A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1924
COUNCIL HOUSES
In January the council had accepted the tender of £8,065 from Messrs
Smith and Hawley Ltd for 20 houses in Little Lane and the clerk was
instructed to apply to the Ministry of Health for permission to borrow
that sum. Cr Ryan said the delay in signing the contract was causing
difficulty for the builders. Men were leaving them for other jobs and
men were wanted for the big job at Ferrybridge. He understood the delay
was caused by Hill's trustees. The clerk said he had done everything
possible to expedite the matter and he now had a letter from Hill's
trustees which he would read in committee.
The council had asked for a report on a council house tenant who was not paying the rent. Cr Evans said the man had just returned from a sanatorium and his wife had received 15s a week from the Guardians on which to keep three. Of this 13s a week went on food, heating and lighting. The matter was to be reported to the Guardians, but there did not seem any prospect of the rent being paid.
The Ministry of Health agreed in February to the council borrowing the £8,065 for the 20 houses on the former smallpox hospital site. It would be for 60 years at 4¾% interest. Councillors and officials had inspected the 14 houses built on Brookway and recommended the rent should be 6s a week plus rates, and lodgers would not be allowed.
The council wanted to buy 16 acres of land off Ackworth Road, Purston, which belonged to Thomas Day a farmer of North Featherstone. The two parties could not agree a price so an inquiry was held in the council offices in April by Mr Harry Stewart from the Ministry of Health.
Mr J A Haigh, clerk to the council, said private building in Featherstone ceased in 1913 so the council first built 139 houses and since then another 56 had been built. Not more than 90 houses had been built privately in the last ten years and at least 300 more were needed. The site in question had been decided upon as the most suitable for Featherstone and Purston. One field was used by Purston Tennis Club and another by Purston Hockey Club.
Mr Day bought the land in 1922 for £300 and had offered to sell to the council at 6d a square yard and later at 5d a square yard. The council had offered 3d or a total of £985 15s 5d. The district valuer's figure was £1,000.
Mr R W Fearnley, for Mr Day, said the council had no right to take advantage of the fact the owner bought the land very cheaply at public auction. He made one bid and the land was knocked down to him. The price he paid had no relation to its value. The average price paid by public authorities for building land was £150 an acre. The inspector said he would visit the site and then report to the Ministry.
The sanitary inspector, Mr Sagar, had left and he was replaced by Mr Handforth. The highways and sanitary committee recommended he be given the tenancy of one of the new houses in Brookway.
Leeds Corporation were building concrete houses at Meanwood and invited the council to visit them. The chairman said if they were satisfactory they might begin building concrete houses. At the present rate of progress of the 20 houses on the smallpox hospital site it would take 20 months to complete them, and if the council went on like that they would never catch up with the overcrowding evil.
Concrete houses could be built five times as quickly as brick houses, and the surveyor said there would be no difference in cost and none in quality as between houses of really good concrete blocks and those of bricks.
The council had asked for a report on a council house tenant who was not paying the rent. Cr Evans said the man had just returned from a sanatorium and his wife had received 15s a week from the Guardians on which to keep three. Of this 13s a week went on food, heating and lighting. The matter was to be reported to the Guardians, but there did not seem any prospect of the rent being paid.
The Ministry of Health agreed in February to the council borrowing the £8,065 for the 20 houses on the former smallpox hospital site. It would be for 60 years at 4¾% interest. Councillors and officials had inspected the 14 houses built on Brookway and recommended the rent should be 6s a week plus rates, and lodgers would not be allowed.
The council wanted to buy 16 acres of land off Ackworth Road, Purston, which belonged to Thomas Day a farmer of North Featherstone. The two parties could not agree a price so an inquiry was held in the council offices in April by Mr Harry Stewart from the Ministry of Health.
Mr J A Haigh, clerk to the council, said private building in Featherstone ceased in 1913 so the council first built 139 houses and since then another 56 had been built. Not more than 90 houses had been built privately in the last ten years and at least 300 more were needed. The site in question had been decided upon as the most suitable for Featherstone and Purston. One field was used by Purston Tennis Club and another by Purston Hockey Club.
Mr Day bought the land in 1922 for £300 and had offered to sell to the council at 6d a square yard and later at 5d a square yard. The council had offered 3d or a total of £985 15s 5d. The district valuer's figure was £1,000.
Mr R W Fearnley, for Mr Day, said the council had no right to take advantage of the fact the owner bought the land very cheaply at public auction. He made one bid and the land was knocked down to him. The price he paid had no relation to its value. The average price paid by public authorities for building land was £150 an acre. The inspector said he would visit the site and then report to the Ministry.
The sanitary inspector, Mr Sagar, had left and he was replaced by Mr Handforth. The highways and sanitary committee recommended he be given the tenancy of one of the new houses in Brookway.
Leeds Corporation were building concrete houses at Meanwood and invited the council to visit them. The chairman said if they were satisfactory they might begin building concrete houses. At the present rate of progress of the 20 houses on the smallpox hospital site it would take 20 months to complete them, and if the council went on like that they would never catch up with the overcrowding evil.
Concrete houses could be built five times as quickly as brick houses, and the surveyor said there would be no difference in cost and none in quality as between houses of really good concrete blocks and those of bricks.
At
the council's annual meeting in April the chairman, Peter Darlington,
said the greatest problem was the provision of houses. the council were
doing their bit but it was far from what they would like to do. They
hoped to build about 170 houses on the Purston site, but even when
Featherstone's full scheme of 500 was completed they might find these
were not enough.
Another thing they would have to consider was the water supply. It was no good building houses unless they had an adequate water supply. They would have to consider putting in new mains, not for Purston alone but for the whole district.
Mr Birch had the contract for the 1914 housing scheme but he ran into difficulties when the war caused increases in the cost of wages and materials. He applied to the council to reconsider and eventually the Ministry approved the payment of £600 ex-gratia. The council decided to borrow the money and the loan was arranged to be paid back at the same time as the original loan.
At the May council meeting it was announced the Ministry had agreed to the compulsory purchase of Mr Day's land but said before going ahead they should consult the district valuer on the question of subsidence and minerals. Cr Ryan protested at this further delay and said they should serve the compulsory purchase notice. The chairman regarded the letter as a red-tape order but they would have to comply.
The clerk said having given 14 days notice the council could take possession of the land but they should wait until the result of the arbitration. The cost might be considered too much. The council decided to get the district valuer's reply on the points raised and then consider the matter further. A few days later the council received the valuation and decided to give the 14 days notice. It was then agreed to ask the Ministry to receive a deputation which would explain the council's housing position and requirements, and would press for the provision of 50 houses on Mr Day's land immediately.
Since the first council houses were built in 1914 the council had had a strict no lodgers policy. At the June meeting it was decided by a small majority to relax the rule and allow tenants of the newer council houses to take in lodgers subject to the council's approval of each individual application.
At the August council meeting it was agreed to pay Mr Day £1,200 for his land, Mr Fearnley £20, Mr Day's solicitor's fees, and vacant possession to be given on 1 November. Mr Abbott was to be given £15 for giving up his tenancy.
Another thing they would have to consider was the water supply. It was no good building houses unless they had an adequate water supply. They would have to consider putting in new mains, not for Purston alone but for the whole district.
Mr Birch had the contract for the 1914 housing scheme but he ran into difficulties when the war caused increases in the cost of wages and materials. He applied to the council to reconsider and eventually the Ministry approved the payment of £600 ex-gratia. The council decided to borrow the money and the loan was arranged to be paid back at the same time as the original loan.
At the May council meeting it was announced the Ministry had agreed to the compulsory purchase of Mr Day's land but said before going ahead they should consult the district valuer on the question of subsidence and minerals. Cr Ryan protested at this further delay and said they should serve the compulsory purchase notice. The chairman regarded the letter as a red-tape order but they would have to comply.
The clerk said having given 14 days notice the council could take possession of the land but they should wait until the result of the arbitration. The cost might be considered too much. The council decided to get the district valuer's reply on the points raised and then consider the matter further. A few days later the council received the valuation and decided to give the 14 days notice. It was then agreed to ask the Ministry to receive a deputation which would explain the council's housing position and requirements, and would press for the provision of 50 houses on Mr Day's land immediately.
Since the first council houses were built in 1914 the council had had a strict no lodgers policy. At the June meeting it was decided by a small majority to relax the rule and allow tenants of the newer council houses to take in lodgers subject to the council's approval of each individual application.
At the August council meeting it was agreed to pay Mr Day £1,200 for his land, Mr Fearnley £20, Mr Day's solicitor's fees, and vacant possession to be given on 1 November. Mr Abbott was to be given £15 for giving up his tenancy.
The fields that became the first Purston council house estate are that
with the J of Purston in it, and the one above which was once the ground
of Purston White Horse Football Club, long gone in 1924. Taken from an Ordnance Survey map.
In September the clerk told the council a meeting had been held with
the Ministry and it was agreed the council could commence building 50
houses on Mr Day's site as soon as possible, and 50 more in a few months
time. Also a building programme of 100 houses a year for the next two
years would be favourably considered.
The council decided in October the rent for the 20 houses built on the
smallpox hospital site in Little Lane would be 6s 3d plus 3s a week
rates. The increase in the rates for the next six months would mean one
penny a week extra for most council houses and twopence for 24.
