Bourne Archive: Exeter Estate

http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3Regdoc001.htm Latest edit 19 Feb 2011.

The Bourne Archive

Lord Burghley’s Coming of Age: 1871.

TESTIMONIAL

LORD BURGHLEY

ON ATTAINING HIS MAJORITY,

Presented at the dinner at Burghley, on Wednesday, july 19th, 1871.

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LIST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM THE TENANTRY AND NEIGHBOURS OF

THE MOST HON. THE MARQUIS OF EXETER.

STAMFORD	£ s d	STAMFORD, continued	£ s d
The Mayor of Stamford (Mr. Morgan)	1 1 0	Mr. J. Britton	1 1 0
The Rev. Nicholas Walters	1 1 0	Messrs. Melbourn & Co.	1 1 0
The Rev. D.E.Jones	1 1 0	Mr. S. Biggin	1 1 0
Mr. Henry Whincup	1 1 0	” Joseph Phillips	1 1 0
Dr. Newman	1 1 0	” Mann	1 1 0
Mr. Hy. Johnson	1 1 0	” R. P. Thompson	1 1 0
” T. Laxton	1 1 0	” Bromhead	1 1 0
” E. Browning	1 1 0	” C. T. Ryan	1 1 0
” James Richardson	1 1 0	” C. Goodrich	1 1 0
” Charles Richardson	1 1 0	” Hy. Norton	1 1 0
” Joplin	1 1 0	” T. Pollard	1 1 0
Dr. Robbs	1 1 0	” E. F. Young	1 1 0
The Rev. Charles Nevinson	1 1 0	” W. Dalton	1 1 0
Mr. J. Payne	1 1 0	” W. Thompson	1 1 0
” F. Jelley	1 1 0	” W. Wright	1 1 0
” J. Wade	1 1 0	” J. T. Wilson	1 1 0
” John Duncomb	1 1 0	” T. K. Parker	0 10 6
” Geo. Patterson	1 1 0	” W. C. Tiptaft	0 10 6
” Rd. Thompson	1 1 0	” John Roberts	0 10 6
” Wm. Higgins	1 1 0	” Bromage	0 10 6
Messrs. Peasgood & Wood	1 1 0	Rev. A. R. Webster	0 10 6
Mr. Walton, Burghley	1 1 0	Dr. Hopkinson	0 10 6
” Charles Handson	1 1 0	Mr. W. Holmes	0 10 6
” H. Edwards, G. N. R.	1 1 0	The Misses Tomlinson	0 10 6
Miss Hurst	1 1 0	Mr. Langley	0 10 6
Messrs. Daffron & Son	1 1 0	” G. Bunney	0 10 6
Mr. H. Michelson	1 1 0	” R. Roberts	0 10 6
” J. Fowler	1 1 0	” Hilary Hewitt	0 10 6
” Joseph Pollard	1 1 0	” John Barnes	0 10 6
Miss Robertson	1 1 0	Mrs. Parr	0 10 6
Mr. J. M. Blashfield	1 1 0	Mr. Etches, Burghley	0 10 6
” O. Edmonds	1 1 0	” Geo. Spademan	0 10 6
” Heward	1 1 0	” Chas. Thorpe	0 10 6
” Rose	1 1 0	” John Islip	0 10 6
Dr. Eaton	1 1 0	Mrs. Clapton	0 10 6
Mr. James Simpson	1 1 0	Miss Wingfield	0 10 6
” Val. Stapleton	1 1 0	The Rev. Spencer Walters	0 10 6
” G. Cayley	1 1 0	Mrs. Hicks, Burghley	0 10 6
The Ven Archdeacon Paul	1 1 0	Mr. E. I. Orford	0 10 6
Mr. T. Croshaw	1 1 0	Mrs. O. N. Simpson	0 10 6
” B. Frisby	1 1 0	Mr. E. H. George	0 10 6
” Wattam	1 1 0	” Markham	0 10 6
” J. Dawson	1 1 0	” F. Waterfield	0 10 6
” James Sanderson, London	1 1 0	” Robert Christian	0 10 6
