terraces The Other Face of Stamford Keith Hansell and Philippa Massey Book Printing UK ISBN Stamford Assets A Catalogue of Newcomb Family Property John Daffurn Eptex ISBN 9780993147951 Stukeley and Stamford, Part 2 Tribulations of an Antiquarian Clergyman, 1730-1738 Edited by John F H Smith The Lincoln Record Society ISBN 9781910653104 George Glover (1812-1890): the unfulfilled potential of a Victorian architect The designer of Rock House and Terrace John Daffurn Eptex, 2022 ISBN 9780993147937 Grey Friars or White Friars? In Search of Stamford's Friaries Linda Ball Chalybeate Books ISBN 9781527285927 Stamford Fairs and Markets Origins of the Stamford Mid-Lent Fair Keith Hansell Hansell, 2021 ISBN 9781399911283 Stukeley and Stamford, Part 1 Cakes and Curiosity: the Sociable Antiquarian, 1710-1737 Diana and Michael Honeybone Lincoln Record Society ISBN 9781910653074 Stamford Tenants A history of Rock Terrace and its occupants John Daffurn Eptex, 2020 ISBN 9780993147920 William Cecil's Survey of Stamford A Town in Turmoil Alan Rogers Abramis, 2020 ISBN 9781845497699 Stamford History Tours Christopher Davies Amberley, 2019 ISBN 9781445659305 A-Z of Stamford: Places-People-History Christopher Davies Amberley, 2019 ISBN 9781445685298 Newstead by Stamford Priory A small but important house of Austin canons N J Sheehan Sheehan, 2018 ISBN 9780957503854 Stamford in 50 Buildings Celebrating 50 years of a conservation town Christopher Davies Amberley, 2017 ISBN 9781445672823 The Story of Stamford Hospital As told in the 19th, 20th & 21st centuries Friend of Stamford Hospital Spiegl Press, 2016 ISBN 9781526204042 Uffington in the County of Lincolnshire In-depth account of one of Stamford's neighbouring villages N J Sheehan Sheehan, 2014, 2019 ISBN 9780957503861 Guild, Hospital and Aldermen N Hill & A Rogers Abramis, 2013 ISBN 9781845495824 The Wardens: Managing a late Medieval Hospital Browne's Hospital, Stamford, 1495-1518 Alan Rogers (ed) Abramis, 2013 ISBN 9781845495992 People and Property in Medieval Stamford Alan Rogers (ed) Abramis, 2012 ISBN 9781845495480 Noble Merchant: William Browne Alan Rogers Abramis, 2012 ISBN 9781845495503 Stamford University: the stuttering dream The story of Stamford's repeated attempts to become a university town N J Sheehan Speigl Press, 2012 ISBN 9780993147920 The Act Book of St Katherine's Guild Stamford, 1480-1534 Alan Rogers (ed) Abramis, 2011 ISBN 9781845495091 Stamford Through Time Christopher Davies Amberley, 2010 ISBN 9781848684812 In Search of Daniel Lambert A winter talk for Stamford Museum at Stamford Theatre 5 March 2009 Philippa Massey Stamford Museum ISBN The Stamford Volunteer Rifle Corps David Nalson Stamford Museum, 2008 ISBN Ploughs, Chaff Cutters & Steam Engines Various authors Ed Ken Redmore Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology 2007 ISBN 903582309 Stamford Pubs and Breweries A history of the drink trade in Stamford Martin Smith Spiegl Press, 2006 ISBN William Browne's Town The Stamford Hall Book, Vol. 1, 1465-1492 Alan Rogers (ed) Stamford Survey Group, 2005 ISBN 9780950283210 Stamford Past Up-to-date modern account of Stamford's colourful past. Rich with images. Christopher Davies Phillimore, 2002 ISBN 1860772285 The Story of Stamford Stamford History Martin Smith Martin Smith & Walkers Books 2000 ISBN 1899141006 Stamford in Lincolnshire A collection of early Stamford photographs Chris Hunt Spiegl Press, 1985 ISBN Pick of Stamford History of the Pick Motor Company Michael Key Paul Watkins. 1994 ISBN 9781871615531 Stamford and the Civil War Civil War History Christopher Davies Paul Watkins, 1992 ISBN 9781871615296 Stamford Then & Now Chronicle of Architectural & Social Change Martin Smith Paul Watkins, Stamford 1992 ISBN 1871615364 A Century of Stamford Coachbuilding Coach & Wagon building Michael Key Paul Watkins, Stamford 1990 ISBN 1871615747 Stamford Memories Life in a country town during the 1930s and the 1940s Betty Clark Licolnshire Books ISBN The Book of Stamford Alan Rogers Barracuda Books, 1983 ISBN 9780860231233 A Short History of the Stamford and Rutland Hospital J Quinlan & A Rogers The Friends of Stamford Hospital, 1978 ISBN The Religious Foundations of Medieval Stamford The Religious Foundations of Medieval Stamford J S Hartley & A Rogers Univerity of Nottingham, 1974 ISBN 902031295 A History of Lincolnshire Alan Rogers Darwen Finlayson, 1970 ISBN 852080603 The Medieval Buildings of Stamford Alan Rogers Univerity of Nottingham, 1970 ISBN 902031023 The Making of Stamford Alan Rogers (ed) Leic. Uni. Press, 1965 ISBN 9780718510503