In December the clerk and Cr Darlington reported on a meeting with Mr
Wrigly of the Ministry and he had agreed to the council going ahead with
100 houses at once providing the cost was not greater than the last
contract and they were all built within 12 months of commencing. The council expressed their appreciation of this concession and told the
surveyor to proceed with the plans with all possible speed.
The council dropped plans to build concrete houses after Cr Holiday
gave an assurance Ackton Hall Colliery could supply enough bricks to
build 100 houses a year.
THE FEVER HOSPITAL
Some councils were complaining in January about the cost to their
ratepayers of Ackton Hospital. The councils had to contribute to the
capital cost according to their population and for Featherstone it was
£1,700 a year. They also had to pay for the patients they sent. In order
to reduce the cost there was a suggestion for scarlet fever patients to
be treated at home. This involved a child's throat being swabbed every
two hours for three or four days. (The Milne treatment.)
Cr Evans said he would not like to ask the Featherstone mothers to do it. The chairman said unless the patient could be thoroughly isolated and have the undivided care of one person the case ought to go to hospital.
In February Cr Holiday reported to the council the stand he had taken at the hospital committee meeting regarding the treatment of scarlet fever. He said since the medical officer, Dr Hartley, had been given a free hand in the use of anti-toxin there had only been three deaths in five years from scarlet fever, and the cases of after complication had disappeared.
Directly following the decision that the medical officer was to use his discretion in the use of anti-toxin (to cut costs), which really meant he was not given a free hand, a death had taken place and cases of after complication had reoccurred. He (Cr Holiday) was not going to sit there and be a party to killing children - that was rather strong - but he was not to be a party to accepting responsibility for probable deaths. If they were not satisfied with their medical officer let them get another, but it was not for any member of that committee to take upon himself medical responsibility. It was not for them to tell a doctor how to treat patients
Cr Evans said he would not like to ask the Featherstone mothers to do it. The chairman said unless the patient could be thoroughly isolated and have the undivided care of one person the case ought to go to hospital.
In February Cr Holiday reported to the council the stand he had taken at the hospital committee meeting regarding the treatment of scarlet fever. He said since the medical officer, Dr Hartley, had been given a free hand in the use of anti-toxin there had only been three deaths in five years from scarlet fever, and the cases of after complication had disappeared.
Directly following the decision that the medical officer was to use his discretion in the use of anti-toxin (to cut costs), which really meant he was not given a free hand, a death had taken place and cases of after complication had reoccurred. He (Cr Holiday) was not going to sit there and be a party to killing children - that was rather strong - but he was not to be a party to accepting responsibility for probable deaths. If they were not satisfied with their medical officer let them get another, but it was not for any member of that committee to take upon himself medical responsibility. It was not for them to tell a doctor how to treat patients
The hospital medical officer had admitted since the decision of the
committee he had not used anti-toxin as liberally as before, and a child
had died. Cr Holiday said he did not know if this was the result of not
using anti-toxin, but they did know complications had followed the
restricted use of anti-toxin. If the Featherstone Council instructed him
to vote for economy in this particular he would feel compelled to
resign. He said he had stuck at it at the last hospital meeting and the
committee had reversed their previous decision and given the medical
officer a free hand.
Featherstone councillors spoke in support of Cr Holiday and then passed a resolution stating while they were in favour of economy they would not be a party to accepting in any way medical responsibility.
Featherstone councillors spoke in support of Cr Holiday and then passed a resolution stating while they were in favour of economy they would not be a party to accepting in any way medical responsibility.
DEATHS OF THE MASHAMS
The third Lord Masham, formerly the Hon John Cunliffe Lister, died in
January in Bedale aged 56. The Express obituary said "Although the late
peer was a very rare visitor to Featherstone, few employers of labour in
Yorkshire so fully realised their responsibilities, and he was ever
ready to listen to suggestions put to him by Roslyn Holiday, who
fortunately for the town, is imbued with a fine public spirit; and
through his instrumentality his lordship made several munificent gifts
to the town".
His main gift was the Lister Baths where he paid all the cost. He also gave the land and paid half the cost of the aged miners' homes at Ackton. During the 1914-18 war he did everything in his power to make the lot of the wives and dependents of the men of Ackton Hall Colliery who enlisted comfortable and free from financial care. He gave the huge sum of £20,000 to the joint relief fund (contributed to 50/50 by Lord Masham and Ackton Hall miners) and 7,800 tons of coal to the dependents. In all 550 adults and nearly 1,000 children benefited from the fund.
After the war he made a substantial loan to the Featherstone Branch of the British Legion to enable them to buy their premises, and then after another appeal by Roslyn Holiday he gave £500 to get them off to a good start.
A letter was sent to Lady Masham reading " The Featherstone Branch of the British Legion send you their heartiest sympathy on your great bereavement. The late Lord Masham was a kind and generous patron of this Branch, and his memory will ever be revered by the ex-servicemen of the district. They will never forget his generosity during the War, and his gift to the men on their return".
Roslyn Holiday attended the funeral at Masham along with representatives from Ackton Hall Colliery and the British Legion. The Featherstone Council sent a letter of condolence to Lady Masham regretting very much Lord Masham's death, and wished to assure Lady Masham of their sincere sympathy.
Lord Masham's will showed he was the chief shareholder in Manningham Mills, Bradford, and sole proprietor of the Ackton Hall Colliery Company. The net amount left in his will was £1,342,941.
Lady Masham died in May aged 48 in the Hyde Park Hotel in London of heart failure. The Express said she accompanied Lord Masham on his few social visits to Featherstone, and she was most approachable and was keenly interested in Featherstone's welfare.
His main gift was the Lister Baths where he paid all the cost. He also gave the land and paid half the cost of the aged miners' homes at Ackton. During the 1914-18 war he did everything in his power to make the lot of the wives and dependents of the men of Ackton Hall Colliery who enlisted comfortable and free from financial care. He gave the huge sum of £20,000 to the joint relief fund (contributed to 50/50 by Lord Masham and Ackton Hall miners) and 7,800 tons of coal to the dependents. In all 550 adults and nearly 1,000 children benefited from the fund.
After the war he made a substantial loan to the Featherstone Branch of the British Legion to enable them to buy their premises, and then after another appeal by Roslyn Holiday he gave £500 to get them off to a good start.
A letter was sent to Lady Masham reading " The Featherstone Branch of the British Legion send you their heartiest sympathy on your great bereavement. The late Lord Masham was a kind and generous patron of this Branch, and his memory will ever be revered by the ex-servicemen of the district. They will never forget his generosity during the War, and his gift to the men on their return".
Roslyn Holiday attended the funeral at Masham along with representatives from Ackton Hall Colliery and the British Legion. The Featherstone Council sent a letter of condolence to Lady Masham regretting very much Lord Masham's death, and wished to assure Lady Masham of their sincere sympathy.
Lord Masham's will showed he was the chief shareholder in Manningham Mills, Bradford, and sole proprietor of the Ackton Hall Colliery Company. The net amount left in his will was £1,342,941.
Lady Masham died in May aged 48 in the Hyde Park Hotel in London of heart failure. The Express said she accompanied Lord Masham on his few social visits to Featherstone, and she was most approachable and was keenly interested in Featherstone's welfare.
THE COUNCIL v MRS DRIVER
Mrs Selina Driver of Pontefract was taken to court by Featherstone
Council on 8 August 1921 for a court order to convert 38 privies in
Halton Street to WC's. She claimed it was uneconomical and was regular
taken back to court and fined. At the end of 1923 she obtained council's
opinion who must have told her she had a good case because she took out
an action against the council.
In December last year the council appointed a sub-committee to deal with the matter. In February the clerk reported to the council the latest situation regarding the dispute with Mrs Driver (no details were given). He was instructed to go to London to discuss it with the legal council appointed for the Featherstone side of the argument.
At the March council meeting the clerk reported on negotiations between representatives of the council and Mrs Driver, and the provisional terms of settlement of the outstanding matters between the parties including the action against the council and the work which the council required to be done at her Halton Street property. The sub-committee recommended the council agree to the terms as stated (not given),
Cr Edwards asked if that meant Mrs Driver had won. The chairman replied a final settlement had not been reached and perhaps Cr Edwards would hear more later. The clerk later gave further details to the council in committee (no Press present so they were not made public).
In May the council finally agreed with Mrs Driver for the withdrawal of her action against the council, and for the conversion of privies into WC's on her property on terms previously agreed upon (which were not divulged to the Press).
Clues to the agreement were given when the surveyor notified the council at the September meeting the re-laying of the sewer to Mrs Driver's property in Halton Street had commenced, and the plans for conversion of privies to WC's at Nos 1 to 38 Halton Street had been approved.
In November Mrs Driver complained the council had damaged the foundations of some privies by percolation of water from a defective gully, and this was preventing work on converting some of the privies. The council decided on a deputation to meet Mrs Driver's surveyor.
On hearing the report in December the council decided there was no damage as claimed by Mrs Driver and the council would not be responsible for any extra expense incurred in converting the privies.
In December last year the council appointed a sub-committee to deal with the matter. In February the clerk reported to the council the latest situation regarding the dispute with Mrs Driver (no details were given). He was instructed to go to London to discuss it with the legal council appointed for the Featherstone side of the argument.
