Author: secretary

A witness tells of the phenomenon of an eight-year old boy who appeared able to see objects behind his back. The mention of Mr. Irving refers to the Reverend Edward Irving, the man behind the founding of the Catholic Apostolic Church, whose great eloquence made him a popular speaker of the time.

“On Tuesday, we visited the Eqyptian-hall, Piccadilly, induced by the published account of ‘The astonishing powers of Master McKean, only eight years old, one of the greatest prodigies of the age, just arrived in London from the Highlands of Scotland, and now exhibiting at the Egyptian-hall Bazaar.’ We there found a boy about the age mentioned, and without any thing extraordinary in his appearance, and a numerous company of ladies and gentlemen assembled to witness his performance, in which he was assisted by his father, and which evidently excited the very highest degree of wonder. It would be impossible to make room for any particular description of the various performances that were exhibited. A brief sketch of a few may serve to give some idea of what, in a different age of the world, would certainly be deemed supernatural. The child or phenomenon stood at a chair in a corner of the room, with his back turned to the company, and on a schoolboy’s slate, which answered for a plate, collected from the company any thing they chose to put on. Some put money – some a trinket – some a button, and some a glove. The father then took the articles severally in his hand, calling on the phenomenon to describe each, which he did, or appeared to do, in the minutest particular; and even when an attempt was made to mislead him, he instantly detected it. for instance, the father took a glove from the plate, saying, declare what piece of money I have taken up? – It’s not money. What is it? – A glove. What colour is it? – Black. What hand is it for? – The left hand. All answers perfectly correct. Another instance:-What have I taken up now? – Money. What coin? – Half a crown. What King’s reign? – George the Fourth. What year? – 1824. All perfectly correct. There was coin of various dates, and some of the reign of George the Third and William the Fourth, but he never made any mistake. The father asked some of the company to write their names on a slate. A lady and two gentlemen did so. We can answer for it there was no collusion in one of the names, and we are not less certain of the others. They were all called over by the phenomenon in the order they were written, without a moment’s hesitation. – We shall mention by one wonder more. The phenomenon was lead out of the room, and door closed; his father then stood at the opposite side of the room, and called upon any of the company who chose to go to him, and whisper to him to him in the lowest possible voice. Three gentlemen did so. There could certainly be no collusion – one of the gentlemen was one of the most distinguished barristers at the bar. The phenomenon was brought into the room, and after taking his post at the chair, with his back to the company, was asked what the first gentleman said, what the second said, and what the third? They all declared the answers to be true to the letter. We doubt whether the gift of tongues excited more wonder amongst Mr. Irving’s congregation, than the performances, of which we have mentioned but a part, excited amongst those who witnessed them, though in justice to ourselves we must say that we by no means intend to confound Mr. McKean, who makes no pretensions to supernatural gifts, with the pretenders of the Caledonian chapel – Morning Advertiser.”

The Stamford Mercury, 11th November, 1831.

Were these corpse-stealers the notorious ‘London Burkers’ (named after Burke and Hare)? Their discovery in 1831 brought about an Act of Parliament which allowed anatomists to use dead bodies from the workhouse for their research

“On Sunday morning, between three and four o’clock, a gang of corpse-stealers, in the employ of the anatomical lecturers, contrived to get possession of three dead bodies which had been placed in the bone-house of St. Sepulchre’s work-house, preparatory to interment. They were stopped by the watchmen in West-street, Smithfield, and a sort of general battle took place between the guardians of the night and the corpse-stealers, which ended in the capture of three of them; but in the mean time the rest of the gang succeeded in carrying off the dead bodies. Among those who came to the assistance of the watchmen were a number of Irishmen, who happened to be just then engaged in waking a dead friend of their’s (sic) in a garret near the scene of action. The battle over, they returned to finish their ‘Wake,’ but to their utter astonishment they found the room in darkness and their deceased friend missing. A loud and piercing howl instantly arose; and, again rushing forth, a party of them overtook their dead companion in Fox and Knot-court, in the possession of some of the corpse-stealers. A second fight took place, and eventually the Irishmen regained possession of the corpse an carried it back in triumph to its garret.”

The Stamford Mercury, 23rd September, 1831.

