The Peterborough Book of Days E-Book

Brian Jones

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Serie: Book of Days
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 406

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Taking you through the year day by day, The Peterborough Book of Days contains quirky, eccentric, amusing and important events and facts from different periods in the history of the city. Ideal for dippin g into, this addictive little book will keep you entertained and informed. Featuring hundreds of snippets of information gleaned from the vaults of Peterborough's archives and covering the social, criminal, political, religious, industrial, military and sporting history of the city, it will delight residents and visitors alike.

Leseprobe

First published in 2014

The History Press The Mill, Brimscombe Port Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QGwww.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2014

All rights reserved © Brian Jones, 2014

The right of Brian Jones to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

978 0 7524 9381 7

Original typesetting by The History Press

TABLE OF CONTENTS

JANUARY 1ST

JANUARY 2ND

JANUARY 3RD

JANUARY 4TH

JANUARY 5TH

JANUARY 6TH

JANUARY 7TH

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JANUARY 28TH

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JANUARY 31ST

FEBRUARY 1ST

FEBRUARY 2ND

FEBRUARY 3RD

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FEBRUARY 7TH

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MARCH 1ST

MARCH 2ND

MARCH 3RD

MARCH 4TH

MARCH 5TH

MARCH 6TH

MARCH 7TH

MARCH 8TH

MARCH 9TH

MARCH 10TH

MARCH 11TH

MARCH 12TH

MARCH 13TH

MARCH 14TH

MARCH 15TH

MARCH 16TH

MARCH 17TH

MARCH 18TH

MARCH 19TH

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MARCH 21ST

MARCH 22ND

MARCH 23RD

MARCH 24TH

MARCH 25TH

MARCH 26TH

MARCH 27TH

MARCH 28TH

MARCH 29TH

MARCH 30TH

MARCH 31ST

APRIL 1ST

APRIL 2ND

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MAY 1ST

MAY 2ND

MAY 3RD

MAY 4TH

MAY 5TH

MAY 6TH

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MAY 10TH

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MAY 15TH

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MAY 22ND

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MAY 31ST

JUNE 1ST

JUNE 2ND

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JULY 1ST

JULY 2ND

JULY 3RD

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JULY 6TH

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JULY 22ND

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JULY 31ST

AUGUST 1ST

AUGUST 2ND

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SEPTEMBER 1ST

SEPTEMBER 2ND

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OCTOBER 1ST

OCTOBER 2ND

OCTOBER 3RD

OCTOBER 4TH

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OCTOBER 6TH

OCTOBER 7TH

OCTOBER 8TH

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NOVEMBER 1ST

NOVEMBER 2ND

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DECEMBER 1ST

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DECEMBER 6TH

DECEMBER 7TH

DECEMBER 8TH

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DECEMBER 10TH

DECEMBER 11TH

DECEMBER 12TH

DECEMBER 13TH

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DECEMBER 15TH

DECEMBER 16TH

DECEMBER 17TH

DECEMBER 18TH

DECEMBER 19TH

DECEMBER 20TH

DECEMBER 21ST

DECEMBER 22ND

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1798: Until wider town roads allowed carriages to go where they wished, and increased cleanliness encouraged walking, the wealthier Peterboronians – and ladies in particular – rode or used sedan chairs. In 1790, Mr Henry Walker of Westgate had introduced a sedan chair service to the Peterborough well-to-do. These were the taxicabs of the day with set fare tables, prebooking and tipping. However, they were not regulated, so it was very much a case of ‘user beware’. In late 1797, a committee was set up to organise the service and a letter of this date stated that: ‘the Gentlemen of the Committee for the Management of Sedan Chairs beg leave to acquaint the Ladies of Peterborough that they may be always accommodated with Chairs by sending their orders to Mr Henry Walker in Westgate, who is appointed the Master, and is therefore answerable to provide upon due notice given’. (Tebbs, H.F., Fenland Notes & Queries – Soke of Peterborough, Peterborough: Oleander Press, 1979)

1904: The 1903 Motor Car Act required that all vehicles had to be registered and display the registration marks in a prominent position. Peterborough’s prefix letters were ‘FL’. The first one – FL1 – went to local dentist, Mr R.S. Parris, on his motorcycle. By the end of the first week, four cars and seventeen motorcycles had been registered. By 1909, Peterborough had thirty-four motor cars licenced. (Mitchell, Neil, The Streets of Peterborough, Neil Mitchell; 2007)

