Skillington from the Second World War to the Victorians (1939-1901)

Chapter 3: Skillington from the Second World War to the Victorians (1939-1901)

For many of us this period reaches back beyond our own memories, or at least our clear memories. Fortunately for this History there are still people alive in the village whose memories and lives stretch back into this era and, as stated earlier, I am indebted to them for their recollections and photographs.

The Second World War started for us, the people of Great Britain , on September 3^rd 1939. The years leading up to that had been full of foreboding at the gathering war clouds as Hitler's armies were already rampant in Europe .

Let us remind ourselves of some of the major national events of this 38-year period. Immediately leading up to the grievous conflict to come, the year 1936 saw the greatest constitutional crisis to hit Britain for a long time. This was, of course, the enforced abdication of the short-reigning monarch Edward VIII, who insisted on marrying a divorced American lady and this was not acceptable to the government of those times. Thus, a king who had been very popular as the Prince of Wales, was monarch only from January until December when he was exiled in France as the Duke of Windsor. It was his lead in the world of fashion that saw in the Windsor-knotted tie, vee-knecked pullovers and low-cut shoes. His abdication led the way for his brother, King George VI, to be on the throne at the outbreak of the war. And for the ever-popular Queen Mother to be with us until April 2002 (sadly, dying during the writing of this History) and to amaze us with her activity as a centenarian. Edward came to the throne upon the death of his father George V who had reigned from 1910. The biggest event of this period and of his reign was, of course, the First World War. We shall consider the sad impact of that bloody four-year conflict upon the families of Skillington later in this chapter.

The period also saw the demise of the "unsinkable" Titanic, impressively re-created in a recent movie and, amazingly, located and filmed a few years ago in its resting-place on the ocean bed. It saw, also, a giant step forward for women, when the suffragettes led in reforms which allowed the vote for women (albeit only from age 30!) and the first women Members of Parliament. The economic depression during this era led to a general strike in 1926 and helped the Labour Party to achieve, for the first time, its aim to govern the country.

A name to become of huge significance in a few years' time, Winston Churchill, became 1^st Lord of the Admiralty in 1911.

In 1909 the first-ever state old-age pensions were paid out …. 5s per week to over-70s with an income of less than £30-10s per annum. Well, it was a start! I would think some Skillington residents received this.

As in the previous chapter, a brief comparative look at prices and wages

Note that spirits were not generally consumed in 1901; the state pension had not been introduced; cigarettes were not smoked in 1901; the car would have been a great luxury!

	1901	1941
Small family car	£200	£235
2/3 bed Semi	£300 (2-bed)	£800 (3-bed)
Coal per ton	£1.25	£1.70
Cheese per pound	5p	5 1/2p
Beer per gallon	6p
per pint	-	5p
Tobacco per ounce	2p	5p
Labourer's wage	£1.10/week	£4.00

In 1930 the man who revised the Newtonian picture of the Universe and Nature with his colossal intellectual achievement, The Theory of Relativity, made a pilgrimage to Sir Isaac's Woolsthorpe Manor. This was Albert Einstein (see page 45). Did he call in at a Skillington pub and give locals a tune on the fiddle that he loved to play? Maybe not! I believe he returned for the 1942 anniversary of Newton 's birth but, as his whereabouts at this time were top secret, this is hard to confirm.

People of Skillington: Mr Albert 'Tally' Hand, who, as the oldest resident of the village, still took a constitutional walk around the village until shortly before his death in 2002 and who, I know, took a lively interest in the recent large building work, was born in Chapel Row in 1910. He worked as a farm labourer in his younger years and remembers one incident from when he was a youth of about fifteen. Having worked for a year for Mr Newton, his father prompted him to ask for an increase in wages … a further shilling-a-week to that which he already received. The system then was for a file of workers to pick up their wages (from a table?) but the young Tally, trembling, kept his place without moving on. The foreman (?) enquired what was wrong and Tally nervously explained that, as he was now a year older, he should receive an increase. His boss apparently brushed this aside by saying that the older you get, the softer in the head you become. Tally later worked on the railways, first on the ironstone quarries line and then for British Rail near Grantham. Aside from his love of the hunt (which is probably where his nickname was derived from – "Tally-ho") and his skill as a footballer and darts and domino player, Tally was a fast bowler to be reckoned with in the all-conquering village cricket team of pre-war years. The 1939 Grantham Journal records (among other results) two victories for Skillington's cricketers, one against North Witham and one against Bourne. Tally's bowling figures were respectively, 5 for 7 and 5 for 1. Indeed, a fast bowler to be feared! The other members of the teams for these matches were; S. Goodliffe, A. Meads, R. Ballam, F. Whittle, F. Siddons, T. Whittle, R. Goodliffe, W. Marriott, S. Dilks, F. Lane, G. Tyler, J. Cox, C. Parkin, Corporal Sears, J. Ward, L. Henton, E. Davies and I. Tyler.

Mr George Tyler's reminiscences of this period cover more. By his account, the school during this time must have been at its most thriving. It had two classrooms, four toilets, two playgrounds, two cloakrooms and two fire grates. Mrs Meads was the Head Teacher for forty years and other teachers were Miss Turner, Miss Marvin, Mrs Wilkinson and Miss Houghton. Forty-five boys and girls were pupils, attending from five to fourteen years of age. In May the children plaited Maypole ribbons and went around the village singing and selling wild flowers they had picked. Mr Roland Tomlin, another veteran villager whom I met attending to a cemetery grave and who lives in the same row of cottages as Mr Tyler, gave me another insight as to Mrs Meads' time as Head Teacher … she was, he says, firmly opposed to fox-hunting and would not allow children to have time off to watch a meet of the hunt. (See photograph, overleaf, of the meeting of the Hunt in The Square).

Mr Tyler paints a picture of village life in the early years of this period. He recalls the "old times" fondly in his written reminiscences. They show how self-contained the village was then, thriving in its independence. These are some of his memories ….

He recalls the bakers, W. J. King and W. Pickering, coming round the village, with a small hand-cart or carrying large baskets, selling their "cooked meats, bread, tarts, cakes, buns, scones and flour." Other vendors brought round "boots, shoes and clothes; pots and pans; fish; and salt." Some of these vendors were the gypsies parked on the Viking Way . Mr Tyler tells of one such traveller with a difference … an Elia Smith, who had a tent on Sewstern's Green Lane and attended Buckminster Chapel. He sang and said the prayers and "had black hair … he told me he put hedgehog oil on it." He tells us that Gypsy Smith, who was a celebrated evangelist, was born at Epping Forest and that he preached at Skillington in June 1932 in "the open air at T.Waddington's Dutch barn off the Grantham Road , on a hot day, to fifteen hundred people. Skillington was the only village where he preached (as) he was busy in the towns." Accompanying this redoubtable preacher was Skillington's own vicar, Rev Cane and also Rev Broadbent, Rev Day, Rev Hulbert and Rev Spiers. "They all had lunch at The Abbey with the Christian family and then tea with Rev Cane."

