Theddlethorpe History Club

The following will be a transcript of some documents regarding people finding themselves on the wrong side of the Law in Theddlethorpe. It's taken from hand written notes found in Jeans archives. Some of the handwriting is Jeans but I don't know who contributed to the rest. Some of the stories are really sad and some are hilarious. - Sarah Goodley

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Stealing Cakes, 1850

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Dan Scrimshaw age 14. For stealing at Theddlethorpe, two linseed oil cakes the property of WM Kirkham . Sentence to one month hard labour and to be whipped once. Lindsay Sessions Louth April 10th and 11th 1850. Note in 1881 Census aged 40 living on Mardyke road + wife and 3children .

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Petty Robberies, 1850

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Theddlethorpe in the parish and neighborhood there have been of late several petty robberies, especially of clothes from outhouses. These depredations are supposed to have been committed by gangs of Gypsies, great numbers of this tribe having infested the neighborhood for the last few months. (Mercury Friday August 2nd 1850) PS: I'm only copying what it says

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Theft of a Watch, 1851

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Hurdman Grebby 17, for stealing at Theddlethorpe, a silver watch the property of W Morratt. Sentence one month imprisonment at the Lindsay Sessions Louth 22nd and 23rd October 1851.

Orders were made for the removal of Mary Ann Smith and her children from Theddlethorpe to Thimbleby Alford Magistrates court January 1st 1851. (Poor Law)

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A Life Sentence of Transportation, 1822

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9.3.1822. John Allison age 36 of Theddlethorpe tried at the Assizes and given a life sentence Transportation to Van Deimans land on HMS Morley. What crime? What did he do? NB Christopher Allison was in the 1881 census living down Sandy Lane age 49. Cottager and 2nd Captain of the lifeboat (59 years later) was he the grandson of John.

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Selling a Sub-Quality Pint of Brandy, 1904

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My particular favourite given the family being staunch Methodists and I'm a bitch is the following

Joseph Parrish of the Ship Inn Theddlethorpe was summoned for selling a pint of Brandy which was not of the subsidence quality demanded. From the analysts certificate it appears that 75 per cent was brandy and 25 per cent silent patent still spirit. Defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £1 and 4s6d costs. Boston Guardian Saturday 17th December 1904. Alford Sessions.

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No Red Lights on their Bicycles, 1915

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Some 33 Defendants were brought before the court and charged with not having red lights on Bicycles... J Parrish, Theddlethorpe...and we're fined 2s6d Lincs Standard Saturday May 8th 1915 Alford Petty Sessions.

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Riding a bike without a Light, 1930

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Right you Howells here is one for you.

Joe K Howell, Theddlethorpe, rode a bicycle without a light at Mablethorpe on February 12th but the vidulence of PC Mumby caught the offender. He was fined 5s . Lincs Standard Feb 22nd 1930. Alford Police Court.

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Bridgedroom Forgets Wedding Day, 1938

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This one is a corker

Bridegroom Forgets Wedding

This is the story of a most unusual one. Of a bridegroom who forgot his wedding day thereby causing a minor sensation not only in Mablethorpe but also the national press.

It commenced on Saturday when extra seating accommodation had been provided at Mablethorpe Parish Church to accommodate the large crowd which assembled to witness the wedding. The ceremony was timed for 2.30 pm and long before that the relations plus others were assembled in the church. Two thirty came but neither the Bride nor the bridegroom appeared.

At 3.30 the rector announced that it would be postponed.

The principal in this unusual drama was Fredrick Norris 46 years known as Boston because he hails from that area and miss Daisy Skelton 48 years formally of Theddlethorpe.

They had taken a house in Theddlethorpe which was to be their future residence.

It appears the prospective bridegroom called at the brides house on Friday evening his last words were "I shall be seeing you T 2.15 tomorrow" He was in fact seen in Mablethorpe about noon Saturday but then Frederick temporarily disappeared.

In the evening the town was agog with the story of the missing bridegroom. The little house in Theddlethorpe had been knocked but there was no answer and the blinds were down.

It was at this stage on Sunday that the police began to be interested and a police officer made the journey to the little house at Theddlethorpe. He knocked but there was no answer. He knocked again and eventually after a good deal of fiddling with the door it opened and there was the missing bridegroom. That was as far as the police were interested.

On Sunday night he called at his future wife's home and he explained that after having been in Mablethorpe on the morning. He had met a few friends, he remembered nothing more until the Police officer knocked on his door on the Sunday.

Will the wedding come off?

Yes it took place on Wednesday.

Standard Feb 26th 1938.

(Well it can happen to the best of us going for a swift one in Mablethorpe)

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Failing to Obscure a Light, 1939

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I must say I would have loved to meet this next character.

"There are new lighting regulations in force and we shall deal far more firmly with these offences " This observation by the chairman following evidence given against Hilda Horry of Theddlethorpe who was summoned for failing to obscure a light in her bungalow on October 11th.

Norman Parrish, a special constable stated he had warned the defendant twice before and when he called in connection with the offence in question she flatly refused to give him her name. He had known her as Hilda Horry.

The light came from an apparently uncovered glass door.

Fined £2 with 5s costs Alford Police Court

Standard November 11th 1939

Then

When Hilda Horry of St Andrews Mablethorpe was told at 2 o'clock on the morning by PC Folds that she was showing a light she reportedly said to the Constable "If it was anything important the police wouldn't find it out"

Fined 10s Alford Police Court August 21st 1943. Standard.

NB under reads "Obviously the police were not on her Christmas card list "

F Walker of Theddlethorpe was sworn in as a special Constable according to the Standard on Saturday March 29th 1941 at Alford Police Court.

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Displaying a Light, 1941

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Another to fall foul of the Blackout offence was Robert Hegarty who was summoned for displaying a light in a roofed building in Theddlethorpe. He sent a letter pleading guilty. Special constable Staunton said a ray of light was showing. He was fined 10s at Alford Police Court according to the Standard on Saturday April 12th 1941

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Kicking up a Row at the Post Office, 1944

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At 2.55am on October 27th Sargent Statham of the Special Constabulary Reserve Theddlethorpe received a complaint that someone was "bashing in the door of the village post office, and kicking up a general row" He found on arrival at the post office, an airman, who was drunk and incapable, and he arrested him.

The airman Jim Baker pleaded guilty.. His exploits cost him 10s

Standard Saturday November 11th 1944. Alford Police Court.

NB Pete Chambers tells the author of the notes Selwyn Statham was a postman and coalman who wondered about with a whippet dog. He lived next to the Chapel.

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Larcency, 1946

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Enoch William Hall of Mill Road Theddlethorpe pleaded guilty to larceny of 4 window sashes the property of the war department.

PC Coates said he saw a cold frame in the defendants garden which was covered in what looks like War Department stuff. He went to Oliver's Gap and found that some of the seches from the huts were missing. He later interviewed the defendant who said " I took them each on my cycle after tea" The Chairman fined him £3

Standard Saturday July 6th 1946. Alford Police Court.

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Driving Offences, 1947

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Three charges were preferred against Arthur Alcock of Theddlethorpe.1 for driving a motorcycle without due care and attention 2 without reasonable consideration and 3 without a driving license. Defendant pleaded guilty.

Defendant had no driving license with him and was issued a form to produce. When he did so according to PC Bate it was 159 days overdue. Defendant said it was an oversight.

Fined £2 on the first charge £1 on the second, his license was endorsed. The third charge was withdrawn.

Standard Saturday 30th August 1947 Alford Police Court.

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That's it for Gooders historic gossip for now from the Jean Simpson Archives. Hope you have enjoyed