1154/5: Abbot Martin de Bec died on this day after a short illness, having taken to his bed the previous Sunday. Abbot since 1135, he can be described as the founder of modern Peterborough. He moved the ‘vill’ (town) and its market from the flood-prone east of the abbey to the west; leaving the old St John’s church where it stood. He also built a new ‘main entrance’ to the monastery, still standing as the great West Gate to the cathedral and precincts, as well as repositioning the market. The latter lasted until 1968, and is now called Cathedral Square. He also laid out the roads of the town, and if he were to return today, he could safely find his way along all the town centre streets. He may, however, get a tad confused by the dancing fountains and Queensgate. (Mellows, W.T., The Peterborough Chronicle of Hugh Candidus, Peterborough Museum Society, 1980; Various, People of Peterborough, Peterborough Museum Publications, 2009)

1976: A major storm on this day did considerable damage to the cathedral; four pinnacles and half of the spire at the south-west corner were blown down. The repairs took two years, with four new pinnacles matching the damaged ones carved and placed into position and the damaged stonework at the base of the spire repaired. (Harper-Tee, John, ‘The Peterborough Story’, Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 1992)

1850: At this time Peterborough had two significant and long-established schools – The King’s School and Deacon’s School. The Times of London on this day carried the following advertisement with a box-number-style point of contact in Peterborough ‘School Assistants’: ‘A young man about 18 is wanted who writes a good hand, is well versed in arithmetic and has been accustomed to tuition. Salary £10 per annum, with board and lodging in the family.’ Which school was actually advertising was sadly not mentioned.

1928: On this day, a huge volume of water and broken ice swept into Peterborough from the upper reaches of the River Nene, swirling under the Town Bridge. The water depth gauge indicated that the river was 14ft 8in (4.5m) deep; nearly 6in (15cm) higher than the previous day and way above the norm. With the rush of water, the occupants of the cottages in the low-lying area near Bridge Street took refuge in their upper rooms. Notwithstanding the risks involved – no health and safety rules then – sightseers stood on the Town Bridge to view an immense expanse of water stretching across acres of meadowland, broken only by the treetops and hedges showing above the flood. (Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard)

1772: Mary Langton, in a will of this date, bequeathed the residue of her estates and effects – after payment of her debts, legacies and funeral expenses – to the minister and churchwardens of Peterborough, to be placed out on government or other securities. She directed that on the feast of the Annunciation (25 March) every year, they should distribute the interest thereof amongst the poor of the said parish not receiving alms, as they should think proper, so that no one person or family should receive more than 5s in one year. The clear residue of the testatrix’s estate, which amounted to £740, was laid out in July 1777 in the purchase of £945 7s 4d. Three percent reduced annuities. By 1831, this was still held in the names of Messrs J.W. Clark, Benjamin Bull (both by then deceased), William Simpson and James Hayes, with ongoing discussions regarding a proposal to transfer the stock to new trustees. It was agreed that the dividends – then £28 7s 2d a year – would be distributed as required by the minister and church wardens among the poor persons belonging to the parish, and not receiving parochial relief, in the sum of 2s 6d each. (Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons and Command)

1928: On this Thursday the great flood that had hit Peterborough on Tuesday, and caused significant damage on Wednesday, showed signs of easing. There was an absence of the ice blocks that had been in evidence earlier in the week. The current was still exceptionally strong and the gauge at the bridge showed the water nearly 1ft higher than before, at 15ft 6in (4.75m) deep. A local waterman who ‘knew about such things’ suggested that, provided it didn’t rain in the next twenty-four hours, the floods had reached their maximum, pointing out that with such a wide expanse of meadowland now taking the water, further rises in the water level were unlikely. However, the flow caused two untenanted houseboats to break from their moorings just above the Great Northern railway bridge and get swept downstream towards the Town Bridge. One became partially submerged and gradually sank, until it could pass under the bridge arches. However, as it passed under the bridge, the roof came off second best in the collision and was wrenched off. The other houseboat had swung round broadside to the bridge, and was eventually towed off and moored – thankfully, not too much worse for wear, it would seem. (Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard)

1928: ‘Fox and Hounds Inn Gutted by Fire’ was the Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard’s headline on 13 January. It contained a graphic description of the previous Friday’s devastation in the village of Longthorpe – a day full of incident such as it had never experienced before. It described how, following the gale that had swept the countryside during the earlier part of the day and played havoc with trees, roofs and chimney pots and caused general uneasiness among many householders, the inhabitants of Longthorpe were preparing to settle down to a night of calm. That calmness was shattered when the alarm was raised. The Fox & Hounds Inn, an old and picturesque stone structure with a thatched roof standing on the main Peterborough to Wansford road, was completely gutted by fire. After many strenuous hours of fighting the flames by the Peterborough brigades, only the four walls, remnants of the ceiling and centre chimney stack were left standing. Happily, the wind had dropped to a considerable degree when the outbreak occurred, but despite this, the sparks flew in all directions, which created the danger of neighbouring thatched roofs being ignited. A careful watch was kept and a supply of water in readiness in case of such an emergency.

