Skegness Magazine

IN THIS MOTORING AGE it is sometimes forgotten that there were road casualties before the petrol engine dominated the highways. Stage coach accidents were frequent, and in later times even the carriers’ carts, whose speed was seldom likely to be excessive, were often involved in mishaps of a more or less serious nature.

One of the most terrible fatalities occurred thirty years ago [1907] on Somerby Hill, the steep descent into Grantham, perhaps more familiarly known to-day as Spitalgate Hill. At the top of the hill the horse attached to the carrier’s cart seen in the centre of our picture, bolted down the hill at a furious after the had jumped out and failed to get hold of its head. The only adult male passenger, a Mr. George Bradford, heroically tried to stop the horse, but fell beneath the wheels receiving fatal injuries. Another passenger opened the rear door, jumped out, and was killed instantly.

Halfway down the hill the cart collided, with a wagon, and the eleven occupants were thrown out, one of them died before reaching hospital, and three others were seriously injured.

December 1937

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