Five unusual places to stay

Shepherds Hut

Staying in a shepherd’s hut at Bircham Windmill delivers you into the rural idyll of the North Norfolk countryside. Be charmed with the ingenious use of space, dinky tables and chairs and cosy up on the pull-out double bed. The perfect weekender – breakfast is served in a cafe accompanied by the sounds of swallows, fresh bread is on hand and there are farm animals to admire… and you are on the doorstep of all the quaint villages, interesting churches and country walks that characterise this part of Norfolk. https://www.birchamwindmill.co.uk/

Dutch Barge

Hotel Barge Waternimf, a 1902 Dutch barge moored on the Great Ouse at Ely, is a real find and an absolutely ideal location for exploring Ely. It is a treasure of a place, well worth a stop-over and just an hour across the Fens. Set in a bustling riverside location, Ely’s riches include a cathedral, independent shops galore, a craft market, antiques centre, a museum and a plethora of delightful old buildings. Waterfowl swim past the bedroom porthole, a first-class breakfast is served on deck or in the galley and you can relax in your own lounge. Be the envy of train passengers trundling by on their way to Cambridge! It’s not noisy at all but you do need to be agile. http://barge-waternimf-annesdale.thecambridgeshire.com/en/ 46

Railway Station

The Station Guest House, Woodbridge is sited on the Lowestoft to Ipswich line and trains pull in regularly under bedrooms with magnificent views across the River Debden to Sutton Hoo (featured in the film The Dig). Right at the heart of this vibrant community, housing the Whistle Stop cafe which serves hearty food enjoyed by locals, residents and passengers, it’s a great place for people watching and ideally placed to explore the streets of this ancient town dominated by the working Tide Mill, one of only two in the UK. www.stationguesthouse.co.uk

On the edge of Bodmin Moor, the Jail was built in 1779 by Napoleonic prisoners of war. The prison closed in 1929 and reopened last year as a tourist attraction and 4 star boutique hotel. Stylish rooms, previously three cells, include original doors and bars on the windows but with all the comforts you would expect of a luxury hotel and a sumptuous bathroom. Staff are super friendly and the food is delicious, but as one of the most haunted buildings in the UK there are plenty of unexplained events, smells and cold patches throughout the hotel! Prepare to be pampered and a trifle scared! https://www.bodminjail.org/discover/experience-more/the-bodminjail-hotel/

Bodmin Jail

2021/2022

Open 10-3 Mon-Fri, 10-5 Saturday

83 High Street, Market Deeping, Peterborough, PE6 8ED www.riversidebeads.co.uk 01778 344550

When it comes to unusual places to stay an ex-army Westland Lynx Mk 7 Attack Helicopter that has seen service in Afghanistan certainly qualifies! This one has been niftily converted to create a cosy space for two. It has a sofa which converts to a bed, a TV and coffee table. Outside a decking area is equipped with a BBQ and chimenea with separate kitchen and bathroom facilities nearby. Sited on the old RAF Wainfleet base, there are plenty of other unusual options for a stay away, including an RAF bombing range control tower, an RAF bunker and a combine harvester converted into a glamping pod! Skegness is only a ten-minute drive away and there is a local pub/restaurant and tea room. www.rafwainfleet.uk.

Helicopter

Image: @deepimages

St James Deeping Signal Box COFFEE MORNING

Sat Oct 8th 10-12.00

Interested in the history of the signal box? People - events - stories!

Signalman who saw service at the Somme: Albert Virgin After the Gold Rush: John Durrant Olle

Come along and chat about the progress being made behind the scenes as plans for the rebuild are developing

We look forward to seeing you!

The Institute, 38, Church St., DSJ (next to Riceland)

Albert was born to Fields and Mary Virgin in 1888. Fields, his wife and three children were living in Eastville, Lincolnshire, where he worked as a gardener. In particular, whilst the family was young, he was employed in Wyberton and South Cockerington.

