Local History
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.
F
or a while, LieutenantColonel William Parker II was in London, where, one day, he was to receive dramatic news from Mr J Allen who, at the time was his gamekeeper/ gardener at Hanthorpe House. The contents of the letter concern a Mrs Robey who, according to
the Census of 1901, was a tenant at Hanthorpe House. She was not afraid to stand up for herself when faced with a local, whose “delight on a shiny night in the season of the year” would appear to have been a bit of poaching! A transcript of the letter follows, (and how we lovers of the Lincolnshire dialect warm to … “ask 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.
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,
I remain your obidident servant
Yours faithfully W Parker.
J Allen
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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).
Bourne
AUGUST 2020
