A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1923
THE COUNCIL v MRS DRIVER
1923 NEWS ITEMS
The council had ordered Mrs Driver of Carleton, owner of houses in Halton
Street, to convert the privies into WC's, but for months she had said
she couldn't afford it. She was taken to court again in January. Joseph Sagar, for the council said nothing had been done and the property was becoming worse and worse.
Guy Clayton-Smith, for Mrs Driver, said she regretted nothing had been
done. She would like to close the properties but was not allowed to by
the Rent Restriction Act. One house was empty and would not be re-let.
The chairman said the Bench could not see why she would not repair the
property. She had paid £200 in fines so far which would have gone a long
way towards the repairs. Mr Clayton-Smith said the cost of repairs
would exceed the value of the properties. She was fined another £21 and
costs.
The case went back to court in March and Mrs Driver was fined the usual 10s a day - this time £22 10s. In April the clerk reported to the council there were further proceedings against Mrs Driver. The Bench had suggested she should appear in court but it seemed impossible to get her there and she was fined another £26.
Back in court in June Mr Clayton-Smith said an engineer had examined the property and it was impossible to carry out the order to change 36 privies to WC's. The nuisance was caused by sewage overflow from the council's drains. The council's inspector said the problem was caused by defective sink pipes. The fine this time was £35 12s. The council said they would put the sink pipes in order and recover the cost from Mrs Driver. This was later agreed at £11 5s.
In August Pontefract Court fined Mrs Driver another £17 for not complying with their order. Joseph Sagar said the danger to health was increasing especially in warm weather and he produced photographs showing the dilapidated condition of the privies including the roofs and a missing door. Mr Guy Clayton-Smith said Mrs Driver was waiting for council's opinion on the case.
Nothing more was heard until December when the council appointed a sub-committee "to take such action as they may deem best re the action of Mrs Driver against the council".
The case went back to court in March and Mrs Driver was fined the usual 10s a day - this time £22 10s. In April the clerk reported to the council there were further proceedings against Mrs Driver. The Bench had suggested she should appear in court but it seemed impossible to get her there and she was fined another £26.
Back in court in June Mr Clayton-Smith said an engineer had examined the property and it was impossible to carry out the order to change 36 privies to WC's. The nuisance was caused by sewage overflow from the council's drains. The council's inspector said the problem was caused by defective sink pipes. The fine this time was £35 12s. The council said they would put the sink pipes in order and recover the cost from Mrs Driver. This was later agreed at £11 5s.
In August Pontefract Court fined Mrs Driver another £17 for not complying with their order. Joseph Sagar said the danger to health was increasing especially in warm weather and he produced photographs showing the dilapidated condition of the privies including the roofs and a missing door. Mr Guy Clayton-Smith said Mrs Driver was waiting for council's opinion on the case.
Nothing more was heard until December when the council appointed a sub-committee "to take such action as they may deem best re the action of Mrs Driver against the council".
COUNCIL HOUSES
In
January the council were told they could build another 12 houses on the
second council house scheme so a loan of £3,960 was applied for to be
repaid in 60 years.
In February the council clerk said in order to be ready for whatever scheme the Government adopted about town planning the council should take steps to select a site for further houses and
prepare plans. Cr Darlington said the council should complete the
present scheme first and instead of the latest idea of another 14 large
houses facing Pontefract Road they should build as many small houses as
the site would carry, perhaps 24, which should pay their way.
The Express commented
"We wish the Featherstone Authority the fullest success in their
endeavour to meet a pressing need of the time. That Featherstone does
need houses no public man doubts. That the council has done in this
regard all that could be done, humanly speaking, is known to everyone
who makes himself acquainted with what is going on in the district".
In March Cr Darlington objected again to only 14 houses being proposed for the crescent facing Pontefract Road, now to be named Brookway. He said
they ought to get at least 18 into the space. Cr Ryan said he would not
favour building any little monkey houses such as they had been
building. The council arranged a special meeting for April and decided there would be 14 houses. It was also agreed to inspect sites at Streethouse for 100 houses and in Featherstone for another 200.
In May the council decided to see Mr Hemingway about 22 acres of Leatham Park and Thomas Day for two fields in Purston. It was agreed the next 12 houses built would have a rent of 6s plus rates and no lodgers would be allowed.
The Ministry of Health said they would not give a subsidy for the proposed 14 houses in Brookway, and said they had to be satisfied the needs of the district could not be met by private enterprise.
Mr Hemingway told the council he wanted 6d a square yard for his land, and Mr Day asked for 5d. The council turned down Mr Hemingway and asked Mr Day if he would accept 3d. He declined so the council said they would consider compulsory purchase.
In July the surveyor was told to prepare a scheme for 20 houses on the smallpox hospital site. The Ministry of Health wrote to say they would not allow the council house rents to be less than 6s 6d plus rates, and they would not sanction a loan of more than £1,000 for Mr Day's fields.
A special meeting was held to consider tenders for 14 houses on Brookway. The tender of £5,530 from Smith and Hawley of Sheffield was accepted. The Ministry then authorised the council to borrow that sum to be paid back over 60 years, and it was obtained from the Public Loans Board at 4% interest.
The sale of the land where the smallpox hospital was sited did not allow it to be used for any other purpose, so the council contacted the owner to obtain a release from that condition. They also replied to the Ministry that private enterprise would not satisfy the housing shortage in Featherstone and asked for sanction for the Purston scheme.