A theft of many silver items from a Stamford House caused the Stamford Association for prosecuting Robbers to place an advert offering huge rewards for information. This was well before the Metropolitan Police force was formed by Sir Robert Peel in 1829. County Police forces were not formed until 1839/40. But quite why Mr. Robinson was hoarding such a huge number of counterfeit halfpennies (between 1200 and 1440 coins), is unclear!

“STAMFORD ASSOCIAITION for prosecuting Robbers, &c. November 29th, 1783.

Whereas the Dwelling-House of Mr. JOSEPH ROBINSON, in Stamford, situate in St. Michael’s Parish, was last Night Broke Open and the following Articles stole:

One Silver Half Pint Mug, very old, plain; a Silver Cream Jug, mark’d E W on one side of the Feet, also plain; Five Silver Tea Spoons, mark’d S R; and Two old plated Butter Boats.

Also from the Counting-House, between Fifty and Sixty Shillings in Halfpence, chiefly counterfeited, and One Shilling. W. G. with a date engraved thereon, and in a canvas Purse a small enamelled Snuff Box, a Penknife Tortoiseshell hafted, and Two Steel Watch Chains, all new; One Guinea and an Half in Gold, and about Six Shillings and Six pence in Silver.

> An old Chissel, with a Deal Handle, newly and badly put on, was found in the Counting House and seems to have been used in forcing the Lock.

If any Person will give information of the Offender or Offenders, so that they may be convicted of Burglary, shall receive from Mr. Thomas Smith, the Treasurer of this Society, FIVE GUINEAS, and from Mr. Robinson TEN GUINEAS, over and above the Reward of FORTY POUNDS offered by Act of Parliament, and all reasonable Expenses.”

The Stamford Mercury, 4th December, 1783.

The Prince Regent (the future George IV) had a busy Christmas Schedule in 1813 which included visiting many of the great castles, halls and other noble seats in our area.

“The Prince Regent. – On the subject of the Prince Regent’s visit to this part of the country we copy the subjoined paragraph from the Courier of Wednesday. His Royal Highness’s horses left town on Monday, and were expected to reach Cottesmore last night:-

‘On Friday, the Prince Regent proceeds to Windsor to be present at the Confirmation of the Princess Charlotte of Wales, by the Archibishop of Canterbury. On Saturday, his Royal Highness dines with her Majesty, and returns to town on Sunday. On Monday his Royal Highness leave town for Hatfield-house, the seat of the Marquis of Salisbury; from thence he goes to the Earl of Westmoreland’s; and next to the Earl of Lonsdales’s, at Cottesmore, where his Royal Highness will remain two days. From Lord Lonsdale’s he goes to Belvoir Castle, to the christening of the Marquis of Granby, for whom his Royal Highness stands sponsor with the Duke of York. He proceeds from Belvoir Castle to Brocket Hall, where his Royal Highness will honor Lord Melburne with a visit. From Brocket Hall her returns to town. His Royal Highness’s tour will occupy the time between Monday and the 13th of next month, on which day, the day appointed for a General Thanksgiving*, his Royal Highness will be in town.

The Prince Regent will receive addresses on the prosperous state of Continental affairs from Leicester, Grantham, and other Corporations, during his stay at Belvoir Castle.”

The Stamford Mercury, 24th December, 1813.

*We assume this ‘General Thanksgiving’ was in recognition of the many victories over the French in 1813, although the Napoleonic Wars did not end until the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

A goose – along with lots of other things! This bird must have been quite large to accommodate the number of items (some quite sizeable) that the recipient found inside his Christmas present.

“The other day a laughable circumstance occurred at Barnsley, at the cottage of a labouring man names, Gibbins. A relation of Gibbins, who lives in Manchester, sent him a goose: its appearance led Gibbins to believe that Goosy was ready for the spit. After it had hang before the fire about 20 minutes, a neighbour of Gibbins popped in to have a peep at his present, who soon discovered by the appearance of the gravy that all was snot right. Gibbins, who had not previously observed it, was struck with the same impression, and had it immediately taken away from the fire and opened, when the following articles were found inside the goose, which had been put there with a view, no doubt, to save expense. The first article met with was a letter directed for Gibbins, on e for his sister, and a third for a distant relation, 30s. for a half year’s rent, a set of knitting needles, a print of her Majesty going in procession to Guildhall, two bottles of Godfrey’s cordial, six hanks of whitey-brown thread, a receipt* for making ginger beer, a new set of Christmas Hymns, and some confectionary.”