Mr Tyler names other vendors, some villagers, some from outside the village, as …

Coal Merchants: H. Duffin and W. Whittle who had two lorries (coal was 5s a bag).

Dealers in Rabbit Skins: Johnny Foster, A. Brown, J. Bullimore and Tim Price.

Fruit: Mr Brammer

Bike sellers and repairers: H. Morley and S. Meads.

Pots and pans: T. Bettle and Tim Price.

Cotton and tapes: Owen Whittle of Chapel Row.

General clothing: Mr Dixon was said to come from Grantham on his bike every Friday night.

Fish: Ted (?) sold herring and K. Wilson all kinds.

Ice cream: Joe Greaves from Grantham came on Sunday afternoons on a bike, which had a tub on it.

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The Square in the early 1900s. There was a well on this central green which can just be seen, enclosed by boarding, between the stackyard wall and the cottage in front of Far House (this cottage has since been pulled down). (Courtesy of Skillington Methodist Group).	A meet of the hunt at the lower end of The Square. This photograph must have been taken from an upper window of The Old Posthouse. The well is only just visible between the rider top centre and the pole. Comparing dates: an examination of the flora suggests, perhaps, this precedes the top photograph? (Courtesy of Bill Whittle).

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An extract from Woolsthorpe Manor's visitors' book for 1930 recording the visit of Albert Einstein to the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton who began his education in Skillington. The two signatures below Einstein's are, I believe, those of eminent British scientists who were his hosts. (Courtesy of Easton Estates and National Trust volunteers.

As well as the main shop on the corner of Middle Street there was a small shop down Lord's Lane which sold sweets and pop.   Mrs Meads and Tom Selby ran this according to Mr Tyler.

No farming community could be complete without the village blacksmith. Skillington had several. Mr Tyler lists various members of the Selby family as former blacksmiths and also B.Buxton; T.Ranby, who was blacksmith for Mr F.A.Newton; J.Talton and J.Wright who were blacksmiths for Mr L.F.Morely.   Incidentally, the legend and rhyme of the village blacksmith standing beneath a spreading chestnut tree is founded in a truth – chestnuts are good medicine for horse cough (they are still called horse-chestnuts, of course).

Another essential craftsman, closely linked with the blacksmith, was the wheelwright. There was a carpenter/wheelwrights business run by W. J. P. Bell and S. Selby. Mr Peter Bell, grandson of W. J. P. Bell and now living at Woolsthorpe, has written an account of his grandfather's and father's lives and work as the Skillington village wheelwrights. He kindly allowed me to extract some of the details contained therein for this second edition of my History. John William Bell actually set up his wheelwrights workshop in the next period we shall look at, in 1890. This was in a yard at the rear of the Poke Row cottages appropriately called Bell 's Yard. He lived at the 1901 census "facing the Green on Colsterworth Road " and was then aged 38. Peter's father, James, was 8 at that time. James's training to carry on the family trade was interrupted by his service in the first world war where he sustained a nasty bullet wound in his back which did not, however, prevent him from carrying out some quite arduous work in subsequent years. Some of the younger generation may not be too sure what a wheelwright did. Basically, the job involved making and repairing everything made from timber. This included such items as coffins, five-bar-gates, and various carts and wagons used on farms. Peter gives a comprehensive account of the work and the workshops in his memoirs. He writes how he was absolutely awe-struck by the way a tree could be turned into, say, a cart with its many delicately shaped pieces not the least of which, of course, were the wheels – hence the tradesman's title. Peter's father and grandfather turned their hands to other forms of work to supplement their main income but one item of the woodworking skills stands out in Peter's memory … a giant stool made by his father. This was eventually explained as being necessary as an intermediate resting place for coffins being born to the new cemetery. He includes the additional piece of historical information that his grandfather, John, who died in 1929, was the first person to be buried there! As well as his memoirs, Peter Bell kindly loaned me an ancient accounts ledger which lists many interesting transactions between Skillington (and other) villagers and their woodworking craftsmen. This dates from 1925 to the mid 30s and some extracts are shown in appendix 7.

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Mr F. Meads, living at the Blue Horse, was the butcher and he had the all-important job of slaughtering the pigs that so many people kept. A pig club existed in Skillington, as in most villages. Mr Cryer gives an account of this in his History and says it met at Joe Martin's house. When each pig was butchered – ready to be salted down for the winter's meat – nothing was wasted. Even the bladder was used as a football!   Mr John Selby reminds us that we were not so concerned about lean cuts of meat in those days: many a cut of bacon had inches of fat upon it and this was eaten with great relish. Mr Bill Meads also remembers people queuing for fat from the pigs.

Villages usually had their share of 'characters' over the years and Skillington was no exception.   Mr John Selby tells of two … Fred Ingleton, who used to get a cross shaved in his hair for Good Fridays (this would have been very unusual in those days though not now) and another chap who was a crack-shot with a catapult.   He would come into the Selby's forge and set up a matchbox, progressively showing a side diminishing in size, but hitting it each time with the same unerring skill!

Before the fireside entertainments of wireless and television became established, the music provided by and for the religious groups must have taken on special significance.

Mr Tyler tells us that both the Chapel and Church factions were thriving then and the Chapel had a "Bright hour" for the girls, a Band of Hope for the boys, a choir and harmonium. Mrs Hilda Foley remembers too the wonderful quality of the Chapel's choir and that a band was brought in to accompany it. Preachers came by pony and trap and were "never late" according to Mr Tyler! He affirms that an evening service might have as many as 70 to 80 in the congregation. The Church, additionally, had its bell-ringing, of course. Mr Tyler lists the Chapel organists/ harmonium players as Mrs Burroughs, Mrs Gray, Mrs Christian, Mrs Evit, Mrs Southwood, Mrs Gooland and (now) Mrs Woodcock. The Church organists were T. Ranby, T. Whittle, E. Toblin and Miss Renolds. The bell-ringers were J. Martin, A. Tyler (George's father), C. Burroughs, T. Dolby, A. N. Sharpe and J. W. Whittle.*   He also states that Joe Dooley and Clarrie Goodland played their fiddles at the chapel.   In addition to the local religious music makers, the Salvation Army band came to the village.

* - The bell ringers may well have been inspired by the first ringing of a peal of Grandsire Doubles – 5,040 changes – which took place on November 19^th 1910. The band was from Grantham and may have walked to Skillington. A plaque inside the belfry recording this event tells us that the ringers were Harry Thorpe (Treble), David Overton (2^nd), William Thorpe (3^rd), Albert Darnell (4^th) and Joseph Lord (Tenor). It took 3 hours! During the 20s and early 30s the bells were so dilapidated that they could not be rung. The Rev Cane, however, organised funding for the bells to be re-hung. See photograph below.

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Photograph of the bells of St James Church at the time of their restoration in 1936. (Courtesy of St James Church Authorities, from a photograph in the vestry)

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Outings were laid on to Skegness, Belvoir Castle and Wicksteed Park. The children would usually have tea and then play in the village park on Sundays. The photograph on page 49 shows a Sunday School group in 1933 or 34.

