Pump Square

Along with the new buildings in Pump Square there are some very nice looking old buildings but it is what you can't see that is much more interesting.

The history of Pump Square is veiled in mystery, it is not mentioned by that name before 1600 but it was a place of importance long before that date. An old tradition says that a prison once stood there and that in this prison there were two dungeons below the ground level, one three steps lower than the other. It is said that in the floor of the lower dungeon a spring of water flowed continuously and the most difficult prisoners were confined in this cell where they had to pump up water for the inhabitants of the town, the punishment being that if the prisoner ceased from his work his cell would flood and he would be more uncomfortable. The two cells are in existence, they are arched and have groined roofs and were opened out for examination many years ago.

There are other reasons that seem to prove that Pump Square was a centre of some importance in the early years of Boston's history. Just as all the roads and lanes entering the town open into the Market Place, so all the narrow lanes east of the Market Place (Still Lane, Dolphin Lane etc.) lead into Pump Square along with the narrow lanes of Bargate (Mitre Lane, Silver Street) and Main Ridge.

The head in the wall

In November 1951 the sudden appearance of a King’s head on the front of the newly constructed frontage of Stanwell’s Garage, near Vauxhall Bridge, in Main Ridge was causing a good deal of speculation.
It was reported at the time that “the head looks new but is of great antiquity and in a marvellous state of preservation and has the peculiarity of having eyes of marble, or some such substance, and strangely enough, the eyes are different in colour”.

Above: The head in 2011.

Below: The old garage in 2011, showing the position of the head.

The builders who placed the head as a front piece to the building said they searched the pages of history books to try to find out who the King was and at last they found a picture of Edward I bearing the same expression, a similar beard and an identical crown.

Mr. G.A. Boyes, who lived near to the new premises said that originally the wide area around the new garage was a nursery carried on by him for 42 years, he also said that over 100 years previous to 1951 the rear of the land was occupied by a Mr. Gurner, who was a dyer. The kings head he said was fixed in the wall of one of the dye houses which were later transformed into greenhouses. Interest centred on the walls around the property too for Mr. Boyes said that they came from the Prison that once stood in the Market Place and it was assumed that the kings head came from the old Gaol as well.
Another story is that the head is from an old fairground ride.

Below: The garage and the row of houses next to it named "Sea on Land Terrace".

George Aspland of Boston had a ride called “Sea-on-Land” which consisted of eight fully rigged boats, which pitched and tossed about as they revolved and reputedly caused the patrons to suffer real sea sickness! From the profits from the Sea on Land he built a row of houses in Main Ridge in Boston (which happen to stand next to the old garage with the head) and what better name for them to be called than 'Sea on Land Terrace', his workshops were behind this row of houses so there could be some truth in this story.

Justice?

In December 1922 Olive Chester, a 25 year old single girl of 2, Black Tile Yard, Rosegarth Street Boston and Henry Yates, a 22 year old farm labourer from Gypsy Bridge were charged with indecent conduct on the Witham Bank (below) they both pleaded guilty.
The Chief Constable (Mr. Johnson) said the female prisoner had been repeatedly warned. The girls Mother said the Salvation Army Officer had offered to get her into a home and that the girl was weak minded.
The girl was sent to prison for a month with hard labour (the Chairman stating that she had declined to go into a home) and Yates was fined 20 shillings, or 14 days.

Witham Bank, Boston.

The Guildhall

The guildhall of St Mary's Guild in Boston (The Guildhall) was built in the 1390's and is one of the earliest brick buildings in Lincolnshire.

For years it was thought to have been built in 1450, but during restoration work experts dated the building much earlier.

At different times it has been the Town Hall, Council Chamber, a Court, a British restaurant during World War II and is currently a Museum. It was also used for banquets or any celebrations for the town.

It is also believed to have been the place where William Brewster, William Bradford and their followers (later to be known as the Pilgrim Fathers) were imprisoned following their arrest after trying to flee England.
 

In 1515, St Mary's Guild spent £20 on a single feast that they celebrated in the banqueting hall, £9,500 in today’s money. In contrast it cost 1 shilling to have a meal at the British Restaurant in 1943 - the modern equivalent of only £1.30!