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22 BULLETIN DECEMBER 2011 TEL: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukAnnouncements1. restoration of Marytealby’s grave in Biggleswade,st andrew’s churchyard.readers ot the BiggleswadeChronicle will know that lastMonday, 14 november, workbegan on the restoration of thegravestone of Mary tealby(1801-1865) who in 1860 foundedthe temporary Home forlost and starving Dogs inHolloway, london.after Mary’s death the Homemoved in 1871 to its currentlocation in Battersea and becameBattersea Dogs Home. althoughit had also taken in cats since1883 it was not renamedBattersea Dogs & Cats Homeuntil 2002. Queen Victoriabecame its patron1884 and thepatron today is Her Majesty theQueen. Mary tealby, who hadparted from her husband, a timbermerchant in Hull, arrived inlondon in 1860. she died fromcancer five years later whilststaying with relatives at theElms, london road,Biggleswade and was buried inst andrew’s churchyard. Herbrother, the reverend EdwardBates, who helped Mary in herwork, was buried in the sameplot in 1876.the restoration work, whichinvolves replacing worn sectionsof stone, including some of thelettering, is being carried out forBattersea Dogs & Cats Home byCliveden Conservation ofMaidenhead. Biggleswaderesident, Des Ball, has taken aspecial interest in the town’s linkwith this world famous institutionsince 1960, the centenary ofthe founding of the Home, whenrepresentatives from Batterseafirst came to Biggleswade tolocate the resting place of theirfounder. it was Des who suggestedthe project to preserveMary’s memorial for posterityand he has kindly offered tocollect donations fromBiggleswade and forward themto Battersea Dogs & Cats Homeas a contribution from the towntowards the cost of the work.the History society’sCommittee has decided by amajority vote to set the ballBiggleswade History Societyrolling with a donation of £250.individuals wishing to donateshould send a cheque payable to‘Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’to: Desmond Ball, 16 saffronroad, Biggleswade, Beds. sG188DJ or ‘Daleside’, lawrenceroad, Biggleswade, Beds. sG180lr - with a stamped addressedenvelope if you would like Desto send you a receipt. Donationsto reach Des no later than 15December, please, so that he canreport back to us the totalamount raised in time for nextmonth’s newsletter.2. new Dan albone books.last month saw the launch ofray Miller and lee irvine’s newhigh quality a5 paperbackbook, ‘Veteran-Cycle ClubMarque album no.2 – ivel’, 168very readable pages aboutBiggleswade’s Dan albone andhis significant contribution tocycling history, both as a championcyclist and early designerand manufacturer of cycles.We have heard from rayMiller that the 433-page largeformat a4 hardback book will beavailable early in December.Judging by the standard of thefirst book we await with anticipationthe arrival of the second,which promises to be a ‘musthave’ comprehensive record ofall of Dan’s many achievementsand inventions – in short, a bookto treasure.the expected cover price willbe £25. Furthermore, lee irvineand ray Miller have agreed toattend our special January 2012meeting at the ConservativeClub, when we shall be displayingthe Dan albone archive forBiggleswade donated to oursociety by lee irvine and hislate wife, Maude, great-niece ofDan albone. Both books willalso be available at that event.3. Biggleswade has a bookshopagain! susie’s Bookstorein the new inn Yard, Marketsquare opened for business onthursday, 10 november.NEWs FrOM tHEArCHiVEsour thanks for the followingaccessions:1. From ken Page, a largeframed aerial photograph ofBiggleswade (date unknown)left in one of the flats at VictoriaCourt and passed on to ken. itshows the lakes estate, the a1and the railway bridge.2. Copy of an illustrated articlefeaturing Dan albone’sarmoured vehicle. (scientificamerican Magazine 1907.)3. From ray Miller, copy ofa page from 23 July 1901 editionof ‘sport and Play and Wheellife’ advertising BiggleswadeFete and Cycle Meeting.MEEtiNGsthe Biggleswade Historysociety meets monthly atMillennium House, shortmeadstreet, Biggleswade. Doorsopen at 7.45 for an 8.00 pm starton the first tuesday of themonth, unless notified.Meetings are free to members;visitors are normally welcome atour indoor meetings for £2.00the Biggleswade History society meets monthly at MillenniumHouse, shortmead street, Biggleswade. Doors open at 7.45pm for an8.00pm start on the first tuesday of the month unless notified.Meetings are free to members; visitors will usually be welcome toour indoor meetings at a charge of £2.00 per meeting.Forthcoming Programme (2011-12)6 December Members’ only. Christmas Party at the ConservativeClub.10 January Dan albone archive for Biggleswade on publicdisplay at the Conservative Club. no need to book.7 February ‘the archaeology & History of BiggleswadeCommon’ – a talk by David Mcomish.6 March ‘the Victorian Way of Death’ – a talk by tom Doig.3 