A deputation to the Ministry in November reported a lump sum subsidy of £100 had been offered per house for private building, and the Ministry had agreed to 20 houses on the smallpox hospital site. Mr Fearnley had agreed to remove the restrictions on the site.
 |
| Part of Brookway. A photo from the Wakefield Museums' Collection. |
In May the council decided to see Mr Hemingway about 22 acres of Leatham Park and Thomas Day for two fields in Purston. It was agreed the next 12 houses built would have a rent of 6s plus rates and no lodgers would be allowed.
The Ministry of Health said they would not give a subsidy for the proposed 14 houses in Brookway, and said they had to be satisfied the needs of the district could not be met by private enterprise.
Mr Hemingway told the council he wanted 6d a square yard for his land, and Mr Day asked for 5d. The council turned down Mr Hemingway and asked Mr Day if he would accept 3d. He declined so the council said they would consider compulsory purchase.
In July the surveyor was told to prepare a scheme for 20 houses on the smallpox hospital site. The Ministry of Health wrote to say they would not allow the council house rents to be less than 6s 6d plus rates, and they would not sanction a loan of more than £1,000 for Mr Day's fields.
A special meeting was held to consider tenders for 14 houses on Brookway. The tender of £5,530 from Smith and Hawley of Sheffield was accepted. The Ministry then authorised the council to borrow that sum to be paid back over 60 years, and it was obtained from the Public Loans Board at 4% interest.
The sale of the land where the smallpox hospital was sited did not allow it to be used for any other purpose, so the council contacted the owner to obtain a release from that condition. They also replied to the Ministry that private enterprise would not satisfy the housing shortage in Featherstone and asked for sanction for the Purston scheme.
A deputation to the Ministry in November reported a lump sum subsidy of £100 had been offered per house for private building, and the Ministry had agreed to 20 houses on the smallpox hospital site. Mr Fearnley had agreed to remove the restrictions on the site.
THE TRADESMEN
At the annual Meeting of the Featherstone and District Tradesmen's
Association in February it was said the fete and gala were not held
because of the current trade depression. The association had tried
without success to secure a telephone exchange for Featherstone.
The annual dinner was held three weeks later. Mr J H Heseltine said they had between 60 and 70 members. The association had backed the council in its protest at the disgraceful state of the Purston to Pontefract road.
The tender for recent council houses had gone to a Leeds man. It should have gone to a Featherstone man so the money would have been spent in the district. Mr Evans replied the Ministry of Health obliged them to accept the lowest tender. Two years ago the council had a heavy overdraft and by careful work they now had a balance at the bank.
Mr McTrusty said Ackton Hall Colliery had adopted measures which reduced the smoke from the chimney to 25% of what it used to be, and it might mean selling less soap.
The annual dinner was held three weeks later. Mr J H Heseltine said they had between 60 and 70 members. The association had backed the council in its protest at the disgraceful state of the Purston to Pontefract road.
The tender for recent council houses had gone to a Leeds man. It should have gone to a Featherstone man so the money would have been spent in the district. Mr Evans replied the Ministry of Health obliged them to accept the lowest tender. Two years ago the council had a heavy overdraft and by careful work they now had a balance at the bank.
Mr McTrusty said Ackton Hall Colliery had adopted measures which reduced the smoke from the chimney to 25% of what it used to be, and it might mean selling less soap.
DR STEVEN'S ANNUAL REPORT
Dr Steven's annual report was published in May. He said the death rate was 10.7, the lowest ever recorded, as was the infant mortality rate at 68 per 1,000 (150 in the previous year). There had been 238 cases of measles, 39 0f scarlet fever, and 53 of tuberculosis.
Regarding tuberculosis he said
"As long as we have our present conditions nothing will stop it. We are
at present building houses strictly restricted by the Ministry to a
maximum size, wholly inadequate to the requirements of this congested district, with each house sadly overcrowded".
There was a waiting list of over 400 for new houses. Many existing houses needed drastic improvements and repairs, or condemning. Fifty privies had been converted to WC's and there were now 1,316 in the total number of houses of 2,958.
FEATHERSTONE AND PURSTON CRICKET AND TENNIS CLUB
The fourth annual dinner of the Featherstone and Purston Cricket and
Tennis Club was held at the Travellers' Hotel in November with 80
members present. The president, Mr Holiday, said in spite of the havoc
caused by last season's weather they had had some great sport. He
praised the work of the ladies', tennis and bowling committees, and
commented on the striking difference in the chivalrous behaviour of the
young men in the town from what it was 30 years ago. He attributed this
to the good influence of sport. He also commented on the loss of Arthur
Booth to Yorkshire County Cricket Club. All agreed he had been a great
success and hoped he would go further. He announced those gentlemen
interested in the bowling green were bearing the expense of laying the
green.
The secretary, Mr G F Goulding, said 1923 had been the worst season on
record for cricket, many clubs becoming bankrupt owing to the weather.
Their club had lost over £80 on the season, both gate money and members'
subscriptions being down. At their match with Sheffield United they
took only half-a-crown compared with £175 taken at the football match on
the same day. But the club owed nobody anything. Old friends made a
whip-round, and now they could start next season with a clean sheet.
