For many years my Grandfather kept the central cakeshop in Red Lion Square.  His name was John William Hensman, His wife was Louisa nee Laxton, both originally from Pinchbeck. My father Frank Hensman was born over the shop in 1910, The eldest son John Cyril eventually became Headmaster of Calcutta Grammar School.
    Both sons attended Stamford Grammar School, John and Louisa also had two daughters Grace and Phyllis Mary, Grace died as a child but Phyllis lived to a ripe old age, getting married for the first time after her father died, (She was sixtyish) on the happy day.     John was born 24/02/1867 son of a tailor at Pinchbeck he initially attended Pinchbeck school until being apprenticed to a baker in Boston this does not seem to have worked very well and on his 15th birthday his father George gave him a sovereign with the kind words "Jack my boy take this sovereign go to London and find yourself a job, don't come back until you have made something of your life".  Next day Jack was on his way!
    After tramping the streets of London for about six weeks he landed employment with one of the top pastrycooks of the time. Then job lasted for three years and John was on his way again working in various establishments along the south coast. Next he was back to his old job in London but this time he was taken on as the pastry cook. Whilst in London he met a Pinchbeck girl Louisa Laxton who was in service at the time and romance blossomed. In 1888 Johns father heard that the shop in Red Lion Square was vacant and managed to buy it for a song, not knowing quite what to do with it he offered it to his son with a suitable mortgage.  John duly accepted and set about turning it into a viable business this was quite difficult, as the shop had been empty for quite a while and John had to take trade from the other bakers in town.  By 1890 he was in need of more help and so he asked Louisa to marry him, This was his salvation because she turned out to have a good head for business and no fear of hard work. Eventually the mortgage was paid off and John and Louisa were able to expand, to extend the premises they bought the adjoining tinsmiths shop in Horseshoe Lane. John also rented the Kings Mill for many years and during the First World War was reputed to be the only man in Stamford who
could provide white bread! By 1931 the couple were able to retire from the bakery buying the house at 1 St Peters Vale, with daughter Phyllis acting as housekeeper due to Louisa's now failing health. They lived here until after Louisa's death in 1956. John still maintained an interest in various properties in Stamford,
Spalding, Pinchbeck and Thornhaugh.
          As the years passed John remained very active sometimes giving his family cause for worry. Especially when at 90 years old he missed the bus from Spalding to Stamford and decided to walk! Obviously when he did not arrive home at the expected time the hospitals were checked and police informed.  John was finally found by a patrol car as he was walking into town, the story is that when asked if he needed a lift the rest of the way home his retort was: 'No thanks young feller I've walked this far so I'll finish it now.'
         Eventually John and his daughter moved to no 4 Meadow Lane Thornhaugh where he stayed until
becoming very ill at the age of 94 when he died in Stamford hospital.
     John William had quite a fiery nature, He was a long-time member of Barn Hill Methodist Church, was a proud Lincolnshire man, so much so that he insisted that his eldest grand son should be born in the county. So instead the child being born at home in Thornhaugh a bed was arranged in a Stamford nursing home.
 
 

                       Ian Hensman

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