A History of Horncastle, from the earliest period to the present time

by J. Conway Walter

In 1896 Hedge Plashing lessons were given, in January, at Stixwould, Bucknall, and Horsington, the teacher being Mr. W. Scott of Hatton. The Head Secretary, Mr. S. Maudson Grant, was present and said he was “much

pleased with the work done.” Lessons in stack thatching were given, in September, in the yards of Mr. H. N. Coates, of Langton, Mr. R. Roberts, of Thimbleby, and Mr. S. Harrison, of Roughton, to ten candidates, the teacher being Mr. Isaac Storey, of West Ashby. These extended over four days, and were pronounced by the General Secretary, Mr. S. Maudson Grant, of Lincoln, to be “highly satisfactory.” In November lessons in under-draining were again given by Mr. W. Scott, of Hatton, on the farm of Mr. Joseph Clifton, of Horsington, to two classes of candidates, those over and those under 24 years of age, and were well attended.

In 1897 hedge plashing lessons were given in February, on the farm of Mr. S. Harrison, of Roughton, also by Mr. W. Scott, on three days, to two classes, over and under 24 years of age, being also well attended; prizes of 25/-, 20/-, and 15/- being given to each class; and two extra prizes of 7/6.

Poultry lectures were given, also in February, extending over six days, at Mr. Bates Leedale’s farm, at Woodhall, and at Mr. W. H. Holmes’, of Minting House, by Mr. W. Cook, the well-known chicken breeder, and originator of the breed named “Orpingtons,” of Orpington House, St. Mary Cray, Kent (since deceased). These lectures created the greatest interest; the audiences were crowded, at one lecture there being 127 present; and as he visited many farmyards to give advice, and several farmers bought valuable chickens from him, his visit may be said to have materially improved the breed of fowls in the neighbourhood.

In May of this year, 1897, it was decided at head-quarters to make a change in the process of operations. Hitherto instruction in the country parishes had been provided through the Committee of the Science and Art School, at Horncastle, but from this date each parish was to have its own Technical Education Committee, elected annually, with the other parish officials; and these were to apply direct to the Head Secretary, at Lincoln, for such instruction as they might think desirable, parishes uniting for this purpose if they chose to do so. More money than heretofore was now being expended on the Science and Art School in Lincoln, and the grants for the country lessons were now greatly reduced. Of this country instruction no record was henceforth kept at Horncastle, and no detailed account can therefore be given here; the lessons have been mainly confined to hedge plashing, ploughing, under-draining, and such other practical subjects as suited the farmer, or agricultural labourer.

In conclusion it may be said that although it is yet too early to prophecy, it would seem that a great future lies before us in the development of education. Co-ordination of work between (as we have at Horncastle) the endowed Infant School, the National Schools, Technical Schools, and the “secondary” Grammar School, with higher-grade colleges, should furnish a kind of educational ladder, by which the child of the artizan, or rustic, may rise from the humblest position to the highest, if he has the ability, and the will, to avail himself of the opportunities thus placed within his reach. It is hardly too much to say that the result may well be, that in the keen rivalry of nations, which characterizes the present age, England should thus be enabled to more than hold her own in the struggle of industrial life.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE DISPENSARY

May well be said to be the most important charity in the town, not only from the valuable services which it has, through many years, rendered to the suffering poor, but because it was a pioneer institution of its kind; while the area of its usefulness has probably been more extensive than that of any similar charity in the county.

Dispensaries were established at Louth in the year 1803, at Lincoln in 1826, at Grantham in 1838, at Boston in 1852, at Market Rasen in 1857; but Horncastle was in advance of the earliest of these by more than a dozen years. Further, the records of the charity shew, that, in the early years of its existence, patients were here treated from places so distant as Spilsby, Friskney, Wainfleet, Trusthorpe, Theddlethorpe, Alford, Fotherby, Marsh Chapel, Saltfleetby, Boston, Lincoln, Sleaford, Grantham, and even beyond the county, from Loughborough, Hull, and Beverley.

This, it may be explained, was mainly due to the fact that it was virtually the creation of a man who was, in many matters, in advance of his time, that great public benefactor, Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., of Revesby Abbey, who held the Manor of Horncastle, and took the greatest interest in the welfare of the town and neighbourhood.