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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’ First Newspaper

I have secured copies of the “Skegness Herald” from Number 1 of the 30th June 1882 to Number 79 of the 28th December 1883, 79 4 page broadsheets, folio bound. Also secured are the full years issues from 1884, 1887, 1888, 1901 and 1902.

The Herald was the first newspaper published in this famous Lincolnshire seaside resort.
It’s much more than a local paper, it covers worldwide events. In these issues much prominence is given to countrywide stories, riots, murder, parliament, every week articles on Ireland with a mass of information on the war in Egypt including the famous battle of Tel Al-Kebir in September 1882. When under General Wolseley 24,000 British and 7,000 India troops fought the Khedive Urabi. Dozens of reports from the front.
On the local issues the districts covered were Spilsby, Alford, Wainfleet, Burgh, Chapel and East Lincolnshire. All the usual local stories with much on the resort as it grew into one of our most famous seaside towns. Much on the railways, new steamer services, with a fascinating weekly list of visitors and the hotels they stayed at, 100’s of names showing the hotels they stayed in and where the visitors came from. Articles on boat accidents, rail improvements, account of the Skegness Pier Company, right down to a notice that Skegness shops will now start closing earlier every evening at 7pm
(I wonder what the later closing time was in those days?).
A mine of information for the historian or genealogist, the paper ceased publication in 1916.
A rare find, and extracts will be included in this Old Skegness Newspapers website, sharing them with the people of Skegness and the rest of the world!

Newspaper Layout

As I have mentioned, each issue of the Skegness Herald comprises of four broad sheet pages, each of which is divided into five columns.

As one thumbs through the fist few issues in 1882, a regular pattern to the layout is established.
The entire front page is devoted to advertisements, mainly of the local larger hotels. Samples of the adverts will be photographed and discussed in due course.
The first four columns of page 2 comprises of national and international news. (Let’s remind ourselves that in the 1880s, the general public possessed no radios or televisions, so the newspapers were the only media for circulating world news). I will extract the most newsworthy articles from the world news and add to the website, but, as this is a Skegness website, priority will be given to local news and events. The fifth column is again devoted to advertisements.
Page 3 gives a comprehensive list of the local hotel, their proprietors, their visitors and where they came from. This list expands to a complete spread over two pages as the holiday season progresses. Page 3 of issue one includes news stories from Alford and Spilsby.
The fifth page of the first issue of the Skegness Herald devotes its first two columns to ads. The third column gives a summery of Skegness, the next ads and what’s on. Column 5 is entitles ‘ The Skegness Herald’.
‘Local Intelligence’ on page 6 covers Skegness and neighbouring villages of Wainfleet, Burgh and Hogsthorpe.
Page 7 devotes itself entirely to world news.
The back page depicts a railway timetable and ‘Information for Visitors’.
In all the issues of the Skegness Herald over the complete two year period not one photograph or image is to be found.
The typeface is very small and overall, the newspaper appears very daunting by modern day standards. Some relief is found by more artistic adverts, breaking up the monotony.

Regular Sections

Advertisements
The Skegness Herald
Information for Visitors
Local Intelligence
Tables - rail times, tide times, weather forecasts
Visitors List
Skegness Summary

Journalism Style

Firstly, before commenting on the style of journalism, we must explore what kind of audience the local newspaper was targeting. What kind of people would have bought the Skegness Herald for 1d per issue?
Skegness was quickly gathering momentum as a holiday resort in 1882 when the Herald was launched, and the newspaper contained a guide for visitors section. So the holidaymakers constituted a good slice of the audience. The tourists at that time would have been of literate, middle class status.
The booming seaside trade resulted in a growing local population of business people who were presumably prospering.

So then, let’s analyze the photojournalism of the time.
Unlike the punchy short sentences and relatively simple language used in modern day newspapers, the sentences in the Herald were typically long and rambling. We’ll illustrate this more clearly shortly.

The Skegness Herald Newspaper Issue 1 30th June 1882

Mission Statement

In the first issue, the Skegness Herald introduces itself to the public. We can at once get a feel for the flowing, flowery style of journalism peculiar to the day.
Though I am no journalist, I have tried to transcribe the introductory article into the modern style:

We are pleased and thankful for the encouraging support we received when we announced the launch of this newspaper. The citizens of Skegness, along with those of nearby villages have voiced their support for a Skegness newspaper and the way we have launched it. It has been more popular that we could begin to hope. We hope that the Herald will contribute to history. We feel a little nervous about taking on such a great task especially amongst the more experience press in England. It’s surprising that a resort like Skegness with its increasing popularity hasn’t had a newspaper before now, especially when less important towns already have weekly newspapers reporting local events. A local newspaper is well overdue here for reporting local events and for giving the public a chance to air their views. We recognize that our readers will have different tastes and we will try to cater for all. The most important thing for us is ‘truth’. If we make a mistake we will correct it, but we aim to report as accurately as possible. The Herald is ‘going it alone’, so we hope our readers will be patient with us.

