A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1922
THE COUNCIL HOUSE SCHEME
THE COUNCIL HOUSE SCHEME
The new council house rents had been fixed at 10s a week (including rates)
but there were allegations the clerk had sent out letters saying it was
13s and some tenants had paid that amount. After a heated argument at
the council meeting in January the
clerk read out the letter which said the rent of the new houses had not
been dealt with by the Ministry of Health, but the Minister had asked
for it to be between 12s and 13s. The tenants must agree to pay whatever
rent the council is forced to charge and anything paid until then is
taken into account of whatever larger amount may ultimately be found to
be due. Three tenants had paid 13s for a short while due to
misunderstanding the letter.
In February the council were told the housing commissioner would still not agree to the new council houses rent being less than 8s a week exclusive of rates. The Council still wanted to fix at 5s 8d.
Regarding the impasse on the second council house scheme Cr Rodgers commented "Much was being said about infant mortality in Featherstone, and they were pressing owners to convert privies into WC's but much of the bad health, particularly cases of tuberculosis, was due to overcrowding. In some houses three families were living, and some houses were not fit for pigs to live in, and would surely have been condemned ere this if there had been anywhere else for the people to go".
In March the council agreed to ask local MP Fred Hall to secure a meeting with the Ministry to get the remaining 27 houses in the second scheme built because of the abominable overcrowding conditions.
In April the Ministry of Health agreed to reconsider the scheme after representations from Fred Hall MP. The council were asked to submit the points on which they wished to make representations.
When elected chairman of the council for the second year Cr Evans said they set out to build 300 houses but were actually building only 24. He hoped this would increase to 150. The demand was as great as ever and he had been astonished at the awful conditions under which some of the people were living. He had heard it said cattle were better housed than some of their people.
In May the council agreed the rent for the new council houses would be 6s 8d and said because of the reduced average wages they could not go higher. The Ministry had agreed to another 12 houses subject to satisfactory building costs so the council abandoned a proposed deputation.
In June the Ministry of Health refused to accept the plans for additional council houses so the surveyor was instructed to prepare amended plans. The Rent Tribunal said they would ask the collieries for the average wages paid to adults, and the actual earnings of the occupiers of the new council houses now let.
The council were informed in July the Ministry wanted the coal places to be inside instead of outside. The council said it would not save any money. By October there was still no agreement and the Ministry said after another five weeks they would consider cancelling the allocation. Cr A Evans, the chairman said this was an effort on the part of the Ministry to back out.
The council had asked for 300 houses and could let 1,000. When told to stop after building only 24 they were told it was only until the building costs came down. The cost of building a house in Featherstone had dropped from £1,100 to £365 but now the Ministry would only grant permission for another twelve.
One man of 60 lived in a house with only one bedroom and two families. He had to sleep on the floor and was considering going into the workhouse. Some ex-soldiers with up to six children were living in lodgings, and the landladies made their lives so miserable they spent their evenings in public houses and drowned their troubles in drink. Members knew of cases where 10 grown up persons lived in a house with only one bedroom.
Other members agreed. Cr Rogers said overcrowding in Featherstone was appalling. The clerk said the trouble was the Ministry had not said exactly what they wanted, The tender was very low (£4,365 by Chapman of Leeds). People were bombarding him regularly, telling him of 16 persons living in two rooms until his daily life was becoming sickening. It was agreed to send a deputation to the Ministry.
That deputation, accompanied by Fred Hall MP, met the Ministry of Health in London. The Ministry promised sanction for 12 houses would be forthcoming subject to alterations in the plans. The plans were altered and Messrs Chapman agreed to build them at a cost of £300 each, and the Ministry finally approved the contract in December.
The Rents Tribunal fixed the rents at 7s 6d for non-parlour council houses with three bedrooms, The council's finance and general purposes committee accepted this and said with rates the tenants would have to pay 11s 8d, They had only been paying 10s and the arrears would be paid off at 1s 8d a week.
At the full council meeting Cr Ryan objected saying most councillors considered 10s a week was enough especially as the tenants were also paying back money lent in the strike and for feeding their children.
The chairman said the total arrears were about £40 and if the ratepayers paid it it would only be about three halfpence each. He said if ever there was a case where they should bear one another's burden this was the one.
The clerk said the council might be surcharged if they did not collect the £40 because the ratepayers should not subsidise the housing scheme beyond what they were allowed by the Ministry. The council voted 5-4 to charge 11s 8d.
For building more council houses the council were informed by the Ministry they could do this and could be granted a loan but there would be no subsidy.
The council agreed to give one months notice to Mr Smith to terminate his hiring of the Lister Hall for Saturday evening dancing classes after reports of misbehaviour by youths.
In February the council were told the housing commissioner would still not agree to the new council houses rent being less than 8s a week exclusive of rates. The Council still wanted to fix at 5s 8d.
Regarding the impasse on the second council house scheme Cr Rodgers commented "Much was being said about infant mortality in Featherstone, and they were pressing owners to convert privies into WC's but much of the bad health, particularly cases of tuberculosis, was due to overcrowding. In some houses three families were living, and some houses were not fit for pigs to live in, and would surely have been condemned ere this if there had been anywhere else for the people to go".
In March the council agreed to ask local MP Fred Hall to secure a meeting with the Ministry to get the remaining 27 houses in the second scheme built because of the abominable overcrowding conditions.
In April the Ministry of Health agreed to reconsider the scheme after representations from Fred Hall MP. The council were asked to submit the points on which they wished to make representations.
When elected chairman of the council for the second year Cr Evans said they set out to build 300 houses but were actually building only 24. He hoped this would increase to 150. The demand was as great as ever and he had been astonished at the awful conditions under which some of the people were living. He had heard it said cattle were better housed than some of their people.
In May the council agreed the rent for the new council houses would be 6s 8d and said because of the reduced average wages they could not go higher. The Ministry had agreed to another 12 houses subject to satisfactory building costs so the council abandoned a proposed deputation.
