Tag: Stamford

What in Heaven’s Name?

There are over 100 types of clouds, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s International Cloud Atlas. Whether it was unusual clouds that appeared over Grantham in 1829, or a sign from the heavens, something strange was in the air as the sky over the town was transformed into something never before seen .

“On Tuesday evening the 6th instant the inhabitants of Grantham were agitated by a very extraordinary appearance in the heavens: about half-past seven o’clock the Eastern and Western parts of the horizon seemed as two prodigious columns of fire issuing from immense volcanoes; the clouds were extremely disturbed, and the rack, riding in opposite directions, portended an elementary war. The vane and steeple of the church were quite illuminated; and the effect produced upon the houses in the town (principally of brick) is scarcely to be described: they reflected a strong fiery red, and appeared as if viewed through one of Claude Lorraine’s glasses of that color. During the time of the curious appearance, which was nearly half an hour, the air was particularly close and warm: a considerable degree of anxiety was depicted upon the countenances of all who viewed the phenomenon, and in the impression of religious awe which the mind received, the beautiful idea of the Royal Psalmist was strongly enforced, wherein he describes the Supreme as “riding on the wings of the winds and directing the storm!” The unusual appearance had vanished by eight o’clock, but in the mind’s eye of those who had sensibly beheld it, left a trace which will long continue.”

Stamford Mercury, 16th August, 1811.

A Tipsy Cow

There are plenty of animals that are said to get drunk on their travels. Honeybees can get drunk off of tree sap and are often attacked by their sober companions, elephants on sweet fruits and monkeys in Caribbean hotel resorts sneaking sips of cocktails purchased by their guests. In 1829, one cow belonging to a merry man called John Bull decided it was her time to get tipsy.

“DRUNKEN COW.- John Bull is often drunk, why may not his cow get tipsy sometimes? A curious affair took place at Bulwell, Notts, on the 6th inst.: Mr. Adin, having been brewing some ale against the feast, set it outside the building to cool; a cow, attracted to the spot by the odour, tasted it, and finding it as pleasant to the palate as it had been to the smell, actually drank the whole, consisting of twelve gallons and a half! It did not seem to do her any harm.”

Stamford Mercury, 16 October 1829.

Fire at The Crown Inn

With heartbreaking scenes unfolding in Paris upon the fire of Notre Dame, it brings to mind the sadness many would feel if some of our own beautiful buildings in Stamford went up in flames. There are many jaw-dropping spaces dotted around the town that no doubt fear the consequences of a fire – in 1811, however, The Crown Inn, now known as The Crown Hotel, suffered a scare of its own.

“On Monday evening, about nine o’clock, a fire was discovered at the Crown Inn in this place. It was occasioned by some fire having communicated (through a flue of the scullery chimney) to a beam in Mr. Piercy’s bed-room, and had probably been burning many hours before it was discovered by Mrs. Piercy, who had been attracted to the room by the cries of one of her children, (a fine boy about 3 years of age,) who had not long been put to bed. At the instant she opened the door, a column of smoke extinguished the light of a candle that she held in her hand, and the room was soon after in a blaze. Her cries quickly brought Mr. P. to her assistance, who, with great difficulty, and at the hazard of his life, tore down some stout wood-work, &c. and so fortunately prevented the flames spreading further; had an interval of five minutes more elapsed, the child must have perished, and the whole premises would, in all probability, have been consumed.”

Stamford Mercury, 12 April 1811.

Caught with pork in Stamford!

Stamford has been known for many things: the Bull Run, Mid-Lent Fair and its array of beautiful, listed Georgian buildings. However, in 1811, it was also the place where a Jewish man was caught and accused of eating Pork.

“An extraordinary inquiry is likely to engage the next court of quarter sessions for Boston, in matter of indictment for an assault commited in the Jewish synagogue in that town one day last week. – Whilst the Rabbi was engaged in his religious duties, one of the circumcised fraternity, a travelling pen-cutter, interrupted the solemnities, and reproached him (the Rabbi) with the sin of eating pork at Stamford some time ago!  A warm altercation ensued; and in the end the accuser was thrust out of the assembly, in such a way as induced him to apply to the magistrates for warrants against three of the persons who put him forth (named Moses, Israel, and Solomon), for an assault.  The warrants were granted, and the parties, we are informed, have since been bound in recognizances to appear at the sessions.”

Stamford Mercury, 7 June 1811.

Where’s Your Bible?

It is not uncommon to assume that if the doorbell rings in the middle of the day, it is probably not someone you know, but someone trying to sell you something. In 1823, some gentlemen from the Bible association called upon a woman who most definitely had something to prove! Unfortunately, she gave away to them the fact that though she had a Bible, she had not looked at it for three years!

“Some gentlemen of the Bible association lately calling upon an old woman to see if she had a bible, were severely reproved with a spirited reply, “Do you think, gentleman, that I am a Heathen, that you should ask me such a question?” Then addressing a little girl, she said, “Run and fetch the bible out of my drawer, that I may show it to the gentlemen.” The gentlemen declined giving her the trouble, but she insisted on giving them ocular demonstration that she was no Heathen. Accordingly the bible was brought, nicely covered; and, on opening it, the old woman exclaimed, “Well, how glad I am that you have come: here are my spectacles, that I have been looking for these three years, and didn’t know where to find ’em” – Carlisle Journal.”

