Mercuriosities

It is difficult to imagine today how a ‘darned fool’ might look, but even more what the dancing was like . . .

“A DARNED FOOL AT LANGHAM

WINS FANCY DRESS PRIZE:

Some original as well as pretty fancy dresses were to be seen at the annual dance in connection with the Langham and District Nursing Association in the village institute on Friday.

One lady had the pluck to go as a ‘darned fool’, whilst another, who called herself ‘No more strikes,’ was covered in spent matches.

This annual affair was arranged by Mrs. Mallory and the Nursing Association committee. and the awards of Lady Ainsworth and Mrs. Owen H. Smith were:-

Ladies: 1 Mme. Born (Darned fool.’), 2 Miss Mary Harris (No more strikes), 3 Miss F Cunnington

Gentlemen: 1 Mr. A. Moir (sailor), 2 Mr. Bob Revell (Little old lady), 3 Mr. Hinckley (Turk).

Children: 1 Mary Payne (gypsy), 2 Norah Hollingworth (Coronation year), 3 Reggie Squires (Red Indian).

The prizes were given by Mrs. Ruddle, the Hon. Mrs. Walsh, the Vicar and Mrs. Mallory and Mrs. E H. Hassan (Oakham).

About 120 danced to the music of the Four Ace Band, Mr. W. Porter Royce was M.C., and Mr. S Plumb door-keeper.

Mr. Gamble and Miss Rowett won a vanishing fox-trot*, and refreshments were served by Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Royce, Mrs. Rowett and Miss Close.

The organisers are very satisfied with the result in view of the fact that it was a wretched night and the fact that there were other local attractions. It is hoped that about £6 will be realised.”

The Stamford Mercury, 21st January, 1938.

*We have been unable to find out what a ‘vanishing fox-trot’ might be, but if any of our reader knows, we should be delighted to hear from you.

The Belvoir Hunt dates from 1750 and became a foxhound pack in 1762 (The Duke of Rutland’s Hounds). Since then the kennels have have been located at Belvoir Castle. It adjoins two other famous hunts: the Quorn and the Cottesmore. 

“THE BELVOIR.

The concluding meet of the season on the eastern side of the district took place on Friday at Weaver’s Lodge. There was, consequently, a large muster, including Lord Edward Manners (the field-master), Lord William Manners, Lord Robert Manners, Sir George Whichcote, Miss Whichcote, and the Misses Heathcote (Newton House). Hounds found a fox in Haydor Southings, which at the outset took a line as if for the Nightingale Bridge End-road, he ran very fast in the direction of Sapperton Wood. En route, however, he was apparently headed, and turning left-handed, he next bore towards Haceby. Hereabouts Gillard had a nasty fall, but happily escaped serious injury. In the meantime hounds had run on to Topp’s Spinney, where Reynard took another left turn, and he then proceeded to Newton Woods. Going through this covert he continued on to Newton village, where, getting into some gardens, he baffled hounds considerably, and they could do no further good with him. The fox, however, was afterwards viewed running in the direction of Newton Gorse, and although Gillard cast on, hounds were unable to recover the line. After drawing Sapperton Woods and Lenton Pastures blank the pack were taken on to Ingoldsby Wood late in the afternoon.

THE MASTERSHIP OF THE BELVOIR HUNT.

In consequence of the Duke of Rutland expressing his determination to cease hunting the Belvoir district at the end of this season a committee was formed for the purpose of placing the Belvoir Hounds on a new basis. With regard to the Mastership several offers have been received, but at a meeting of the committee held at the Guildhall, Grantham, on Monday, that which came from Sir Gilbert Greenall, Bart., of Walton Hall, Warrington, was accepted. Sir Gilbert, who was 29 years of age on Monday, hunted with the Belvoir Hounds two or three times during the past few days.”

The Stamford Mercury, 3rd April, 1896.

Lucy, Countess Baldwin of Bewdley was an advocate of improved maternity care and particularly making anaesthetics available to women of low income to reduce the pain of childbirth. Part of the new buildings she was to open at Stamford High School included the current hall. Previously what is now the dining hall had fulfilled both functions.

“LADY BALDWIN TO VISIT STAMFORD

TO OPEN HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Lady Baldwin, wife of Earl Baldwin, probably one of the most popular Prime Ministers the country has had, has consented to perform the opening ceremony in connection with the new buildings at Stamford High School, now rapidly nearing completion.

The ceremony takes place on Saturday, 2, April.

The new buildings include three class-rooms, an art room, chemistry and biology laboratories, a school hall, complete with gallery which will seat 300. cloak rooms, headmistress’s flat etc.

The stone-laying ceremony was performed by the Marchioness of Exeter on Thursday, 29 April, 1937.”

The Stamford Mercury, 4th February, 1938.

