Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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An Exciting Spectacle 1905

St Thomas' Square, shows railings & drinking fountain

RUNAWAY HORSE IN A CHURCHYARD 1905

Considerable excitement was caused on Wednesday afternoon 4th October among people in the vicinity of St. Thomas’ Square, by the spectacle of a horse and trolley dashing through a 6ft. cast-iron railing and careering down the graveyard almost to the walls of St. Thomas’ Church,

It appeared that a trolley belonging to Messrs. Chaplin, in which one of Messrs. Salters’ horses was standing in the charge of Harry Purkis, near the fountain, at which the horse was drinking.  From some cause the horse took fright, and stumbled, and jerking Purkis between its hind legs and the splashboard, started on a wild rush directly in front of him.  The horse and cart dashed through the railings, which went down like ninepins.  The trolley was ultimately brought to a standstill by a collision with the churchyard wall which boarders Church Lane.

Beyond a severe shaking, Purkis was happily unhurt.  The horse was also little the worse for his extraordinary escapade.

Note:
 The postcard image gives a good representation of the horse-trough, donated to the town and animals by Miss Brigstocke, and the gates and railings of St Thomas’ Church, through which the horse, with cart still attached, bolted.

Source: IW Observer
Image: Postcard RSHG
Article: Ann Barrett