The Stamford Mercury, 22nd December, 1837.

*= a recipe.

Luckily for this cheeky mare stealer, the judges decided his crime was not a felony. Originally, a there was a distinction between a felony and a misdemeanour. A felony was a more serious crime (and, in this case, a capital charge). This distinction was removed in England and Wales in 1967.

” Samuel Newton was tried for stealing a grey mare, the property of Mr. Watson, of Lambeth. This being a capital charge, and the case rather new, we chuse to give a brief account of it.

Mr. Watson, left his mare in the street, in the possession of a poor man to take care of, whilst he went into the Free Masons Tavern. The prisoner, who must have observed this transaction, went into the Tavern, and on coming out, said to the man who held the horse, ‘my Master stays a long time, he has ordered me to take the mare home, and give you three-pence for your trouble,’ which he accordingly did, and taking off the saddle, he led the horse away, the holder of him thinking the prisoner had been Mr. Watson’s servant. Mr. Watson on missing his mare, found her at last in the Green-yard, in the Strand, taken there by the prisoner as a stray, for which he received a shilling, but without the saddle, which, on being apprehended, the prisoner returned. Baron Hotham, who tried this cause, summed it up as an actual felony, but Judge Willes differed from the Baron, and did not conceive it in that light, or within the meaning of the horse-stealing act; and consulting together, the Baron seemed to lean to Judge Willes’s opinion, and the prisoner was acquitted.”

The Stamford Mercury, 18th December, 1783.

The Yeomanry was a voluntary cavalry force raised from men who held and cultivated small, landed estates. These county forces came into being in the 1790s to improve the Kingdom’s defences against the threat of Napoleon Bonaparte, after the French Revolution.

“History in these Flags

Two old Yeomanry colours have just made their way back into Rutland – with which county they have historical links – and now hang in Oakham Castle, where one of them is seen in this picture.

Their story is somewhat obscure but it is understood that they were originally in Normanton Hall, home of the Heathcotes, one member of which family was responsible for the formation of the Rutland Company of the Yeomanry.

When the hall was demolished about 30 years ago they passed to the late Earl of Ancaster and were hung in the hall at Grimsthorpe Castle, until recently they were handed by the present Lord Ancaster to Lieu.-Col. J. R. Hanbury of Burley-on-the-Hill, who arranged for their preservation at Oakham.”

The Stamford Mercury, 8th February, 1957.

The Stamford Floral Arrangement Society (now more informally known as Stamford Flower Club) was formed in October 1956 and is still thriving today. You may have seen some of their wonderful ‘flower bombs’ around the town and at the hospital roundabout.

“Floral displays in church.

Demonstration at Stamford.

Bunches of flowers about a room make it look bright and cheerful, but even better effects can be obtained if rather than bunching the flowers they are properly arranged. Masses of colourful blooms are not necessary if due consideration is paid to the style and background of the arrangement as a lot of women are learning.

Since its formation in OCtober, membership of the Stamford Floral Arrangement Society has grown steadily, and at Monday’s monthly meeting of the Society in the Darby and Joan-hall about 120 ladies and two gentlemen gathered for a demonstration of church decorations by Miss Alexander, of the Julia Clements’ School, Chelsea.

THE BACKGROUND

Miss Alexander told her audience that for festive occasions it helped to have a stone wall background, otherwise it meant creating a background of foliage.

Most churches being rather dark, it was better not to use colours like blue or mauve, yellow and white being preferable. Having decided on the outline, it should be worked in remembering to keep the biggest and predominant colours for the centre. It was important not to make a flat-fronted display, but to bring flowers out over the side.

As she talked the demonstrator was working on types of displays, emphasising her points.

She said that when decorating for a wedding, it was advisable to use a colour that the bridesmaids would be wearing, and also the colour of the altar cloth.

