Author: Volunteers

The pleasure fair would become extinct; such was the prophecy of the writer of this article, lamenting the decline in attendance at the Stamford Mid-Lent pleasure fair. How shocked he would be to see it now, utterly transformed from exhibits of ‘dwarfs, giantesses, extraordinary cows, talking pigs’ to a collection of fairground attractions, from bumper cars, rollercoasters, trampolines to fortune tellers.

‘At one time, before the age of locomotive transit, the Midlent pleasure fair at Stamford was looked forward to by all classes with great expectation, and was considered worthy of patronage by all the élite of the town and neighbourhood ; but now, since access to the great metropolis has become so cheap and easy, there has been a gradual falling off in the attendance of–first of the visitors, & then of the attractions & amusements ; and at length the prophecy, “that in course of time, country fairs would become extinct,” seems to be fast approaching verification. At the mart last week there was a marked decline in the attendance of exhibitions and amusements, as also of visitors ; and even amongst those who did attend there seemed either a scarcity of money or want of excitement ; and it is not at all unlikely many of the proprietors of stalls and shows will be deterred from again visiting this fair, owing to the little support they met with on this occasion. The principal attractions were Wombwell’s collection of wild animals, whose band drew more listeners than the zoological specimens inside did spectators, for at no time was the attendance very large ; Clapton’s exhibition of moving figures, we believe, had the lion’s share of patronage, and Stevens’ menagerie was pretty well supported. There were also a peep show and one or two others of the minor class of exhibitions, consisting of dwarfs, giantesses, extraordinary cows, talking pigs, &c., with the usual complement of photographic and rifle galleries, all of which appeared to suffer from a want of money or an extra expenditure on the Royal wedding-day. There was likewise a diminution in the attendance of the light-fingered gentry, for we have only heard of one case of pocket picking during the whole of the fair : this was probaby owing to the efficient police arrangements.’

Stamford Mercury, 27 March, 1863.

Mary Stuart, who said she was the grand-daughter of Charles Stuart, The Young Pretender to the British throne, importunes Lord Palmerston without success and is punished by being confined for seven years.

‘At Marlborough-street police-court, on the 26th ult., Mary Stuart, needlewoman, about 60 years of age, who said she lived in Great Warner-street, Clerkenwell, was charged with wilfully breaking a square of glass at the residence of Lord Palmerston, Piccadilly. The offence was proved by Henry Bird, groom of the chambers to Lord Palmerston, who said that the prisoner came up to the house and inquired, “Is this Lord Palmerston’s ?” and being told that it was, deliberately threw a stone at the window. The prisoner, in reply to the charge, entered into a long statement, the effect of which was that she was the grand-daughter of Prince Charles Stuart, the Pretender ; that she had made repeated applications to the Government since 1829, also to George the Fourth, to the King of Hanover, and to the late Sir James Graham, but without effect. She had broken the windows of Sir James Graham, and was committed for ten days for so doing. She was afterwards kept in confinement for seven years, on the pretence that she was of unsound mind. A commission was sent to see her : they said she was sane, and she was liberated. She had written to Lord Palmerston for assistance, but as she could get no reply she broke a window. Since she had been discharged from the asylum she had gained her living by needlework. Mr. Knox remanded her for a week.’

Stamford Mercury, April 3, 1863.

Catharine Brooks of Red Lion Street, Stamford, in the century before Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management came on the scene, wrote a cookery book that was available nationwide.

‘This day is published, (Price only One Shilling) Adorned with a most beautiful Frontispiece, and other useful Cuts, being the most plain, cheap and easy Book of the Kind ever yet published.)

The Complete English Cook ; or, PRUDENT HOUSEWIFE.

Being an entire New Collection of the most Genteel, yet least Expensive Receipts in every Branch of Cookery and good Housewifery, viz.

