1886

  A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 

 1886

NO DAMAGES

  Sixteen Featherstone and Purston men were taken to court in January and charged with throwing stones  during the election riot last year. They were all fined £2 or two weeks in jail. The Bench gave the opinion they should have been brought before them on a more serious charge.
  Mr Kaberry and Mr Burton made claims for damages for those whose property had been damaged in the riot, but they agreed, after going into the law, that the claims could not be maintained as they stood, and asked to be allowed to withdraw them.
  Mr Williams, the West Riding solicitor, thought they had acted wisely, and expressed sympathy with persons who had suffered loss. The Bench thought the law should be altered to provide against such conduct at future elections. Some of the claimants said if such a mob assembled again and damaged their property, they would take stronger measures than they had done seeing they could get no compensation.
   The claimants were:
   Featherstone 
James Maxwell, tailor and draper           £29 15s
James Umpleby, Railway Hotel              £18 6s 6d
George Chappell, South Featherstone   £8 0s 6d
Harry Wilson, builder                              £7 2s 6d
Charles Hemmingway, butcher               £6
William Cowling, Station Lane                £5 7s 6d
James Fearnley, Station Lane                £4 10s
Thomas Cuttle, butcher                          £2
Thomas Cuttle, Station Lane                  £1 15s
William Beanland, Station Lane              2s 6d
John Waller, Junction Inn                        £29 13s 6d
James Mark Tasker                                 £5
T Darnton, grocer                                   £4 1s
Benjamin Hinde, schoolmaster               8s
  
 In July Mr Kaberry tried again and applied to the West Riding Petty Sessions for damages on behalf of 49 Featherstone and Purston clients who had suffered in last year's riot. He was told to consult the West Riding solicitor to see if the claims were admissible. That solicitor replied "The Justices sitting at the Petty Sessions at Pontefract have no power to allow, or disallow, the claims made in respect of damages caused by the rioters at the election in November last. This right is given by the recent statute to Quarter Sessions only. Prior to last sessions I brought the matter before the Finance Committee of Justices, but they decided not to interfere in the matter, or make any recommendation thereon. The claims of your clients are therefore barred".

PURSTON CHURCH ON FIRE

  The apparitor of Purston Church was passing by one Saturday night in January when he saw an intense light in the church. He found the floor and pews in the north isle in flames nine feet high and spreading rapidly. He raised the alarm and the fire was put out using water from the vicarage spring, which fortunately was unaffected by the severe frost. Part of the floor and two pitch pine benches were destroyed. It was found the floor joists resting on a heating flue had become ignited. The church was insured for £5,000, just over half its value. 

THE LOCAL BOARD

  The problem about a water supply continued. At the Local Board meeting  in January some members said the water from Featherstone Main Colliery was fit for use. Dr Buncle said it contained half a teaspoonful of salt in every gallon, and he could not recommend it.

  Mr Kaberry, clerk to the Local Board, had put out notices in March about the annual elections for the Board saying voting papers could be collected from his office in Pontefract. Some Board members criticised this method, so Mr Kaberry offered to put someone at the Board offices in Featherstone to give out voting papers. Slips would be pasted over the notices saying voting papers could be filled in at Mr Watson's post office. 

  Mr Cowling complained of nightly encampment by gypsies. The chairman said if complaints were made to the police the gypsies could be removed. 

   The April election results were Ernest Andrew 785 votes and Joseph Fearnley 608, and both were elected. The flour mill owner, William Bowling, put up as a Liberal and polled 561 to beat John Waller who declared his hand as a Conservative and received 555 votes. 

