Cycling in Edwardian Saxilby

Cycling became popular at the end of the 19th Century.

However, before the invention of the safety bicycle in the 1880s, the pastime was an expensive hobby. A ‘penny-farthing’ cost £12 in 1880 (6 weeks wages), £800 today.

 

One of the earlier photographs in our ‘John Wilson Collection’ shows members of a Lincoln cycle club photographed outside the Sun Hotel in 1885.

A later photo, taken in 1895, shows a gathering of cyclists at the same spot with their safety bicycles.

This was obviously a large gathering, as you can see, they were followed by a stage coach.

It was reported at the Annual General Meeting of Lincoln Cycling Club in 1885 that the opening run in the previous year was in the form of a picnic at the Sun Inn, Saxilby.

Rev. Canon Fowler defrayed the cost of the club being photographed, and the photos were sold for the benefit of the club.

On August 4th, 1902 (Bank Holiday Monday), the Lincolnshire Echo reports -

‘Encouraged by the success of the sports organized a month ago, the Saxilby Committee have today run another series of cycle races, and were favoured with a capital list of entries.

That Lincoln people appreciated the enterprise of the Committee in filling up the gap left in the district on Bank Holiday in regard to the provision of sport was evidenced by the large crowd which had assembled.

There were four events, namely, a half-mile and a one-mile handicap, a mile scratch, and a three miles motor scratch race.

The Sheaf Ironworks Brass Band played a pleasing programme of popular music, which was greatly enjoyed.

The starter was Mr. W I Binks. 

[William Irwin Binks was born in Lincoln in 1870. In 1891 he became a successful racing cyclist and was elected the first secretary of the Lincoln Road Club, winning the first 50-mile race. He opened his own cycle business in St Benedict’s Square in 1894. William died from injuries sustained whilst cycling in 1921. ‘Binks for Bikes’ continued until the business closed in 1975].

Further details of Saxilby Cycle and Athletic Sports are listed in a Lincolnshire Echo article dated 31st July 1913.

‘A great crowd assembled at Saxilby on Wednesday afternoon, on the occasion of the annual sports.

There was a big entry in all departments, and some interesting competitions were witnessed’.

The various sports listed were cycle and motor-cycle races, athletic races, whippet races, a pony gymkhana, and, rather intriguingly, musical chairs, which was won by R Newton of Branston.

We were sent the photo below last year asking if we knew the location; we have so far been unable to identify the exact location.

Identified in the photo are William Binks and John Hanson, another Lincoln cycle manufacturer.

Saxilby businesses also catered for this new sport.

One such business was Swingler’s Cycles, as advertised in the Parish Magazine in 1906.

Following a recent Facebook post, we were contacted by Richard Oxby, who commented that ‘this one is an interesting post for the likes of me as a cycle designer and renovator. Any dates for the business?’.

Joseph Swingler was born in Lincoln in 1873 and is listed in the 1891 census as living in Lincoln working as a brass founder’s apprentice.

Research in contemporary Kelly’s Directories show he was trading in Saxilby from 1900 until 1913.

He lived next door to the Sun Hotel, with his works at the entrance to what is now Bridge Place.

A 1909 advertisement lists Joseph as selling a wide range of goods including mouth organs and accordions!

While he is listed in the 1901 census as living on Bridge Street, by 1911 his brother Arthur is running the business together with his wife Betsey, whilst Joseph has returned to Lincoln and is living with his father.

Joseph died in 1923 and is buried in Saxilby.

 

Richard Oxby also noted that ‘the mass popularity in cycling also saw traditional coaching inns become cycle hostels. I wonder if the Sun ever went to this?’.

I was not able to confirm if the Sun ever was a cycle hostel, but, as you can see in this early photo of the Ship Hotel next door, it catered for both anglers and cyclists.