1536: It was on this day that Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’S first wife, died at Kimbolton Castle. Catherine always referred to herself as Henry’s only lawful wedded wife and England’s only rightful queen. In late December 1535 she penned one final letter to Henry, addressing him as her ‘most dear lord and husband’. She is buried in Peterborough Cathedral and her resting place continues to attract many visitors from the world over. (Jones, B.R., A Monumental & Memorial walk around central Peterborough, TalkingHistory, 2004)

1897: Peterborough’s late Victorian shopkeepers were tough traders: cutting prices and recycling was far from unusual. The following advertisement in the Peterborough Advertiser is quite typical:

BEDDING – quotations given for re-making all kinds of bedding. We are doing a large wholesale trade in this department, and defy competition for price, quality, make and wear. CASH CUSTOMERS should try us before buying elsewhere, as we never refuse a price for any of our goods if we have to SELL AT COST PRICE. Get your prices elsewhere and see if you don’t save at least 3/- in the pound by offering us your READY MONEY. We shall never refuse cash so try us. We shall always be pleased with your offer even if you don’t buy. Try the LONDON FURNISHING CO., Long Causeway, Peterborough.

1941: One result of the defence and security measures put into place in the city during the Second World War was that they often caused different but equally dangerous situations. One such example occurred on this particular Wednesday. At 9.25 a.m. on this wet morning, Lance Corporal Dubock of the Military Police Corps was riding his motorcycle and sidecar along Lincoln Road, towards the junction with Alma Road, when he lost control on the wet road. He skidded into the path of an oncoming car, driven by a Mr Tucker. The impact threw him over the car’s bonnet onto the end of a roadside air-raid shelter before he hit the ground between the shelter and a tree. Within fifteen minutes he was admitted to hospital, but died at 9.20 p.m. that evening. At the inquest the following day, Mr Tucker suggested that the air-raid shelter was in a rather dangerous position to both traffic and pedestrians. The coroner agreed, noting that most had been built on the roads due to the lack of space on the pavement, thus causing vehicles to pull out further than usual to see around bends and corners. A verdict of accidental death was returned. (Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1939-45, David Gray, 2011)

1892: During the summer of 1891, Mr and Mrs Rimes and their three boys moved into a house on Mayor’s Walk. They were joined by Mr Want, her brother, and Mr Easy, her brother-in-law, as lodgers. Mr Rimes worked nights as a ‘special labourer’ on the railway. From late October 1891 to the early days of January 1892, Mrs Rimes, the boys and the lodgers rarely had a good night’s sleep. The Peterborough Advertiser records that during the night-time hours, the family heard ‘most unwelcome and unexpected rappings at the front door and against the partition wall of the building – noises most unmistakable and unwelcome’. The boys often experienced midnight intrusions and, on one occasion, both lodgers and the boys were all ‘suddenly deprived of their bed coverings’. It came to a climax during the night of 29 December 1891, when those in the house heard something that they described as ‘a huge sack of coals toppling pell-mell down the stairs’. The neighbours heard the noise as well and said it sounded like ‘a cannon going off’. Several witnesses said that the ‘troubles’ were always preceded by a low humming sound, like that made by a rushing wind. The Rimes family moved out and nothing similar has been reported since.

1797: During a spring clean in 1922, Mr G.C.W. Fitzwilliam of Milton Hall found a sixteen-page printed book, dated 1798. The book recorded the rules of the Peterborough Agricultural Society and a report of its first meeting on this day in 1797. Until the discovery of this book, the society only had records dating back to the 1830s, which had always been considered to be its founding. The book proved that wrong: it was in fact on Tuesday 10 January 1797, at a meeting held at the Angel Inn, Peterborough – under the chairmanship of Mr William Waller – that the Peterborough Agricultural Society was formed. The Earl Fitzwilliam had been elected the first President. At the first society show, the sum of 10 guineas was offered to any member of the public in general – most likely someone who worked the land for his livelihood – who would communicate to the society an effective method of destroying the wireworm in the land with perhaps an ulterior motive: two guineas were offered to the labourer in husbandry who had brought up the most numerous family without parochial assistance! (Tebbs, H.F., Peterborough, Oleander Press, 1979; Mellows, W.I., ‘Peterborough’s Municipal Jubilee’, Peterborough Standard, 1924)