  The defeat of a Tory candidate caused the Pontefract Advertiser to comment "Not withstanding the political composition of the Board in the past the business has always been conducted in the most agreeable manner, without party strife, and it is hoped that some good feeling and equanimity may characterise the proceedings of the Board in the future, and there will then be no occasion for complaints in that direction".
  Joseph Fearnley was elected chairman  for the tenth time in April. The Board agreed on a half-year rate of 10d, and also agreed Dr Buncle's appointment as medical officer would be "until such time as the Board might sanction". 
  There was a petition in May from owners and ratepayers at the west side of Station Lane asking for a causeway and street lamps. The Board agreed to spend £300 during the year on improvements to causeways. It was reported Snydale Colliery had been standing for two months and rates could not be charged for that period.
  In June the Board agreed to support other areas in a petition to Parliament to have local elections under the Ballot Act instead of the present non-secret system. 
  A letter was received about dead dogs in a pond near Mr A Copley's shop in Green Lane. Dr Buncle said the dogs had already been removed and the pond cleaned out.
  At the July meeting the Local Board discussed having its own offices, a meeting room and a caretaker's house. The Board was paying £25 a year for the present room, and it was estimated an annual repayment of £60 would have to be made on a £500 loan for a new building. Some members suggested the caretaker's house could be left out of the scheme, but it was agreed to leave it in by four votes to three. The surveyor was to prepare plans for both schemes.
  Last April the Board thought a 1s 6d rate for the year would suffice, and fixed a 10d rate for the half year. In September they found they had miscalculated and had to fix another 10d rate for the second half year. 
  Plans for a United Methodist Free Church were rejected because the walls were not thick enough. Revised plans were passed in October.   
  The West Riding solicitor wrote to the Board to say an account of 4s 6d for repairs to the snowplough would be disallowed because it had been used on the side roads as well as the main roads.
  At the November meeting there was a proposal to reduce the roadmen's wages by 4d a day after finding out the rates Normanton, Castleford and Pontefract paid. One member said the roadmen stopped work and leaned on their shovels to talk to every teamster which passed, but the Board voted to keep the wage rates as at present.                                                                                                          

COLLIERIES CLOSED

  The local collieries were closed for long periods because of a lack of demand for coal. The Pontefract Advertiser commented in July "Owing to the great depression in the coal trade a large amount of distress prevails, especially at North and South Featherstone and Purston where already 120 miners are under notice, and will cease work altogether this week. For weeks back able-bodied miners have earned from 6s to 8s and up to 12s per week to support themselves and their families, and in consequence never at any period in the history of the coal trade had such distress prevailed. Soup, bread, etc is now distributed to those in distress. A subscription list is already opened, and the well-to-do people have come forward to aid the necessitous".

A HAYSTACK FIRE

  John Sweeting, landlord of the Red Lion Hotel at Pontefract, had a farm in Purston. A 27 tons haystack on the farm caught fire in August and a messenger was sent on horseback to Pontefract. The Pontefract parish church bellringers, who had just finished their labour for the Sunday service, were told to ring the bells again to sound the alarm. However, Mr Sweeting knew there was no reasonable supply of water near the stack so he refused to allow the fire engine to go to the scene.

  He arrived in Purston to find PC Shotcliffe, PC Lee and 30 men tackling the blaze. As much as possible was done with buckets of water from the well near the lodge and much of the stack was saved. Its value was £160 and it was insured, but as the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion there were suggestions compensation would not be paid. Mr Sweeting gave the men 4s each and abundant refreshment.

DEATH OF ERNEST ANDREW

  Ernest Andrew died suddenly in November age 52 after an attack of bronchitis. He had been manager of Featherstone Main Colliery since it started. At his death he was chairman of the School Board, the Burial Board, and the Featherstone and Purston Conservative Association. He was a director of the Featherstone Gas Co. and a member of the Local Board. More than1,000 people attended his funeral, and the shops in Featherstone and Purston were closed as a mark of respect.

1886 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY  Sarah Bullock, shopkeeper, was charged with selling sweets and oranges on a Sunday. Because it was the first case of its kind she was only fined one shilling. 

  About 90 Conservatives attended a dinner at the Junction Inn to consider forming The Purston and Featherstone Conservative Association.

  John Winsper worked in the Haigh Moor Seam at Ackton Hall Colliery. His mates had to go looking for him and found him in a dying state. The inquest proved he had a long standing heart complaint and decided it was the cause of his death. 

  An inquest was held at the New Inn on Thomas Parkes age 38 who was a collier at Featherstone Main Colliery. He was trying to prise down some coal with an iron bar when a large amount of coal fell on him. He was got out and taken home where he died two hours later. The verdict was accidental death.

FEBRUARY  The School Board had a letter from the Government Board saying £200 spent on fitting out the new schools (out of £4,258) had not been in the original estimates and therefore it could not come out of the loan for the buildings and would have to be a charge on the rates.
  Some parents were not sending their children to school regularly (probably because they had to pay) and the Board agreed to take the worst offenders to court.  

  An inquest was held at the New Inn on William Massey age 56 who was killed by a fall of roof at Snydale Colliery in the presence of two of his sons. The jury decided it was accidental death. He left a widow and 14 children.

