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Lack of (National) Compassion

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26/01/1861

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During a recent spell of very bad weather, the Guardians of the Peterborough Poor Law Union had granted temporary outdoor relief to some able-bodied agricultural labourers who had been unable to work through no fault of their own. as a result, the National Board had requested that they be furnished with a statement showing the number of persons relieved that were at variance to the General Prohibitory Order. They also requested particulars of the number of persons in each family and the amount of relief that had been afforded. At this Saturday's meeting of the Board of Governors of the Peterborough Poor Law Union, the clerk read a letter that had come from the National Poor Law Board. It stated that 'having regard to the accommodation afforded by the workhouse, and to the number of inmates therein, the Board thought it desirable that the Guardians should, in future, should offer to relieve the necessities of this class of person in the workhouse. They should apply that test of destitution so long as circumstances permitted with regards to each application.' In other words, 'rules is rules', and using common sense and compassion are not allowed. (Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury)

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

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Ferry Meadows Pun

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1950s

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On a map of Horrell’s Farm Tenancies from the 1950s, it shows the names of all the fields and land to the west of Peterborough. One of the features is Ferry Meadows, so named by the original ferry that ran across the river Nene to the north of the meadows. It was replaced by a large stone bridge many years ago, which is currently known as Milton Ferry Bridge, but for many years was known simply as Ferry Bridge and formed a group with Ferry Meadows and Ferry Hill.

The area now known as Ferry Meadows Country Park, part of Nene Park, was divided up into separate fields separated by ditches still in place today. The fields to the east of the site and now partly submerged under Overton Lake were known as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ferry Meadow. Another field close to the bridge was known as Bridge Ferry, but the award for the best field pun goes to the large field to the west of the site, largely under Gunwade Lake now, which was known as Ferry Big Meadow! 

References

Horrell's Farm Tenancies, Peterborough Archive NOS/02/6/4

Maps of Peterborough accessed on old-maps.co.uk from 1886-19

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Links

  • Find Out More About Ferry Meadows
  • Find Out More About Peterborough Archives
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