At the March council meeting the clerk reported on negotiations between representatives of the council and Mrs Driver, and the provisional terms of settlement of the outstanding matters between the parties including the action against the council and the work which the council required to be done at her Halton Street property. The sub-committee recommended the council agree to the terms as stated (not given),
Cr Edwards asked if that meant Mrs Driver had won. The chairman replied a final settlement had not been reached and perhaps Cr Edwards would hear more later. The clerk later gave further details to the council in committee (no Press present so they were not made public).
In May the council finally agreed with Mrs Driver for the withdrawal of her action against the council, and for the conversion of privies into WC's on her property on terms previously agreed upon (which were not divulged to the Press).
Clues to the agreement were given when the surveyor notified the council at the September meeting the re-laying of the sewer to Mrs Driver's property in Halton Street had commenced, and the plans for conversion of privies to WC's at Nos 1 to 38 Halton Street had been approved.
In November Mrs Driver complained the council had damaged the foundations of some privies by percolation of water from a defective gully, and this was preventing work on converting some of the privies. The council decided on a deputation to meet Mrs Driver's surveyor.
On hearing the report in December the council decided there was no damage as claimed by Mrs Driver and the council would not be responsible for any extra expense incurred in converting the privies.
ACKTON HALL COLLIERY AMBULANCE CLASS
The Ackton Hall Colliery Ambulance Class held
its annual social in the Gospel Hall in February. Mr and Mrs Holiday
provided a tea for about 70 guests. Mr J W Brooke said 58 students had
been examined by Dr Rowling of Leeds and 51 passed. He said only 16 were
first-year students and this was not good enough. They ought to have
had a much larger number. The percentage of passes spoke well for their
instructor, Dr Steven,
They had had eleven examinations since the class was first formed and
486 first-year certificates had been gained and 561 awards altogether.
This year's class had begun with only eleven first-year students, and at
a colliery the size of Ackton Hall they ought to have at least 40.
Mr Holiday said they would all share his regret Dr Steven was absent
through illness and they all wished him a speedy recovery. What Dr
Steven would no doubt have said was the proportion of underground men to
surface men at the classes was most unsatisfactory. It was much more
important, while always welcoming surface men, that the coal-face men
should have a knowledge of first-aid.
Mr Brooke suggested a way of getting the men interested would be an
inter-seam competition at the pit. Perhaps Mr Holiday would see nice
prizes were forthcoming. Mr Holiday said they had sprung a surprise on
him, but he would assure them he and the colliery company would do their
share towards making the proposed competition a success.
James Maxwell's White House in Pontefract Road, Purston. From a postcard.
DEATH OF JAMES MAXWELL
James Maxwell died in March aged 75. He lived at the White House in Purston. The Express report
said he was born in Ireland but had been in business in Featherstone as
a clothier and furnisher for over 40 years, during which period he
rendered efficient and valued public service. He never beat about the
bush, either in business or public life, and his word was his bond.
He retired from public life in 1920 except for the office of an
overseer of the poor for Featherstone, which he held at the time of his
death. He was a member of the council for a long period, and was
chairman for one year, and he was one-time chairman of the Featherstone education sub-committee. He was a director of the local gas company and
in his earlier years he was a sidesman and churchwarden at Purston
Church. He left a wife and three sons and six daughters.
A PLUMBER BANKRUPT
The public examination took place in April at Wakefield Bankruptcy
Court on Edmund Peate of Willow Lane whose plumbing business was
in Earle Street. He had liabilities of £124 and assets of £24. He said
his failure was lack of capital and bad trade due to strikes and the
competition of the local gas company.
He began in Earle Street in 1920 and did well at first but the business
was suspended during the 16 weeks coal dispute in 1921. Mr Fred Mason,
the registrar, asked what did he mean by competition with the local gas
company.
Mr Peate said owing to the electric light people coming into the town
and laying their mains, the gas company began to put fittings and pipes
into the houses free - free in this way; there is a small bonus given
back from the slot meters to the consumers, and if the consumers forfeit
this bonus the company puts the fittings in. Consequently it looks to
the consumers as if they are getting the fittings for nothing. My trade
in that direction was completely stopped.
KNOCKED DOWN BY A BULLOCK'S BUS
An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall in May into the death of George Frederick Banks, a farmer of Purston Grove. Albert
Asquith, a Station Lane butcher, said he and Banks and Samuel Harper
were in the Coronation Club and at 9.45pm they decided to go to the
Junction Hotel. They left the Junction at 10.30 and the deceased was quite sober.
They walked down Wakefield Road towards Station Lane and near the end of
Purston Church Road Banks stepped off the footpath and was hit by a bus
coming from Pontefract. The bus had only a faint light at each side at
the front. They put Banks into the bus but he died before they could get
to Dr Finch.
In reply to questions Mr Asquith said the bus was travelling at about
12 to 14 mph. Mr Banks stepped off the footpath to avoid an electric
lamp standard. The light was not lit and all the other lights were out
and it was a very dark night.
Samuel Harper of Granville Street said they were all quite sober and
confirmed Banks stepped off the footpath to avoid a lamp standard. In
reply to questions he said the bus was on the wrong side of the road and
he didn't hear him sound his horn. If he had sounded his horn coming
round by Purston School he would have heard it. He thought the driver
was on the wrong side because being so badly lighted he could not see
which way he was going. If the street lights had been on the accident
would not have happened.
Ralph Smurthwaite, the bus driver, said he could not avoid hitting
Banks because he was too near him when he saw him. When he did see him
he slammed on his brakes and swerved but it was too late. He said if he
had been going at the speed claimed the noise from the exhaust would
have been such that the three men would have heard it. He was driving
carefully and did not know he was on the wrong side of the road. He did
not have his headlights on in order to give a better light in the bus.
There was not sufficient current for both so he gave the passengers the
benefit of what current there was. He could see about nine yards in
front and if he had had his headlights on he could have seen 30 or 40
yards in front.
The jury took only a minute to reach a verdict of accidental death, and
the foreman said they did not think the accident would have happened if
the headlights had been on or if the street lights had been lit. They
wished to recommend to the council the lighting of the road should not
stop until later in the year.
Mr Wilson, for Bullock and Sons, said the buses were electrically
lighted and carried a dynamo which supplied the current for the
headlights. Unfortunately, something had happened to the dynamo on this
particular bus and it had been taken out for repair. The accumulator had
been charged before the bus left the garage, but owing to the dark
night the current had begun to run out and did not give sufficient to
light the headlights on what was the last journey of the night.
At the council meeting a few days after the inquest Cr Evans said he was amazed to find both the owners of the bus and the driver exonerated and the council were blamed for the accident. The driver had admitted he could only see nine yards ahead with the lamps he had. Would the council have been exonerated if it had been one of their drivers? The day after the accident the buses were racing as bad as ever, and there would be another accident if this were not stopped. He thought asking for a speed limit (10mph) was one of the best things the council had ever done. Still he considered they should consider beginning lighting the street lamps earlier in the season and ending later.
The chairman said if there had been ten lights on that lamp that night the accident would have occurred. What was the driver doing on the wrong side of the road? It was not safe for anyone to step off the footpath nowadays for cars, buses ,motor-cycles and cyclists, the drivers of which appeared to think they had preference of the road. There was a great deal too much carelessness on the part of many drivers and he hoped the council would get the order as to a speed limit.
Cr Johnson said there was certainly need for the streets to be lighted for a longer period than now on account of the great increase in road traffic as compared with the time when the lighting period was settled upon. He agreed street lights would not have stopped the accident.
At the next council meeting it was decided to re-arrange the lighting of the street lights which now being electric could be turned on and off automatically. It had previously been council policy to leave them on all night during the winter months. It was now decided to turn them off at midnight and back on again from 4am to 6.30am. This would enable the lighting season to be extended and not exceed the contracted 2,000 hours of lighting per annum.
At the council meeting a few days after the inquest Cr Evans said he was amazed to find both the owners of the bus and the driver exonerated and the council were blamed for the accident. The driver had admitted he could only see nine yards ahead with the lamps he had. Would the council have been exonerated if it had been one of their drivers? The day after the accident the buses were racing as bad as ever, and there would be another accident if this were not stopped. He thought asking for a speed limit (10mph) was one of the best things the council had ever done. Still he considered they should consider beginning lighting the street lamps earlier in the season and ending later.
The chairman said if there had been ten lights on that lamp that night the accident would have occurred. What was the driver doing on the wrong side of the road? It was not safe for anyone to step off the footpath nowadays for cars, buses ,motor-cycles and cyclists, the drivers of which appeared to think they had preference of the road. There was a great deal too much carelessness on the part of many drivers and he hoped the council would get the order as to a speed limit.
Cr Johnson said there was certainly need for the streets to be lighted for a longer period than now on account of the great increase in road traffic as compared with the time when the lighting period was settled upon. He agreed street lights would not have stopped the accident.
At the next council meeting it was decided to re-arrange the lighting of the street lights which now being electric could be turned on and off automatically. It had previously been council policy to leave them on all night during the winter months. It was now decided to turn them off at midnight and back on again from 4am to 6.30am. This would enable the lighting season to be extended and not exceed the contracted 2,000 hours of lighting per annum.
