Potton as it used to be in 1899

History

Potton As It Used To Be in 1899

Thomas Boness was a Pottonian who joined the Royal Navy and served throughout the ‘Great War’. He kept a diary which lists his varied service in a range of ships. It starts with an 1899 lookback at his birthplace :-

“I was born in a small town of about two thousand inhabitants called Potton, a nice quiet country place and very pretty surroundings, and now I’m away my thoughts often go back to the old home. On the south of the town is a small village called Sutton, a lovely little place it is too. It was once the residence of John O’Gaunt, a very old warrior I always think he must have been. It now belongs to Sir J M Burgoyne, but he cannot afford to live on the estate himself, so it is let to a gentleman, Mr Lumley Smith by name. On the west is a small town called Sandy, the country residence of Viscount Peel, late Speaker in the House of Commons. On the east, a small village called Hatley, a very fine church it owns, all overgrown with ivy and inside adorned with some very splendid carving, and also the country house of the Marquis of Granby. Many lovely and happy walks have I had round all the villages. Me and several mates often on a fine night used to go for a good ramble, take some music or other and have a few songs or perhaps a few rounds with the gloves. One night I remember a few of us were out for a stroll and got to Sutton. It was a grand moonlight night and the fruit was just fit for gathering. We espied a ladder up an apple tree so two of us went and filled our pockets full. I was one of the two I know, but hope they are no poorer who they belonged to. Then we went eating and singing home.” (Transcription Paul Boness) Thomas passed his Mechanician examination in 1913 and became an officer qualified to be ‘in charge of the entire watch in the engine room department of a large ship under way.’ His examination paper included the following two questions:1. A ship takes in coal for 3 hrs and receives 5000 bags of coal. If 10 bags weigh respectively 280, 265, 203, 218, 230, 200, 225, 235, 216 and 225 lbs, and one empty bag weighs 14lbs:(a) How many tons of coal came in?(b) At what average per hour? 2. If a ½” bolt weighs 3oz and the nut 1oz, how many cwts; qrs; lbs; oz will 526 of these nuts and bolts weigh? Paul Boness has donated the diaries and other material to the Potton History Society to be part of its archive. Contact the Society chairman or secretary via its web site if you would like to see or use the Boness archive. If you have family material that the society can add to its collection please let it know.