RURAL COMMUNITIES IN LINCOLNSHIRE
North & South Somercotes
Parish Council
NORTH SOMERCOTES PARISH COUNCIL BURIAL BOARD
The first meeting was 30th October 1878.
In March 1879, one acre of land was purchased for the sum of £200.00. The land was divided equally, the east side consecrated, and the west side non consecrated ground. This consecration was carried out by the Bishop Suffragen of Nottingham on 22nd December 1879.
A Chapel was built on each piece of land at a cost of £493.00. £900.00 was borrowed to cover the cost of building, lay-out of grounds and drainage of the grounds.
The approval for the building of the Chapels was given in May 1879, and the buildings were completed in November 1879.
An extension for the closure of the North Somercotes Churchyard was given until 31st December 1879, when presumably the new Burial Board took over.
The members of the board at the first meeting were:
Mr. J.W. Wilson Clerk (a solicitor)
Mr. & Mrs. Riggall (Mr. Riggall chairman)
Mr. Isaac Sharpley
Mr. & Mrs. Dunham
Mr. & Mrs. Holmes
Rev. S.E. Blomefield was appointed chairman for a year.
The Burial Board disbanded on 25th March 1895. Property, documents and the running of the Cemetery should have passed to the Parish Council on 1st April, but due to non acceptance of the accounts by the Auditor, the Parish Council did not commence ownership and management until 13th May 1896. Mr. Loughton was invited to continue the clerk's duties re the Burial business of the council. Simon Cheffings, the groundskeeper of the Burial Board, received 2s 6d (12.5p), for digging a grave.
In March 1879, one acre of land was purchased for the sum of £200.00. The land was divided equally, the east side consecrated, and the west side non consecrated ground. This consecration was carried out by the Bishop Suffragen of Nottingham on 22nd December 1879.
A Chapel was built on each piece of land at a cost of £493.00. £900.00 was borrowed to cover the cost of building, lay-
The approval for the building of the Chapels was given in May 1879, and the buildings were completed in November 1879.
An extension for the closure of the North Somercotes Churchyard was given until 31st December 1879, when presumably the new Burial Board took over.
The members of the board at the first meeting were:
Mr. J.W. Wilson Clerk (a solicitor)
Mr. & Mrs. Riggall (Mr. Riggall chairman)
Mr. Isaac Sharpley
Mr. & Mrs. Dunham
Mr. & Mrs. Holmes
Rev. S.E. Blomefield was appointed chairman for a year.
The Burial Board disbanded on 25th March 1895. Property, documents and the running of the Cemetery should have passed to the Parish Council on 1st April, but due to non acceptance of the accounts by the Auditor, the Parish Council did not commence ownership and management until 13th May 1896. Mr. Loughton was invited to continue the clerk's duties re the Burial business of the council. Simon Cheffings, the groundskeeper of the Burial Board, received 2s 6d (12.5p), for digging a grave.
NORTH SOMERCOTES PARISH COUNCIL
The first meeting of the Parish Council took place on December 13th 1894. The members were:
Dr. W. A. Lougheed (Chairman)
Mr. Simon Cheffings (Vice)
G. Houlden, C. Loughton, W. Roberts, John Libell, Rev. T. Hill, Cartwright.
Rev. T. Hill (Clerk)
Alfred Ingoldby (Treasurer)
It was agreed that all Parish Documents, as per Local Government Act 1894, became the property of the Parish Council. Collection April.
A few extracts from the minutes.
In February 1895 there were four Parish Constables
E.Rimmington, F.Briggs, T.Brittain, J.W.Brooks.
Footpaths were an issue then dealt with by the Rural District Council. Hire charges for Meetings at the School - 2sh.6d. each meeting.
January 1897 - A Surveyor from the Light Railway talked to the Councillors and about 170 parishioners, in a very crowded room about the
introduction of a light railway through North Somercotes, from Grimsby to Saltfleetby. There was much enthusiasm from all concerned, for three trains per day, passenger rate of 1s 5d (7p) per mile, 1st and 3rd class.
February 1897 - One Councillor to attend a meeting in Grimsby in connection with the Light Railway Scheme.
November 1897 - Plans, maps and conditions were presented to Council, who gave approval for the scheme.
January 1898 - Another meeting in Grimsby which the Chairman was to attend.
22nd June 1932 - Request to Officer Commanding North Cotes for cessation of low flying aircraft over the village of North Somercotes.
15th May 1934 - Another letter to Officer Commanding North Cotes. "That the practice of low flying over the village had become a definite menace. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Air Ministry, Whitehall".
The first meeting of the Parish Council took place on December 13th 1894. The members were:
Dr. W. A. Lougheed (Chairman)
Mr. Simon Cheffings (Vice)
G. Houlden, C. Loughton, W. Roberts, John Libell, Rev. T. Hill, Cartwright.
Rev. T. Hill (Clerk)
Alfred Ingoldby (Treasurer)
It was agreed that all Parish Documents, as per Local Government Act 1894, became the property of the Parish Council. Collection April.
A few extracts from the minutes.
In February 1895 there were four Parish Constables
E.Rimmington, F.Briggs, T.Brittain, J.W.Brooks.
Footpaths were an issue then dealt with by the Rural District Council. Hire charges for Meetings at the School -
January 1897 -
introduction of a light railway through North Somercotes, from Grimsby to Saltfleetby. There was much enthusiasm from all concerned, for three trains per day, passenger rate of 1s 5d (7p) per mile, 1st and 3rd class.
