Old Boston: May 2012

Saturday 19 May 2012

Pub signs in pictures.

The old pubs of Boston are disappearing fast and many of the ones that are left have just signs that show letters only so I thought it would be a good idea to collect pictured pub signs of Boston past and present.

The Bell (where the Stump and Candle is now) from an old engraving.

The Spirit of Endeavour.

The Crown and Anchor.

The Woad Man

Looks like I just caught The Wellington sign in time.

The Unicorn.

To be continued.....................................................................................

Friday 18 May 2012

The Old Postmen

Boston's oldest Post Box? It has an Edward VII (reigned from 1901 to 1910) crest.

The old postmen of Boston wore a navy blue uniform with red piping and a flat topped hat which had a peak both back and front to shield off the rain. In bad weather they had large and heavy oilskin capes to protect themselves and the mail they carried. The mail was carried in large, heavy canvas haversacks and in the dark they also had a small oil lamp hanging on their tunics. In the years of long ago the Postmen always rang the doorbell or rapped on the knocker when they put letters through the letterbox. There were three deliveries each day, early morning, around mid-day and at about seven in the evening. On Sundays there was only one delivery around nine o'clock.

The parcel post was carried around in large basket-work trucks with lids covered with oilskin to keep of the rain. These trucks were also used to convey mail to the Railway Station to connect to certain trains. Later on three-wheel basket cycles were brought into use both for the parcel delivery and for the station work.

Thursday 17 May 2012

The Guildhall gate.

The wrought iron gate standing at the side of the guildhall was made in about 1908 by Mr. Edward White who was then the proprietor of what was later to become "White's Motors" at Bargate End. Mr White was a blacksmith by trade and in between shoeing horses he made this fine gate with the assistance of his worker, Joe Coppen. Mr. White also made bicycles in the early days and these were sold under the name of "White's Imperial". Later on Mr. White began to deal in motor cars and he had, we are told, the first car in the town licensed as a Hackney Carriage, it was DO 33 and was driven by Tommy Shelton.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

The Royal Coat of Arms.

Commercial House at 17 Market Place was once run by J.W. Loveley, even today if you glance up you can still make out the name on the side wall.
The strange thing about the building is that it once had the Royal Coat of Arms on it.

Loveley's Commercial House showing the Royal Coat of Arms.

Mr. John Loveley, speaking in July 1993 said that his Great Grandfather had a bakers shop in Dolphin Lane for many years. In the 1870's he purchased the shop in the Market Place from a jeweller who was giving up business, and that some years before, one of Queen Victoria's daughters, whilst visiting Sandringham, rode over to Boston and in fact purchased some jewellery from him and in consequence he was entitled to use the Royal Coat of Arms. These arms were put on the jewellers shop and were still on the shop when Mr. Loveley purchased it and it remained there for many years. Later a son of Queen Victoria stayed one night at the Peacock Hotel, so this became able to use the title "Royal" and the Peacock became the Peacock and Royal. The Arms on Loveley's shop were sold to the Peacock and as shown in the picture stood over the main door. Maybe someone can tell us where they went from there.

The Royal Coat of Arms, just visible, above the Hotel door.

Monday 14 May 2012

Good neighbours.

Robin Smith sent me this amusing story written by John Geoffrey Horton (1900/2002)who as a boy lived in Cheyney Street and was educated at Tower Road School. He says that on Market days in the 1990s Geoff used to hold court in the Still where a stream of people would come up to him and ask him all manner of questions about old Boston and to identify people and places on old photographs of the town, although a modest man he did this with ease due to his vast knowledge of the subject.

A Bullock in the Bedroom

by J.G.Horton.

On a very hot summer afternoon around 1910 all was quiet in Bargate End. It was hot and sultry and everyone who could had put work to one side. Fred Staniland the Barber was sitting in his shop doorway reading his newspaper. Tubby Wright the Butcher and his man Bill Raithby were sitting in the shop with the window and door wide open and the meat in the Ice Box. The Ram doors were wide open,in those far off days the pubs could open from 6am to midnight. The Vet Walter Dickinson had taken off his morning coat and was fanning himself. His coachman Tom Harrison was standing talking to Tom Foreman at the Smithy and there were others taking their ease.It was even to hot for us boys to play at anything energetic. In those days there were trees and grass around Mill Hill.

