A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1921
ACKTON HALL COLLIERY OFFICIALS' ASSOCIATION
During the evening Mr Holiday was presented with a gold cigarette case
and a gold match box by the underground officials in appreciation of the
goodwill continually being extended to them. Mr C Booth made the
presentation and he was supported by Mr Rodwell who said he could
remember the old days of two day's work per week, but it was remarkable
during Mr Holiday's time there had been six days' work nearly every week
for everyone who wanted it.
Mr Holiday replied and expressed his appreciation of the many kind
things said about him. He had his duty to perform to his employer Lord
Masham, but he was conscious there was something more than wage
relationship required between an employer and his officials. He was
delighted the officials at Ackton Hall were able to work together so
amicably. It gave him great pleasure to accept the handsome gifts, and
he thanked them for their kind appreciation.
THE MINERS STRIKE
In the Great War of 1914-18 the Government took over the running of the
coal mines. When the war was over it was only a matter of time before
the mines were handed back to the owners. The Government announced the
changeover would take place on 31 March. The cost of living was falling
so the repossessing owners wanted to reduce the miners' wages and go
back to fixing them district by district. The unions wanted neither and
put in strike notices.
The men made it clear they were not giving in easily, and a week later the deputies were given notice. The deputies held a meeting at Castleford. Mr S Yates of Featherstone presided and said the proposed reductions would make it impossible to live under present day conditions.
With the miners rapidly becoming destitute the welfare schemes got under way. The local milk dealers said they would reduce their price from 11d a quart to 8d. The council said the health visitor could authorise free milk in urgent cases. The education sub-committee agreed all children whose parents filled in the necessary form would be given breakfast at school (cocoa and a long bun) as long as the dispute lasted. The West Riding Education Authority said a charge of 6d a week would be made for breakfasts and the parents would ultimately have to pay the money. Only for those who would never be able to afford it would it be a charge on the rates. The Pontefract Board of Guardians said distress would be relieved, but only loans would be available and would have to be repaid.
A voluntary distress committee was formed to raise funds for other meals for the strikers' children. Tom Aykroyd the manager of Barclays Bank was appointed treasurer. Those represented on the committee were all the working mens' clubs, the Tradesmens' Association, the Butchers' Association, the licensed victuallers, all three colliery union branches, and the various lodges and friendly societies. The Express commented "Thus once more Featherstone folk have risen to the occasion".
The men made it clear they were not giving in easily, and a week later the deputies were given notice. The deputies held a meeting at Castleford. Mr S Yates of Featherstone presided and said the proposed reductions would make it impossible to live under present day conditions.
With the miners rapidly becoming destitute the welfare schemes got under way. The local milk dealers said they would reduce their price from 11d a quart to 8d. The council said the health visitor could authorise free milk in urgent cases. The education sub-committee agreed all children whose parents filled in the necessary form would be given breakfast at school (cocoa and a long bun) as long as the dispute lasted. The West Riding Education Authority said a charge of 6d a week would be made for breakfasts and the parents would ultimately have to pay the money. Only for those who would never be able to afford it would it be a charge on the rates. The Pontefract Board of Guardians said distress would be relieved, but only loans would be available and would have to be repaid.
A voluntary distress committee was formed to raise funds for other meals for the strikers' children. Tom Aykroyd the manager of Barclays Bank was appointed treasurer. Those represented on the committee were all the working mens' clubs, the Tradesmens' Association, the Butchers' Association, the licensed victuallers, all three colliery union branches, and the various lodges and friendly societies. The Express commented "Thus once more Featherstone folk have risen to the occasion".
The first fund raising effort was a game on the Rovers ground between
"The Buffs" and the Coronation WMC. A collection raised £6 15s and Cr
Johnson made it up to £7. In that first week a total of £114 was
collected, and 2,000 children were being fed at school.
Early in May four miners were accused of stealing sleepers from
Featherstone Main Colliery. For the company it was said the miners had
been allowed to pick coal from the stacks and take loose pieces of wood,
but this was going too far. They had loaded the sleepers into a horse and cart but were seen by the watchman who sent for the police. A fine of 15s each was imposed.
After the fifth week of the strike the Featherstone miners marched
behind the brass band to a rally at Pontefract Park to show solidarity.
The Featherstone Grocers' Association met representatives of the three
collieries unions and agreed a scheme for supplying goods on loan. The
Yorkshire Miners' Association had agreed to back such schemes and
guaranteed payment within six months. The miners would be supplied with
vouchers in the next three weeks up to a total of £1,500 and then the
scheme would be reviewed.
The council were told at their May meeting 2,945 pints of free milk had
been given in April. It was agreed to carry on with this scheme to
those receiving relief from the Guardians, plus expectant mothers and
nursing mothers.
The Daily Herald
newspaper ran an appeal to feed the starving miners and their families.
The proceeds were shared out pit by pit. The three local collieries
decided to pay their share into the distress fund. The first payments
were £83 from Ackton Hall Colliery and £71 from Featherstone Main
Colliery. These took the fund past the £400 mark. All the money was used
to provide free dinners, mainly for the children, and the teachers
agreed to forego their Whitsuntide holiday in order to keep the schools
open to feed them. As varied a diet as possible was provided. Some days
it was stew, other days it was sandwiches, but the days the children
liked best was when they received a voucher for a "fish and a pennorth".
The Featherstone women decided to join the fund raising and the South
Featherstone women challenged those from North Featherstone to a rugby
league game. However, their menfolk vetoed that idea so they agreed to
play soccer instead on the Rovers ground watched by a huge crowd who
donated £13 17s. South Featherstone won 1-0. Two weeks later 3,000
spectators turned up to watch Featherstone Ladies v Pontefract Ladies
and another £6 10s 3d was raised.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association ended the voucher scheme after three
weeks, and the Tradesmens' Association said they could not support a
further voucher scheme. They had cut profit margins to the bone and
individual traders would give credit to customers as they saw fit.