Three separate railway incidences in June and July, 1896 are here described. Even police officers, is seems, were not safe.

“THE OUTRAGE ON THE BRIGHTON RAILWAY. –

At East Grinstead police-court on Saturday Alfred Lock was charged with attempting to murder Miss Louisa Clarke in a carriage on the Brighton Railway on the 16th July. A second charge was now preferred against the prisoner of having assaulted Annie Pearce, nursemaid, residing at 43, Adys-road, East Dulwich, on July 10. Miss Pearce was on her way to Brighton, and the prisoner joined the train at Hassocks. As the train passed through Clayton tunnel she alleged the prisoner threw her on the floor of the compartment. She screamed and then became unconscious. When she came to herself the prisoner was standing over her and said he should not touch her. She got her hand to the communicator, but was afraid the prisoner would assault her again if she pulled it. At Preston Park the prisoner left the train hurriedly. She made no complaint till she reached her sister at Brighton. Additional evidence was given in regard to the assault on Miss Clarke. Dr. Hendley, Guy’s Hospital, described Miss Clarke’s injuries, and said that she would not be able to attend for another week. After further evidence the case was adjourned for a week.”

The Stamford Mercury, 31st July, 1896.

“THROWING STONES AT A TRAIN. –

A dastardly act was perpetrated on the Great Northern Railway on Monday as the train leaving Grantham at 3.23 p.m. for Essendine was passing Burton Coggles. A missile was hurled at the train, and a window of one of the compartments was smashed, the broken glass flying to the other end of the carriage. The occupants of the compartment were a young man living at Stamford and five members of the Stamford police-force, and the former narrowly escaped severe injuries. At first it was feared that his eyes were cut, but fortunately he sustained only a slight scratch on the face and forehead from the broken glass. The stone of other missile did not enter the compartment. On arrival of the train at Essendine the matter was reported to the station-master.”

The Stamford Mercury, 12th June, 1896.

The National Coal Board came into being on 1st January 1947, as part of the policy of the Labour Government which won a landslide victory in 1945. Herbert Morrison (Lord Mandelson’s maternal grandfather) was in charge of nationalisation until 1951.

“Bigger Bills.

UP AGAIN goes the price of coke and coal. No apologies – just a blunt announcement that ‘retail prices will be increased.’ No chance of a housewives’ strike, no chance of customers finding their coal elsewhere – the State monopoly permits no competition.

The simplicity of the nationalisation racket is terrifying. British Railways run at a loss, so freight charges go up. The Coal Board, therefore, must pay more for moving its coal. And it passes on the extra cost to the consumer. Household coal will cost up to 5s. a ton more. Industrial coal will cost an average of 1s. 6d. a ton more.

Without usurping the functions of Old Moore*, it is not difficult to prophesy future events. The British Electricity Authority and the British Gas Council are both state-run. They are both large coal consumers. A reasonable guess is that both will have to increase their charges.

Housewives, it seems, can look forward to bigger fuel bills all around. Industry, striving hard to keep down prices in the face of world competition, will have still greater difficulty in selling goods abroad.

It is to be hoped that delegates to the Labour Party conference at Dorking will bear these facts in mind when considering further nationalisation plans.”

The Stamford Mercury, 19th May, 1950.

*see his almanac.

William Morris was well-known as a member of the Arts and Crafts Movement and his textile designs are still familiar and used today.

“William Morris, poet, artist, archaeologist, and Socialist, died on Saturday at his residence, Kelmscott House, Hammersmith. Although Mr. Morris was known to be very ill, it was not thought that his death was so near, and the announcement that he had passed away has come as a shock to his many friends and admirers. His heath began to fail last February. Mr. Morris was born in 1834 at Walthamstow, Essex. His father, a well-to-do merchant, died when the boy was 10 years old, but left his widow and children in good circumstances. William was educated at Marlborough and at Exeter College, Oxford. He studied painting and architecture, but did not succeed in the former profession. In 1863, with several partners, amongst whom were D. G. Rossetti, Ford Madox-Brown, and E. Burne-Jones, Morris started in London an establishment for the artistic designing and manufacture of various articles, especially wall paper, stained glass, woven goods, and household decorations. At this business Morris worked as a designer, in which he gained no little distinction. He devoted his leisure to the composition of poetry. His first work, a small volume entitled ‘The Defence of Guenevere’ (republished in 1875), appeared in 1858. He published ‘The Earthly Paradise’ (four parts), three vols., in 1868 – 70. This poem is made up of 24 legendary and romantic tales in verse, recited by a company of travellers who had sailed westward from Norway to find the ‘Earthly Paradise.’ Only a day or two before his death, Messrs. Longmans and Co. issued ‘The Well at the World’s End’, one of the last of his prose romances. Mr. Morris also busied himself as a printer, issuing from the Kelmscott Press a series of very beautiful and sumptuous reprints of old works. For many years M. Morris has been a supporter of Socialistic doctrines, and he wrote and lectured assiduously in the cause.”