In June the Ministry of Health refused to accept the plans for additional council houses so the surveyor was instructed to prepare amended plans. The Rent Tribunal said they would ask the collieries for the average wages paid to adults, and the actual earnings of the occupiers of the new council houses now let.
The council were informed in July the Ministry wanted the coal places to be inside instead of outside. The council said it would not save any money. By October there was still no agreement and the Ministry said after another five weeks they would consider cancelling the allocation. Cr A Evans, the chairman said this was an effort on the part of the Ministry to back out.
The council had asked for 300 houses and could let 1,000. When told to stop after building only 24 they were told it was only until the building costs came down. The cost of building a house in Featherstone had dropped from £1,100 to £365 but now the Ministry would only grant permission for another twelve.
One man of 60 lived in a house with only one bedroom and two families. He had to sleep on the floor and was considering going into the workhouse. Some ex-soldiers with up to six children were living in lodgings, and the landladies made their lives so miserable they spent their evenings in public houses and drowned their troubles in drink. Members knew of cases where 10 grown up persons lived in a house with only one bedroom.
Other members agreed. Cr Rogers said overcrowding in Featherstone was appalling. The clerk said the trouble was the Ministry had not said exactly what they wanted, The tender was very low (£4,365 by Chapman of Leeds). People were bombarding him regularly, telling him of 16 persons living in two rooms until his daily life was becoming sickening. It was agreed to send a deputation to the Ministry.
That deputation, accompanied by Fred Hall MP, met the Ministry of Health in London. The Ministry promised sanction for 12 houses would be forthcoming subject to alterations in the plans. The plans were altered and Messrs Chapman agreed to build them at a cost of £300 each, and the Ministry finally approved the contract in December.
The Rents Tribunal fixed the rents at 7s 6d for non-parlour council houses with three bedrooms, The council's finance and general purposes committee accepted this and said with rates the tenants would have to pay 11s 8d, They had only been paying 10s and the arrears would be paid off at 1s 8d a week.
At the full council meeting Cr Ryan objected saying most councillors considered 10s a week was enough especially as the tenants were also paying back money lent in the strike and for feeding their children.
The chairman said the total arrears were about £40 and if the ratepayers paid it it would only be about three halfpence each. He said if ever there was a case where they should bear one another's burden this was the one.
The clerk said the council might be surcharged if they did not collect the £40 because the ratepayers should not subsidise the housing scheme beyond what they were allowed by the Ministry. The council voted 5-4 to charge 11s 8d.
For building more council houses the council were informed by the Ministry they could do this and could be granted a loan but there would be no subsidy.
THE COUNCIL v MRS DRIVER
The council took Mrs Selina Driver to court again in February for not complying with the order made on 5 August last year to put
the conveniences of 38 houses in Halton Street into a proper sanitary
condition. Joe Sagar, for the council, said the conditions were now
worse.
Mr Clayton-Smith admitted his client had done nothing but she could not
afford the heavy cost. There was a £2,000 mortgage on the houses and
because of the Rent Restrictions Act she could not give any of the
tenants notice to quit and close the houses. Thus through no fault of
her own she was in court for not carrying out repairs to houses she was
bound to keep open and had not the money to make the alterations. The
Bench adjourned the case.
In March the council decided they could not undertake the conversion of the privies for Mrs Driver and with no progress they took her to court again. The council asked for the maximum penalty plus costs.
The defence said some tenants were in arrears and the owner wanted to close the properties. The Bench said there had been absolute defiance of a court order and a penalty of 10s a day from November 1 would be inflicted. Including costs the total was £53 15s.
At the July council meeting the chairman said Mrs Driver had paid £90 in fines so far and had done nothing to her property. He described her as very foolish.
In March the council decided they could not undertake the conversion of the privies for Mrs Driver and with no progress they took her to court again. The council asked for the maximum penalty plus costs.
The defence said some tenants were in arrears and the owner wanted to close the properties. The Bench said there had been absolute defiance of a court order and a penalty of 10s a day from November 1 would be inflicted. Including costs the total was £53 15s.
At the July council meeting the chairman said Mrs Driver had paid £90 in fines so far and had done nothing to her property. He described her as very foolish.
THE WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT
In April the War Memorial Committee said they had only collected £137 so far. The Express commented that no scheme, however modest, can be carried through with that amount and be at all worthy of the town and its glorious war record, might go without saying. The town
has unfortunately a long roll of gallant dead, and it is almost
unthinkable the inhabitants will allow an appeal of this nature, the sole object of which is to perpetuate the memory of the grand lads, to go by the board.
A new appeal was made from the committee for church and house to house collections and in June the fund had reached £190. They had to reconsider their plans for a memorial and now hoped to raise £400, much less than originally imagined.
Early in December the fund stood at £217 and a meeting of subscribers decided a cross (of granite if the funds would permit) would be erected in front of Purston Church. The committee were disappointed at the response and the fund would be kept open until the end of the year. It would not now be possible to inscribe the names of the fallen on the cross.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
Early in December the fund stood at £217 and a meeting of subscribers decided a cross (of granite if the funds would permit) would be erected in front of Purston Church. The committee were disappointed at the response and the fund would be kept open until the end of the year. It would not now be possible to inscribe the names of the fallen on the cross.
BUS ROUTE DISPUTE
The Wakefield tramway
company decided buses were the way forward so they had a spin-off
company called the Wakefield Omnibus Company. In April they decided to
run a Wakefield to Pontefract service which upset Bullock and Sons who
asked for public support over the local bus routes.
The Wakefield company decided to have a two hourly service so Bullocks ran their buses on the other hour. Then the
Wakefield company ran a bus just in front of the B & S bus so they
retaliated by running in front of the Wakefield bus and charging 10d for
the full run, 3d less than Wakefield.
Ernest Bullock, manager at B & S, said "Why should these people want to monopolise the roads by adopting our timetable, thus endeavouring to squeeze us out as competitors? Competition is healthy and beneficial to the public, but let it be fair competition".