  James Mark Tasker, a Purston grocer, gave instruction to a Pontefract man to dispose of some of his possessions by auction. When this became known some of Mr Tasker's creditors took out a warrant for his arrest under the Bankruptcy Act. He was arrested in the early hours of the morning and put in jail but was released after five days. The auction went ahead but the proceeds were impounded for the creditors. At the bankruptcy hearing the deficiency was said to be £108 and was attributed to bad trade and book debts (giving too much credit). The estate was ordered to be wound up.

  The Purston Church yearly parochial tea was held in the schoolroom. There were 220 parishioners and after tea they went to George Street School for a concert. Percy Hall presented a purse containing £20 to Revd Burgon, and a silver broach and bracelet to his wife, for the 13 years during which they had won the hearts of the parishioners.

APRIL  The Guardians' register showed once again George Bradley had not attended any meetings during the past year, John Waller and Richard Cowling had presented themselves 21 times. There was an election for the Featherstone Guardian and Richard Cowling polled 225 votes against Jonah Barratt's 158.

  A concert was held in George Street School by Purston Wesleyan Church in aid of the Purston and Featherstone United Cricket Club to help pay to re-lay the pitch. 

  The School Board had appointed Jane Alexander as a teacher but one member, Mr Battye, strongly objected. The Education Department was asked for an opinion but declined to give one, so the Board confirmed the appointment.

MAY  The School Board interviewed the parents of 20 children who had poor attendances. All but one agreed to send their children to school regularly. That one was George Buckley whose child had not attended at all during the last quarter. He was taken to court and fined 5s and an attendance order made.

JUNE  An election meeting for the Liberals was held in a Board School, "The largest and most enthusiastic political gathering ever held in Featherstone". John Austin, the Liberal candidate for Osgoldcross, was the main speaker. In the election he beat Sir John Ramsden (Conservative) by 4,008 votes to 3,010.

JULY  Revd B Burgon distributed 150 illuminated certificates to children at Purston National School who had passed the Government examination. The regular attenders also received a book prize.

  Seven miners were fined sixpence each for obstructing the footpath. PC Lee said other walkers were obliged to go into the road to get passed.

  James Tattersall was charged with allowing sewage matter to collect in the cellar of two of his houses.  James Baldwin Fearnley, nuisance inspector, found sewage to a depth of four inches causing an awful stench. Mr Tattersall was ordered to remove the nuisance immediately. 

AUGUST  Thirty-five members of Purston Church choir went on a day trip to Blackpool. They left Featherstone at 6.30am and returned at midnight. The expenses were paid by Mrs Hall of Purston Hall.

  Featherstone Main Colliery ran an excursion to Liverpool and sold 750 tickets. A saloon carriage was attached to the train for manager Ernest Andrew, other officials and their ladies.

  Richard Colley, the treasurer for the union at Snydale Colliery, was charged with having misappropriated £9 16s 5d of the union's funds. He said he offered to pay it back at 3s 6d a week, but the union decided to prosecute. In his defence it was said he had been out of work and had a family of young children. He had loaned out £3 of the money and spent the rest. The union only paid him 8s a quarter. The Bench said because of the lax way the union had allowed the books to be kept they would deal leniently with him. He was ordered to pay back the money at 3s 6d a week or two months in jail. 

  The annual Purston Feast was becoming so large it could not be held at the roadside in Purston, so it was transferred to South Featherstone. It was held over a week with side shows, athletics and cricket. Among the shows were Madame Navetta's boxing establishment, fire eating, the "Royal Wizard" illusionist, a steam fair and maypole dancers.

SEPTEMBER  An inquest was held on William Nixon age 40 who died suddenly in Featherstone Main Colliery when making his way to the pit bottom. It was said he was not a strong man and had complained of being overworked filling dirt. Dr Buncle said in his opinion death was caused by heart failure brought on by hurry and overwork, and a verdict was returned accordingly.   

  William Hildred, a grocer in Green Lane, was refused a licence to sell beer for consumption off the premises. He said there were 150 houses in the neighbourhood and the nearest inn was the Railway Hotel.

DECEMBER  St Thomas's Church Musical Society gave its debut concert in Purston National School.

  Thomas Speight, a Featherstone boy, was fined 6d for discharging a pistol in Station Lane.

  John Waller, who lost his place on the Local Board by six votes at the last election, was reinstated after the death of Ernest Andrew.

  Mr J Scott's gymnastic circus was performing on the waste ground in front of the Infant's School when a strong wind blew down the marquee. All those inside got out with difficulty.

  A meeting arranged by the Purston and Featherstone Liberal Association in the United Methodists Free Church schoolroom was attended by 400 people. It was addressed by Mr J Austin, the MP for Osgoldcross. Mr McCormick, the chairman, noted how many ladies were present and said it was evident not all Featherstone ladies were members of the Primrose League (the Conservatives).

