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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.

Picture: Skegness in 1826

1851 census

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(5 of these individuals are children from the previous page)

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children of couple on previous page
Summery of totals in 1851

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.

MEMORIAL  WINDOW TO THE LATE COLONEL IREMONGER, the First Mayor of Skegness in St Matthew’s Church Skegness

Source: Skegness Herald 21st December 1888

The relatives of the late Colonel Iremonger have just placed a handsome stained-glass window in the east end of the south aisle of St. Matthew’s Church, in memory of the gallant colonel.

There are two “lights” in the window and in the one near the chancel the subject is the scene of the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, our Lord being in a kneeling posture and an angel immediately above presenting a cup to Him. On this part is the inscription “By thy cross and passion good Lord deliver us.”

In the light on the right hand the subject is the crucifixion, with Jerusalem in the background and a centurion kneeling on one side, and also the words “Truly this man was the Son of God.” In these words the centurion is represented as giving his testimony that the crucified was the Son of God.

The variations of tone in the different pieces of glass give a great richness of effect, and the artist has displayed great care in the arrangement of the colours, which are bright and pleasing.

At the foot of the window is a band, running the whole length, on which is inscribed “To the glory of God, in loving memory of Henry Edward Iremonger, Colonel Bengali Staff Corps,born 25th March, 1826, died 21st February, 1888, this window is placed by his widow, sister, and children.

The artist was Mr. W. H. Constable, F.S A., of Cambridge.

We visited St Matthew’s Church in Skegness to track down the memorial window to Iremonger, but unfortunately it is no longer there. In its place is another memorial window which was placed in 1951, just after WWII. Was Iremonger’s memorial damaged during the war? We know that the nearby Scarbrough Avenue Baths suffered bomb damage during a Second World War air raid.

Any further information on this is welcome.

SKEGNESS GOLDEN WEDDING
Mr and Mrs Charles Overton
Many congratulations have been extended to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Overton, of 25, Alexandra Road, Skegness, on the completion of 50 years in “double harness.”
The happy event took place on Saturday, May 18th, 1929.

Mr and Mrs Overton hold a sad yet proud distinction locally, in that of their five sons of military age who served in the Great War, four—William, Jack, Fred and Arthur—failed to return. The fine service record of the family was enhanced by the fact that a daughter served in the W.R.A.F., holding non-commissioned rank, and other members took part in Red Cross work locally. There are five surviving children, two sons and three daughters.

Mr Overton, who is 72, was born near Winthorpe Church, and Mrs. Overton, who is 71, hailed from Huttoft, and later lived at Burgh, where the couple were married on May 18th, 1879. They came to Skegness on the day after their wedding and have resided in Alexandra Road for 49 years, 31 of which have been spent in their present house.

Prior to his marriage Mr Overton was employed at the Burgh Gravel Pits, and on settling in Skegness he worked at the Earl of Scarbrough’s gravel pits on Wainfleet Road, where his father was foreman. He subsequently entered the employ of the old Local Board and continued under the succeeding authority, the Skegness Urban Council, his service totalling 26 years.
He met with a serious accident in 1912, being knocked down by a motor cycle in Lumley Square one night in October, while going to meet his wife from a Church function. He sustained a double fracture of one leg and was incapacitated for a long period. Since that time he has been unable to do any heavy work.

Naturally Mr. and Mrs. Overton have witnessed tremendous changes during their 50 years’ residence in Skegness. At the time they came the Pier was being built and They have seen the place develop from a mere fishing hamlet to rank among the leading seaside resorts in the Kingdom.

1929
Are YOU researching this line of the Overton family in Skegness? If so, please leave a comment if you require help or census documents.