Mercuriosities

For those who like a puzzle, here’s a very old one, not just a puzzle but an acrostic rebus. Two weeks later the answer to this puzzle appeared in the paper, please see below. Did the lady appreciate it though?

“For the LINCOLN, RUTLAND, and STAMFORD MERCURY.

ACROSTIC REBUS,

On Miss ——–.

A Creature fierce whom Hercules did tame,

A goddess who for gard’ning is in fame;

A city where an ivory statue stood;

What queen Semiramis to build thought good;

The first idolator —a monarch he;

Join these initials and the name you’ll see

Of an ingenious, lovely, charming fair,

Who’s lately caught my heart in Cupid’s snare.

Stamford. LEANDER.”

Stamford Mercury, 2nd February, 1789

“For the LINCOLN, RUTLAND, and STAMFORD MERCURY.

Answer to the Rebus in our paper of January 2.

NO sooner I the th’initals [sic] had set down,

Directly then appear’d the name of BROWN.”

Stamford Mercury, 16th February, 1789

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.

Corsets were a necessity for previous generations of women. No respectable woman would venture outside without squeezing herself into the fashionable shape of the moment.

“Fashion Decrees that 1915 Costumes shall define the lines and assert the pose of the NATURAL FIGURE. The lines of Bust must be long and sloping, the front effect slightly incurved, and for the Hips absolute freedom.

NEVER WAS CORRECT * CORSETING * MORE NECESSARY.

Ladies relieve themselves and their costumiers of ALL RESPONSIBILITY by wearing CORSETS “La Cybele” (PARIS MODELS) which give the right poise to every figure and add a distinctive charm not to be secured by other means.

Prices from 4/11 to 3 gns.

Illustrated Book, “The Corset Beautiful,” or special portfolio of SELECT CORSET DRAWINGS free from

G. H. TURNER & CO. 3 HIGH STREET, STAMFORD.”

Stamford and District News, 7 April, 1915.

A few months later corset fashions had changed a little and the following advertisement appeared.

Special Display in Corsets

• SEE OUR WINDOWS
• J.B. Corsets 2/11 ¹⁄₂.
• From 1/11 ¹⁄₂ to 8/11.
• Meys Corsets2/11 ¹⁄₂.
• From 1/11 ¹⁄₂ to 8/11.
• G. H. TURNER & CO.,
• 3 HIGH STREET, STAMFORD.

Stamford and Rutland News, 25th August, 1915.

In earlier times whalebone was used as an added stiffener. Luckily, we can only imagine how uncomfortable these items of clothing were.

• “NEW PATENT, CORSET, THE DUCHESS.
• DIAGONAL WHALEBONE FRONT.
• PATENT TAPER BUSK.
• AFFORDS PERMANENT SUPPORT.
• REDUCES AND IMPROVES THE FIGURE.
• Secures a graceful and fashionable appearance.
• SOLD BY CHARLES CHARGE,
• 8 HIGH-STREET,
• STAMFORD.”

Stamford and Rutland Guardian, 27 December, 1878.

It seems this lady had become so ‘attached’ to her horned appendage (and vice versa!), that she was determined to keep it.

‘Copy of a letter addressed to Dr. B. Rush, an eminent American physician, by Mr. Geo. R. Morton, a medical practitioner at Marlborough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, dated July 18th, 1826, and published in the American Medical Review for October. – “I take the liberty to forward for you the following case of a horned woman, hoping that, from its very rare occurrence, it may not prove unacceptable. The account may be relied on, as many others besides myself have seen her, and as she resides but five miles distant from this place – Mrs. B—- aged about 76 years, the wife of a farmer of Bucks County, of a robust constitution, was affected, four years ago with a troublesome itching over the centre of the parietal bone of the left side. In a short time she perceived a hard tumour of a horny structure occupying the place thus affected, which continued to increase, so that, by the end of 12 months, it was one inch in length. Without any great pain, it has progressed in growth an inch every year, and is at present four inches in length, and as thick as one’s little finger. It is not attached to the bone, but is evidently an affection of the cuticle, commencing with a granular hour glass- shaped tumour of three eighths of an inch in length, from which the horn abruptly rises.

