Author: secretary

Almost as extraordinary as Greyfriars Bobby, the level of canine loyalty of Crib, from The Red Lion at Cambridge, was touching.

“– Many marvels have been narrated concerning the dog and his attachment to man, but we know not that we ever heard of anything more extraordinary than that which we are about to tell our readers.  At the Red Lion hotel in Cambridge there is an old, one-eyed, worn-out dog of the terrier breed, named Crib.  He lies about in the yard, or stable, or kitchen, and enjoys his otium cum dignitate* just as is most agreeable to himself and consonant with his age and infirmities.  Possessed of a proper sense of his own merits and position, he is somewhat particular as to the company he keeps, and one of the few persons admitted to his friendship was the late lamented John R. Barker, Esq., who was kind to the old animal, as he was to every body and every thing, and took a great deal of notice of ‘poor old Cribby’.  For some two years past Crib has probably not been a hundred yards from the Lion gateway; indeed, as we understand, he would not follow any of the servants or handers-on off the premises.  Now, Tuesday the 17^th inst. Was the day appointed for the funeral of Mr. Barker, and the hearse used on the melancholy occasion belonged to Mr. Mitchell, and consequently proceeded from the Lion yard.  Strange and unaccountable as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that this superannuated dog, which had scarcely been off the premises for two years, and which never by any sort of accident followed any of the post-boys or other servants, accompanied the hearse to Mr. Barker’s late residence, sat opposite the door until the body was placed within it, walked by the side of the mournful procession to Little St. Mary’s church, remained opposite thereto until the remains of his friend were consigned to their final place of rest, and then returned home unattended, the hearse having quitted the scene some time before!  We pretend not to offer any comment upon this extraordinary occurrence, but we assure our readers the facts are as we have stated them to be.” – Cambridge Chronicle.

*Leisure with dignity.

The Stamford Mercury, 27^th January, 1843.

A poisoner chose arsenic as his weapon to kill his wife, but sadly missed his target and killed his own child and a neighbour. His lawyer had objected to the second trial, on the grounds of double jeaopardy (or ‘autrefois acquit‘), but the Judge did not agree. Since the Criminal Justice Act 2003, double jeopardy has been permitted in England and Wales only in certain (exceptional) circumstances.

“A laborer at Hempnall, named Daynes, was tried on Friday at the Norfolk assizes for murdering his own child, by placing arsenic in the tea-kettle. His wife and another child narrowly escaped, and a woman names Mills died. He was acquitted, from the want of proof, and on the ground that he could have no motive to destroy his family. He was afterwards tried for murdering Mills, his intention being to poison his wife that he might marry a widow named Lloyd, with whom he had illicit intercourse: her evidence brought the crime home to him and he was found guilty. The Judge, in passing sentence, earnestly exhorted him not to indulge the faint hope of mercy. In the evening he made a full confession of his guilt; that he had for months meditated poisoning his wife with arsenic, which he purchased at Norwich, and had twice endeavoured ineffectually to carry his deadly purpose into execution, once by putting the poison in some fried potatoes, and afterwards in pea-soup, but both failed: his third attempt ended in the destruction of two against whom he had no enmity, whilst his intended victim again escaped. Mr. Taylor, for the prisoner, who had objected to the second trial on the ground of autrefois acquit, urged the stay of judgement until the opinion of the 15 Judges had been taken, but Mr. Justice Vaughan declined, adding, however, that he should meet all the Judges on Monday, and would mention the point to them, but he desired the matter should not be mentioned to the prisoner, that he might not calculate on an escape from execution.”

The Stamford Mercury, 19th April, 1839.

Having just experienced the procession and pomp of King Charles III’s coronation, it is interesting to find out how Stamford celebrated that of his great, great, great grandmother.

“The Queen’s coronation was celebrated yesterday in Stamford with the utmost loyalty, and with the happiest effect. One of the best and most numerous processions ever seen in the town was marshalled by 12 o’clock, when it started from the Town-hall, as follows:-

Two Trumpeters on Horseback – Two Policemen – Purple Flag (given by the Ladies for the occasion) – Tradesmen’s Loyal and Independent Society, with their respective colours and full accompaniments – Loyal and Independent Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 6, with their respective colours and accompaniments – Boys of the different Charity and Sunday Schools, six abreast – White Flag – Girls of the different Chariy and Sunday Schools, six abreast – White Flag (given by the Ladies for the occasion) – Band – Military – Crier with Staff of Office – Beadle with Bill of Office – Sergeants at Mace (bearing Maces) – The Mayor and his Chaplain – Magistrates – Aldermen – Town Clerk – Town councillors – Clergy in their Gowns – Gentlemen and Inihabitants of the Town, six abreast.