1794: John Hinchliffe had been Bishop of Peterborough for almost twenty-five years when he died on this day after a long and paralysing illness. As bishop, he played an active role in the House of Lords during the American Revolutionary War. From 1789 until his death, he also fulfilled the role of Dean of Durham – a very long way to commute to fulfil his duties there! He was at university with Richard Cumberland – later a noted dramatist and civil servant – who had described John as ‘an undergraduate below my station’. Much later he wrote that ‘Hinchcliffe might well be called the child of fortune, for he was born in penury and obscurity, and was lifted into opulence and high station not by the elasticity of his own genius, but by that lucky combinations of opportunities, which merit has no share in making, and modesty no aptitude to seize’. I’d love to know what John’s view of Richard was. (Carnell, Geoffrey, The Bishops of Peterborough 1541–1991, RJL Smith & Associates, 1993)

1977: Peterborough and its surroundings abound with ancient habitation; archaeology is everywhere. It was on this day that Peterborough’s mayor, the Development Corporation chairman and many others gathered for the formal opening of the Archaeological Field Centre in Ham Lane, Orton Waterville – the first purpose-built archaeological field centre in the country. (Wild, J.P., Durobrivae – a review of Nene Valley Archaeology 5, Nene Valley Research, 1977)

1850: Today’s London Daily News raised a question with regard to the Game Act 1831 as it stood and the burden it placed on the County Rates. Major landowners bred animals for their table (or allowed natural breeding to take place). Many families, though, were perpetually short of food, especially meat. As a result, poaching in rural England was widespread. It was also a criminal offence – and getting caught usually meant prison. The bald facts presented by the Daily News ran as follows: ‘We hear that no less than twenty-five men have been committed to Peterborough gaol within 13 days for committing trespasses in pursuit of game upon lands belonging to the Marquis of Exeter [the owner of Burghley House and its expansive estates].’ Prison meant the family lost its breadwinner and frequently, therefore, became a cost on the Poor Law rates. The imprisoned poacher also cost the state money – and on his release would have a criminal record and therefore find it difficult to get work. It created a vicious downward spiral … but for what? The crime was for trespass with intent rather than theft. What was true here in Peterborough was true through most of the kingdom. Soon the laws would start changing – but too late for these Peterborians.

1719: When Thomas Deacon died on 19 August 1721, his will – dated 13 January 1719 – changed the lives of many people, both at that time and to this day. Throughout his life he had been influential in the life of the town. He was a major landowner in and around the town, a feoffee (a trustee who holds an estate in land, for the use of a beneficial owner), a Governor of the Town Estates and a significant member of the woollen trade in the town. His will left the bulk of his land to St John’s church and the town feoffees with the strict instructions that all the profits were to be used for charitable ends. One such end was that a school, with a schoolhouse, should be set up in Peterborough for the teaching and instructing of twenty poor boys whose parents had assets worth less than £50. The boys were to be taught to read, write and cast accounts and, in due time, should be placed as apprentices. The school closed and reopened in 2007 as the Thomas Deacon Academy, in buildings that OFSTED described as ‘impressive and thoughtfully designed’. (Miller, Julie, People of Peterborough, Peterborough Museum Publications, 2009)

1837: St Peter’s Freemason’s Lodge was founded in 1802, and over the next twenty years, they moved premises a number of times. In 1822 the lodge was located at the Windmill Inn (where Barclays’ city centre branch is now) when, through lack of activity, the Grand Lodge erased it from membership. However, some of the members continued to meet as friends at the Windmill. Then, one evening in 1836, Thomas Ewart, a grocer new to Peterborough, joined them for a drink. Talk turned to Freemasonry and Thomas persuaded the group to re-form their lodge. Having been persuaded, they applied for a new warrant, were accepted and St Peter’s Lodge was finally reconsecrated on this Saturday, with Thomas Ewart as their first master. All that was needed now was the formal evening meal – known as a Festive Board. Unfortunately, there was no food available at the Windmill, as the landlady had passed away just before the consecration ceremony took place. Undeterred, the group crossed the Market Place to The Talbot and dined well. They didn’t desert the Windmill though – they just seem to have added to their rules that there was to be no eating or drinking at the Lodge meetings. (Peterborough Local History Society Magazine)

