At our final meeting of the season, on Friday, 12th May, Toby Wood will relate stories behind Peterborough’s Blue Plaques, and his lively personality should ensure an entertaining evening. The plaques were erected by Peterborough Civic Society to highlight sites relating to historic buildings and notable people in the city. John Addy and Thomas Hake, who originated from the Deepings are among those commemorated.
One man who was a remarkable member of the local community has no memorial. John Banks was born in Langtoft in 1775, but developed a strong attachment to Market Deeping. He was four feet six inches tall with physical deformities, yet it was his eccentricity and amiable character that singled him out. Described as intelligent and honest, he could have lived comfortably with relatives but chose to sleep in the stables of local inns, the Bull being his favourite. He was witty and good natured enough to allow himself to be carried round Deeping as an effigy during festivities. As long as he had ale and tobacco, he was contented with life.
Local landlords supported him, and he sometimes helped to drive pigs on foot to nearby markets. His brother Thomas was a farmer and corn dealer in Carlby, and in 1810 took a “wonderful-size” pig to market in Stamford. It was over seven feet in length, almost four feet high and said to weigh eighty stone.
It was probably a Lincolnshire Curly Coat, as pigs of that breed were renowned for their weight, made up chiefly of fat. They became extinct after tastes changed in favour of leaner meat. This ancient tusk of a large boar was found in a field near Towngate East.
The early 1800s were a busy era for stage coach travel, with strangers arriving at Deeping’s inns, day and night. John Banks became widely known to travellers, and on one occasion, an artist arrived especially to paint his portrait. He agreed to pose, upon payment of eight pints of ale!
He was part of village life for over twenty years, but while at the Bull in 1823 he became ill and was clearly dying. He took much persuading to swap the stables for a bed at the inn, but refused to be taken away from Deeping to his family, insisting on staying in the place he loved.
A lengthy obituary in the local newspaper reflected his standing in the village, and declared “He will be a missed man in Deeping.” Although his body was reportedly taken to Carlby for burial, his name is not shown in the parish register.
The talk by Toby Wood is at 7.30 pm in the main hall of the Community Centre, Market Deeping. Everyone is welcome and admission is £3 for non-members.
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On Sunday, 7th May between 10 am and 4 pm, Deepings Heritage is hosting a public display in the Town Hall, with artefacts dating back to the 1911 Coronation, old photographs of previous celebrations in the Deepings and much more… There will also be an activities table for children and an opportunity for them to dress up as King or Queen with a crown, robe and regalia. We hope you will join us.
Deepings Heritage 