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Photograph of Sunday School group
Skillington's St James Sunday School Group, 1933 or 34 (Courtesy of Church Authorities, from a photograph in the vestry). Back row – Mrs Cane, Arthur Sharpe, Lewis Tyler, Andrew Meads, Rev H.Cane, Bill Whittle, Mrs Selby (teacher). Second row – Len Tyler, Francis Elswood, Ron Ballam, Les Kettle. Third row – Bill Selby, Wilf Meads, John Whittle, Albert Elswood, Peter Bell. Front row – Brenda Duffin, Dorothy Meads, Mary Joyce, Ada Harvey, Florrie Selby, Betty Whittle, Dorothy Selby, Lizzie Wing, Baby Wing, Audrey Elswood, Beryl Whittle, Madge Tyler, Florrie Marriott.

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The Grantham and District Directory for 1901 tells us that W.J.King was already the baker. It lists also, W.H.Burchnall (of the Cross Swords inn) and T.Selby as blacksmiths; John Lyon was shopkeeper with J.G.Royce, additionally, as grocer, draper and postmaster. Henry Tolson made boots. Carriers to Grantham on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays were T.Roberts (who also farmed) and Arthur Wilson who, landlord then of the Blue Horse, also kept shop.   The schoolmaster was William Paulsen, the vicar then the Rev Charles William Henry Reynolds, and the Parish Clerk R.Rayson.

A story from Mr Tyler's past perhaps exemplifies the spirit of people in those times …. He tells of the gamekeeper for Easton Estates, called H.Mackey, who lived with (his wife?) Mary Stanley in a cottage in a wood called The Stupes.   They drew water from a spring in the wood. Both attended Skillington Chapel, walking through a wood and across four fields known as The Cringles, through winter and summer, to attend the service. On dark nights they carried lanterns to light their way.

All the way from Grantham in the 1930s came a solemn, six-foot-two, staunch Methodist,       to preach at the chapel meetings.   He brought along with him his young daughter Margaret, and during the visits they often had tea with the Morley family (who then were threshing machine owners).   The Morleys at this time lived in the house now occupied by Mr Claxton on Buckminster Road (Rock House), the machines being kept in his yard and in the (present day) horse's paddock on the corner of Back Lane . This visitor's name was Alfred Roberts and his daughter was to become very famous indeed as Margaret Thatcher (later Baroness, Lady Thatcher), the first female Prime Minister of Great Britain .

Although Mr Tyler remembers his early years with obvious affection – despite the hard work and a world mostly without the creature comforts we enjoy today – the lady of the house living through those times may not have such fond memories, especially about Mondays.   This was the day of the week usually obligatory as the wash-day.   And what a major undertaking it was!    The first task was to get water boiled in the big copper vessel, which dominated every kitchen.   Successive boilings, with soap remnants and a suitable blueing agent added, would produce a steady stream of garments and sheets.   These were then rinsed in a tub of clean water using a dolly-peg, a wooden pegged disc with a long upright handle, which was rotated backwards and forwards with great vigour.    Next, they had to be mangled – the squeezing through two wooden rollers, geared to a handle, which would extract most of the water (see photograph below).

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Although familiarly known as a mangle up to and including WW2, this necessary washday gadget was originally sold in the 1890s as a "Washing Machine", (priced then at £2-7s ). Mr Bill Meads still has one of these which is brought out and exhibited at some village function.

This spotless washing – all done without any sort of washing powders or liquids, biological or otherwise - would then be pegged out, if the weather permitted.   Pegs were probably made by gypsies encamped nearby.   The final operation was ironing, this with flat irons heated on the kitchen range.   Both the aforementioned George Tyler and Margaret Winn tell about this important weekly event in their reminiscences. I can just remember our copper, mangle and dolly-peg from when I was a boy.

From the 1901 census, set out under the next heading, we can take this summary of Skillington village's people at the start of the period: there were 354 people of whom 190 were males.   Some may have been only children but they were usually listed as being in some sort of job from 13 years of age.   Note how the breakdown of occupations emphasises my earlier remarks about the farming status of the village at this time with, especially, a staggering 55 farm or agricultural labourers (and this does not include the shepherds and horse workers)!

Occupations directly associated with farming.

Farmer (owner occupier) ………….......…..........….
Farmer (tenant) ……………………........…...........…
Foreman on farm …………………........…...........….
Shepherd ……………………………..........…............
Waggoner, horseman, groom ……....….........…...
Farm or agricultural labourer or ploughboy  ......

6
4
2
4
19
55

And, due to the mechanisation introduced during the Victorian era, a new breed of entrepreneur had arisen half a century before this time and was now firmly established on the farming scene …

Thrashing machine owner ……………...................

4

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Occupations indirectly associated with farming or as part of the community structure.

Blacksmith …………........................…………………..
Wheelwright ………………......................……………
Miller ……………………………..........................……...
Baker …………………………........................…………
Butcher ………………………......................………….
Carpenter ………………………....................………..
Stonemason ……………………....................………..
Shoe repairer ………………….....................…………
Dressmaker ……………........................………………
Carrier ………………………........................…….……
Woodman ……………......................………….……..
Laundress ……………….......................………….…..
Grocer/shopkeeper/post office …...............……..
Ironmonger (worker) ……………....................…….
Garden labourer ……………...................………….
Road labourer ……………………...................….….
General labourer …………...................….……...….
Barmaid …………………….....................…….……..
Innkeeper * ……………………….....................…..
Schoolmaster/ Assist. Teacher……...............…….
Clergyman (C of E) …………………....................…
Domestic servant/ Nursemaid …..............……….

4
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
1
3
2
2
1
2
1~
3
1
2
2
1
12

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* It should be noted that both innkeepers had other work.   William Burchnell of The Cross Swords was also a blacksmith and Thomas Wilson of The Blue Horse was also a butcher and grocer.

Other occupations

Licensed Hawker (retired) ……................….
Commission Agents Manager …...........……
Apprentice Coach-builder ……...........……..
1
1
1

Looking now at the social fabric of the community … where did the men of Skillington look for their brides?   Did a maid born and reared in the village take their fancy or did they look elsewhere, and, if so, where?

Twenty-one men had wives born in Skillington.   Twenty-five found their partners elsewhere ………

One each from – Colsterworth, Cottesmore (Rutland), Cuckney (Notts), Denton (Notts), Grantham, Keyworth (Notts), Oakham (Rutland), Pickworth (Notts), Saltby and Saxelby (Leics), Sileby (Leics), Somercoates (Derby), Stonesby (Leics ), "South" Stoke, Sudbrook, Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Wymondham (Leics) and Wyville.   Two each came from Sproxton and Redmile both in Leicestershire but the clear winner with three brides was Garthorpe (Leics)! Folk in the Melton area still go to Garthorpe for the point-to-point racing to have a flutter ….   Maybe it was the fluttering eyelashes that were an added attraction for the Skillington men there.