< Back Drowning on Broad Street Chris Hunt 2017 CORONERS INQUEST (JUNE 1ST 1839) LANDLADY OF THE BLACK SWAN On Saturday last an inquest was held by John Torkington, Gent., coroner for the borough of Stamford, on the body of Mrs. Sarah Dalton, widow, aged 76, landlady of the Black Swan Inn, who left the bar between 11 and 12 o’clock on the previous night, saying that she was going to bed. One of her daughters shortly after went upstairs, and returned to the bar, stating that her mother was not in bed, which excited surprise. The deceased was afterwards found floating on the water in a large cistern in the cellar, with her face downwards. It was stated that the butter and eggs were kept in a cupboard above the steps leading into the cellar, where the deceased had been in the habit of going for those articles for herself, she having frequently had a poached egg for her supper; there being no evidence, however to show positively for what purpose she went into the cellar on that night, a general verdict was returned of “found drowned”. Article appeared in the The Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury , on Friday June 7th 1839 p3c2 Note. The Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre (Broad Street) stands on the site of the Black Swan Inn and some of the cellars of the Inn are part of its basement area. Part of the Black Swan Inn can be seen in the late 18th century Bull Running painting which hangs in Stamford Town Hall. A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

Contact The Stamford Local History Society - we share a keen interest in all things historical in and around Stamford, Lincolnshire. CONTACT This page provides a contact form for messages and enquiries. Below it are directions to the location of our talks and meetings. Send us a message and we’ll get back to you shortly. Email Your location Your message Send Thanks for submitting! How to find us Our meetings are held at: Barn Hill Methodist Church, Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE. From September to June members or guest speakers give a range of talks, usually on the first Thursday of each month. Access is via the front door of the Methodist Church on Barn Hill and the covered walkway from Barn Hill or from North Street, which is also a wheelchair friendly entrance. Talks start at 7.30pm with complimentary refreshments served from 7pm. Entry is £2 for members and £5 for non-members , payable at the door.

< Back Recreation Ground Bandstand Chris Hunt 2021 OPENING CEREMONY PERFORMED BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR For months past the work of improving the north portion of the Recreation Ground almost out of recognition has gone steadily forward. Although at the outset the scheme, which owes its inception to Councillor T.S.Duncomb, the then Mayor, was received with some divergence of opinion, it is indisputable that the appearance of the grounds has been considerably smartened. Above the rail fence which now divides the wide expanse of grass are a bowling green, and spaces to be devoted to tennis courts, croquet lawns, and quoit beds. Along winding grass-bordered paths one passes beds of shrubs and flowers, whilst scores of trees have been added. In time to come these will provide grateful summer shade for the occupants of the many conveniently placed seats. The crowning glory of the scheme is the new bandstand, in all its bravery of white and green, surrounded by a wide circle of gravel walk. A neat plate records the fact that it was erected by public subscription. This prettily designed structure was the scene of Thursday evening’s (July 14th 1910) interesting ceremony, Councillor Duncomb, in the presence of a large gathering, formally opening the bandstand and grounds. The bandstand was designed by Messrs. J.B.Corby and Son, architects, All Saints’ Place, and erected by Mr Woolston. It was originally intended, if funds had allowed, to erect a more pretentious ornamental structure, including a basement below the ground for storage of chairs, also screens for the bandsmen, and other improvements. The tenders, however, came to considerably more than the promoters had in hand, so the architects modified the scheme and cut down the ornamentation to meet it. Several gentlemen made gifts of various parts of the structure and thus enabled the stand to be erected for very much less than would otherwise have been the case, those contributing being Messrs. Miles, Williamson, Cliff, and Co., Mr T.S.Duncomb, Mr J.Woolston, and others. The dimensions of the stand, which is octagonal, are 19 feet across and two feet from the ground to floor line and twelve feet from floor to ceiling; the total height from ground (including vane) is 33 feet. The base is built of brickwork, faced with local freestone, on cement concrete foundations; the floor is cement concrete finished smooth. The eight posts of chestnut, having moulded bases, caps, and necking, are dowelled to the concrete angles and held in position with bolts to the roof framing. The ceiling is in match boarded panels with mould around. The main bearers are moulded and supported around each post by ornamental cut brackets in which can be seen the initial “S” (Stamford). The roof is covered with buff roofing tiles, the whole being surmounted by an ornamental weather vane, presented by the Ex-Mayor, finished on roof with bossed and dressed leadwork. The enclosure to the stand is formed by moulded rails and sills filled in with square balusters, with gate on south side