Mr Holiday congratulated Mr Darlington, Featherstone Main Colliery
manager, on his retirement, and hoped he would long be spared to take an
active interest in both cricket and football.
Mr Darlington said he had had 50 years strenuous work down the mine and
thought he was now entitled to a rest. When he first came the combined
output of the pits was 40,000 tons of coal a year, now it was about two
million. The evening ended with musical entertainment.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Services were held in the churches and chapels for Remembrance Day. At
North Featherstone Lane School in Gordon Street the girls sang a special hymn
entitled The Supreme Sacrifice and Frances Cowey read out the
names of the 27 ex-pupils on the roll of honour for those who died in
the Great War. The children had brought poppies bought by their parents,
and they made them into two wreaths which were placed on the memorial
tablet.
The Express commented
"A special feature of the proceedings was the visit of a number of
ex-servicemen who placed on the tablet a large wreath of poppies which
had been made up by Mrs Price of Kimberley Street. In addition there was
a quantity of beautiful flowers sent by devoted parents of heroes whose
names are on the tablet. Thus, at this school is kept green the memory
of noble deeds by the gallant dead. A most pleasing feature is the fact
that never since the unveiling three years ago, has the tablet ever
lacked flowers".
1923 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY
The London and North Western Railway initials lasted on local
locomotives exactly one year. On 1 January there was another
amalgamation and the London Midland and Scottish Railway was formed. A typical locomotive, from Preserved British Steam Locomotives, is shown below.
The medical officer reported to the council there were 83 cases of measles last month and the infant's schools and the clinics were closed.
FEBRUARY Joseph Riley of 54 Halfpenny Lane, a boot repairer in Pontefract, and Dorothy Wilby, a draper and general dealer in Green Lane, had bankruptcy hearings. They both blamed falling prices, bad trade and lack of capital.
At the council meeting the medical officer said there were now 145 cases of measles and the infants' school remained closed. There had been three deaths but the epidemic was now abating.
Joshua Darnsborough age eleven had been sent to a detention home for shop breaking in Station Lane. He was sent home for a month for a last chance, but he was back in court because his father said he could do nothing with him as he took money from the house and took off on buses.
The court sent him to an industrial school for five years where he would be well taught, under discipline, and would have time to forget all his bad ways. The father was ordered to pay 15s a week maintenance out of about £3 10s a week earnings. He protested he couldn't afford it but he was told it would cost that much to feed and clothe him at home.
The War Memorial Committee had received several designs for a memorial, but the small sum realised, only about £200, did not give much scope. They said they would do their best in the regrettable circumstances.
Now the Assembly Rooms had been sold to the Miners' Welfare Fund there was no reason for The Featherstone Assembly Rooms and Institute Company Limited so they went into voluntary liquidation.
MARCH The Rovers were drawn at home against Wigan in the second round of the Rugby League Cup. The crowd numbered 10,000 with not many from Wigan, and the receipts were a record £625, so the Rovers hoped to clear £200 as their share. They lost by a controversial decision when Jack Hirst put the ball over the try line and the referee awarded a try, but then he saw the touch judge's flag raised so he had to cancel the try and give a scrum. The Rovers committee were convinced Mason had passed the ball to Hirst before he stepped into touch, but in spite of rumours of an objection to the result they realised the touch judge was the sole arbiter and his decision right or wrong would have to be accepted.
The Council election results were:
North Ward - Peter Darlington unopposed
Ackton and Snydale Ward - Arthur Simpson unopposed
Purston Ward - Arthur Coult unopposed
South Ward - Ben Dakin 289, William Henry Scholes 740.
Ben Dakin was supported by all three collieries and the Labour Party.
At the council meeting it was announced all the schools and baby clinics were reopened after the measles epidemic died down. There had been ten deaths, mostly children under five years old who had bronchitis. A rate of 2s 9d was fixed. The clerk reported on correspondence with the GPO about a sub-post office being started in Purston.
Samuel Ferris aged 56 of Post Office Road was found dead in a field off Ackworth Road. He had been out of work work for three weeks and said he was going to Pontefract Labour Exchange. A few years earlier he had tried to hang himself. A bottle of beer and a tin of weedkiller were found beside him. Death was due to arsenic poisoning and the inquest jury decided it was suicide while of unsound mind.
Joseph Green of Pontefract was buried by a fall of roof at Ackton Hall Colliery. He was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died the same day. The inquest jury said it was accidental death.
FEBRUARY Joseph Riley of 54 Halfpenny Lane, a boot repairer in Pontefract, and Dorothy Wilby, a draper and general dealer in Green Lane, had bankruptcy hearings. They both blamed falling prices, bad trade and lack of capital.
At the council meeting the medical officer said there were now 145 cases of measles and the infants' school remained closed. There had been three deaths but the epidemic was now abating.
Joshua Darnsborough age eleven had been sent to a detention home for shop breaking in Station Lane. He was sent home for a month for a last chance, but he was back in court because his father said he could do nothing with him as he took money from the house and took off on buses.
The court sent him to an industrial school for five years where he would be well taught, under discipline, and would have time to forget all his bad ways. The father was ordered to pay 15s a week maintenance out of about £3 10s a week earnings. He protested he couldn't afford it but he was told it would cost that much to feed and clothe him at home.
