James Conway Walter

“ Visiting the slaughter-house of a neighbouring butcher, he observed to him that he could "do" for men as the butcher did for cattle, because the men whom he had to deal with were themselves "beasts."
Some of Marwood's official paraphernalia are still preserved at the Portland Arms Inn, Portland Street, Lincoln, where he generally stayed at an execution. The late Mr. Charles Chicken, who resided in Foundry Street, Horncastle, had a rope 11⁄4-in. thick, given him by Marwood, with which he had hanged six or seven criminals. ”

“ Opposite the Bull, the leading hotel in the town, replete with all modern requirements, stands the King's Head, an old "public," still remarkable for its low thatched roof; the reason for which is said to be, that by the forms of the will of a former owner, it was bequeathed to his successor, with the condition attached, that it should continue to be thatched: a condition which the advance of civilization may, in a few years' time, make it difficult to fulfil. ”

“ A youth of Horncastle who has distinguished himself, though chiefly in another line, is Alfred H. Healey, son of the late Mr. Alfred Healey, Brewer and Merchant, of Horncastle, Branston and Lincoln. He was appointed to a Mastership of Ardingly College, Sussex, but removed to Alnwick College more recently. A member of a family remarkable for their ability; a brother, though still young, being high up in the Civil Service; he is specially distinguished as an athlete. Among his performances are the following:
Olympic Games, at Athens, 1906, 2nd in 100 metres hurdle race. ”

“ Baker was known on more than one county cricket ground, and had distinguished himself on the University ground at Cambridge, "Parker's Piece." On coming to Horncastle he immediately made his mark in cricket as a round-hand bowler; and the leading young men of the neighbourhood became his pupils. ”

“ He afterwards went to London to learn his trade as a house decorator. He married in 1833 a Miss Gainsborough, of Alford. In 1838 he went to Lincoln, and for some years carried on his trade there. In 1848 he returned to Horncastle, and still carrying on his trade, became a member of a literary coterie, who used to hold meetings in the coffee room of the Bull Hotel. In 1860 he bought a house on the Louth Road, which he opened as the Globe Inn, and which became the resort of his literary friends. Literature, however, did not conduce to business. ”

“ He continued to reside in Horncastle and, having no employment, he accepted the post of water bailiff to the local angling association, which he filled for some time, until he eventually disappeared from the scene of his labours, which were thought by not a few to be somewhat "fishy" in the unfavourable sense of being at least questionable in their nature. ”

“ He was not a native of Horncastle, but lived in the town more than 60 years, and became so identified with its interests, in many ways, that he may well be regarded as one of its "worthies." Born in 1814, at Braintree, in Essex, he was the son of a veterinary surgeon in that town, his family having previously there owned the once well-known coaching house, named The Horn Inn; although earlier members of his family had occupied a higher position; one of them, named Thorowgood, having founded the Grammar School at Oxford. ”

“ The present facilities for rapid travel, by rail, and quicker means of communication, which now enable dealers to hear of horses for sale, and to visit them in their owners stables, before they are brought to the fair, has altered all this, and the fairs now last only a few days at the most.
These publichouses had also generally attached to them large yards, and extensive stabling (as may still be seen) , where the best horses were shewn and tried, without appearing in the streets. In consequence of the reduced need for such accommodation many of these publichouses have disappeared. ”

“ The Three Maids' Inn was situated in the High Street, on part of the site now occupied by the Corn Exchange, and was demolished when that building was erected. A small inn, on the east side of North Street, now called the Cricketer's Arms, was formerly named the Tom Cat, because here was sold the strong old gin of the well-known distillers, Swagne and Borde, whose trademark was a cat. ”

“ William Lawnes Jackson, is a member of a Horncastle family. A near relative was a well-known object, a few years ago, in our streets as a cripple, going about on a donkey, lying flat on a large saddle or "pad," his only means of locomotion. Lord Allerton's father, William Jackson, left Horncastle for Leeds, somewhere in the "thirties," or the "forties," going it is said, with only half a sovereign in his pocket, given by an aunt, and a spare shirt given by an uncle. At Leeds he found employment in the tanyard of a Mr. ”

“ He graduated at University College, Durham, as Licentiate in Theology, 1887, and was ordained deacon in 1890, priest in 1891, holding the curacy of North Ormsby, near Middlesborough; and was appointed Rector of Bucknall, near Horncastle, in 1898, by the patron his father-in-law, the late Mr. James Dunham, Merchant, of Horncastle. He was appointed Inspector of Schools, 1899. Mr. Benson Brown is an energetic worker, has restored his church, adding a carved reredos of oak, a handsome lectern, and filling the east window with good stained glass. ”

“ He represented North Leeds in Parliament for many years, as a conservative, being first elected in April, 1880, and re-elected five times, with ever increasing majorities. He was for many years a Director and Chairman of G.N.R. Company, and held other public offices. In 1896 he succeeded Mr. A. J. Balfour, under Lord Salisbury's administration, as Chief Secretary for Ireland, being also, for several years, Financial Secretary of the Treasury; and was raised to the peerage in June, 1902. He was born in 1840, married in 1860, Grace, the only daughter of George Tempest, Esq. ”

“ Other ropes used by him are in Madam Tussaud's exhibition, in Baker Street, London, where there is also a bust of himself. He used to exhibit his ropes to foreign horse-dealers, who attended the great August Fair at Horncastle, at a charge of 6d. each. There was recently a portrait of Marwood, in crayons, in a barber's shop, 29, Bridge Street, drawn by J. S. Lill, postman, but this has now disappeared. Marwood's favourite dog, Nero, and other effects were sold by auction, after his death in 1883, by Mr. ”

“ He married the widow of Arthur Thistlewood, a native of Horsington, noted, in his later years, as the leader of the "Cato Street Conspiracy," which proposed to assassinate the ministers of the government, in London, when attending a dinner at Lord Harrowby's residence, in February, 1820. The plot was discovered and frustrated, and Thistlewood, with others of his guilty confreres, was executed on May 1st in that year. Mrs. Turner was the daughter of a butcher, named Wilkinson, whose shop was situated in the High Street, where is now the shop of Mr. ”