“ M. Brown, Agent to S & E Railway	1 1 0	” J. Ford	0 10 6
“ W. Chapman	1 1 0	” J. Hayes	0 10 6
” Thos. Hassan	1 1 0	” Alfred Parker	0 10 6
The Rev. F. E. Gretton	1 1 0	” J. Bagnall	0 10 6
Mr. Geo. Edmonds	1 1 0	” Hy. Norton	0 10 6
” W. F. Law	1 1 0	” E. Dawson	0 10 6
” E. Ward	1 1 0	” Horace Wright	0 10 6
” T. G. Mason	1 1 0	” R. W. George	0 10 6
” Geo. Caswell	1 1 0	” B. Barlow	0 10 6
” M. G. Browne	1 1 0	” D. Evans	0 10 6
” F. Riley	1 1 0	” R. Brown, Wothorpe	0 10 0
The Rev. A. G. Hildyard	1 1 0	” Jas. Savidge	0 10 0
STAMFORD, contiued	£ s d	STAMFORD, continued	£ s d
Mr. A. Rippin	0 10 0	Mr. Joshua Wardle	0 2 6
” Crosby	0 10 0	” Pepper	0 2 6
” H. T. Betts	0 10 0	Mrs. Chambers	0 2 6
” Thos. Roberts	0 10 0	Mr. Thos. Scotney	0 2 6
” Thos. Smith, Burghley Lodges	0 10 0	” V. Hibbins	0 2 6
” Dinniss	0 10 0	” Harrison	0 2 6
” W. Parker	0 10 0	” Charles Alexander	0 2 6
” Knott	0 10 0	” R. Kelham	0 2 6
Miss Collins	0 10 0	” J. Betts	0 2 6
Mr. Joshua Towson	0 10 0	” Wm. Blades	0 2 6
” G. Groom	0 10 0	” J. Mills	0 2 6
” Thompson	0 5 0	Mrs. Strickson	0 2 6
” John Sullivan	0 5 0	Mr. J. Smedley	0 2 0
” R. Wright	0 5 0	” J. Howitt	0 2 0
” Connington	0 5 0	” S. Fancourt	0 2 0
” Snoden	0 5 0	” H. Joyce	0 2 0
” Loweth	0 5 0	” Stephen Clement	0 2 0
” J. E. Hart	0 5 0	” John Pearson	0 2 0
” W. Bacon	0 5 0	” Wm. Billings	0 2 0
Mrs. Calthrop	0 5 0	” Henry Squires	0 2 0
Mr. Jas. Young	0 5 0	” Alfred Terry	0 1 6
” F. W. Robinson	0 5 0	” B. Gobbi	0 1 6
” James Gray	0 5 0	” Edwin Clarke	0 1 0
” D. E. Simpson	0 5 0	” Henry Taverner	0 1 0
” Finch	0 5 0	” Thomas Garfatt	0 1 0
” Aldwinckle	0 5 0	Mrs. Baker	0 1 0
” John Wright	0 5 0	Miss Sparrow	0 1 0
” James Day	0 5 0	Mrs. Davies	0 1 0
” Gilbert, Burghley	0 5 0	Mr. Goodliff	0 1 0
” John Redmill	0 5 0	” Baker	0 1 0
” John Shelton	0 5 0	” John Tillson	0 1 0
” Wm. Hall	0 5 0	” Wm. Poulson	0 1 0
” J. Reynolds	0 5 0	” Michael Tomblin	0 1 0
” James Wyles	0 5 0	” George Chambers	0 1 0
” Saml. Bassendine	0 5 0	” Robt. Starling	0 1 0
” James Boor	0 5 0	” Wm. Mills	0 1 0
” J. Ellison	0 5 0	” John Middleton	0 1 0
” Ed. Monck	0 5 0	” T. Wells	0 1 0
” F. Dickinson	0 5 0	” J. Bland	0 1 0
” Thos. Eayrs	0 5 0	” R. Laxton	0 1 0
” W. Ratcliffe	0 5 0	” Robt. Pell	0 1 0
” H. W. Abbott	0 5 0	” Henry Baxter	0 1 0
” W. Scholes	0 5 0	” E. Monck	0 1 0
” J. Dickinson	0 5 0	” R. Errington	0 0 6
” D. Norris	0 5 0	S and E Railway Company’s Servants, viz:-
” W. Waterfield	0 5 0			s. d.
