MANY BRIGG ANNIVERSARIES COMING UP IN 2022

 

Many anniversaries will be coming up in Brigg during 2022, including ones relating to sport, education, religion and licensed premises.
The Ancholme Inn, on Grammar School Road closed 10 years ago, early in 2012, with the last large function being held in November 2011, which we attended.
This pub was later demolished to make way for housing development. The Ancholme had opened on this site, with a very large car park, in 1960.
The 70th anniversary of Brigg Recreation Ground being opened by the Urban District Council in 1952 (using former farmland) perhaps merits some celebratory matches this year. Football, hockey, cricket and tennis are still played there.
This year will see the 50th anniversary of the closure, in 1972, of Brigg Convent School on Bigby Street. Will ex-pupils get together again at a venue in the town?
Forty years ago, in 1982, the Springs Parade shopping arcade in Brigg was created by converting former warehousing. Today the premises in this row have various uses.
Going back in time, William Sargent established his renowned Sargent's ice cream business at Hibaldstow 100 years ago, in 1922, while F. Proctor Transport, Brigg, was also founded.
Brigg became an ecclesiastical Church of England parish for the first time 150 years ago, in 1872, with St John's Church already established. Previously, our town had been allied to Wrawby Church, with Bigby, Scawby and Broughton parishes also stretching well into the current boundary.
In 1872 famous poet Edward Lear published There Was An Old Person Of Brigg about someone who bought a large wig. This so-called nonsense poem brought the town to the attention of many literate Victorians across the country.
2022 will also mark the 250th anniversary of Methodism's founder, John Wesley, preaching in Brigg, in 1772.
Although describing it as a noisy and turbulent town, he noted that “the fear of God fell upon the whole congregation” and he was well received by a large gathering. The venue used was probably the Market Place, there being few other streets at this time.
Lastly, no one locally will be celebrating the closure, in 1992, of Brigg Corn Exchange 30 years ago by Glanford Borough Council. This large function and show venue in the town centre was later demolished as part of the Angel Triangle redevelopment. High maintenance costs were blamed for the shutdown, together with the need for considerable investment to secure its future. A public campaign to try and save the building proved unsuccessful. The Corn Exchange was not a grade two listed structure. It had opened in 1851 for grain trading.

 

PICTURED:  The Ancholme Inn after last orders had been called for the final time; football being played at Brigg Rec in the early 1970s; Brigg Corn Exchange and the Convent, both circa 1970; and an artist's impression from the early 1980s of the proposed Springs Parade shopping development.