The End of the Stamford Bull Run

In 1838, the magistrates having received a peremptory mandate from Lord John Russell, for the suppression of the Bull-running, part of a troop of the 14^th Light Dragoons, from Northampton, under the command of Captain Harvey, and a detachment of the metropolitan police, arrived on the 10^th of November. The Dragoons were quartered in Saint Martin’s, Stamford Baron, in Northampton, with orders not to pass the bridge. The town and neighbourhood were in a state of great excitement on Sunday and Monday. The only two bulls in the town, one belonging to Mr. Roberts, at the Horns Inn, and the other the property of Mr. J. Smith, farmer, Scotgate, were secured by the police in the Hotel stables.

On Monday night, special constables were placed at every entrance to the town to prevent the arrival of any bull. On the morning of the 13^th, the people congregated in large bodies, and chance threw a bull in their way. A covered cart passed through the town at twelve o’ clock, containing a young bull, the property of Earl Spencer, from his seat at Wiseton, near Bawtry.

The bullards took possession of the cart in Saint Martin’s, where the bull was let out, and immediately ran down Saint Martin’s and over the bridge into Stamford. At the bridge the police formed themselves in line and made an attack on the people, to stop the bull, but it was useless: the bull passed on up Saint Mary’s-hill to Saint Geroge’s square, down High-street, Scotgate, Saint Peter’s-hill, and into the bull-meadow, where he was taken by the police, and escorted by the dragoons to the Bull and Swan, and given up to his conductor.

The people passed into the back way of Saint Martin’s, near the Sun, where an attack was made on the military with stones and brickbats, principally from women and children; and an industrious harmless man named Nathaniel Pollard, who, whist returning from his work, was wounded on the head by the Sergeant major, and several people were hurt by the police.

The military after leaving a guard at the Bull and Swan, drew up opposite to Saint Martin’s church and charged their carbines with ball bearings: they then marched through the streets and the mob quietly dispersed.

At the following Borough Quarter Sessions in January, 1839, James Woodall, Octavious Snary, John Kisbee, and William Pollard, were indicted for riotously assembling with sticks and staves and breaking the peace by running a bull calf: Pollard was further indicted for throwing a stone at Robert Seal, a Sergeant-major in the 14^th Light Dragoons. The solicitors were, - Mr. N. Wilkinson, of Peterborough, for the prosecution, and Messrs. Thompson and Son, Stamford, for the defendants. After considering for a few minutes, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

In 1839, notwithstanding the precautionary measures adopted by the Magistrates under the direction of the Secretary of State, - the introduction of military and a London police force, - the appointment of special constables, - and the establishment of mounted scouts to perambulate the open fields, - the bullards on Wednesday, November 13^th, contrived to introduce a bull into the town, though only for a very short time. Captain Bell with 43 of the 5^th Dragoon Guards from Nottingham, and Inspector Pearce with 20 of the London police force, arrived in Stamford on Monday.

Photograph taken of a picture in the Mayors Parlour, Stamford Town Hall.

On Tuesday, Francis Butt, Esq. (the Mayor), with W. Hunt, J Roden, and R. Hunt, Esqs., Magistrates, swore in 90 special constables, and adopted every arrangement calculated to carry into effect the commands of Lord Normanby for the suppression of the bill-running. In the evening of Tuesday the metropolitan and the borough police took charge of the bulls of Mr. Smith of Scotgate, and Mr. Roberts of the Horns, and whilst they were conveying the animals down Ironmonger-street, they were assailed by a mob with paving stones: the promptitude and firmness of the police force, however, suppressed the riot at the expense of a few broken pates from their staves, and the bulls were locked up in a stable at the Hotel, and the following instructions were given to the constables.

“Special Constables, when called out, have all the powers which belong to a Constable throughout the whole Jurisdiction for which the appointment is made.

“They are each subject to a Penalty of £5. For neglect or refusal to serve, or to obey lawful orders for performance of the duties of office.

“Any person assaulting or resisting a Special Constable whilst in execution of his office, or promoting or encouraging any other person so to do, is liable to a penalty of £20., or to be indicted for the offence.