After growing straight for one inch and three-quarters, it takes a sprial direction, and has completed nearly a circular turn and a half horizontally about the diameter of a quarter dollar piece. In appearance it so closely resembles the horn of a buck sheep, that was it placed near a real sheep’s horn, it would be difficult to distinguish between them. It is of the same colour, a dingy yellow; is as perfectly hard; and has all the rings natural to a horn of that animal, tapering also, as it does, to the end. As is occasions no pain,excpet when a blow compresses its heavy base between the horn and the bone – as it is perfectly concealed by her head-dress, and on account of what is of far more moment with her, a superstitious belief that it is a judgement from above for some of her manifold sins, she persists all persuasion to have it removed.”‘

The Stamford Mercury, 24th November, 1826.

The Hope Post-coach travelling between Stamford and Doncaster had been established in 1826 and operated from Standwell’s Hotel, Stamford. When a competitor began operating from Doncaster in 1827, the proprietors of the Hope post-coach felt it their duty to take action to enable them “to withstand an unnecessary and monopolizing opposition”. Clearly, coach travel was a precarious but lucrative business.

“NO FEES TO COACHMEN ! DONCASTER and STAMFORD HOPE POST-COACH.

The proprietors of the above Coach have with surprise observed an advertisement in the Doncaster Gazette, which states that Messrs. Wood, Dunhill, Whincup, Horner, and Company, having discovered “that the towns of Doncaster and Stamford, and the intermediate places, are not well accommodated,” intend to set out a coach to run betwixt those places, to start at eight o’clock every morning, and to be called The Times,- which announcement seems intended to insinuate that the public on that line of road had been hitherto unaccommodated with a Day Coach running at the same hours,- whereas the truth is, that a Coach called The Hope was established nearly twelve months ago, on the same principle as the London and Bath Coaches, viz. the Company paying their own Coachmen, who are not allowed to ask passengers for any fee, and still continues to run, leaving the RED LION INN, DONCASTER, and STANDWELL’S HOTEL, STAMFORD, every Morning at Eight o’clock, and arriving at those places respectively at half past Six in the Evening.

The Proprietors feel it a duty due to their friends and the public to thank them for the support which The Hope has hitherto received, and trust that, by adhering to their original determination to keep one steady regular pace, they shall continue to receive such support as will enable them to withstand an unnecessary and monopolizing opposition. THOs, STANDWELL & Co.

Stamford, May 16th, 1827.”

Stamford Mercury, May 18th, 1827.

Local school events to celebrate Christmas are reported here. All the children behaved very well, but then buns and plum cake were good bribes!

STAMFORD AND ST. MARTIN’S INFANT SCHOOL –

An examination of the children of this school took place in the presence of their parents, of the Mayor (who is president of the institution), of the committee and visitors, on Monday last,and a more interesting exhibition it was impossible to witness. The most perfect silence having been obtained at the sound of the teacher’s bell,the children commenced by singing a simple hymn, which was followed by the form of daily prayer used at the school, in which they all joined. Another hymn was then sung, and was succeeded by what is called “actions”, a rapid movement of the hands and feet, the object of which was to keep up the attention. After this, the alphabet and easy combinations of the letters were sung,- a practice found to be very effectual in impressing on the memory the right spelling of the words,on the principle, we conceive, that no letter can be left out by the child, without being out of time. They were then examined in their multiplication , pence, and farthing tables,and recited various pieces of poetry adapted to their comprehension, and this part of the proceedings was concluded by another hymn. Buns and milk were then given to each child, and presents of handkerchiefs and work bags,made up by themselves, bestowed on those girls who best deserved them. The schoolroom was crowded with the parents and friends of the children, who appeared to take the deepest interest in what was going forward. The holidays are to last a fortnight, at the expiration of which we look forward to a large addition to the number of scholars. There are now 134 names on the boards.