to match, having an approach of three York steps. At the south east angle is the foundation stone, to which is affixed an engraved brass plate having the Borough Arms and “A.D. 1909. Erected by public subscription, T.S.Duncomb, Mayor.” A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back Sufferings of the Early Quaker Community in Stamford Chris Hunt 2023 Hidden amongst Quarter Sessions Records are cases against the non-conformist religious communities between 1662 and 1689. With the restoration of Charles II, Parliament introduced a number of Bills which when enacted allowed the courts to challenged the rights of religious dissenters. The established Church saw the Quakers as a challenge, not just a threat to their religious primacy, but also due to their refusal to pay tithes and ecclesiastical taxes. Starting with the Quaker Act in 1662 and the Conventicle Act in 1664, there began a period of official persecution in England and Wales. The persecution of Dissenters was relaxed after the Declaration of Indulgence in 1687 and 1688, and finally stopped under the Act of Toleration in 1689. Unfortunately, the Stamford Quarter Sessions records from the 17th century which have survived suffer from water damage that make them in most cases unreadable. However, Joseph Besse, published in 1753 a detailed nationwide account, entitled, ‘A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers’. This work has been re-published in recent years, understand the title of the ‘Sufferings of Early Quakers’. Within it are recorded two entries for Stamford. ANNO 1682 In November was a Meeting at a Place called St. Martin’s belonging to the Town of Stamford; to which came an Informer named Hawkins, of Market Deeping, and another Person whom he had hired to assist him. These brought with them some Parish Officers, and without producing any Warrant carried those that were met before a Justice, and made Oath, that William Collington, of Stamford, preaching in that Meeting, when indeed he had not, but the Meeting was held throughout in Silence: However the Justice certified the Mayor of Stamford according to the Information sworn before him, whereupon the Goods of the said William Collington were seized to the value of £20. ANNO 1683 Jane Redsmith, a poor Widow, for a Meeting at her House in Stamford, had all her Goods in Stamford, had all her Goods taken from her to the Value of £10 0s 0d. Taken also from William Collington and Elizabeth Moll, for being at the same Meeting, Goods worth 15s 0d. Are there any other Court Cases? Clearly until the damaged rolls are restored these two entries remain our only court records to the Quakers in Stamford in the 1680s. Chris Hunt (February 2023) A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back Terricus of Cologne Prof Alan Rogers 2012 The following notes on Terricus of Cologne were supplied by Professor Alan Rogers. STAMFORD in the thirteenth century was at the height of its greatness – the site of one of England’s greatest international fairs at which the debts incurred by overseas and English merchants were settled, as well as the home to two main industries, pottery making (which was beginning to decline) and the manufacture of woollen cloth. As one of Europe’s largest commercial centres, Stamford attracted many alien merchants from Italy, Germany and the Low Countries, as well as a large Jewish community with their own synagogue. Some of these alien merchants of Stamford, (for example, Eustace Malherbe from the Low Countries whose tombstone survives in St Paul’s church, Stamford) have attracted the attention of medieval historians. Among these is Terricus of Cologne or Terricus the German . A recent study of his life (Huffman 1998) helps us to throw some light on his career and to distinguish him from another merchant of the same name. For there were two men called Terricus Teutonicus in England at the time; one is known from 1199 and died in 1223, very rich in the king’s service (see Victoria County History, Hampshire , vol. iv p136). This is not the Stamford man who died some 25 years later. This Terricus Teutonicus (Dietrich the German) of Cologne was also known as Terricus of Stamford. He was burgess of Stamford known from 1217; he acted as party and as witness to a number of local property transactions. Unusually he left a lengthy roll listing his properties and business connections survives in the Public Record Office of The National Archive, presumably because of the forfeiture mentioned below; we do not have many such lists from laymen at this time. In 1218, he was called cambiator Regis Anglie (the king of England’s money changer, i.e. banker). He had a base in London where (in 1234) he had a large wine cellar. He is known to have been in the service of the king with shipments of trade, providing credit facilities, and sent on diplomatic missions; he was the royal bailiff of Stamford fair (one of the largest and richest international fairs in the country) and he was the largest distributor of cloth at the fair. He exported wool