Stamford Mercury, 26 September 1823

The Ram Jam Inn: ‘House of Drunkards’

If you’re travelling on the A1 you will have seen The Ram Jam Inn. Originally a thriving coaching inn, it now sits on the side of the road between Stamford and Grantham, looking a little worse for wear. It is said that Dick Turpin was a frequent guest, with stories of the lawbreaker up-to-no-good at the establishment. However, in 1823, another theory of how the Ram Jam got its name came to print in the Stamford Mercury…

“Travellers on the great North road are puzzled with the meaning of the “Ram Jam House,” near Greetham Inn. The vulgar opinion has been that it arose from an unintelligible exclamation of a man made drunk with the ale he found there- “Ram Jam, by. G-!” The true origin of the word may, however, be found in the language of Indostan, where Ramjam signifies a drunkard. Ramjam house must therefore mean the house of drunkards, which probably was not the intention of the magistrates who renewed the license, nor of the respectable persons who keep the house- Rees’ Cyclo., art. Drunkenness”

Stamford Mercury, 23 February 1823.

The Philosopher’s Stone

Even if you haven’t heard of J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the philosopher’s stone is legendary. In 1823, a letter from New York states the efforts made to discover the stone and the philosophical instruments designed to bring about the creation of diamonds.

“PHILOSOPHER’S STONE.- A letter from New York, dated June 9, says – “If the long-sought-for philosopher’s stone, by which baser substances could be transmuted into gold, has not yet been found, an invention of still greater importance has at length crowned the efforts of American chymists. It has long been known that the diamond, the most precious of all substances, is composed of carbon in its pure state. But although the powers of chymical analysis have been sufficient by repeated experiments clearly to establish this fact, yet the knowledge of it was of no practical importance to the world, because the powers of synthesis failed, and no mode had been devised of imitating nature by uniting the constituents of this precious gem. In other words, the philosopher was able to convert diamonds into carbon, but he was ignorant of the art of converting carbon into diamonds. If the experiments of Professor Silliman can be relied on, this desideratum has in part been supplied. The last number of his Journal of Science contains an article on the philosophical instrument called the Deflagrator, invented by Professor Hare, of Philadelphia, by which it appears that charcoal, plumbago, and anthracite, have been fused by the power of that instrument, and transmuted into diamonds”. “

Stamford Mercury, 18 July, 1823.

A Curious Funeral

The act of body snatching wasn’t uncommon in 19th century Britain, so a grieving father went to extreme lengths to protect his son’s body during his funeral. Armed with wire and explosives, a crowd drew to the graveside as they watched the man pour gunpowder over the coffin. However, the gravedigger feared for his life with every shovel of earth poured – dreading an explosion!

“DUNDEE FUNERAL.- Curiosity drew together a crowd of people on Monday, at Dundee, to witness the funeral of a child, which was consigned to the grave in a novel manner. The father, in terror of the resurrection men, has caused a small box, enclosing some deathful apparatus, communicating by means of wires with the four corners, to be fastened on the top of the coffin. Immediately before it was lowered into the earth, a large quantity of gunpowder was poured into the box, and the hidden machinery put into a state of readiness for execution. The common opinion was, that if any one attempted to raise the body, he would be blown up. The sexton seemed to dread an immediate explosion; for he started back in alarm after throwing in the first shovelful of earth.- Scotch Paper.“

Stamford Mercury, 1 August, 1823.

Trampled in Red Lion Square

Nowadays, you will see more cars than horses on the public streets of Stamford. In 1826, however, Elizabeth Stockdale was trampled in Red-Lion square by a horse riding at great speed. After the magistrates had agreed on the recklessness of those who deliberately try the paces of horses in public, the offender was released from custody and left with a hefty price to pay.

“CAUTION.- At Stamford town-hall on Tuesday night, John Palmer, horse-dealer, of Oundle, was brought up in custody, to answer the complaint of Elizabeth Stockdale, whom he had severely injured by riding over her in Red Lion-square, about three o’clock in the afternoon. It seemed from the evidence of the poor woman and others, that Palmer, whilst dealing in the fair, and trying the paces of a horse, rode at a very rapid rate from Peter-hill, and suddenly turning into Red Lion-square, went furiously amongst a number of persons in that great thoroughfare, to the imminent hazard of the lives and limbs of all of them. Eliz. Stockdale and two children whom she had in her care were violently thrown down, and she was so severely hurt as to become insensible, until restored through the aid of a medical gentleman living near the spot.- Palmer attempted a vindication of himself by alleging that the horse which he had been induced to mount proved to be vicious and unmanageable, and he expressed his contrition for what had occurred. After some suitable observations from the magistrates on the scandalous carelessness of dealers and others who try the paces of horses in the public streets, Palmer was allowed to make satisfaction to the complainant for the surgeon’s charges and the injury she had received; and on further payment of fees, he was discharged from custody.”

Stamford Mercury, 10 February, 1826.

You’re Never Too Old to Give Birth

It has been heard that unplanned or unexpected pregnancies come as a shock. Visits to the doctor, thinking you have one thing and walking out knowing another. In 1827, Mrs Webb got the shock of her life when she gave birth to her first child at the age of 60.

“Mrs. Webb, of No.15, Bowyer-lane, Camberwell, a married woman, who keeps a little school, and is now in the sixtieth year of her age, was on Thursday night the 7th inst. brought to bed of a girl, after having been for some time treated for the dropsy, by Dr. Walshman; both the mother and infant are likely to do well. It is singular that Mrs. Webb had never before been in the family way: she consequently made no preparations for such an event, but was expected to die of the decline of life. Her husband, a labouring man, is older than herself, and she has occupied her present dwelling for the period of 42 years.- English Chronicle, June 12.”

Stamford Mercury, 15 June, 1827.