The oldest inhabitant in 1901 was the widow Hannah Bosswell who was ninety-seven! She was well ahead in years of several in their eighties and the oldest man appears to have been retired farmer Joseph Westerdale aged 80, though the retired hawker, John Lyon, ran him close at 79. Babies listed as being born just before the census was conducted were Charles Meads (1 month old) and Marguerite Pickworth (5 months) with several others under one year old.

Dwellings and other buildings:   The map facing page shows the layout of the village at the very beginning of this period.   I have tried to identify, following this on page 54, who lived in each dwelling at the time of the 1901 census.   Due to the mainly sequential system of numbering for each household that was adopted by the census enumerator, this was not easy. There were no clear postal addresses as there are now and the earlier 1891 census was actually a better system, where some attempt was made at describing where each property lay!   Without the aid of some of my historical advisors, I would not have got anywhere near. One thing is clear when one compares this census record with the last for the next period (1891): a large section of the village was re-housed sometime during this ten-year interval.   They were moved from Back Lane to the Blue Town area, especially into the "yards" off Lord's Lane. Although here preceding the next period we shall look at, it may be appropriate to say that I could not determine where these Back Lane dwellings were. I suspect they may have been about half way along, on the field side, where there are mounds in the earth plus some old apple trees.

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Map of Skillington c1901

Skillington village c1901. Dwelling houses are coloured red and numbered as per the census return for that year. As the dwellings were not addressed, as they are now, the main clue in matching them to the census was the sequential system used, obviously following a logical walk from property to property. Even some of the streets differ from census to map, however – e.g. Far Street on the map is designated Colsterworth Road and where Church Street is now) Poke Row. Also, the census's "Blue Row" is the present street Blue Town ; "Snow's Yard" is the first three cottages at the top of The Square leading to Snow's Yard; and " Blue Town " is the present Chapel Row. Two of the Poke Row cottages were unoccupied as was " Newton 's Farm on the Green" (corner opposite The Cross Swords). Local knowledge and references to the slightly different census for 1891 have enabled a fairly accurate match to be made, I trust.

Where doubts still remain these concern the following numbers …. 5,6 and 7; perhaps 14 to 16; and finally, 75 (" Worthington 's Yard"), 76 and 77 ("BottomYard").

Let us here, then, try to combine dwellings with people and see who lived at each house in the year 1901.   The numbering below follows the sequential numbering of the census return.   Some modern house names have been inserted in square brackets. Compare this with the map shown on previous page.

1.      Colsterworth Road .   William Paulson age 41, Schoolmaster; his wife Minnie age 40 and their 2 sons, Harry 9 and William 7 months. Plus Alice Ingleton, a village girl age 13 listed as a servant (she was also called a ' Nurse girl '). The schoolmaster was born at Hoveringham, Notts.

2.      Colsterworth Road .   John Bennett age 34, Farm Labourer; his wife Hannah 33 and their 2 daughters, Mary 8 and Annie 7, and son Luke 4. Nephew George Marshall age 16 Ploughboy lodged with them.

3.      Colsterworth Road .   Joseph Duffin age 33(?), shepherd; his wife Hannah age 33 and their 2 daughters, Alice 6 and Hilda 4, and their son John 8(?) months.

4.      Colsterworth Road .   William F. Meads age 45, shepherd; his wife Jane age 45 and children, Richard F. 19, Waggoner on farm; Sarah A. 17; Alfred R. 15, Yardman on farm; Alice 11; and Joseph 7.   Plus George Jarvis 22 boarder and Waggoner on farm who was born at Ancaster.

5.      Colsterworth Road .   Thomas Worthington age 49, Agricultural Labourer.

6.      Colsterworth Road .   Newton Tyler age 35, Yardman on farm; his wife Minnie age 34 and children Lilian 11, Agnes 7, Harold 4 and Ernest 7 months.

7.      Colsterworth road.   Thomas Selby age 41, Blacksmith and wife Emily age 41 and their children, Thomas 18, Apprenticed Coach Builder; William 16, Farm Labourer; Caleb 14, Farm Labourer; Harold 12; Florence 9; Percy 6; and Lilian 4. Plus Herbert Arnold age 21, boarder and blacksmith (from Flamstead, Herts)

8.      Colsterworth Road [ Albion House]. George Robinson age 62, Miller, (born in Ropesley).

9.      Colsterworth Road [The Manor House]. Robert E. Newton age 65, Farmer and grazier; his wife Georginna age 66 and daughter Annie 34 and son Frederick 23(?).   Plus two servants, Ada Jesson 21 of Eaton, Cook and Edith Duffin 17 of Skillington, Housemaid.

10. Colsterworth Road . William Charlesworth age 42, Woodman; his wife Kate age 30 and sons, George 4 and Fredrick 3.

11. Cross Swords Inn.   William Burchnall age 63, Blacksmith and Innkeeper; his wife Mary J. age 60 and their daughter, Mary E. age 27, Barmaid.   Plus their niece, Edith Martin age 16, sister-in-law Caroline Hudson age 43, and nephew James Langtry age 19, Carpenter. William Burchnall was born in Little Bytham.

12. Grantham Lane .   Jane Tyler age 62, widow and Farmer. Her 2 daughters, Margaret age 27 and Lois age 24, Assist. Schoolmistress. Plus Jane's brother, Philip Kitchen age 53, Agric. Labourer.

13. Facing green on Colsterworth Rd [Far House].   William Waddington age 41, Farmer; his wife Jane age 49 and their children, John 15, Horseman on farm, William 13, and Cathleen 11. Plus William's brother, James age 39, Farmer; and Elizabeth Bailey age 18, Domestic Servant.

14. Facing green on Colsterworth Rd.    Henry Toulson age 49, Shoe Repairer (own business), born at Barkeston; and his daughter, Victoria age 13.

15. Facing Green on Colsterworth Rd.    John Bell age 38, Joiner and Wheelwright, born at Great Sturton; his wife Sarah age 35 and son James 8.

16. Poke Row.   William Jessop age 65, Road Labourer and his son, George age 32, Agric. Labourer and daughter, Margaret 25, Dressmaker.

There was an uninhabited house here, between 16 and 17.

17. Poke Row.   John Meads age 47, Farm Labourer; his wife Mary age 42 and their children, William 22, Farm Labourer; Thomas 21, Teamster on farm; Arthur 15, Horseman on farm; Walter 11; Ellen 11; Andrew 9; and Lewis 8.

18. Poke Row.   Jane Howitt age 40, Widow; her children, Robert 14, boy Labourer on farm; Fredrick 11; Ethel 8; and Edwin 11 months.

19. Poke Row.   Alfred Barker age 31, Farm Labourer from Ingoldsby; his wife Amy age 33 and their children, Francis 8; Lois 6; Tom 3; and Alfred 1.

20. Poke Row.   Fredrick A.Bone age 41, Stone Mason from Kings Lynn; his wife Sarah age 39; and their children, Frances13; Susan 12; Fredrick W. 8; Alfred 4; and Andrew age 1.