The War Memorial Committee had received several designs for a memorial, but the small sum realised, only about £200, did not give much scope. They said they would do their best in the regrettable circumstances.
Now the Assembly Rooms had been sold to the Miners' Welfare Fund there was no reason for The Featherstone Assembly Rooms and Institute Company Limited so they went into voluntary liquidation.
MARCH The Rovers were drawn at home against Wigan in the second round of the Rugby League Cup. The crowd numbered 10,000 with not many from Wigan, and the receipts were a record £625, so the Rovers hoped to clear £200 as their share. They lost by a controversial decision when Jack Hirst put the ball over the try line and the referee awarded a try, but then he saw the touch judge's flag raised so he had to cancel the try and give a scrum. The Rovers committee were convinced Mason had passed the ball to Hirst before he stepped into touch, but in spite of rumours of an objection to the result they realised the touch judge was the sole arbiter and his decision right or wrong would have to be accepted.
The Council election results were:
North Ward - Peter Darlington unopposed
Ackton and Snydale Ward - Arthur Simpson unopposed
Purston Ward - Arthur Coult unopposed
South Ward - Ben Dakin 289, William Henry Scholes 740.
Ben Dakin was supported by all three collieries and the Labour Party.
At the council meeting it was announced all the schools and baby clinics were reopened after the measles epidemic died down. There had been ten deaths, mostly children under five years old who had bronchitis. A rate of 2s 9d was fixed. The clerk reported on correspondence with the GPO about a sub-post office being started in Purston.
Samuel Ferris aged 56 of Post Office Road was found dead in a field off Ackworth Road. He had been out of work work for three weeks and said he was going to Pontefract Labour Exchange. A few years earlier he had tried to hang himself. A bottle of beer and a tin of weedkiller were found beside him. Death was due to arsenic poisoning and the inquest jury decided it was suicide while of unsound mind.
Joseph Green of Pontefract was buried by a fall of roof at Ackton Hall Colliery. He was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died the same day. The inquest jury said it was accidental death.
An inquest was held on Mary Burma Griffiths aged 26 of Purston who died in Wakefield asylum. It was said she had never been right since she was in an explosion at Barnbow munition works and had suffered from TNT poisoning. She had a mania for breaking windows and had been in the asylum since 1919. The medical evidence was death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart and exhaustion, and the jury's verdict was natural causes.
APRIL The death was announced of Miss Mary Hemingway of Purston, the headmistress of Regent Street Girls' School, after a long illness. She had succeeded Henry Cooper at Purston National School and then Miss Cockerham four years ago at Regent Street.
Ackton Hospital said they had had 65 patients, the highest since January 1916 when there were 68. Two died from typhoid fever and three from scarlet fever.
At the council meeting the medical officer reported there had been 52 cases of tuberculosis in 1922 of which three had died. The measles epidemic had ceased but there was now a flue epidemic.
The electricity company said they would be ready for the street
lighting on 1 September so the council agreed to give the gas company
three months notice to end their contract.
The West Riding Company and Bullock and Sons were requested to arrange
the times of their buses so as not to run close together and to take any
other steps to obviate the present serious liability to accidents.
The clerk reported the mortgage on the council offices had now been
paid off. A rate of 2s 9d was fixed - a reduction of 5d. The council
protested at the decision of the GPO to site a sub-post office near Hall
Street in Purston rather than take up an offer of a place at the bottom
of Station Lane.
Thanks were expressed to Cr A Evans for his two years as chairman. He
said he was glad his two years had seen the finances of the council put
on a firmer base. Cr Darlington was elected in his place. The Express commented
"It was within the power and the right of the Labour Party members to
elect whoever they chose, and the fact Mr Darlington was chosen,
unanimously and unopposed, expressed a confidence in that member which
to him must have been very grateful indeed". At the meeting Cr
Darlington said his appointment was quite a shock and he had been very
comfortable in the chair he had occupied for seven years.
MAY An inquest was held in Wakefield Town Hall on John Jones aged 67 of Victoria Crescent, Purston, he was a haulage worker at Ackton Hall Colliery and he broke a leg when he was trapped by a tub. He was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died from shock the same day. The jury decided it was accidental death.
The council fixed the seal to the agreement with the electricity company for the street lighting to commence on 1 September. The Pontefract Postmaster replied to the council he could not open a sub-post office at the bottom of Station Lane and it would be in William Senior's shop in Purston. The West Riding bus company had issued a new timetable and the council asked J Bullock and Sons to run strictly to theirs to cease the practice of racing between buses.
Miss Lilian Ward, an assistant mistress at South Elmsall, was appointed head at Regent Street Girls' School in succession to the late Miss Hemingway.
Mr A W Archer, the managing director of the South Kirkby, Featherstone and Hemsworth Collieries Ltd entertained the Rovers players and committee at the Featherstone Main Colliery offices to celebrate winning the Lyon Cup (against Castleford and for Pontefract Infirmary) and the Clayton Hospital Cup against Wakefield.
He congratulated the club on the progress made in the first two years in the senior league. Mr Johnson, for the Rovers, appealed for more support and said they wanted to purchase the ground and erect a covered stand. A whip round at the event raised 25 guineas and the directors later sent a cheque for another 25 guineas.
Twenty designs had been submitted for a war memorial. They were reduced to two by the committee which were a column by W H Fearnley and a cross by Barker and Heseltine of Pontefract. A final decision would be made after permission was received from the council to erect the memorial in front of Purston Church.
