The Tailor of Deeping

‘In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets – when gentlemen wore ruffles, and gold- laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta – there lived a tailor… All day long while the light lasted he sewed and snippeted, piecing out his satin and pompadour…’ Beatrix Potter

John Holland’s family can be traced back to the early eighteenth century. Their Towngate house was reputed to have been built around 1650 and is now grade 2 listed, so possibly it was built even earlier than that. They dressed the gentlemen and the military personnel of Market Deeping and were known for their horse-riding attire for huntsmen. John was listed as a tailor in a 1798 trade directory, two years after his son Thomas was born. Thomas was soon introduced to the family business and in the 1828 White’s Directory the two of them are listed as working together. Thomas had married Mary Brown at St Guthlac’s in August 1813 and assured the continuity of the family trade when they had a son, James, baptised in St Guthlac’s in 1815.

Grandfather John’s death at the age of 65 was recorded in 1836 but James had already taken the reins and along with John Pope, an apprentice and Sarah Kelton, a servant, the family tradition continued. James married a farmer’s daughter, Mary Fevre from Eastfield in Peterborough, in 1842 and a year later the couple welcomed a son, Frederick (known as Fred) into the world.

Thomas died aged 50 in 1846, his wife Mary moving in with James until her demise in 1863. James had a further four children and was listed in an 1849 directory as a tailor and woollen draper. After his Uncle John’s death in 1852 he took on the grocery side of the business as well. Fred left home as a teenager to become an apprentice baker and grocer to George Franklin of Langtoft. It was a happy day in Oakham on 6th April 1869 when the bells rang out for his wedding to Ann Wells Killinger of Weldon. The couple made their home at a house in Towngate, joining the family business and having three children; Frederick (b.1870), Jesse (b.1873) and Ethel (b.1878). Emily, the eldest daughter of James and Mary, married John Chapman in 1871. John was an assistant draper working for George Shillaker, Draper & Grocer of Church Street, Market Deeping. They had two children Henry (b.1875) and Florence (b.1879).

Fred senior was thought to have diabetes, which caused his untimely death aged 41 in 1884. He left just over £203 in his will and Ann and their son Fred carried on the grocery and bakery. Henry, Fred Junior’s uncle (b.1847), had left home to train as a baker but as listed in the 1881 Census had returned to help with this side of the business. Also living at the family home were Jessie (b.1851), listed as a dressmaker, and Kate (b.1853) who was helping with domestic duties. Later that year Henry married widow Sarah Donsworth in Clapham; she had been born in Barnack in 1845, a member of the Newborn family. The couple settled in Towngate, bought land, acquired some cattle and had one daughter, Jessie Louise. in 1881. Sadly Sarah died in 1893.

Four years after the Census had been taken James’ daughter Jessie married Henry Smith at Market Deeping. Henry was an apprentice to Frederick Dickenson, Chemist and Druggist

David Holland with grandfather, Frederick

of St Mary’s Street, Stamford, before opening his own business in Hornsey, London. Kate remained at home to look after the house for James and Mary with the tailoring business still flourishing. Eventually in 1895, at the age of 42, Kate married George Letts of the firm Cliff & Co, Peterborough. The wedding took place at St Guthlac’s, Kate walking down the aisle on the arm of her father James. The brother of the groom was best man and the bridesmaids were Ellen Holland and Florence Chapman, nieces of the bride. After a honeymoon in Yarmouth the couple set up home in Peterborough.

Having reached the great age of 82 years, James died in February 1897 and so ended 200 hundred years of the Holland family tailoring in Market Deeping. The last military uniforms he made were for young men who had volunteered to fight in the Boer War.

During his life he had amassed a considerable amount of property and land. His own house and land he left to his youngest, Kate; the house and land next door occupied by his daughter-in-law, Ann Wells, was given to Ann; and Henry received the house and land in which he was living, as well as land in Linchfield which James had bought from Towngate farmer Thomas Newton Thistledown. The six properties that made up Horsegate Terrace ,previously owned by the Nutts, farmers and horse dealers, went to Jessie (and burnt down in 1901). Emily received four Horsegate cottages and a cottage and garden in Linchfield Road which had been left to her father by Robert Smith. The family also received shares in the National Temperance Land and Building Co. which had been set up in London in 1854 by William Shaen, a radical Unitarian solicitor. All directors and shareholders had to declare that they were all non-conformists and abstainers. Henry and Ann also received £125 each and granddaughter Florence Chapman £25 to be held in trust until she became 21.

In April 1897, as executors of the late James’ will, Henry and Kate Letts were charged at Bourne Petty Sessions of having an unstamped pint measure in use in their premises. Henry Holland pleaded guilty and was fined £1 and costs.

According to a trade directory of 1900 Ann is listed as a shopkeeper and Henry as a cow keeper. It seems that Henry had not recovered from the premature death of his wife and having sold his farm and share of the business he moved to Peterborough. In 1914 at the age of 66 he was found dead in bed after having been missed by his neighbours for a week. His daughter, Mrs Jessie Andrews, also lived in Peterborough. It was said that he was of temperate habits, eccentric but good company. When he was found there was no money or food in the house and he had been selling furniture. He had lived alone for two years and would not be persuaded to take lodgings. It was concluded that he had died in his sleep of heart failure.

