The political influencers of Stamford were trying to get agreement from the Marquis of Exeter to allow the railway by coming up with a compromise, but would that compromise be acceptable?
“The particulars of the re-election of Sir Geo. Clerk as a representative for Stamford will be found in our fourth page. One good result from what occurred on his convass, at the hustings, and after his election, was the Hon Baronet’s thorough conviction that he must never more show his face in Stamford if the Marquis of Exeter should require him to oppose the Syston and Peterboro’ railway in parliament, or have been in consequence of this new light, that, soon after Sir George Clerk descended from his ‘chairing carriage’ at the hotel, he caused a message to be conveyed to Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Ellise, the engineer and the vice-chairman of the Midland Counties Company, (who had been denied the opportunity of speaking at the hustings on the railway subject, because they were not electors of Stamford.) to the effect that he entertained a hope that a compromise might be effected, and that both he (Sir George) and the Marquis of Exeter might be induced to support in Parliament the measure of a railway which should have a station within the borough. For this concession, it was pointed out that the line must enter the town on the south side of the river, & through a tunnel to pass under the street of St. Martin’s, commencing at a short distance from Nun’s Farm (after passing across the meadows from the north-west), and emerging near the Union-house on the Barnack road, so at totally to avoid the bridge and passing over the turnpike on a level. – The propostion was favorably entertained by the gentlemen connected with the railway, who expresses themselves desirous of conciliating Lord Exeter, if they could do so with safety to their measure, and without foregoing the advantage of their parliamentary notices. It would be necessary that written consents of all persons whose properties would be affected by the change, (and particularly by the tunnelling under many houses in St. Martin’s,) should be delivered to them by the agents of the Marquis, so that no delay in executing the railway might arise, – and then they would endeavour to do what he desired, and keep the line on the south side of the water. They would also make the George inn and premises the site of a first-class station, and rebuild the bridge, in such a style as should make it equal to the vast traffic which would have to pass over it.- Thus matters, we understand, remain at present, with every prospect of an amicable adjustment; by which Lord Exeter will keep the advantages of the improvement that may be expected to result from the railway, on his own property, instead of permitting them to go to the estate of Earl Bownlow, which would have been the case had the railway station been on the north side of the Welland.”
The Stamford Mercury, 14th February, 1845.