april annual General Meeting. Members only.per meeting.last Meeting:01 nov Mollie stockerreports: Fifty people were presentto hear the guest speaker,Michael knight, give a wellillustrated talk about Milestonesand Biggleswade during theturnpike Era. Michael describedhow historical events and legislationimposed by the reigningsovereign, mainly during theperiod 1740-1871, ensured thatroads were established to copewith ever increasing travel.turnpike trusts were formed toimprove roads.these were managed by localgentry who became responsiblefor the provision of toll gateswhere travellers and drovers hadto pay in order to proceed, thereforeenabling the improvementof large sections of highwaysthroughout the land.With the provision of betterroads came the need for someform of signpost to provide anindication of miles travelled andstill to travel. this resulted instone markers or posts – sometimesmade of cast iron – withmileage carved on them indicatingdistances to the next town,village or city.these pillars were known asmilestones and several still existin the Biggleswade area and canbe identified on the Milestonesociety’s website: www.milestonesociety.co.ukMany milestones were coveredup or buried when invasionseemed imminent in 1940 andthey are still being rediscoveredall over the country. some 9,000have been identified by theMilestone society and it isthought that many still lie buriedor forgotten in ditches and gardens.Michael ended his engagingtalk with an impromptu diversioninto the world of cyclingand the usefulness of milestonesto cyclists, particularly duringthe Dan albone era, and afterwardsmany questions were putto this very informative speakerwho had entertained us all withhis wit and enthusiasm.For further information contact: Jane Croot 01767 650340, editor@biggleswadehistory.org.uk www.biggleswadehistory.org.uk
TEL: 01234 843905 ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.uk BULLETIN DECEMBER 2011 23Twas Christmas Dayin the WorkhouseThe following three short articles,which appeared in Biggleswadehistory Society’s December 2004Newsletter, show how theWorkhouse inmates, soldiers of theRoyal engineers Signallersstationed in the town and patientsin the Biggleswade Red Crosshospital celebrated Christmas in1914. When Britain had gone towar against Germany in Augustthat year it was commonly believedthat the war would be over byChristmas. how wrong that provedto be; there would be almost fourmore years of war to endure anddeath and destruction on a scalenever before imagined. But for nowit was Christmas – a time of giving,of good cheer and goodwill. Thearticles are reproduced verbatimfrom contemporary BiggleswadeChronicle reports. I have addedfrom the history Society’s archivesa contemporary postcard ofBiggleswade sent home by one ofthe soldiers quartered here. Itshows the Market Square as itlooked then, with the Town hall(now Ask restaurant) and drumclock on the left of picture.Jane Croot, Newsletter Editor.CHRISTMAS AT THEWORKHOUSEthe inmates at the Workhousespent a most enjoyable time at thatinstitution on Christmas day,thanks to no small extent to theexcellent arrangements made fortheir enjoyment by Mr Brind andhis staff and the kindly gifts offriends. a very bright and heartyservice took place in the morning at10.15, when the rev. G. Haroldstrange, Ma gave an excellent andmost appropriate address to theinmates.Dinner was served at 12.30 anda splendid meal it was. the fareconsisted of roast beef, pork andfowl with baked and boiled potatoes,parsnips and cabbage andChristmas pudding. there was alsoginger beer and the muchdiscussed‘beer’. the carvers wereMr F.C. kitchener (guardian) andMr George Wagg (clerk to theBoard) and other guardians presentwere Mr F. Gee, Mr JamesMatthews and Mr F.W. Bray -brooks. these assisted with thework of serving the inmates, as alsodid Miss Braybrooks, Misskitchener and Miss Munsey.after dinner the women wereserved with tea and sugar and themen with tobacco, and all receivedoranges and apples. tea was servedat 5pm, and this meal was also anenjoyable one. the Vicar was alsopresent and also Mr Chew andfamily, and the former had a veryinteresting talk with the people.the ladies of the VisitingCommittee sent a bountiful supplyof toys for the children andtobacco, tea and sugar for theinfirmary patients.in the evening the customaryimpromptu concert took place, MrFrederick Head acting as chairman,and again a happy time was spent,the day as stated earlier, being anenjoyable one throughout. as inprevious years the interior of therooms had been beautifullydecorated for the festive season,and this work, like the arrangementsfor the day, reflected thegreatest possible credit on theMaster, Matron and their staff.SOLDIERS’ CHRISTMASFESTIVITIESalthough some of the soldierswho are quartered in the town weredisappointed at not being able toreturn home for the Christmasseason, all were able to spend ahappy holiday, for they had quite ahost of attractions provided.as