| Stamford History and People (To see map of location followed by directions to the premises from your location please click here) |
| STAMFORD POLICE AND JAIL The Stamford Borough Police was formed in 1836 in order that the instructions of a Chief Constable named William Reed could be followed. He was followed into office by Richard Ward, Alfred Palmer, and John William Lawson In 1842 it was decreed that all constables should wear a uniform so they could be recognised by the populous, then in 1857 it was deemed that all officers must have their rank and number displayed at their residence. There was talk of incorporating Stamford into the larger Lincolnshire force, but it was decided that this was a bad policy, but was eventually incorporated into the larger Lincolnshire force in 1889, but was still a separate Division within the larger force. In 1855, the body of a Ann Bacon, the Mother of Thomas Bacon was exhumed from a graveyard in Great Casterton to the west of Stamford, to prove a case again Thomas Bain, her son, as it was thought she had been poisoned. The tombstone still exists today in the graveyard at Great Casterton. |
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| One of Undercover Books shop windows at 30 Scotgate with the proprietor (Tony Dodson) |
| .(The above door is not the entrance door) |
| When driving look for the sign shown in the picture directly above the proprietor. |
When UNDERCOVER BOOKS are open it will have 'OPEN' where Tony Dodson'
is pointing. Buyers and browsers are welcome to visit between 10 am and 5
pm daily (with the exception of Sunday of course)
is pointing. Buyers and browsers are welcome to visit between 10 am and 5
pm daily (with the exception of Sunday of course)
| Find more details about this part of the United Kingdom. Fenland Crime Fenland Intrigue Great North Road (A1) Fenland Railways Pilgrim Fathers/Boston Geology of Lincolnshire |
| HISTORY OF SCOTGATE AREA OF STAMFORD. Scotgate was originally part of the 'Great North Road' that wound it's way through Stamford. The Newcomb family who were influential in starting the newspaper we know as the 'Stamford Mercury' (The oldest newspaper in the United Kingdom and still being published) built a large stone house called 'Rock House' about the early 1840s in the bottom of an old stone quarry ('Rock House' is now currently private offices). The original quarry walls are still detectable in places. The petrol station next door to 'Rock House' was originally the garden with trees growing along the edge of the road, and at the rear 'Newcomb Court' sheltered accommodation has been recently built. On the opposite side of the 'Great North Road' the Newcombs had built the servants quarters for 'Rock House', which are now known as 'Rock Terrace'. To the left of Rock Terrace, and opposite the petrol station, they built two gate houses and stables linked by a decorative stone arch. The gate house on the left is now occupied by Undercover Books, where there are nine rooms of out of print books, amounting to a total of about 40,000 publications on all subjects. The road nowadays is no more that just an ordinary town road with increasing traffic problems (the AI now bypassing Stamford), the stables are now town houses, and the coach houses have garage doors attached for cars. Scotgate has had many famous residents in the past. Nearer to the traffic lights Colin Dexter (author) spent his childhood (his father owning petrol pumps at the front of his garage that swung out across the road). Clock house at the junction of Empingham Road and Casterton Road was originally a Toll. It is reputed to be the site of the 'Eleanor Cross', that was erected to commemorate the resting place where Queen Eleanor's body (wife of Edward I) which rested overnight on it's way to London. The cross no longer exists. Albeit, there is a piece of the Stamford cross (monument) still in existence in the Stamford Museum. Stamford is regarded to be the commencement of the motor industry in the UK, when in 1898 the Pick Motor Company starting building cars south of the River Welland |
STAMFORD AUTHORS AND PERSONS OF NOTE ADIE, Kate:: Foreign Correspondent. Now lives at Exton - Author of 'A kindness to Strangers (Autobiography), and 'Corsets to Camouflage'. ANNE, Princess - Rode horses in Burghley Horse Trials, and at one time was presented with a trophy at Burghley by her mothe, the Queen.r. Wrote the foreword for a book called 'Burghley: The Three-Day Event' - Currently in stock at our shop. BAILEY, Tania - Sportswoman (Squash). Born in Stamford. BARKER, Thomas - Lived at Lyndon Hall and author of 'Abstract of a Register of the Barometer, Thermometer, and Rain, at Lyndon in Rutland, 1780. Read May 3, 1781.' BEDE, Cuthbert - Used a pen name of Edward Bradley, a local Rector, and author of three books surrounding Mr Verdant Green (An