FIVE FLOWERS

In one vase display, Miss Alexander used only five flowers, with a background of green foliage. ‘Never have enormous displays which detract the eye from the cross, which is the centre of the alter,’ she said.

Miss Alexander offered a number of tips such as working with the vases only two-thirds full of water, and not using flowers which shed their pollen and leaves all over.

At the Society’s next meeting, on March 11, members are invited to take along vases and flowers, and make displays which Mrs. Woolstencroft of Peterborough will inspect. She will offer any advise she may have.”

The Stamford Mercury, 15th February, 1957.

Following last week’s pledge by Stamfordian vigilantes to stop the bull running, the Mercury was pleased to report that no recurrence of this practice was seen.

“Friday last. the anniversary of the ancient and disgraceful bull-running at Stamford, passed over without the introduction of any bull into the town, and with a full observance of the pledge given to the magistrates by a large number of respectable inhabitants, that they would perambulate the streets, and present any breach of order. Friday and Saturday passed over quietly. Thus a large expense for the usual provision of special constables and other arrangements was saved to the rate-payers; and all parties now congratulate themselves on the abolition of a nuisance, and the redemption of the town from the discredit of a savage and odious practice, which afforded no real ‘sport’ to any body, but was continued only from a spirit of opposition to civilisation. The few persons miscalled ‘respectable’ who have covertly abetted outrage, are now ashamed to be known as the isolated friends of barbarism, and will soon merge in the great mass of society in Stamford who have set their hands to the pledge of peace and order. A great triumph has been obtained; not through the coercion of authority, but through the good sense of the people, left to their own spontaneous means of vindicating the law; and most heartily to we congratulate the town on the happy result.”

The Stamford Mercury, 20th November, 1840.

The Mayor of Stamford and its Magistrates were very happy when a large number of inhabitants of the town pledged to put down this practice, which supposedly began in the reign of King John. However, it seems they were more worried about the cost of the hire of special constables being added to their rates than concerns about the bull or anyone who was injured in the pursuit.

“This day is the anniversary of this illegal and disgusting practice: it is with the greatest pleasure we find that the town is likely to be relieved from the reproach of permitting so silly and dangerous a custom to continue, and that the memorial of nearly 700 inhabitants presented to the Magistrates last week, pledging themselves to use their personal exertions to put it down, will prevent the heavy expense which for three years past has been incurred in the endeavour to vindicate the law. The Mayor received on Sunday the following letter from the Hon. Fox Maule, Under-Secretary of State:-

'Sir,                                                                  'Whitehall, 7th Nov., 1840.
'I have laid before the Marquess of Normanby your letter of the 6th inst, forwarding copies of Resolutions agreed to at a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Stamford, in which they pledge themselves to assist personally in suppressing any attempt to revive the practice of Bull-running, and I am to inform you, that, relying on the Faith of these Resolutions, and on the Determination of the Magistrates to suppress this Riotous Proceeding, Lord Normanby will not send any extraordinary Force to Stamford this year; and he trusts that, by proper exertions on the part of the Magistrates, it may never again be necessary to impose on the Inhabitants of Stamford an expense quite foreign to the Secretary of State's wishes.
                                                            I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
                                                                                'F. Maule.'
  'The Mayor of Stamford.' 

This letter was printed on Monday for general information; and the Mayor and Magistrates communicated at the Town-hall on that day and Tuesday with many of the principal inhabitants of the borough 0 on whose renewed assurance that they and the other subscribers of the memorial will vigilantly watch against any violation of order, and mark for certain punishment all persons who shall attempt to run a bull in the town on Friday or Saturday, or otherwise to disturb the peace, the Magistrates have resolved not to put the inhabitants to any expense for special constables: they rely on the ordinary police force; and implicitly on the voluntary services of the numerous public-spirited individuals who have signified their determination to prevent the nuisance hitherto practised on the 13th of November; and we cannot entertain a doubt that this confidence will be justified by the result; that the town will be relieved at once from the disgrace of a barbarous custom, – from the heavy expense which has attended late endeavours to suppress it, – and from the apprehension that greatly increased charge will in future years attend a violation of the pledge given to the Government and the local authorities for the honest and honourable observance of the law.”

The Stamford Mercury, 13th November, 1840.