21. Poke Row.   Rebecca Joyce age 64, Widow born in Wymondham; her mother Hannah Bursnell age 97; and daughter Mary Joyce age 33; and grandchildren Lily 9; James 5; and William 4.

22. Reading Room, Poke Row.   John Charlesworth age 30, Waggoner on farm; his wife Sarah age 25 and their 2 sons, Aubrey 2 and Cyril 7 months.

23. Farm near church.   George Kitchen age 65 (?), (???) Farmer and his nephew Fred Kitchen 34, Shepherd. Plus George Joyce 14, Servant and Horseman on farm.

24. The Vicarage.   Charles Reynolds age 58 (?), Clergyman, Church of England born in Wakefield ; his son, Forbes 18 or 19; niece Marion 27; and Annie Ingram 24, Lady help, Domestic (born in Dorset ).

25. Farmhouse near church.   John Bennett age 67, Farmer; his brother Page 66, Farm Labourer; his sister-in-law Emma Bennett 53; and niece Emma 19.

26. Christians Top Farm [The Abbey].   Louis Morley age 38, Thrashing Machine Manager; wife Elizabeth 36; and son Frederic 2.   Plus Ada Sentance 18, General Domestic Servant.

27. Cottage near church [Marked on map as "Vicarage"].   William Harrison age 30, Waggoner on farm (born Wathingborough); his wife Susannah 27; and boarder Henry Cawthin 18, Horseman on farm.

28. Middle Street [ Jackson 's House].   Mary Jackson age 62(?), Widow, Farmer and Grazier (born Stainby); her sister Sarah Ellis 65; granddaughter Dorothy Shipman 14; plus 2 servants, Mary Potts 33 and Ruth Meads 13(?).

29. Middle Street [Stone Cottage].   William Howitts age 69, Agric. Labourer (born Ingoldsby); and his wife Ann 68.

30. Middle Street [Home Farmhouse].   Thomas Christian age 41, Farmer (born Staythorpe, Notts.); his wife Anna 41 and their children, Robert 16; Thomas 11; and Maria 5.   Also, widowed father-in-law, Joseph Westerdale 80 and niece Kate Goodland 6; plus 2 servants, Emma Dennis 25, General Domestic and Rita (?) Merryweather 16, Housemaid; plus nephew (visiting) Charles Goodland 9.

31. Post Office.   John Royce age 30, also grocer and Shopkeeper (from Oakham); his wife Annie 30; and children John 5; Ellen 2 and Jessie 1; plus 2 servants, Beatrice Monks 16, General Dom. Servant and Violet Howitt 13, nursemaid. (Both the latter village girls).

32. Buckminster Lane [Mollands Cottage].   William Pickworth age 38, Waggoner on farm (born at Belton); his wife Elizabeth 32 and their children, Annie 8; William 5; Frederick 2; and Margurite 2 months.

33. Buckminster Lane .   Elizabeth Morley age 81, Widow (born at Easton ) and her daughter, Edna age 35.

34. Buckminster Lane .   William Rick age 60, Farm Labourer; his wife Elina age 50 and their 2 daughtrs, Florence 14 and Kate 9.   Also, granddaughter Ethel 3.

35. Buckminster Lane , in fields.   William McAladay (?) age 42 Foreman on farm (from Welby); his wife Eliza 40 and their children, George 17, Waggoner on farm; John 14, also Waggoner on farm; Grace 12; Eliza 11; Gertrude 8; Elsie 5; and Thomas 3.

36. Blue Town .   William Burroughs age 72, Farm Labourer (from Barrowby) and his wife Ann 62.

37. Blue Town .   George Burroughs age 44, Widower and Farm Labourer; his children, Annie 23; Eliza 16; Arthur 14, Farm Labourer; Harry 12; Kate 9; Fanny 8; and granddaughter Harriett 3.

38. Blue Town .   John Lyon age 79, Retired Licensed Hawker; his wife Charlotte 80 and granddaughter Edith Ask 27.

39. Blue Town .   William Goodliffe age 33, Agric. Labourer; his wife Elizabeth 30 and 2 sons, Charles 4 and Arthur 1.

40. Blue Town .   Joseph Ingleton age 63, Agric. Labourer; his wife Sophia 68; son-in-law Henry Hand 24, General Labourer and daughter Frances Hand 26.

41. Blue Town .   John Talton age 47, Blacksmith (from Market Overton) and his wife Susan 52.

42. Blue Town .   John Clarke age 63, Agricultural Labourer; his wife Susan 63 and daughter, Mary 29 with grandson Charles Rawlinson 4.

43. Blue Town .   Alpheus Burroughs age 70, Agricultural Labourer (from Barrowby); his wife Ann 63 and 2 sons, Frederick 21 and Charles 18, both Agricultural Labourers; grandson Ernest 15, also an Agricultural Labourer; and granddaughter Daisy 10. Plus a boarder, William Wortley 69.

44. Blue Town .   Robert Charity age 64, Agricultural Labourer; his wife, Emma 54 with son William 31, Agricultural Labourer and daughter Clara 20.

45. Blue Town .   Thomas Duffin age 47, Woodman and his wife Jane 40 with nephew Robert 13, Poultry Tender on farm.

46. Stone Pit Row.   Thomas Wade age 35, Thrashing Machine Owner; his wife Frances 33 and 4 daughters, Marcela 6, Maud 4, Miriam 2 and Mirabel 9 months.

47. Stone Pit Row.   Elizabeth Wilkinson age 79 widow (born in Buckminster) and son William 27, Horseman on farm.

48. Eliza Clarke age 67 widow (born in Gunby).

49. George Garfoot age 42, Shoe Mender (born in Greetham and "lame from child"); his wife Jane 37 and children, Albert 15, Agricultural Labourer; Robert 13, Shepherd on farm; William 10; Harry 8; Emily 5; and George 3.

50. Stone Pit Row.   Newman Wade age 75, Thrashing Machine Owner (born South Witham ); his wife Ellen 67 and their son William 33 also a Thrashing Machine Owner.

51. Stone Pit Row.   Henry Duffin age 36, Woodman; his wife Martha 32 and their 5 sons, Herbert 10; Walter 8; Charles 5; Cecil 3; and Edward 1.

52. Stone Pit Row.   William Harris age 78, widower and Stonemason; with his son John 46, Agricultural Labourer; daughter Fanny Brown 37; and granddaughter Florence 12.

53. Top of Green.   William Ingleton age 56, Agricultural Labourer and his wife Ada 32.

54. Top of Green.   Hannah Musson age 74, widow (born in Gunby).

55. Top of Green.   Simon Wing age 47, Waggoner on farm (born in Westby); his wife Sarah 47 with son Harry 10 and daughter Ethel 8.

56. Top of Green.   Thomas Robinson age 43, Groom and Yardman on farm; his wife Mary 43 with children, George 15, Agricultural Labourer; Robert 13, Agricultural Labourer; Charles 12; Agnes 10; Olive 8; Horace 6 with granddaughter Annie age 1.

