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How Not to Deal With Ice

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28/02/1795

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A nationwide extreme cold spell thawed suddenly and unexpectedly on this Sunday. Thick, broken ice was washed down and formed a complete bank across the rive at the bridge. It stopped the current, threatening major flooding in the town. One man attempted to resolve the situation by blowing up the ice with gunpowder wrapped in oilskins. However, he became stuck on an ice floe close to the explosive with his boat adrift. To save himself he plunged into the river and was eventually rescued by four men in a boat. Soon after, the gunpowder exploded, blowing ice everywhere and generating a massive flood which caused a great disaster for hundreds of families living on the banks of the Nene. What they did to 'gunpowder man' is not recorded! (Currie, Ian, Frost, Freezes and Fairs: Chronicles of the Frozen Thames and Harsh Winters in Britain from 1000AD, Frosted Earth, 1996)

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

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Steeplechase Wedding Cake Created

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1928

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A curious story of cake mastery in Peterborough entered the national papers in 1928. The wedding of jockey Henry Valentine Graves, who was described as 'of Peterborough' and Maisie Meads of Cardiff, took place on 20th February of that year. The wedding was in 'Peterborough Parish Church' also known as St John's church, in the city centre.

The feature of the wedding that caught the attention of national papers was the elaborate cake created for the occasion. It was described as looking like 'a steeplechase course, complete with horses, hurdles, stands, and winning post, and was decorated with horse shoes and stirrups.' No mention was given of the bakery who created the cake, but we can hope that it was a talented Peterborian who rose to the challenge.

Reference

The Scotsman, Tuesday 21st February 1928, p4, col 7

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Miss Walker's Wedding

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1898

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Freda Mary Walker was the third daughter of Peterborough doctor Thomas Walker. Her wedding to Harry Gill of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1898 was the society event of the autumn in Peterborough and the good and the great turned up to celebrate the event.

The wedding was held on Tuesday 20th September in St. John's Church, where the bells rang out through the day. The Peterborough Advertiser claimed 'The afternoon was a perfect one. There was not a cloud to be seen, but still the undimmed rays of the sun were tempered by a delightful breeze - an ideal September day.'1 The ceremony began at 2.30pm, with some people unable to enter the church, such were the crowds of people who had turned up before the event. The streets were crowded from The Walkers home in Westgate to the church too.

The wedding was relayed in great detail in the local papers, with Freda's dress described as 'a white satin dress trimmed with chiffon,' along with 'a white Brussels net veil and orange blossom wreath'.2 Both mothers were in Bengaline dresses and the bridesmaids wore 'dresses of white embroidered muslin over blue, trimmed with blue chiffon sashes and valencienes lace, white chip hats, with white gauze and blue tips.'2

At the end of the wedding the new Mrs Gill was 'wreathed in happy smiles as she was gently and kindly chaperoned through the people-lined aisles by her tall and proud protector to the carriage, which drove them to Westgate.'1

The reception afterwards was held in a marquee in the garden of the Walkers' house, which was decorated with lights and carpets and filled with the sound of 'Mr Strickson's band and the cathedral quartet'.2 Exotic flowers were used to decorate both the house and marquee.

The bride and groom departed for their honeymoon on the 5.18 train for London, travelling later to the Channel Islands and France.

The list of guests at the event was incredibly long, they included: all of the local doctors, infirmary staff and Florence Saunders; the Lord Bishop and local clergymen; the Fitzwilliams, Berties and Strongs; local councillors; local solicitors and other dignitaries.

Presents for the couple were listed in the Advertiser and included: a piano from Dr Walker; a set of table silver by Mr Gill; a silver teapot; a crumb scoop; silver candlesticks; a set of toilet cans; a clock; Norwegian sugar spoons; a silver-topped inkpot; a gong; two silver bonbon dishes; a silver muffineer; a spoon warmer; several scent bottles; a box of chocolates; an ostrich feather fan; silver salt cellars and several vases.

References:

1. 'Marriage of Miss Freda Walker of Peterborough,' Peterborough Advertiser, Saturday 24 September, p. 5.

2. 'Marriage of Miss F. M. Walker at Peterboro',' Stamford Mercury, Friday 23 September 1898, p. 6.

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A Queen Street Wedding

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1881

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Miss Janet Hegney was a devoted member of the Catholic Church in Peterborough. She worked tirelessly for a decade as the schoolmistress and choir teacher, as well as devoting her time to the upkeep of the church too.

Upon her marriage to Charles McLachlan on Thursday 3rd February 1881 she received an engraved silver tea service from the congregation in addition to numerous kind words and thanks for her devotion to the church. The couple married at the Catholic Church on Queen Street, which was lost to the development of Queensgate Shopping Centre. Her wedding dress was made of white silk and accompanied by a tulle veil and a bouquet of orange blossoms. She had four bridesmaids and was given away by her uncle Mr Copeland.

References

‘Presentation and Marriage at the Catholic Church Peterborough’, Peterborough Standard, 5 February 1881, p. 7.

Image of orange blossom by Josch13 at Pixabay

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A Scandalous Divorce

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1819

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The death of Julia Cooke in 1817 was a heavy blow to the Cooke family. Dying days after her 42nd birthday, she left behind 10 children and her husband Thomas Alderson Cooke. Their eldest child, daughter Julia, was not yet of age and their youngest, Louisa, was a mere toddler. What was a man to do with a houseful of children and no wife? He was to find himself another wife.

Within a year, Julia was engaged to be married to William Squire, the head of the merchant Squire family who had for many years controlled the river Nene through Peterborough and lived in a large house by the bridge over the river. They married in October 1818. Only four months later Thomas married William’s youngest sister Charlotte on Monday 8th February in Peterborough Cathedral; he was 41 and she was 27.

Charlotte instantly found herself the step-mother of 9 children still at home and a step mother to her new sister-in-law Julia who was only a few years younger than she was! We can only question how the marriage came to be, whether there was a persuasive match by her mother Lucy, or they married for the benefit of their families, however, suggestion that they married in haste and repented at leisure, would seem apt. The marriage failed after only two years and, shortly after Charlotte’s mother had died, Thomas filed to the courts to have the marriage annulled.

Divorce is common nowadays, but very few people could end their marriage at that time, it being only possible for the rich. Divorce could be brought about by a lengthy and invasive act of parliament, with details of the marriage made very public, or with a separation that allowed the couple to live apart but still continue to be married in the eyes of the law. It is very likely that Thomas was prepared for a divorce, but luckily for him, his case that Charlotte was unable to bear children was accepted after she was subjected to a physical examination. Their marriage was annulled in 1821. 

We can imagine the gossips discussing this twist in the marriage and the effect this would have had on Charlotte who had effectively been rejected by her husband on the grounds of being defective. The benefit to them was that an annulment allowed them both to remarry if they so wished, but who would want Charlotte now? The annulment meant that neither had any rights to their family fortune or property too, and Charlotte would return to her maiden name of Squire.

Thomas married again another two times, the third time only a year later to a Mary Anna Boggis, remaining in his Priestgate mansion until his death in 1854. Charlotte slipped out of the records, appearing in fashionable Cheltenham again in the 1851 census. She remained in the city close to her brother William and sister-in-law Julia until her death in 1874, unmarried but living in comfort.

Image from Sam_Ig on Pixabay

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