announced in our last issue,there was a dance earlier in theweek, and for Christmas Eve andChristmas evening, George’sPicture Palace was speciallychartered and a special list of filmswere shown, while vocal itemswere rendered by a number of thesoldiers, and the orchestra of thenorthern signal Company, underthe direction of Mr Will C. sinclair,supplied the instrumental music.on Boxing Day a dance tookplace at the town Hall, and a bigcompany spent a jolly time.on sunday the soldiers had arest at their billets, but on Mondaythe festivities were continued witha smoking concert taking place inthe town Hall. as previously stated,there is an abundance of musicaltalent among our soldier guests,and the programme was up to theircustomary standard. the weatherwas about as wretched as one couldimagine, but despite this there wasa fair attendance. last evening afancy dress ball was held at thetown Hall, when prizes wereoffered for the three best costumesladies and gents.Continued on page 27Sandy Historical Research GroupPreserving our roots!sanDY Historical researchGroup was founded in late 2001and formally constituted in2002. originally, there was asmall group of like minded individualsthat had come togetherwith a consensus view about thecontinuing erosion of our localheritage. sure, the townCouncil had its roman artefactson display in the CouncilChambers and the population ofschool age were to be encouragedto learn about ancientsandy by the provision of a‘roman sandy’ website.However, it seemed that noonewas looking back into ourmore recent historical past andpreserving material that wouldbe of interest to a wider public.therefore, a gap in our knowledgewas perceived, whichcould be filled by the formationof a local historical researchgroup.since those early days, thegroup has flourished, with itsphotographic archive growinginto today’s archive of over3000 photographs, some datingback to the end of the 19th century.over time, through donationsof material from localcitizens, a large number of physicalartefacts have beenacquired, ranging from wagonwheels to pub signs! in between,the group has also received variousdocuments, includingmaps, deeds receipts fromtraders long gone into the mistsof time and even some paintings.the archive has grown tosuch an extent that the collectionnow resides in a number of separatelocations – space kindlyloaned by supporters of thegroup. However, this is not idealon two fronts, firstly, whilst alarge proportion of the archive isstored safely away, no-one canview the many items we have inthis storage. secondly, althoughthe items are stored in dry andsecure locations, the conditionsunder which they are stored arenot ideal.on this basis, for severalyears now, the group has beenon a mission to provide a museumfor the town, where much ofthe material currently in store,can be put on dislapy in properlycontrolled conditions. notonly will the public be able tocome and see what we have butthe museum will provide anadditional attraction to the townfro visitors in the local area.there is still a long way to gohowever and in the meantime,the group has been busy puttingactions together in order to makea museum a reality. it my yettake a while, particularly inthese straitened times whenfunding is tight but there is avery positive feeling amongstthe group committee, that oneday, it will happen.so, what is the group doingto engage the interest of the localpopulation? Exhibitions of ourphotographic archive are heldthroughout the year; we holdseveral open meetings duringthe year, where a guest speakertalks about subjects local tosandy and district that have ahistorical background. in addition,there have been presentationsby the group to other localorganisations and schools,which are designed to ‘spreadthe word’. there is also a programmeof publications, includingthe group’s twice annualnewsletter, ‘sHrUB’, whichhas been continually producedsince 2003. the newsletter goesout to members free of chargeand recently has been innovatedby the provision of a ‘PDF, version,which can be emailed andread locally on the recipient’shome computer. in 2007 andagain in 2009, Volumes 1 & 2 of‘Pictorial Memories of sandy’were published, each with a collectionof historical photographsselected from the archive. notonly has this provided funds forthe group to continue in its longterm mission to achieve a townmuseum, it also helps to fund theongoing activities of the groupin the provision of local eventsthrough the year.over time, membership ofthe group has continued to grow,as more local people becomeinterested and involved in whatthe group stands for. recentexhibitions have been very successfulin recruiting new membersand it is anticipated that thiswill improve even more in thecoming years as the work beingdone by the group becomes evenContinued on page 27
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Page 32: Bedfordshire’s Best Kept Wedding

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