Sleaford (TF0645), Lincolnshire

Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury (1843)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
*(SLEAFORD)
*Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury, 13th Jan.1843, pp.3c

"At Sleaford Plough-Monday fair there was a tolerable show of beasts, and those in good condition sold readily at advanced prices; the leaver sort were not much inquired after, yet several were disposed of, at a low figure. Incalvers were in some request, but few except inferior ones were to be seen. Mr. Cooper of Rauceby whose lamentable fire on Sunday last is noticed on this page, brought into the fair 35 store beasts, which he was obliged to sell by reason of having no keep for them: they averaged about 10 l. a head. The Corn Market in general was something better: a sample or two of white wheat fetched 48s. We have not heard of any pocket-picking at this fair, but two or three individuals were attacked at the outskirts of the town. A poor woman of Ruskington, in going home, was beset by a fellow who exhibited before her a large knife and attempted to take a basket she was carrying, but luckily a person on horseback came up at the time, and the villian made off."

Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury (1845 - b)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
*SLEAFORD
*Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury, 17th Jan.1845, pp.3b

"On Monday last, it being Plough Monday as well as our fair, the inhabitants were not a little annoyed by a more than ordainary number of drunken and worthless characters, under the guise of ploughboys from the neighbouring villages. Two of the fellows went into the house of a poor old woman named Tindale (whose mother was lying in a helpless, if not hopeless state), in Northgate, and whilst one held the distressed creature in conversation, a second stole a bible (a sort of heirloom in the family), and marched off with it: the thieves have not been discovered."

Lincolnshire Chronicle (1887)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE: SLEAFORD: PLOUGH MONDAY
Lincolnshire Chronicle, 14th Jan.1887, No.3003, pp.7e

"Monday last being Plough Monday, there was a large attendance in the town, but business was not over brisk, some tradesmen drawing mournful comparisons between the Plough Monday of 1887, and those of previous years."

Retford & Gainsborough Times (1892)

[Anon.] (Auth.)
SLEAFORD PLOUGH FAIR
Retford & Gainsborough Times, 15th Jan.1892, No.1134, p.6f

"Notwithstanding the heavy snowfall and the consequent difficulty of locomotion, this annual fair, held at Sleaford on Monday, was largely attended, whilst the show of stock was quite equal to, if not in excess of, previous years. The prices realised showed a marked improvement upon those of the past few weeks, though, generally speaking, they were in favour of buyers. Bullocks made from 13 to 14 pounds, beefers from 14 to 18 pounds and milch cows from 16 to 22 pounds; of sheep, wethers ranged from 48s. to 64s., and ewes from 30s. to 48s. Grazing beasts made fairly good prices. The show of pigs was larger than usual, and the prices ranged from 5s. 6d. to 6s. 3d. per stone."

* indicates data that not yet been validated against the original source and/or has yet to be completely indexed.