RACING BUSES AND OTHER MATTERS
Featherstone
Council had often complained to the police about buses from different companies racing each
other to get the most passengers. In June Horace Key of Wakefield and
Norman Wigglesworth of Purston were in court in Wakefield charged with
driving to the danger of the public. Mr Key worked for the West Riding
Automobile Company and Mr Wrigglesworth for Bullock and Sons.
Supt Oldroyd told the court he was motoring from Snydale to Wakefield
and he saw a red bus slow down at Sharlston Common to allow a passenger
to get off and a green bus passed it at excessive speed.
Mr Key said he was driving a special bus which did not have to run to a
timetable. The road was in very bad condition and he was not speeding.
The buses stopped at various places to pick up passengers and passed and
re-passed each other on several occasions. He admitted the passing and
re-passing was to get most passengers.
Mr Wrigglsworth said they were not going more than 12 mph. The green
bus passed them as they were putting down a passenger. They overtook the
green bus which then swerved to the right (setting off?) and they were
forced to go onto the footpath.
The chairman said there was a great deal of rivalry between these buses
which led to racing, which was a very dangerous thing. The Bench
thought it was a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other. Both
defendants had been racing and would each be fined £5 or one month, and
their licences would be endorsed.
Supt Oldroyd said this racing had become a senseless and idiotic
nuisance, and a menace to other road users and must cease. Rivalry did
exist and it was well known to both companies, and they should
understand it could be tolerated no longer.
A conference was held in Pontefract in October by the local councils and 20 bus representatives. It was recommended all the local authorities should have uniform bye-laws and there should be fixed stopping places and stands. Also the second bus at a stopping place should stay behind ie no racing to get more passengers.
The bus proprietors were asked to try to fix time-tables and stick to them and do away with racing as far as possible. The main bus owners said they ran buses all the week long and had little trade at certain times during the day on week-days, and it was not fair the small bus proprietors should step in any time they liked when it was busy and take much of the traffic. It was considered there should be a rear exit in case of fire and there was a need for those owners who rigged up a trade lorry for week-end work to make the vehicle perfectly safe.
Willie Bradshaw, a bus conductor of Featherstone, was in court in October charged with overcrowding his bus. Mr Byers, prosecuting, said the case was brought under an 1842 Act, but it was of greater importance now because of increasing road traffic and changed method of locomotion.
PS Mitchell said at 10.45pm in Purston he counted 52 passengers in a bus which was constructed to hold 25 only. He admitted he had been told there had been an accident to another bus.
Mr Poppleton, defending, said this Act had been dug up after heaven knows how many years of disuse. Buses were overcrowded at times, but the whole question of transport was under consideration, and a certain excess of passengers would probably be allowed. The chairman asked what would have happened if there had been a fire. Mr Poppleton said the bus had a rear exit. The chairman said as this was the first case they would fine the defendant only the costs of 14s, and this case should act as a warning.
There were many more cases in court of racing buses and overcrowding. In December George Oakley age 15 of Castleford, employed by the West Riding Electric Tramways Company, admitted allowing a bus to travel overcrowded in Featherstone. PC Lee said he saw ten persons get off the bus at 5.35am and there were still 44 passengers on it. The bus was only built to accommodate 32.
Mr Will Bentley, defending, said there would normally have been more buses on this route. Through some mishap this was the only one and what chance had a conductor of stopping miners who were anxious to get to work from boarding a bus. The defendant had no option but to admit all who wanted to get on; he could not have prevented them. The Bench agreed and only charged the costs but pointed out how very dangerous overcrowding of buses might prove.
A conference was held in Pontefract in October by the local councils and 20 bus representatives. It was recommended all the local authorities should have uniform bye-laws and there should be fixed stopping places and stands. Also the second bus at a stopping place should stay behind ie no racing to get more passengers.
The bus proprietors were asked to try to fix time-tables and stick to them and do away with racing as far as possible. The main bus owners said they ran buses all the week long and had little trade at certain times during the day on week-days, and it was not fair the small bus proprietors should step in any time they liked when it was busy and take much of the traffic. It was considered there should be a rear exit in case of fire and there was a need for those owners who rigged up a trade lorry for week-end work to make the vehicle perfectly safe.
Willie Bradshaw, a bus conductor of Featherstone, was in court in October charged with overcrowding his bus. Mr Byers, prosecuting, said the case was brought under an 1842 Act, but it was of greater importance now because of increasing road traffic and changed method of locomotion.
PS Mitchell said at 10.45pm in Purston he counted 52 passengers in a bus which was constructed to hold 25 only. He admitted he had been told there had been an accident to another bus.
Mr Poppleton, defending, said this Act had been dug up after heaven knows how many years of disuse. Buses were overcrowded at times, but the whole question of transport was under consideration, and a certain excess of passengers would probably be allowed. The chairman asked what would have happened if there had been a fire. Mr Poppleton said the bus had a rear exit. The chairman said as this was the first case they would fine the defendant only the costs of 14s, and this case should act as a warning.
There were many more cases in court of racing buses and overcrowding. In December George Oakley age 15 of Castleford, employed by the West Riding Electric Tramways Company, admitted allowing a bus to travel overcrowded in Featherstone. PC Lee said he saw ten persons get off the bus at 5.35am and there were still 44 passengers on it. The bus was only built to accommodate 32.
Mr Will Bentley, defending, said there would normally have been more buses on this route. Through some mishap this was the only one and what chance had a conductor of stopping miners who were anxious to get to work from boarding a bus. The defendant had no option but to admit all who wanted to get on; he could not have prevented them. The Bench agreed and only charged the costs but pointed out how very dangerous overcrowding of buses might prove.
THE ACKTON HALL COLLIERY WAR MEMORIAL
The unveiling ceremony. A photo from the Dr J Gatecliff Collection.
The memorial, uploaded to Facebook Page - Remembering Purston Jaglin, Featherstone, North Featherstone and Ackton by Jackie Robinson.
FOOTBRIDGES AT LAST?
When the war started a joint relief fund was set up at the colliery by
the Hon John Cunliffe Lister (later Lord Masham) and his employees to
relieve hardship of the families of the workers who had enlisted in the
Armed Forces and those who came back wounded. At its peak Mr Lister had contributed £20,000 and the colliery workmen and officials £19,536.
By 1924 the fund committee decided their work was ended and with the
money remaining it would be fitting to have on the colliery premises a
permanent memorial of the part the colliery employees played in those
fateful years. It was unveiled on 22 June in front of a huge crowd of
ex-servicemen and relatives of those who had made the supreme sacrifice.
A platform had been erected against the memorial and from there Mr J J
Murphy, president of the Ackton Hall Branch of the Yorkshire Miners'
Association opened the proceedings. He expressed sympathy with the
relatives of the men who had given their all, and those who were maimed
and disabled. He also regretted both Lord and Lady Masham had passed
away; they had looked forward to one or both being present. It was only
fair the public should know whatever was done for the men on active
service, Lord Masham contributed his quota, and he (Mr Murphy) wished to
publicly express their gratitude.
The unveiling was by Roslyn Holiday, the general manager, he said the
erection of the memorial was the winding up of the joint relief fund. To
the younger generation the war was almost history, and this generation
and those still to come should not be allowed to forget the part
Featherstone men had played in the war and the sacrifices which had been
made. He hoped the memorial would serve as a reminder of the sacrifices
of all the men, and of the greatest sacrifice of all made by many.
Other
speeches were made by the Vicar of Purston, the Revd H S Rogers, and
Herbert Smith, the president of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain.
A wreath was placed on the memorial by Mr W Hutchinson, chairman of the
Featherstone Branch of the British Legion.
The ceremony ended with hymns accompanied by the Featherstone Silver Subscription Band who also played Chopin's Funeral March, and buglers from Pontefract Barracks played The Last Post.
The memorial, uploaded to Facebook Page - Remembering Purston Jaglin, Featherstone, North Featherstone and Ackton by Jackie Robinson.
For many years the council had been pressing the railway company to
provide a footbridge or subway at the Halfpenny Lane and Church Fields
railway crossings to eliminate the accidents but had always been turned
down. In July a deputation went from the council to London to discuss it
with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company. They were Crs
Holiday and Coult plus the clerk and surveyor.
The official who received them expressed the view even if footbridges
were provided the public would continue to use the crossing, and he did
not see how the crossings could be closed when trains were passing. Also
there would still be the difficulty of cycles and prams if the bridges
were provided. He said the railway companies were having a very bad time
financially and had to economise wherever possible.
The clerk told the council the visit would have been useless had they
not been empowered to say the council would bear half the cost which was
estimated at £600 each. They did not make this offer until they saw no
progress would be made without it. Then the official said he was
prepared to recommend the work of erecting two footbridges be put in
hand as soon as their engineers could do it. A subway at Church Fields
instead of a footbridge was discussed and the official said this would
have to wait until the companies engineer had considered it.
The council members had differing views on what should be done but in
the end voted in favour of footbridges being put in hand at the
earliest. Cr Coult pointed out far more Pontefract residents used the
Halfpenny Lane crossing than did Featherstone folk and suggested
Pontefract might be asked to bear part of the cost. The chairman did not
thing Pontefract would agree, but said the suggestion of making
Halfpenny Lane to Pontefract a proper road, which the council had turned
down years ago, might be revisited.