Oxford Undergraduate). BUTCHER, Tom. -( Actor). Had boyhood in Stamford CECIL, William - Lord Burghley - Political Figure in the reign of Elizabeth I - Was the subject of many books - Not to be confused with more recent Lord Burghleys, including the Marquess of Exeter who was a well known athlete in the early 1900s, or William Cecil a contemporary author who has been the writer of many books.books CHARTERIS, Leslie - Lived at New England, Peterborough. Wrote the 'Saint' series of publications and other crime fiction. CLARK. Betty - Author of several books who has lived in Stamford and Oundle CLIFTON-TAYLOR, Alec - Written about Stamford Town. CLARE John - Local poet who lived at Helpston, and has many links to Stamford and other local areas. We currently have several reprints of his book 'Rural Life and Scenery' - Visit our shop and examine this book, and others we currently have in stock relating to John Clare. DAVIES, Christopher - Wrote a book called 'Stamford and the Civil War' DEED, B.L - Has written 'The History of Stamford School' DEXTER, Colin - Attended Stamford School, and as a boy lived in Scotgate at a garage with his father, not too far from our shop. Author of the series, both in book and on television, of Inspector Morse - Again Undercover Books have various titles in stock of this series which can be viewed at our shop. ELIOT, George - Wrote 'Middlemarch' which was filmed for television in the streets of Stamford, and in Stamford church HAIGH, John George - (Acid Bath Murderer) was born in King's Road, Stamford. He was executed in 1949 for the killing of Olive Durand Deacon. He also confessed to other murders. (Undercover Books have several books regarding Haigh's trial and exploits) HAMILTON, Geoff - Television gardening celebrity. Owner of Barnsdale Garden Centre, between Stamford and Oakham - Author of various books on gardening - We currently have 'Paradise Gardens' Also, author of 'Year on Year in the Garden'. HAMILTON, Peter - Was born in Rutland in 1960 and now lives at Hamilton near Rutland Water. He wrote his first short story for Fear magazine in 1988. He has also been published in Interzone in other anthologies, including several small press publications HOSKINS W G - Made references to Stamford, including a photograph of The Meadows in his book 'The Making of the English Landscape' HOFFNUNG, Gerard. Musician and cartoonist. He was born in 1925 in Berlin, and eventually taught art at Stamford School, worked for a local local newspaper about 1946/47 (Stamford Mercury), also London Evening News and other national publications. Died 1959 JACKSON, General Sir Michae) - Attended Stamford School, and the subject of several books on military matters. JOHNSON, Robert. Founder of Oakham and Uppingham schools. KEY, Michae: Written a book called 'Century of Stamford Coachbuilding' KILMURRY, Kathy: Written books called 'The Red-Painted Pottery of Stamford' and 'Pottery Industry of Stamford, Lincs' LAMBERT, Daniel - Lived in Stamford, and reputed to be Endland's heaviest man - There has been several books written about him. LEE. Michael. Local author - Has written several books about Stamford including 'John Watts - Stamford Clockmaker LE QUEUX, William. Lived in the Stamford area and wrote books with Wansford and Caster as a background to some of his crime fiction. MAHANY, Christine - A local author who lives in Stamford, and has written various publications on Archaeology, including 'Excavations of Stamford Castle', and 'Roman Alcester'- NEWTON, David - Local author - Co-author of 'Stamford Mercury' with Martin Smith (a history of the oldest newspaper still being published in England, and the Newcomb Family who once owned our shop premises) Published by Shaun Tyas a local publisher - We currently have copies in stock O'BRIAN, Alan: Newspaper Reporter and Author - Lived until recently at Apethorpe and wrote books about Socialism SARGENT. Malcolm - Conductor of the London Philhamonic after living in Wharf Road in Stamford. He was a pupil at Stamford School, singing in the choir, and has been the subject of many books including a Biography by Charles Reid. He is now buried in Stamford Cemetery. SMITH. Martin. -) Co-author of 'Stamford Mercury', and also author of 'Stamford Myths and Legends' and 'Walks Through Four Counties' STUKELEY. William - Once vicar of All Saints Church in Stamford. Regarded as an authority on archaeology, Wrote a book called 'Of the Royal Amphitheater at Dorchester SUTTON, Maureen - Local author - Wrote 'A Lincolnshire Calendar', which covers customs relating to Stamford such as 'Dorcas Charity Ball'. 