Donations continued to arrive from the Daily Herald
and at the end of May a "Herald tea" was given to all children between
three and 14. Teachers and other volunteers served the 3,170 children
who turned up. During the first week in June the distress committee
received £262 which included £65 from Ackton Hall, £72 from Featherstone
Main and £20 from Snydale - all by courtesy of the Daily Herald.
At
the end of June the Ministry of Health agreed the Board of Guardians
could have an overdraft to continue strike relief. This was providing
those not on strike received no more than 15s for a single person, 20s
for a man and wife, and 5s for each child. Strikers could only have 10s
for a wife and 4s for a child. The Guardians agreed to accept but sent a
protest about the lower terms for strikers.
After
13 weeks the unions caved in and ended the strike. As a result the
miners' average wages would fall from 89s a week to 59s a week. The
owners said it would be two weeks before full working could resume, so
the feeding had to go on for a little while longer. The Guardians
discussed with the local collieries the repayment of the miners' loans
out of wages, to commence four weeks after starting work. The collieries
could retain 2½%
for expenses. Men who did not agree to this scheme and did not make
their own repayments would be taken to court. The Ackton Hall and
Featherstone Main men offered to have 4s a week deducted and those at
Snydale suggested 3s a week.
In September it was announced all the Featherstone grocers vouchers for the union scheme had been settled. The distress committee published their accounts. The total income was £1,619, the main givers being the Daily Herald £444, Ackton Hall Colliery Mutual Benefit Society £210, Featherstone Tradesmen £167, and the Green Lane Club £152. Nearly 103,000 meals had been provided at a total cost of £1,595. It was agreed to make a small presentation out of the balance to the officials of the fund.
This was done in November when rosewood clocks were presented to Tom Ackroyd (treasurer), Mr J Bedford (secretary), and Mr Heseltine (assistant treasurer). The remaining £3 5s was given to Clayton Hospital.
In September it was announced all the Featherstone grocers vouchers for the union scheme had been settled. The distress committee published their accounts. The total income was £1,619, the main givers being the Daily Herald £444, Ackton Hall Colliery Mutual Benefit Society £210, Featherstone Tradesmen £167, and the Green Lane Club £152. Nearly 103,000 meals had been provided at a total cost of £1,595. It was agreed to make a small presentation out of the balance to the officials of the fund.
This was done in November when rosewood clocks were presented to Tom Ackroyd (treasurer), Mr J Bedford (secretary), and Mr Heseltine (assistant treasurer). The remaining £3 5s was given to Clayton Hospital.
THE TRADESMEN
The Featherstone and District Tradesmen's Association held its annual
meeting in the Purston Wesleyan school in February. Mr T Aykroyd, the
secretary, said the Yorkshire Electric Power Company had been approached
with a view to securing an early supply of power and light to
Featherstone; and the gas company had been censured by the association
in respect of the bad quality of the gas supplied.
At
the instigation of the association, and through the generosity of
Messrs Tetley and Sons of Hunslet, the clock on the premises of the
Junction Hotel had been given to the town and fixed to the council
offices. They had approached the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Company for covered accommodation for unloading goods at the station.
The company turned this down on account of the expense involved.
Three weeks later the association held its annual dinner
at the Travellers' Rest Hotel and it was announced there were now over
80 members. They said they were so disgusted with the gas supply they
supported the introduction of electricity but it was not much further
forward. They would support any tradesman who used a gas engine in a
claim against the gas company if he could prove his business had suffered through an insufficient and inefficient supply.
The association had obtained a clock for the town which was in good
working order, "And it doesn't strike" said Mr McTrusty, manager of
Ackton Hall Colliery. Mr H V Chapman proposed a toast to "the Urban
Council". He said he was always thankful for the excellent supply of
water obtained largely through the efforts of the late David Denton.
ROVERS OUT OF THE CUP
The
Rovers (still a junior club) were in the second round of the Northern
Union Cup in March and were drawn at home against Dewsbury. The Express commented "The game attracted such a crowd as had never been seen before in the colliery town, and from noon onwards Featherstone was a gay place. Tradesmen had stalls
outside the ground and reaped a harvest". There were thousands from
Dewsbury by train and charabancs. The gates were opened at 1pm and by
2.30pm the ground was crowded. All the windows in Post Office Road were full and some people climbed onto the roof.
Play was a bit rough. Baggott (Rovers) was laid out temporarily and
Dooler (also Rovers) was sent off in the first half with blood on
his face. He had won eight out of ten scrums but then Dewsbury
monopolised play and won 22-0. There were 9,000 spectators who paid £606
15s, both club records. Entertainment Tax was £121 so the Rovers got about £220. "A very substantial solace for a bigger defeat than was expected."
A RUGBY LEAGUE GAME FOR THE CRICKET CLUB
A challenge match was played on the Rovers ground in April between Ackton Hall Colliery and Featherstone Main Colliery in aid of Featherstone and Purston Cricket Club. The teams were:
ACKTON HALL FEATHERSTONE MAIN
Alder (York) C Smith
James Lyman (Dewsbury) Stott (Worked at Snydale)
M Bowen (Hunslet) Fellows (Sharlston)
N Reeves J Williams
F Gill (Knottingley) J Denton
Kirkham (Dewsbury) Howarth
A Gill (Knottingley) Lane
J W Higson (Huddersfield) Blower (York)
J Barraclough (Wakefield Trinity) Walker
Altass (Knottingley) Millard
J Baggott E Barraclough
Norton Haigh
Taylor Horbury
Just on time Kirkham scored a try under the posts to make it 8-8 but Reeves missed the conversion, some said on purpose to leave it a draw. There were over 1,000 spectators but many were admitted free because the miners were on strike.
