Local History – Letters from Long Ago

from Discovering Bourne issue 108, August 2020

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Letters from Long Ago!

In the late 1890s, the magnificent Hanthorpe House, near Morton (featured in last month’s Local History feature) was in the hands of the Parker family.

For a while, Lieutenantthe Census of 1901, was a tenant Colonel William Parker at Hanthorpe House. She was not II was in London, afraid to stand up for herself when where, one day, he was faced with a local, whose “delight to receive dramatic on a shiny night in the season of the news from Mr J Allen year” would appear to have been a who, at the time was bit of poaching! his gamekeeper/ gardener at Hanthorpe House. A transcript of the letter follows, (and how we lovers of the The contents of the letter concern Lincolnshire dialect warm to … “ask a Mrs Robey who, according to him wot hee was a doing thear”!)

July 15 Hanthorpe Col Parker

Sir Mss. Robey was out shooting on Satuarday night near Spring Wood shee saw som one screeping up the wood side in Mr Horns (?) feild it was found out that it was Bradfoot the Blacksmith of Morton shee went too him and ask him wot hee was a doing thear with a gunn she sais hee begun calling her hee said hee wold level her to the ground and then rund away shee maid know more to doo but shot after Him thear was 4 or 5 stray shot enterd the Back of is neck and I have been wating to hear som think a bout it the Police Sergant from Bourne came over to day to see wot Mss. Robey Had to say a bout it (?) Robey went to London on Tuesday hee as not got Back I hav not heard aney think more so I thought I wold let you know

Sir, Rowlett wished mee say wen I wrote that is quarters rent was dew to you next week – was hee to hand it over to mee or send it to you sir.

I remain your obidident servant

J Allen In February 1891, the same Lieutenant-Colonel Parker wrote to the Trustees of the Bourne Fen Drainage, endorsing the application from a Robert Spencer of Morton for the position of Manager at the Guthram Pump Engine, (on the Bourne to Spalding Road, just beyond Twenty).

The following transcript clearly highlights the difference between those people in Victorian society who would have had the benefit of a formal education and those who would not.

Hanthorpe House Bourne, Lincolnshire Feb. 23rd. 1891.

Gentlemen

I beg to recommend to your favourable consideration the application of Robert Spencer of Morton for the situation of Manager of the Guthram Engine. Having had 15 years’ experience in a similar situation in Morton Fen, he has a thorough knowledge of his duties, and is, as I have every reason to believe, a steady, sober and industrious man.

I am, gentlemen, Yours faithfully W Parker.