Mill Hill.

One lady who lived there was frequently taken with the "vapours" as she put it and had to have another little tot of brandy. This trouble often occurred several times a day. Her house had iron railings around the little garden and as she crossed over to the Ram for another little tonic she left the house door and garden gate wide open, it was of no real concern, as from her seat in the Ram she could see the house.

The Ram.

Suddenly the scene changed, a few bullocks were being driven from the Bargate Bridge direction and the drover stayed to have a word with the Smithy, the beasts seeing a small patch of grass went to it and after a moment the drover rather noisily tried to round up his small herd and they scattered. One of them bolted through the garden gate and house door and up the stairs, it came to a standstill wedged between wardrobe and the bed. "Here was a pretty kettle of fish". Everyone suddenly aroused from their rest and ran across to the scene and a plan of action was generally approved. Tom Harrison fetched a long ladder from Dickinsons yard, Bill Raithby fetched a big rope from the slaughter house in the Ram Yard. Tom Harrison broke the bedroom window and got in, Bill Raithby climbed the stairs and threw the loop of the rope to Tom Harrison who was standing on the bed and he slipped the loop over the animals horns, a light rope was also attached to one of the beasts hind legs to encourage it to walk backwards, meanwhile the frenzied animal was struggling to get free and broke many things in the process. When all was ready gentle pulling was exerted on the ropes and the animal very slowly responded and backed down the stairs. The filth and damage was indescribable. Meanwhile our lady had had to have a little more revival spirit and was by this time in no fit state for anything, she was helped into Mrs Gooses shop to sleep it off. Meanwhile willing hands with buckets of water and brushes cleaned up the worst of the mess and various ladies around and about helped clean up the house and so ended a hot summer afternoon.

Sunday 13 May 2012

LIQUORPOND STREET

There are a couple of stories to suggest how Liquorpond Street got its name. The first is that there was once a chain of ponds around the area and two extensive breweries, one at the Lord Nelson and one at the Royal Oak might have discharged their surplus water into one or other of these ponds.

Another more interesting one is that an old sailor went into one of the pubs in High Street and while the landlord was not looking stole a bottle of liquor. The bottle was missed almost immediately, and when the landlord went to the door of the inn he saw the man running up High Street. Together with other men he gave chase, and the man was caught in the lower part of what is now called Liquorpond Street but was then Walnut Tree Pasture. The man denied having stolen the liquor, but was handed over to the officers of the law and ultimately put on trial. The man had been thoroughly searched but no liquor was found on him and he was acquitted. About 20 years later one of the ponds was being cleaned out and the missing bottle was found. Realising that he could not outrun his pursuers the old sailor had evidently thrown the bottle of liquor into the pond.

Saturday 12 May 2012

THREE FORGOTTEN NAMES

HALF CROWN HILL.

The Ostrich and Gaol, demolished to enlarge the churchyard.

In 1774, Mr. John Parish gave the Ostrich public house and several buildings and shops adjoining for the purpose of enlarging the churchyard upon the condition that the Corporation would give the old Gaol and two shops for the same use. Behind these houses there was part of the churchyard called Half Crown Hill which had long been used as the burial ground of the lower classes and where, in consequence, the ground had been raised, until it was level with the windows of the Ostrich looking into the churchyard. The hill was levelled, the houses taken down, and iron gates and palisades next to the Market Place were erected.

BETTY BARBER'S LANE.

Stells Lane.

Betty Barber's Lane was the old name for Stells Lane in London Road. The lane appears to have been an old footpath that ran along the boundary line of the town, dividing Boston from Skirbeck and years ago a young girl named Betty Barber was killed while crossing the railway by this path, hence the name. After this fatality the Railway Company was put to the great expense of erecting a high wooden bridge that carried the footway over the shunting yard. This was later taken down and a new concrete footbridge (now demolished) was built near the present Black Sluice.

PARADISE ROW.

