Looking Back by Mike Petty

 The Eversdens

History

Each evening I compile a Looking Back column in the Cambridge Evening News in which I feature stories from 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago. These stories are from the papers of 1897-1906, 1922-1931, 1947-1956 and 1972-1981.

The actual newspapers are held in the Cambridgeshire Collection at the Cambridge Central Library, Lion Yard. They also hold other Cambridge newspapers back to 1762 and stories for every village in Cambridgeshire have been indexed for the years 1770-1900. There are also newspaper cuttings files covering stories from 1958 to date.

1899 Sep 3

Complainant told Arrington court that on the evening in question she was going down the road at Gt Eversden with a basket of clean linen when defendant remarked "Did you tell Frank Nixon you old - - that I stole his greengages". She then came out to her, spat in her face, took hold of her hair, scratched her face and made use of vulgar language. Complainant went to a shop and left the clothes and on her way back home defendant hooted her all up the road

1905 Mar 22

Albert Clark told the court that in November a political meeting was held at Great Eversden and afterwards he went to the Hoops public house. A man in front of him clapped his hands and called out "Good old Tory’"at which the landlord's dog flew at him and bit his thigh. He was laid up for 17 days. Harry Wick the postman and Edward Hagger a farmer said the dog had flown at other people but without biting them. The landlord said the spaniel was a very kind dog. A doctor had examined Clark and found a scratch mark across the thigh made by a dog's tooth, but it was not a bite. He was awarded two guineas

1927  Feb 20

Comberton, which made itself laugh very heartily over a mock trial two years ago, staged a similar piece of amusing make-believe when the village institute put on the dignity of a "police court" and the Vicar sat in judicial pomp over the hearing of a sensational burglary case involving the theft of a pearl necklace. The "prisoner", who described himself as "a bit of a farmer and a bit of a dealer", said he was in the habit of collecting eggs by aeroplane. He admitted having a drink at Eversden - "such a slow place" - and admiring the barmaid. He was discharged and advised in future to keep clear of bars and barmaids

1929 Mar

Caxton Guardians heard that an elderly brother and sister from Great Eversden had been admitted to the Workhouse because they could not get anyone to look after them. Their house had been searched and £34 10s. in notes, £7 in gold and £42.13.6 in silver, making a total of £84.3.6. was discovered. It is understood the woman also has £199 in the Post Office Savings Bank

1949 Jul 12

Sir, Three months ago I notified the County Council of a breakdown in the water supply of Lt Eversden; the immediate solution was found by the inhabitants themselves. This week, the village pump has failed and we have the spectacle of children taking bottles of water to the school for their personal needs, and aged inhabitants carrying buckets full considerable distances through the village. Is there nothing short of an outbreak of disease which will induce the authorities to consider the problem urgent enough. R.G. Reis

1950 Feb

Because he disapproved of his daughter's association with a German prisoner-of-war a Gt Eversden man
took out his 12-bore shotgun to try and scare the suitor off. His intervention was not a success. The police
took away his gun and gave it to his son for safe custody until "the trouble blew over". The German married
his daughter and is now accepted as a son-in-law. This story was told in the court when father sued son for
the return of the gun.

1951 May

South Cambs RDC considered an application for the erection of overhead electricity lines at Gt Eversden. Coun Barnes said: "I think these people are desecrating the whole countryside and they are putting all the telephones underground now". Coun Malthouse said the price was prohibitive and added "As long as we get electricity we should not worry about it".  Coun Peters: "I do not think we ought to make any move which might lessen the likelihood of electricity getting into the rural areas. The main thing is to get it somehow".

1956 Feb 24

For more details of newspapers and other sources for village history see my website www.cambridgeshirehistory.com/MikePetty

Please note: the actual dates are approximate, please contact me for precise dates and pages.