Political and Racial Unbias

The newspaper will be unbiased politically, working for the interest of the community, and racially, and we will try to exclude things that might be objectionable to some people, both in the news articles and in advertisements. Letters to the editor are welcome, as are advertisers. In upholding the values of truth and integrity, the Herald hopes to secure a large circle of readers.

Skegness

The next article appears in the first issue of the Skegness Herald, and serves to introduce the holiday resort, its local attractions and pleasant amenities.
It reports that several alterations have taken place since the close of the 1881 season. These include the building of more high quality hotels and general improvements, whilst the older hotels continue to promote excellent service to their patrons.
The Pleasure Gardens were greatly improved by the erection of several rustic features. The report tells us that the Pavilion in the Pleasure Gardens was the venue for balls, dancing and other entertainment.
The new eight acre Cricket Ground is re opened for the season and a pavilion has been erected. The article confirms that the Cricket Ground is the property of the Earl of Scarbrough.
A new pier, 1843 feet long, has been newly erected and is now open to the public.
The drainage works are reported to now be complete, every house in the town being drained, the sewage being conveyed inland leaving the sea and the beach free from contamination.
An abundant supply of water was reported to have been secured by means of sinking artesian wells into the green sand foundation. This water bearing strata was apparently the best in the Kingdom.
Gas ‘of superior quality’ is supplied to houses and public buildings, whilst effective lighting is installed on Grand Parade and the main streets.
Of course, the ‘new church’ (St Matthew’s) is erected.

Earl of Scarbrough and National Schools

The Skegness Herald makes an announcement that the Right Hon. the Earl of Scarbrough will shortly provide an excellent alternative water supply for the town, at a cost of many thousands of pounds, which is to be borne by himself. The report adds that the Earl has the welfare and interests of the townsfolk at heart.

The newspaper then moves to an article about the National Schools in Skegness.
The ratepayers in Skegness are faced with the decision of whether to pay a voluntary tax of 4d in the pound or let the schools be governed by the School Board. The newspaper urges the townspeople to choose the former option, citing a case in London where, under the School Board ‘machinery’, taxpayers had seen an increase from 2d in the pound to an extortionate 2s 6d in the pound.
Interestingly, the article says that presently the National Schools in Skegness are self-supporting, and when the present debts are paid off, the schools will run themselves without the cost of the ratepayer. An obvious contract to the modern day.

Source: Skegness Herald 4th January 1884

Rather than type out this letter to the editor of the Skegness Herald, I’ve included it as an image because I don’t want to be held responsible for Google having a complete melt down trying to translate it!

It’s revealled that the practice of ‘road scraping’ existed in Skegness in the 1880s. Clearly this employment caused concern amongst pedestrians on the footpaths when the debris from the roads were thrown onto the pavements.

Being a Yorkshire lass, I can offer a rough translation, though some of the words used tax even myself!

The writer, Mr Craw says something like: “Mr Editor, Will you tell the road scrapers through you valuable paper when they haul muck off the roads onto the footpaths again, not to do it on a [work?] night as several folks got [?] more than they bargained for. I heard this said at the Methodist Chapel the other night. If they put [squash?] down I think it ought to be when it’s light nights, and something added to it to make it solid”.

The inclusion of this dialect in the newspaper proves that the letters to the editor were reproduced exactly as received.

Source: Skegness Herald 1st June 1983 The Herald offices began in the basement of the reading rooms on the corner of Lumley Road and Rutland Road (the present day National Westminster Bank building). The article gives account of the Herald moving premises. The reason for the move was given as ‘inadequate lighting’, illustrating the spartan lighting in Skegness in the 1880s.

Herald Offices Moved The offices if this journal have been removed to more suitable premises on th Roman Bank, near the Lion Hotel, and very near the railway station. Although the premises previously occupied by the Herald Company, in Lumley Road were commodious and the stituation convenient, yet being on the basement and partially underground, the light was inadequate. The present offices are convenient in every respect.