At the August council meeting the LMS railway company had sent a letter saying as a condition of contributing to the cost of the footbridges they would require the footpath rights over the crossings to be definitely abolished. The council decided to reconsider the matter.
In October the council decided it could not agree to this condition and it would not proceed with the footbridges. The LMS would be asked to build a subway at the Church Fields crossing.
At the August council meeting the LMS railway company had sent a letter saying as a condition of contributing to the cost of the footbridges they would require the footpath rights over the crossings to be definitely abolished. The council decided to reconsider the matter.
In October the council decided it could not agree to this condition and it would not proceed with the footbridges. The LMS would be asked to build a subway at the Church Fields crossing.
BABY DAY
This event was held at the cricket field in July. There were 150
members of the Featherstone and Streethouse baby clinics present
including a host of babies and twins "whose condition and dress denoted
loving care on the part of the mother".
Dr Steven introduced Mrs Currer Briggs who had a long record of devoted
service to the child-life of Leeds. She said she had set herself to
learn about child care and she felt after all these years she could
speak as a mother to all mothers who possessed love for their children.
No one was infallible but she was sure the aim of all those who helped
with the clinics was to try to help the mothers to do their best.
Speaking about infant mortality she said there could be nothing more
terrible than for a mother who had undertaken months of waiting and
hoping to find it was all to no avail. The fight must be waged against
bad air, bad food and bad nutrition. She said at baby competitions in
Leeds she had seen babies wearing from seven to ten garments. Rags would
describe them better. It was not a disgrace to be poor, but even those
mothers who could not afford good quality clothing could avoid using
bits of string and pins instead of buttons, and could achieve lightness
and warmth in clothing children. Avoid as they would the plague of that
horrible stuff flannelette.
The mothers had an excellent tea followed by entertainment by children
from Regent Street School. There were competitions for garments made
from old clothing, suits for children of five years, a knitted coat, a
knitted cap, a child's nightdress and a decorated pram.
 |
| Twins at the baby show. |
DR STEVEN'S REPORT FOR 1923
Dr Steven's report for 1923 was not published until August. The
infant mortality rate was 99 per 1,000, which meant one in ten babies
died before their first birthday. Ten years earlier it was 135. He wrote
"All industrial areas, especially colliery areas, have a high infantile
mortality. Still, one feels confident this wastage of infant life is
progressively declining, with variations from years to year".
Regarding the lack of housing he stated "Housing is most
unsatisfactory. Overcrowding is marked, and not a house available. That
so few houses have been built cannot be laid on the shoulders of my council, as they have made every effort to meet the wants of the
district. We think the Ministry had not chosen that sympathy and
appreciation of our needs. My council are now completing negotiations
for an additional 300, every one of which will be eagerly filled". Only
22 houses had been built in 1923 with another 18 being erected. A total
of 118 privies had been converted to WC's but there were still 805
remaining.
Dr Finch closed the ceremony by saying to Peter Darlington, chairman of the Council, "Mr Darlington, on behalf of the war memorial committee I hand over the memorial to the Urban District Council for safe keeping, and express the hope it will be kept as a sacred spot and maintained in a manner befitting the memories of the brave men whose names will be inscribed in the book of remembrance which I now hand over to you".
Cr Darlington said "On behalf of Featherstone Urban District Council I accept this war memorial from the war memorial committee, in trust to preserve and maintain. Also this book of remembrance to keep in safe custody for future reference at any time. You will notice the memorial is not completed, and requires tablets with the names of the 352 men and boys. Places in the recesses are left for that purpose, and I feel sure we people of Featherstone will gladly make an effort to have this memorial thus completed".
FEATHERSTONE AND PURSTON WAR MEMORIAL
The War Memorial in front of Purston Church was unveiled on 31 August. The Express commented
"It says much for the enthusiasm of the committee that despite the
failure of previous proposals, and many set-backs to their own project,
they persevered, determined that the town should not be without a
permanent mark of appreciation of the grand work done by Featherstone and Purston men in the Great War". The cost was about £250.
There was a procession from the council offices led by the Pontefract
Depot Band and a guard of honour from Pontefract Barracks followed by
all the local organisations, "a procession which did credit to the
town".
Dr Finch, the president of the memorial committee, opened the ceremony.
He said "After many years we are gathered together to do honour to the
memory of those brave men who left their homes and all dear to them and
made the supreme sacrifice".
The unveiling was performed by Brigadier-General Brooke CMG DSO. He
said it was an honour and a privilege to be asked to unveil the memorial
to the faithful servants of our King in Featherstone and District. He
had served all his life in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and
he was glad to be present so he could pay tribute to those Featherstone
men who served and fell in the KOYLI.Dr Finch closed the ceremony by saying to Peter Darlington, chairman of the Council, "Mr Darlington, on behalf of the war memorial committee I hand over the memorial to the Urban District Council for safe keeping, and express the hope it will be kept as a sacred spot and maintained in a manner befitting the memories of the brave men whose names will be inscribed in the book of remembrance which I now hand over to you".
Cr Darlington said "On behalf of Featherstone Urban District Council I accept this war memorial from the war memorial committee, in trust to preserve and maintain. Also this book of remembrance to keep in safe custody for future reference at any time. You will notice the memorial is not completed, and requires tablets with the names of the 352 men and boys. Places in the recesses are left for that purpose, and I feel sure we people of Featherstone will gladly make an effort to have this memorial thus completed".
The unveiling ceremony. A photo from the Wakefield Libraries Collection.
The war memorial sited in front of Purston Church. A postcard.
THE CRICKET CLUB DINNER
The Featherstone and Purston Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club held its
fifth annual dinner at the Traveller's Hotel in November. The chairman,
Cr Roslyn Holiday, said despite two successive wet seasons the club had
been able to pay its way. The subscriptions last season were £162
compared with £118 the season before. They had constructed a bowling
green at a cost of £70 and the tennis players were pleading for better accommodation.
Responding, Mr Prest said the Yorkshire Council XI had won nine
matches, which was four more than last season. He thought they had
reached rock bottom with the weather in 1923 but this last season was
worse still. They ended with £17 in hand and owed £18. It was hoped with
assistance from the Miners' Welfare Fund to purchase the ground. He
thought it was possible to put four tennis courts on what was the
football ground and then the players could have their match while the
cricket was in progress.
George Johnson had taken over a public house in Wakefield and Mr
Holiday presented him with an electric lamp on behalf of the Wednesday
XI and the Tradesmen's Cricket Club. Mr Johnson said although he had
gone to Wakefield and was making new friends, he would never forget his
old Featherstone friends. Mr Holiday said they hoped he had not left
Featherstone for good and they would all be glad to see him back in the
town again.
A PUBLIC PARK?
A few years ago Featherstone Council had been given permission to borrow money to buy Purston Hall and park, but
they couldn't find a bank or building society willing to loan the money
so the idea was dropped. Cr Edwards brought it up at the December
council meeting. He said he had been asked by a very large number of
ratepayers and it was time the matter was revived. Ninety per cent of
the ratepayers were in support of such a scheme which apart from the
pleasure it would give would result in an improvement in health. He
proposed the council consider the matter at their next meeting.
Cr Coult seconded. He said there had been good reasons why they had not
gone on before, but they ought to make every effort now. Cr Evans was
in support but asked where were they to get the money? They could not
get it last time either publicly or privately. Cr Evans also pointed out
there were 77 tubercular children away from school in the Featherstone
area. Could the county council be persuaded to buy the hall as a special
school for them?
Cr Darlington agreed with this proposal, and Cr Rogers said as they
were all of one mind it was no good delaying discussion and suggested it
should be referred to the finance committee. This was decided
unanimously.
1924 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY
A tubercular after-care committee was formed and they announced they
had collected £116 from various organisations including the war-time
Shirt and Sock Fund and the local collieries. They had given assistance
in kind to necessitous cases costing £34, and they were keeping an eye
on two ex-servicemen who had returned from a sanatorium. Messrs McTrusty
and Gledhill were thanked for gifts of clothing, and said men's
second-hand suits would be welcome.
Miss Owen, the health visitor, arranged a baby clinic social gathering
in the Gospel Hall for 90 mothers and 180 children. Tea and cakes and
sweets were provided by Mrs Holiday and Mrs Steven. All the children
received a Christmas gift from the tree with Dr Steven filling the part
of Father Christmas.
The British Legion arranged a party for the children of those men who
gave their lives in the Great War. About 160 had a meal of ham
sandwiches, tea cakes, buns, mince pies and swiss-rolls. Mr W H Scholes
gave each child an orange, and presents of apples, sweets, nuts,
pocket-handkerchiefs, bangles, broaches, dolls, ties and pocket-knives
were given out.
Mr
J Lancaster loaned his gramophone and other entertainment was provided
by Misses Dolly Westwood, Maisie Stewart, Ivy Randall and L and A
Norton, and Messrs T Clamp, A Millard, T Hamer and J Farrar. "Smiling
Jack" Mr Hutchinson presided.
Charlotte Simpson aged 79 lived with her son Fred at Jubilee Lodge, Purston. At 2am one morning he heard her scream and she rushed into his bedroom with her nightdress alight. He extinguished the flames but she was badly burned. She told him she had lighted a candle to look in the drawer of the dressing table. Dr Oyston told the inquest he attended her and found she had fairly extensive burns. She sank rapidly and died a few days later. The jury decided it was death from misadventure.