Roasting,	Fricaseys,	Potting,
Boiling,	Pies, Tarts,	Candying
Stewing	Puddings,	Collering,
Ragoos	Cheesecakes,	Pickling,
Soups, Sauces,	Custards,	Preserving,
Made Dishes,	Jellies,	Made wines, &c

Together with the Art of Marketing, and Directions for placing Dishes on Tables for Entertainments ; and many other Things equally necessary.–The whole made Easy to the meanest Capacity, and far more Useful to young Beginners, than any Book of the Kind extant.

By CATHARINE BROOKS, of Red-Lion-street.

To which is added, the PHYSICAL DIRECTOR ; Being near Two Hundred safe and certain Receipts for the Cure of most Disorders incident to the Human Body. Also.

The whole art of Clear-Starching, Ironing, &c.

London : Printed for the AUTHORESS, and Sold by J. COOKE, No. 17, in Paternoster-row ; and by most other Booksellers in England.

Of whom may be had, Price One Shilling.‘

Stamford Mercury, 13 January, 1783.

When it comes to revolutions, the English ones are far superior in every aspect: no massacres, no plundering, no opposition against the laws of the country. One may ask how we could call this a revolution. Perhaps the people didn’t care too much.

‘However it may be the cant of some politicians to compare the present revolution in France with the most celebrated of other countries, he who has read, and reflected on what Englishmen properly call the Glorious Revolution of 1688, will find an amazing difference in favour of the latter. In our revolution, there were no massacres, plundering, or burning, no opposition of the people against the national assembly ; it was the whole country, almost to a man, receding from the chains of tyranny, in order to secure their laws, their liberty and their property ; and this they happily effected almost without bloodshed, and under the sanction of the laws of the country. The sacrifice of one Dutch officer, and a few private soldiers, who fell in an accidental skirmish, sealed this glorious convenant between Prince and people, and formed that constitutional basis which is the wonder and the envy of surrounding nations.’

Stamford Mercury, 7 August, 1789.

Street fighting tries to be fair in the face of overwhelming disparities : if a one-legged man fights a two-legged man, how do you bring about a level of equality to make the fight fair ? And was there any dough to be won ? Read on.

‘On Wednesday the 26th ult. a pugilistic contest, rather of a novel nature, took place at Bingham between a disciple of Esculapius, and a baker, both of that town : a great deal of chaffing took place as to the disadvantage the latter laboured under, the doctor being a biped, whilst the dusty knight was minus a leg : the dispute was, whether the contest should be carried on up and down (a-la-Lancashire), sitting, or be a stand-up fight : the last mode was determined upon ; and in order to bring things to an equality as nearly as might be, the knight of the lancet agreed to have a leg tied up. These preliminaries being settled, after peeling, they hopped to the scratch, and a furious set-to commenced : the baker’s oven waxing warm, set the yeast in his batch into such a state of fermentation, that being off his guard, his antagonist administered some bitter pills, let him blood pretty freely, and hammered away with nature’s pestles as though he had been braying in a mortar : but the crusty veteran’s choler abating, he, in his turn, kneaded his opponent’s dough in such a manner, that he reluctantly cried out “enough,” and the man of meal, crowned with bays, was carried off the field with all the uproarious eclat possible.’

Stamford Mercury, 4th April, 1828.

Celtic gold is unearthed quite regularly in the UK. However, irrespective of who found the treasure trove the Queen owned it all. In 1996, a new law redefined treasure and what must be done with it.