1889: The Peterborough Advertiser of 19 January carried a small article on a woman who went by the name of Alice McKenzie. It reported that at 10 a.m. on 15 of January, she had entered Mrs Popp’s pork butcher’s shop in Long Causeway and purchased a pennyworth of ‘chitterlings’ (the small intestines of a pig), which she immediately devoured in the shop, in such a hurried way that Mrs Popp formed the distinct impression that she was starving. Having eaten these she demanded more – for free. Mrs Popp called for help from the police – more, she said, to get Alice out of her shop than to have her arrested. When PC Smith arrived, he took Alice out of the shop and straight to the police station in Milton Street – with Alice singing her head off. At the station she was charged with begging, but at the court hearing, the chairman of the bench stated that there was no basis for a conviction and Alice was free to go. Six months later, the national newspapers were reporting on Alice McKenzie again. She had been found dead in Castle Alley, Whitechapel. Could she have been the eighth and final victim of Jack the Ripper? (Peterborough Local History Society Magazine)

1818: What was described as a numerous and highly respectable meeting, with the Rt Hon. Earl Fitzwilliam in the chair, was held at Peterborough Town Hall on this Friday for the purpose of ‘taking into consideration the most efficient measures for the establishment of a Savings Bank in that city for the benefit of its industrious poor inhabitants and those of its neighbourhood’. The savings bank was to be formed for ‘the purpose of providing a secure and profitable investment for the savings of the frugal and industrious of the community’. It would be achieved as follows:

[by] establishing and maintaining an Institution to receive deposits of money for the benefit of the persons depositing the same and to accumulate the produce of so much thereof as shall not be required by the depositors, their executors or administrators, to be paid in the nature of compound interest; and to return the whole or any part thereof to the depositors, their executors or administrators deducting only out of such produce so much as shall be required to be retained for the purpose of paying and discharging the necessary expenses attending the management of such institution according to the regulations herewith specified.

(Huntingdon, Bedford and Peterborough Gazette)

1897: Two Salvation Army Officers, armed with the requisite brooms and suitably rigged, ragged and disguised, practised the art of ‘faking’ – the name given to crossing sweeping by professionals. Relating their experiences – extended over a considerable time and a wide area – the amateur sweepers arrived at the conclusion that unless one had a really good crossing, and that, too, on a very muddy day, pence were few. If the road was fairly clean the average man in the street was apt to treat the mournful ‘faker’ – although he simulated the most racking cough – with scorn by crossing beside, not on, the cleanly swept path. At the same time the investigating Salvationists brought the knowledge that there are crossing sweepers who manage to make a decent living, but by also working up a connection in window cleaning, running errands, and doing odd jobs in genteel neighbourhoods. However, the poor fellow who spends his last copper in the purchase of a penny second-hand broom, and sallies in search of a crossing to sweep, may well deem himself fortunate if at the end of the day he has gained enough to secure a shelter for the night and food for the morrow. (Peterborough Advertiser)

1929: On this Friday, the Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard carried a report on a court case concerning bus proprietor Thomas Arthur Smith of Bourne, who pleaded not guilty to a summons for driving a motor bus at a speed exceeding 20mph at Werrington on 15 December 1928. PC Trundle stated that he had followed the bus on his motorcycle and found it to be travelling at 32mph. Under cross-examination, he said that he would not consider it excessive if the defendant allowed an hour to travel from Bourne to Peterborough. Smith responded that he had been warned that there was a speed trap being used and was careful not to exceed 20mph. Under oath, he said that he left Bourne a few minutes after 10 a.m., was stopped by the policeman for not quite ten minutes and arrived at Peterborough at 11.15 a.m. Mr Brompton Wadsley of Thurlby, an agent to the Central Sugar Beet Co., stated that he could see the speedometer all the way and the speed was never more than 20mph. He had an appointment in Peterborough and became rather anxious, because the bus was going slowly. The defendant was found guilty and fined £1.

1893: Following a proposal by Alderman Percival, the city obtained a Merryweather & Sons steam fire engine, ‘for the better protection of life and property’. It arrived on this day. during the mayoralty of Joseph Clifton. In 1882, Clifton had moved from Stamford, where he had been landlord of the Crown Hotel, to Peterborough to take charge of the Angel Hotel on Narrow Bridge Street. In 1884, he joined the Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade and became its captain in 1890. He was also a great supporter of the city Fire Brigade. During this time, he kept the volunteers’ firefighting equipment in the coach house attached to the Angel Hotel. To mark his long-standing support of the fire services in Peterborough, the ‘Merryweather’ – Peterborough’s first steam fire engine – was named ‘The Clifton’. (Mellows, W.I., ‘Peterborough’s Municipal Jubilee’, Peterborough Standard, 1924)

1988: The Peterborough Evening Telegraph reported on this day that, despite city councillors having decided that extra security for city flats was needed to beat thieves, vandals, vagrants, and the like, their £475,000 scheme for entry phones and electric locks for every flat would not be completed until 2004, unless extra cash was found.