There were two accidents in a week in Purston. Harold Baxter age three was knocked down by a car and broke his thigh. He was taken to Pontefract Dispensary. George Blackburn was crossing the road by the Junction Hotel at 5.30am on his way to work and he was knocked down by a car and had injuries to his chest and abdomen. He was taken to Pontefract Dispensary and both were said to be making satisfactory progress.
The Imperial War Graves Commission wrote to the Featherstone Burial Board offering to erect headstones in the Featherstone cemetery over the graves of Featherstone men who fell in the Great War, and to maintain them if the board would forego the usual fees. The board replied they would be pleased to agree. The headstones would take the place of the Commission's temporary wooden crosses.
FEBRUARY William Radley told Dr Fairclough he was overrun with rats. The doctor had had a rifle since he left the army and he loaned it but advised him to ask the police if he needed a certificate. Mr Radley asked PC Lee and was told he should have applied for permission to possess the rifle. In court Mr A Bentley defending suggested the case would be met by payment of the costs. The chairman asked Supt Fairbairn if he objected and he said not in the slightest. They would never have found out if Radley had not reported to them but they were bound to bring the charge. No conviction was recorded on payment of costs.
Buses had to be licensed by the county council, and the Featherstone Council clerk was told to ask if the county council could stop overcrowding and dangerous racing by such vehicles, and also the enforcement of regulations as to spitting. The county council replied the question of overcrowding and racing was one for the police, and conduct on the buses was a matter for the local council. The clerk said Featherstone Council had not adopted any regulations regarding buses. Many councillors spoke of the danger of racing and pressed for the buses being required to run to a regular timetable. The chairman said there would be a catastrophe one of these days and then perhaps something would be done.
Nine Featherstone miners were in court for not paying money owing for meals given to their children under the Education Provision of Meals Act in the 1921 strike. They owed from 30s to £5 and were all ordered to pay.
Thomas Power of Pontefract was taken to court by Ackton Hall Colliery for obtaining a load of coal by false pretences and also trying to obtain a second load of coal. He signed on as a married man living in Pontefract but the company became suspicious and found he was neither married nor living at the address he had given. For the colliery it was said there was a good deal of trafficking in home coal, sold at a reduced rate to married miner householders, and they wished to stop the practice. The Bench said they were determined to do all they could to stop it and fined him £5 plus costs.
MARCH A whist drive and dance was held in the Lister Hall in aid of Pontefract Dispensary, Clayton Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. It was a joint effort by the maternity and child welfare committee and the council. The hall (the baths in winter) was decked out with plants, flags and bunting, and 350 people turned up for the whist drive. Then there was a tea provided by generous townsfolk, and as the dancers had turned up by then, over 600 had to be catered for. There was also a fancy-dress competition, and the event raised £162 19s.
Mr Sagar, the sanitary inspector, had left the council for another job. He offered to supervise the work in the sanitary department until a successor was appointed but the council decided against it. There were 70 applications for the post and a short list of four was made with the applicants being from Lancashire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.
At the council meeting Cr Edwards complained about the state of the footpaths in Halfpenny Lane and Church Fields and said Featherstone folk on their way to Pontefract had to turn back. The chairman said it was because of a rapid thaw and the surveyor was dealing with it.
He also asked if the new electric street lamps could be left lit in the early morning for men going to and from work. The chairman said the lighting hours were the same as when they were gas lamps, and they could not exceed the hours which were under contract, but the matter would receive further consideration.
It was decided to take advantage of the County Circulating Library and ask if the Miners' Welfare could be the Featherstone centre.
Miss Tupman was due to retire as headmistress of Regent Street Infants School. She would be replaced by Miss Parsons of Ackworth. Before she left she was presented with a gold broach by the staff.
APRIL There were no new nominations for the council so Crs Holiday. Evans, Edwards and Rodgers were all automatically re-elected. A rate of 2s 6d was fixed for the next six months.
Arthur Gould was in court charged with allowing his wife and four children to become chargeable to the Pontefract Union (the workhouse). it was said he earned 45s a week and had a 20s a week pension. He owed the Guardians £25. The magistrates' clerk said Mr Gould had served one sentence of a month on a similar charge and he was now liable to three months. Mr Gould said he had no offer to make so he was sent to prison for three months with hard labour.
Cr Peter Darlington was re-elected as chairman to the council. He thanked the councillors and said they were all there to do their best, and the fact all the old members had been returned unopposed showed the ratepayers were satisfied with the work of the council.
The Vicar of Featherstone, the Revd Arthur Purehouse Birch, died aged 53. He had gone to Scarborough for a holiday for his health but came back worse and died a month later. The Express said he was of the old school and did not hold with the modern idea of holding whist drives and dances for the church funds.
Lily Burgess, also known as Lily Rhodes, was from Normanton and was a domestic servant at Ackton Hall Farm. She was in court for stealing four eggs valued at 6d and a silk jumper belonging to Mrs Cressey. She admitted the offences and said she did not want to go to prison and asked to be sent to a home. The chairman said she had previously been sent to prison but now they would try another experiment. She would be placed on probation for three years and would be sent to a Salvation Army Home.
MAY An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall on James Backhouse aged 29 of Moor Road who was killed in an accident at Featherstone Main Colliery. Mark Thurlwell, ex-police sergeant, was the banksman at the top of the Haigh Moor shaft who loaded the empty tubs onto the cage. The empties pushed the full tubs out which were taken away by Mr Backhouse. Before he signalled the winding engineman to start winding Mr Thurlwell always called to Mr Backhouse "Are you alright Jim", and he replied "Yes, alright".
He then signalled to the winder to lower the cage but apparently a full tub had run back towards the shaft, Mr Backhouse attempted to stop it but it smashed the safety gate and went down the shaft and Mr Backhouse fell after it.
The coroner said it was the deceased's duty to see the tub was clear. It was for the jury to say if there was any negligence, but he thought Thurlwell, in view of the answer he received from the deceased, was quite justified in giving the signal for the cage to be lowered. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
Another inquest at the Gospel Hall was on George Elleker aged 49 of Pretoria Street. He had been hit by tubs at Featherstone Main Colliery a month earlier and had not worked since. His widow was of the opinion his accident had caused his death (no doubt because of the compensation). However, Dr Fairclough who did the post mortem, said there were no marks from the accident, but the brain was soft and the heart was enlarged. In his opinion the cause of death was heart failure. The coroner asked if the deceased would have still been living if he had not been injured and the doctor replied no. The jury then decided not to call any evidence as to the accident and returned a verdict of natural causes.
William Good was charged with stealing a razor valued at 10s 6d from Cecil Faulkner a Featherstone hairdresser. PC Rowlett said Good handed him the razor at his lodgings saying I might have hurt myself. PS Richards explained Mr Good's wife had left him and gone to Blackpool and he had gone to live with his brother. He became very low and told Dr Finch he was considering suicide. The chairman said the Bench had great sympathy with Mr Good and they would place him in the care of the probation officer for three years in his own recognizance of £5 and fined him the costs of 18s 10d.
Austin Prest, manager of Featherstone Main Colliery, was in court for not displaying a notice as to shift times at the pit top and allowing men to work more than seven hours underground when it was not an emergency. Both he and the company were fined £5.
JUNE The council were told their application for a 10mph speed limit had been turned down. There were 62 cases of measles and it was left to the medical officer regarding closing the schools. There were also two cases of encephalitis lethargica (sleeping sickness). The council decided to support the building of a Mining and Technical School for the district on a site yet to be selected.
JULY An inquest was held in Wakefield on Richard Blackham aged 38 of Farm Road. His leg was badly injured by a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery on 29 May and he was taken to Clayton Hospital. Dr Kelly decided the leg had to be amputated but infection set in and he died of septicemia on 2 July.
Fred Senior of Batley was charged with stealing a pint glass value one shilling from the Jubilee Hotel. Thomas Speight of Wakefield Road told the barman he had seen Senior put the glass in his pocket. He denied it but the glass was found. Arthur Caton, the barman told the court they had a lot of trouble with people coming in charas and taking glasses away. He said their average loss was about 40 glasses a week. Senior said he had been with a chara party to Selby and had had a lot to drink. The chairman told him that was no excuse and imposed a fine of 40s or 26 days in jail.
Hugh Byrne and Albert Benson of Normanton were charged with each riding a motor-cycle to the danger of the public. PC Lee said he was at the bottom of Station Lane when the two came from Pontefract at 30mph and passed the junction without giving any warning so he signalled them to stop. Ex-PS Mann said if any vehicle had been coming down Station Lane or Girnhill Lane it would have been impossible to avoid a collision. The defendants said they sounded their horn and as the road was clear did not think their speed of 25 mph was excessive. They were fined 20s each.
The Gospel Hall Sunday School was said to be one of the biggest in Yorkshire. The congregation of about 1,000 children was taken to Ackton Wood, in a variety of conveyances, for a day out which included a tea, games and sports. They were looked after by the superintendents, Messrs R Holiday and J Pell, and the teachers. Mr Holiday provided sweets and nuts and a great time was had by all.