JUNE The council informed the United Charities the Bede Houses were unfit for habitation and should be demolished. Notice was given to the gas company to terminate the agreement for the lighting of 220 street lamps but the electricity company had not yet made a start so it was agreed to write to tell them to get a move on.
Messrs Poppleton and Taylor, solicitors, asked the council if they would consider selling any of the recently built council houses. The chairman said they might consider selling to the tenants. It was agreed the war memorial could be sited in front of Purston Church.
William Grist was sent to prison for a month for deserting his wife and four children plus one born since he left and leaving them chargeable to Pontefract Poor Law Union since September 1921. The Union had paid out £171 so far.
Six Featherstone miners were taken to court by the education sub-committee for the cost of providing school meals during the last strike. They were all ordered to pay amounts from 32s to £3 3s 10d.
Police Sergeant Mann of Purston retired after serving in the district for seven years.
JULY An aftercare committee was formed for tuberculosis sufferers. They had £60 to start with including £30 from the Shirt and Sock Fund left over after the Great War ended.
The council were still concerned at the lack of progress in installing electric street lamps.
An inquest was held on John Robson aged 18 months of Phipps Street who pulled a mug of tea off the table and was scolded. He died from shock the next day in Pontefract Dispensary and the jury decided it was death by misadventure.
The 1921 census showed the population of the Featherstone Urban District was 14,842 an increase of 3.3% over the last one.
For the Old Featherstone and Ackton Children's Treat a procession was led by Featherstone Brass Band. The main attraction was maypole dancing by the National School. A balloon was released and the five shillings prize for its return was claimed from Criddling Stubbs.
AUGUST The work of altering and improving the Assembly Rooms for conversion into the Miners' Institute was proceeding under the direction of architect Mr W H Fearnley.
MAY An inquest was held in Wakefield Town Hall on John Jones aged 67 of Victoria Crescent, Purston, he was a haulage worker at Ackton Hall Colliery and he broke a leg when he was trapped by a tub. He was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died from shock the same day. The jury decided it was accidental death.
The council fixed the seal to the agreement with the electricity company for the street lighting to commence on 1 September. The Pontefract Postmaster replied to the council he could not open a sub-post office at the bottom of Station Lane and it would be in William Senior's shop in Purston. The West Riding bus company had issued a new timetable and the council asked J Bullock and Sons to run strictly to theirs to cease the practice of racing between buses.
Miss Lilian Ward, an assistant mistress at South Elmsall, was appointed head at Regent Street Girls' School in succession to the late Miss Hemingway.
Mr A W Archer, the managing director of the South Kirkby, Featherstone and Hemsworth Collieries Ltd entertained the Rovers players and committee at the Featherstone Main Colliery offices to celebrate winning the Lyon Cup (against Castleford and for Pontefract Infirmary) and the Clayton Hospital Cup against Wakefield.
He congratulated the club on the progress made in the first two years in the senior league. Mr Johnson, for the Rovers, appealed for more support and said they wanted to purchase the ground and erect a covered stand. A whip round at the event raised 25 guineas and the directors later sent a cheque for another 25 guineas.
Twenty designs had been submitted for a war memorial. They were reduced to two by the committee which were a column by W H Fearnley and a cross by Barker and Heseltine of Pontefract. A final decision would be made after permission was received from the council to erect the memorial in front of Purston Church.
JUNE The council informed the United Charities the Bede Houses were unfit for habitation and should be demolished. Notice was given to the gas company to terminate the agreement for the lighting of 220 street lamps but the electricity company had not yet made a start so it was agreed to write to tell them to get a move on.
Messrs Poppleton and Taylor, solicitors, asked the council if they would consider selling any of the recently built council houses. The chairman said they might consider selling to the tenants. It was agreed the war memorial could be sited in front of Purston Church.
William Grist was sent to prison for a month for deserting his wife and four children plus one born since he left and leaving them chargeable to Pontefract Poor Law Union since September 1921. The Union had paid out £171 so far.
Six Featherstone miners were taken to court by the education sub-committee for the cost of providing school meals during the last strike. They were all ordered to pay amounts from 32s to £3 3s 10d.
Police Sergeant Mann of Purston retired after serving in the district for seven years.
JULY An aftercare committee was formed for tuberculosis sufferers. They had £60 to start with including £30 from the Shirt and Sock Fund left over after the Great War ended.
The council were still concerned at the lack of progress in installing electric street lamps.
An inquest was held on John Robson aged 18 months of Phipps Street who pulled a mug of tea off the table and was scolded. He died from shock the next day in Pontefract Dispensary and the jury decided it was death by misadventure.
The 1921 census showed the population of the Featherstone Urban District was 14,842 an increase of 3.3% over the last one.
For the Old Featherstone and Ackton Children's Treat a procession was led by Featherstone Brass Band. The main attraction was maypole dancing by the National School. A balloon was released and the five shillings prize for its return was claimed from Criddling Stubbs.
AUGUST The work of altering and improving the Assembly Rooms for conversion into the Miners' Institute was proceeding under the direction of architect Mr W H Fearnley.
Five schoolboys were in court for stealing a gold watch, a penknife and a whistle together valued at £3 3s from the locked desk of Miss Mabel Alexander at North Featherstone Lane Council School. Also a penknife, whistle and 3s 3d from teacher Doris Beale. It was their first offence so they were all put on probation.