Church Close (below) was once known as Paradise Row.

Friday 11 May 2012

The Dock site 1882

Mr. Walter Whyers (looking bck in 1935) remembers the beginnings of Boston Dock in 1882.

Mrs. Simonds, wife of the Mayor, cuts the first turf.

" I was present at the ceremony of turning the first sod for the commencement of the building of the dock. I well remember the grand time we had, the public tea to the school-children, the sports and the fireworks, but the most vivid recollection I retain of the building of the docks is taking a walk with three or four other lads to look at the progress that was being made during the excavations. On our way back we walked through the derelict gardens that had been attached to the old windmills. The ground was littered with planks, huge stones and heaps of earth and clay, dumped there by the navvies.

The two windmills that were demolished to make way for the dock.

There were, however, still a number of redcurrant bushes that appeared to have determined to let their last crop of berries be the most plentiful that they had ever borne. Since no one seemed to own them, or take the trouble to gather them, we set to and had the most glorious feed of fully ripened fruit that I ever remember having partaken of. The currant bushes would be situated near the centre of the present dock."

Thursday 10 May 2012

Boston celebrates the relief of Mafekin

Lord Baden-Powell

Lord Baden-Powell, although outnumbered, defended Mafeking for 218 days during the Boer War and when the town was finally relieved in May 1900 by a British force the whole of Britain, including Boston, went wild with rejoicing...........

The Royal Standard floated from the Municipal Buildings, a Union Jack was hoisted on the tower of the Stump and flags were raised on other public buildings. Men, Women and Children donned red, white and blue rosettes and ribbons, horses, carts and carriages were adorned with smaller editions of the national flag. Children marched through the street bearing banners and singing patriotic songs, men congregated in public places and indulged in much hand shaking and the bells of the Stump rang out all day. In the evening the band of the Artillery Volunteers paraded the town playing patriotic music.

The Market Place, High Street, Bargate and West Street were all adorned, one of the premises in the Market Place being literally covered in Union Jacks, the letters "V R" were formed in fairy lights on the front of the building and illuminated at night.

The news formed the one topic of conversation, Near the Town Bridge, Mr. Fred Parker sang the National Anthem with band accompaniment, and the incident roused the hundreds of spectators.

The following Thursday was Queen Victoria's birthday and the two events were celebrated together on this day. Proceedings opened at 10.54 a.m. when the band of the 1st. Lincolnshire Voluntary Artillery played The National Anthem, Rule Britannia and Soldiers of the Queen from the Stump tower. In the Market Place later in the afternoon was an Orchestral Band and a parade of the Artillery and Rifle Volunteers and a grand parade of cyclists, motor cars, pony traps, ponies, riders in costume and machines and traps artistically decorated. A concert and variety entertainment in the Market Place were followed by the ascent of fire balloons from Bargate Green. The cattle market was illuminated and there were fireworks and rockets followed by a huge bonfire on Bargate Green. And the memorable day concluded with three ringing cheers for the Queen and three for Baden-Powell.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

News clips

OLD NEWS CLIPPINGS (mainly New Zealand) ABOUT BOSTON

New Zealand Tablet, 15 December 1882

Bay Of Plenty Times, 18 October 1897

Ashburton Guardian, 4 October 1918

Star , 11 August 1905,

Hawera & Normanby Star, 10 November 1914

Star , 22 July 1898

Friday 4 May 2012

Some Mkt. Place lanes.

CORNHILL LANE.

Cornhill Lane when it was named Cockbourne Lane.

This street name is comparatively modern, it was formerly called Cockbourne Lane and once was the site of the Post Office.

DOLPHIN LANE.

Jessop's of Dolphin Lane in 1936.

Dolphin Lane has been a busy thoroughfare since Boston's early history. The ancient name of the street is lost but the present name was, in all probability, taken from an inn called The Dolphin that stood near the east end of the narrowest part of the lane. In the 1880's this inn had an unenviable reputation and, some years later, the licence was revoked and the premises used by Mr. Charles Small as a mission room. The old buildings were ultimately destroyed by fire along with the furniture stores previously occupied by Mr. W. Scrimshaw.