The tuberculosis after-care committee were told by the Guardians in cases of destitution where persons were already receiving relief they could also be granted any necessary clothing. It was reported 40 cases had received or were now receiving help and since the last meeting £51 had been expended on needy cases. An appeal was to be made to the local colliery owners and miners' associations for grants.
The fifth annual Old Featherstone and Ackton Treat was held in Farmer Copley's field near Ackton. The children went in procession from Old Featherstone headed by the Featherstone Subscription Silver Band. The children had tea in the field and the old folk had theirs in the National School. The entertainment was Morris and Maypole dancing, competitions and races. Norman Longbottom won the prize for the best schoolboy's comic dress. At the conclusion the children were given sweets and nuts, and for the old folk there were packets of tea and tobacco.
The Revd James Gray, Rector of Whitwood Mere and a curate at St Peter's Mission Church some years ago, was appointed Vicar of Featherstone. He was inducted at a service in Featherstone Parish Church by the Bishop of Whitby and he signified his induction into "the real, actual, and corporal possession of the Church of Featherstone" by tolling the bell.
AUGUST It was accepted practice for a woman to send a neighbour's child on an errand which is why Clara Siddle sent Rose Lane age eleven to the Featherstone Hotel with a bottle to be filled with beer. PC Stubbs saw her outside with the filled bottle unsealed and uncorked so George Johnson, the licensee, was taken to court and charged with selling, through his servant, intoxicating liquor to a child under 14, in an unsealed vessel.
Mr Clayton-Smith, defending, said Mr Johnson was not in the hotel at the time and his wife, who was in the kitchen, was in charge. Miss Rita Johnson had served the girl and said she left the girl to serve a man who said he had a bus to catch, and when she returned the girl had gone. The Bench dismissed the charge against Mr Johnson but Mrs Siddle, on a charge of sending the child for the beer with an uncorked bottle, was ordered to pay the costs.
SEPTEMBER PC Sherwin was passing West End Farm, Ackton, when he noticed a four bay barn was on fire. The alarm was raised and fire brigades from Featherstone, Pontefract and Normanton attended. There was a scarcity of water for fire-fighting and the brigades prevented the fire spreading but could not save the barn. The contents of the barn were 21 acres of hay and clover, 10 acres of oats and 10 acres of wheat, and all were lost.
The farm was the property of the Ackton Hall Estate and the barn was insured for £200 and the contents for £580. The farm was on high ground and the fire was visible for miles around which resulted in a large crowd gathering.
The Hull Sailors' Orphans' Band made its regular visit to Featherstone and Streethouse. They took collections wherever they went and carried collection sheets around the ground at the Rovers' game. The Express commented "In view of the hard times through which the local colliery workers have passed and are passing, the organisers were delighted and gratified with the excellent total result of £89 and they thoroughly appreciated all the kindly help given.
OCTOBER The council fixed a rate of 2s 9d for the next six months. This was an increase of 3d on the previous rate.
PC Beaumont was on point duty at the bottom of Station Lane for Pontefract Races. Alexander Taylor age three had been taken to Ramsden's butchers by his sister. The constable saw Alexander wander into the road with a car approaching. He dashed forward and seized the child but was unable to prevent the mudguard of the car catching him. The child had bruises about the head and face but recovered from his ordeal. Witnesses spoke highly of the constables action.
Twelve Featherstone miners were fined 15s each for playing pontoon in Phipps Street.
NOVEMBER On Remembrance Day the British Legion placed a wreath on the Ackton Hall Colliery Memorial "an act which was much appreciated by management and workmen alike". On the following Sunday about 100 ex-Servicemen, mostly members of the British Legion, attended a memorial service at Purston Church, and a wreath was placed on the new War Memorial.
The Featherstone and Purston Voluntary Aid Detatchment, instead of placing a wreath on the memorial, started a fund with the object of having the names of the fallen put on the War Memorial. To date they had collected £2 15s. The British Legion's poppy sale for the Earl Haigh Fund realised £50 14s 6d compared with £43 18s 6s last year.
DECEMBER Mr J J Hufton bought a fish and chip business at 46 Station Lane. On his first day of opening the chip pan caught fire. Fire extinguishers were loaned by Messrs Bullocks and the blaze was quickly put out. The damage was estimated at £2.
Charles Neville, a farmer of Manor Farm, Purston, sued John Parker of Pontefract, a haulage contractor, for £25 damages. He said four of his cows were waiting for him to open a gate for them to pass into the farm when a lorry on the wrong side of the road ran into the hindmost cow and injured its ankle. It had given two gallons of milk a day less since the accident and her value had fallen by £10. After hearing contradictory evidence the judge awarded him £21.
Charlotte Simpson aged 79 lived with her son Fred at Jubilee Lodge, Purston. At 2am one morning he heard her scream and she rushed into his bedroom with her nightdress alight. He extinguished the flames but she was badly burned. She told him she had lighted a candle to look in the drawer of the dressing table. Dr Oyston told the inquest he attended her and found she had fairly extensive burns. She sank rapidly and died a few days later. The jury decided it was death from misadventure.
There were two accidents in a week in Purston. Harold Baxter age three was knocked down by a car and broke his thigh. He was taken to Pontefract Dispensary. George Blackburn was crossing the road by the Junction Hotel at 5.30am on his way to work and he was knocked down by a car and had injuries to his chest and abdomen. He was taken to Pontefract Dispensary and both were said to be making satisfactory progress.
The Imperial War Graves Commission wrote to the Featherstone Burial Board offering to erect headstones in the Featherstone cemetery over the graves of Featherstone men who fell in the Great War, and to maintain them if the board would forego the usual fees. The board replied they would be pleased to agree. The headstones would take the place of the Commission's temporary wooden crosses.
FEBRUARY William Radley told Dr Fairclough he was overrun with rats. The doctor had had a rifle since he left the army and he loaned it but advised him to ask the police if he needed a certificate. Mr Radley asked PC Lee and was told he should have applied for permission to possess the rifle. In court Mr A Bentley defending suggested the case would be met by payment of the costs. The chairman asked Supt Fairbairn if he objected and he said not in the slightest. They would never have found out if Radley had not reported to them but they were bound to bring the charge. No conviction was recorded on payment of costs.
Buses had to be licensed by the county council, and the Featherstone Council clerk was told to ask if the county council could stop overcrowding and dangerous racing by such vehicles, and also the enforcement of regulations as to spitting. The county council replied the question of overcrowding and racing was one for the police, and conduct on the buses was a matter for the local council. The clerk said Featherstone Council had not adopted any regulations regarding buses. Many councillors spoke of the danger of racing and pressed for the buses being required to run to a regular timetable. The chairman said there would be a catastrophe one of these days and then perhaps something would be done.
Nine Featherstone miners were in court for not paying money owing for meals given to their children under the Education Provision of Meals Act in the 1921 strike. They owed from 30s to £5 and were all ordered to pay.
Thomas Power of Pontefract was taken to court by Ackton Hall Colliery for obtaining a load of coal by false pretences and also trying to obtain a second load of coal. He signed on as a married man living in Pontefract but the company became suspicious and found he was neither married nor living at the address he had given. For the colliery it was said there was a good deal of trafficking in home coal, sold at a reduced rate to married miner householders, and they wished to stop the practice. The Bench said they were determined to do all they could to stop it and fined him £5 plus costs.
MARCH A whist drive and dance was held in the Lister Hall in aid of Pontefract Dispensary, Clayton Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. It was a joint effort by the maternity and child welfare committee and the council. The hall (the baths in winter) was decked out with plants, flags and bunting, and 350 people turned up for the whist drive. Then there was a tea provided by generous townsfolk, and as the dancers had turned up by then, over 600 had to be catered for. There was also a fancy-dress competition, and the event raised £162 19s.
Mr Sagar, the sanitary inspector, had left the council for another job. He offered to supervise the work in the sanitary department until a successor was appointed but the council decided against it. There were 70 applications for the post and a short list of four was made with the applicants being from Lancashire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.
At the council meeting Cr Edwards complained about the state of the footpaths in Halfpenny Lane and Church Fields and said Featherstone folk on their way to Pontefract had to turn back. The chairman said it was because of a rapid thaw and the surveyor was dealing with it.
He also asked if the new electric street lamps could be left lit in the early morning for men going to and from work. The chairman said the lighting hours were the same as when they were gas lamps, and they could not exceed the hours which were under contract, but the matter would receive further consideration.
It was decided to take advantage of the County Circulating Library and ask if the Miners' Welfare could be the Featherstone centre.
Miss Tupman was due to retire as headmistress of Regent Street Infants School. She would be replaced by Miss Parsons of Ackworth. Before she left she was presented with a gold broach by the staff.
APRIL There were no new nominations for the council so Crs Holiday. Evans, Edwards and Rodgers were all automatically re-elected. A rate of 2s 6d was fixed for the next six months.
Arthur Gould was in court charged with allowing his wife and four children to become chargeable to the Pontefract Union (the workhouse). it was said he earned 45s a week and had a 20s a week pension. He owed the Guardians £25. The magistrates' clerk said Mr Gould had served one sentence of a month on a similar charge and he was now liable to three months. Mr Gould said he had no offer to make so he was sent to prison for three months with hard labour.
Cr Peter Darlington was re-elected as chairman to the council. He thanked the councillors and said they were all there to do their best, and the fact all the old members had been returned unopposed showed the ratepayers were satisfied with the work of the council.