” C. Wigmore	0 5 0	William Lightfoot		2 6
” J. G. Desborough	0 5 0	Thos. McWeeney		1 0
” G. F. Burrell	0 5 0	William Croxford		1 0
” W. Hilliam	0 5 0	William Day		1 0
” W. Duncomb	0 5 0	John James Ford		1 0
” W. Maxey	0 5 0	James B. Finch		1 0
” Thomas Scholes	0 5 0	John Owen Sullivan		1 0
” Rd. Atkinson	0 5 0	Sam. Chesterton		1 0
” C. J. Young	0 5 0	William Gibbons		1 0
” Wm. Ward	0 5 0	John T. Sneath		1 0
” I. Tebbs	0 5 0	William Edwards		1 0
” J. B. Corby	0 5 0	Wilson Lightfoot		1 0
” G. Bacon	0 5 0	Hugh Shepherd		1 0
Mrs. Blott	0 5 0	John Christian		1 0
Messrs. Reedman & Son	0 3 6	John Avery		1 0
Mr. Henry Sneath	0 3 0	Newton Gilbert		1 0
” Thos. Haynes	0 2 6	John Vine		1 0
” J. Harris	0 2 6	William Musson		1 0
Mrs. Andrews	0 2 6	Wm. Gibbons		1 0
Mr. Bilsdon	0 2 6	Geo. Gibbons		1 0
” Thomas Davies	0 2 6	William Tyers		1 0
” Michael Parish	0 2 6	Alfred Shelbourne		1 0
” W. Nutt	0 2 6		1 3 6
” C. Gann	0 2 6
” C. Harvey	0 2 6	BARNACK &c.
” Alfred Woodward	0 2 6	The Rev. Canon Argles	1 1 0
” Thos. Knighton	0 2 6	Mr. T. Close	1 1 0
” J. Foster	0 2 6	” E. Hunt	1 1 0
BARNACK &c., continued	£ s d	BOURN, continued	£ s d
Mr. Geo. Hunt, Pilsgate	1 1 0	Mr. T. Elston	0 2 6
” R. S. Dalton	1 1 0	” E. Fisher	0 2 6
” J. T. Dickens	1 1 0	” R. Dance	0 2 6
” James Morton	1 1 0
” L. James, Pilsgate	1 1 0	COLLYWESTON and DUDDINGTON
” Thomas Close, jun.	0 10 6	The Rev. E. F. Green, Duddington	1 1 0
” Wm. Dalton, Pilsgate	0 10 6	Major Bowman, Duddington	1 1 0
” Thomas Goodwin	0 10 6	Mr. J. Colston, Collyweston	1 1 0
” H. Flint, Southorpe	0 10 6	” Wm. Close, jun. ditto	1 1 0
” James Morris	0 5 0	” Wm. Close, sen. ditto	1 1 0
” John Turner	0 5 0	” J. Buckworth, ditto	1 0 0
” Charles Sarderson	0 5 0	” Thos. Percival, ditto	0 15 0
” Nottingham, Ufford	0 5 0	” F. Whincup, sen. Geeston	1 10 6
” James Dunn	0 2 6	” F. Whincup, jun. ditto	1 10 6
” John Sharpe	0 2 6	” John Walter, Collyweston	1 10 0
” Thos. Cox	0 2 6	” Wm. Hibbins	0 2 6
” Wm. Martin	0 1 0	” Thos. Stokes	0 1 0
” J. Woods	0 1 0	” Francis Sellars	0 1 0
“ Reuben Joyce	0 1 0
		EASTON
BARROWDEN		The Rev. W. H. Charlton	1 1 0
The Rev. C. J. Dyer	1 1 0	Mr. J. Porter Greenwood	1 1 0
Mr. J. Shelton	0 10 6	” John Porter	1 1 0
” Henry Mason	0 10 6	” Williamson	1 1 0
” John Bates	0 10 6	” A. Dainty	1 1 0
” Francis Lumby	0 10 6	” Wm. Hill	0 10 6
” Thomas Baines	0 10 6	” Thos. Chapman	0 10 6
” R. Shelton	0 10 6	” Geo. Bartram	0 10 6
” Rowlatt	0 10 6	Mrs. Whitehead	0 10 6
