Author: secretary

Serial tankard thieves hit two Stamford pubs one night. We presume the pubs in question were The Crown at Great Casterton and The Bull and Swan in St. Martins.

TANKARDS STOLEN

“WHEREAS on Wednesday Evening the 14th of June, 1780, two Men came on Horseback to the Home of Mr. MICHAEL WOODS, the Sign of the Rose and Crown, at Bridge Casterton, Rutland, called for a Tankard of Ale, and rode off with the Tankard, being a Silver one, marked in Cypher with M. S. W. And the same Evening the above two Men (as supposed) stopped at the House of Mr. RICHARD TURTLE, the Swan and Bull, St. Martin’s, Stamford-Baron, and from his Door also rode off with a Silver Tankard, marked with the Words Walter Robinson.

If any Person will give Information of the Men who stole the above Tankards, shall receive Two Guineas Reward, and all expenses paid on Conviction, by applying to the above Mr. WOODS or Mr. TURTLE.

If the above Tankards are offered for Sale, pray stop the Parties, and give Information as above.”

The Stamford Mercury, 22nd June, 1780.

A phenomenon seen in the dark October skies, inspired a star-gazing correspondent to write about the meteor and shooting stars he had observed.

NORTHERN LIGHTS. – On Tuesday evening a re-appearance of the meteor was observed in the north and north-west parts of the hemisphere. Below the wain in Ursa Major, the blaze resembled the sheet lightning so frequently seen after a hot summer’s day, though it was more steady than the electric fluid. One most elegant silvery flame, about the breadth of the rainbow, proceeded from the western horizon, and crossed the meridian south-west of the zenith, extending to an altitude of nearly 45 ͦ. During the phenomenon, several falling or shooting stars were observed; and the wind (which in the forepart of the day had been blowing a gale) was gentle at S.W.: the external thermometer 46 ͦ, and the barometer 29.3 inches. Of late the Aurora Borealis have been more frequently observed in this country then formerly; for several years they were not at all noticed, and none previous to 1544. They perhaps obey the same laws as do the winds, and the variations in the orbits of the planets. – W.F.

The Stamford Mercury, 14th October, 1836.

David Copperfield was the popular prize for these children’s (known as ‘Guilders’) Christmas activities. It was apparently worth one guinea, which is equivalent of £72.68 today – well worth winning!

‘How to Win £1 1s. Volume of ‘David Copperfield’.

LOTS OF OTHER PRIZES.

FOR GUILDERS OVER NINE

A beautifully bound £1 1s. 0d. volume of Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield” is offered as a prize to the Guilder who sends in the nicest hand drawn or painted Christmas card. Several other prizeds also offered.

Volumes of “David Copperfield” and other books are offered as prizes for the crossword puzzle to be found elsewhere on this page.

Special prizes are offered for the correct solution of the following jumbled words, all of which are names of countries or towns: ONONLD, ISPRA; UBDINL; INBRHGUES; HNETAS; BISONL; EACNFR; CEREGE; OCSLTNDA; RLIEDNA; NDNGELA; PRTOULAG.’

The Stamford Mercury, 2nd December, 1932.

Would the war impact the availability of spruce trees? Such fears were allayed by this small article. Note that ‘buying early for Christmas’ in 1940 meant mid December – not early November as it seems to today!

‘Here’s good news for the children. There will be ample supplies of Christmas trees available this year. As a matter of fact, substantial consignments have been in the hands of the retailers for some days. A wholesale fruiterer and florist told me at the week-end that the trees, which in pre-war days were largely imported from Germany will be quite as plentiful as they were last Christmas. Prices, too, should be fairly reasonable.

“It’s a fact,” he added, “that people will spend money at Christmas, particularly where there are children. So far as Christmas trees are concerned, transport will not prove much of a problem, but intending purchasers should buy them as soon as they can.

“Shop early for Christmas applies as much to Christmas trees as to anything else this year.”‘

The Stamford Mercury, 13th December, 1940.

An exhortation to people shopping and preparing for Christmas to consider employing others during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

“A fortnight tomorrow will be Christmas-eve.

It is always difficult to keep pace with the silent march of time, and it becomes necessary to ask ourselves whether we are preparing for the inevitable Christmas rush.

In particular, let every householder and every potential employer who may be able to give out any sort of odd job think about it now. Let institutions and authorities who can organise these highly desirable attempts to make Christmas happier ask themselves what is being done and what degree of energy they are contributing to the special effort.

It is quite possible to bring a measure of brightness into many homes by a combined movement to give our temporary work which benefits also the persons for whom it is performed. A Christmas dinner earned will be doubly satisfying.

But the days are slipping by. Now is the time to make preparations.

There is a special interest this year in providing extra jobs. This is a particular appeal.

We may also help our neighbours by getting ahead with the Christmas shopping.

If we begin this week, we shall be encouraging the retailers and the wholesalers to realise that there is a brisk seasonal sale for goods and a reasonb for putting on extra hands. This means additional employment.

It is necessary to create the Christmas Shopping atmosphere as early as possible.

