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The Hard Life of a 'Faker'

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17/01/1897

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Two Salvation Army Officers, armed with the requisite brooms and suitably rigged, ragged and disguised, practised the art of 'faking' - the name given to crossing sweeping by professionals. Relating their experiences - extended over a considerable time and a wide area - the amateur sweepers arrived at the conclusion that unless one had a really good crossing, and that, too, on a very muddy day, pence were few. If the road was fairly clean the average man in the street was apt to treat the mournful 'faker' - although he simulated the most racking cough - with scorn by crossing beside, not on, the cleanly swept path. At the same time the investigating Salvationists brought the knowledge that there are crossing sweepers who manage to make a decent living, but by also working up a connection in window cleaning, running errands, and doing odd jobs in genteel neighbourhoods. However, the poor fellow who spends his last copper in the purchase of a penny second hand broom, and sallies in search of a crossing to sweep, may well deem himself fortunate if at the end of the day he has gained enough to secure a shelter for the night and food for the morrow. (Peterborough Advertiser)

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

Vikings , King Edgar , Benedictines , Guildenburgh , Golden Borough , BishopAethelwold of Winchester

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The Abbey is Refounded

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966-970AD

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After it's destruction by vikings in 870 the monastery on the site is re-founded by the authority of King Edgar the Peaceful and Bishop Aethelwold of Winchester as a Benedictine Religious house. Aethelwold had a series of dreams and visions encouraging him to set out and refound the abbey, although he initially got lost and ended up in Oundle instead! Further visions put him on the right track and he rebuilt the abbey on its previous site.

A township starts to spring up to the eastern side of the monastic precincts, and the whole is bounded by a ditched and embanked burgh wall. Within a century, the monastery’s wealth increased dramatically, so it is often nicknamed ‘Guildenburgh’ – the ‘Golden Borough’.

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Vikings , King Edgar , Benedictines , Guildenburgh , Golden Borough , BishopAethelwold of Winchester

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  • Brick Town to New Town
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