This was an early competitor for Bullock and Sons. It is from the
Wakefield Libraries Collection and the caption says it is being prepared
at the Castleford depot for the Castleford, Featherstone, Pontefract
and Willow Park run.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
The third annual show by the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee was
held in the Primitive Methodist Chapel (probably the Sunday School
building at the back) in July. There was a record entry of 50 bonny
babies. Cr A Evans said because of the high infant mortality rate (208 per 1,000 at its peak) the council engaged
Nurse Lee who had put up a great fight in the interests of the babies.
She was particularly against dummies and he was delighted to see not one
baby present had one. They now had Nurse M R Brennan who was doing
excellent work.
Cr Lawrence from
County Hall, Wakefield, said about 150 babies per 1,000 in Featherstone
still did not reach 12 months. He suggested taxing working men's clubs
and beer to provide maternity homes. He said all the houses in
Featherstone were overcrowded, so how could domestic events (births) take place with proper privacy?
THE MEDICAL OFFICER'S ANNUAL REPORT
Dr Stevens annual report for 1921 was published in July. It said the
population was 15,110 and the average persons per house was just over five. The birth rate was 29.9 (22.4 in England and Wales), the death rate was 13.6 (12.1)
and the infant mortality rate 150 (83). The main causes of death were
pneumonia 27, congenital debility and premature birth 23, bronchitis 22,
heart disease 20 and tuberculosis 18. Regarding the high rate of infant mortality he said over his 30 years the same contributory causes had been in force. All cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever and enteric fever were at once taken to hospital.
No private houses had been built since 1914 and 300 were necessary to ease the overcrowding. For the latest council houses the Ministry had insisted the size be reduced. He had protested against this as so many families numbered seven to ten persons.
ANOTHER STRIKE AT THE MAIN
The coal seams at Featherstone Main colliery were contaminated with bands of stone or shale and it was impossible to send clean coal out of the pit. On 31 July the management said the coal coming out of the pit contained 16% dirt and they would deduct 10% of the weight of each tub sent out
and thus pay a reduced amount. The union disputed this and said it was
about 7%. A meeting of the miners refused to accept the managements
terms and a strike began on 16 August.
The strike was backed by the Yorkshire Miners' Union and ballots were to be held at the coal company's other pits at South Kirkby and Hemsworth plus Ackton Hall for sympathetic strike action.
Mr A W Archer, managing director, said the men had got careless during the war and the evil of dirt filling had grown until the colliery could not carry
on its normal business. In the 21 working days in June more than 7,000
tons of dirt had been sent out and paid for as coal, apart from the vast
expense of tipping it. Representations to the unions had produced no
improvement. It was accepted some dirt was included in the coal and
management had offered a 1% reduction for each 1% over 6%, but the men
had rejected it and the company was obliged to give notice.
Mr Herbert Smith and Mr E Hough of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, local officials and Mr Archer had all day discussions over the strike but could not reach a decision. They met again four days later and Mr Archer gave way a little on the dirt percentage so the union agreed to recommend a return to work.
A mass meeting accepted this and the strike ended after 14 days. A management statement said the strike had been settled by the miners agreeing to fill clean coal and to suffer a reduction for the quantity of loose dirt mixed with the coal in excess of a certain percentage (not stated).
Mr Herbert Smith and Mr E Hough of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, local officials and Mr Archer had all day discussions over the strike but could not reach a decision. They met again four days later and Mr Archer gave way a little on the dirt percentage so the union agreed to recommend a return to work.
A mass meeting accepted this and the strike ended after 14 days. A management statement said the strike had been settled by the miners agreeing to fill clean coal and to suffer a reduction for the quantity of loose dirt mixed with the coal in excess of a certain percentage (not stated).
A PIT HOUSE AND AN APOLOGY
PC Arthur Peasant had retired and the West Riding Police wanted his
house. He had applied to Featherstone, Pontefract and Pontefract Rural
Councils without success, so the police applied to the County
Court in September for possession. For the police it was said they had
given him eight months to find another house. Mr Peasant was now
employed by Ackton Hall Colliery who had offered him a house but he
would not take it because he said it was not fit to live in. The judge
pointed out his present house was a service house and granted possession to the police on 1 November.
One week later there was a notice in the Express which read "I Arthur Peasant of 61 Nostell View,
Featherstone, hereby unreservedly withdraw the statement I made at the
Pontefract County Court on September 20th with regard to the house No.2 Featherstone Square, and apologise for having made such a statement".
1922 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY
On the first day of the year the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
merged with the London and North Western Railway under the latter's name. So locomotives with different lettering were seen in Featherstone. A Typical example (from Railway Wonders of the World) is shown below.
The council agreed to give one months notice to Mr Smith to terminate his hiring of the Lister Hall for Saturday evening dancing classes after reports of misbehaviour by youths.
Cr Holiday suggested they should submit an application for a grant from the Miners'
Welfare Fund for the purchase of Purston Hall and Park as a recreation
ground. Because of distress in the area the council declined to ask for
subscriptions to Princess Mary's Wedding Fund.
David Massey, an elderly labourer of Featherstone, was sentenced to
three months in prison at Doncaster for stealing five pairs of boots
from a shop front. It was his 39th conviction.
The Featherstone Permanent Orchestra was formed with Mr M Hufton as conductor. Mr A J Roberts was the honorary secretary. They held their first practice in the Adult School. The photo is from the Featherstone Library Collection.
FEBRUARY Henry Butterworth aged 49 of Post Office Road fell out of a Bullock's bus which was picking up passengers in Station Lane. He his his head on the curb and was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died a few days later. The inquest jury decided it was accidental death.
At the annual meeting of the Tradesmen's Association it was said the crowning feat of the past year was the opening of the recreation room. This had cost £230 of which £14 was still outstanding. They had held 30 meetings during the year and a better attendance was asked for.
Ackton Hospital said it had cost £60 to cure a Featherstone miner, the highest treatment cost yet. But although his life was despaired of at one time he was now working in the pit again. Dr Hartley said one diphtheria patent required a tracheotomy operation and had recovered.