1928: The rail yards of Peterborough were a dangerous place to work. On this Friday evening, a horse was killed and its attendants had a narrow escape when a number of shunting trucks crashed into a lorry at the wharf sidings at Peterborough East station. The lorry, loaded with three tree trunks weighing about 3 tons, belonged to Mr Charles Baker of Woodston, and was in charge of his son, Mr Alfred Baker, and Mr W. Stimson. Drawn by three horses in single file, it had cleared the shunting lines, but the end of one of the trees overhung the track. The foremost of six railway wagons crashed into the obstacle with such force that the lorry was pushed over, the trees rolling to the ground. The horse nearest the lorry fell, and was pinned down by one of the trunks, which lay across its hindquarters, although the two attendants jumped clear of the falling trees. The unfortunate animal died almost immediately, despite the timber being quickly dragged clear by willing assistants. The other two horses were not hurt, but the shafts were broken. The side of the lorry which came into contact with the truck was badly damaged. (Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard)

1898: The carriage works of Brainsby’s in Cumbergate, along with two shops in Westgate, in the occupation of Messrs Baker & Cooper, were destroyed by a major fire. This area later became the rear access to the post office’s parcel depot. The firm would rise again as Thomas Brainsby & Sons in 1905, building bodies for such cars as Crossley, Fiat and Hotchkiss, as well as a fair number for Rolls-Royce. The company faded away in the 1920s then re-appeared as Brainsby-Woolard, constructing coach-built bodies. This firm was a partnership between the original Brainsby family and a salesman by the name of Charles Harry Woolard. It ceased operation in 1936. (Mitchell, Neil, Streets of Peterborough, 2007; Mellows, W.I., ‘Peterborough’s Municipal Jubilee’, Peterborough Standard, 1924)

1929: An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was discovered on this Monday morning among dairy cows at the farm of Mr William Heading at 210 Lincoln Road, Walton. The owner noticed that one or two of his cattle were not well and reported the matter to the police; later that day an inspector from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (now known as Defra) confirmed the disease. A restriction order covering a 15-mile radius from Walton was declared and a ministry official became resident in the city. This outbreak was nearer the city than had ever occurred before and all appropriate people were advised that ‘too much precaution cannot be taken’. A total of thirty-four cattle and six pigs were destroyed. (Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard)

1991: This Tuesday was Princess Diana’s first official visit to the city. Her prime reason for the visit was to attend the World Leprosy Day service at the cathedral. Afterwards, on her way to the Town Hall to see the Eurotunnel Exhibition, she flouted the formality of royalty and indulged in a walk down Bridge Street to chat to the crowds, many of whom had been waiting for three hours or more for her. She lunched at the Haycock at Wansford, where the guests had paid £100 or more each for the privilege, all the money going to help build a leprosy hospital in Thailand. Diana then returned to Peterborough to visit the Sue Ryder Home at Thorpe Hall, where she met Lady Ryder. She then spent some time talking to the staff as well as the people who were involved in getting the building into shape. The princess’ day ended with a visit to the King’s School as a part of its 450th anniversary commemoration. She made a return visit to the area in May of the same year, when she visited RAF Wittering with Prince Harry. The 7-year old was ‘pleased as punch’ to be allowed to sit in the cockpit of a Harrier jump-jet. (Harper-Tee, John, ‘The Peterborough Story’, Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 1992)

1903: It was on this Friday that the long-delayed Board of Trade inspection of Peterborough’s new tram system took place – officialdom always takes its time, you know. Two trams left the depot for the Market Place to pick up the official parties. When everyone – including the inspectors – was on board the first car, the driver set off with a fearful jerk, throwing virtually all the officials off their feet! One wonders if this was a case of nerves, carelessness or intent – we’ll never know that. However, the driver reversed the car, made a fresh start and moved off in an extremely smooth manner. The second car followed on, carrying several members of the council and members of the press. Despite this faulty start, the trams passed the test with flying colours. The Peterborough tram service was formally approved and trams from Long Causeway to Walton and Dogsthorpe were able to start carrying passengers. At this time, the Peterborough Electric Traction Co. had twelve open-top trams for the service. Why, you may ask, were the trams open top? It was because roofed trams would have been too high to pass under the Rhubarb Bridge! (Mitchell, Neil, Streets of Peterborough, 2007; Peterborough Advertiser)