Back in Deeping Ann continued to run the grocery with the help of her son Fred and daughter Ethel (b.1878). Ann’s other daughter, Jessie having died in 1886 at the age of 13. She had been to visit her uncle, Mr Elliott, grocer of Wellington Street, Luton. She developed a headache which rapidly got worse over a two-day period and she died. It was assumed that she had diabetes as her father had done but this was not conclusive as there wasn’t an inquest. In November 1901 Ethel married Alfred, the son of Henry Senescall, the manager of the New Inn (now the Stage). Alfred was a rural postman working out of the Market Deeping office. After their marriage they moved to Fotheringhay and then to Great Stepping where Ann Wells died in 1919. She left £500 in her will to be invested to provide an income for Ethel and the rest was left to Fred.

Fred had married Ethel Burchnall, a talented artist, at the Priory Church in 1910. She had been given away by her father, a head teacher in the village, and her bridesmaids were Miss Burchnall and Miss Teet. Mr Longman from Market Deeping was best man. Dressed in cream silk and lace with matching hat, the bride carried an ivory prayer book, a gift from her husband. The reception was held at Bridge Street, Deeping St James, the bride’s home. After a honeymoon in Matlock the couple returned to run the Towngate shop. 1911 was a Coronation year and parties and celebrations all needed a great deal of baking to be provided. All the children received a beaker with George V and Mary printed on it, were served tea and all went home with a bun.

The couple had three children, James, George and Ellen (who died shortly after birth). They embraced village life up in Towngate. Fred had been in the Market Deeping football team in his younger days and as well as running the shop he was a rural postman. On Sundays the ovens would be heated to cook traditional

David Holland Frederick James

roast beef, vegetables, horseradish sauce and Yorkshire pudding with apple pies, some ready for midday and others for one o’clock, while their customers went to church. It was 2d to cook lunch and a half a penny for the apple pies. Towngate Feast Week entailed even more baking, extra bread, cake and mince pies for all residents, family and visitors. Feast cake, containing spices, fruit and candied peel, were much in demand.

An accomplished pianist, Ethel played at numerous charity-raising events, when books were sold to raise money for the Peterborough Memorial Hospital and an annual outing to Skegness was arranged with Mrs Landan for all Towngate children. To raise funds for the outing a May Queen processed through the town accompanied by children singing. In 1933 it was Grace Robinson attended by Roy Plowright and Stuart Roper and £3. 3s 4d was raised for the outing.

Fred died in 1932 after three months’ illness; he was 62. Ethel carried on running the shop until 1953. She left all the money from her Prudential insurance policies after funeral expenses to her nephew William Burchnall. The rest of her estate, including the house, was left to her two sons.

David with mother Hilda Holland

Her son James had married Elsie Smitheringale in 1939 and lived at 225 Cromwell Road, Peterborough. James was a sorting clerk and telegraphist at the Peterborough Post Office. George became a carpenter and married Hilda Wright from Northborough in 1940. They had three children Frederick (b.1941) Jean (b.1944) and David (b.1950). George and Hilda continued to run the shop, opening at six in the morning. Said George, ‘It wasn’t really for custom but people waiting outside for the Peterborough bus liked to come in for a chat and buy some cigarettes, especially when it was raining.’ The couple decided to close the shop on the corner of Halfleet and Towngate before Decimal Day on 15th February 1971, George then going to work for E.F Hare’s wood yard in the Market Place.

In 1965 their daughter Jean married Cecil Yeomans of Yately, Camberley. Revd Davies officiated and the bride wore white with a shoulderlength veil held by a coronet of crystals and pearls. She carried a bouquet of white carnations, lilies of the valley, freesias, blue stephanotis and ivy leaves. Her cultured twin pearl dress ring was a gift from the groom. Bridesmaid was Pamela Cunningham in kingfisher blue, best man was Richard Dash and ushers were the bride’s brothers, Frederick and David. The church had been decorated by Mrs Tunnicliffe and Mrs Day and the choir was in attendance with Mrs Mathias at the organ. The reception for 60 was at the Georgians from which the couple left for an undisclosed honeymoon location. Jean was a weaver with Luke Turner Ltd of Peterborough while Cecil served with RAF Waddington and the couple set up home at Starmores Caravans in Halfleet.

In the following year, on her 21st birthday, it was Pamela Cunningham’s turn to glide up the aisle. This time it was at the Priory Church and the groom was Frederick Holland. The bride, of Park Estate, Deeping St James, wore a model gown of white satin with a bodice embroidered with silk and lace. A shoulder-length bouffant veil was held by flowers matching the bodice, she carried a bouquet of cerise feathered carnations, lilies of the valley and ivy leaves. Her cousin, Yvonne Richards, was her bridesmaid in a gown of emerald green wild silk, a train falling from each shoulder, and a headdress of cerise flowers with matching shoes. Mr F. Palmer was best man and the groomsman was Mr S. Cunningham, the bride’s uncle. Ushers were David Holland and Victor Starsmore. The choir sang and the organ was played by Mr Skillings and as the wedding party came out of the church the bells rang and lucky tokens were presented to the bride by her brother Edward, her cousins Linda Cunningham and Stephen Richards, and her nephew ,Darren Mead. The reception was at The Georgians and the honeymoon was taken in London. The couple settled in a new Alison House in Frognall. Pamela was a despatch clerk at the British Horticultural Co Werrington, and Frederick worked in the building trade. He died prematurely in 1996 aged just 55.