The council agreed to adopt the Provincial Joint Industrial Council
resolution and reduce the wages of manual workers by 2d an hour.
Discussions would be held with the officials about a reduction of
salary.
Dr Steven, medical officer of health, said conditions in the Hippodrome
were poor. The floor was not very clean and was made of wood and was
likely to harbour germs. He suggested it should be covered by some
impervious material as soon as possible. The council agreed to give the
management 28 days to comply.
There were further complaints about the gas supply. Cr Johnson said he
was in Dr Steven's surgery and there was not sufficient light for the
doctor to make up his medicines.
The Green Lane Club put up a memorial in the club to the 200 members who fought in the Great War. Fifteen of them were killed.
The Board of Guardians reported only one-seventh of the loans paid out during the strike had been repaid, and said a good many had paid nothing.
The Permanent Orchestra gave its first concert at the recreation hut of Darrington Hall Hospital for the ex-soldiers. They were augmented by some musical friends from Pontefract.
The council prosecuted Claude Arundel for selling foreign meat from his stall without a label showing the meat was not English. He was fined 40s.
Nine pony drivers at Ackton Hall Colliery rode their ponies back to the pit bottom causing miners walking in for the next shift to scatter. Seven of them stopped when confronted by the overman, but John Hirst and John Walker ignored him and rode past. They were taken to court and fined 40s each.
MARCH Aaron Taylor had been brought out of his working place at Ackton Hall Colliery because of gas, and an empty tub, two props and a no road sign were placed at the entrance. Two days later he was told by the deputy the working place was still not ready and he would be found other work. When the deputy returned a short while later Taylor had gone and it was found he had removed the tub and props and was working in 4% of gas. He was taken to court and fined £4.
At the council meeting there was an argument on whether the rates should be fixed at 3s 4d or 3s 2d. When put to the vote it was equal, but before the chairman could give his casting vote Cr Oakley turned up and another vote was taken and 3s 2d was agreed.
The council had written to the Miners' Welfare Fund for a grant to buy the Purston Hall Estate. The council chairman said the miners' branches had turned the request down so the council voted to withdraw it.
The Labour Party put up Mr A Coult against Roslyn Holiday for the West Riding County Council election. This was the first time he had been challenged since he beat Mr E Hough nine years ago. He won again by 1,751 votes to 890.
Ladies attended for the first time at the annual dinner of the Featherstone and District Tradesmen's Association held at the Jubilee Hotel. It was announced they now had 80 members. The speeches referred to the problem of market stalls which paid no rates, and the council remarks about profiteering which had not been resolved because the councillor who made the claim would not name the retailers.
The Pontefract and Featherstone Citizen, the Labour Party paper, said the tradesmen were making fresh efforts to get Teddy's Market closed and urged Featherstone people to support the Monday market.
Robert Parker and John Thomas Hepworth were charged with assaulting the referee, Charles Denham of Broughton, after the Featherstone Rovers v Oldham game. Mr Denham said at the end of the game he was surrounded by a crowd and he was struck in the face and kicked from behind. He was escorted off by the players and police. The police identified both defendants who denied the offence. Both were fined £5, and the chairman said in any future case the Bench might not consider the option of a fine.
The London and North Western Railway Company wrote to the council to say there was a clear view of the line at both Halfpenny Lane and Church Fields crossings, and with care there was no more danger than in street traffic, therefore there would be no subway or footbridge.
The Featherstone Railway Ambulance Team won the Pilkington Cup at a competition in Manchester. The competition was open to all employees of the London and North Western Railway.
An inquest was held on Kenneth Braithwaite aged eight of Purston Farm. He was climbing over the seats in the Hippodrome and fell catching his foot between two seats. He stayed for the performance and limped home. His parents fomented and bandaged the ankle but it got worse and Dr Finch was called. He advised Kenneth should be taken to Clayton Hospital where he died from osteomyelitis of the lower end of the tibia which causes a general toxic condition.
Mr Greenwood, the Hippodrome manager, said he knew nothing of the accident until three or four days later. It was the first accident for ten years and they catered for 1,000 children on every Saturday afternoon. The verdict was accidental death.
APRIL The Featherstone Permanent Orchestra gave a concert in the Hippodrome on a Sunday evening with Mr M Hufton conducting. The Express said they surprised a crowded audience with their excellent playing.
The council election results were:
Ackton and Snydale Ward - Mr Oakley unopposed
South Ward - Mr Johnson unopposed
Purston Ward - Mr Ryan 575, Ernest Bullock 457
North Ward - George Copley 608, Thomas Garritty (Labour) 405, Thomas Leadbeater 203
About 70% voted and Labour lost one seat.
Thomas Metcalfe of Normanton was fined £3 for taking a cigarette and four matches down Ackton Hall Colliery. The chairman said the Bench were hoping these cases were diminishing, but recently they were becoming more frequent and the Bench would deal more severely with them.
The Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire Limited told the council cables would probably be laid this summer and public lighting would be installed next winter if terms were agreed. The clerk was instructed to keep in touch and urge them to begin as soon as possible.
The West Riding Education Authority asked for the baths to be reserved for schoolchildren only during their swimming instruction period but the council refused.
The West Riding Electric Tramways Company said they were going to commence a two-hourly bus service from Wakefield to Pontefract. The council had no objection but asked that the buses did not stop at the bottom of Station Lane which was a dangerous corner already. The clerk said the stopping place is the Jubilee Hotel. The photo of the Jubilee Hotel bus stop is from the Featherstone Library Collection.
The council prosecuted Claude Arundel for selling foreign meat from his stall without a label showing the meat was not English. He was fined 40s.
Nine pony drivers at Ackton Hall Colliery rode their ponies back to the pit bottom causing miners walking in for the next shift to scatter. Seven of them stopped when confronted by the overman, but John Hirst and John Walker ignored him and rode past. They were taken to court and fined 40s each.
