Miss Read's Stories

My back has improved to the point where I can sit still for long enough to do a little typing,  so I am taking the opportunity to type up more memories and stories as told by our local "Miss Read". 

They are to be used on display boards, in the village hall, and will also be published in the parish magazine.

Our village used to have a railway station, only the old bridge still remains because the train service and line were victims of Dr Beeching's cuts, back in the 1960's.      The  railway station and line had created  considerable employment opportunities for local men and opened up fresh markets for local businesses.   

There were local trains, but there was also a through service to King's Cross, London, which took just three hours.   

The old farmhouse next to Parsonage Cottage had one room which was used as an Ale House, a handy place where railway workers could come in to slake their thirst before walking back into the village. 

I shudder to think how many men may have drunk away the housekeeping there.   I studied the old deeds and they do reveal that the house was owned by a woman who also owned a thriving public house in Louth.   Obviously quite a clever business woman. 

At our last meeting Miss Read told us about the watercress farm which made use of the sparkling chalk stream which flows through there.        Daily crops would be taken by donkey cart to the village station, then sent on for sale at markets in the north.    Sometimes there would be three fresh cuttings a day, meaning three trips a day for the donkey and cart.      A combination of the railway cuts and flooding saw this business come to an end;   watercress still grows wild, down by the stream.

Miss Read also recalled hearing the story of how, many years ago,  there was a large fire blazing in the nearby market town of Louth. 

I can't say this is the actual machine, or the men who responded to the call,
but this is an old photograph from Alford Fire Station.

The fire was too big to be contained by the local fire services and was spreading,  more help was needed,  the call went out.      The small market town of Alford responded and sent their machine and horses to assist.     

The horses and the fire engine were put on board a train in Alford and sent to Louth, a journey of about 18 minutes,  according to one of the old railway timetables.    Factor in the time it took to get the horses loaded and unloaded, the machine, ditto - and it wasn't a quick response, but it was the best that could be done.

Nowadays Alford Fire Station is manned by Retained Fire Fighters - men who earn their living elsewhere, but who are able to respond quickly to emergency calls.       It is one of those services which we take for granted, hardly give a thought - until there is a situation - when suddenly we are desperate for their help.

Then we realise, and are thankful for them.