The committee of the cricket club entertained to tea the Featherstone Rovers committee and those who played in the game. Mr McTrusty, Ackton Hall Colliery manager, acted as chairman. He said Featherstone Rovers were noted for clean, hard, honest football. He
took a great interest in the club and never missed a match if he could
help it. Because of the miners' strike there was only a small financial
outcome. He would
not enter into any controversial matters, but he was confident on them
(the miners) being true sportsmen during the dispute and not interfering
in any way with the work of keeping the pit in good order. He trusted the dispute would soon be over and the men back at work.
He did not believe in giving a man a soft job at a colliery because he played either cricket or football, but to any honest workman who was prepared to give his spare time to sport in the town, every consideration would be given. He hoped to remain long in Featherstone and would continue to take a practical interest in both the cricket and football clubs.
FEATHERSTONE ROVERS JOIN THE BIG BOYS
Featherstone Rovers won four cups in the 1920-21 season to equal the
previous season's total. They had clearly outgrown their junior
opposition and applied to join the senior clubs in the Northern Rugby
Football League. They were sponsored by Wakefield Trinity and York and were represented by George Johnson, George Brealey and Mr J W McTrusty, Ackton Hall Colliery manager.
Mr Johnson said Featherstone Rovers had grown beyond the company they were
keeping and there was a danger interest would wane if they had to keep
playing junior opposition. The chairman of the management committee said
Featherstone Rovers was well backed by the local colliery company, and
he had no doubt the club would make its way in the Northern Rugby
League. There was no opposition and the application was passed
unanimously.
Included
by permission of the Rugby Football League. Note: the secretary nearly
forgot to include the Rovers successful application in the minutes.
DR STEVEN'S ANNUAL REPORT
Dr Steven's first annual report (for 1920) was published in June. There had been 400 births in the year and 65 under one year old had died. The total causes of death in the district were measles, tuberculosis, flue, cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhoea
in infants, congenital debility and violence (accidents?). Regarding TB
he wrote "The public do not yet seem to realise the gravity of this
disease". He blamed overcrowded houses and the long waiting time for the
proposed sanatorium for its spread.
There was a great scarcity of houses, private enterprise building had entirely stopped. Fifty-one council houses were planned but they were not enough. At least 300 houses with three bedrooms, a WC and a dry ash pit or sanitary dustbin were needed. The new child welfare clinics were becoming popular but those most needing instruction and help did not avail themselves of the opportunity.
THE COUNCIL HOUSES DISPUTE
The council were in dispute with the Ministry of Health over council
houses. The council published a report giving its side of the problem.
It said speculative building ceased before the war so the council decided to build houses. In 1914 a scheme for 149 was commenced and building continued throughout the war. In April 1919 the Council submitted plans for 51 houses on the Church Fields No.2 site. However the commissioner said they were too large and too costly. Changes were made to reduce the cost but these were offset by the increase in wages and materials.
The land was purchased about December 1918 and the commissioner agreed the layout in October 1919, so roads,
sewers and water mains were put in. In February 1920 permission was
given for 24 houses. These were commenced in January 1921. Now under
Government policy the council could not get assistance with the
remaining 27 and the Government said the number of houses already
approved must suffice for your council's assisted scheme.
A survey made in 1919 showed 300 houses were required. The sanitary
inspector and medical officer are constantly reporting overcrowding and
the council has a very long waiting list. The council most strongly
urges they should be allowed to proceed with the erection of the 27
houses, and they should be allowed to proceed with the selection of
further sites.
A WAR MEMORIAL
In September the Discharged Soldiers' and Sailors' Association led by Captain Protheroe held a meeting at the Ex-servicemen's Club to inaugurate a scheme for a Featherstone war memorial. It
was said they would have done this earlier but for the miners' strike.
it was agreed the money would be raised voluntarily and Mr A Alexander
was elected secretary and Mr T Ackroyd as treasurer.
One week later it was agreed to ask the council and the Tradesmen's
Association to be represented on the committee. Dr Finch was elected as
chairman. It was agreed to have a cross on which the names of the fallen
would be inscribed.
Because of the effects of the strike, and the moves to reduce wages to all, there was a poor response to the appeal,
and by the end of the year the amount raised was £82. It was agreed to
ask the clubs and hotels to allow collecting boxes to be placed on their
premises.
A TRADING DISPUTE
In November the council received a letter from the Tradesmen's Association complaining of persons being allowed to stand in the streets for hours
on end selling goods and questioned if they paid any rates. Also there
were stalls on land which had no sanitary arrangements for a proper
market and they left refuse behind for the council to clear up.
Cr Edwards
said he had let land belonging to his wife to traders to try to stop
profiteering by Featherstone tradesmen who wanted 30s for a 10s article.
As a working man himself he felt bound to assist his fellow workers, and as long as these people will come to Featherstone to sell things cheap he was quite willing to let them come.
He denied there was any nuisance
as to refuse. He admitted he received rent but said the litter he got
was as nothing compared with the benefit the public received and he
would let them land for nothing if necessary.
Cr Ryan said very good meat was sold at 4d a pound less than Featherstone butchers. Cr Holiday said the council were not
concerned with competition among tradesmen, but the tradesmen were
there permanently and paid rates, whereas the market men paid no rates
and would cease to come to Featherstone when they thought fit.
The sanitary inspector had said there was no nuisance. The clerk said
the street traders were a matter for the police if an obstruction was
caused, and the council could not interfere with owners of land letting the same so long as there was no nuisance.
THE CRICKET CLUB DINNER
The Featherstone and Purston Cricket Club annual dinner was held in November. The chairman was Dr Finch. He said they had had a good season and had finished with a balance in hand. A gold albert and a medal were
presented to Harry Wroe who had completed 25 years as a cricketer. Dr
Steven suggested there should be more tennis courts and a bowling green, and said he would give the first set of bowls.
The total income was £645, and a dressing room, scoring box and tea
room had been provided. Ackton Hall Colliery and Featherstone Main
Colliery had provided a sight board each. Cr Holiday gave £25 to enable
the subscriptions to remain at 5s for non-playing members. The playing
members would pay 7s 6d. In total there were 500 members.