1887

   A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE

 1887

MAINS WATER - BY ONE VOTE

  In February the Local Board received a formal offer of a water supply from Wakefield. It was to supply a minimum quantity of 33,000 gallons a day for 30 years at a cost of 11d per 1,000 gallons up to 50,000 gallons. For a quantity above that it would be 10d per 1,000 gallons, and above 125,000 gallons 9d per 1,000. The Featherstone Local Board was to pay for the cost of the water main and meters, but there was a possibility of sharing with Wakefield Rural Sanitary Authority and Normanton Local Board. If the Board did not agree within a few days Wakefield would go ahead with a single scheme for Sharlston. Not all members of the Board were impressed by this offer. John Waller said our water must be good, for there are persons who have lived to be 90 and 92 years of age who have drunk it all their lives.

  Timothy Allison of Leeds told the Board he had sunk two wells in Featherstone one of which supplied more than 45 houses. He said if the landlords sank wells they would find water. The Board also met a deputation from Pontefract but adjourned without taking a decision.

  In the summer there was very little rain and the whole district suffered from a severe drought. The local residents were compelled to use any kind of water regardless of quality for both domestic and drinking purposes. Water was constantly pumped from Mr Bradley's colliery and sent down old gas pipes to parts of the district.

  The Local Board asked Mr Bradley if he could supply the whole district with water and he replied he was willing to do so at a nominal cost. However, the Board was reminded Dr Buncle had said the water was too salty so that idea was dropped. Mr Cowling proposed some kind of local scheme which he said could be done for £1,000 but he got no seconder. It was eventually agreed to approach Wakefield Rural Sanitary Authority for a joint scheme for water from Wakefield Corporation.

  The WRSA refused to pass on water to Featherstone at a price less than 11d per 1,000 gallons. The Board chairman said it would cost a 9d rate which was a very serious matter, so most members were now in favour of a home scheme. David Denton said it was all very well for members who lived in halls and mansions and had plenty of water, but let them come down to the level of, and live for a time among the poor people and learn something of their suffering, then they would soon alter their opinions. The Board then agreed to form a special sub-committee with power to call in an engineer to recommend a source from which to obtain water. In September the Water Committee appointed Malcolm Paterson as consultant.

  He submitted his report within a few weeks which said the district had a population of about 6,800 and was a union of mining villages divided by large tracts of farming land. This meant a large cost in distributing the water whatever scheme was chosen. He suggested coal production would rise to a peak and then decline, and it was only a question of a few generations before it became extinct. There was no river to support other industries, so the end of coal mining would result in a loss of population, and it was necessary to ensure future ratepayers were not saddled with a large debt when that time arrived. He recommended a scheme to service a maximum population of 10,000 and he had considered three possibilities

  The first was to buy water direct from Wakefield Corporation, which would mean laying a seven inch diameter pipe from the Wakefield boundary and this would supply a maximum of 150,000 gallons in 24 hours. The water would be piped to a reservoir at Windmill Hill (near Streethouse) capable of holding five days' supply to allow for emergencies. The reservoir would be covered to keep the water clean.

  The second was to buy the water from Wakefield Rural Sanitary Authority at the Featherstone Boundary. This would save nearly three miles of pipe but the water could cost 2d per 1,000 gallons more.

  For his third scheme Mr Paterson had found out how much water the collieries were pumping out, and he came to the conclusion there was plenty of water to supply the whole district if a well was sunk at the right place and the water pumped out. He proposed a trial borehole between Monkroyd and Purston. If that proved a success a well would be sunk to a depth of 70 yards and the water pumped by duplicate engines to a water tank on Featherstone Hill which would be 250 feet above sea level.

  He had estimated the capital sum to be borrowed by the Board would be £7,300 for the Wakefield scheme, £5,000 for the Rural Sanitary Authority scheme, and £3,100 for the local scheme. The estimated annual costs including interest and repayment of capital were £1,242, £1,280, and £780 respectively, all based on a 30 years loan.

  The water committee considered Mr Paterson's report and recommended a test borehole be drilled to a depth of 70 yards. All the members voted in favour except Mr Denton who was worried about suggestions the coal mining operations would break up the water table (the level at which the water would be found) and reduce the water supply.