1798: At a previous meeting, the ‘Gentlemen of the Committee for the Management of Sedan Chairs’ had discovered that many of the sedan chairmen – the men who carried the passengers – had been underpaid. As a result, in a meeting held on this day, they issued a tariff of fixed rates. Notification of this tariff was to be in clear view of users. ‘Taking a passenger to and from a dinner or tea visit would be charged at one shilling. If the passenger was to be taken to or from an Assembly or a Ball the charge would be one shilling and six pence. Furthermore – if the chairman was kept waiting beyond the usual time at which they are ordered to attend, they shall, after having given notice they are in waiting, be allowed additional payment at the rate of sixpence for every half hour waiting. However, the extra fare was not to be extended to the monthly assemblies.’ A proviso also advised that the person to be carried must not exceed 20 stone in weight! The last sedan chair hired was for Miss Percival in 1864. (Tebbs, H.F., Peterbrough, Oleander Press, 1979; Mitchell, Neil, Streets of Peterborough, 2007)

1913: At the monthly meeting of the Peterborough Rural District Council on this Saturday there was a deep debate recorded by the Peterborough Citizen the following Tuesday under the headline ‘Castor invasion by Peterborough house hunters – What Castor Expects’. Peterborough was expanding and new houses were desperately needed, leading to what we now call ‘Not in my backyard’ syndrome rearing its head. Castor parish council did not think it was desirable to erect the proposed houses and suggested a different type of house, each having a rood of land and being more suitable for widows and retired men. Cllr Goodyer argued that the new houses should be for working men, as there were already more cottages for the elderly than workers in Castor. Cllr Kemp, however, commented that there were already plenty of cottages for widows and old men. It was workmen’s cottages that were needed now. Cllr Lee responded that he did not think that, as agricultural people, they would not be able to pay the rent. The clerk, having heard these comments, concluded that it would be impossible for people to pay 4s 6d and rates. The meeting moved on with no decision recorded.

1861: During a recent spell of very bad weather, the Guardians of the Peterborough Poor Law Union had granted temporary outdoor relief to some able-bodied agricultural labourers who had been unable to work through no fault of their own. As a result, the National Board had requested that they be furnished with a statement showing the number of persons relieved that were at variance to the General Prohibitory Order. They also requested particulars of the numbers of persons in each family and the amount of relief that had been afforded. At this Saturday’s meeting of the Board of Governors of the Peterborough Poor Law Union, the clerk read a letter that had come from the National Poor Law Board. It stated that ‘having regard to the accommodation afforded by the workhouse, and to the number of inmates therein, the Board thought it desirable that the Guardians should, in future, offer to relieve the necessities of this class of person in the workhouse. They should apply that test of destitution so long as the circumstances permitted with regards to each application.’ In other words, ‘rules is rules’, and using common sense and compassion are not allowed. (Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury)

1871: St Paul’s church in New England – the Railwayman’s church – faced many obstacles in its early days. The Peterborough Standard of 5 March carried the following plea that must have stemmed from some serious head scratching on this Tuesday back in late January:

There then followed a list of fifteen contributors who had collectively provided £99 18s 6d in sums ranging from 10s to £50, followed by: ‘Further subscriptions will be thankfully received by the Treasurer, Henry Pearson Gates Esq, The Vineyard, Peterborough.’

1909: On this day, the American House of Representatives suspended business while Congressman Boutelle declared that ‘everyone who has read of the collision between the Republic and the Florida must feel that there was one silent actor in the tragedy whose name should be immortalised, the Marconi operator on the Republic, Mr John R. Binns’. John Binns (who was also known as Jack) went to St Mark’s school in Gladstone Street, and the Boys National School (both in Peterborough) before starting work aged 15 in the Great Eastern Station telegraph office. In 1901, he began work as senior operator in the Colchester telegraph office. Over the next eight years he built up a reputation of outstanding excellence while teaching himself how to fix broken lines, apparatus, and connections and completing a Marconi three-month Telegraphy & Shorthand course in just five weeks. In January 1909, as chief telegraph operator on the RMS Republic, he set sail from New York with passengers seeking Mediterranean warmth instead of a cold American winter. In thick fog on 24 January, the steamship Florida rammed the Republic. For the next eleven hours, Jack used all his skills to improvise repairs to his damaged transmitter and seek help. All passengers were saved. (jackbinns.org; Peterborough Local History Society Magazine Millennium Edition)