through Lynn and Boston. One interesting feature of this period of Stamford’s history is the way in which the alien merchants and the Jews were integrated into their English context. There is a good deal of evidence that they lived together and indeed intermarried relatively harmoniously – although the Jews did attract some hostility from time to time. It is known, for example, that some Jews gave money to the church for prayers for their souls after their death. They worked closely alongside their English fellow merchants. Terricus is an example: His wife was Beatrice; Juliana his daughter married William (de) Tickencote of Stamford, a member of the leading family in the town (William de Tickencote from 1240 to 1253 led a group of merchants in leasing the town from the king, see David Roffe Stamford in the Thirteenth Century 1994 p 30); and his son Walter became a priest in England. Terricus Teutonicus of Stamford died in or about 1247. His estates were frozen soon after his death between 1249 and 1255, which probably accounts for the survival of his cartulary roll among the records of the Exchequer (PRO, E328/16/1). In February 1253, a messuage (property) in the town was held half by William de Tickencote and Juliana his wife and half by Beatrice the widow of Terricus; but because its landlord was Cok the Jew, this messuage came to the king, for the property of Jews who died without legal heir was forfeited to the king. Cok the Jew died without known heirs, and so his property came to the king. In 1255, Terricus’s property was granted to a servant of Richard earl of Cornwall ( Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III 1251-53 p.451;1253-54 p 19). Based on J P Huffman Family, Commerce and Religion in London and Cologne Cambridge 1998 pp180-189. The roll which Terricus left and some of his other property dealings are calendared in Alan Rogers (ed) People and Property in Medieval Stamford: a catalogue of title deeds from the twelfth century to 1547 , arima and Stamford Survey Group, 2012) A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

< Back Window Tax Professor Alan Rogers 2018 Window Tax was imposed by Parliament in 1696, replacing the Hearth Tax, to help meet the cost of reminting the damaged coinage. After 1792 houses with between 7 and 9 windows were taxed at 2 shillings, and from 10 to 19 windows at 4 shillings. In 1825 houses with less than 8 windows were exempt. The tax was finaly abolished in 1851. The following extract is taken from a volume in the British Library entitled: 'Cases which have been determined by the JUDGES relative to the DUTIES on Houses and Windows and on Inhabited Houses'. Printed in the year MDCCLXXXII. For ease of reading a modern typeface has been used but the original capitalisation and punctuation have been preserved. CASE concerning a Surcharge made by the Surveyor of Windows Borough of Stamford Mr Howgrave was appointed Surveyor in 1762, and immediately after made a very diligent Survey in the Borough of Stamford, where he found several Houses undercharged, and the Commissioners allowed his several Surcharges; but Mr Howgrave having made a Charge of One Pound Ten Shillings upon the House inhabited by the Gaoler of this Corporation, for Eighteen Windows therein contained, Simon Peter Martin, the Gaoler appeared before the acting Commissioners on the 28th day of August last, and appealed to the Surcharge, which the Commissioners thought ought not to be in Charge, and determined in Favour of the Appellant. Upon which the Surveyor declaring himself dissatisfied, and requiring a Case to be specially stated according to the Direction of the Act of Twenty-first of his late Majesty King George the Second; the same is stated, as it appeared to the Commissioners to be as follows. The Gaol, which is very ancient, belongs to the Corporation of Stamford, by Grant from the Crown. The Appellant has been Gaoler of the Borough of Stamford above Thirty-two Years last past, and never paid Window Tax, Land Tax, Highway Assessment, Church or Poor’s Rates whatsoever, for, or in Respect of the Gaol, or his Dwelling house, The Appellant’s Predecessors never paid any of the Taxes or Rates above mentioned. 21st Sept. 1762 Thomas Taylor, Mayor John Exton, Alderman, Barnaby Turner, Francis Moore, Alderman 6th July 1767 We are of Opinion, That the Determination of the Commissioners is wrong. Mansfield E. Wilmot E. Clive Rich. Adams J. Yates J. Hewitt Middlesex A print version can be downloaded HERE Previous Next

Burghley House Tea Ware BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Burghley House Tea Ware Tourism is not a modern phenomenon and neither is the collecting of holiday knickknacks. Guide books printed in 1797 and 1815 to Burghley House and subsequent guides have been on sale to this day. Victorian china tea ware fairings were produced with images of Burghley House, mostly by German manufacturers, of a poor standard and for show only! These items date from between 1891 and 1914. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next