Please rotate your device

Trams at Last

Facebook
Twitter
Google+

23/01/1903

Information

It was on this Friday that the long-delayed Board of Trade inspection of Peterborough's new tram system took place - officialdom always takes its time, you know. Two trams left the depot for the Market Place to pick up the official parties. When everyone - including the inspectors - was on board the first car, the driver set off with a fearful jerk, throwing virtually all the officials off their feet! One wonders whether this was a case of nerves, carelessness or intent - we'll never know that. However, the driver reversed the car, made a fresh start and moved off in an extremely smooth manner. The second car followed on, carrying several members of the council and members of the press. Despite this faulty start, the trams passed the test with flying colours. The Peterborough tram service was formally approved and trams from Long Causeway to Walton and Dogsthorpe were able to start carrying passengers. At this time, the Peterborough Electric Traction Co. had twelve open-topped trams for the service. Why, you may ask, were the trams open top? It was because roofed trams would have been too high to pass under the Rhubarb Bridge! (Mitchell, Neil, Streets of Peterborough, 2007; Peterborough Advertiser)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

Search and filter

Time periods
Themes
Significant Events
People
Buildings
Objects
Decades
Curriculum Subjects
Places
Locality

Georgian Entertainment

Facebook
Twitter
Google+

12/07/1796

Information

A Peterborough Playbill give us another glimpse of life in Georgian Peterborough. It tells us that:

This present TUESDAY Evening JULY the 12th, 1796, will be presented a COMEDY called 'The SCHOOL for SCANDAL'. To which will be added a FARCE 'The ENCHANTED ISLAND' Or Free-born ENGLISHWOMAN. The whole concludes with an ELEGANT, GRAND, TRANSPARENT PAINTING of THE TEMPLE OF LOVE, Designed and Painted by an eminent Artist.

It tells interested parties that this week's schedule is for performances on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I just wonder what was planned to happen on the Thursday. (Tebbs, H.F., Peterborough, Oleander Press, 1979)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days  by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

Discover, understand, and enjoy the rich and diverse stories which make the city of Peterborough what it is today.

ON THIS DAY…

Trams at Last
See the story
GET INVOLVED NOW…
Teachers Public


  • Privacy Policy
  • Contributors
  • Copyright
Copyright ©2020 City Culture Peterborough. All rights reserved.
Log In Create account
  • Before people
  • First Settlers
  • Romans
  • Saxons, Vikings & Normans
  • Medieval
  • Tudors & Stuarts
  • Markets to Railways
  • Brick Town to New Town
  • Before people
  • First Settlers
  • Romans
  • Saxons, Vikings & Normans
  • Medieval
  • Tudors & Stuarts
  • Markets to Railways
  • Brick Town to New Town
Download acrobat reader