” James Eady	0 10 6	Mr. Wm. Duncomb	0 10 0
” Thos. Swift	0 5 0	” Wm. Dainty, sen.	0 10 0
” Samuel Swann	0 2 6	” Geo. Peasgood	0 10 0
” Thos. B. Wade	0 2 6	” Thomas Duncomb	0 5 0
” Stephen Taylor	0 2 6	” Wm. Cox	0 5 0
” Rd. Close	0 2 6	” Luke Bradshaw	0 5 0
” Thos. Swan	0 2 6	” J. Hubbard	0 5 0
” Wm. Pepper	0 2 6	” Thomas Smith	0 5 0
” T. H. Hercock	0 2 6	Mrs. D. Porter	0 2 6
” Danl. Richmond	0 2 6	Mr. Merrett	0 2 6
” Wm. Pollard	0 2 6	Mr. John Taylor	0 2 6
” Edward Dexter	0 2 6	” Thomas Walter	0 2 6
” Charles Sismey	0 1 6	” Wm. Dexter	0 2 6
” Wilson	0 1 0	” Thos. Walter	0 2 6
		” Isaac Porter	0 2 6
BOURN, &c.		Mrs. Geo. Dexter	0 2 6
The Rev. J. L. Dodsworth	1 1 0	Mrs. Wm. Pridmore	0 2 6
W. Parker, Esq., Hanthorpe	1 1 0	Mr. Lawrence Thompson	0 2 6
Mr. R. M. Mills	1 1 0	Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Tyers	0 2 0
” R. J. Shilcock	1 1 0	Mr. William Dexter	0 2 0
” H. Bott	1 1 0	” Wm. Walter	0 2 0
” J. Gibson	1 1 0	” Atton Martin	0 2 0
” W. Elfleet	1 1 0	” Wm. Jackson	0 1 0
” R. Michelson, Bourn Fen	1 1 0	” Whitehead Gilbert	0 1 0
” Hy. Osborn	1 1 0	” Andrew Porter	0 1 0
” W. Rodgers, Morton	1 1 0	” Jacob Kirby	0 1 0
” Geo. Cooke, Bourn Fen	1 0 0	” George Woodward	0 1 0
” T. Presgrave	0 10 6	” Wm. Bullimore	0 1 0
” J. Thornton	0 10 6	” Thomas Pocock	0 1 0
” J. Featherstone	0 10 6	Mrs. Henson	0 1 0
” W. Todd	0 10 6	” Peter Bowder	0 1 0
” Shillaker	0 10 6	Mr. Wm. Manton	0 1 0
” John Freeman, Dyke	0 10 6	” John Lomas	0 1 0
” Robt Mawby	0 10 6
” J. P. Baker, Morton	0 10 6	GREAT CASTERTON
” Hy. Rodgers	0 10 0	The Rev. Jos. Place	1 1 0
” T. Withers	0 10 0	Mr. J. L. Wilders	1 1 0
” Shippey	0 5 0	” Nevil Brown	1 1 0
” Wm. Baxter	0 5 0	” J. G. Kenrick	1 1 0
” Francis Wyles	0 5 0	” H. W. Palmer	0 10 6
” R. Palmer	0 5 0	” W. Franks	0 10 0
” E. Gibbins	0 2 6	” John Goodwin	0 10 0
” J. Raines	0 2 6	Mrs. Standwell	0 5 0
” R. Dobbs	0 2 6	Mr. Newboult	0 5 0
” T. Taylor	0 2 6	” J. Sismey	0 2 6
GREAT CASTERTON, continued	£ s d	RYHALL, continued	£ s d
Mr. Peter Bailey	0 2 6	Mr. Wm. Marriott	1 1 0
” J. Peach	0 2 6	” W. Wright	0 10 6
” Dexter	0 2 6	” Geo. Sanford	0 5 0
” W. Goodwin, jun.	0 2 6	” John Gann	0 2 6
” C. Hart	0 2 0	” Thomas Fenn	0 2 6
” Chas. Wood	0 1 0	” Robert Ringham	0 2 6
		” Samuel Roberts	0 2 6
KING’S CLIFFE
Rev. E. Du Pre	1 1 0	TINWELL
Mr. Thos. Cunnington	1 1 0	The Rev. C. Arnold	1 1 0
” Drake	1 1 0	Mr. Edward Thorpe	1 1 0
” Wm. Dainty	1 1 0	” R. L. Bradshaw	1 1 0
” Charles Dainty	1 1 0	” C. Tiptaft	1 1 0