Scrimshaw's of Dolphin Lane.

PETTICOAT LANE.

Some believe that the name of Petticoat Lane (like that of Threadneedle Street) was copied from the street of that name in London, others have another explanation. In a map of 1742 Petticoat Lane is called Smock Alley and what is now called Mitre Lane (in Strait Bargate) was then called Petticoat Lane. When these names were given it is just possible that these lanes, leading as they did, from the central area to walks through fields and pastures, may have been a favourite meeting place for the wearers of smocks and petticoats.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Boston Pubs

AARDVARK.

also known as the Ram.

In its last days as a public house the Ram (above) down Wide Bargate was renamed the Aardvark for a while.

ALMA.

The building above, number 7 South End, and now a private house called Quay side, was once a pub called the Alma.

ANCHOR.

ANGEL.

The Angel Inn, Market Place.

ANGEL AND FOXE.

also known as the Bell, Rum puncheon, Marthas vineyard and Stump and Candle.

Named Angel for its closeness to the old Angel pub and Foxe because John Foxe the Martyrologist was born in a house on the site.

AXE AND CLEAVER.

also known as Stumps and Gigolo's

Two views of the Axe and Cleaver in West street.

BAR 1874.

also known as the Haven and the New Park Inn.

Bar 1874.

BARGE.

also known as Ward's Hotel.

The Barge on Tattershall Road, now converted into flats.

BELL. in the market place.

also known as the Rum Puncheon, Marthyrs vineyard, Angel and Foxe and Stump and Candle.

John Foxe the Martyrologist was born on this site in the Market Place.

BELL. in Wide Bargate.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

BLACK BEAR.

BLACK BULL.

BLACK HORSE.

BLUE LION.

The Blue Lion pub near the present day site of the footbridge across the Haven.

BOAT

This building in High Street was once a public house called the Boat.

BOROUGH ARMS.

BOSTON BLITZ.

also known as the Falcon.

The Falcon (New Street) was an old Boston pub and the Boston Blitz (American football themed) was an unsuccessful attempt to modernise it. The site is now an Argos store.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

BOSTON STILL

also known as the Still.

BREWERS ARMS. Norfolk Place.

BRITANNIA.

BULL. in London Road.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

BULL AND MAGPIE.

CARPENTERS ARMS.

CASE IS ALTERED. Tattershall Road.

CASTLE.

also known as the New Castle.

Top: The Castle. Above: in the bar.

CASTLE TAVERN.

CLARENCE.

COACH AND HORSES.

CORN EXCHANGE HOTEL.

Above: The Corn Exchange.

Below: Where it was situated.

CROOKED BILLET.

also known as the Joiners Arms.

The site of the Crooked Billet.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

CROSS KEYS.

also known as the New England.

CROWN.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

The narrow alley to the left of "Savers" that used to lead to the Crown.

CROWN AND ANCHOR.

Above: The large grey building in the centre was the Crown and Anchor up to the late 19th. century when the license was moved to smaller premises six doors to the left.

Below: The smaller premises (now demolished) and the plaque that remains.

DOG AND DUCK.

also known as the Wormgate and Goodbarns Yard.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

DOLPHIN.

(DUKE OF) WELLINGTON.

DUKE OF YORK.

DUKES HEAD. Duke Street.

EAGLE.

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE.

also known as the Five Lamps.

FALCON.

also known as Boston Blitz.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

FIVE LAMPS.

also known as the Elephant and Castle.

FLYING DUTCHMAN.

Rosegarth Street.

The tall building is the Flying Dutchman in Rosegarth St.

GEORGE AND DRAGON.

GIGOLO'S.

also known as the Axe and Cleaver and Stumps.

GOLDEN FLEECE.

GOLDEN LION.

GOODBARNS YARD.

also known as The Wormgate and the Dog and Duck.

GOOD WOMAN.

GREAT NORTHERN.

GREEN DRAGON.

Pishey Thompson 1856.

The Athenaeum, built on the site of the Green Dragon. After becoming part of the New Theatre it was demolished and the site now covered by Marks and Spencers.