February 1897 -
November 1897 -
January 1898 -
22nd June 1932 -
15th May 1934 -
There is no reference to any reply!
May 1934 - A Telephone Kiosk is required in village, as service at PO is only available 9am to 7pm and until 1.00pm on Wednesday.
May 1934 -
December 1935 - Urgent necessity for 30mph speed limit through the village.
April 1948 - The design of the bus shelter was approved and construction undertaken (£65).
The policeman was informed of P.O.W's driving too fast through the village!
Street Lighting for 30 lamps was first muted in June 1948 and would cost approx. £900. The idea was abandoned in August 1948. In February 1953 agreed to installation of above, but a Parish Meeting had to be called (19.5.53) 17 people attended. The Resolution was defeated!
It was raised again, November 1954, considered June 1955, reviewed August and more light standards were asked for.
September 1955 - now 44 lights cost £998.16s.0d. Much debate - nothing happened.
November 1959 - Discussion again, and a contract signed at cost of £946. Mr. Bishell to maintain bulbs to keep the village alight.
May 1956 - Parish Council asked Education Committee to dispense with the earth closets at the school, and convert to water closets. (Awaiting sewage system in village).
July 1956 - Start of procedure for the Garden of Remembrance at the Cemetery. Work completed and officially opened on 22nd July 1959.
The hand written minutes show a record of events by:-
(a) Burial Board - 30/10/1878 to 14/5/1895 (1 book)
(b) Parish Council - 13/12/1894 to 24.10/1960 (5 books).
A new Minute Book was ordered in 1960 but how long minutes were recorded by hand I do not know. I can remember the Clerk cutting a stencil, which was then duplicated, and minutes of meetings were recorded on paper sheets, progression then to printing and now to modern day of word processors, printing and photocopying. All this is now quicker and each member of the Council has their own record, but the Minute Book shows some beautiful styles of handwriting, which is artistic in itself.
Over the years there have been various venues for meetings.Today's Council has a rented office, and possibly in the future, there will be an office in the village centre to inform and display literature in relation to the present day.
Reading through the minutes it would appear that the Parish Council ran the village with many more responsibilities than today's Council, even though this is a busy Council. Possibly there are more issues to discuss in this modern world.
On looking through these old minute books, the life of a village does not change such a lot. The same issues arise at our local Parish Council Meetings:
Footpaths - Speeding - Cemetery - Lighting - Low Flying Aircraft - Street Signs - Vandalism
Seats - Hedges.
Vandalism to the Bus Shelter in April 1958 resulted in the sign being erected in the shelter.
The Policeman had retrieved a gate, and signposts even went missing in years gone by.
April 1948 -
The policeman was informed of P.O.W's driving too fast through the village!
Street Lighting for 30 lamps was first muted in June 1948 and would cost approx. £900. The idea was abandoned in August 1948. In February 1953 agreed to installation of above, but a Parish Meeting had to be called (19.5.53) 17 people attended. The Resolution was defeated!
It was raised again, November 1954, considered June 1955, reviewed August and more light standards were asked for.
September 1955 -
November 1959 -
May 1956 -
July 1956 -
The hand written minutes show a record of events by:-
(a) Burial Board -
(b) Parish Council -
A new Minute Book was ordered in 1960 but how long minutes were recorded by hand I do not know. I can remember the Clerk cutting a stencil, which was then duplicated, and minutes of meetings were recorded on paper sheets, progression then to printing and now to modern day of word processors, printing and photocopying. All this is now quicker and each member of the Council has their own record, but the Minute Book shows some beautiful styles of handwriting, which is artistic in itself.
Over the years there have been various venues for meetings.Today's Council has a rented office, and possibly in the future, there will be an office in the village centre to inform and display literature in relation to the present day.
Reading through the minutes it would appear that the Parish Council ran the village with many more responsibilities than today's Council, even though this is a busy Council. Possibly there are more issues to discuss in this modern world.
On looking through these old minute books, the life of a village does not change such a lot. The same issues arise at our local Parish Council Meetings:
Footpaths -
Seats -
Vandalism to the Bus Shelter in April 1958 resulted in the sign being erected in the shelter.
The Policeman had retrieved a gate, and signposts even went missing in years gone by.
The present Parish Council Members are:-
David Draper Chairman Mrs Iris Waller
Vic Gregory Vice/Ch. Mrs Avril Smith
Norman Riggall Miss Kathleen Humberstone
Brian Donner Mrs Amanda Arundel
Jack Libell Mrs Joy Libell
Mrs Christine Larking
Jack Libell is also the Lincolnshire County Councillor.
Robert Palmer is the East Lindsey District Councillor.
Mrs Melanie Drewery is Parish Council Clerk.
Joy Libell.
David Draper Chairman Mrs Iris Waller
Vic Gregory Vice/Ch. Mrs Avril Smith
Norman Riggall Miss Kathleen Humberstone
Brian Donner Mrs Amanda Arundel
Jack Libell Mrs Joy Libell
Mrs Christine Larking
Jack Libell is also the Lincolnshire County Councillor.
Robert Palmer is the East Lindsey District Councillor.
Mrs Melanie Drewery is Parish Council Clerk.
Joy Libell.