The Stamford Mercury, 9th October, 1896.

Following the robbery of a Glasgow bank, a portmanteau was sent to London and found there by the well-known Bow Street officers, Lavender and Vickery.

“ROBBERY of the GLASGOW BANK. – On the night of the 14th inst. it was discovered that the office of the Paisley Union Bank Company, Glasgow, had been entered, by means of false keys, and robbed of Scotch Bank-notes, Bank of England Notes, and cash, to the amount of 20,000 l. Suspicion falling upon three men, who for some days preceding had been seen in Glasgow, Mr. Campbell, an officer of the Police, at Edinburgh, and two of the Gentlemen belonging to the Bank, set off in pursuit of the robbers, who, as well as themselves, travelled in a post-chaise and four, and whom they traced to Darlington, and thence followed them, the London road, to Welling, in Hertfordshire, where they had left a portmanteau, to be forwarded to a person in Tottenham Court-road; and then went on in a chaise and four to town, and were put down in Coventry-street, where all trace of them was lost; but Mr. Campbell making application at the Public Office, Bow-street, Lavender, Vickery, and Atkins, three of the Officers, accompanied by Mr. Campbell, went to the house in Tottenham Court-road, where the portmanteau had been directed to, and where they found a box containing a number of pick locks, skeleton keys, and various other implements for house-breaking, and which, from being directed the same as the portmanteau, and an inn-keeper’s ticket found there, they had no doubt had been very recently sent to town. The Officers learning that the owner of this house was at present in the rules of the King’s Bench prison, went the same night to his residence in the neighbourhood of St. George’s Fields, where they apprehended a well-known character of the name of Hufton White, who, a few months since escaped from one of the hulks at Woolwich, On searching the house, the identical portmanteau was found that had been forwarded from Welling, but which contained only wearing apparel. On the person of White were found 16 guineas and some Bank of England Notes. Yesterday, White, and the man of the house where he was taken, where examined before Mr. Read, at Bow-street, when Adkins, the Governor of the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields, attended and identified the person of White, as having been convicted at the last Summer Assizes at Chester, for being at large within this kingdom before his former sentence of transportation was expired, and receiving a second sentence of transportation for life. White admitted the truth of this charge, though he denied any knowledge of the Glasgow Bank robbery. He and the other man were committed for further examination.”

The Stamford Mercury, 26th July, 1811.

The disappearance of a horse dealer evoked a gruesome murder twenty-five years before. The victim’s legs were witnessed by a small boy.

“COUNTRY NEWS

Northampton, Dec. 22. The following very extraordinary affair occasions great uneasiness in this town and neighbourhood. A Mr. Leppar, a very considerable dealer in horses, left his house in this town on the 27th November last, taking with him 500 l. in order to purchase horses for some fairs in Yorkshire, and leaving thirty horses in his stable, which he had lately bought to serve his customers. The time which he usually took up in performing this journey, was about five days. On the first day of his journey he was seen at Highgate house, about ten miles from Northampton. He left Highgate-house about eleven o’clock the same morning, and no tidings have been heard of him or his horse since. The pits in the neighbourhood have been dragged, and the woods, coppices and ditches searched in vain.. He wore a bay cropped mare, with a white face, two bar shoes before, which has been advertised hitherto to no purpose. – It is remarkable, that a travelling pedlar disappeared within a mile or two of the very spot where Mr. Leppar was seen last, about twenty five years since. When a short time afterwards a little child, about four years old, whose father and mother lived in a lone house in the parish of Holywell, told its playfellows, that ‘he could not help laughing at seeing the pedlar’s legs hang out of their oven.’ This being noised about, the later Mr. Rainsford, of Brixworth, a neighbouring justice, took the parents into custody. The woman confessed that her husband, with the assisstance of some other villains, had murdered the poor man in her house, and had buried him in the garden; but not thinking that concealment of the body sufficient, that they afterwards dug the corpse up, and burnt it to ashed in their oven. For this purpose they had made choice of the night, and had sent the children to bed; but, it seems, the noise which they made awakened the little boy, who, looking through the crack of the chamber floor saw the poor man’s legs hanging out of the oven. This circumstance produced the discovery, and, by the activity of the magistrates, the principals, and several others belonging to the gang, were executed.”

The Stamford Mercury, 2nd January, 1783.

People attending Stamford County Court were amused by the scene of two women coming to blows which took some time to dissipate.