In the delightful weather, amidst the music of the bank and the ringing of bells, the procession passed through all the principal streets of Stamford and St. Martin’s, occasionally halting to give cheers. The procession itself was half a mile long; and every where cheerful countenances indicated the satisfaction that was felt, and the sincereity with which all hailed the great occasion as one calculated to ensure and to perpetuate the liberties and the happiness of the nation. – About two o’clock, 1000 children of the different charity schools sat down to a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, comfortably set out in the several stalls of the butchery, which were fitted up for the occasion: the scene was one of unalloyed enjoyment. In addition to this, 400 poor men and wqomen, 60 years of age, received each 1s. with which to regale themselves; and 1000 other poor men and women received tickets, entitling each to obtain at the public-houses sixpennyworth of beer. The gentry and tradesmen of the town dined in parties at the different inns, and the whole day passed off with the highest conviviality, and with uninterrupted satisfaction.”

The Stamford Mercury, 28th June, 1838.

This tatooed convict would be easily recognizable if he were caught. His name appears on the Nottingham census in 1851, so maybe he wasn’t!

“A “MARKED” MAN. -The following minute and curious description of an escaped convict appears in the Police Gazette:- “William Mellors, a convict belonging to the Ganymede hulk at Woolwich, escaped on the 5th inst., while at labour in the dock-yard. He was convicted at Nottingham, on the 29th of June, 1838, of stealing a cock-fowl, and sentenced to seven years’ transportation; he has been in the house of correction, and in prison for felony. He is five feet four inches high, dark brown hair, grey eyes, full nose, common mouth, oval visage, stout made, dark complexion, 32 years of age; is single, can read and write, has a scar on the left eye, one on the top of his nose, sundry brawn blotches on the back, tatooed on the right arm – sun, moon, and seven stars, a woman with a skipping-rope and C.B., mermaid, a flower-pot with flowers, gun and carriage, stripe with three shots in it – rings on middle and fore fingers of right hand; tatooed left arm – a woman’s head, two pipes across, a foul anchor wrong side up, J.M., C.B., B.O.L.E.S. † A.N.N., a woman, MELLORS †, daughter O.F. W.M. † ;- rings on middle and fore fingers of left hand; a stag on breast-bone, a man with his hand in his pocket and a glass in his hand, a dog underneath, a woman with parasol and reticule, cat underneath, a gate on of the back, a dog on left side, and scar on right shin bone.”

The Stamford Mercury 16th November, 1838.

Extract from 3 and 4 Victoria, Cap. 85, being an Act for the regulation of Chimney Sweepers and Chinmneys:-

Chimney sweeps were using children as young as four to go up and clean chimneys or dislodge brushes which had become stuck. This Act was intended to bring an end to that practice, but it was not until a further Act in 1862, that the sweeps were finally stopped from using children at all (including their own).

And it being enacted that, from and after the 1st day of July in the year 1842, any person who shall complet of knowqingly allow any child ir young person under the age of 21 years to ascend or descend a chimney, or enter a flue, for the purpose of sweeping, cleaning, or coring the same, or for extinguishing fire therein, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than 10l. nor less than 5l.

That from and after the passing of this Act, it shall not be lawful to apprentice to any person ising the trade or business of a shimney-sweeper any child under the age of 16 years and that every indenture of such apprenticeship which may be entered into after such date shall be null and void.

That from and after the 1st day of July, 1842, all existing indentures of apprenticeship to the trade or business of a shimney-sweeper of any child who shall then be under the age of 16 years shall be null and void.

And whereas it is expedient, for the better security from accidents by fire or otherwise, the improved construction of chimnieys and flues provided by the said Act be cintinued; be it enacted, that all withs and partitrions between any chimney or flue which at any time after the passing of this Act shall be built or rebuilt shall be of brick or stone, an at least equal to half a brick in thickness; and every breast-back and with or partition of any chimney or flue hereafter to be built or rebuilt shall be built of sound materials, and the joints of the work well filled in with good mortar or cement, and rendered or stuccoed within; and also that any chimney or flue hereafter to be built or rebuilt in any wall, or of greater length than four feet out of the wall, not being a circular chimney or flue twelve inches in diameeter, shall be in every section of the same not less than 14 inches by 9 inches; and no chimney or flue shall be constructed with any angle thering which shall be less obtuse than an angle of 120 degrees, except as is hereinafter excepted; and every salient or projecting angle in any chimney or flue shall be rounded off four inches at least, upon pain of forfeiture, by every master-builder or other master0workman who shall make eor cause to be made such chimneyt or flue, of any sum not less that 10l. nor exceeding 50l. – Provided nevertheless, tha notwithstanding this Act chimenys or flues may be built at angles with each other of 90 degrees and more, such chimneys or flues having therein proper doors of openings not less than six inches square.

