Photo of a man and woman standing outside a house with a horse and carriers wagon bearing the name of William H. Atter which operated between Holbeach Drove and Gedney.
Photo of a horse drawn wagon belonging to Curzon & Sons of Long Sutton. The wagon appears to be prepared for a royal pageant and three boys stand by the wheel, at least two dressed as Guardsmen.
Photo of a coach drawn by two horses. The coach has “H.C. Maddison carrier” written on the side. There are people inside the coach and the driver is in position
Photo of an early lorry with gas lamps, laden with sacks, parked on Gosberton High Street. A man, probably the driver, is standing in front of it.
Photo of a Great Northern Railway Co. Carriers cart, fully laden, with carter standing next to it.
Vistor comments
5 Responses
My great, great grandfather Henry Grimstead was the first rural mail carrier in Holbeach District from 1859, whilst he continued for another two years to drive the Royal Mail night coach from Wisbech to Holbeach, his occupation since 1853. He retired in 1892, claiming to have travelled 458,545 miles carrying mail and died in Holbeach in 1909 aged 87. He lived with his wife Harriet, first I believe, at 67 High Street, then Temperance Cottages and finally Albert Street. Their only surviving son was brought up by her relatives in East Keal but another born in Holbeach lived only a short while and is buried there. Harriet too died in 1909, aged 74.
It seems that Henry Grimstead could be an over-sensitive soul. The Lincolnshire Chronicle in September 1864 reported a hearing at Holbeach Petty Sessions before Joseph Barker Esq. (Chairman), Rev. E. L. Bennett and Geo. Prest Esq. at which Henry complained that he had been assaulted with a ladder by Phoebe Squire, whilst her daughter Sarah had poured the contents of a chamber pot over him. He had taken offence after the daughter, he believed, had stuck a penny toy monkey on the roof in derision of him. He threw a brick to dislodge it, which had bounced off the roof and hit Sarah’s shoulder, resulting in her mother grabbing the nearest object, the ladder and striking him. The bench said it was a trumpery case but agreed that the assault had been committed: “There had been, as usual in such cases, rough language on both sides. – Fined 1s”.
Reported on 16th December 1859 in the Stamford Mercury:
“Serious Loss. – On Thursday afternoon as Mr. Grimstead, mail carrier between Boston and Wisbeach, was proceeding from the latter place, when near Fleet his horse suddenly stopped: on examination, it was found that the animal had broken one of its legs. The poor thing was immediately killed.”
And a plea for the good old days before the coming of the railway to Holbeach, from the Stamford Mercury, 19th October 1866:
“The Railway. – On Tuesday evening the engine got off the line just before entering Holbeach station from Spalding, but so annoyed and inconvenienced have people been of late by the inconceivably bad (or rather no) time kept by the trains on our railway that the general remark was “they hoped it would never get on again”. So bad has the service on the “Norwich and Spalding” become that it is no unusual thing to hear regretful reference being made to the “slow but sure” days of Gibbons, Grimstead, the “old Union”, and the Birmingham Mail, all of which were driven off the road by the boastful disappointing railway. – Correspondent.
Henry Grimstead’s father, Daniel, ran coach services from an inn near Wisbech from the 1820s, where and when Henry was born. He employed his son in the coaching business. Daniel advertised a new coach service in the Stamford Mercury in May 1827:
BOSTON AND WISBECH SOCIABLE.
The public are respectfully informed, that the Original BOSTON and WISBECH SOCIABLE will commence running every morning from the WHITE HORSE INN, BOSTON on MONDAY the 7th of MAY at Half past Six o’clock, and arrive at the ROSE AND CROWN INN, WISBECH, at Eleven, in time for the Original Norwich and Stamford Union Coach to Lynn, Swaffham, Dereham, and Norwich; and will return from Wisbech at One o’clock, or immediately after the Norwich Coach arrives. Passengers by this conveyance will reach Holbeach in time for the Spalding Mail. – Fares from Boston to Norwich 13s.6d. ; ditto to Lynn, 9s. Performed by DANIEL GRIMSTEAD and Co.
5 Responses
My great, great grandfather Henry Grimstead was the first rural mail carrier in Holbeach District from 1859, whilst he continued for another two years to drive the Royal Mail night coach from Wisbech to Holbeach, his occupation since 1853. He retired in 1892, claiming to have travelled 458,545 miles carrying mail and died in Holbeach in 1909 aged 87. He lived with his wife Harriet, first I believe, at 67 High Street, then Temperance Cottages and finally Albert Street. Their only surviving son was brought up by her relatives in East Keal but another born in Holbeach lived only a short while and is buried there. Harriet too died in 1909, aged 74.
Thanks, Lovely memories thank you for sharing. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
Regards
Geoff
It seems that Henry Grimstead could be an over-sensitive soul. The Lincolnshire Chronicle in September 1864 reported a hearing at Holbeach Petty Sessions before Joseph Barker Esq. (Chairman), Rev. E. L. Bennett and Geo. Prest Esq. at which Henry complained that he had been assaulted with a ladder by Phoebe Squire, whilst her daughter Sarah had poured the contents of a chamber pot over him. He had taken offence after the daughter, he believed, had stuck a penny toy monkey on the roof in derision of him. He threw a brick to dislodge it, which had bounced off the roof and hit Sarah’s shoulder, resulting in her mother grabbing the nearest object, the ladder and striking him. The bench said it was a trumpery case but agreed that the assault had been committed: “There had been, as usual in such cases, rough language on both sides. – Fined 1s”.
Two more related items:
Reported on 16th December 1859 in the Stamford Mercury:
“Serious Loss. – On Thursday afternoon as Mr. Grimstead, mail carrier between Boston and Wisbeach, was proceeding from the latter place, when near Fleet his horse suddenly stopped: on examination, it was found that the animal had broken one of its legs. The poor thing was immediately killed.”
And a plea for the good old days before the coming of the railway to Holbeach, from the Stamford Mercury, 19th October 1866:
“The Railway. – On Tuesday evening the engine got off the line just before entering Holbeach station from Spalding, but so annoyed and inconvenienced have people been of late by the inconceivably bad (or rather no) time kept by the trains on our railway that the general remark was “they hoped it would never get on again”. So bad has the service on the “Norwich and Spalding” become that it is no unusual thing to hear regretful reference being made to the “slow but sure” days of Gibbons, Grimstead, the “old Union”, and the Birmingham Mail, all of which were driven off the road by the boastful disappointing railway. – Correspondent.
Henry Grimstead’s father, Daniel, ran coach services from an inn near Wisbech from the 1820s, where and when Henry was born. He employed his son in the coaching business. Daniel advertised a new coach service in the Stamford Mercury in May 1827:
BOSTON AND WISBECH SOCIABLE.
The public are respectfully informed, that the Original BOSTON and WISBECH SOCIABLE will commence running every morning from the WHITE HORSE INN, BOSTON on MONDAY the 7th of MAY at Half past Six o’clock, and arrive at the ROSE AND CROWN INN, WISBECH, at Eleven, in time for the Original Norwich and Stamford Union Coach to Lynn, Swaffham, Dereham, and Norwich; and will return from Wisbech at One o’clock, or immediately after the Norwich Coach arrives. Passengers by this conveyance will reach Holbeach in time for the Spalding Mail. – Fares from Boston to Norwich 13s.6d. ; ditto to Lynn, 9s. Performed by DANIEL GRIMSTEAD and Co.