MARCH Aaron Taylor had been brought out of his working place at Ackton Hall Colliery because of gas, and an empty tub, two props and a no road sign were placed at the entrance. Two days later he was told by the deputy the working place was still not ready and he would be found other work. When the deputy returned a short while later Taylor had gone and it was found he had removed the tub and props and was working in 4% of gas. He was taken to court and fined £4.
At the council meeting there was an argument on whether the rates should be fixed at 3s 4d or 3s 2d. When put to the vote it was equal, but before the chairman could give his casting vote Cr Oakley turned up and another vote was taken and 3s 2d was agreed.
The council had written to the Miners' Welfare Fund for a grant to buy the Purston Hall Estate. The council chairman said the miners' branches had turned the request down so the council voted to withdraw it.
The Labour Party put up Mr A Coult against Roslyn Holiday for the West Riding County Council election. This was the first time he had been challenged since he beat Mr E Hough nine years ago. He won again by 1,751 votes to 890.
Ladies attended for the first time at the annual dinner of the Featherstone and District Tradesmen's Association held at the Jubilee Hotel. It was announced they now had 80 members. The speeches referred to the problem of market stalls which paid no rates, and the council remarks about profiteering which had not been resolved because the councillor who made the claim would not name the retailers.
The Pontefract and Featherstone Citizen, the Labour Party paper, said the tradesmen were making fresh efforts to get Teddy's Market closed and urged Featherstone people to support the Monday market.
Robert Parker and John Thomas Hepworth were charged with assaulting the referee, Charles Denham of Broughton, after the Featherstone Rovers v Oldham game. Mr Denham said at the end of the game he was surrounded by a crowd and he was struck in the face and kicked from behind. He was escorted off by the players and police. The police identified both defendants who denied the offence. Both were fined £5, and the chairman said in any future case the Bench might not consider the option of a fine.
The London and North Western Railway Company wrote to the council to say there was a clear view of the line at both Halfpenny Lane and Church Fields crossings, and with care there was no more danger than in street traffic, therefore there would be no subway or footbridge.
The Featherstone Railway Ambulance Team won the Pilkington Cup at a competition in Manchester. The competition was open to all employees of the London and North Western Railway.
An inquest was held on Kenneth Braithwaite aged eight of Purston Farm. He was climbing over the seats in the Hippodrome and fell catching his foot between two seats. He stayed for the performance and limped home. His parents fomented and bandaged the ankle but it got worse and Dr Finch was called. He advised Kenneth should be taken to Clayton Hospital where he died from osteomyelitis of the lower end of the tibia which causes a general toxic condition.
Mr Greenwood, the Hippodrome manager, said he knew nothing of the accident until three or four days later. It was the first accident for ten years and they catered for 1,000 children on every Saturday afternoon. The verdict was accidental death.
APRIL The Featherstone Permanent Orchestra gave a concert in the Hippodrome on a Sunday evening with Mr M Hufton conducting. The Express said they surprised a crowded audience with their excellent playing.
The council election results were:
Ackton and Snydale Ward - Mr Oakley unopposed
South Ward - Mr Johnson unopposed
Purston Ward - Mr Ryan 575, Ernest Bullock 457
North Ward - George Copley 608, Thomas Garritty (Labour) 405, Thomas Leadbeater 203
About 70% voted and Labour lost one seat.
Thomas Metcalfe of Normanton was fined £3 for taking a cigarette and four matches down Ackton Hall Colliery. The chairman said the Bench were hoping these cases were diminishing, but recently they were becoming more frequent and the Bench would deal more severely with them.
The Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire Limited told the council cables would probably be laid this summer and public lighting would be installed next winter if terms were agreed. The clerk was instructed to keep in touch and urge them to begin as soon as possible.
The West Riding Education Authority asked for the baths to be reserved for schoolchildren only during their swimming instruction period but the council refused.
The West Riding Electric Tramways Company said they were going to commence a two-hourly bus service from Wakefield to Pontefract. The council had no objection but asked that the buses did not stop at the bottom of Station Lane which was a dangerous corner already. The clerk said the stopping place is the Jubilee Hotel. The photo of the Jubilee Hotel bus stop is from the Featherstone Library Collection.
The outgoing council fixed a rate of 3s 2d for the next six months.
They were Messrs A Evans chairman, R Holiday, W H Scholes, P Darlington,
T Garritty, T Ryan, J Rodgers, T Turton, J Oakley, E Edwards, G Johnson and A Simpkin.
At the first meeting of the new council the non-Labour
members wanted Cr Scholes as chairman, but the Labour members wanted Cr
Evans for a second year. They proposed a member should be chairman for
two years and then be followed by the vice-chairman. The office would
then go round all the members. Labour won by six votes
to four. Cr Scholes was elected vice-chairman. Cr Evans said they were
out to economise in every possible way and reduce the rates.
The education sub-committee had gone through the list of parents who owed money for their children's meals during the miners' strike and recommended who should be made to pay and who should not be pressed. Their views were ignored by the county council.
Mr Evans said he knew of one Featherstone man who had been summonsed to appear at Wakefield for owing 1s 9d. The cost of the summons was 3s 6d. Cr Holiday said he knew of one household with £12 a week going in but only 6d a week being repaid.
Katie Hirst age 32 of Earle Street was going to the Hippodrome when she slipped on orange peel and fell heavily. After attention by Dr Steven she was taken to Clayton Hospital on 3 February where she died of blood poisoning on 26 April.
MAY James Jones and Harry Moreland were fined £3 each for taking their pit ponies along a haulage road when ordered not to do so. Some runaway tubs killed one of the ponies.
PC Fletcher found two men in a warehouse in Phipps Street, They ran off but he chased one and caught him in Featherstone Square. He was fined £5 for stealing 12 scrubbing brushes and one yard brush. The other man was not found.
George Herbert Cooper aged 15, a rope lad who lived in Mount Pleasant Street, was run over by tubs at Featherstone Main Colliery. He died the same day in Clayton Hospital. The inquest verdict was death from misadventure.
JUNE Mr S Bilson, the baths superintendent, was riding his motorcycle in Methley when he collided with a lorry. He was knocked unconscious and had to have stitches in his arm. He suffered from shock but was later said to be recovering.