” Thos. Law	0 10 6	Mrs. Burdett	1 1 0
” Wm. Wadwell	0 5 0	Mr. Thomas Jelley	0 10 6
” Thomas Clarke	0 5 0	” J. T. Bradshaw	0 10 6
” Jjohn Wade	0 5 0	Mrs. Yates	0 10 6
” Thos. Whyman	0 2 6	Mr. James Hickling	0 5 0
” Wm. Rate	0 2 6
		UPPINGHAM, STOKE, CALDECOTT, &c.
LYDDINGTON		The Rev. Barnard Smith, Glaston	1 1 0
Mr. J. H. Bryan	1 1 0	Mr. Thomas Stokes, Caldecott	1 1 0
” Sharman	1 1 0	” Conyers Peach, Stoke	1 1 0
” Hugh Bryan	0 10 6	” Thomas Bryan, Seaton	1 1 0
” J. Pretty, jun.	0 10 0	” E. Wortley, Ridlington	1 1 0
” Thomas Hill	0 10 0	” Thomas Stokes, Glaston	1 1 0
” Brown	0 10 0	” F. John Berry	1 1 0
Messrs. Brown & Son.	0 10 0	” W. Shield, Uppingham	1 1 0
Mr. Thos. Pretty	0 10 0	” J. B. Mould, ditto	0 10 6
” John Pretty	0 10 0	” W. Shelton, Wing	0 10 6
” J. Clements	0 5 0	” Morris, Great Easton	0 10 6
” W. Muggleton	0 5 0	Miss Shelton, Seaton	0 10 0
” J. Colwell	0 5 0	Messrs. Baines, ditto	0 10 0
” F. Wright	0 2 6	Mr. Wm. Mould, Uppingham	0 10 0
” F. Stevenson	0 2 6	” Albine Thorpe, ditto	0 10 0
” T. Roberts	0 2 6	” H. Hay, Beaumont Chase	0 10 0
” J. Manton	0 2 6	” Thos. Ward, Stoke	0 10 0
” H. White	0 2 6	” W. Morris, Gretton	0 10 0
		” J. R. Bryan, Bringhurst	0 10 0
MARKET DEEPING, &c.		” W. Bayles, Uppingham	0 5 0
Mr. J. Perkins, Market Deeping	1 1 0	” Reeve, Thos. ditto	0 5 0
” Geo. Morris, Newboro’	1 1 0	” Wm. Wright, Caldecott	0 5 0
” M. Whitfield, ditto	1 1 0	” Wm. Cliffe, Great Easton	0 5 0
” Beharrel, ditto	1 1 0	” J. A. Tyrrell, Horninghold	0 5 0
” Wm. Ingram, Postland	1 1 0	” J. Sneath, Uppingham	0 2 6
” Chas. Phillips, Shillingthorpe	1 1 0
” E. L. Thompson, Greatford	1 1 0	WAKERLEY
” Messrs. Hancocks & Co., London	1 1 0	Mr. W. Gill	1 1 0
		Mrs. Bradshaw	1 1 0
MORCOTT		Mr. Rd. Dawson	1 1 0
Mr. C. P. Gill	1 1 0	” J. A. P. Clarke	0 10 6
” Walter Lambert	0 10 0	” Isaac Munton	0 5 0
” W. C. Pridmore	0 10 0	” Wm. Hill	0 2 6
” T. B. Clarke	0 5 0	” James Gunn	0 2 6
” Wm. Warren Springthorpe	0 2 0	” R. Green	0 2 6
		” W. Pepper	0 2 6
PICKWORTH		” W. Johnson	0 2 6
Mr. Henry Adams	1 1 0	” J. B. Pepper	0 2 6
” E. Dawson	1 1 0	” D. Wade Wilson	0 2 6
” John Hay	1 1 0
” Grimes	0 10 6	WHITTERING [sic]
” W. Eayrs	0 10 6	The Rev. E. H. Everett	1 1 0
” Wm. Goodwin, sen.	0 2 6	Mr. H. H. Whincup	1 1 0
		” Porter	1 1 0
RYHALL		” Hodgkins	1 1 0
The Rev. C. Potchett	1 1 0	” John Hockney	1 1 0
Mrs. Johnson	1 1 0	” C. Flint	0 10 0
Mr. John Lowe	1 1 0	” James Todd	0 5 0
” Conyers Lowe	1 1 0

