EFFECTS OF THE WAR ON NORTHAMPTON – Aug 8 1914 – Consequences of the crisis 

One of the first serious results of the war in our midst transpired at Northampton Corn Market on Saturday. 

For the first time in living memory there was no corn on offer, holders declining to sell even at 42s.

Several Army aeroplanes have passed over Northampton this week flying at a very high altitude.  One came down at Kettering on

Monday with a broken part.  The officer and mechanic stayed the night at Kettering and flew to Salisbury Plain next day.

All the amateur wireless stations have been dismantled by the Post Office Engineer to prevent the leakage of secret service messages

which are being flashed day and night throughout the  country.  There are about a score of stations in this neighbourhood.

Very little business was done in Northampton Cattle Market on Wednesday. 

Beast made as much as £2 to £3 per head more than last week.

Some inferior barley which a farmer offered in Northampton Market last week for 25. Was snapped up on Wednesday at 35s.

A county family sent into a leading local grocer yesterday for a ton of sugar, but the order was refused.

One Northampton grocery firm took £140 in ready cash on Tuesday.

The village post office near Boughton Park Kettering, had a hot time on Monday despatching nearly £5 worth of private wires

from the ambulance camp in calling up reservists.

Some of Councillor Wareing’s heavy horses were commandeered on Wednesday, the officer paying for them on the spot.

Heavy motor lorries are being commandeered on every side.

Raids on Grocers - Aug 15, 1914

Grocers are at their wits end to know how to cope with the demand, and as most of the goods

now being supplied are sent at open prices they are to large extent selling in the dark.  Most

of them now possess only a few days supply of such articles as sugar, flour, and bacon, and unless

a change speedily takes place in the condition of the market some of these articles will shortly become

unobtainable.

The announcement that the Government has decided to fix prices has placed the local grocers in a

difficult position, and one grocer stated this morning that unless the Government is prepared to render

assistance in the transport of goods they will not be able for any length of time to sell at the prices fixed.

The chief distributors of food in the country, representing over half the trade, have decided on fixing the

following prices for today, tomorrow, and Monday :-

Granulated sugar, 4 half d. per lb.

Lump Sugar, 5d. per lb.

Butter, 1s. 6d. per lb.

Cheese, Colonial. 9 half d.

Lard, American, 8d. per lb.

Margarine, 10d.

Bacon, Continental, by the side, 1s. 4d. per lb.

Bacon, British, by the side, 1s. 6d. per lb.

On the other hand, the prices ruling in Northampton this morning were as follows :-