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SKEGNESS AND ITS LANDOWNERS

Skegness is mentioned in a Charter granted by Richard I (Richard the Lion Heart, pictured left) in the tenth year of his reign (1199) to the Abbey of Revesby, by which he confirmed to them their possessions in Skegness. Without giving details of the land owned, which is somewhat uninteresting to the general reader, a list of subsequent landowners should prove interesting:

Walter de Marescall (Henry III), Simon de Kyle, Robert de Tateshall, John de Orreby (1316), Sir Robert du Wylughby and Margaret his wife, Roger de Somerville (1338), Philip de Somerville (1355) Prior and Convent of Bolington, John Newdigate (sixteenth century), William Smyth, D.LL. (Brazen Noze College, Oxford), Michael Arragebyn (1523), Lionel Quadring, Thos. Lyytlebury (1546), Chas. Duke of Suffolk.

Nicholas Saunderson, Viscount Castleton, held at his decease in 1641 the advowson of the Church of Skegness, tenure not known. The family of Saunderson was descended from Alexander de Bedick, alias Saunderson of Washington, in the Bishopric of Durham, who lived at the time of Edward 111. His son James married Margaret, daughter of William Wilton, alias Saunderson, and had a son, Alexander, who assumed the surname of Saunderson. By Maria his wife, daughter of John Filton, he had a son Robert, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Stavely, of Stanhope. A descendant of these was Robert Saunderson, Bishop of Lincoln.

A later descendant of one branch of the family was Sir William Saunderson, who wrote the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, King James and Charles I. His brother Nicholas married Frances, daughter of Sir George Manners, of Haddon, and had issue Nicholas (who at the time of taking the above inquisition was upwards of fourteen years of age, and was then styled Nicholas Saunderson, Baronet, Lord Saunderson, Baron of Bautne and Viscount Castleton), Peregrine, George, Mildred, Grana, Rutland and Francis. To each of his daughters he left £3000.

The property in this neighbourhood came into his possession as heir to his mother, the daughter, as above noted, of John Hiltoft Mildred, the eldest daughter, married Thomas Belayse, Viscount Fauconberg, and died without issue.
Nicholas, his successor, died prematurely, and Peregrine, his next brother, in all probability died before him, as George, the third brother, succeeded to his titles. By Grace, his wife, he was father to four sons. The youngest, James, succeeded to the dignity and estates, and in 1714 he was created Baron Saunderson of Saxby, and in 1716 he was raised to the dignity of Viscount Castleton of Sandbeck, and in 1720 to that of Earl Castleton, in the county of York. He died in 1723 without male issue, when the said honours became extinct.

His great estate he devised to his cousin Thomas Lumley, Earl of Scarbrough, by Frances, daughter of Henry Belayse, with whose descendants it still continues.

Source: A Topographical and Historical Account of Wainfleet and the Wapentake of Candleshoe in the County of Lincoln by Edmund Oldfield, 1829.

Flash back to the horse era
THIS photograph of Mr John Wells, 13 Richmond Drive, Skegness, was taken 25 years ago. He is seen delivering parcels for the railway company with a horse and dray. A few days afterwards lorries were introduced for the task.
When Mr. Wells first started the horse and cart delivery for Hydes and Son of Skegness, he had to cover the whole of the town on his own. Later his task became lighter when he worked with three agents.
Now aged 78, Mr Wells passes his time by doing a certain amount of jobbing gardening. This month sees the 25th anniversary of the replacement vehicles.

Unfortunately, I haven’t got an exact reference date for this news story, so if anyone can help please leave a comment. However, I have found John Wells on the 1901 census for Skegness, living in Mayfield Villas on Wainfleet Road, with his father, aged 57, working in the Gravel Pits, and mother, Maria. John (in the photo) is aged 21 on the 1901 census, so from the clues we have, we can date the news article to 1958. Therefore we can deduce that the picture was actually taken around 1933, which it seems is the year that the horse and cart was ousted by the railway in Skegness, in favour of delivery lorries.

If you require more research into John Wells’ family history, or any other Skegness families, please ask.

A 1999 local news story about the auction of the historical Skegness plans document as in the photograph below. The news article hold little gems of revealing information such as Castle Boulevard was to be named Osbert Road, and an aquarium was originally planned for the Pleasure Gardens.

But the burning questions must be -  WHO ended up buying the historical document and WHERE is it today? Don’t worry, folks - we’re on its trail…

History going under the hammer
A REMNANT of old Skegness that dates back to 1878 is due to go under the hammer this week end.
A plan of the proposed development of the Earl of Scarbrough’s estate goes before the auctioneer at Turner Evans auctioneers, Roman Bank, tomorrow, Saturday.
The framed plan, which measures 36in by 27in, roughly covers an area from Grand Parade in the east across to Roman Bank in the west, and from Lumley Road to Osbert Road, now known as Castleton Boulevard.