The Subscription was limited to One Guinea. The total amount subscribed is £254. 17s. 6d.

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The TESTIMONIAL was a noble PIECE OF SILVER PLATE, three feet high; in the shape of a Candelabra, with octagon shaped base, enriched with Grecian style of chasing, and supporting three figures representing Painting, Sculpture, and Music, each holding the usual emblems; a scroll twisted stem rising from the centre, supporting six elegant branches for lights and a centre basket with richly cut glass for fruit or flowers. This truly elegant and artistic ornament was from the well-known Establishment of Messrs. HANCOCKS and Co., of Burton-street, London. The following is the inscription:— “Presented to Lord Burghley, on attaining his majority, by the Tenantry and Neighbours of the Marquis of Exeter, as a token of their respect and esteem. July 19, 1871.”

The Testimonial was formally presented in a very impressive and feeling manner to LORD BURGHLEY, by the Rev. C. J. Dyer, on behalf of the Subscribers. He said: My Lord Burghley, — The occasion of this imposing gathering, the splendid hospitality of which we have been partaking, and many of the surrounding associations, remind us of past days. They recall what now has become matter of record and history—a coming of age in the olden time. Gathered beneath these venerable walls, our thoughts naturally revert to the period when your renowned ancestor founded this house and guided with so much wisdom the councils of his sovereign so as to render her reign one of the most illustrious in the annals of England. Those were the days when the lord of the soil could reckon on the faithful devotion of his vassals, and if we want proof that that feeling exists still, though in a more enlightened form, I ask you to look around this assembly and see those who have come here to acknowledge and receive you as the son of this house. (Cheers.) They have done that in words already, and now it is my pleasurable duty to do it in a more substantial manner. I cannot help thinking that as a nation, we are too apt to render post mortem honours. We let our heroes die before we think of offering any tribute to their heroism. (Cheers.) To-day we have taken a leaf out of a new book. We have anticipated the faithful discharge of those duties which may one day devolve upon you. That that day may be far distant I am sure no one in this assembly desires more than yourself. Still, we are being borne on the tide of time, and with the coming responsibilities which will devolve upon you, I feel sure that the testimony of respect and esteem evinced towards you today will bear fruit in a manly, true, and generous Christian life. (Cheers.) When I tell you that upwards of 500 of your father’s tenants and neighbours have gladly contributed towards this offering, you will learn how many hearts are beating kindly for you, and how many eyes are fixed upon your upward career. (Cheers.) I feel confident that I am expressing the desire of this great assembly, as the desire of one man, when I say that their earnest wish is that you may follow in all the social intercourse of life the honoured example of your grandfather, that you may follow in the steps of our noble father (cheers), and that the Giver of every good and perfect gift may bestow upon you a wise and understanding heart. And may He bless you for time and for eternity. (Cheers.) My Lord Burghley, permit me to offer you this gift with every mark of respect for you and the house of Cecil. (Loud Cheers.)