There was an argument at Ackton Hospital over the cost of antitoxin at 5s per bulb. Some severe cases needed four. Dr W D Hartley, medical superintendent, said he began using it regularly six years ago and it undoubtedly reduced deaths. Deaths from scarlet fever from 1912 to 1916 were 38, and from 1917 to 1922 when it was used freely were only three.
The doctor said "The cheapest way of running any hospital would be for the patients to die as fast as admitted". The committee accepted the report and decided to continue as Dr Hartley recommended.
Thomas Candlin aged 59 lodged with his brother-in-law in Carlton Street. He failed to return one night, and his relatives, knowing he was depressed through ill-health and unemployment, informed the police. He was found the next morning on the path from North Featherstone Lane to Park Lane with his throat cut, but he was still alive. He was attended to by Dr Steven and taken to the Workhouse Infirmary at Pontefract in the Ackton Hall Colliery ambulance. He was expected to recover.
Parker and Boulnois of Purston were buying milk from farmers in Beale and Knottingley and undercutting the price of the Featherstone Milk Dealers' Association. The association threatened to sue those who circulated a rumour they were the dealers reported by the sanitary inspector as selling milk deficient in fat.
They said in these days of falling wages they would sell milk to the public at a price they could afford, and above which they ought not to be asked to pay.
JULY An inquest was held on Thomas Fox aged 22 a pony driver of Crossley Street. He was trapped between a tub and a stop block and was taken to Clayton Hospital. He was operated on but died shortly afterwards. The jury decided it was accidental death.
The Board of Guardians said they would take action against those who had paid nothing off their 1921 strike debt, but said they had no intention of dealing harshly with those whose circumstances were such they could not pay.
William Radley of Featherstone Green had gained possession of an invoice belonging to Solomon Chambers, a fruit and fish dealer of Halton Street, which showed he bought his cod at 6s 6d a stone, and sold it from his dray at one shilling a pound (14s a stone).
He was confronted in the street by Radley who called him a thief and a robber and as a result Chambers sued him and said he had lost trade. He offered to produce a cod in court to show the amount of wastage but his solicitor declined.
The jury awarded £2 damages, and although the judge said the case should never have been brought he awarded Chambers his costs.
A member of Featherstone Cricket Club broke a leg and was treated at Clayton Hospital for four months. The hospital asked the club for monetary assistance so a Darlington v McTrusty cricket match was organised followed by sports. Before the game 800 6d tickets were sold and with other efforts £50 was handed to the hospital.
Thomas Turton aged 47, a Featherstone councillor of Orchard Terrace, Purston, collapsed in the cage when going down Featherstone Main Colliery. He died before he could be got out of the pit. At the inquest Dr Finch said death was due to heart failure. He was a member of the Featherstone Labour Party and had been a councillor for two years.
AUGUST Four Featherstone miners were taken to court and fined for taking coal from Ackton Hall Colliery's tip. Charles Pashley, for the colliery, said an enormous amount of damage was being done by coal pickers. Rails had been pulled up and fences damaged.
Heavy rain caused problems for Mrs Darlington's and Steven's tennis tournament, and a trip to Heath Common organised by the Rechabites. But it provided plenty of water for the new paddling pool put in by the council on the council housing site.
The education sub-committee had gone through the list of parents who owed money for their children's meals during the miners' strike and recommended who should be made to pay and who should not be pressed. Their views were ignored by the county council.
Mr Evans said he knew of one Featherstone man who had been summonsed to appear at Wakefield for owing 1s 9d. The cost of the summons was 3s 6d. Cr Holiday said he knew of one household with £12 a week going in but only 6d a week being repaid.
Katie Hirst age 32 of Earle Street was going to the Hippodrome when she slipped on orange peel and fell heavily. After attention by Dr Steven she was taken to Clayton Hospital on 3 February where she died of blood poisoning on 26 April.
MAY James Jones and Harry Moreland were fined £3 each for taking their pit ponies along a haulage road when ordered not to do so. Some runaway tubs killed one of the ponies.
PC Fletcher found two men in a warehouse in Phipps Street, They ran off but he chased one and caught him in Featherstone Square. He was fined £5 for stealing 12 scrubbing brushes and one yard brush. The other man was not found.
George Herbert Cooper aged 15, a rope lad who lived in Mount Pleasant Street, was run over by tubs at Featherstone Main Colliery. He died the same day in Clayton Hospital. The inquest verdict was death from misadventure.
JUNE Mr S Bilson, the baths superintendent, was riding his motorcycle in Methley when he collided with a lorry. He was knocked unconscious and had to have stitches in his arm. He suffered from shock but was later said to be recovering.
There was an argument at Ackton Hospital over the cost of antitoxin at 5s per bulb. Some severe cases needed four. Dr W D Hartley, medical superintendent, said he began using it regularly six years ago and it undoubtedly reduced deaths. Deaths from scarlet fever from 1912 to 1916 were 38, and from 1917 to 1922 when it was used freely were only three.
The doctor said "The cheapest way of running any hospital would be for the patients to die as fast as admitted". The committee accepted the report and decided to continue as Dr Hartley recommended.
Thomas Candlin aged 59 lodged with his brother-in-law in Carlton Street. He failed to return one night, and his relatives, knowing he was depressed through ill-health and unemployment, informed the police. He was found the next morning on the path from North Featherstone Lane to Park Lane with his throat cut, but he was still alive. He was attended to by Dr Steven and taken to the Workhouse Infirmary at Pontefract in the Ackton Hall Colliery ambulance. He was expected to recover.
Parker and Boulnois of Purston were buying milk from farmers in Beale and Knottingley and undercutting the price of the Featherstone Milk Dealers' Association. The association threatened to sue those who circulated a rumour they were the dealers reported by the sanitary inspector as selling milk deficient in fat.
They said in these days of falling wages they would sell milk to the public at a price they could afford, and above which they ought not to be asked to pay.
