Mercuriosities

Seaton Station served the villages of Harringworth and Seaton from 1851-1966.

“Seven Words in Six Letters.

One station on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, the name of which is made up of only six letters, nevertheless comprises seven words without making any alteration in the order of the letters.  This is the Rutland junction of Seaton and the words are

Sea.     Seat.     Eat.      At.

To.   Ton.    On.

This will, doubtless, be hard to beat and the attempt should form an interesting pastime for our Guild Members.”

Stamford Mercury, 26th February, 1932.

 

From 1777-1852 a tax was levied on households employing ‘non-essential’ male servants.  This was aimed at the wealthy who used personal staff, which were seen as luxuries.  Farm and industrial workers were exempt.

“The following is a return of a Lady in Bath, recently made to the assessors of male servants, horses, carriages, dogs, &c.

Not a male in our house,

Not so much as a mouse:

Not a horse, nor a dog, as true written;

For search house and ground,

Not a beast could be found,

But an hungry old cat and her kitten.”

Stamford Mercury. 17th July, 1801.

Perhaps this misunderstanding about dog licences had been perpetuated by the clerks themselves for some amusement?

“Humour in the Post-office

January is always a ‘harvest time’ at the Post-office ‘licences’ counter.  The postal officials, however, though possibly overworked at this period, contrive to get a good deal of fun as compensation for their extra labour in the issue of dog licences.

I was talking to one of the counter clerks the other day and he related to me some of his experiences in this connection.

Apparently, it is a common belief among ‘dear old ladies’ that a dog licence cannot be issued unless the dog itself is presented at the grill.

‘Here is Fido,’ they say, struggling to prop up some poor little animal against the counter, and , seemingly expecting the clerk to pat its head or give it a bone.”

Stamford Mercury, 22nd January, 1932.

The gold sovereign (valued at £1) disappeared from circulation in 1914 at the start of World War I, when it was replaced by paper money.

The Gold Rush

“It is remarkable whence all the golden sovereigns have come  since they became worth 27s. 6d.*  In Stamford a busy time has been experienced by jewellers and others willing to purchase them.

At the beginning of the war a call was made for patriotism.  With that call a request was issued for the payment of gold coinage into the banks.  No doubt many patriotic people did so enchanging it at par. but in the light of recent events it appears that not a few hoarded it in spite of the dire need of the country for the precious metal.  Now there is an opportunity of selling at a profit they disgorge their savings, but I wonder if they realise what they have lost in compound interest had the money been lent to the nation, despite the fact that they are getting 7s. 6d. profit at the moment?”

Stamford Mercury, 4th March, 1932.

* about £1.37.

This acrobatic dancer, Señor Donato, had previously been a bull-fighter, whence he obtained his injury.  He was very popular in England and on the continent.

“The theatre at Stamford was opened on Monday last for the Midlent season, by Mr. C. A. Clarke, who has introduced a partially new company, with a few old favorites, which seems likely to become popular.  The Lady of Lyons was well played on Monday evening, Mrs. Clarke very cleverly sustaining the character of Pauline.  Mr H. Windley has re-appeared, greatly to the gratification of the admirers of burlesque and broad farce.  Among the novelties is a one-legged dancer, alleged to be very clever: he is named in the bills as Donato, but whether he is the original Spanish dancer of that name who caused so much sensation in London three years ago is not stated.”

Stamford Mercury, 27th March, 1868.

 

 

Relationships can be very complicated.  Trying to visualise this family tree from Corby would give anyone a headache!

“An extraordinary relationship of two families living at Corby, Northamptonshire, – The master and mistress of one family are both father and mother, and brother and sister, to the master and mistress of the other family; consequently both grandfather and grandmother, and uncle and aunt, to their children: While the master and mistress of the second family are both brother and sister, and son and daughter, to the master and mistress of the first; also uncle and aunt, and cousins, at the same time, to their children. – The mistress of the second family is sister to her own father, and aunt to her own brothers and sisters.”

Stamford Mercury, 7th December, 1798.

Of course little girls like to wear make-up!

“‘Lipstick’

Preaching at Stamford recently Canon Hicks, of Messingham, referring to the increased use of cosmetics by members of the fair sex, asserted that, while he could understand the use of face powder to cover up a definite blotch or mark, he would defy any woman to look him in the face and say the the use of ‘make-up’ was a necessity of life.

This form of adornment has recently come in for considerable criticism, but it is no modern cult, as evidenced by the findings during the excavations in Egypt, where relics of what is presumed to be lipstick have been discovered.

In Stamford this week, however, was witnessed an episode which was very far from edifying.

Three little girls, whose ages ranged from about six to nine years, were seem busily engaged in front of a shop window. which was being sued as an impromptu looking-glass.  Closer investigation disclosed the fact that the youngsters, having purchased a small quantity of sweets covered with a red-coloured substance, instead of devouring them, were moistening their fingers, rubbing them on the colouring matter and endeavouring to emulate their elder sisters by giving their lips a ‘Cupid’s bow’ shape!”

Stamford Mercury, 18th March, 1932.

Stanley Spencer designed and built the first British airship (named, appropriately, ‘No. 1’)  which flew for 30 miles on 22nd September, 1902.  This is the story of a previous, doomed, flying machine.

“A tramp named William Williams was charged at Droxford on Monday with having set fire to a shed on Sunday morning at Denmead.  The shed contained the airship on which Mr. Buchanan, the inventor, had been at work for a considerable period, and which was ready for inspection by Mr. Spencer, aeronaut, on behalf of the syndicate which has acquired the patent rights.  The airship was completely destroyed.  When arrested Williams said he lighted a fire outside the shed because he was cold, and then smoked his pipe.  He was remanded.”

Stamford Mercury, 7th February, 1902.

Originally, fairs had a serious purpose, selling goods to the local townspeople.   Quite a contrast to the fun-fair we enjoy today.

Stamford Mid-Lent Fair

“This is one of the oldest in the kingdom, although the time of its establishment is not known.  King Henry the Third, about the middle of the 13th century, committed the custody of the fairs to John de Lemar to hold in like manner as the last Earl Warren had held them, from which it would appear that fairs had previously been held here.

In days of old, Stamford Mid-Lent Fair offered housewives the opportunity of buying sufficient commodities to last for the whole of the ensuing year.  On the north side of Tinwell-road, just beyond Roman Bank, pewterers vended their goods, from which circumstances it became known as Pewterer’s Hedge.

It is related in Walcott’s Memorials that at this fair in 1189 a number of wild youths of Stamford obtained money for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land by robbing Jews who had grown rich and powerful.  Many of the unfortunate victims took refuge in the Castle, their houses in the meantime being pillaged, whilst others, offering resistance, were put to death.”

Stamford Mercury, 11th March, 1932.

 

“TWO HUMAN SKELETONS UNEARTHED AT STAMFORD.

Workmen’s Discovery Whilst Laying Drains.

Whilst employees of Messrs. E. S. Ireson and Son were excavating in the yard adjoining Mrs. Starsmore’s shop in St Peter’s-street, Stamford, for the purpose of laying drains for two houses which the firm is building on the site for the Misses Starsmore, they unearthed, at a depth of about two feet two human skeletons.

One of the skeletons, which are obviously several centuries old, was practically complete, but both were damaged by the picks of the workmen before they realised what they were unearthing.

The skeletons have been re-buried.

It is conjectured that the spot at which the remains were found was the burial ground associated with Sempringham Hall, a monastic institution of the Gilbertine Order which existed in the Middle Ages, the site of which is now occupied by Messrs. King’s garage.”

Stamford Mercury, 10th February, 1933.