Newspaper Transcripts

The Windsor and Eton Express.
Bucks Chronicle and Reading Journal

EMail Me - Titles and Dates - Surname Home Page

Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express



27th February 1836

Egham, Feb 26

On Saturday evening the son of Mr.Duck, of this town, after having driven a party in a fly to Englefield Green, mounted his box to drive home, when a dog jumped at the horses and causing them to take fright. They ran off at great speed towards Egham, and coming down Egham-hill they ran the carriage with such violence against a wall as to throw off the driver, who, however, fortunately escaped without much injury. The horses proceeded on without the driver, and in Egham they ran the vehicle against some railings and smashed it to pieces - the body of it being forced off, and actually thrown to the opposite side of the road. The horses were also much injured.

The Steeple Chase

The lovers of field sports had a fine treat on Thursday, near Egham, in witnessing an admirable steeple chase. The day was remarkably fine, and consequently great numbers of persons were attracted to the neighbourhoods of Egham, Staines, and Chertsey, near the latter of which towns it was know pretty early in the morning the spot had been fixed on for starting. That place was Cherry Orchard, near Chertsey, from whence to a field belonging to Mr.Willis, about a quarter of a mile from Egham, near the Thorpe road, the line of country, a distance of little more than three miles, was marked out with flags. The land chosen was flat and all meadow land excepting one piece of fallow. The fences were about 32 or 33 in number, including some bullfinchers, and in addition there was a brook to cross three times, and two or three lanes. The sweepstakes were 10 sovereigns each, 11st, 7lb, for horses of all denominations, the inhabitants very liberally added 50 sovereigns to the stake. The following horses were entered viz:- Capt.Lamb's Vivian (rode by Capt.Becher); Mr.Bryan's Red Deer (Mr.Powell); Mr.Crommelin's Butterfly, (owner); Mr.Seffert's Parasol (Mr.J.Mason); Mr.Bloxham's Hop Duty, (owner). It is believed that the entries would have been more numerous but for the dread of Vivian which prevented it.

According to previous arrangements the riders met Mr.Hibburd on Runnymede, from whence all the preliminaries had been arranged, they preceeded about one o'clock to the starting place at Cherry Orchard, Chertsey. In the mean time the line of country presented an animated appearance from the great number of persons on horseback, in vehicles of all descriptions, and on foot. Many also mounted up the trees to have a better view of the race.

A little after two o'clock, the horses appeared at their post and were soon afterwards started. Butterfly jumped off with the lead, Parasol waiting upon her till nearly through the second field; she then took up the running, and was the first over the brook. Vivian charging it at almost the same instant, and, like the mare, clearing it in beautiful style; the others took a narrower brook to the right of them. Parasol continued in advance, at a rattling pace, till she reached the first lane, where she refused the fence into the next field, and by doing so nearly knocked down Butterfly, who entered the lane at the same spot; Vivian came up at the moment, and was first in the field, retaining the lead to the next lane, where Parasol again showed up in front, went in and out like a shot, and for the second time took up the work, Vivian lying next to her, and the others in good places. The second brook was cleared by all without any mischance, but in jumping at the fence out of the next lane, Parasol over reached herself , wrenched off a shoe, and was constrained to give up the lead to Red Deer, Vivian being now close up. At the road which intersected the line, two fields from home, Red Rover was leading, Parasol second, Vivian third, and Butterfly at their heels; here Parasol refused again, and the race was left to the two horses; they charged the brook into the winning field at the same moment. Vivian, as it appeared to us, taking it a trifle out of a straight line, and thereby losing a little ground; nevertheless the race up to the flags was very severe, Red Deer winning with great difficulty , by half a length; Parasol was third by about three of four lengths; Butterfly fourth (well up), and Hop Duty last. Notwithstanding the severity of the pace, and the number of the fences, there were not any falls. In the absence of Lord Errol, from indisposition, the Earl of Uxbridge officiated as umpire. When the five horses had cleared the last brook, a gentleman , whose name we could not learn, but who was well mounted, and had followed pretty close, in endeavouring to leap it, failed, and got a complete ducking. We should observe that two men were stationed at each flag post, to see that the horses kept on the side that had been allotted to them.

One of the horses ( we have not been able to ascertain which) in jumping over the last brook but one, cleared the extraordinary length of 29 feet 3 inches, according to the admeasurement of several respectable persons.




Chertsey, Feb 26.
Lent Fair

Our fair on Monday was numerously attended; cow cattle experienced a ready sale, useful horses fetched fair prices, and pigs sold dear; upon the whole the fair proved satisfactory, and a good deal of business was transacted.

On Thursday morning next a pigeon shooting match for 50 sovereigns a side will take place between Mr.Thomas Miller, of the Regent Inn, in this town, and Mr.Toombs, of Twickenham - 21 birds each, 21 yards from the trap.

At the Petty Sessions held at the Swan Inn, Chertsey, on Wednesday last, Samuel Rowley and James Pett were committed to the Guildford House of Correction, the former for three months (being an old offender), and the latter for a week, for playing a game called pitch and hustle on a Sunday. We hope these examples will be the means of dispersing the gangs of Sunday gamblers who have so infested one part of the town of Chertsey, that respectable persons are deterred from walking that way as the obscene and abusive language then passing amongst them is disgusting - William Hornsby was committed at the same time for making a disturbance at the Royal Oak beer shop, Addlestone.




Farnham, Feb 26.
Farnham Benevolent Society

On Sunday last sermons were preached at our church in aid of the funds of this society, that in the morning by the Rev.Mr.Dallas, Rector of Wonslon, Hants, and that in the evening by the Hon and Rev.G.T.Noel. The collections amounted to �33 0s 4d.

On Monday morning a serious accident had very nearly happened to the Rev.J.Johnson and Mr.Spicer, of Farnham. Those gentlemen were returning in a gig from Alton, where the Rev.Gentleman, had preached the day before, when the horse, which was a spirited animal, suddenly took fright, owing to some young gentlemen beating the hedge with their sticks, ran up the bank and leaped over the hedge, breaking the shafts off the gig. Mr.Spicer fortunately was able to jump out and get hold of the horse's head, which prevented his going any farther. Had he not done so, in all probability the result would have been very serious, as the gig was then hanging on the other side of the bank by only one trace.