Press Cuttings from the Horncastle News and South Lindsey Advertiser

The local newspaper which started life in 1885 over 250 years since the first newspaper was published was at that time called the Horncastle News and South Lindsey Advertiser. We are scouring its pages using a Microfiche Reader to bring you articles which had a connection to our village. By reproducing these cuttings we hope this will stimulate some interest and comment.

October 3rd 1885

Misadventure while Riding –

The other day Mr J. G. Elsey met with a very disagreeable accident while riding along the bridle road from Horncastle to Hemingby. When passing a carrier cart the cover was blown up, and the horse being frightened, suddenly spun round and dropped on its feet in a ditch. Mr Elsey with great presence of mind sprang from the saddle up the bank over the hedge into the adjoining field. No sooner had he done this, than the horse endeavoured to extricate itself from the awkward position, and in doing so, fell flat on its back displaying its four hoofs at the same moment in the air. Had Mr Elsey retained his position in the saddle a couple of seconds longer, he would have probably been hurt very seriously.

Was Mr Elsey part of the very famous champion racehorse training family of Baumber?

October 24th 1885

The Rt. Hon. James Lowther –

A meeting in support of the candidature of this popular gentleman was held on Monday evening last at the Black Horse Inn, Hemingby, when the chair was occupied by Mr W. Elsey and among those present were Major Armstrong, Messrs. Bridcott, J. Panton, Fletcher, Holmes, J. Elsey, H. Armstrong, T. Armstrong, J. Harrison, Leeson, J. Barker, etc, etc. The room was crowded in every part. The Right Hon. J. Lowther, addressed the meeting at considerable length, his chief topics being foreign competition, free trade and free education, and he showed that if the radicals were entrusted with power instead of there being an improvement in trade and agriculture, things would become much worse and the agricultural labourers would be the first to feel the disagreeable consequences. At the close of the speech several questions were asked, and in reply the Candidate said he was opposed to the disestablishment of the Church of England. He was in favour of compulsory vaccination as he believed it was the means of checking the spread of disease. He was greatly opposed he said to mere secular education. Education without moral or religious training was, he considered, more a curse than a blessing to children.

An agricultural labourer who was evidently much concerned as to the education of his children asked “Can’t we train em ersens i religion”. A female who rose in the body of the room gave the following reply to the question; “No you can’t, you aint sense”. Mr Holmes (Minting), proposed a resolution approving of the Hon. James Lowther as a fit and proper person to represent the division and pledging those present to do what they could in support of his candidature, Mr Fletcher seconded. Mr Brown proposed an amendment which declared Mr. Otter the proper person to represent the constituency and amongst much confusion the votes were taken when the Chairman declared the original motion carried. Mr. Brown objected to the ruling of the Chairman and proceeded to put the amendment to the meeting himself but such a proceeding was of course not recognised. The Hon. James Lowther returned thanks and proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman which was carried, and the proceedings which were of a very noisy description throughout, came to an end.

Where was the Black Horse Inn, Hemingby, was it an ale house?