'Horse Running','Shakespeare Festival', 'Stamford Festival', 'Burghley Horse Trials', 'Bull Running' etc. ROGERS, Alan - University Lecturer - Has written many books on topography, and local History, including 'Book of Stamford' and 'Making of Stamford' (see our listings) TILL Eric C - Local author who has written several books about Stamford. TIPPETT Sir. Michael - A Music Composer who attended Stamford School, and the author of many books on music related subjects. TWEEDIE Jill: Fiction author - Lived until recently at Apethorpe and author of 'Eating Children' and 'Biss' (See our listings) (ROYAL COMMISSION ON HISTORICAL MONUMENTS): The Town of Stamford: An Inventory of Historical Monuments. Published by HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationery Office) UK (The foremost authority on Stamford Town). Large heavy hardback with contains charts and diagrams, plus black and white photographic plates. Should have a pull-out map of Stamford in wallet attached to back cover. (The foremost authority on Stamford Town). Large heavy hardback with contains charts Should have a pull-out map of Stamford in wallet attached to back cover |
| MURDER NEAR STAMFORD A Thomas Bacon was arrested in 1857 for the murder of his children in London. It came to the attention of the authorities that at Great Casterton to the north of Stamford, and on the far western fringes of the Fens, in the church graveyard is buried the bodies of Nathaniel Bacon, and Ann Bacon (Mother). Ann was exhumed and was found to be poisoned with Arsenic. Later her body was interned again in the same grave, and the other co-occupant of the grave was her husband a Nathanial Bacon. Thomas (the son) was accused of poisoning his mother. It went to the assizes at Lincoln and Thomas stood trial accused of killing his mother. He was found 'Not Guilty' of wilful murder, but guilty of administering poison. To the right is a image of Ann's final resting place which still exists today. By clicking on the image a person can read what is written on the front of the gravestone. Although Ann's death was the subject of a charge by Thomas, and he was acquitted of wilful murder, Thomas's wife was found guilty of wilful murder, but found to be insane. Thomas escape the gallows. |
| STAMFORD UNIVERSITY, (Lincolnshire) The town of Stamford carries many reputations, the most common being that it is 'The Oldest Stone Town in England', another is that 'The Stamford Mercury' is the oldest newspaper still in print in the United Kingdom, another one is that Stamford was the 'The Original University Town of England', and existed before Oxford and Cambridge. There is always doubt cast on this last assumption. Stamford was never a University Town, but nearly became one. About 1292 a collegiate was formed in St.Peters Street, Stamford. Later, other halls of learning followed, these were 'Black Hall', 'Peterborough Hall', which were both in 'All Saints' and 'Vaudey Hall' which was in 'St Mary's Street', but Stamford still did not become a University Town as it did not have the necessary authority from church or state. This account suggests that Oxford University was the first true University, closely followed by Cambridge. Apparently the Irish had a dispute with various students attending Oxford University in the mid 13th Century. In 1383 this dispute came to head when many of the Irish were killed. Afterwards, because of these disputes, a number of the students came to Stamford, which still had the reputation as a place of religion and learning. St Leonards Priory was a centre of learnng for young monks, and later gave it's name to St. Leonard's Street. The authority of Church and State were evoked to stem this flow of students from Oxford, who were told to leave Stamford, and were not allowed back into Oxford until they promised that they would not return to Stamford. This promise existed until 1827, and caused the demise of any thoughts of a true University at Stamford. The only modern signs that a University nearly existed is now in some of the street names, e.g. Brazenose College gave the name to Brazenose Lane, which still exists today. The word Brazenose is thought to have originated from a door knocker that was fashioned like a Leopard's or Lion's head, and was brought to Stamford from Oxford. A smaller replica of this knocker is currently on the side door of Undercover Books in Scotgate |
| STAMFORD BOROUGH GAOL AND HOUSE OF CORRECTION. It must be borne in mind that in 1847, transportation and Treadmill Labour was still being operated, and Stamford had it's own prison. It is recorded that in 1847 the Stamford gaol spent a total of £296.12s. 6p per year on provisions, salaries for the warders etc at the prison, and that it cost the gaol £55 10s 2p for each prisoner for the year. That was more than Grantham gaol spent, as they only spent £129 2s 6p per year on provisions and salaries for the warders etc. In their gaol. During 1847 Her Majestys Inspector of Prisons was William John Williams, and the Secretary of State was a Sir George Grey. |
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