Stamford

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STAMFORD

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Her first balloon flight was astonishing, traumatic and dangerous. According to the Hampshire Chronicle, Sophia had never met the balloonist, Thomas Harris before. She had apparently paid for admission to the Eagle Tavern Gardens, venue for the flight, and overheard Mr Harris say that he was worried he would have to take the flight alone (having tried and failed to sell the second seat for 50 guineas). For some reason, maybe adventure, excitement, and perhaps a small payment she offered to go with him and so became his partner in the voyage. A woman undertaking such a dangerous enterprise would have been an exciting spectacle for the gathering crowd.