Brigg Blog's New Year's Day post suggesting what the town would like to see achieved during 2021 got us thinking about the past.
Twenty-five years ago in 1996, Brigg Town Football Club - managed by 'Raz' Clayton - won the FA Carling Vase, beating Clitheroe 3-0 at the original Wembley stadium in the showpiece final. North Lincolnshire Council was created (with some of its offices in Brigg) and Beverley-based Humberside County Council disbanded. Refurbishment of the Wrawby Street courtyard leading to St John’s Church was completed.
Fifty years ago in 1971, Layne's long-established garage in Brigg closed - having been a feature of the town since 1914. Brigg Convent, also on Bigby Street, was shut by its Order of Nuns - the building later being converted to provide housing. A Parents’ Association was formed at Brigg Grammar School for the first time, and the old blue-painted school bus was sold for a fiver – described as “a very good price." Many pupils from that era will appreciate why. The bus had been used to take pupils to play in sports matches across Lincolnshire, but the teams had to set off very early - often with fingers crossed that their transport was going to make it to Cleethorpes, Market Rasen or Lincoln. Scawby Football Club won the Victor Cup for the second successive season 50 years ago. One of the earliest snowfalls recorded in Brigg arrived on November 19, 1971. Will history repeat itself later this year?
Seventy-five years ago in 1946, Corah's began manufacturing clothes in the town using a former RAF hut – soon extended to three - before building a factory off Bridge Street which later employed scores of people - mainly female. The former Corah 'stocking factory' offices were demolished quite recently - forming part of a site approved for new housing development. George Hewson was elected for the first time to serve on Brigg Urban District Council in 1946 - later becoming a member of the Lindsey, Humberside, Glanford and then Brigg Town authorities. Originally a painting contractor, ex-Royal Navy veteran George established a convenience shop serving the Newlands estate.
One hundred years ago in 1921, Brigg Urban District Council was still administering tolls paid on market items. The scale of charges levied 100 years ago included twopence (in old money) per head of cattle, twopence for every basket of butter, one old penny for a goose and 1d for half-a-dozen pigeons. These charges were approved by the Minister of Heath at a time when C. F. W. Cotton was Clerk to Brigg UDC. Toll boards can still be seen in the town today - long after the charges were abolished. A Fordson tractor demonstration was held in the town in 1921 – just a couple of years after Henry Ford’s company launched this global brand. However, replacement of horses on farms in this area was to prove a gradual process. The Balderson brothers, from South Kelsey, entered the bus business 100 years ago, providing affordable transport into Brigg on Thursdays and Saturdays so villagers could visit the market and shops.
PICTURED: Layne's which was trading on Bigby Street 100 years ago; Coun George Hewson in the early 1970s; dignitaries and management outside the Corah factory offices on Bridge Street; and a market tolls board photographed yesterday (Friday) on the side of the China Garden takeaway, Wrawby Street. Listed are the charges levied in 1921.