The Bourne Association for the
Prosecution of Felons

Before the establishment of an organised police force the pursuit and capture of criminals was largely in the hands of the public, usually encouraged by the offer of a cash reward which was paid on conviction.

But the victim had to pay all costs of bringing a felon to justice and so leading citizens banded together to protect themselves from law-breakers and from the 18th century onwards, most towns and village had an Association or Society for the Prosecution of Felons which was dedicated to maintain the law and bring offenders before the magistrates for punishment.

Every member paid subscriptions into a joint fund and the society could then afford to act on behalf of any member who became a victim of crime. In this way, felons were prosecuted, or as we would now say, criminals were brought to trial. The society paid out all expenses, from offering a reward to taking the suspect to court and members also received compensation for their lost belongings.

The societies were known as Felons Associations for short and had between twenty and a hundred members and such an organisation to cover Bourne was formed in 1822 with a membership of titled and landed gentry from the district as well as a good sprinkling of wealthy tradesmen and clergymen whose aim was to pursue and punish wrongdoers.

A public notice which appeared in the Stamford Mercury on February 8th announcing its formation said: “Several gentlemen, farmers, graziers, and others, in the town and neighbourhood of Bourne have resolved to form themselves into a Society for the Prosecution of Felons. The meetings will be regularly held at Bourne and the business properly conducted under improved rules to be agreed upon at a meeting which will shortly be called for the purpose. Any persons desirous of becoming members will be pleased to signify their intention to Mr Worth, solicitor, Bourne, at whose office a list of the present subscribers may be seen.”

The first meeting was held at the Bull Inn [now the Burghley Arms) on 10th April 1822 at 11 am when members paid their subscriptions and appointed a committee, the proceedings being followed by dinner at 2 pm. Will Hopkinson was appointed clerk and treasurer and the official title of the Bourne Association for the Prosecution of Felons was officially adopted.

By the following spring, the organisation had become the Bourne New Association for Prosecuting Felons. Hopkinson had been succeeded by William Worth as clerk and treasurer and there were 33 members, mainly from Bourne but also from Aslackby, Witham-on-the-Hill, Cawthorpe, Dowsby, Langtoft, Rippingale, Stow and Wilsthorpe.

By 1836, the area covered had been extended to 20 miles around the parish of Bourne and as a result membership had increased to 59 with representatives from Thurlby, Market Deeping, Deeping St James, Corby Glen, Dyke, Irnham, Ufford, Ryhall, Little Bytham, Manthorpe, Swinstead and Bulby, and the sumptuous dinner continued to be the highlight of the annual meeting each spring which began at twelve noon with "dinner on the table at two o'clock".

The association flourished until 1857 when the county police force was established and soon afterwards Bourne had its own police station in North Street with a permanent strength of constables and other ranks. Their arrival brought about a considerable decrease in crime and general lawlessness although the association continued well into the 20th century as a social organisation, still holding regular dinners which became notably convivial occasions.

Most of the associations in England have also died out although thirty are known to survive, all of them like the Association for the Prosecution of Felons which was founded at Tanworth, Warwickshire, in 1784, although no longer functioning for its original purposes, still uses the excuse for an annual dinner each May.