57. Snow's Yard.   Thomas Martin age 50, Farm Labourer (from Stoke); his wife Sarah 47, Dressmaker; and children Joseph 20, Farm Labourer; Florence 18, Dressmaker; Walter 15, Farm Labourer; and Ethel 13.

58. Snow's Yard.   William Owen age 46, Garden Labourer.

59. Snow's Yard.   Thomas Roberts age 51, Farmer and Carrier; his wife Hannah 49 and 2 daughters, Mabel 15 and Nora 11.

60. Snow's Yard.   John Askew age 61, Farm Labourer; his son-in-law John King 26, Baker and daughter Annie King 29.

61. Blue Horse Inn.   Thomas Wilson age 34, Publican, Butcher and Grocer; his wife Mary 30 and children Frederick 11 and Dorothy 4; plus boarder Thomas Goodhaise (?) 42, Cattle Drover.

62. On the Green.   Frederick Robinson age 41, Labourer on farm.

63. Lord's Lane.   Ann Houghton age 86, widow (born in Ropsley)

64. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   George Houghton age 53, Agricultural Labourer; his wife Rose 50 and children, Norman 25, Agricultural Labourer; Joseph 23, Agricultural Labourer; and Elizabeth 15.

'Newton 's farmhouse on the green ' is here shown as not in occupation.

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65. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   James Goodliffe age 65, Agricultural Labourer; his wife Mary 56 with children Charles 26, Rural Auxiliary (?)rian; Edward 25, Agricultural Labourer; John 20, Agricultural Labourer; Caroline 15; and Harry 10.

66. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   Richard Rayson age 52, Agricultural Labourer; his wife Sarah 48 and children John 16, Horseman on farm; Matilda 13; Walter 11; and Herbert 7.

67. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   Ann Dolby age 73, widow and her son George 43, Agricultural Labourer.

68. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   Edward Dolby age 74, (from Wymondham) and a visitor, Mary Allsop 13.

69. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   William Meads age 61, widower and Farm Labourer; his step-son Edward Tyler 40, Carpenter; and William's children, John 31, Horseman on farm; Thomas 27, Horseman on farm; Jane 23; and Alvira 18.

70. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   Thomas Meads age 68, widower and Agricultural Labourer; his son George 36, Agricultural Labourer; Daughter-in-law Mary 32; Grand-daughter Elsie 2 and Grand-son Charles 1 month.

71. Blue Row, Lord's Lane.   John Rayson age 67, Agricultural Labourer (born Easton ); his wife Elizabeth 64 and their 2 sons, George 26, Agricultural Labourer, and William 20 (occasional worker?).

72. Coles (?) Yard, Lord's Lane.   William Burroughs age 44, Agricultural Labourer; his wife Mary 46 and their children, George 17, Agricultural Labourer; Annie 14; Thomas 11; and Albert 9.

73. Coles Yard, Lord's Lane.   George Duffin age 55, Farm Labourer; his wife Catherine 53 and grand-daughter Nellie Cooper 5.

74. Coles Yard, Lord's Lane.   Sarah Marshall age 46, widow and Laundress (born Pickworth); her children Ruth 18; Luke 16, Horseman on farm; Kate13; Herbert 11; and Annie 8.

75. Worthington 's Yard, Lord's Lane.   William Tyler age 61, (occasional worker?); his wife Sarah 61 and son Alfred 23, Agricultural Labourer. Plus brother-in-law Richard Young 70, Agricultural Labourer.

Here we have one uninhabited house but in occupation.

76. Bottom Yard, Lord's Lane.   Mary Buckby age 71, widow (born Sudbrook).

77. Bottom Yard, Lord's Lane.   Charles Johnson age 26, Garden Labourer.

78. Lord's Lane.   Joseph Moulds age 65, widower and Horseman on farm (born Somerby); his widowed sister, Mary Sensecal (?) age 70 and grand-daughter Annie Clarke 15.

79. Lord's Lane [Weston's Farm].   Edith Weston age 30; her sister Anna 19; 3 brothers, Robert 32, Ironmonger; Herbert 27, Commission Agents Manager; and Charles 22, "Farmer's Son" but classed as "Feeble minded"; plus sister-in-law Maude 30.

Note that people's names were not standardised as they are now … they were spelt as they sounded or as the whim took the writer.

To sum up …. 354 people, though one or two of these are classed as visitors. 79 dwelling houses, plus 4 uninhabited, 2 of these not in occupation.   Of those in work, as previously stated, a huge total of 55 were farm or agricultural labourers and virtually everyone else's work had connections with farming.

Let us now see which of our seventeen Skillington family surnames from chapter 1 have survived this trip of almost one hundred years into the past. If we compare our list for 1997 with the 1901 census we find that eleven have dropped out leaving only Charlesworth; Goodliffe; Joyce; Meads; Selby; and Tyler.   Not surprisingly, perhaps, all the additional names we find in 1947 are still with us in 1901.

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As in the first period we considered, a world war brought heartbreak to many families in the village.   A fine marble memorial inside the church lists the following 8 villagers who gave their lives (see facing page):

Pte A J Sharpe (2^nd Northamptons) died May 1915
Pte G Tomlin (1^st Lincolns ) died June 1915
Pte Ch Duffin (1^st Lincolns ) died 1915
Pte F Charlesworth (10^th Sherwood Forresters) died Nov. 1915
Pte R Robinson (6^th Lincolns ) died March 1916
Pte R Rick (1^st South Staffords ) died Dec. 1916
Pte G Robinson (6^th Lincolns ) died April 1917
Pte T B Selby (7^th Lincolns ) died April 1918

Let us remind ourselves, from this plaque, of the cause for which they died …. "Justice, Liberty , Truth and Honour"

Mike Doyle, living at "Moretti", Middle Street , Skillington, is working on a record of those who died in the First World War and has a data base containing details of the above villagers. He kindly supplied me with further information about their burials.

Arthur Sharpe, George Tomlin and Frederick Charlesworth have no known graves but are commemorated at Ploegsteert, and the latter two at Ypres (Menin Gate), Ieper memorials respectively. George Tomlin's name is wrongly spelled as Tomblin on both Skillington memorials. Charles Duffin was buried at Aeroplane Cemetery , Ieper ; Richard Rick at Redan Ridge Cemetery , Beaumont-Hamel; Robert Robinson at Bedford House Cemetery , Zillebeke; George Robinson at Duisans British Cemetery , Etrun; and Thomas Selby at Mesnil Communal Cemetery , Somme . Mike has the full grave identification details.

Added ' human interest ' information from Mike that gives poignancy to the death of Thomas Selby is that he apparently enlisted in place of his brother whose wife was expecting a child. Also, he and George Robinson, although officially recorded as having enlisted at different centres, had consecutive regimental numbers, which led Mike to the conclusion that they must have enlisted at the same date and time in Grantham.