JULY An inquest was held on Thomas Fox aged 22 a pony driver of Crossley Street. He was trapped between a tub and a stop block and was taken to Clayton Hospital. He was operated on but died shortly afterwards. The jury decided it was accidental death.
The Board of Guardians said they would take action against those who had paid nothing off their 1921 strike debt, but said they had no intention of dealing harshly with those whose circumstances were such they could not pay.
William Radley of Featherstone Green had gained possession of an invoice belonging to Solomon Chambers, a fruit and fish dealer of Halton Street, which showed he bought his cod at 6s 6d a stone, and sold it from his dray at one shilling a pound (14s a stone).
He was confronted in the street by Radley who called him a thief and a robber and as a result Chambers sued him and said he had lost trade. He offered to produce a cod in court to show the amount of wastage but his solicitor declined.
The jury awarded £2 damages, and although the judge said the case should never have been brought he awarded Chambers his costs.
A member of Featherstone Cricket Club broke a leg and was treated at Clayton Hospital for four months. The hospital asked the club for monetary assistance so a Darlington v McTrusty cricket match was organised followed by sports. Before the game 800 6d tickets were sold and with other efforts £50 was handed to the hospital.
Thomas Turton aged 47, a Featherstone councillor of Orchard Terrace, Purston, collapsed in the cage when going down Featherstone Main Colliery. He died before he could be got out of the pit. At the inquest Dr Finch said death was due to heart failure. He was a member of the Featherstone Labour Party and had been a councillor for two years.
AUGUST Four Featherstone miners were taken to court and fined for taking coal from Ackton Hall Colliery's tip. Charles Pashley, for the colliery, said an enormous amount of damage was being done by coal pickers. Rails had been pulled up and fences damaged.
Heavy rain caused problems for Mrs Darlington's and Steven's tennis tournament, and a trip to Heath Common organised by the Rechabites. But it provided plenty of water for the new paddling pool put in by the council on the council housing site.
 |
| Chesney's Bay on Pontefract Road. A Featherstone Library Collection photo. |
Twelve Featherstone miners were fined from 12s to £4 for gambling
with coins in Featherstone Square. Seven other miners were fined from
12s to 15s for playing banker in Hartley Street. The fines varied
because of different previous convictions.
John William Shaw was jailed for three months with hard labour for stealing a gold watch valued at £5 from the bedroom of Alf Plimmer in Gladstone Street and pawning it for 30s.
Lord Masham loaned the Featherstone Branch of the British Legion £2,500 to purchase their club property. Roslyn Holiday, who had arranged the loan, said there would not be much difficulty in arranging another £500 for improvements now the premises were purchased. The Legion's athletics festival in the cricket field during feast week had to be abandoned because of heavy rain.
The Featherstone Rovers players were members of the Players' Union which had issued a strike threat. They thought the threat was too drastic, but felt they had to be loyal to the union. The committee said whatever was decided a team would be sent to York so the team backed down and played.
A tennis tournament was held in the cricket field. Ten courts were marked out and only doubles were played. Fifty couples entered.
SEPTEMBER Dr Steven reported to the council the clinics were closed in August because of a measles epidemic and were still closed. The owners of houses in Mount Pleasant, Ivy and Rhyl Streets were ordered to convert privies into separate WC's for each house.
An offer from the Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire Company to provide a lamp of 200 watts at the bottom of Station Lane at £6 per annum and eight lamps of 100 watts at other junctions at £5 per annum was accepted.
A small square at Chapel Street, with houses on three sided and the muckstack on the other was causing a nuisance by constant floods, which when dried out caused an offensive smell. The council could not find out who owned the land so they applied to the court for an order to put it right without being accused of trespass. An order was granted.
The Featherstone Branch of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association, now called the Royal British Legion, asked Lord Masham if he would increase the mortgage on their premises by £500. Roslyn Holiday acted as intermediary and said his lordship could not alter the mortgage, but he had placed £500 to their credit in the bank as a free gift.
George Bennett of Pontefract was knocked down by a train at the Halfpenny Lane crossing while walking home from Featherstone Main Colliery. He died in Clayton Hospital the same day. The council decided to ask the London and North Western Railway to provide a footbridge there and a subway at the Church Field crossing.
OCTOBER John Barnett age 17 was fined £4 for attempting to steal a bucket of coal which contained 26 pounds of coal valued at 4d. He said he had been offered 2d for it. The summons was brought by Ackton Hall Colliery who said they had suffered tremendous damage and loss through coal stealing and asked for a deterrent penalty.
The council were told the schools and clinics had reopened after the measles epidemic died out. Cr Holiday offered to supply electricity for lighting Lister Baths at one shilling for the season. This would save the council about £100. A tennis court would be marked out on the floor and could be used up to 9pm if there were no other functions. A rate of 3s 2d was fixed for the half year.
NOVEMBER One of the provisions of the Mining Industry Act of 1920 was the setting up of a Miners' Welfare Fund which received money from a levy on the coal owners. At the November council meeting Cr Evans said the district was to have a grant of £5,000 from the fund, and this was to be used to purchase the Assembly Rooms.
John William Shaw was jailed for three months with hard labour for stealing a gold watch valued at £5 from the bedroom of Alf Plimmer in Gladstone Street and pawning it for 30s.
Lord Masham loaned the Featherstone Branch of the British Legion £2,500 to purchase their club property. Roslyn Holiday, who had arranged the loan, said there would not be much difficulty in arranging another £500 for improvements now the premises were purchased. The Legion's athletics festival in the cricket field during feast week had to be abandoned because of heavy rain.
The Featherstone Rovers players were members of the Players' Union which had issued a strike threat. They thought the threat was too drastic, but felt they had to be loyal to the union. The committee said whatever was decided a team would be sent to York so the team backed down and played.
A tennis tournament was held in the cricket field. Ten courts were marked out and only doubles were played. Fifty couples entered.
SEPTEMBER Dr Steven reported to the council the clinics were closed in August because of a measles epidemic and were still closed. The owners of houses in Mount Pleasant, Ivy and Rhyl Streets were ordered to convert privies into separate WC's for each house.
