Phil Simpkin - Author

‘Twas the night before Christmas...’ Copyright (c) Phil Simpkin December 20 th 2013. Beddows and Shepherd sought shelter in an alleyway threading between Gallowtree Gate and The Market Place, as the snow increased in intensity. Christmas Eve, December 24 th 1851 - and yet another Night duty was under way. The Town was busy, as the traders from the bustling markets earlier in the day had delayed breaking down their stalls, and the area between the Market Place and the South West quarter of the Borough was only just starting to empty. Every penny counted and every vegetable or bit of produce left unsold was the makings of a bad day for the hardy traders, so every opportunity was being taken to empty their stalls. The poorest, scrawniest, rottenest remnants were being picked over by a horde of late comers, all looking for some Christmas treat. Assorted animals including Horses, Mules and Oxen pulled what remained of their depleted loads back to their ya