STAMFORD GIRLS NATIONAL SCHOOL.-

On Friday last the girls belonging to this school were regaled with tea and plum cake, as a reward for their general good conduct since the last holidays. The number of children present was 114, four only being absent from ill health. After tea, prayers were said by one of the senior girls,and a considerable portion of the school joined in singing a hymn in a very pleasing manner. The children seemed highly gratified with their treat,and their neat and cleanly appearance reflected great credit upon their parents, as did their orderly behaviour upon the mistress of the school. This excellent institution has derived very material support from an annual ball, and we trust that the one we understand is shortly to take place for this purpose will be as numerously attended as usual.

The Stamford Mercury, 27th December, 1833.

A couple tried to get one over the Lord Mayor and parish officers of Bishopsgate, causing some hilarity at the Mansion House, but the Beadle and Lord Mayor saw through them. The newspaper reports some of the conversation in the vernacular; note the pronunciation of Vs and Ws.

“MODEST REQUEST. – At the Mansion-house on Monday, the overseers of a parish were summoned by Mary Gush, a young woman who has been almost from her infancy a dependant upon parochial bounty. She stated that now she had an opportunity of making herself happy and independent for life, the parish officers of Bishopsgate refused to do their duty, in helping her out of her present degraded state. She had been “off and on” at the workhouse for 15 or 16 years, and at last a gentleman in the carpentering line, named Bill Flockton, axed her to be his wife: as she was tired of a single life, and Mr. Flockton had a matter of 14s. a week, she consented, and she applied to the parish-officers for their consent, but they refused (laughter). – The Lord Mayor – I didn’t know that the parish officers had the power to prevent you. – The Beadle said he never attempted to exercise any any such authority, but as these marriages generally aded to the burdens of the parish, he ought not to encourage them. – Miss Gush – Please you, my Lord, I don’t want to be no burden to the parish. I wants to cut it altogether, and I’m blessed if ever I soil a pump in the workus again. – The Lord Mayor – But if the gentleman you love really loves you, why doesn’t he take you off at once and marry you?- Flockton- Why, my Lord, you see when a man goes for to give himself to a voman wot comes off the parish, they gives a summut jist for to begin the world with: now, these here gentlemen won’t give no sich a thing, and they couldn’t expect I’d take a poor creetur like this ere to be my wife without a summut for a fort’n, for I a’nt a living man if I a’nt able to eat all my own wittles myself (laughter). – The Beadle – Their object is merely to get a pound or two, and to spend it in drunkenness. – Miss Gush – What a thundering lie! (a laugh). My Lord, this here dirty old Beadle wants to prevent people from being modest and wirtuous. It’s a shame to let such willains live – they deserve to be hanged up without judge or jury. Don’t they, Bill? (laughter). – Flockton – And no mistake. Please you, my Lord, it is this sort of consarn as sends so many poor creatures upon the streets what havn’t got no house nor home, nor nothing, barrin the flags for to stretch their bones upon. – The Lord Mayor – I am afraid that if the parish were to give you a fortune, you would not do much good with it. The lady’s voice seems to be rather affected, and it really sounds in my ears as if gin was the cause of it. (The young woman’s voice had that hoarseness which excessive drinking, if it will not give, is sure to perpetuate.) – Flockton – No, my Lord, the creetur got cold by sleeping in the open hair. – The Lord Mayor – I can’t compel the parish officers to give you a fortune. – Miss Gush – What, not a lousy two pound ten! Then I’m blessed if we don’t find a way to burden the parish without marrying at all; won’t us, Bill? – Flockton – Blowed if we don’t (loud laughter). – This promising couple then moved off, the carpentering gentleman having put on his hat before he left the room, while the Lord Mayor assured them that if they were ever brought before him for any offence, he should not forget their conduct that day. – It was stated that they have lived together in Petticoat-lane for the last twelve months.”