The council approved plans for alterations to six and eight Station Lane for the Yorkshire Penny Bank.
Now permission was received to erect the war memorial in front of
Purston Church the committee chose the design of Mr W H Fearnley.
Sam Moss aged 52 of Robins Terrace was killed by a train at Church Fields level crossing. An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall at which his widow Rachel Moss said he was in good health and sight but rather deaf. Other people at the crossing were waiting to cross and shouted at him but apparently he did not hear them and appeared to be watching the cricket as he crossed.
Sam Moss aged 52 of Robins Terrace was killed by a train at Church Fields level crossing. An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall at which his widow Rachel Moss said he was in good health and sight but rather deaf. Other people at the crossing were waiting to cross and shouted at him but apparently he did not hear them and appeared to be watching the cricket as he crossed.
He was hit by a passenger train and killed instantly and flung down the
embankment. The jury said it was accidental death and wanted something
done
to remedy what they considered a very dangerous crossing. They said the
railway company's conduct was absolute callousness - nothing was done
despite protests by previous juries and the council.
At the council meeting the same night Cr Ryan said it was time something was done to bring an end to the railway company's attitude of ignoring all representation. It was agreed to seek a meeting with the Board of Trade and to ask the LMS company to provide an attendant to lock the gates when a train was approaching.
Walter Shepherd was in court over privies and ashpits in Moorland View. The council said they were in such an insanitary condition the only cure was conversion to WC's. The Bench adjourned to view the premises and then said they had no hesitation in making an order for conversion.
At the council meeting the same night Cr Ryan said it was time something was done to bring an end to the railway company's attitude of ignoring all representation. It was agreed to seek a meeting with the Board of Trade and to ask the LMS company to provide an attendant to lock the gates when a train was approaching.
Walter Shepherd was in court over privies and ashpits in Moorland View. The council said they were in such an insanitary condition the only cure was conversion to WC's. The Bench adjourned to view the premises and then said they had no hesitation in making an order for conversion.
Alf Evans of Farm Road was knocked off his bicycle by a car near the Junction Inn and pinned underneath. A number of men waiting for Featherstone Brass Band lifted the car to release him and found he was only bruised.
The second annual festival for local hospitals was held on the Rovers field. Featherstone Permanent Orchestra and combined choirs were in attendance. A sum of £33 was raised. Cr Darlington JP presided and said all the hospitals at Leeds, Wakefield and Pontefract were upheld by voluntary contributions and were in debt.
Dr Steven said Featherstone contributions were a long way behind the cost of Featherstone patients, and it behoved all to dip their hands deeper into their pockets than they did last year.
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| A Hospital Sunday crowd. A Featherstone Library Collection photo. |
SEPTEMBER The Board of Trade told the council there was no statutory obligation on the LMS railway company to provide a bridge or subway at the level crossings. The census showed about 40 persons a day used the Church Fields crossing (near the cricket field) and about 500 a day crossed the lines at Halfpenny Lane which rose to 800 on Sundays.
The Board said the council would have a better case if they could
prove delays due to shunting coal wagons. The council decided to
approach the LMS to see what they would do.
The electricity company had commenced laying mains and the Council asked the shopkeepers to keep their window lights on until the new street lamps were lit. A lower rate of 2s 6d was fixed for the next six months.
Denis Bullock of Station Lane had a bus which was taken to Scarborough to bring a party to Wakefield. The driver was Charles Willie Bullock of Post Office Road. In Wakefield he decided to pick up a load of passengers for Pontefract . The owner and driver were taken to court and fined £1 and £2 for not having a hackney carriage licence necessary in the city of Wakefield.
OCTOBER Eighteen Featherstone miners were charged with gaming with coins in Featherstone Square. One claimed he wasn't there and was given the benefit of the doubt. The others were fined from 15s to 25s.
The Board of Guardians discussed the case of the Gould family of Featherstone. The wife and four children had been admitted to the workhouse but the husband, whose income was £5 6s a week, refused to maintain them.
It was decided to take Arthur Gould to court. He claimed his average income was £4 a week including a pension of 31s 9d, and he had given his wife as much as £3 out of that. She said he is the biggest liar on the face of the earth. The most he had given her was 35s and the week before she went back into the workhouse he gave her 28s.
The Bench sent him to prison for a month. A separation order was granted and he was ordered to pay 30s a week plus 11s 9d out of his pension.
The cricket club and the Rovers played a game of soccer on the Rovers ground. The score was 1-1 and afterwards the teams had tea and a smoker at the Travellers' Hotel. The proceeds of the game were shared.
James Foster with his eyes blacked and his head bandaged appeared in court to charge Harold and Albert Gates with assault. He lived with Harold Gates and had use of half of the house for 8s a week. He found out Mr Gates was only paying 8s 6d full rent so he offered 4s 4d. A row ensued and he was attacked by both men. They were both fined £2 17s and £3 of it went to James Foster for compensation.
An inquest was held on Jessie Milicent aged seven of Featherstone Lane. She had been blowing up a balloon and had breathed it in. She went blue in the face and was rushed to Dr Steven's. He probed the throat in an attempt to get it out but she died. The jury decided it was death by misadventure.