An offer from the Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire Company to provide a lamp of 200 watts at the bottom of Station Lane at £6 per annum and eight lamps of 100 watts at other junctions at £5 per annum was accepted.
A small square at Chapel Street, with houses on three sided and the muckstack on the other was causing a nuisance by constant floods, which when dried out caused an offensive smell. The council could not find out who owned the land so they applied to the court for an order to put it right without being accused of trespass. An order was granted.
The Featherstone Branch of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association, now called the Royal British Legion, asked Lord Masham if he would increase the mortgage on their premises by £500. Roslyn Holiday acted as intermediary and said his lordship could not alter the mortgage, but he had placed £500 to their credit in the bank as a free gift.
George Bennett of Pontefract was knocked down by a train at the Halfpenny Lane crossing while walking home from Featherstone Main Colliery. He died in Clayton Hospital the same day. The council decided to ask the London and North Western Railway to provide a footbridge there and a subway at the Church Field crossing.
OCTOBER John Barnett age 17 was fined £4 for attempting to steal a bucket of coal which contained 26 pounds of coal valued at 4d. He said he had been offered 2d for it. The summons was brought by Ackton Hall Colliery who said they had suffered tremendous damage and loss through coal stealing and asked for a deterrent penalty.
The council were told the schools and clinics had reopened after the measles epidemic died out. Cr Holiday offered to supply electricity for lighting Lister Baths at one shilling for the season. This would save the council about £100. A tennis court would be marked out on the floor and could be used up to 9pm if there were no other functions. A rate of 3s 2d was fixed for the half year.
NOVEMBER One of the provisions of the Mining Industry Act of 1920 was the setting up of a Miners' Welfare Fund which received money from a levy on the coal owners. At the November council meeting Cr Evans said the district was to have a grant of £5,000 from the fund, and this was to be used to purchase the Assembly Rooms.
He claimed the workers at the three collieries were against this and Purston
Hall Estate should be purchased for £4,000 for the collieries in
Featherstone, leaving £1,000 for the men at Snydale Colliery to decide what to do with it. Cr Evans was ruled out of order by the chairman who said they could not discuss the Welfare Fund.
Herbert Thrippleton, a boot dealer, was charged with having his shop open at 8.15pm on a Wednesday, whereas under the Early Closing Act it should have been closed at 8pm. He was let off with a caution,
In the General Election for the Normanton Division Fred Hall (Labour) beat Ernest George Beancroft by 16,040 votes to 5,855. The Express commented there was the utmost good feeling throughout the day between the two sets of workers.
John Altass of Purston had taken his girls away from school at 13 years old and got them jobs in service. The new Act required them to stay at school until they were 14 but he refused to tell the Featherstone education sub-committee where they were. In court he said he was on relief and rather than see them pine he took a chance of getting them a good home and good food. The Bench ordered him to produce one daughter next week.
This he did and said the other girl was his daughter's child but if the Bench said both children had to go to school they would. The chairman said we do say so.
The Featherstone and Purston Cricket and Tennis Club held its third annual dinner. Roslyn Holiday presided and said when they began the two colliery companies had offered a loan of £150 each but they had managed without borrowing a penny and now had a balance of £50.
Joe Bradbury, the captain said the supporters ought to devise some scheme for better accommodation at the ground, but the problem was they were subject to six months notice. G F Goulding, the secretary, said they had 340 full members and 100 half members. It was hoped to convert the old football field into hard and grass tennis courts, a bowling green and a pavilion.
DECEMBER Dr Steven told the council there were 72 cases of measles in November and eight of scarlet fever taken to the hospital.
It was agreed by the council to allow the electricity company to erect a line from Glass Houghton to Featherstone. The draft agreement for street lighting by electricity was to be submitted to a Leeds gentleman for his advice and opinion.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee plus a large gathering of mothers met at the Gospel Hall for presentations to Nurse Brennan who had resigned as a health visitor because she was to be married. Miss Mary Owen was appointed to replace her.
The Featherstone and Purston Flying Club held its first show at the Coronation Working Men's Club. A total of 143 pigeons were entered.
Herbert Thrippleton, a boot dealer, was charged with having his shop open at 8.15pm on a Wednesday, whereas under the Early Closing Act it should have been closed at 8pm. He was let off with a caution,
In the General Election for the Normanton Division Fred Hall (Labour) beat Ernest George Beancroft by 16,040 votes to 5,855. The Express commented there was the utmost good feeling throughout the day between the two sets of workers.
John Altass of Purston had taken his girls away from school at 13 years old and got them jobs in service. The new Act required them to stay at school until they were 14 but he refused to tell the Featherstone education sub-committee where they were. In court he said he was on relief and rather than see them pine he took a chance of getting them a good home and good food. The Bench ordered him to produce one daughter next week.
This he did and said the other girl was his daughter's child but if the Bench said both children had to go to school they would. The chairman said we do say so.
The Featherstone and Purston Cricket and Tennis Club held its third annual dinner. Roslyn Holiday presided and said when they began the two colliery companies had offered a loan of £150 each but they had managed without borrowing a penny and now had a balance of £50.
Joe Bradbury, the captain said the supporters ought to devise some scheme for better accommodation at the ground, but the problem was they were subject to six months notice. G F Goulding, the secretary, said they had 340 full members and 100 half members. It was hoped to convert the old football field into hard and grass tennis courts, a bowling green and a pavilion.
DECEMBER Dr Steven told the council there were 72 cases of measles in November and eight of scarlet fever taken to the hospital.
It was agreed by the council to allow the electricity company to erect a line from Glass Houghton to Featherstone. The draft agreement for street lighting by electricity was to be submitted to a Leeds gentleman for his advice and opinion.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee plus a large gathering of mothers met at the Gospel Hall for presentations to Nurse Brennan who had resigned as a health visitor because she was to be married. Miss Mary Owen was appointed to replace her.
The Featherstone and Purston Flying Club held its first show at the Coronation Working Men's Club. A total of 143 pigeons were entered.