1921 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY
Last year after the game at Sharlston, George Johnson complained about
the rough play of the home side and said the Rovers would not arrange
any more fixtures with Sharlston after this season. A Wakefield and
District League Committee meeting exonerated Sharlston who demanded
an apology but didn't get one.
Sharlston turned up half an hour late for the return fixture on New
Year's Day and refused to turn out until they got their apology. There
was a large crowd waiting so George Johnson had to back down and
apologised at an impromptu meeting presided over by the referee Mr Swift
of Wakefield. The game ended in the gloom with the Rovers winning 8-3.
Thomas Darlison and William Abbott were in Church Lane, North Featherstone when they saw the Dutch barn on Thomas Day's farm on fire. They raised the alarm and the fire brigades of Featherstone and Pontefract were quickly on the scene. It was too late to save the barn but they prevented the fire from spreading. The barn and its contents of wheat, oats and straw were destroyed the damage estimated at £1,500. The stock was insured for £500 but the barn was not covered. It was thought sparks from a nearby chimney had started the blaze.
Thomas Darlison and William Abbott were in Church Lane, North Featherstone when they saw the Dutch barn on Thomas Day's farm on fire. They raised the alarm and the fire brigades of Featherstone and Pontefract were quickly on the scene. It was too late to save the barn but they prevented the fire from spreading. The barn and its contents of wheat, oats and straw were destroyed the damage estimated at £1,500. The stock was insured for £500 but the barn was not covered. It was thought sparks from a nearby chimney had started the blaze.
There was another farmyard fire at Manor Farm, Purston. It started with
a fire on a hay cart and spread quickly to ten stacks of hay, oats,
clover and wheat, two farm wagons and two Dutch barns. The Featherstone
and Pontefract Fire Brigades arrived but could only save one stack. The
damage was estimated at £3,000 and was only partly covered by insurance.
Because of where the fire started arson was suspected.
The cricket club had been admitted to the Yorkshire Council and they were working towards providing a tea room, a dressing room for the lady tennis players and additional seating which in total would cost £280. A whist drive and dance was held in the Lister Hall which raised £70. There were over 500 persons present and the hall (the baths in winter) was decorated with 300 miniature coloured airships and balloons filled with gas.
Mr and Mrs Cecil Hall arrived home one night to find a burglar had left every room in confusion and had stolen money and watches and had even emptied the fruit bowl. He had got in through an unlatched window.
Last year Mrs Elizabeth Darlington set out to collect £100 for Leeds General Infirmary. Her effort ended with a whist drive and fancy dress dance in the Lister Hall, both very much in vogue according to the Express. The support for her effort exceeded her expectations and she was able to send £231 7s 4d to the infirmary.
She received a letter of thanks from Mr Fred J Bray, general manager of Leeds Infirmary, thanking her for her efforts and noting during last year from Featherstone there were 77 in-patients and 238 out-patients at a cost to the infirmary of £650 and received from all sources in Featherstone was £208.
The cricket club had been admitted to the Yorkshire Council and they were working towards providing a tea room, a dressing room for the lady tennis players and additional seating which in total would cost £280. A whist drive and dance was held in the Lister Hall which raised £70. There were over 500 persons present and the hall (the baths in winter) was decorated with 300 miniature coloured airships and balloons filled with gas.
Mr and Mrs Cecil Hall arrived home one night to find a burglar had left every room in confusion and had stolen money and watches and had even emptied the fruit bowl. He had got in through an unlatched window.
Last year Mrs Elizabeth Darlington set out to collect £100 for Leeds General Infirmary. Her effort ended with a whist drive and fancy dress dance in the Lister Hall, both very much in vogue according to the Express. The support for her effort exceeded her expectations and she was able to send £231 7s 4d to the infirmary.
She received a letter of thanks from Mr Fred J Bray, general manager of Leeds Infirmary, thanking her for her efforts and noting during last year from Featherstone there were 77 in-patients and 238 out-patients at a cost to the infirmary of £650 and received from all sources in Featherstone was £208.
Two cases of typhoid were reported to the council. one of which was
fatal. The consumption of mussels was suspected and it was suggested
those who eat mussels should be made aware of the dangers of
contamination of the feeding grounds, and the sale of mussels should be
accompanied by a certificate of uncontaminated feeding grounds.
Cr Edwards complained at the council meeting about an Ackworth man being granted a council house. He said in Featherstone there were 14 persons living in one house, and three families living in a house in Albert Street. Cr Ryan said Cr Edwards should attend the committee meetings. Applications were dealt with in strict rotation and the Ackworth man was in fact a Featherstone man who worked in Featherstone and was in lodgings in Ackworth.
The gas company met the council about regular complaints regarding the gas supply. The company said they were trying to increase the supply and hoped to remedy all complaints by the end of Autumn. The demand exceeded the supply and the pressure had to be reduced or there would no supply some nights. People were still using antiquated flat burners instead of more efficient incandescent burners (gas mantles).
William Cooke had been secretary of the Featherstone Main Colliery Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association for 25 years. He had to resign because of ill health and at a branch meeting he was presented with a gold English hunter watch and a gold albert in appreciation of his services.
FEBRUARY At the annual general meeting of the Featherstone and District Association for the Prosecution of Offenders their solicitor, Mr W E Clayton-Smith, said the association was entering its 21st year and had 94 members. During the year the association had secured convictions in 40 cases of damage to members' property and one case was dismissed. Nine offenders paid damages to avoid going to court.
Cr Edwards raised the question of the purchase of Purston Hall and park at the council meeting and asked if the council intended doing anything? Cr Holiday said the council had been given permission to borrow the £4,100 purchase price but nobody would lend it. Cr Edwards said he had been in a Leeds building society on another matter and had asked about a loan for the purchase. He was told the society might consider it and the interest rate would be 10%. The clerk said he didn't think they would be loaned the full amount and Cr Holiday said will the ratepayers agree to the council paying 10%? The clerk was instructed to write to the society.