Referring to Skegness as “the Sea Bathing Place of Skegness on the Lincolnshire Coast,” the plan is signed by land agent, HV Tippet of Rotherham.
There were some interesting ideas in the proposals, for instance the plan shows the “pleasure gardens” on Grand Parade with an aquarium and winter gardens, bandstand, and pavilion.
The Hildreds Hotel, now the site of the Hildreds shopping centre, is marked on the plan, and there was a music hall proposed for the corner of Scarbrough Avenue and Rutland Road.
There were also stables behind what was the Scarbrough Hotel, on the corner of Grand Parade and Scarbrough Avenue.

The auction of antique furnishings and effects begins at 11am Turner Evans’ Mart Saleroom, and the goods can be viewed today, Friday, between 1pm and 6pm and on the day of the sale.
Pictured below Is the plan of the proposed development of the estate of the Earl of Scarbrough,
which is being auctioned tomorrow by Turner Evans, Roman Bank, Skegness.

SEVERE STORMS IN 1893
THE SHANNON DISASTER as reported in the Skegness Herald

The most deplorable disaster that has occurred at this or probably any other seaside resort happened at Skegness at noon on Saturday last. It was a fine morning, but the heat appeared to be somewhat oppressive.

At 10.30 a train from London brought to Skegness the employees of the North London Railway Company. They were full of glee, and as they passed along the Lumley Road on their way to the beach were singing the latest songs and playing toy instruments. They had arranged to dine at the Pavilion, Pleasure Gardens, at about one o’clock.

At 12 noon a great change came over the scene. Just prior to this time about 28 of the party had gone for a sail in the Shannon.

At midday a terrible storm of wind and rain swept over the town with great fury. The Shannon, though ably manned by two experienced boatmen, was wrecked by the storm, and 28 persons, besides the two boatmen, lost their lives.

When the news of the disaster reached the pavilion, where their comrades were dining, the feelings of grief may be better imagined than described. An elderly man, almost frantic, had lost two sons and a son-in-law that morning, and these had left 13 young children unprovided for. To add to the grief of the poor fellow, his wife died on Sunday, the day after he got home again.
The Shannon was certified to carry 6o passengers, but only 31 were aboard at this time. The boat belonged to the Grunnill family and was in charge of Edward Grunnill, 44 years of age, and Edwin Grunnill, 49. [Links lead to the men’s gravestones in St Clement’s Church Skegness]. Both men were members of the Skegness lifeboat crew, and experienced boatmen.

Help was rendered by Jabez Grunnill with his boat, the Dart. Both boatmen were drowned, in addition to 28 of the passengers.

At the inquest, Charles Henshaw, one of the three survivors, said : “I was on board at the time of the disaster, and do not consider the boat was overloaded. There was plenty of room for more passengers, and I don’t consider the boatmen were to blame in any way. They were both at their post.’ Only 20 of the bodies were recovered.”

The local Appeal Committee met the London Committee, which had been formed for the purpose of helping the survivors, about September 24th, to consider the allocation of the money subscribed for the widows and orphans of those lost. Altogether this amounted to £6201, and £600 of this was given to the families of the two boatmen.

ANOTHER SEVERE GALE.—Another severe gale took place on November 18th and 19th, 1893. It necessitated the launching of the Skegness lifeboat, which rescued the crew of the cod smack Frank, of Grimsby, who unfortunately had to abandon their vessel. The gale caused considerable damage to property in the Lumley Road. The following poetry appeared in the “Skegness Herald” of November 24th, 1893. It is by the late Miss Frances Theadora Maddison, formerly of Partney, who resided at Skegness for many years. She was a member of the well-known Lincolnshire family of that name, and was highly esteemed in the town and district. She did not claim to be a poet, but her sonnets, which appeared in the “Herald” from time to time, were highly appreciated by those who read them :—

THE GALE
0, hungry sea! lash’d by the waves to foam, Thy waves are seeking prey, and soon the cries of drowning men in agony arise!
Soon hushed, alas! and while the seamen roam, The anxious watcher’s tears and bitter sighs By strong winds are mocked ! they raging come Around the coast, around each fisher’s home, While neath the waters, dead and loved ones lie,
O the Saviour breathe the words, ‘Be still!’ I may
And on bruised hearts pour balm, with tender power,
With trembling now each contrite spirit fill,
For none but He can save in midnight hour,
When on mid-ocean tossed by storm and spray,
The helpless vessels roll, and long for day.

“F. T. M.”

(1861 census Frances Theadora Maddison)

Edward Robert Capon

1941 - THE DEATH occurred yesterday (Tuesday) morning, of Mr. Edward Robert Capon. who passed away at his home “Ashdean,” Sunningdale Drive Skegness.
Mr. Capon, who would have reached his 80th birthday next month, died suddenly, although he had not enjoyed good health for a long time and had been compelled to take life very quietly.

Mr. Capon. whose wife was a Miss Dunkley, was the first surveyor to the Skegness Council, and was the only survivor of the photographic group of the original authority which hangs in the Town Hall.
He went from Skegness to Harrow and thence to Epsom, where he was engineer and surveyor to the Epsom
authority for about forty years. He rurned to Skegness, and settled down in retirement some ten years ago.
Mr. Capon was elected to but resigned his seat after a few month’s service.
The funeral takes place tomorrow (Thursday) at St Clement’s Church at 2.30 p.m.