Stamford Mercury, 27th December, 1833.

A Mr. R. W. L. wrote to the Editor from Peterborough enclosing this poem, about simplicity which he believed was “not inapplicable to the times”.

~~~~~~~~~~

PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY

'An old Maiden Aunt, whose locks, white as snow, 
Proclaim'd she was young some half cent'ry ago,
With significant nods and remarks very shrewd,
Thus accosted her niece, a gay, volatile nude:
"How degenerate the times - I remember the days
"When ladies wore handkerchiefs, aprons, and stays,
"And nobody dreamt of your muslins and lace;
"The virtue received an indelible speck
"If a female display'd but the top of her neck;
"But, now, you all show what was meant to be hid -
"Pray why can't you dress as your grandmothers did?"
"Dear Aunt, so I do; why don't you perceive
"We follow the fashion of grandmother Eve?
"If your argument's good, we can never be blam'd,
"Like her we go naked -
(Aunt) . . . . . . . . . .  . ."And are not asham'd!"'

Stamford Mercury, 16th August, 1816.

A Christian burial in a churchyard with a clergyman administering the last rites used to be everyone’s wish in Victorian England. Ultimately, the dead child of the soldier in this article had a better resting place than many paupers in the past. For the London poor a pauper’s burial probably meant sharing their grave with as many as 17 to 18 bodies and the grave was not closed until the quota of bodies was reached. Paupers’ graves were very deep, sometimes as deep as 58 feet and the smell could not escape, hence the gravediggers’ deaths.

“On Friday afternoon a private in the Guards, whose child died, wishing to bury it as decently as possible, borrowed a pall from an undertaker ; but on the funeral procession reaching St. John’s churchyard, Westminster, the sexton refused them admission without some particular fee for the pall. The soldier had no money, and at last he took the coffin on his shoulder and carried it to the grave, which had been given to him by the Churchwardens, on account of his poverty, without fee. He deposited the coffin there, and filled the earth in himself. A number of people followed him, but on their attempting to return they found that the sexton had locked them all in the churchyard. A most disgraceful scene followed, and cries of “shame” resounded from all quarters. Some of the most agile clambered over the railings, while others remained in the churchyard for nearly an hour. After the relatives of the child had gone, the Clergyman ordered the body to be disinterred, and he then performed the funeral rites over the child. The occurrence caused the greatest excitement in the neighbourhood.”

Stamford Mercury, 2 August, 1833.

Have you ever wondered how Tinwell got its name? This article gives some interesting place-name information and a little local history about Tinwell Mills from the Domesday Book onwards.

“By the Way.

TINWELL MILLS IN OLDEN DAYS.

In our report of the fire in our issue of last week, we mentioned that Mr. Starsmore had records of the mill’s existence in the days of Charles the first. We have since been reminded by a correspondent that in Domesday Book, or the survey made by William the Conqueror (circa 1075) it is reported of ‘Tedinwelle’ as it was then called that it was held by the Church of St. Peter de Burgh (Peterborough) and besides seven hides (120 acres each) and a virgate (about 30 acres) of pasture, and eighty carucates of arable land (about 960 acres) THERE WERE TWO MILLS and 20 acres of meadow, besides seven carucates held by 24 villaines and 11 borderers, villaines were villages and borderers from the Saxon word bord, a cottage, were cottages.

Then again in the 11th year of Henry the 3rd (1227), the King in a Charter of confirmation of its possessions to the Abbott and Convent of Peterborough mentions amongst other properties at Tinewell the ‘Mill and all the appendages.’

Tinwell appears to have been anciently written Tedinwelle and Tynewelle, from its situation near a spring or well in the meadows, near the river–Tede signifying hay grass and Ing a meadow.”

Stamford and Rutland Guardian, 26th February, 1916.