MARCH The Board of Guardians took miners to court for money still owing from loans given in the 1919 coal strike. They were John Davies 40s 6d, Enoch Allen £5 3s 8d, Lewis Downs 59s 6d, Allen Sheard 21s 4d, John Altass 33s. The wives of some appeared and said their husbands were not working full time. The Bench said they had had 18 months to repay the money and if it was not repaid they would go to prison.
Cr Edwards complained at the council meeting about an Ackworth man being granted a council house. He said in Featherstone there were 14 persons living in one house, and three families living in a house in Albert Street. Cr Ryan said Cr Edwards should attend the committee meetings. Applications were dealt with in strict rotation and the Ackworth man was in fact a Featherstone man who worked in Featherstone and was in lodgings in Ackworth.
The gas company met the council about regular complaints regarding the gas supply. The company said they were trying to increase the supply and hoped to remedy all complaints by the end of Autumn. The demand exceeded the supply and the pressure had to be reduced or there would no supply some nights. People were still using antiquated flat burners instead of more efficient incandescent burners (gas mantles).
William Cooke had been secretary of the Featherstone Main Colliery Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association for 25 years. He had to resign because of ill health and at a branch meeting he was presented with a gold English hunter watch and a gold albert in appreciation of his services.
FEBRUARY At the annual general meeting of the Featherstone and District Association for the Prosecution of Offenders their solicitor, Mr W E Clayton-Smith, said the association was entering its 21st year and had 94 members. During the year the association had secured convictions in 40 cases of damage to members' property and one case was dismissed. Nine offenders paid damages to avoid going to court.
Cr Edwards raised the question of the purchase of Purston Hall and park at the council meeting and asked if the council intended doing anything? Cr Holiday said the council had been given permission to borrow the £4,100 purchase price but nobody would lend it. Cr Edwards said he had been in a Leeds building society on another matter and had asked about a loan for the purchase. He was told the society might consider it and the interest rate would be 10%. The clerk said he didn't think they would be loaned the full amount and Cr Holiday said will the ratepayers agree to the council paying 10%? The clerk was instructed to write to the society.
MARCH The Board of Guardians took miners to court for money still owing from loans given in the 1919 coal strike. They were John Davies 40s 6d, Enoch Allen £5 3s 8d, Lewis Downs 59s 6d, Allen Sheard 21s 4d, John Altass 33s. The wives of some appeared and said their husbands were not working full time. The Bench said they had had 18 months to repay the money and if it was not repaid they would go to prison.
A concert was held at the Hippodrome in aid of Clayton Hospital. It was arranged by old patients of the hospital and raised £35 compared with £25 last year.
At the council meeting the rates for the half year were fixed at 3s 2d. The county medical officer had asked for record cards for children under 5 years old. Some councillors said Featherstone could not afford the cost of additional health workers to keep checks on all children. Cr Edwards said in 1914 they paid their medical officer £80 a year and now it was £300 so he should do the work required. Only three voted in favour.
Cr Edwards suggested the council should consider if Purston Hall estate
could be acquired. The Leeds Permanent Building Society later said it
was ultra vires (beyond their power or authority) to lend money for the
purchase of Purston Park.
Cr Edwards also brought up the case of a father who had only worked
five weeks in fifteen. When out of work he received 15s a week and had
to pay 5s of that off his strike loan. He had four children and another
expected very soon. There was no food in the house and the children were
sent to school without meals and they picked up bread thrown out by
neighbours. He and others had visited them but when the case was
referred to Dr Steven he said he could not do anything. There ought to
have been an order for free milk. The council agreed to ask Dr Steven
for a report.
The captain of the fire brigade was asked to report on the possibility
of using the council's motor wagon to transport the fire apparatus. It
was agreed to assist the Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire in their efforts to obtain powers to proceed with a Featherstone scheme.
The education sub-committee were told over 200 children were absent from school through sickness. They were also informed the harmonium at Purston Church School was useless. A piano would cost £65 and a decision was deferred for three months.
Harry Pickard of Pontefract was a night corporal at Featherstone Main Colliery. He was in charge of a haulage engine and pony and he failed to secure the pony in a safe place and it was killed by coming in contact with the haulage rope. He was taken to court and was fined £3.
The death was announced of Friend Senior aged 28 of Stanley Street. He achieved notoriety for his attempts to beat the world record for continuous piano playing His last attempt was in January in Pontefract when he gave up after just over 76 hours.
Mabel Alexander's pierette troupe gave a concert at North Featherstone Lane Council School. The members were Clara and Amy Norton, Eileen Fowler, Bessie and Annie Jordan, Ivy Randall, Evelyn Hickman, Mary Copley, Mary White, Kathleen Taylor and Mary Hobson. They raised £27 for Leeds General Infirmary.
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| Mabel Alexander's Pierettes. A photo from the Local History Group. |
The voting was:
Edward Edwards - Independent - 1,271
Sam Earnshaw - Independent - 1,166
Mrs M M Iddon - Independent - 1,127
Thomas Ryan - Labour - 924
Not elected
Ada Turner - Labour - 750
Lily Nash - Labour - 610
The voting for the council was:
North Ward - Roslyn Holiday 849, William Kitson (Labour) 646
South Ward - E Edwards 357, Evan Evans (Labour) 189
Purston Ward - Jos Rodgers (Labour) 540, J Poppleton 523
Ackton and Snydale Ward - A Evans unopposed.
Half of the council members were now from the Labour Party.
Cr Darlington declined nomination as chairman saying the honour should be shared, so Cr A Evans was elected. There was an argument about coal picking in the strike. The council had suggested anyone selling coal picked off the stack should be prosecuted. Some Featherstone miners had interpreted this as meaning any coal pickers. The council made it plain they only meant those who sold the coal, not those who picked for their own use.