  The Local Board adopted the recommendation of the water committee at its September meeting, but immediately cancelled it when the problem of faults breaking up the water table was raised. It was agreed to call a special meeting in October to decide what to do. At that meeting the opponents of the home scheme said the working of the Stanley Main seam would break up the water table, also the expense of the Wakefield scheme was exaggerated. It would only cost 2d a week for a small house. Messrs Denton, Wardman, Eley and Earle voted for the Wakefield Scheme and Messrs Fearnley, Cowling and Bennett for the home scheme. John Waller was absent.

  The Board chairman (Mr Fearnley) said he thought the majority were so far wrong he would do all in his power to upset the decision. He claimed £140 on a Featherstone borehole would be money well spent. The clerk said the business of the Board was done on a majority vote and he did not see what a minority could do after the decision was made.

THE HARD UP SCHOOL BOARD

  The School Board had got itself in a fix by not including the fitting out of the two new schools in the building loan, so to pay the £200 savings had to be made. At the meeting in April Thomas Phipps suggested the salaries of the teachers and the clerk should be reduced. He said Tinley Simpson the headmaster had a salary of £130 plus a house and that was plenty. (Mr Simpson also received money out of the Government grant which Mr Phipps apparently thought should be withdrawn.) After being reminded of the examination in July which would determine the size of the grant Mr Phipps withdrew his suggestion.  

  At the same meeting James Fearnley, the school attendance officer on two days a week, asked the School Board for a rise of 2s a week because of increased duties. The Board decided to defer a reply.

  Mr Fearnley had been in court a short while earlier when James Bullock, a shopkeeper, and four miners were fined five shillings each for not sending their children to school. Mr Bullock and one of the others said their children went to Michael White's school which they considered better than the Board schools. They were told they must send their children to a properly certified school.

  In August the Board Schools and Purston National School were all declared satisfactory by the inspector, so Mr Phipps had another go at proposing the salaries of Mr Simpson, Miss Sykes, Miss Bird and the clerk should all be reduced, but he got no seconder. However, Mr Simpson (who had received £218 9s 3d in the previous year) had offered to forego £45 of his grant money and that was accepted. The Board agreed to raise the weekly wage of the attendance officer from 8s to 10s a week.

  It was reported to the meeting the school rolls were 178 boys, 156 girls and 134 infants, which meant after only two years the Boys' School now had more pupils than it was built for.

1887 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY  A public meeting was held in the Methodist Free Church at which those assembled were told of the duty of all to abstain from alcohol and the need to join the Rechabites or a similar organisation.

FEBRUARY  There was a proposal to reappoint Dr Buncle as medical officer of health for Pontefract. His main opponent Dr George Atkinson wrote to the Pontefract Advertiser asking Mr Moxon (Dr Buncle's proposer) to substantiate his claim that Dr Buncle had reduced the death rate in South Featherstone from 50 per 1,000 to 16 or 18 per 1,000. He said if such a claim was substantiated he would not oppose Dr Buncle, but in his opinion the death rate was never higher than 25 per 1,000. This controversy did not prevent Dr Buncle being reappointed.

  Mr E Leatham presented a toy each to 330 children who attended an evening's entertainment at Purston National School arranged by William Gray "the able and respected schoolmaster".

  The Featherstone Methodist Free Church had used a room in Wakefield Road but it wasn't large enough so in 1881 they established a building fund. The foundation stone for a new building was laid in Providence Street, Station Lane, to accommodate 440 people at a cost of £600. A total of £300 had been raised so far. The Revd G Turner of Leeds gave an address and suggested it be named Jubilee Chapel to celebrate Jubilee year.

MARCH  Frances Banks, a grocer, applied for the transfer of the beer off-licence from her late husband to herself. On her behalf Mr Kaberry said she sold very good beer, so that people came from a distance, even passing other licensed houses on the way to obtain it for their meals. The transfer was granted.

  George Bradley had only attended three guardians meetings in the past year, but once again nobody put up against him so he retained the position for Ackton. Richard Cowling (177 votes) beat Jonah Barratt (108) for the Featherstone post and John Waller was returned unopposed for Purston.

  Robert Gibson of Purston had to attend a bankruptcy hearing where it was said he had a deficit of £72. He said he had made a profit when he was a publican but he had lost it all when he became a joiner and farmer.

  The Gas Company reported sales down, but mainly because Featherstone Main Colliery "had discontinued the use of gas in the workings". (Note: It was common practice up to this time to pipe town gas down the shaft and use it to light the pit bottom and main roadways. It caused explosions at some mines and it would seem the new manager at the colliery had decided it was a poor idea.)

  A new reading room was opened next to the Local Board offices and 100 members enrolled in the first few weeks.