David Copley was driving eleven Featherstone folk home by bus from a party when he came across a man lying in the road near Ferrybridge. He swerved and the bus overturned in a ditch. The bus was virtually wrecked but the only injuries were severe bruising apart from William Boulton, curator of Featherstone Cemetery who had a broken collar bone and a crushed hand. The man in the road had a broken leg but had no idea what had happened.
The council agreed a reduced rate of 2s 6d. It was said in October 1920 the rate was 3s 8d, and in December 1921 the overdraft was £6,538. This was now wiped out and the rates reduced. Cr Rogers, chairman of the finance committee, said it refuted suggestions the council were wasting the ratepayers' money. The rents of council houses would be reduced by 3d or 4d a week
Edward Hughes, steward at the Green Lane Club, ordered four men out at closing time. They refused to leave and James Chilton attacked the steward in the passage and knocked him down. He could not get up and was found to have a broken leg. In court James Chilton was sent to prison for one month. It was said there had been frequent disturbances by members who thought their membership allowed them to obey or disobey the orders of the steward as they chose.
The Assembly Rooms, now the Miners' Welfare Institute, was being refurbished with a new entrance and two staircases to take away the unsightly effect of the huge brick walling seen from Station Lane. There would also be committee rooms, lecture hall, reading room, games and billiard room and a cafe. It would be completely repainted, electricity installed and new heating.
The war memorial committee published the final plans for a war memorial and said they hoped to inscribe the names of those killed on the base panels if there was enough money
. An inquest was held on John Jukes aged 64 of Victoria Street. He was a deputy at Featherstone Main Colliery and was injured by a fall of roof. He was taken to Clayton Hospital and died the same day. The verdict was accidental death.
NOVEMBER More than 30 Purston and district people were summonsed for not paying income tax. Some paid up before the hearing. The others were ordered to pay plus costs.
In order to counter a loss of sales because of the introduction of electricity to the district, the gas board announced a drop in the price of gas to 5s 2d per 1,000 cubic feet and the rebate from gas meters would go up a halfpenny to 2½d in the shilling.
The Featherstone United Charities decided as the Bede Houses were no longer habitable they should be pulled down and the site offered for sale, subject to the sanction of the Charity Commissioners, at 7s 6d per square yard.
Dr T W Ruttledge, the district tuberculosis officer, gave a lecture on hygiene at the Hippodrome which was three parts full. Cr Darlington spoke of the council's efforts to secure more houses. He said they had received permission for another 84 and hoped to build 300 all told. He admitted there was overcrowding in the town and this was a contributory cause of consumption.
Amy Barraclough and Annie Roberts were charged with stealing coal from Ackton Hall Colliery dirt tip. It was said Barraclough's father was entitled to 12 loads and had only claimed seven, Robert's father had been out of work for three years. Amy was fined 30s and Annie was bound over.
The council's highways and sanitary committee recommended the medical officer should stop the sale of fruit, vegetables and sweets etc in small combined living-rooms and shops where the conditions were insanitary. Cr Edwards objected and said if some were stopped from selling their bits of fruit and vegetables they would have to apply for relief, but the full council meeting passed the recommendation.
Mr Holiday was thanked for providing an electric light at Park Lane Corner and offering to supply electricity to Lister Hall in the winter at a nominal charge of one shilling.
The Featherstone Tradesmen's Association were in favour of a half-day closing for bakers and confectioners, but it had been voted down by some traders who were more general dealers than bakers. They would continue to press for a uniform half-day closing. Also some traders were contravening the Shops Act regarding trading hours, and the county council would be asked to enforce the Act. If necessary the Association would approach the Home Secretary.
DECEMBER Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire Limited had erected a lighting pole close to the site for the war memorial. They were approached by the council's surveyor and agreed to replace it with an underground cable and a lamp standard which they said would cost them £32. The council sent the company its thanks for their generosity. The church is shown below (a detail from a postcard) with a lamp standard instead of a pole.
The electricity company had commenced laying mains and the Council asked the shopkeepers to keep their window lights on until the new street lamps were lit. A lower rate of 2s 6d was fixed for the next six months.
Denis Bullock of Station Lane had a bus which was taken to Scarborough to bring a party to Wakefield. The driver was Charles Willie Bullock of Post Office Road. In Wakefield he decided to pick up a load of passengers for Pontefract . The owner and driver were taken to court and fined £1 and £2 for not having a hackney carriage licence necessary in the city of Wakefield.
OCTOBER Eighteen Featherstone miners were charged with gaming with coins in Featherstone Square. One claimed he wasn't there and was given the benefit of the doubt. The others were fined from 15s to 25s.
The Board of Guardians discussed the case of the Gould family of Featherstone. The wife and four children had been admitted to the workhouse but the husband, whose income was £5 6s a week, refused to maintain them.
It was decided to take Arthur Gould to court. He claimed his average income was £4 a week including a pension of 31s 9d, and he had given his wife as much as £3 out of that. She said he is the biggest liar on the face of the earth. The most he had given her was 35s and the week before she went back into the workhouse he gave her 28s.
The Bench sent him to prison for a month. A separation order was granted and he was ordered to pay 30s a week plus 11s 9d out of his pension.
The cricket club and the Rovers played a game of soccer on the Rovers ground. The score was 1-1 and afterwards the teams had tea and a smoker at the Travellers' Hotel. The proceeds of the game were shared.