Mr Sawyer was criticised for slow work on the council house scheme. Some councillors said he was taking too much private work.
Arthur Seal, stepson of Mr G F Goulding of Glenco Villa, had served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in Salonika. He was notified he had been awarded the Croix de Guerre for good work in the field in 1917.
MAY A local golf club was formed and Dr Steven was elected president. A nine hole course was to be made in Leatham Lodge Park.
The Rovers were in the Wakefield, Dewsbury and District Cup Final at Belle Vue, Wakefield. Bullock and Sons put on free buses to take supporters to the game. The Rovers beat Dewsbury 24-4.
There were 4,000 spectators in the Rovers ground to see George Street School play Hunslet Carr School for the Yorkshire Schools Championship, but George Street lost 12-5.
JUNE More than 100 members of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association attended the funeral of Mrs Rogers, wife of the Purston Vicar. She had done a great deal of work for local men in the Forces during and after the war.
Featherstone Rovers decided to have a new committee now they were a senior club. There were 44 nominations for 15 places and voting took place at the Junction Hotel. The number of ballot papers printed was 650 but about 150 would-be voters had to be turned away.
The Government reduced weekly unemployment pay from £1 to 15s for a man, 16s to 12s for a woman, 12s to 7s 6d for a boy and 10s to 6s for a girl. There would be nothing for the first week out of work, and anyone (mainly miners) working three days on and three days off would get no unemployment pay.
JULY The council decided to buy a lorry body for £81 to fit a chassis they had already acquired. The provision of free milk would cease where the father had restarted work.
William Blanchard aged 57 of George Street was found hanging by his necktie from a tree in Pontefract Park. The inquest jury decided it was suicide while of unsound mind.
Old Featherstone's annual treat and gala was held in a field loaned by George Copley. About 300 children and 150 adults were given tea and there was maypole and country dancing by Featherstone National School. Musical entertainment was provided by Mr J Williams' Orchestra and Featherstone Brass Band.
Three Featherstone pit lads were found swimming in Ackton Hall Colliery's reservoir. When discovered they ran away through a field of wheat doing considerable damage. In court it was said this was a growing practice and the lads were not particular about wearing a swimming costume. It was a great annoyance to people living in houses overlooking the reservoir. The Bench said they were reluctant to convict young people and would Ackton Hall Colliery withdraw the summons on payment of costs if the parents promised to see the offence was not repeated. This was agreed.
AUGUST The council took Mrs Selina Driver to court saying 38 privies in 20 blocks in Halton Street were causing a nuisance. She had had since 1918 to convert them into WC's but had done nothing. Some of the privies had no door or roof. She was ordered to convert them within two months.
The council proposed dropping the Civil Service Scale of War Bonus which gave a cost of living bonus to the Council's officials.The chairman said in 1914 the officials' salaries cost £1,243. The award had increased this to £3,206. The accountant said this increase had only applied from 1919. For the council it was said the workmen had a 1s 4d a day reduction this month and the officials should be treated likewise. The council voted 7-5 to drop the agreement.
The council informed the gas company they would make other arrangements if they did not greatly improve the supply and quality. The medical officer reported severe epidemics of diarrhoea and mumps.
The Featherstone branch of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association held its 4th annual sports on the cricket ground. There were over 200 entries for the races and 2,000 spectators. Lady Masham donated a cup and presented the prizes.
The Featherstone and District Tradesmen's Association held its 4th annual fete and gala in Leatham Lodge grounds. There were acrobats, clowns, a contortionist, Punch and Judy, and a ventriloquist. The most popular was Huscroft's and Harris's Pierot Troup which consisted of 20 local men. The Pontefract Garrison Band played for dancing and for the first time there was a fruit and flower show but it had poor support. There were 3,000 people present who paid £205.
The 1921 Census showed the population of the Featherstone Urban District was 14,838, an increase of 465 on the previous Census. There were 7,800 females and 7,038 males.
George Hague, a grocer and off-licence of North Featherstone Lane set off for his nightly walk towards Featherstone Main Colliery. He was found dead at 10.50pm. It was decided his death was from natural causes.
SEPTEMBER Henry Cuttle went to Leeds on his motorcycle for the Rovers game with Joe Lyman in the sidecar. On his way home he collided with a tram at Hunslet. Mr Cuttle's right foot had to be amputated but Mr Lyman was only bruised.
Two Ackton Hall Colliery pony drivers were taken to court. One was fined 40s for taking matches down the mine, and the other was fined £4 for overloading a pony which was injured and had to be destroyed.
The gas company sent representatives to the council meeting to say they had done all they could to ensure a satisfactory supply during the winter. Some councillors said candles gave a better light.
There was a letter from Mr Ackroyd of Barclays Bank saying the council were £500 in debt and they had no legal authority to borrow money, He suggested putting up the rates to stop this. The chairman said they could not expect further latitude from the bank and proposed a rate of 3s 4d. Cr T Garritty proposed 3s 2d. The council voted 5-4 for the higher rate. To legalise matters it was decided to write to Barclays Bank to ask for a four months accommodation for up to £5,000.
The medical officer reported six cases of typhoid, all in one street.
Orland Jones Howarth aged 55 a miner of Regent Street was found dead at Church Fields level crossing. He had been out of work for some time and had left home very early. It was established he had been struck by a train at 5am. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict saying he had been struck be a train but there was insufficient evidence to show how he came to be on the railway lines.
The funeral was held of Samuel William Aston aged 83 of Station Lane. he had served 29 years in the Army, 25 of them in India. His coffin was draped with the Union Jack and the bearers, buglers and a firing party were from Pontefract Barracks.
OCTOBER The annual meeting of the Ackworth, Featherstone, Purston and Sharlston Gas Company approved the raising of £12,500 capital to make improvements to the gas supply.