‘Extraordinary Discovery of Gold.–On Friday Mr. Kell, coroner for the Rape of Hastings, held an inquest “touching the finding and discovery of certain bars and pieces of gold,” in the parish of Mantfield, in East Sussex. Mr. Reynolds, solicitor to the Treasury, was present to watch the inquiry on the part of the Crown, and Mr. W. Savery on the part of two persons supposed to be interested. At the inquest, which lasted five hours, it was elicited that on the 12th of January last, William Butchers, a labourer, whilst ploughing, turned up what he took to be a quantity of old brass, connected by a series of rings or links, and extending about a yard in length. Each link was about an inch and a half long, and an inch wide. Butchers, on weighing it, found that it was a little over eleven pounds, and he sold it as old brass to a man named Silas Thomas for 3s. Thomas, in his turn, sold it to his brother-in-law, Stephen Willett, a cab-driver at Hastings, but who had at one time been a Californian gold-digger, and at once recognised the metal as solid gold. Shortly afterwards suspicion was excited from the fact that both Willett and Thomas appeared suddenly to have become possessed of a large supply of money, and the police were induced to institute inquiries in the matter. The result was that Willett was taken into custody, but afterwards discharged, on the ground that the Magistrates had no jurisdiction, and that an inquest before the coroner was necessary. In the meantime her Majesty’s Treasury, on being apprised of the discovery, directed an investigation to be made, when it was ascertained that Thomas and Willett had taken 300l. to the bank at Hastings, and opened an account there ; and by tracing back the notes it was found that a cheque had been given to Willett by Messrs. Brown, the gold refiners in Cheapside, in payment of a sum of 529l. for 123 ounces of solid gold. The jury, at the close of the inquest, returned a verdict to the effect that the gold so singularly discovered was the property of the Queen, and that Butchers, Thomas, and Willett concealed the finding of the same ; and it is understood that ulterior proceedings will be taken against the latter. It is believed that the bars of gold had lain in the field for nearly two thousand years, and that they were ornaments worn by the ancient Celtic Kings.’

Stamford Mercury, 3 April, 1863.

Three Tuns Public House was the cause of rivers of blood appearing in Brownlow Terrace, after three men were ejected from the pub to fight almost to the death, while the pub landlord stood quietly watching.

‘Three men, who appeared to be strangers, were drinking in the Three Tuns public-house, in Saint Leonard’s-street, on Monday evening last, and becoming quarrelsome they were turned out by the landlord to fight it out in front of Brownlow-terrace, where a most savage and brutal fight took place. After using their fists recourse was had to kicking each other in the most terrific manner about the legs and lower parts of the body ; then they fought with sticks and stones, knocking each other’s head against the wall and kerb stones until blood was scattered from one end of the Terrace to the other. The whole street was thrown into a terrible state of alarm, the bystanders expecting every moment that one of them must be murdered. Children and women were screaming and others fainting, and ineffectual efforts were made by some of the inhabitants of the Terrace to separate them, while the landlord of the Tuns stood quietly looking on at his door with his hands in his pockets. This house is said to be one of the greatest nuisances in the town.’

Stamford Mercury, 20 March, 1863.

The Lincolnshire Stuff Ball was initiated to encourage and promote the local manufactory and industry of the fabric known as Lincolnshire Stuff, which was made from the wool of Lincolnshire Longwool sheep, an important breed in the county. The rules for the balls stipulated that only Lincolnshire Stuff made from Lincolnshire wool that had been manufactured and dyed in the county could be worn, except gentlemen could wear silk stockings.  The first ball was held in 1785 at The Windmill Inn, Alford, Lincolnshire. By the end of the decade, owing to its popularity, it had moved to the County Assembly Rooms in Lincoln, but by the end of the nineteenth century the rules regarding wearing Lincolnshire Stuff had been abandoned in favour of much lighter fabrics, such as muslin. During the 20th century the tradition gradually lapsed.

"LINCOLNSHIRE STUFF BALL.
THE ANNUAL BALL and SUPPER will be held, in the COUNTY-ROOMS at LINCOLN, on TUESDAY the 28th OCTOBER, 1828.
Lady Patroness, Mrs. BOUCHERETT.
Stewards,
The HIGH SHERIFF, CHARLES WINN, Esq.
Sir EDWARD FFRENCH BROMHEAD, Bart.