Around 1904-5, Albert enlisted and became Private 7564 serving in India. During that time, he visited Almora, which left a lasting impression on him as he later named his house after the city. Located on the southern edge of the Kumon hills, it is the shape of a horse-saddle hillock, surrounded by thick forests of pine and fir trees. Flowing alongside are the Koshi and Suyal rivers with the snowcapped Himalayas in the background. According to the ‘King’s Royal Rifles Chronicle’, Albert was a runner of some note, finishing first in Battery Sports held at the Shorncliffe camp on three occasions in 1911. After he left the Rifles in 1912, Albert’s first job was at the St James Deeping station. He had just married Clara Brockway, daughter of a local builder in Cheriton, Folkestone, and procured the job with the London and North-Eastern Railway Company as a signalman living in one of the station cottages. As a signalman, Albert moved throughout the area; son Albert was born in Sutton-le-Marsh and Rosemary was born in a railway cottage at Werrington Bridge. Albert was recalled to the King’s Royal Rifles in 1914 whilst living in Glinton. As Lance Corporal 13/50473, Albert (known on his army records as Horace) served at the Somme. He was mentioned in dispatches for recovering a wounded Gurkha soldier and bringing the man back to his trench. Albert was wounded in the back and returned to England. In 1918, Albert and Clara lived on the corner 47

of Towngate in a house now occupied by the pumping station. Their twins, Frank and Florence, were christened at St. Guthlac’s Church in Market Deeping. At the time, Albert was still a Lance Sergeant in 2nd King’s Royal Rifles attached to the 51st Rifle Brigade, but he was quickly transferred to the Royal Engineers as Sergeant 355373. From a small sheep settlement in the Australian Outback Ballarat had grown into a major town, news spreading quickly of rich alluvial fields where gold could be easily extracted. Unlike many other gold boom towns, the Ballarat Fields sustained high gold yields for decades. Within months 20,000 migrants had rushed to the district. Francis Olle was one who had gone out to join his brothers with the six children from his marriage to Hannah Liles, who had sadly died in 1854. He married Mary née Durrant in 1857 and it was here in Ballarat that John Durrant Olle was born, their first son. This new family returned to England on the Lincolnshire in 1862 and settled near Bury St Edmunds. In 1871 the census showed that Francis, now a man of some means, was a publican, the owner of the Bear Inn, Beyton, Suffolk, as well as running an export business. John was educated at the King’s Grove Hall College in Ipswich. On being discharged, he was kept on as a Reserve with his number changing to 100262. In 1920, the family moved to New Row (which is now 1 Orchard Close), naming the house Almora. A further six children were born, including two more sets of twins: Peter and Anthony (1924) and David and Crystal, born in 1923. Sadly, David died, aged just eight days. Walter was born in 1920 and Alan in 1929. Locals have memories of Albert cycling to work each day until he retired and of him watching the greyhound racing at the back of the Three Tuns. In 1934, he stood for Deeping St. James Parish Council but was not elected. Eventually, he moved away but later returned to the area, dying in 1974 in Johnson’s Hospital, Spalding. He was laid to rest with his wife Clara in Deeping St James cemetery. Sources: Alan Virgin, Elaine Nixon, Photographs Yvonne Flatters Research: Joy Baxter, Words Veronica White Much later, in a newspaper interview reflecting on his career, John said ‘I took a fancy for railway work and joined the Great Eastern Railway as a Clerk at five shillings a week I had nearly two years there, left and went to London to seek work. The Farringdon Street offices were then about being opened and I was asked to go there as Clerk on night duty and remained there for five years. Then I came to Sleaford as Goods Clerk and have been in Lincolnshire – Clerk and Stationmaster for the Great Northern Railway Company for 25 years.’ John Durrant Olle was the Station Master at Sutton in the Marsh before his promotion to Station Master at St James Deeping. When asked, ‘Do you like the Railway?’ John answered ‘Oh yes, I like railway work only the tie is too great.’ He then went on to say, ‘What’s my opinion of the staff at country railway stations? Well, speaking honestly and fairly I should say not staffed fairly… if this was a joint station I would have double the staff. I have no animosity whatever against the railway