In 1971 there were six attendants at the wedding at the Priory Church of Sandra Oliver, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Oliver of Eastgate, to David Holland. Sandra was a receptionist at Buckles & Co and David was a sub-contractor for Carlton Homes, in his spare time playing for Deeping Rangers. The bride wore a dress of white chiffon with a lace bodice and matching trail and short veil. She carried pink carnations and blue freesias with a single white orchid. Bridesmaids Angela Watson and Diane Stuart were cousins of the bride; Linda Bollam, Angela Stoddart, Linda Clarke were friends and Annabelle Holland was the bridegroom’s niece. Best man was Frederick Holland. The reception was at the Deepings Secondary School from where the couple left for a honeymoon in London, the bride neatly attired in aquamarine with navy blue accessories. They settled at 39 Bramley Road. In 1994 David moved back to Towngate with his second wife and remained there until 2002 – the house remaining in the Holland family for 450 years.

David at his wedding with bride, Sandra Oliver

fast and efficient wholesaler service to enable us to old community pharmacy fulfil all the prescriptions promptly. We also keep a wide range of over-the-counter medicines and also where patients get to know vitamins and mineral supplements us and you will always see Our other services include ● We offer blister pack medication to a familiar face. Here at ● patients who meet the criteria. Flu vaccinations will be available this Deeping St James Pharmacy, ● winter as a pre-book or drop-in service. NHS unwanted medicine service, where you can return all unwanted medicines to the we are proud to be part of the community and are ● pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. Emergency supplies: if you need one of your always striving to give the regular medicines in an emergency and you are unable to contact your doctor, we may community the best service be able to help. open to them. Come in and say hello, we’d be very glad to see you and assist you with anything you need.

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We understand how important it is to speak faceto-face with a pharmacist about your medicines and prescriptions. Our services give you the chance to chat to a pharmacist about your concerns, while getting expert advice on how to improve your health in our private consultation room. We stock a wide range of prescription medications

JANUARY 2021 21 Rycroft Avenue, Deeping St James PE6 8NT 01778 349646 deepingstjamespharmacy@aah-n3.co.uk fast and efficient wholesaler service to enable us to We are an independent pharmacy giving patients a one-to-one service. We like to model ourselves on the old community fulfil all the prescriptions promptly. We also keep a pharmacy where patients get to know us and wide range of over-the-counter medicines and also and you will always see a familiar face. Here vitamins and mineral supplements at Deeping St James Pharmacy, we are proud

available to them. ● We offer blister pack medication to patients who meet the criteria.We understand how important it is to speak face● Flu vaccinations will be available this to-face with a pharmacist about your medicines winter as a pre-book or drop-in service.and prescriptions. Our services give you the chance ● NHS unwanted medicine service, where you can return all unwanted medicines to the to chat to a pharmacist about your concerns, while getting expert advice on how to improve your health in our private consultation room. pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. ● Emergency supplies: if you need one of your We stock a wide range of prescription medications and dressings from all the main brands. We keep regular medicines in an emergency and you a comprehensive stock of all medicines and use a are unable to contact your doctor, we may be able to help.

We understand how important it is to speak face-to-face with a pharmacist about your medicines and prescriptions. Our fast and efficient wholesaler service to enable us to fulfil all the prescriptions promptly. We also keep a services give you the chance to chat to a pharmacist about wide range of over-the-counter medicines and also your concerns, while getting expert advice on how to impove vitamins and mineral supplements your health in our private consultation room. Our other services include ● We offer blister pack medication to We stock a wide range of prescription medications and patients who meet the criteria. dressings from all the main brands. We keep a comprehensive ● Flu vaccinations will be available this stock of all medicines and use a fast and efficient wholesaler winter as a pre-book or drop-in service. service to enable us to fulfill all the prescriptions promptly. We ● NHS unwanted medicine service, where you also keep a whole range of over the counter medicines and also vitamins and other mineral supplements. ● can return all unwanted medicines to the pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. Emergency supplies: if you need one of your regular medicines in an emergency and you are unable to contact your doctor, we may Come in and say hello, we’d be very glad to see you and assist you with anything you need. be able to help. Come in and say hello, we’d be very glad to see you and assist you with anything you need.21 Rycroft Avenue, Deeping St James PE6 8NT

• We offer blister pack medication to patients who meet the criteria. • Flu vaccinations will be available this winter as a pre-book or drop in service. • NHS unwanted medicine service, where you can return all unwanted medicines to the pharmacy where we will dispose of them safely. • Emergency supplies. If you need one of your regular medicines in an emergency and you are unable to contact your doctor, we may be able to help.