LORD BURGHLEY replied, and said: To you, Mr Dyer, as the reputed representative of those who today have presented me with so handsome and useful memento of my coming of age, I must address a few words in acknowledgement. Let me assure all those who have in any way assisted in promoting this kindly proceeding, the presentation to me of such a token of good-will, that I feel their consideration and kindness very deeply, and I can fully appreciate the energy and promptitude necessary in order to secure the ceremony taking place on so opportune an occasion. (Cheers.) I shall greatly value this piece of plate, because it will always remind me of the exertions displayed by the tenants on my father’s property to offer me a substantial proof of their regard for me as my father’s son. (Cheers.) I think this is the foundation of the reception I have met with at your hands, and I repeat that I shall always remember the kindness evinced in making me such a valuable present. (Loud Cheers.)

_________________________________________________________

HENRY JOHNSON, PRINTER, STAMFORD.

Commentary.

The above was printed in black on blue silk and probably represents a memento given to subscribers. The copy from which this transcription was taken will have been that given to R. M. Mills of Bourne. By 1871, he was well established as a pharmacist there. Some years ago, Mrs. P.M.Edmunds, kindly allowed me to transcribe it.

In the parishes to North, West and South of Bourne, while the names of the landowners were fairly numerous, several of the biggest were part of the family centred on Grimsthorpe Castle. Bourne on the other hand, had been divided into two manors in 1138. Since the dissolution of the Abbey in 1536, there had been two main secular owners. By 1871, the owner of Bourne Abbots seems to have been taking advantage of changes brought by the railway, by liquidating his land holding in Bourne. The Exeter estate, belonging to the Cecil family, had been and remained strong there. The best-known of the Cecils, William, first Lord Burghley, was born in his parents’ house in the Market Place in 1520, when the Cecils were on the way up, in the train of the Tudors.

Indeed, it is noticeable how far the distribution of the 1871 Earl of Exeter’s tenants coincides with the Welland valley lands of Henry Tudor’s mother, Margaret Beaufort, countess of Richmond. She had had a palace at Collyweston. She had owned much else between there and Maxey, though not Burghley, the property of Peterborough Abbey. Of course the Beauforts owned land elsewhere, particularly in the Lancastrian counties such as Lincolnshire. As an example, the Richmond Estate is prominent in the story of Boston. Bourne seems to have been used to pay David Cecil, William’s grandfather, for his services during and after the time of the 1485 invasion. David’s son, Richard, was married to an heiress but she seems to have been bundled as a lot, with her own property and with Richmond property such as Bourne castle. The royal wardship of heiresses was no new thing. This sort of patronage was established as part of a king’s means of rewarding support. By the time this transaction was done, the Earl of Richmond was also Henry VIII, of England.

The S & E Railway was the Stamford and Essendine line (opened 1856). The main London to Edinburgh line might have passed through Stamford but that would have meant disturbing the Cecils’ park at Burghley. It is possible too, that they foresaw that the introduction of outside capital into the town would weaken their undoubted political control there, evinced by this document. The railway north from Peterborough, opened in 1852, therefore passed to the East. This meant that a branch was needed to serve the town and that development such as happened at Peterborough or Doncaster was not a possibility. In the event, the Peterborough to Stamford line (Midland Railway, 1846) was opened before the main line was extended.

The S & E was a small company in which the Cecils will have ensured that they had a major holding. Hence the subscriptions from that quarter. What is more surprising is the fact that Mr. Edwards of the Great Northern Railway contributed. Such a company and its employees might have been expected to be outside even the Cecils’ economic power. Their influence at the political centre, may have been seen as worth a guinea.

While Stamford had been a staging post on the Great North Road, it stagnated rather, in the railway age. As a result of the Cecils’ concern about their town, we are left with its picturesque centre. We see the political control arising from economic control, in the contribution of significant sums of money. It is not possible to convert the £254.17s.6d. precisely into modern terms but if today’s pound is worth 4d or 6d., of that time, then the sum is worth ten or fifteen thousand pounds today. The tenants seem all to have had something in return, in the form of an evening out at Burghley and a printed silk. Henry Johnson had the bonus of a printing job.

Lord (Baron) Burghley is a subsidiary title of The Marquis of Exeter. It was given here, to his heir apparent, as a courtesy title. It would thus be possible for someone called Lord Burghley to sit in the House of Commons. He was not legally, Lord Burghley. The man in question will have been Brownlow Henry George Cecil, the subsequent 4th Marquis of Exeter (1849-1898). His 21^st birthday fell in December 1870 but this celebration occurred in the following July. Acting as host to so large a gathering will have been more practical in the summer, just before harvest, even for someone with so grand a house as Burghley.

To anyone acquainted with nineteenth century applied arts, the description of the gift rings entirely true for 1871. It seems to arise from a fusion of 1850s Rococo and Pugin Gothic, influenced by Ruskin’s advocacy of Italian Gothic. The period is quite distinct.

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