Company. I have two sons still with the Company, and might have more in time.’ Jimmy Deeping Station (as it was called) opened on 1st August 1849 and in the same year the Railway Hotel opened. It was built by entrepreneur Harvey Stapleton, the founder of Stapleton’s Brewery in Market Deeping. John went on to reveal that he was a local agent for The Railway Passengers Assurance Company. He was also agent for Messrs Fattorini & Sons of Bradford and The Liverpool and Victoria Insurance Company. John was keen ‘to work hard and get a bit of money. I have been ill myself and had no end of illnesses in my family and this has kept me a poor man.’ John was undoubtedly a go-getter; as Secretary of the Deeping Foal and Root Society for two years he was proud of the £20 balance in hand from this year’s show and in the future he was keen to open out the classes. Mindful that GNR would want another 16 years work out of him before he got a pension, John was using his experience on the railways to good effect and was taking up a position as Manager and Clerk for Mr John Needham, general provender, cake, hay, straw, coal merchant of Market Deeping. He explained, ‘Most of these big businesses are clerked by railway officials and it makes all the difference what experience a man has had on the railway.’ Politically John ‘would gladly rejoice to see all railways under Government. There would be no more red tape than now.’ But John was keen give hi new master all the benefit of his railway experience. He was planning to attend markets and get out amongst the farmers. ‘Yes they are a jolly lot of men, the fen farmers, no false pride.’ The coming of the railway to Deeping St James represented a great change in daily life as goods were now brought to the station to be taken on elsewhere or delivered to the town. People too had access to places that they previously could only have dreamed about. What was needed was the equivalent of the coaching inns in the town and Stapleton was well placed to finance the building. Features of the hotel, the bracket for the inn sign and the substantial lamps can still be seen today. Initially Stapleton installed an agricultural labourer, George Bolton from Stowgate, as the landlord. George was 49 at the time and was married to Sarah; they had five children. George died in 1862, leaving Sarah at the helm with three of the children still at home. Sadly Sarah was not able to manage the hotel and in 1864 Stapleton’s took her to court in Bourne for owing £50, Valentine Stapleton expressed his father’s dissatisfaction with the way in which she ran the hotel and she was asked to vacate the premises. On leaving the Company the railway Superintendent, Mr Shaw from Boston, spoke very highly of John. He had also been presented with a testimonial by the farmers and traders when he left Hubberts Bridge. John was to start his new position with John Needham on the first day of the new century and was to reside at St James Deeping Five years later the Lincolnshire Free Press reported that Claude Olle, the son of John, had resigned his appointment as Clerk at Boston passenger station and was sailing for Canada. Claude had been employed by GNR for ten years, joining the telegraph department in Retford in 1896 and appointed Clerk at Mapperly in 1898. He had acted as Clerk at Deeping, Skegness, Horncastle and Sleaford going to Boston the previous October. The Boston staff had collected for him and the Stationmaster, Mr Halliday, presented him with a set of razors, a silver watch chain and matchbox attached, a pipe and a supply of tobacco. Research: Joy Baxter, Tom Fidler. Photographs: Tom Fidler, Ian Baxter John and Jane Hibbett took over from Sarah, also farmers in Stowgate, assisted at the Hotel by Sarah Hibbett, John’s mother, who in 1871 was in charge at the ripe old age of 71. On a foggy day in December 1875 John was found collapsed by the railway line. He left £600 to his wife, mother and son, Edward who continued to manage the hotel and now extended farm. In March 1878 catastrophe struck when a flock of ewes and lambs got through a hand gate and crossed the line when a goods train was passing – five of the ewes and four lambs were killed.

The Railway Hotel

to Soames & Co of Spalding, a company of which he was a director. Meanwhile the Mackman family had moved to Bank House in Eastgate. After the death of William senior, his son William junior and wife Eleanor ran the Prince of Wales in Church Street, Market Deeping. Moving to the Railway Hotel from the King’s Head, Market Place, Market Deeping, were the Warringtons. Father, George was married to Virtue, née Asplin, and the couple had two sons, George, a railway carter and Albert, a fishmonger. Sadly George senior died in 1912 at the age of 57 and his son took over the business until he was called up to serve in the 1914-18 war when Virtue took over. On George’s return from the conflict, having lost an eye, he once again took up the licence and Virtue became the hostess until her death in 1932 at the age of 75. George sustained a further injury in 1921 when ploughing his horse kicked out and caught a chain which injured the side of his face already so badly damaged in the war. He left the Railway Hotel to go to the Stamford Arms in 1928 and the licence was transferred to Arthur Boltz. Born in Wisbech in 1887 Arthur at age 32 married Eva Luff in Kings Lynn. In 1928 he was before the beak for allowing a mare to stray onto Station Road. On leaving the hotel in 1934 their son Bernard was confronted with a 4ft long snake. With great presence of mind he encouraged the reptile to curl itself around the handle of his fishing net and skilfully manoeuvred it into a box over which he placed a sheet of glass. The markings were black and green and it was thought to be venomous and