How Not to Deal With Ice

28/02/1795

Information

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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Glinton Manor House Built

1630

Information

Grade II* listed, the Manor of Glinton was built around 1630-40, presumably by the Wyldbore family who are best known for building the Manor House on Westgate in Peterborough and for the MP Mathew Wyldbore who is remembered on 15^th March each year in St John’s Church, Peterborough. Set back from the High Street, the house is identifiable by its ogee-shaped front gables with small balls at the apex. It is made from local stone with Collyweston slate roof and surrounded by over an acre of land.

Several other buildings make up the property, most of which are listed, including the grade II* listed stables, which are also 17^th century along with the malt house, cattle sheds dating from the 18^th century and a 19^th century barn. The dovecote that also forms part of the group is dated to 1789 and contains a tablet with ‘1594 RW’ and is likely to have been reused from another building: he R W is likely to be a Wyldbore, but it not clear which one. The Manor of Glinton has existed since medieval times and this building is far from the first manor building. The 1594 date could have come from an earlier Glinton Manor building, or another building owned by the family.

The building is also connected to the Defoes who were said to have owned the building at various times along with their cousins the Wildbores.

References

Defoe's World - http://defoesworld.co.uk/93-2/

Glinton Manor House For Sale - https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75765815.html

British Listed Buildings - https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101126792-manor-house-glinton#.XSXmgOhKjIU