Tickets, 10s. 6d. each may be had of Mr. DRURY, Post-office, Lincoln ; or from Mr. J. GRESHAM, opposite the White Hart Inn, Lincoln ; and it is particularly requested that they may be previously procured, in order to facilitate the entrance of the company.

Ladies are not expected to appear in Stuff as formerly : they are requested by the Patroness to adopt Ponceau as the prevailing colour in the Dress and Trimmings.–A specimen of the exact colour may be seen at Mrs. TURNER’S, milliner, High-street, Lincoln.

Our readers will perceive by advertisements in another page, that the Stuff Ball is fixed for the 28th inst. This annual meeting may be considered as the only full assemblage of the rank and fashion of the county, and is usually attended by many families of distinction from the neighbouring counties. The use of the stuff is now avowedly discontinued : it was latterly very little worn, and was never of the smallest effect towards its ostensible purpose. The ball in its present form, has become a species of fancy ball, and is in its effect highly pleasing, the colour fixed upon appearing under every variety of dress, material, and ornament ; some adopting the entire dress, and others using it only in the trimmings. The colour of the present year is, we understand, a kind of rich geranium scarlet, the exact shade of which may be ascertained, if thought necessary.”

Stamford Mercury, 10th October 1828.

In 1828 the plan for the diversion of the Great North Road in Stamford, so as to avoid the narrow bridge, steep hill and sharp turns, was considered an excellent idea by some. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!), it was never carried out – some things don’t change. Eventually the Stamford bypass was constructed.

‘At a meeting of the Commissioners of the South division of the road between Stamford and Grantham, in this town on the 18th inst., some discussion arose on the best means of remedying the present dangers and defects of the road through Stamford. It was strongly recommended that the road should enter St. Martin’s, from the south, a few yards West of the present street ; pass at the back of the George Inn, over a new bridge there, and over a second bridge (in the situation of the present Lamb’s bridge), to the sheep market ; and that from that point the road should be continued straight forward, through premises which now form the Millstone public-house, into the line of the present road at All Saints’ Church. This excellent plan would completely obviate all the objections made to the narrow bridge, steep hill, and sudden turns of the road as it now exists, and it is calculated that the whole improvement might be made for 5000l.’

The Stamford Mercury, 26th December, 1828.

Wedding presents originated in Wales? This article suggests that giving presents to the bride and groom before their marriage started in Wales.

‘CUSTOM OF WALES.–Marriage Portion.– The following curious document, among others, was circulated lately in the town of Carmarthen, South Wales. It appears to be a very ancient, praiseworthy, and laudable custom among some of the inhabitants of that part of the principality, by way of assisting young married people on their wedding-day, to purchase a few necessary articles to commence housekeeping, &c. —

“Carmarthen, Aug. 19, 1828.

“We beg leave respectfully to acquaint you, that it is our intention to enter the matrimonial state, on Tuesday the 23rd of September next ; and from the encouragement we have received, by the kind promises of our friends, we propose making a bidding on the occasion, which will be held the same day, at the Old White Lion, in Queen-street, where we hope to have the pleasure of your company and influence ; and whatever favours you may then think proper to confer on us, will be gratefully acknowledged, and repaid with thanks whenever required on a similar occasion, by your humble servants,

"Dennis Woods, currier. 
"Eugenia Vaughan, servant at the Ivy-bush Hotel."

“The young man’s father and mother (John and Anne Woods), his brother (John), and sisters (Jane and Anne), with James Powell, desire that all gifts of the above kind due to them, be returned to the young man on that day, and will be thankful for all favours granted. Likewise, the young woman’s mother (Elizabeth Vaughan), and her sister (Rebecca), and George Adams, of the Ivy Bush coach-office, with Anne his wife, request that all gifts of a like description due to them, may be repaid to the young woman on the above day, and will also feel thankful for any additional favours that may be conferred on her.”‘

Stamford Mercury, 21 November, 1828.