James Foster with his eyes blacked and his head bandaged appeared in court to charge Harold and Albert Gates with assault. He lived with Harold Gates and had use of half of the house for 8s a week. He found out Mr Gates was only paying 8s 6d full rent so he offered 4s 4d. A row ensued and he was attacked by both men. They were both fined £2 17s and £3 of it went to James Foster for compensation.
An inquest was held on Jessie Milicent aged seven of Featherstone Lane. She had been blowing up a balloon and had breathed it in. She went blue in the face and was rushed to Dr Steven's. He probed the throat in an attempt to get it out but she died. The jury decided it was death by misadventure.
David Copley was driving eleven Featherstone folk home by bus from a party when he came across a man lying in the road near Ferrybridge. He swerved and the bus overturned in a ditch. The bus was virtually wrecked but the only injuries were severe bruising apart from William Boulton, curator of Featherstone Cemetery who had a broken collar bone and a crushed hand. The man in the road had a broken leg but had no idea what had happened.
The council agreed a reduced rate of 2s 6d. It was said in October 1920 the rate was 3s 8d, and in December 1921 the overdraft was £6,538. This was now wiped out and the rates reduced. Cr Rogers, chairman of the finance committee, said it refuted suggestions the council were wasting the ratepayers' money. The rents of council houses would be reduced by 3d or 4d a week
Edward Hughes, steward at the Green Lane Club, ordered four men out at closing time. They refused to leave and James Chilton attacked the steward in the passage and knocked him down. He could not get up and was found to have a broken leg. In court James Chilton was sent to prison for one month. It was said there had been frequent disturbances by members who thought their membership allowed them to obey or disobey the orders of the steward as they chose.
The Assembly Rooms, now the Miners' Welfare Institute, was being refurbished with a new entrance and two staircases to take away the unsightly effect of the huge brick walling seen from Station Lane. There would also be committee rooms, lecture hall, reading room, games and billiard room and a cafe. It would be completely repainted, electricity installed and new heating.
The new entrance to the Miners' Welfare Hall. A detail from a Featherstone Library Collection photo.
The war memorial committee published the final plans for a war memorial and said they hoped to inscribe the names of those killed on the base panels if there was enough money
. An inquest was held on John Jukes aged 64 of Victoria Street. He was a deputy at Featherstone Main Colliery and was injured by a fall of roof. He was taken to Clayton Hospital and died the same day. The verdict was accidental death.
NOVEMBER More than 30 Purston and district people were summonsed for not paying income tax. Some paid up before the hearing. The others were ordered to pay plus costs.
In order to counter a loss of sales because of the introduction of electricity to the district, the gas board announced a drop in the price of gas to 5s 2d per 1,000 cubic feet and the rebate from gas meters would go up a halfpenny to 2½d in the shilling.
The Featherstone United Charities decided as the Bede Houses were no longer habitable they should be pulled down and the site offered for sale, subject to the sanction of the Charity Commissioners, at 7s 6d per square yard.
Dr T W Ruttledge, the district tuberculosis officer, gave a lecture on hygiene at the Hippodrome which was three parts full. Cr Darlington spoke of the council's efforts to secure more houses. He said they had received permission for another 84 and hoped to build 300 all told. He admitted there was overcrowding in the town and this was a contributory cause of consumption.
Amy Barraclough and Annie Roberts were charged with stealing coal from Ackton Hall Colliery dirt tip. It was said Barraclough's father was entitled to 12 loads and had only claimed seven, Robert's father had been out of work for three years. Amy was fined 30s and Annie was bound over.
The council's highways and sanitary committee recommended the medical officer should stop the sale of fruit, vegetables and sweets etc in small combined living-rooms and shops where the conditions were insanitary. Cr Edwards objected and said if some were stopped from selling their bits of fruit and vegetables they would have to apply for relief, but the full council meeting passed the recommendation.
Mr Holiday was thanked for providing an electric light at Park Lane Corner and offering to supply electricity to Lister Hall in the winter at a nominal charge of one shilling.
The Featherstone Tradesmen's Association were in favour of a half-day closing for bakers and confectioners, but it had been voted down by some traders who were more general dealers than bakers. They would continue to press for a uniform half-day closing. Also some traders were contravening the Shops Act regarding trading hours, and the county council would be asked to enforce the Act. If necessary the Association would approach the Home Secretary.
DECEMBER Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire Limited had erected a lighting pole close to the site for the war memorial. They were approached by the council's surveyor and agreed to replace it with an underground cable and a lamp standard which they said would cost them £32. The council sent the company its thanks for their generosity. The church is shown below (a detail from a postcard) with a lamp standard instead of a pole.
An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall on Arthur Humphrey aged 64 of Post Office Road. He was a journeyman tailor working for Simeon Haggas in Station Lane for the past 20 years. Mr Haggas said he left Mr Humphrey working in the workshop at 6pm with a finish at 8pm. When he returned at 9am the next day he found Mr Humphrey lying dead on the working board. Dr Steven said a post mortem showed death was from syncope consequent on valvular disease of the heart. He commented he found in the stomach the largest pieces of unmasticated potato he had ever seen. A verdict of natural causes was returned.
Edward Perry of Scarborough Terrace was taken ill in Snydale Colliery and died before a doctor could reach him.