An inquest was held into the death of Herbert Marshall, a miner aged 53 of Granville Street. He had suffered a nervous breakdown and had gone into Pontefract Workhouse. Apparently he had climbed over a five feet high wall and gone to a railway bridge near Baghill Station and jumped off in front of a train. The jury decided it was suicide while of unsound mind.
J Bullock and Sons announced there would be an hourly bus service from Featherstone to Pontefract from 2pm to 9pm. The fare would be 3d.
At the council meeting it was announced Barclays Bank had agreed to an overdraft up to £5,000 for five months. Plans were approved for a Pontefract Co-op store in Purston. The council agreed to protest to the Ministry of Health about the reduction in the free milk allowance. A rate of 3s 4d was passed - an increase of 2d. Rates from the collieries were down because the amount was based on output. The Ministry of Health had turned down Featherstone's application for more council houses.
NOVEMBER Twenty-two Featherstone men were charged with gambling - playing toss with coins. They were given fines varying from 15s to 40s. At the same hearing Thomas Lightowler was fined 20s for taking a cigarette down Featherstone Main Colliery. He lived at Knottingley.
The council were told the Ministry of Health had agreed to them paying a reasonable interest on a £5,000 General Fund overdraft. The medical officer reported epidemics of whooping cough, measles and flue, and the infants schools were closed.
The housing commissioner had refused to sanction rent of 5s 8d for the second council house scheme and said it should be at least 8s plus rates. Cr Ryan said some of the houses were like the house that Jack built and the council should stick to its figure. Cr Edwards disagreed because the houses cost £1,100 each, but the motion to adhere to 5s 8d was agreed.
Cr Holiday complained about the street lights at Ackton and Old Featherstone. He was supported by Cr Ryan who said you had to get right under the light to make sure it was lit. He suggested not bothering lighting them but Cr Darlington said a little light was better than none. He said the gas made a great noise and last Sunday at Purston Church there was a contest between the gas lighting and the vicar as to who could make the most noise and the gas won.
DECEMBER The Pontefract Board of Guardians said they were having to accept small contributions from miners repaying loans because the pits were only working short time.
The Tradesmen's Association opened a new hut off Market Place lighted by electricity which they had bought from the Army and was to be used as a social club. They wrote to the council asking them to substantiate recent remarks that Featherstone tradesmen were profiteering.
The council decided to approach the electricity company to discuss electric street lighting and to expedite the supply of electricity to the district. A representative of the Yorkshire Electricity Power Company said they hoped to have an Order sanctioned by Parliament early next year and to start street work straight away.
It was agreed to support a West Riding District Councils' Association proposal that members of councils should be paid out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings.
In spite of the strike Featherstone Main Colliery had raised a record £260 15s 6d for medical charities. Leeds Infirmary and Clayton Hospital received £103 each and Pontefract Dispensary and Infirmary £97 out of the funds.
Dancing classes were held in the St John Ambulance hut every Thursday. Learners were admitted at 6.30pm for 1s 6d and advanced dancers at 7.30pm for one shilling.
The first tenants moved into the second phase of council houses. They were provided with a downstairs bath with the water heated by a kitchen copper.
The Rovers were in the Wakefield, Dewsbury and District Cup Final at Belle Vue, Wakefield. Bullock and Sons put on free buses to take supporters to the game. The Rovers beat Dewsbury 24-4.
There were 4,000 spectators in the Rovers ground to see George Street School play Hunslet Carr School for the Yorkshire Schools Championship, but George Street lost 12-5.
JUNE More than 100 members of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association attended the funeral of Mrs Rogers, wife of the Purston Vicar. She had done a great deal of work for local men in the Forces during and after the war.
Featherstone Rovers decided to have a new committee now they were a senior club. There were 44 nominations for 15 places and voting took place at the Junction Hotel. The number of ballot papers printed was 650 but about 150 would-be voters had to be turned away.
The Government reduced weekly unemployment pay from £1 to 15s for a man, 16s to 12s for a woman, 12s to 7s 6d for a boy and 10s to 6s for a girl. There would be nothing for the first week out of work, and anyone (mainly miners) working three days on and three days off would get no unemployment pay.
JULY The council decided to buy a lorry body for £81 to fit a chassis they had already acquired. The provision of free milk would cease where the father had restarted work.
William Blanchard aged 57 of George Street was found hanging by his necktie from a tree in Pontefract Park. The inquest jury decided it was suicide while of unsound mind.
Old Featherstone's annual treat and gala was held in a field loaned by George Copley. About 300 children and 150 adults were given tea and there was maypole and country dancing by Featherstone National School. Musical entertainment was provided by Mr J Williams' Orchestra and Featherstone Brass Band.
Three Featherstone pit lads were found swimming in Ackton Hall Colliery's reservoir. When discovered they ran away through a field of wheat doing considerable damage. In court it was said this was a growing practice and the lads were not particular about wearing a swimming costume. It was a great annoyance to people living in houses overlooking the reservoir. The Bench said they were reluctant to convict young people and would Ackton Hall Colliery withdraw the summons on payment of costs if the parents promised to see the offence was not repeated. This was agreed.
AUGUST The council took Mrs Selina Driver to court saying 38 privies in 20 blocks in Halton Street were causing a nuisance. She had had since 1918 to convert them into WC's but had done nothing. Some of the privies had no door or roof. She was ordered to convert them within two months.
The council proposed dropping the Civil Service Scale of War Bonus which gave a cost of living bonus to the Council's officials.The chairman said in 1914 the officials' salaries cost £1,243. The award had increased this to £3,206. The accountant said this increase had only applied from 1919. For the council it was said the workmen had a 1s 4d a day reduction this month and the officials should be treated likewise. The council voted 7-5 to drop the agreement.
The council informed the gas company they would make other arrangements if they did not greatly improve the supply and quality. The medical officer reported severe epidemics of diarrhoea and mumps.
The Featherstone branch of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association held its 4th annual sports on the cricket ground. There were over 200 entries for the races and 2,000 spectators. Lady Masham donated a cup and presented the prizes.