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Below this memorial in the church is a superb Roll of Honour book that lists all those villagers who enlisted for this bloody struggle, 41 in all.   As well as those above were …

Pr. A Barker; Driver F Barker; Rifleman J W Bell; Lce Corp. F J Burroughs; Cpl. H Burroughs; Pr. J H Burroughs; Pr. G W Burroughs; Driver C Duffin; Pr. W Duffin; Pr. G Garfoot; Pr. H Garfoot; Pr. C B Goodland; Pr. C W Goodliffe; Pr E Green; Pr. E Howitt; Pr. F W Howitt; Pr. K Howitt; Gunner F Ingleton; Pr. T Ingleton; Pr W Joyce; Sgt. A Meads; Pr. Walt Meads; Pr. Will Meads; Pr. T Melladay; Cdt Cpl. L W K Morley; Pr. W K Rayson; KFM. C B Rawlinson; Pr. G Robinson; Pr. J Robinson; Driver P G Selby; Lce Corp. H Whittle; Pr James Whittle; Pr. J W Whittle.

Roads etc:   The old photographs, i.e. those around 1901, show what the road surfaces were like in those days. With horses the main form of transport and livestock being moved freely about the village in those years – and with the McAdam surfacing technique not yet generally in use in the villages (this is dealt with in the next chapter) – one can only surmise that the foot-scrapers, still in evidence by some of the doorways, were put to frequent daily use.

The routes in and out of the village were much the same as they are now but one can safely assert that the more direct route to Buckminster, via Buckminster Lane, would have been used then in preference to the roundabout route past the mill. The previous chapter indicated the likelihood that Crabtree Road was named after a Mr Crabtree …

a letter from the Christian family papers dated 1901 wherein Thomas A. Christian was writing to his uncle regarding election as a councillor is relevant. The letter begins, "You will be aware that the council have made Mr Crabtree an Alderman today. At Messrs Crabtree and RJ Newtons' request have allowed my name to come forward as a candidate for our division." It seems quite likely that this is the Mr Crabtree in question.

The pre-war water supply, as mentioned in the preceding chapter, was primitive by today's standards.   Although the hydraulic rams extracted water from the brook and fed the eight taps situated around the village, the pumps (established earlier) and the wells and ponds were relied upon too.   There was, also, a tank at the top end of the village on the Sproxton Road .   Mr John Selby remembers, from when he was a lad, sometimes having to prime the ram motor and bleed air from the pipes– if there was air in the system it would stop pumping the water up to the main tank. Once water reached this tank it would have enough head pressure to feed the taps. Villagers then carried water to their homes by bucket, can or jug.   The well on the central green had a pump mechanism, I believe. This well can just be made out on the two photographs of The Square, shown previously. Mr Morley used water from the Fish Well for his steam engines and Mr Bill Meads recalls washing his car at this well also. At least the ram-fed supply relieved the need to trek down to the brook or to the pumps, one of which still stands by the roadside adjacent to the Old School. (See photograph facing page).   However, Mr Tyler makes a comment which only someone living through those harder times could … he says, "in those days you mostly had to wash in cold water and, therefore, your skin was always at its best." !!

Lighting was usually by paraffin lamps.

Farming: The farmers of Skillington mostly rented their farms from the three big landowners, the Estates of Buckminster (owner the Earl of Dysart, later to become the Tollemache family), Easton (Sir Montegue Cholmeley) and Stoke Rochford (Mr C.H.Turnor).   We shall look at how these large landowners came into their Skillington possessions later. At the beginning of this period, 1901, the Grantham and District Directory lists the farmers of Skillington as John Harry Bennett, R. Christian (living at Staythorpe), T.A.Christian, Mrs Mary Jane Jackson, George Kitchen, F. Newton, R.C.Newton (of the Manor House), Thomas Roberts (also a carrier), Mrs Tyler, W.T. Waddington and W. Weston.

At this time Sir H A H Cholmeley Bart was Vice Chairman of Kesteven Council and RC Newton was a Kesteven councillor.

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Photograph of pump by Old School The pump by The Old School on Colsterworth Road

Photograph of the only surviving tap, one of the eight which were fed via a ram mechanism and header tank to supply water to the village. The heavy operating lever is at the rear. (Courtesy of Bill Meads).

These two different items were the methods by which Skillington villagers obtained their daily water supply before it was piped to each home.

The field now overlooked by the council bungalows along Middle Street was once home to several haystacks and an orchard (further along were stables and barns).   The period saw the increasing use of tractors but the early ones did not have cabins.   They must have increased the rate of ploughing, which was formerly done by a pair of horses, enormously. Spring was the traditional time for the ploughing and sowing.   First, the ploughshares would cut into the soil and turn over ridges of soil – the straighter the better for sowing. Discs would then be pulled through this to break down the soil into a finer tilth. Sowing would then take place and, finally, a steel-pronged harrow would be dragged over the land to cover the seeds.   At harvest time – a busy and important season for everyone, when children would be taken out of school to help – the corn would be cut and then stooked (the formation of a wigwam-like structure of three to four bundles of corn) to dry.   The stooks might then be formed into stacks to await threshing. The owners of the village's threshing machines would bring them around to each field as required and the sheaves bundled into them with pitchforks. Despite this feeding being done in a haphazard fashion, the machine would somehow contrive to bale the straw while delivering a flow of corn at the other end for bagging up.   In Skillington, much of the corn was taken to the nearest railway station at Great Ponton.   Mr F.L.Morley supplied other machinery for harvesting as well as threshers of which he had nine (source; Mr Tyler). See photograph on page 65 at the end of this chapter.

Mr Tyler tells us that, besides corn, other crops to be grown were turnips, mangels and swedes. Also, mustard.   He pays tribute to the magnificent condition of the shire horses, each of which had a name, and he tells us that there were 43 horses working the land in his younger days.   He says that the pay for the older men was £2 per week and the lads received 10 shillings.   The men had a sack to sit on during break periods.   He assesses their characters as "trustworthy, independent and reliable".

Despite his opinion that threshing was not ' unduly dangerous ', one horrific accident which he tells of was when a Bill Wade caught his jacket in the machinery of the threshing machine while oiling the engine and was ' flung to a violent death '.   Another death, though not as a result of machinery being operated, was that of Zila Rayson who was riding down Stoke Hill on a wagon shaft when he fell off under the wheel.   His mother had a small gravestone placed on the right side of the hill as a memorial.

The Grantham and District Directory tells us that F.L.Morley, W and T.Wade were Skillington's threshing machine owners in 1901 with the first named also owning a drill (presumably a seed drill).

Pastimes and leisure: Mr. Cryer runs through the children's games which, as he says, were often seasonal. Many are still played today so need no description and these include, hop-scotch, marbles, whip-and-top, hoops (to bowl along with a stick), skipping (girls only?), and various chasing games. I would add conkers to this list. The adults played cricket and football and indulged in the country sports of shooting and following

the hounds.   Mr Hand has a photograph of the Belvoir Hunt in the field just above Cringle Brook which, although taken in more recent times, may still be very typical.   The hunt would often assemble for its stirrup cup at The Abbey in later years. Villagers would need to travel outside the parish to fish or to attend a steeple chase race meeting, Garthorpe perhaps being the venue for the latter. Another village game, Mr Tyler tells us, was skittling, for a pig or for coal, in Snow's Yard on Friday or Saturday evenings. Mr Bill Meads says that skittling for the pig was a very serious affair with outsiders coming into Skillington for the event.