“LIVELY SCENE IN THE COUNTY COURT

An almost incredible amount of ill-feeling was displayed in a case at the Stamford County Court yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, resulting in one of the liveliest scenes every witnessed in a local law court. The case was one in which Henry Lowth, labourer, sued William Burrows, quarryman, for 15 s./ and Lina Crowson for 10 s. All the parties live at Ketton, and the claim was for trespass by defendants’ fowls and destruction of produce of plaintiff’s garden. Mr. Law appeared for plaintiff. Bad blood speedily began to show itself, especially between Mrs. Lowth and Mrs. Burrows, – Henry Lowth said he has a garden, the produce of which was all eaten up by fowls kept by defendants. Witness said to Mrs. Burrows, ‘This has been going on for two or three years, and will have to be put a stop to.’ – His Honour Judge Wood : Then I suppose she has a turn. What did she say? – Witness : Nothing. – His Honour : Nothing? Then she is a most remarkable woman. (Laughter.) – Mrs. Burrows now stated that she had only seven fowls. – Mrs. Lowth (from the body of the court): She’s got 70. – Repeated interruptions came from Mrs. Lowth, who at this point was ascorted to the back of the court. She was subsequently called as a witness, and said that both defendants had a lot of fowls – about 70 each. – Defendants : Oh! – Mrs. Lowth afterwards said that Mrs. Burrows had four or five fowls and some chickens. At this point an indescribable scene took place between Mrs. Lowth and Mrs. Burrows, the court for nearly 10 minutes being in a perfect uproar. A wordy war ensued between the two, voices were raised, and harsh expressions were used. In vain his Honour appealed for order: Mesdames Lowth and Burrows held the field, and they maintained it against all comers, the people in court being convulsed with laughter. The war of words grew hotter and hotter, and at last fists were clenched, and each menaced the other with threatening gestures. The combat increased in fury, until eventually the contestants got at each other, and words gave place to blows. A sturdy police-sergeant intervened, but the combatants were not prepared to cease hostilities, and so some further assistance was secured in the form of the County Court bailiff. After some time the women, yielding to the pressure of the strong arms of the law, consented to stand apart, and although scornful glances and angry darts passed between them. their words gradually grew calmer, and a truce was declared. Something like quiet having been secured, his Honour said that the women had now had a good innings – Mrs. Lowth called her daughter, who said she had seen fowls in her mother’s garden. – Defendants said they had never seen their fowls in Lowth’s garden, Mrs. Crowson adding that she had kept hers shut up for six months, only letting them our for an hour a day, when she watched them, His Honour said he had no doubt that damage had been done, but evidence as to the amount was utterly vague. Mrs. Crowson must pay 1s. damages and Mrs. Burrows 2s. 6d. The case lasted nearly an hour.”

The Stamford Mercury, 8th May, 1896.

Giacomo Meyerbeer, was ‘the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Mozart and Wagner’. His life and achievements are well-documented in this piece.

“On Monday evening died, in Paris, Meyerbeer, the eminent German composer. The deceased was born in Berlin on the 5th September, 1794, and consequently at the time of his death was nearly 70 years of age. As a child he was extremely precocious and his musical talent came to him so early, that when only seven years old he was celebrated, and at nine a German critic spoke of him as one of the best pianists of Berlin. Under less favourable circumstances the lad would doubtless have been prematurely brought before the public as a prodigy, to contradict, perhaps, in manhood, the promises of his youth. But his father, James Beer, a Jew banker, was very wealthy, and Giacomo Meyerbeer, as the composer afterwards called himself, Italianising his name, only appeared occasionally, principally at amateur concerts, and had plenty of opportunities afforded him for study. With what result he availed himself of them is known throughout the world. Meyerbeer did not, however, at once obtain a high position in music. His first opera, ‘Jephtha’s Daughter’ was represented at Munich in 1813 with but indifferent success, but the numerous works he afterwards produced, and which extended over nearly the whole range of musical composition, secured for him a wide reputation, and proved that his talents were of no common order. Of these productions the ‘Crociato in Egitt0,’ produced in Venice in 1825, may be said to have laid the foundation of his European fame. In 1831 he produced his grand work, ‘Robert the Devil,’ and henceforth Meyerbeer was recognised as a master. The ‘Hugenots’ followed in 1836, and the ‘Prophéte’ in 1849, both operas at once taking that commanding position on the lyric stage which they have ever since maintained. ‘L’Etoile du Nord,’ a work in a different style, but distinguished by the same charm of genius, followed in 1854, and the ‘Pardon de Ploermel’ still more recently. It had long been known that the deceased composer had finished another work,’L’Africaine,’ and that his scrupulous, and perhaps fastidious, anxiety to secure for it a satisfactory interpretation has alone kept it from the public. Its production may now, it is to be presumed, be looked for at no distant date.”

The Stamford Mercury, 6th May, 1864.