The Stamford Mercury, 18th February, 1842.

Desperation and poverty drove a youth to highway robbery and horse stealing on the Great North Road near Stamford. He might have frightened a small boy, but the boy’s father was made of sterner stuff and he apprehended the culprit at The Bull and Swan.

“One of the most extraordinary cases of highway -robbery and horse-stealing ever heard of occurred last Sunday morning, on the great road a mile and a half north of Stilton. A son of Mr. C. R. Roberts, of Alwalton, between 8 and 9 years of age, was riding to Stilton to fetch his father’s letters from the Post-office, when he was met and accosted, in the parish of Haddon, by a well-dressed youth about 18 years old, who seized the reins and desired young Roberts to dismount. The latter demurred; on which his assailant presented a pistol, and swore that he would blow out his brains unless he instantly obeyed. The boy therefore got off; on which the highwayman mounted, and saying that ‘if the boy’s father wanted the horse, he would find him the next night at York,’ rode away towards Wansford. The poor boy made the best of his way back to Alwalton (about two miles), and informed his father what had occurred. Mr. Roberts called two neighbours to his assisstnace; and after dispatching them in pursuit on the roads to Oundle and Peterboro’, himself set off on the great north road, and soon discovered that he was in the route of the thief. On ascending the hill where the Whitewater toll-bar formerly stood, two miles from Stamford, he perceived him on the road; and remembering that he was represented to be armed, Mr. R. approached leisurely, and accosted him civilly. The thief returned the salutation like a gentleman, and the two jogged on together for a short distance, conversing about the horse which the young man was riding, the paces of which Mr. Roberts affected to admire; and the enquiry whether he could purchase the animal, was answered with the observation that the price would be the only difficulty. On their reaching the toll-bar a mile from the town,it turned out that the young gentleman had (as he said) ‘no change,’ but Mr. Roberts offering to pay the threehalfpence for him, the two again set forward, and renewed the conversation about the horse until they reached the Bull and Swan inn in St. Martin’s, where Mr. Roberts said he should stop for a time, and he invited his companion to turn in and take a glass with him. The latter agreed; and on riding under the gateway, Mr. Roberts alertly slipped off his horse, and catching the young man in his arms as he also alighted, pinioned him so as to prevent his using pistols, and called for help, which being instantly given, the youth was effectually secured. In his side-pocket was found a new pistol loaded with ball, with several other balls, powder, &co. Perceiving that Mr. Roberts was the owner of the hose he had stolen, the youth became disheartened, and in a short time acknowledged the felony, stating that distress had driven him to it, as when he stopped Mr. R’s son he had only one penny in his pocket. He subsequently stated that his name was Charles Cole, and that his friends lived at No. 7, Carter-street, Park-lane, Westminster; that he robbed them, and dare not return; and that he was making his way on foot to the residence of his aunt, Mrs. Ord, Nunthorpe Hall, near York, and slept on Saturday night in a barn at Alconbury Hill. He was given into the custody of the Police, and on Monday was taken back to Huntingdonshire, and underwent a long examination before Lord George Gordon, by whom he was fully committed to Huntingdon gaol for trial at the next session, on the charge of highway robbery.”

The Stamford Mercury, 29th January, 1841.

Westend (or West End, as it is now written) is a parish in the borough of Eastleigh, just east of Southampton.  It not only boasts a brewery (perhaps near the site of this pub?), but is also the location of the Ageas Bowl, where Hampshire County Cricket Club has been based since 2001, and which has staged a number of international matches.  Hampshire is also famous in cricketing circles for the village of Hambledon – home of a famous team in the 18th century which defeated many county sides.