But great excitement must have arisen in the summer for both young and old when the fair came.   Mr Cryer tells us that villagers used to go out to meet it and then walk back with the fair workers. Mr Tyler remembers some of the fair owners who would set up their attractions in Snow's Yard, Kitty's Paddock, Rush Close and on the green in The Square.   Early attractions, which I remember and which would, no doubt, be included in the Skillington show, were the coconut shy (extremely hard to knock off); ringing the bell, if you were strong enough, by hitting something with a mallet which then flew up a pole to strike the bell; or riding on the brightly painted merry-go-round horses.   Mr Tyler remembers swinging boats, too, donkey rides and organs. He says people came from all over and the pubs were packed out.   Interestingly, a part of the fair, on the green, was given over to an agricultural display!

Despite the cold weather, which seems to have been more severe then than now, and the outside water supplies, Christmas would have been a truly magical time for everyone. Mr Tyler paints a splendid picture of these Christmases of the between-wars years straight off a Victorian Christmas card scene …. The Bell-ringers went around to all the farmhouses, enjoying a mince pie and seasonal drink at each one. He goes on, "we had snow in November lasting until March and sharp frosts. Thirty to forty villagers went carol singing around the houses and farms on Christmas Eve. The women cooked ham, pork, beef, rabbit pies, cockerels and ducks and made their own wine and beer."   The boys and girls knew how to enjoy this weather too and no doubt used to slide on ice-sheeted ponds, which were more abundant then.

One celebration in the New Year, Mr Tyler tells us, was when the plough boys went around the village ' reciting the old ways of life '.

He reminds us that there were no Wellington boots in those days so, people used tally-fat to waterproof their boots.   The men protected their legs above the boots by wearing leather gaiters – and Mr Tyler still proudly wears his well-shined pair on Sundays as a reminder!

But, every man, says Mr Tyler, had a watch, money, a shut-knife and some string in his pocket.

Religion:    The parish priests who led the congregation at St James church through this period were …. The Reverend Hedley Charles Cane (1930 – 1942), and in 1901 Rev C.W.H.Reynolds. The Sunday School group photograph earlier shows, perhaps, that the Church of England congregation was thriving in the thirties. Also, in 1933, the Bishop of Lincoln came on a visit and there is a fine photograph of this event in the church vestry.

We have already heard Mr Tyler's account of the influence of Gypsy Smith. The Souvenir Booklet from the Methodist Chapel tells us more of this charismatic preacher – and of the period we are now looking at. It says that when Gypsy Smith came in 1932, the outdoor sermon that he preached was followed by a tea costing one shilling.   There is also a, not too clear, picture of him in the booklet from his advertising literature in which it is stated that he "is just home from a Great Evangelistic Tour in America ".   The chapel building itself received a considerable re-vamp in this period.   The old interior was totally removed and it was re-pewed to seat around 200 people.   A new pulpit was erected, a communion rail added and the ceiling was boarded, which latter improvement gave better acoustics.   All the windows were glazed with decorative leaded lights. Additionally, in 1906, the schoolroom was turned into two vestries with a rear hall and stairs leading up to a new schoolroom.   A former member of the village, architect Mr C.Jackson, gave the boarded ceiling. The total cost of all these modifications and improvements was £826!

In 1904, states the Methodist's Booklet, only three active Trustees remained: William Christian, Thomas Arthur Christian and Samuel Lamb Williamson.   A new board of Trustees was formed to take on the considerable alterations covered in the previous paragraph. These were, Robert Arthur Christian and Francis Goodland (Farmers), John Askew (Labourer), James Goodacre (Shopkeeper), Louis Morley (Threshing Machine Proprietor), William Waddington and Joseph Westerdale (Farmers) from Skillington, plus ten others from Grantham or neighbouring villages.

In 1912, the death of a Methodist stalwart, Thomas Arthur, a former Circuit Steward, saw the biggest-ever funeral in Skillington … sixty-two mourning couples in the cortege and a crowd of two hundred.   The booklet also tells the story of a Mrs Bursnall who, at more than 105 years of age, cried out her final words "Let me get out of bed. I want to pray".

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Photo of Newtons at harvesting

A rare photograph of the Newtons at harvest time. Although the date of this is not known exactly, it is thought to be somewhere around the early 1900s. From the Newton family tree/1901 census it can be deduced that the gentleman with the stick is Joseph Newton's great grandfather Robert Christian (Newton) who was aged 65 in 1901. The photograph raises other problems of dating and identification however, which are explained at the end of appendix 5. (Photograph by courtesy of Mr Joseph Newton).

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Photo of Siddans family:

Left: Hilda Foley's mother,(Mrs Siddans) with family, before Hilda was born, out-side Molland's Cottage on Buckminster Lane. (Courtesy of Hilda Foley)

Photo of Thomas Arthur Christian and wife Anna:
An attractive portrait photograph of Thomas Arthur Christian and his wife Anna Julie (nee Westerdale). These were in residence at Home Farmhouse at the 1901 census. The Christian family had a huge impact on the lives of Skillington villagers across many years. (By courtesy of Robert Christian).

John Selby's grandfather, Thomas, with John's Uncle Bill and young Georgie Wright. The horse (Fan) and cart stand in front of Cole's Yard cottages off Lord's Lane. Thomas was one of a line of Selby blacksmiths and was extremely strong. (Courtesy of John Selby).

Photo of boys and early moot cross
Three boys (I think) pause in their play to rest on the base stones of the Moot Cross. Although it seems to be in the position it occupies now and the stump is upstanding, note that the stones lie in a loose, jumbled heap. Was this photograph taken shortly after it had been re-sited from The Square? (Courtesy of Bill Whittle).

"The Abbey" manor house

before the west wing was added. Compare with photograph on page 8. If this is the site of Skillington's medieval manor house, as is likely, the building would have seen many changes, gradually transforming it from the original Saxon long hut. Alternatively, a completely new house may have been erected on the foundations of the original, perhaps as its wall plaque states, in 1637. It is the Christian family posing in front of the manor. (Courtesy of Robert Christian)

Photo of the old school:
The Old Schoolhouse at the start of Colsterworth Road. Built in the Victorian era, it finally closed in 1976 and, after a period in which it was used as the village hall, it was sold and converted into a private residence in 1996.

Photo of The Old Post house:

The Old Posthouse at the corner of Middle Street and The Square. This was the village shop and post office from Victorian times until 1994. (Both photographs courtesy of Skillington Methodist group.)

Photo of Poke Row
The terraced cottages of Poke Row. Most of the far end cottages have been demolished. The Row actually extends up to and including The Reading Room. The paddock opposite the dwellings further up Church Street was originally called Poke Close. (Courtesy of Skillington Methodist group).

Photo of early fridge

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