The Featherstone and District Tradesmen's Association held its 4th annual fete and gala in Leatham Lodge grounds. There were acrobats, clowns, a contortionist, Punch and Judy, and a ventriloquist. The most popular was Huscroft's and Harris's Pierot Troup which consisted of 20 local men. The Pontefract Garrison Band played for dancing and for the first time there was a fruit and flower show but it had poor support. There were 3,000 people present who paid £205.
The 1921 Census showed the population of the Featherstone Urban District was 14,838, an increase of 465 on the previous Census. There were 7,800 females and 7,038 males.
George Hague, a grocer and off-licence of North Featherstone Lane set off for his nightly walk towards Featherstone Main Colliery. He was found dead at 10.50pm. It was decided his death was from natural causes.
SEPTEMBER Henry Cuttle went to Leeds on his motorcycle for the Rovers game with Joe Lyman in the sidecar. On his way home he collided with a tram at Hunslet. Mr Cuttle's right foot had to be amputated but Mr Lyman was only bruised.
Two Ackton Hall Colliery pony drivers were taken to court. One was fined 40s for taking matches down the mine, and the other was fined £4 for overloading a pony which was injured and had to be destroyed.
The gas company sent representatives to the council meeting to say they had done all they could to ensure a satisfactory supply during the winter. Some councillors said candles gave a better light.
There was a letter from Mr Ackroyd of Barclays Bank saying the council were £500 in debt and they had no legal authority to borrow money, He suggested putting up the rates to stop this. The chairman said they could not expect further latitude from the bank and proposed a rate of 3s 4d. Cr T Garritty proposed 3s 2d. The council voted 5-4 for the higher rate. To legalise matters it was decided to write to Barclays Bank to ask for a four months accommodation for up to £5,000.
The medical officer reported six cases of typhoid, all in one street.
Orland Jones Howarth aged 55 a miner of Regent Street was found dead at Church Fields level crossing. He had been out of work for some time and had left home very early. It was established he had been struck by a train at 5am. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict saying he had been struck be a train but there was insufficient evidence to show how he came to be on the railway lines.
The funeral was held of Samuel William Aston aged 83 of Station Lane. he had served 29 years in the Army, 25 of them in India. His coffin was draped with the Union Jack and the bearers, buglers and a firing party were from Pontefract Barracks.
OCTOBER The annual meeting of the Ackworth, Featherstone, Purston and Sharlston Gas Company approved the raising of £12,500 capital to make improvements to the gas supply.
An inquest was held into the death of Herbert Marshall, a miner aged 53 of Granville Street. He had suffered a nervous breakdown and had gone into Pontefract Workhouse. Apparently he had climbed over a five feet high wall and gone to a railway bridge near Baghill Station and jumped off in front of a train. The jury decided it was suicide while of unsound mind.
J Bullock and Sons announced there would be an hourly bus service from Featherstone to Pontefract from 2pm to 9pm. The fare would be 3d.
At the council meeting it was announced Barclays Bank had agreed to an overdraft up to £5,000 for five months. Plans were approved for a Pontefract Co-op store in Purston. The council agreed to protest to the Ministry of Health about the reduction in the free milk allowance. A rate of 3s 4d was passed - an increase of 2d. Rates from the collieries were down because the amount was based on output. The Ministry of Health had turned down Featherstone's application for more council houses.
NOVEMBER Twenty-two Featherstone men were charged with gambling - playing toss with coins. They were given fines varying from 15s to 40s. At the same hearing Thomas Lightowler was fined 20s for taking a cigarette down Featherstone Main Colliery. He lived at Knottingley.
The council were told the Ministry of Health had agreed to them paying a reasonable interest on a £5,000 General Fund overdraft. The medical officer reported epidemics of whooping cough, measles and flue, and the infants schools were closed.
The housing commissioner had refused to sanction rent of 5s 8d for the second council house scheme and said it should be at least 8s plus rates. Cr Ryan said some of the houses were like the house that Jack built and the council should stick to its figure. Cr Edwards disagreed because the houses cost £1,100 each, but the motion to adhere to 5s 8d was agreed.
Cr Holiday complained about the street lights at Ackton and Old Featherstone. He was supported by Cr Ryan who said you had to get right under the light to make sure it was lit. He suggested not bothering lighting them but Cr Darlington said a little light was better than none. He said the gas made a great noise and last Sunday at Purston Church there was a contest between the gas lighting and the vicar as to who could make the most noise and the gas won.
DECEMBER The Pontefract Board of Guardians said they were having to accept small contributions from miners repaying loans because the pits were only working short time.
The Tradesmen's Association opened a new hut off Market Place lighted by electricity which they had bought from the Army and was to be used as a social club. They wrote to the council asking them to substantiate recent remarks that Featherstone tradesmen were profiteering.
The council decided to approach the electricity company to discuss electric street lighting and to expedite the supply of electricity to the district. A representative of the Yorkshire Electricity Power Company said they hoped to have an Order sanctioned by Parliament early next year and to start street work straight away.
It was agreed to support a West Riding District Councils' Association proposal that members of councils should be paid out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings.
In spite of the strike Featherstone Main Colliery had raised a record £260 15s 6d for medical charities. Leeds Infirmary and Clayton Hospital received £103 each and Pontefract Dispensary and Infirmary £97 out of the funds.
Dancing classes were held in the St John Ambulance hut every Thursday. Learners were admitted at 6.30pm for 1s 6d and advanced dancers at 7.30pm for one shilling.
The first tenants moved into the second phase of council houses. They were provided with a downstairs bath with the water heated by a kitchen copper.
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| Some of the first houses in the second council house scheme. A personal photo. |
Ackton Hall Colliery War Relief Fund was still operating. Fifty widows, other dependents and disabled men were receiving a total of £50 a week. An extra fortnight's allowance was given to everyone as a Christmas gift and householders were given a load of coal.