“A novel match of cricket was played on the 3d inst., between two female parties (married and single), in the field in the rear of a newly-erected public-house near Westend, Hampshire, kept by Mr. J. Vare. The fineness of the weather and the novelty of the scene drew together an immense concourse of spectators, who signified theri delight by repeated rounds of applause. Vehicles of every description were also in attendance, from the dashing phaeton and pair down to the humble donkey tandem: on the whole, there could not have been less than 3000 persons present. The playing commenced in right earnest at 12 o’clock, the married ladies going in first, and scoring 22 runs; the damsels then took the bat and scored 18. The dames then went in again and scored 27, making 49; the young ladies then went in and got 34, thus beating their opponents by three runs only. After the two first innings, bets varying from 2 to 1 to 5 to 2 were freely offered on the married ladies, and as freely taken. The fielding and batting of Miss Ann Cleaver, of Bitterne, and the Misses Caroline and Patience Lee, were particularly admired, indeed they may be safely backed against any three boys under 18. The bowling of Mrs. Carter on the married side was also very good. The p[eculliar manner of the ladies in stopping and catching, or attempting to catch the ball, was highly amusing. When the game was over they all sat down to a comfortable tea provided by the landlady, and concluded the day’s sport by a dance in the evening. It is proposed to play the return match on Saturday the 13th, at the New Inn, Westend. – Hampshire Adv.“

The Stamford Mercury, 12th October, 1838.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married on 10th February, 1840. This is a fascinating insight into their life at Buckingham palace.

‘The following important article of information appears in a daily journal: The Queen is an early riser, seldom being in bed later than half past seven, except on the mornings after her state balls, or on those few occasions when she honors the parties of the nobility with her presence. Her bell is rung about 8 o’clock for her “dressers,” and by nine her Majesty, her Royal Consort, and the household, are at breakfast. The time occupied at the meal is about half an hour, when her Majesty, if the weather permit, enoys the air in the pleasure garden attached to Buckingham palace. This garden covers a space of about forty acres. Here the Queen frequently remains an hour and is accompanied by the latter, etiquette prescribes that, except by invitation, the ladies and gentlemen in attendance should walk at a “respectful distance.” Upon her Majesty’s return to the palace she is attended by her secretary, when she affixes her signature to the various documents which acquire their validity by it. These comprise treasury and other warrants, the commissions of militaty officers, state papers, &co., and they are frequently so numerous that it has sometimes required more than two hours to get through the business. The Queen passes the time between one and three either in conversation, reading, painting or music. In these two accomplishments her Majesty is eminently proficient: her drawings are much admired, and her love for music is well known: she is excellent both as an instrumental and vocal performer. There are three grand pianofortes in the suite of three drawing-rooms usually inhabited, but that which is especailly her Majesty’s, and which is only touched by her fingers, is magnificent: it is rosewood, inlaid with gold and vignette pictures, and cost 1,500 guineas. Luncheon is served at three; after which the Queen receives the Cabinet Miniters, and other such persons as it is usual to honor with audiences. At five the royal cortége leaves the palace and proceeds through the park, &co., and generally returns about seven or quarter after. Dinner is generally served at a quarter before eight, except on opera nights, when it is a little earlier. The usual number of persons who dine at the royal table is about 30. The Queen never fails to be present, except upon the nights of a ball either at the palace or elsewhere: on those occasions her Majesty dines in her own suite of apartments. The Queen, who occupies the centre seat of the dinner-table remains from an hour and five minutes to an hour and a quarter: her rising is the signal for the ladies to move after her, and in a short time subsequently to this move, the gentlemen follow. During dinner-time the band of one of the regiments of guards generally attend: the musicians are placed in a situation above the ceiling of the apartment; they are separated from the royal party by large panes of ground glass, which mellow the sound, and prevent the musicians from seeing into the dining apartment. Tea and coffee are served immediately after dinner, in a small room leading from one of the drawing-rooms. The reminder of the evening is passed with music and conversation, in both of which the Queen and Prince Albert take a part, and about half past eleven her Majesty retires to her apartments, which are in the immediate vicinity of the drawing-rooms, and with which there is a communication by means of a door that is ordinarily concealed by a cabinet. This cabinet is on rollers, and it is, when her Majesty expresses a desire to retire, immediately rolled sufficiently far away to enable the door to be opened, and is replaced again as soon as she has quitted the apartment.’

The Stamford Mercury, 18th September, 1840.

In contrast with the horrendous weather in last week’s post,there were also mild Decembers, more like Spring.

“Such a Christmas day a Monday, in point of temperature, has been rarely (if ever) known, with the thermometer at 60, a southern breeze, and sunshine, rather resembling May than December.”

The Stamford Mercury, 29th December, 1837.

