Mrs Storrow's Goat
In 1946, Mrs Storrow of 29 Newcastle Street asked the City Council Education Department for permission to graze a nanny goat on a piece of ground near Caldewgate School. The Council whilst not averse to the idea, had a responsibility to draw up a list of conditions which they then sent to Mrs Storrow in order for her to receive a licence to graze the goat.
Mrs Storrow was asked to sign a memorandum of acceptance which should be returned to the Town Clerk's office for signing before then being able to graze her goat at Caldewgate. The Director of Education in a letter dated 4th July 1946 to the Town Clerk noted:
"I sent a member of my staff round to Mrs. Storrow, 29 Newcastle Street. She was out, but her husband took the agreement and said he would read it through and it would be signed later. My man called on the morning of the 4th June, and saw Mrs. Storrow. She said she had signed the agreement but on second thoughts about it she disagreed with clause 5, and said she would call to see me. I am afraid I have not seen her since. I understand the beast has been grazing on the ground for some time. Yours faithfully, F Ashton Director of Education." |
Mr Ashton continued in his attempts to seek the agreement of Mrs Storrow. However his letter to the Town Clerk four days later in 1946 emphasised that they were as yet, some way from a satisfactory resolution.
The Town Clerk Mr Robertson was having none of it. His response to Mr Ashton was short and curt. "I have your letter of the 8th instant, and, in reply, I presume that if Mrs, Storrow is not prepared to accept the Authority's conditions, you will take steps to terminate the arrangement, and secure the removal of the goat from the Authority's land. Yours faithfully H.D.F Robertson, Town Clerk.
And it is there that the correspondence trail runs cold! So what happened to Mrs. Storrows Goat? Was it removed? Did it continue to graze without permision on ground at Caldewgate School? Or did Mrs Storrow finally bite the bullet and sign up to the conditions? Thus making Mr Ashton and Mr Robertson's life that bit easier! |