Bab's photo's.

Thank you to Babs Nicholls for sending me the following photo's. Enjoy.

 

Bab's Uncle, Rex Potter asked for this photo to be put on. It shows workmen replacing the Sluice gates in the1920's. Rex's Grandad Edward (Ted) Harrison is stood on the far right.

The celebrations in Main Ridge, Boston, for the coronation of King George and Queen Elizabeth.

Pupils at the Blue Coat School in about 1900. James Harrison, Teds brother, is on the far left of the second row from top.

Paradise Row.

Church Close, the quaint row of old houses opposite the Stump, was once called Paradise Row. The first building on the extreme left is Lloyd's Bank, built in 1864 by the bankers Garfit, Claypon and Co. Ltd. It was taken over by Lloyd's and has remained in their possession ever since.

The row is basically late 18th. century, probably built around George III's time, the buildings to the right were slightly remodelled in the 19th. century and again in 1964.

Isaac Reckitt once lived in the row, then known as " Part of Church Yard ", his family owned the Maud Foster Windmill at the time and were later taken over by Reckitt and Colman, a rival firm who are now much better known in Britain for their famous mustard.

There are recordings down for 1817 and 1828 which state that two private schools were set up at those times in one of the houses. The first run by Mr. and Mrs. Staniland and the other by Miss Hannah Tuxford.

One man who lived in the row went by the name of John Field Smyth, he owned a tobacco and cigar making factory at the bottom of Wide Bargate. The story goes that the Customs and Excise asked him to expose some tobacco smuggling that was going on around the docks at that time, he did - but suffered the consequences. An angry mob hurled bricks through his shop window in a riot, then repeated the procedure on his house. Other occupiers have included attorneys, auctioneers and millinery and dress establishments.

Apparently the houses in the row replaced mediaeval buildings as they got woodrot.

 

 

Lloyd's Bank with the date above it.

Some of Boston's Schools

Matthew Crowden's Holland House School, 69 Wide Bargate. The building is still there near to Bargate Bridge and is now (2012 below) a Dentist's.

The former Grammar School in Wormgate

Boston Grammar School

The interior of Boston Grammar School.

Above and below : Staniland School, corner of George St. and Fydell Crescent, now a Car Park.

Staniland School was established in 1896. In 1987 the school moved to its present location at Peck Avenue, Boston.

Allan House High School, used before the present High School on Spilsby Road was built in 1938.

Boston High School first opened on 19 January 1914 at Allan House on Carlton Road, Boston. There was a headmistress and seven teachers, with 112 girls on the roll. Due to increasing pupil numbers additional classrooms were built in 1922. The school's first headmistress was Miss F.M. Knipe, who served from 1914 until 1927, and there have only been five further headteachers in the history of the school.

The school was relocated to Spilsby Road during the autumn of 1938. However, the official opening ceremony did not take place until 1939, the year that World War II started.

The old Carlton Road School, before the Fenside Estate was built, and taken from a spot which would eventually become Taverner Road.

Conway School in Tunnard Street, about 1910.

Conway school was established in 1851 by Martha and Mary Gee as Boston Middle Girls School at George Street, Boston and was "intended for female children whose parents are in the rank next above the actual poor". It subsequently moved to its current site at Tunnard Street, at a rebuilding cost of £800.

In 1905 the school was renamed as Conway School and established a good local reputation. The school eventually became coeducational, achieving high levels of annual passes in the 11+ examination. In 2000 Conway School had 100% passes in the 11+ for the third year running.

Part of Witham Green School, demolished in about 1969.

The Bluecoat School, not far from the Sluice Bridge.

Plaque on Park Board School, Tunnard Street. Demolished and now another Car Park. The plaque was the only part of the school saved and is cemented into the entrance to the car park.

Shodfriars Lane School, near the Gliderdrome.

An advertisement placed in the 1872 County Directory by Miss Francis Pocklington who after 1868 took part of Ingelow House and in 1871 had 12 resident pupils. The school passed on to Misses Ann and Mary Adams,  and later to Miss Cecily Matthews and then Miss Evelyn Rysdale until after 1919.

St.John's Workhouse

Prior to 1834, each parish had responsibility for looking after its own poor, which was a great drain on parish resources, and was, too often, managed inadequately. The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1837 made provision for parishes to join together in a 'Union' and thus Union workhouses came into being. The Boston Union of 28 parishes was formed in 1836 and commissioned the building of St John's workhouse in Skirbeck Road to house 350 paupers in 1837.

The building was extended several times before workhouses were abolished in 1929 when it became an old people's home. It also served other functions, including HMS Arbella (for the Navy during the war), as a boy's school, a weights and measures office and a Civil Defence headquarters. Its final closure came in the1970s and most of the buildings were demolished in 1978 leaving Scott's grand gatehouse. This steadily fell into ruin until Heritage Lincolnshire restored and repaired the structure in 2001. The building, renamed Scott House is now owned by Lincolnshire County Council and operates as a resource centre for adults with physical disabilities.