Thursday Flashback

Disappearing into the distance in this photo is the magnificent network of paths on the undercliff in North Bay known as Clarence Gardens. One of the main features in the gardens was a bandstand which in later years was removed to Falsgrave Park.Sadly over he said 30s. She paid him that amount, but did not get a receipt. Mrs Hannard was called upon by the section to show that the dripping came lawfully into her possession. The only point with regard to that transaction was whether she gave a fair price for the dripping. It worked out at about 8½d a lb. As a matter of fact the market price at the present time was from 1s 8d to 2s a lb.

Proceeding the chief constable said that following the conversation already related, Sergeant Bee said to Mrs Hannard, “Send someone to the bridge end near the Grand Hotel at 6.15pm next Wednesday, the 13th of February, and I will bring you some more. It is too far to bring it down here. Cross Street is much nearer. I can sell it there, but the woman will not give the price.” He asked Mrs Hannard to arrange to send a handcart with her assistant, and she did so. It was whilst defendant’s assistant, Miss Florence Slim was on the cliff with the years the gardens became a casualty to cliff landslips and neglect and many of the paths disappeared.

Courtesy of the Max Payne collection. For reprints telephone 0330 1230203 and quote reference number YRN-180502-095408050. a small two-wheeled cart that PC Nalton saw her and found what she had got in the cart. In consequences of what Miss Slim said to him he visited Mrs Hannard’s shop and got the statement already recorded. Mr Windsor said in addition to the price, there was the secret and surreptitious dealing with the dripping that had to be explained. The circumstances were very suspicious. When the constable first visited the shop she did not straight away tell him about the first lot of dripping which she had bought, but she gave that information freely on a second visit. An officer of the regiment could prove that the dripping was regimental stores and that the sergeant had no right to deal with it. The sergeant was being dealt with by the military authorities.

Defendant said she was quite innocent. Being a sergeant she took his word. If she had had any suspicion at all, she would not have bought it.

In reply to the mayor, she said she thought the arrangement with regard to meeting the sergeant on the cliff was made to lighten the assistant’s burden in fetching the dripping, and his own in bringing it.

The mayor: Did that not strike you as a strange arrangement?

Defendant: No, it did not at all. I had asked him if he was allowed to sell before I bought the first lot.

The mayor: Do you know the market price of dripping?

Defendant: I asked him what he wanted and he said 9d a lb, and of course I said I would give it him. I did not think any more about it.

The mayor: Did you not think it was a suspicious thing?

Defendant: Perhaps I should if I had thought, but I did not think at the time. I am a widow and I have been in this business all these years and this is the first time I have had anything to do with the court. I am innocent enough.

The magistrates retired, and on returning the mayor said defendant had pleaded guilty and the charges had been proved against her. It was a serious matter it must be admitted, and the least the magistrates could fine her was £2 10s in each case - £5 in all. At the closing of January, several ‘spring’ flowers were in bloom – even a couple of hyacinths in the border. Beside garden walls were short stalks of the wellknown ‘weed’, shepherd’s purse’. At the tips bloomed tiny, four-petalled white flowers. Down the stem were many heart-shaped seed cases. These remind one of the purses, or pouches hung from belts in the olden days, and especially worn by shepherds. At ground level is a rosette of pale green leaves. They contain vitamin C and are rich in calcium, sodium and sulphur, and make a rather spicy vegetable. Their aromatic flavour resembles cress, and if chopped may be placed in sandwiches and salads. Dried leaves make a peppery flavouring for soups and stews. So – if it’s a garden pest and you can’t beat it – eat it!

Now look at the heartshaped seed pods along the stem. Within these ‘purses’ are 12-24 tiny golden brown seeds suggestive of coins, hence its alternative names of money bags, lady’s purse and pickpocket! Seeds may be shed over several weeks, and remain viable for 35 years or more, so keep weeding! Thankfully many seeds are eaten by birds and also horses, cattle and goats. However, this disperses them by internal and external conveyance. Human beings inadvertently transport seeds on their muddy boots, tools and machinery, so you can’t win.

Our pal Martin is a talented cabinet-maker, and very artistic and painstaking. Whether for indoors, or outdoor furnishings, a variety of woods are selected, and each piece is unique.

He recently borrowed Michael’s small saw to recover honeysuckle branches from the hedgerows during his country rambles. These will decorate arms and legs of chairs with their entwining patterns. Daily, he visits Raincliffe Woods, and over the last year or two has voluntarily collected and disposed of rubbish left by thoughtless people. Mainly cans and bottles but even a few unwanted tents!

Wandering along South Bay, there have been days when rough high tides have flung heaps of algae along the strand-line. The most conspicuous are the brown seaweeds such as oar weed, knotted wrack and bladder wrack, saw wracks, sugar wrack and spiral wrack. All have their uses. Oar weed is full of minerals, and contains far more iodine than bladder wrack. One important medicinal property attributed to seaweed, is the prevention of goitre.

Seaweed left high and dry, provides a useful addition to garden soil. It helps retain water, and acts as a fertiliser too.

It has been a difficult week owing to Michael’s respiratory/heart problems. Consequently I haven’t been far afield, and even Tigga’s daily walks have had to be a little restricted. The birds at the feeding stations haven’t had supplies topped up, and I have yet to prune a few garden plants, but I’ll get there! The days are getting lighter, and bird song noted in the evenings.