Deeping St James in 1900

Imagine being able to step back in time and see the place where we live as it was in years past and although such a transition is impossible, we are able to get a glimpse from old picture postcards that reflect an unhurried way of life totally unknown today.

The most dramatic change is the absence of vehicles because motorised traffic was rare a century ago and horse-drawn carts and vans commonplace, such as here at Deeping St James in 1900, a village large enough to have its own railway station as part of the Great Northern network as well as two schools, one for boys and girls with a daily attendance of 170 pupils and another for infants with 96 children.

This photograph of the High Street looking westwards towards Market Deeping was taken around that time and despite many changes, remains recognisable today. The population of the village was 1,501 [1891 census], less than a quarter of the 7,051 we have today [2011 census] while the housing estates of the 20th century that have thrust the village into the commuter belt were yet to appear.

Public houses are an indicator of social change and despite its small population, Deeping St James had several, notably the Waterton Arms which was then run by a woman, Mrs Maria Healey, the Queen’s Head, the George and Dragon, the Rose and Crown, the Bell and the Railway hotels and the Three Tuns which can be seen on the right of the photograph although now demolished, as well as a Working Men’s Institute and a number of beer retailers, later known as off-licences.

Behind the imposing brick wall was the gasworks established by the Market Deeping Gas, Light & Coke Company in 1855 to provide heating and lighting for homes and businesses in the locality while the row of white-washed thatched cottages was demolished during the house building boom of later years to make way for new homes in what is now Godsey Lane.

Apart from several farmers and the usual butchers, bakers and grocers, tradesmen working in the village reflect a way of life long gone, notably the saddler, Daniel Wells with premises on the right, while other small businesses that have since disappeared included a glass and china dealer, blacksmith, basket maker, boot maker, chimney sweep, coal merchant, carriage builder, dressmaker, draper, monumental mason, tinman and brazier, watchmaker and wheelwright, all of whom appear to have been making a good living despite the small population.