“The following arrangements have been made for to-morrow (Wednesday).

“Horsemen are appointed to preamble the Fields.

“Special Constables appointed to guard the entrances of the town, 87.-Messengers, 3.-Metropolitan Police at Town-hall.

“Town police to perambulate the streets, and communicate with the magistrates at the Town-hall, every hour or oftener if necessary.

“In case a Bull should appear to be run, or a riot take place, the whole of the Constabulary force immediately to fall in and concentrate and assist in suppressing the disorder, and in apprehending offenders.

On Wednesday morning, at seven o’ clock, a horse patrol was placed in every direction at about the distance of a mile from the town, with orders to give instant notice in the event of any beast approaching towards Stamford. The Mayor and magistrates assembled at the Town-hall at eight o’ clock. -

The soldiers also mounted guard at the George Inn, at the same hour. Parties now beginning to congregate in the streets, the magistrates issued the following order: -

“Town-hall, Stamford. Wednesday, 13^th November, 1839.

“The magistrates have directed that there should be no congregation or assemblage of persons in the streets; and the constables have strict orders to prevent any such occurrence. - By order, “Nath. Farrant, Clerk to the Magistrates”

Everything remained tolerably quiet until between one and two o’ clock, when the cry of “the bull” was raised, and it was found that, in spite of the precautions adopted, a young bull, having a direction tied on it “for Stamford” – had been brought into the town from the fields North of Scotgate, was “run” across that street, up to Rutland Terrace, thence down Well-lane, and along Bath-row, to the Lammas bridge, where the water was very much out.

Through the negligence, it is said, of some of the special constables – none of whom communicated to the Magistrates, as they had been directed to do, the circumstances of a bull’s having entered the town – the animal remained for some minutes about Lammas bridge; but as soon as the Magistrates became acquainted with the fact, Mr Reed (chief constable) and the borough police, with Superintendent Pearce and ten of the metropolitan force, proceeded to rescue the bull. This was not accomplished, however, until they had reached a distance of two miles from Stamford, near Tolethorpe, where the animal was found in the middle of the river, surrounded by several hundred people.

Possession of the bull was immediately taken by the police, who proceeded to drive him towards Stamford, followed by the whole assemblage, with shouts and execrations. On nearing the town, the mob considerably increased, and symptoms of an attempting rescue becoming evident, a messenger was despatched for the remainder of the police force, and subsequently for the military, who arrived apparently in the exact point of time to prevent violence from the crowd, which now amounted to three or four thousand.

Photograph taken of a picture in the Mayors Parlour, Stamford Town Hall.

Stones were thrown at the police, and some severe blows given and received, when the appearance of F. Butt, Esq., Mayor, who headed the military, quieted these symptoms, and the bull was conduced into the town, between two files of dragoons, accompanied by the police, and followed by the many thousands who had further attempts at violence. collected, with shouts, but with no further attempts at violence.

Photograph taken of a picture in the Mayors Parlour, Stamford Town Hall.

The animal was then taken into the Hotel stables and secured, after which the mob dispersed, and the military and police withdrew. While the bull was being secured as above in the Hotel stables, an attempt was made by an individual to let loose another animal secured in the same place, by withdrawing the staples of the stable door, but he was fortunately observed by the police.

The magistrates remained at the town-hall until a late hour, and the military and police were on duty till 10 o’ clock, when the town appearing perfectly quiet they retired, and no further commotion took place. The military remained in Stamford until the 15^th and the metropolitan police, after a few days, returned. The bull was claimed by Mr. Clement Bland, of Frith Lodge, who declared it to have been taken by violence from his premises, but by parties unknown. – On the dismissal of the military, the Mayor presented Captain Bell, in the names of himself and the other authorities, their thanks for his attention and zealous discharge of duty.

SOURCE

CHRONOLOGY OF STAMFORD BY GEORGE BURTON, 1846, PAGES 60 TO 65, PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY ROBERT BAGLEY

Note: - The Stamford bull baiting and run was held on St Brice’s day the 13^th November for about 600 years until it was effectively supressed in 1839.

A print copy can be downloaded HERE