“The present season, as compared with the severe winter of last year, offers perhaps a striking contrast as could be produced from any page of the annals of our chageful climate. Last year, look wherever we would, we met the frowning and chilling evidences of the universal dominion of frost and snow. Nowe, it is true, the forest trees are naked, but our shrubberies are as luxuriant and flourishing as in sommer, while the roses, sotkc, polyanthuses, rosemary, &c., still look gay in the garden. The hills and fields are full of interest for the Botanist. One would almost imagine that Spring, born before due time, was lifting her infnat voice to call back Autumn, that they might together banish the rugged Winter – for the plants of both seasons are thickly scattered amidst the rant and verdant grasses. Aged-looking buttercups (we call them by the name that brings back happy chilehood, and eschew the harsh names of science) are actually found surrounded by new daisies, opening their beautiful begemmed faces upon us wherever we tread, The large crimson thistle still lingers, and on the same ground the new buds of the bright yellow furze are unfolding into blossom. The small plants common to each season, – the primrose, the groundel, the white and red archangel, the chickweed, and the dandelion, – are rank by every hedgerow where these is any shelton. The lichens are, in general, rotted with the wet, but nothing can equal the velvety beauty of the mosses, to which the birds resort to pick their insect food: in gact,. so plentiful is the ground food of the feathered tribe, that the red fruit of the hawthorn and dog-rose remains on the bushes almost untouched.”

The Stamford Mercury, 5th January, 1838.

Today we are still inconvenienced by snow and bad weather, but we generally have reliable cars and warm houses – and we are not so totally reliant on mail. A few days after this story was published there was even an avalanche at Lewes in Sussex.

“It is 23 years since there was any thing like the downfall of snow with which this part of England has been visited in the present week. The effect has been to prevent all travelling; and even persons who happened to be from home on business, found for a day or two that it was impossible to quit the places where they were overtaken by the storm, although the distance which they had to go to their families was only three or four miles: such was actually the case with several persons who were in Stamford on Sunday and Monday: even on foot, and with the utmost contrivance and knowledge of roads, in some dirctions it was impossible to make way from town to town. – The firt sign of the great extent and inconvenince of the downfall was perceived at Stamford on Sunday night, when the mail from Melton Mowbray did not arrive as usual; it left Stamford that morning, but it did not return from Melton, nor has any mail been dispatched hence in that direction since Sunday. On Monday morning there was neither Edinburgh nor Glasgow mail from London: after being greatly delayed in the South, they finally stuck fast between Wansford and Thornhaugh, six miles from Stamford; and it was not until one o’clock on Tuesday afternoon that the guards of the coaches which should have reached us at half-past 5 o’clock on Monday morning were able to come to Stamford on horseback through the snow. The coaches still remained embedded in the drifted mass which covered the road to a depth of six or eight feet near Wansford. The mails from the North were set fast at Colsterworth and at Horn-lane, where they also continued for many hours; but the guards, on horseback, reached Stamford on Tuesday at nearly the same time as those from the South, and they proceeded in the same way on their respective routes with the mail-bags. The mail coach from Edinburgh which should have been here on Monday night, was dragged into Stamford on Tuesday afternoon by eight waggon horses, and stopped here. The business of the posts on the Great North Road could be transacted only on horseback, and in this way for three days we have received the mail-bags: but the bags themselves in general contained little, showing that the interruption on the roads was almost general, and that there was no communication whatever between Lincolnshire and the great road at Stilton. We learned, indeed, to our great concern, that the Lincoln and Hull, and the Boston and Louth lines of the road, were alike impassable on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and that the post communication by them was suspended.

The interruption which the mail-coaches experienced, was of course common to all other coaches. For three days no conveyances were sent out from Stamford for Cambridge, Leicester, or Boston, as none arrived from those quarters.

The situation of the passengers by some of the coaches which were set fast in the snow, was most trying and singular. When, after a tedious journey, one poor fellow who had been outside the Glasgow mail for two days and nights, found the coach come to a dead stand near Horn-lane, six miles North of Stamford, he got into the vehicle and slept soundly for five hours, until the snow could be dug away and a team of waggon horses arrived to extricate the coach. The whole company of one coach, set fast between Wansford and Stilton, found an asylum at Mr. Simpson’s at Morborne, where they were received with all the kind-hearted hospitality for which the late coach-owner and landlord of the George and Angel at Stamford is so well known.

About 50 extra labourers have been employed for four days in clearing the hill at Casterton, and many at Horn-lane, Whittering and Wansford at an expenditure of 25l. to 30l. per day, by Mr. Haycock, the surveyor of the turnpikes.”

The Stamford Mercury, 30th December, 1836.