1536: On this Wednesday, Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII, was buried in Peterborough Abbey. Her funeral cortège had left Kimbolton on Monday, had stopped overnight at Sawtry and, after morning Mass there, her body was borne to Peterborough. There, at the door of the church, ‘it was honourably received by the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, and Rochester, the Abbot of Peterborough and the Abbots of Ramsey, Crowland, Thorney and others’. Each, wearing their mitres and hoods, accompanied it in procession to the Chapel of Rest, which had been prepared in anticipation of the queen’s arrival. There the body was placed upon eight pillars of beautiful fashion and roundness, upon which were placed about 1,000 candles, while eighteen banners were hung around the chapel. Solemn vigils were said that day. On this, the following day, 29 January, three bishops each performed Mass. Afterwards, the body was buried in a grave at the lowest step of the high altar, over which they put a simple black cloth. ‘In this manner was celebrated the funeral of her who for 27 years had been true queen of England.’ Records show that 12d paid ‘for drink for the bell ringers at the burial of Katherin of Aragonuriel’. (Jones, B.R., A Monumental & Memorial walk around central Peterborough, TalkingHistory, 2004)

1897: On this Saturday, so the Peterborough Citizen tells us, the quarterly meeting of the Peterborough Local Government and Municipal Offices Association was held at the Bedford coffee house. The meeting is actually described as a continuation of a previously adjourned quarterly meeting. As the association is reported to have only been formed for three months, that doesn’t seem to harbour a good future! However, it was reported that they already had a membership roll of twenty-one – a gratifying achievement – although just twelve members were recorded as present at this meeting. Described as being of a business character, they discussed the Superannuation Bill which, they said, was promised to be brought before Parliament during the present Session. It was pointed out that the bill was a scheme which had been formulated years ago – so there’s nothing new there, then. A motion to support the bill was carried unanimously but, it was decided that they would not petition the local MP until the bill was brought before Parliament. Political procrastination is nothing new either. The journalist was probably bored by now because the report finishes with the comment ‘this was all the business of public interest’!

1818: On this day the Huntingdon, Bedford and Peterborough Gazette carried the following notice: ‘In the first page of this day’s paper we present to our readers a detailed prospectus of Peterborough’s creation on 16 January last of one of those most excellent institutions called Savings Banks. Much has already been said in favour of these establishments. In many humble families where the odd pence had formally been expended in libations at the ale house, they have been suffered to accumulate in the Savings Banks, till the pence have amounted to such sums as have enabled the humble cottager to introduce many article of domestic comfort to his family, that were hitherto strangers to his fireside. Cleanliness and contented cheerfulness have in many instances succeeded to penury and squalid misery. We would particularly draw the attention of the heads of families to the important subject; as by inducing their servants and dependents to invest their surplus monies in these institutions they will inculcate such a spirit of industrious frugality as will not only benefit their employers but ultimately improve the conditions of Society at large. This institution is open to the inhabitants of the surrounding villages in either county.’

1858: Over the years there have been a number of railway stations in Peterborough. Peterborough East was the first, opening in 1845 to serve the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR). The Great Northern Railway (GNR) first used the East station but soon realised that they needed their own – this opened in August 1850. By 1853, their railway heading north was operational, with the line running alongside the Midland Railway as far as Helpston with adjacent but separate level crossings at various places, including the Crescent level crossings in Peterborough city centre. The interchange between the two stations was inconvenient, so on this day the Midland Railway opened the Peterborough Crescent station – a short distance from the GNR station. This significantly simplified the passenger interchange. Bit by bit, the rail companies rationalised their operations. The Midland Railway trains began using the GNR station and, on 1 August 1866, the Crescent station closed after just eight years of operation. An often-asked question is ‘Why Crescent station – and now Crescent Bridge?’ The name comes from the beautiful crescent of houses – similar to those in Bath – that were swept away to make room for the railways in the first place. (Various sources)

1630/1: Children were a problem around Peterborough’s wells. Every well had a winch and bucket, which were often misused. There are many references to the carpenter being paid to do repairs or inserting a pin to prevent them being overwound. Today’s record says: ‘To Clarke the carpenter for takeing out of the Towne Well the 2 buckettes and for making of pins to stay the wheel that the boys may not turn yt and so break the roape … 6d’. (Tebbs, H.F., Peterborough, Oleander Press, 1979)

1928: At around 10 p.m. on this day, the city fire brigade was called to a fire on Padholm Road at the premises of Mr Leo Hammond, builder and undertaker. Two men had noticed flames and smoke billowing from a wooden shed at the end of the garden, and immediately raised the alarm. With help from a Mr Flatt, they had rescued some chickens from a nearby shed. The brigade were sadly unable to save Hammond’s shed, which had contained several benches and a quantity of tools. The fowl house was slightly damaged but the brigade prevented a further spread of the flames. By 11 p.m., the fire was completely extinguished and the brigade left. The cause of the fire remained a mystery. (Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard)

1830: