ENGLISH-FENS-L Archives

From: "Oscar Turnill" <>
Subject: Sexton Barns at Peterborough
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 19:22:07 +0100

I hope this is the right group for this discussion. Mick Fountain usefully
quoted H F Tebbs: "How the City has Changed", who wrote "this was the
Tithe Barn of the parish of Peterborough". However, K & R E Roberts in
"Peterborough" (SPCK 1920, The Story of the English Towns series), who admit
they were not working from original research, describe two barns (page 113).
Writing of the 18th century they mention "long pond" (site of later Manor
House St) and "square pond" (site of later Craig St) on either side of
Lincoln Road. They go on: "In addition to the ponds there was the Abbot's
mill . . . . A little beyond it was the Tithe Barn, which measured from
north to south 144 feet, and 32 feet in width, . . . Another barn belonging
to the Sacristan of the Convent, and hence called Sexton's Barn, was situate
in Cowgate. It was almost as large as the Abbot's, faced south, and had
near it a Tudor farmhouse." They then repeat about the demolition for the
North Station. They also include a photograph of theTithe Barn, which
implies (I think) that it survived the original Sexton's Barn.
On Marion Fountain's point about the Taverners Road site, "T for
Transport" was the slogan (on the van sides) for R F Tee & Sons, removers.
Researchers may possibly come across its principal in the 1950s, Reg Tee,as
foreman at jury inquests in Peterborough. If memory serves right, he was
also a director of Peterborough United FC.
Local history of this kind enriches the context of all those BMDs,
don't you agree? - Oscar Turnill

This thread:

• Sexton Barns at Peterborough by "Oscar Turnill" <>