The Vicar of Featherstone, the Revd Arthur Purehouse Birch, died aged 53. He had gone to Scarborough for a holiday for his health but came back worse and died a month later. The Express said he was of the old school and did not hold with the modern idea of holding whist drives and dances for the church funds.
Lily Burgess, also known as Lily Rhodes, was from Normanton and was a domestic servant at Ackton Hall Farm. She was in court for stealing four eggs valued at 6d and a silk jumper belonging to Mrs Cressey. She admitted the offences and said she did not want to go to prison and asked to be sent to a home. The chairman said she had previously been sent to prison but now they would try another experiment. She would be placed on probation for three years and would be sent to a Salvation Army Home.
MAY An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall on James Backhouse aged 29 of Moor Road who was killed in an accident at Featherstone Main Colliery. Mark Thurlwell, ex-police sergeant, was the banksman at the top of the Haigh Moor shaft who loaded the empty tubs onto the cage. The empties pushed the full tubs out which were taken away by Mr Backhouse. Before he signalled the winding engineman to start winding Mr Thurlwell always called to Mr Backhouse "Are you alright Jim", and he replied "Yes, alright".
He then signalled to the winder to lower the cage but apparently a full tub had run back towards the shaft, Mr Backhouse attempted to stop it but it smashed the safety gate and went down the shaft and Mr Backhouse fell after it.
The coroner said it was the deceased's duty to see the tub was clear. It was for the jury to say if there was any negligence, but he thought Thurlwell, in view of the answer he received from the deceased, was quite justified in giving the signal for the cage to be lowered. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
Another inquest at the Gospel Hall was on George Elleker aged 49 of Pretoria Street. He had been hit by tubs at Featherstone Main Colliery a month earlier and had not worked since. His widow was of the opinion his accident had caused his death (no doubt because of the compensation). However, Dr Fairclough who did the post mortem, said there were no marks from the accident, but the brain was soft and the heart was enlarged. In his opinion the cause of death was heart failure. The coroner asked if the deceased would have still been living if he had not been injured and the doctor replied no. The jury then decided not to call any evidence as to the accident and returned a verdict of natural causes.
William Good was charged with stealing a razor valued at 10s 6d from Cecil Faulkner a Featherstone hairdresser. PC Rowlett said Good handed him the razor at his lodgings saying I might have hurt myself. PS Richards explained Mr Good's wife had left him and gone to Blackpool and he had gone to live with his brother. He became very low and told Dr Finch he was considering suicide. The chairman said the Bench had great sympathy with Mr Good and they would place him in the care of the probation officer for three years in his own recognizance of £5 and fined him the costs of 18s 10d.
Austin Prest, manager of Featherstone Main Colliery, was in court for not displaying a notice as to shift times at the pit top and allowing men to work more than seven hours underground when it was not an emergency. Both he and the company were fined £5.
JUNE The council were told their application for a 10mph speed limit had been turned down. There were 62 cases of measles and it was left to the medical officer regarding closing the schools. There were also two cases of encephalitis lethargica (sleeping sickness). The council decided to support the building of a Mining and Technical School for the district on a site yet to be selected.
JULY An inquest was held in Wakefield on Richard Blackham aged 38 of Farm Road. His leg was badly injured by a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery on 29 May and he was taken to Clayton Hospital. Dr Kelly decided the leg had to be amputated but infection set in and he died of septicemia on 2 July.
Fred Senior of Batley was charged with stealing a pint glass value one shilling from the Jubilee Hotel. Thomas Speight of Wakefield Road told the barman he had seen Senior put the glass in his pocket. He denied it but the glass was found. Arthur Caton, the barman told the court they had a lot of trouble with people coming in charas and taking glasses away. He said their average loss was about 40 glasses a week. Senior said he had been with a chara party to Selby and had had a lot to drink. The chairman told him that was no excuse and imposed a fine of 40s or 26 days in jail.
Hugh Byrne and Albert Benson of Normanton were charged with each riding a motor-cycle to the danger of the public. PC Lee said he was at the bottom of Station Lane when the two came from Pontefract at 30mph and passed the junction without giving any warning so he signalled them to stop. Ex-PS Mann said if any vehicle had been coming down Station Lane or Girnhill Lane it would have been impossible to avoid a collision. The defendants said they sounded their horn and as the road was clear did not think their speed of 25 mph was excessive. They were fined 20s each.
The Gospel Hall Sunday School was said to be one of the biggest in Yorkshire. The congregation of about 1,000 children was taken to Ackton Wood, in a variety of conveyances, for a day out which included a tea, games and sports. They were looked after by the superintendents, Messrs R Holiday and J Pell, and the teachers. Mr Holiday provided sweets and nuts and a great time was had by all.
The tuberculosis after-care committee were told by the Guardians in cases of destitution where persons were already receiving relief they could also be granted any necessary clothing. It was reported 40 cases had received or were now receiving help and since the last meeting £51 had been expended on needy cases. An appeal was to be made to the local colliery owners and miners' associations for grants.
The fifth annual Old Featherstone and Ackton Treat was held in Farmer Copley's field near Ackton. The children went in procession from Old Featherstone headed by the Featherstone Subscription Silver Band. The children had tea in the field and the old folk had theirs in the National School. The entertainment was Morris and Maypole dancing, competitions and races. Norman Longbottom won the prize for the best schoolboy's comic dress. At the conclusion the children were given sweets and nuts, and for the old folk there were packets of tea and tobacco.
The Revd James Gray, Rector of Whitwood Mere and a curate at St Peter's Mission Church some years ago, was appointed Vicar of Featherstone. He was inducted at a service in Featherstone Parish Church by the Bishop of Whitby and he signified his induction into "the real, actual, and corporal possession of the Church of Featherstone" by tolling the bell.
AUGUST It was accepted practice for a woman to send a neighbour's child on an errand which is why Clara Siddle sent Rose Lane age eleven to the Featherstone Hotel with a bottle to be filled with beer. PC Stubbs saw her outside with the filled bottle unsealed and uncorked so George Johnson, the licensee, was taken to court and charged with selling, through his servant, intoxicating liquor to a child under 14, in an unsealed vessel.
Mr Clayton-Smith, defending, said Mr Johnson was not in the hotel at the time and his wife, who was in the kitchen, was in charge. Miss Rita Johnson had served the girl and said she left the girl to serve a man who said he had a bus to catch, and when she returned the girl had gone. The Bench dismissed the charge against Mr Johnson but Mrs Siddle, on a charge of sending the child for the beer with an uncorked bottle, was ordered to pay the costs.
SEPTEMBER PC Sherwin was passing West End Farm, Ackton, when he noticed a four bay barn was on fire. The alarm was raised and fire brigades from Featherstone, Pontefract and Normanton attended. There was a scarcity of water for fire-fighting and the brigades prevented the fire spreading but could not save the barn. The contents of the barn were 21 acres of hay and clover, 10 acres of oats and 10 acres of wheat, and all were lost.
The farm was the property of the Ackton Hall Estate and the barn was insured for £200 and the contents for £580. The farm was on high ground and the fire was visible for miles around which resulted in a large crowd gathering.
The Hull Sailors' Orphans' Band made its regular visit to Featherstone and Streethouse. They took collections wherever they went and carried collection sheets around the ground at the Rovers' game. The Express commented "In view of the hard times through which the local colliery workers have passed and are passing, the organisers were delighted and gratified with the excellent total result of £89 and they thoroughly appreciated all the kindly help given.
OCTOBER The council fixed a rate of 2s 9d for the next six months. This was an increase of 3d on the previous rate.
PC Beaumont was on point duty at the bottom of Station Lane for Pontefract Races. Alexander Taylor age three had been taken to Ramsden's butchers by his sister. The constable saw Alexander wander into the road with a car approaching. He dashed forward and seized the child but was unable to prevent the mudguard of the car catching him. The child had bruises about the head and face but recovered from his ordeal. Witnesses spoke highly of the constables action.
Twelve Featherstone miners were fined 15s each for playing pontoon in Phipps Street.
NOVEMBER On Remembrance Day the British Legion placed a wreath on the Ackton Hall Colliery Memorial "an act which was much appreciated by management and workmen alike". On the following Sunday about 100 ex-Servicemen, mostly members of the British Legion, attended a memorial service at Purston Church, and a wreath was placed on the new War Memorial.
The Featherstone and Purston Voluntary Aid Detatchment, instead of placing a wreath on the memorial, started a fund with the object of having the names of the fallen put on the War Memorial. To date they had collected £2 15s. The British Legion's poppy sale for the Earl Haigh Fund realised £50 14s 6d compared with £43 18s 6s last year.
DECEMBER Mr J J Hufton bought a fish and chip business at 46 Station Lane. On his first day of opening the chip pan caught fire. Fire extinguishers were loaned by Messrs Bullocks and the blaze was quickly put out. The damage was estimated at £2.
Charles Neville, a farmer of Manor Farm, Purston, sued John Parker of Pontefract, a haulage contractor, for £25 damages. He said four of his cows were waiting for him to open a gate for them to pass into the farm when a lorry on the wrong side of the road ran into the hindmost cow and injured its ankle. It had given two gallons of milk a day less since the accident and her value had fallen by £10. After hearing contradictory evidence the judge awarded him £21.