Mercuriosities

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.

A disturbing tale of energy and over-cleanliness in the domestic world.

“Energy is a delightful thing, quite natural to the young, though it sometimes needs more intelligent direction than its owners can give it – as in the case of the too zealous housemaid who, in cleaning her master’s study, destroyed all his manuscripts and correspondence in the belief that paper when once it was written upon was of no further use.  (The remarks made by the gentleman on discovering this clearance have not been recorded.) ”

Stamford Mercury, 7th February, 1902.

On a visit to the Cottesmore Hunt, the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) encountered an old acquaintance at Oakham Station.

“THE PRINCE AT OAKHAM

A Handshake for Insp. Bottom.

Following a day’s hunting with the Cottesmore on Wednesday, the Prince of Wales motored to Burrough Court, the residence of Lord Furness, where he had been staying for a few days, and where he changed his clothes, and then returned to Oakham to catch the 3.43 p.m. train to London.

Among those on the platform at the station was Insp. J.B. Bottom, of Oakham, who is well known to his Royal Highness, and the Prince, greeting the Inspector with a smile, inquired: ‘Well, and how is my old friend, Bottom?’ telling him that he was pleased to see him once again.

He inquired after the Inspector’s health and shook hands with him on his departure.”

Stamford Mercury, 8th January, 1932.

 

A rather whimsical item about being a bachelor received a sharp, witty response from a spinster.  Could this be the beginning of the dating agency?

“THE OLD BATCHELOR’S PETITION.

‘I wish I had been married thirty years ago; I wish a wife and half a score children would now start up around me, and bring along with them all that affection which we should have had for each other by being earlier acquainted.'”

Stamford Mercury, 18th May, 1804.

---

“THE OLD MAID’S PETITION.

[In reply to ‘The Old Batchelor’s Petition’, in this paper of May 18.]

‘I wish I was married, that I might be free from the chagrin and neglect with which an Old Maid is in general treated.’

ANONIMOUS.”

Stamford Mercury, 1st June, 1804.

It seems the Duke of Wellington allowed ‘fancy dress’ among his troops fighting in the Peninsula War.  This was not appreciated by their new Commander in Canada.

“A general order issued by Sir G. Prevost, shortly after the landing of the British Army, from Bordeaux, in Canada, has excited much comment and dissatisfaction.  It notices ‘the fanciful variety of dress, which the Commander of the Forces has observed in the troops which have lately arrived from under the command of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington,’ and desires ‘that the troops will in future confine themselves in their dress to the late Order issued to the Garrison.’ – The Heroes of the Peninsula, hurt at any thing implying a reflection upon their Chief, have expressed themselves in strong terms upon the introduction of his name in this way, considering it invidious and unnecessary. – Lord Wellington, we believe, indulged his troops in considerable licence, with regard to their dress, but all the world must allow that he fought them well.”

Stamford Mercury, 28th October, 1814.

 

It is amazing what one finds in churchyards.  This reader was so struck by two quirky epitaphs, that he asked the Mercury to publish them.

“To the PRINTERS of the STAMFORD, &c. MERCURY.

SIRS,

As passing through Elton church-yard lately, I saw the two following epitaphs, which I copied as to letters, words, and lines, which by inserting in your Mercury, you’ll oblige,

A CONSTANT READER.

Wansford, Dec. 28, 1789.

Aflicted Sorre Long i Boar fishans *

Trid in Vain But Now i Gon to

Endless Rest Christs Favour to

Obtain and We Hope our

Los Will Be Hur Gain.

---

Life Is a fable and things Show

It I Thort Sow Wonce But Now

I Now It.” #

Stamford Mercury 8th January, 1790.

 

*It is unclear what this word is.  We wonder if it is a corruption of ‘visions’.  Readers, please let us know if you can enlighten us!

#Similar to John Gaye’s ‘My Own Epitaph’ (1732): “Life is a jest; and all things show it.  I thought so once; and now I know it”

A liking for spirits and a disregard for fire-safety ended in disaster for two excisemen.

“On Tuesday evening died, in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Cotton, the excise officer, who was burnt on Monday night at Mr. Wright’s, distiller, in White Friars – The following is the fact relative to that terrible accident: On Monday night, about eleven o’clock the above officer came to relieve  another Excise officer then on duty, when they agreed together to go down into a vat that the spirits work into every day from the still, and which is every night pumped up into the store vats, and had been done for that night, that nothing remained but what the pump would not draw up, and some dirt which there generally is at the bottom of such vats, which are in constant use; however, the little spirit that did remain and was not fit for a person to drink, they agreed to get out to mix with some water; but when the man, who is since dead, was getting down into the vat with a candle in his hand, that ladder by which he was getting down flipped , and he tumbled into the vat, which was about five feet deep and the candle immediately set fire to it, he being in the midst of the flames; however, the other Exciseman got him out alive, and Cotton told the whole affair, with this expression, that, as dying man, what is related is the fact; upon which Mr. Wright immediately send him to hospital, and the other Officer to the Compter*.”

Stamford Mercury, 21st August, 1766.

* Compter (or  counter): a small English prison for civil cases, controlled by a sheriff.

Over a century before the Defence of the Realm Act introduced country-wide pub. opening hours, local bye-laws governed sales of alcohol on the Lord’s Day.

“The Town or Borough of STAMFORD, in the county of Lincoln } JAMES BATSON, Esq. MAYOR.

At a Meeting of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Justices of the Peace in & for the said Borough, at the Town-Hall there, on Saturday the 13th Day of this instant October,

It was ordered, That all publicans within the said town shall be prohibited from receiving or permitting guests to be or remain in their houses, on the Lord’s Day (except strangers travelling to or through the town), only between the hours of Five and Ten in the evening; and that they shall not be permitted to sell ale or other liquors out of their houses, except between the hours of Twelve and Two at noon, and Six and Nine in the evening.

And it is further ordered, That no tradesman or shopkeeper shall be allowed to keep open their shops, for the purpose of selling or exposing to sale any goods or articles whatsoever, after the hour of Ten o’clock in the morning on the Lord’s Day.

And it is further ordered, That the Chief Constable shall cause the foregoing orders to be advertised in the Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury, for the information and government of all the publicans, tradesmen, and shopkeepers of the said borough.

THOMAS BOTT, Chief Constable.

Stamford, 14th October, 1804.”

Stamford Mercury, 2nd November, 1804.