Crowding out the shops two or three days before the 25th does not help employment. It is too late then. Customers simply jostle each other and shop assistants get very little chance of exercising the art of real salesmanship.

Begin shopping today.

Don’t say “Christmas is coming.”

Try to think that Christmas is practically here!”

The Stamford Mercury, 9th December, 1932.

Two small paragraphs here published, but a whole wealth of history lies behind them! The Irish labourers who caused the run on sickles had come over to find work and send money back to their families in Ireland. They were suffering the terrible famine, caused by potato blight. The field fires were created by that exciting new mode of transport – the railway.

So unexpectedly great was the influx of Irish labourers at Stamford on Monday, that the stock of sickles was exhausted in all the ironmongers’ shops, and actually an implement of that sort could not be bought in the town. Next day a large fresh supply was received.

Fields or corn were set fire to at Uffington and Helpstone yesterday by railway trains running between Stamford and Peterboro’. Fortunately the damage was not great, as the fires were soon discovered.

The Stamford Mercury, 6th August, 1847

“Pepper and Salt” was a regular feature of “Gossip Grave & Gay”- a column which appeared in The Stamford Mercury during the 1930s and 40s. It was compiled by ‘Tatler’, the pseudonym of John Clare Billing, a local organist and composer.

‘ “Cold weather,” says a physician, “does the body good if you take it with the right spirit.” That’s rum.

Complaint is made of the shortage of coppers. Maybe it is due to so many beeing called up for service in the Forces.

A woman writer says that a doctor is entitled to respect. Yet lots of people put out their tongues at him.

The Minister of Agricultrue has informed farmers that he will report progress from time to time. A cereal story.

A report on a fire at the offices of a county authority states that “All Acts of Parliament were destroyed.” Unfortunately, copies have been kept.

“Just now,” said a civic transport manager the other day, “all out men are putting their shoulders to the wheel.” Not all, surely? Were not some throwing sand under it?

People in a large Midland town were said one day this week to be getting out of hand over being able to buy only a bit of meat. By this time they have taken the bit between their teeth.’

The Stamford Mercury, 9th February, 1940.

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.

The “Black-out” was imposed on 1st September, 1939, but by February the following year, people were still not complying with it properly. This warning from the Mercury explains what people could do to avoid prosecution.

‘The “Black-out” is to be strictly enforced from now on and it is authoritatively stated that warnings will not be given in the future.

Housekeepers, motorists, shopkeepers and torch-flashers will be well advised to see that they comply with the law, otherwise there is bound to be a crop of prosecutions – a state of affairs which is not desired.

It should be borne in mind that a proper “black-out” for a private dwelling-house means that from the outside there should be no evidence whatever of the existence of windows when the lights are on inside. In a good many cases ill-fitting curtains or screens, or the use of material which is not a hundred per cent. light proof, are causes of complaint, and in this direction stricter enforcement of the regulations is imminent. Cracks at the side of windows, slits in curtains and other defects will have to be remedied.

There are still some motorists who have not fitted the regulation mask to their vehicles. This equipment is compulsory, and it is no longer legal to drive with the cut-out paper mask.

Chief complaint, however, is with regard to the indiscriminate use of improperly-shielded flash-lamps. Recent inspection from the air has disclosed the danger of this form of illuminant. Flash-lamps must be held so that the beam shines only on the ground and they must be screened with two sheets of paper.

All these points should be carefully watched, for by co-operation with the authorities the civilian population can contribute their quota to safe-guarding their own and other people’s lives in the case of air attack.’

The Stamford Mercury, 9th February, 1940.

An eclipse of the Sun was the subject of this very detailed report, outlining times, positions and duration of the event. It seems to predict an eclispe on Wednesday 20th December, 1826, but this has not been confirmed.

‘FOR THE MERCURY

It is three years since there was an eclipse of the Sun visible in England. One of these phenomena will happen on Wednesday the 20th inst., and will be visible to us. The eclipse will first touch the earth at the time of the sun’s rising in latitude 50 ͦ 50′ N., longitude 28 ͦ 52′ W., at 45 m. past 9 in the morning, Greenwich time. The middle will happen while the sun is in the horizon, latitude 68 ͦ 16′ N., longitude 8 ͦ 45′ East.: and at 1h. 8m. P.M., in latitude 46 ͦ N., longitude 48 ͦ 58′ E., it will quit the earth, at the time of the setting sun to traverse the boundless regions of space. This eclipse will not be central or total to any part of our globe, on account of the moon’s great north latitude (1 ͦ 2′ 34″); hence the nearest approach of the central track to the surface of the earth will be 792 miles, and which will be at 25m. past 11 in the morning. At Greenwich the eclipse will commence at 10h. 6m. A.M., the middle will be at 11h. 9m., the visible conjunction at 11h. 11m., and the end at 13m. P.M; duration 2h. 7m., and the digits obscured at the middle 6 ͦ 30′ on the sun’s northern limb, and which will incline 35 ͦ to the east of the vertical point of the solar circumference. – It will be almost six years before there will be another solar deliquium visible in this country.1

The Stamford Mercury, 24th November, 1826.