In a letter complaining about Stamford clocks and time keeping, a grazier (not Mr. A. Grazier!) points the finger at political influence. He is probably referring to the 2nd Marquis of Exeter. He was to become a controversial figure in the town later on, by interfering in the route of the railway through Stamford and charging tolls to cross the new town bridge.
Mr. Editor, – Attending the fair here to-day (Wednesday), it would have been useful to me to know how time got on, and I tried at all the public clocks which I had occasion to pass to make this important discovery: judge of my surprise when I found that St. Mary’s had stopped for three weeks, – that St. Michael’s clock, according to the dial, was an hour too slow, – that the Bedehouse clock (like St Mary’s) had stopped, – and that All Saints’ clock was, at it long had been, quite unintelligible from want of a fresh painting of the face. – These, I presume, be the signs of the Tory influence in your borough: some folk think there is nothing like keeping people in ignorance, – and that the only information given should be with the view of enabling the rich and arrogant to intimidate the poor and independent. – Things are managed better at Deeping, as I found after quitting Stamford for that place: a desire is there shown to afford conveniences to the public, and it may always be seen what time of day it is. The sages of Stamford who drove away the fairs, seem to be keeping up their title for wisdom.
Nov 9, 1836 A GRAZIER.
The Stamford Mercury, 11th November, 1836.