How to Deal With Dodgy Bailiffs.

 In September 1880 a Gosberton farmer had an effective solution to dealing with unscrupulous bailiffs.

The late 1870’s and 1880’s were a period of recession in agriculture in England caused by wet and dry weather and low prices. Lincolnshire was affected as much as any part of the country, but the Fens of South Lincolnshire did benefit from a growing flower industry, the quality of land and a relative diversity of crops. Many farmers in the region were tenants and, despite the prolonged recession, there was no relief of rents from landlords or their agents. In the same period there was a growing trend for unregulated money lenders with many of those operating in Lincolnshire being from the industrial Midlands, especially Nottingham. In September 1880 one tenant farmer found himself falling foul of unscrupulous bailiffs most likely acting for an equally unscrupulous money lender:

“Money Lenders – One of those accommodating gentlemen who advertise money to lend, ‘repayable by instalments’ has been paying a visit to Gosberton. One day last week four men  entered the premises of a farmer there as bailiffs and took possession under one of the precious documents used by loans offices and deposit banks, called a bill of sale – documents of such an exorbitant nature that one of the Vice-Chancellors of England said they ought to be burnt by the common hangman. The four bailiffs proceeded to make themselves quite at home; bacon and greens were not to be thought of by gentlemen representing a bank; beef and mutton are very well for ordinary Englishmen; but distinguished visitors expect luxuries. The ducks and chickens were killed and cooked, and ‘all went merry as a marriage bell’ until Monday morning, when the tenant of the farm (who lives in a neighbouring county) arrived with some muscular friends and turned out the four bailiffs ‘neck and crop’, much to the amusement of the farm labourers and some neighbours and others who happened ‘quite accidentally’ to be there at the time.”

It is perhaps surprising that Bills of Sale under the  Victorian Bills of Sales Acts 1878 and 1882 are still deemed problematic and currently in March 2026  The Goods Mortgages Bill is making its way through Parliament to ensure greater protections for borrowers unable to access other forms of credit and to ensure second-hand vehicle purchasers are not held liable for loans on a car that they purchase.