Bourne in 1908

Bourne in 1908

Photographed circa 1880

Reproduced from a Diary and Directory of Bourne - 1908 published by John T Morris, printer and bookseller, West Street, whose business predominates in the numerous advertisements. Names of all county, urban district and rural district councillors, members of Bourne Union, Board of Guardians, school managers etc are listed.
In possession of Mr Joe Burchnell.

Council schools: average attendance - Bourne Council Schools, 700; Dyke School, 20; Twenty School, 40.

Evening Continuation School: Held on Monday and Tuesday evenings from October to March at the Council School under Mr J J Davies and Mr A Read (boys) and Miss Ward and Miss Darnes (girls). The education is practically free. Subjects of practical interest are taught.

Technical Education Committee: Chairman - R A Gardner and usual worthies as members (Wherry, Swift, Mays, Shilcock etc). Under this committee are held Evening Continuation Classes in English, History, Elementary Science, Book-keeping, Geography (boys), Domestic economy, Needlework and Commercial Geography (girls), at the Council School. Classes in Wood Carving, Drawing, Painting, Sick Nursing, French and Shorthand, also Ambulance Lectures by Dr Galletly at the North Street schoolroom. Carpentry class at Mr T Hall’s premises in South Street.

Manor of Bourne Abbots (with the members): Customary Court held annually in June at the Angel Hotel.

Manor of Bourne (with the members): Steward C P Phillips, solicitor, Stamford.

Court Leet and Great Court Baron held annually at the Town Hall in June at which time the Town Crier, Pinders, etc, are appointed.

Banks: Messrs Peacock, Wilson & Co., Market Place. Draw on Lloyds, Barnetts & Bosanquets, London. Stamford, Spalding & Boston Banking Co Ltd, Market Place. Draw on Barclay, Beran & Co., London.

Post Office: Box cleared 8 times daily, beginning with 4.15 am for Folkingham and ending with 7.20 & 7.55 pm for all parts except Folkingham.
Wall boxes (in 5 places) cleared 3 and sometimes 4 times a day.
Deliveries of letters: 7 am, 11.15 am, 7.30 pm.
The public are particularly requested to take notice that the Office is not open for any Business whatever after 10 a m on Sundays.
A sub-post office in Willoughby Road.

Churches:

Abbey Church - Morning & Evening services on Sundays, morning prayer at 8 & 11.30 am on Saints’ Days. Special Service & Sermon for Children on first Sunday in month at 2.50 pm. Holy Communion every Sunday morning. Holy Baptism on first & third Sundays of month. Churchings of Women after any of the services.

Wesleyan Methodist Chapel - 2 Sunday services & one at 7 pm Wednesdays. Morning and afternoon Sunday School. Communion Service, Sabbath Evening. Band of Hope every other Wednesday at 6.30. Young People’s Guild, Wednesday 8 pm.

Baptist Chapel - 2 Sunday services & morning & afternoon Sunday School. Wednesday evening service at 7.30. Christian Endeavour, Thursday 7.45 pm.

Congregational Church - Sunday services & Sunday School as for other non-conformist churches. Communion Service first Sunday in month after evening service, Wednesday 7.30 pm. Tuesday evening, Social & Literary Society, 7.45 pm. Thursday evening Band of Hope, 6.30.

Societies & Clubs in Bourne:

Hereward Lodge of Freemasons - Angel Hotel.
Bourne New Association for the Prosecution of Felons (founded 1822).
Medical Club.
Bourne Women’s Self-Aid, Sick and Burial Club.
Charity for the Relief of Married Lying-in Women in the parish of Bourne (established 1825). Subscribers of 4s. Annually are entitled to nominate one poor women for this charity.
Bourne Clothing Club for poor women in the parish of Bourne.
General Johnson Friendly Society (established 1844).
Bourne United Provident Association (established 1837). For assistance and support of members in sickness and infirmity, defraying funeral expenses of members and their wives.
Independent Foresters’ Friendly Society (established 1868).
Bourne Institute, including a circulating library.
Debating Society. Meetings held at the Institute.
Bourne Institute Tennis & Croquet Club.
Bourne Bowling-green and Lawn Tennis Club. About 56 members.
Bourne Conservative Club.
Primrose League. Ruling councillor, Countess of Ancaster.
Bourne Liberal Club - affiliated with Working-men’s Club and Institute Union.
Bourne Bible Society - Depot at Wherry’s, North Street.
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.
Bourne Free Church Council. Had a Temperance Committee.
Congregational Social & Literary Society.
Bourne & District Teachers Association. 30 members. In connection with NUT.
Christmas Fat Stock Show. Held in December.
Foal Show Society.
Bourne Ploughing Society.
Bourne Pig Club. President & Treasurer, Rev H M Mansfield (vicar).
Bourne Cow Club.
Horticultural Society.
Bourne Angling Society.
Bourne Cricket Club.
Bourne Football Club.
H Company, 2nd V B Lincs Regiment. Major C W Bell. 75 members in Oct. 1907. Squad drills held 2 evenings per week, company drills weekly. Boxing, fencing & gymnastics classes.
H Company, 2nd V B Lincs Regiment Bugle Band. 9 members.
Lincolnshire Imperial Yeomanry.
HQ of above company was Drill Hall, North Street - with gymnasium & Recreation Room. Seating capacity about 300.
Bourne Billiard & Whist Club - Corn Exchange. 40 members.
Bourne Tradesmen’s Association and Plate Glass Guarantee Society.

NOTE: This transcript came to light in a folder of documents salvaged from a house clearance in Bourne in 2009 and is now with the Civic Society at the Heritage Centre. It was written out in longhand by J D Birkbeck, author of A History of Bourne (1970 & 1976), who I contacted in May that year at his retirement home in the Lake District when he explained that is was among the documents and cuttings he had collected over the years following the appearance of his book. “I was not thinking of writing and publishing anything further but I thought the information I had gathered might be of some use if it were left in the town rather than coming 180 miles away with me and I am glad that it still survives.”