APRIL  The Local Board co-opted Mr Bennett, the new manager of Featherstone Main Colliery, on to the Board. They justified this by the fact the colliery paid 25% of the rates of Featherstone and 12% of the rates of the whole district. At the same meeting John Waller suggested the Board should build new offices to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

MAY  Lucy Bolton age 52 of North Featherstone had been ailing for 14 years and getting worse. One morning her daughter found her hanging by a cord from a hook in the kitchen. She cut her down but it was too late. The inquest jury returned a verdict "that she committed suicide by hanging herself whilst in an unsound state of mind".

  There were no elections for the Local Board and James Fearnley was re-elected chairman. At the first meeting there was a letter from Mrs Reedhouse of Wakefield saying her tenants in The Crescent or The 14 Row were leaving because of the stench from a sewer used by George Bradley's property. The Board decided as it was a private sewer they could do nothing.

  There was a dispute about which main footpaths should be flagged because there was not enough money to do them all. It was decided to do half the west side of Station Lane if those owning streets off it would do theirs, and also part of Wakefield Road.

JUNE  The Local Board agreed to post notices warning people of prosecution if they did not isolate themselves while suffering from infectious diseases. At the same meeting John Wood was ordered to remove ashes and filth he had dumped in Gas House Lane.

  Dr Buncle was the Poor Law medical officer for Purston. A pauper had been signed into the workhouse by his assistant Dr Steven instead of by his deputy Dr Wood. Dr Buncle wrote to the Guardians saying Dr Steven signed the form as a private practitioner not as his assistant. The chairman of the Guardians said it was very informal.

  St Thomas's Church celebrated Queen Victoria's Jubilee by 426 Sunday School scholars and 30 teachers parading the village with banners. Tea was provided in the National School and there were games, sports and fireworks in Purston Hall park.

  Also at Purston National School a Jubilee Tea was held and 208 people aged 60 or over, and all widows of any age living in Purston and Featherstone, were entertained. Conveyances were provided to bring those from North Featherstone.

JULY  Aaron Vaughan was fined one shilling for deliberately setting his chimney on fire by putting a basket on the fire. He said he could not get the chimney to draw.

  Most street owners had replied they would flag their own street so the Local Board agreed to flag half the west side of Station Lane this year and half next year.

  Two railway engines broke down in one week at Featherstone Station and replacements had to be sent from Wakefield.

  The Featherstone Main Colliery Accident Fund's annual excursion ran two trains to Liverpool. The trippers were able to see the arrival of the Queen of Hawaii at Lime Street Station on her way home after attending the Jubilee celebrations.

  The Featherstone Corps of the Salvation Army was formed in March, and four months later they held a march through "the enemy's stronghold" led by the Normanton Brass Band. A large number of locals came out to witness the display.

  The miners' demonstration was held at Wakefield and there were 397 bookings on a special train from Featherstone Station. There was a procession by miners from Snydale Victoria and Featherstone Main before the train left and when it returned.

AUGUST  The National School scholars in North Featherstone were given a tea by John Shaw of Darrington Hall and Howard Horner a Wakefield solicitor. Each child received a china mug for Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

  St Thomas's Church choir, 32 in all, were given a trip to Southport by rail. Purston Wesleyan Sunday School had a trip to Brockadale Woods in five wagons.

  The Board of Guardians wrote to Dr Buncle regarding the case of Richard Evans who was alleged to be a lunatic but had been seen by neither Dr Buncle nor his deputy Dr Wood. Also that Dr Steven, his assistant, had been systematically seeing patients concerning the Guardians on Dr Buncle's behalf instead of Dr Wood.

  The Guardians received a reply from Dr Steven saying he and Dr Wood had seen the case and considered it trivial. Also Dr Buncle's health had compelled him to leave the place for a short time but he would probably reply to the Guardians' letter himself. The Guardians decided if no such reply was received they would write again.

  On his return Dr Buncle wrote to the Guardians suggesting Dr Steven be named as his deputy instead of Dr Wood. The Guardians agreed thus regularising what was already happening.           

                             
   A house near Purston Church occupied by William Sharp was struck by lightning. A ball of fire came down the chimney and into the kitchen bringing down a large amount of soot.

  Purston's annual feast was held in a field near the gas works. There was a bazaar, swing boats, aunt sallies etc but no shows because trade was bad in the district. (The half-yearly statistics for the Guardians showed 144 paupers in Featherstone had received relief, 20 in Purston and 20 in Ackton.)

OCTOBER  The living of All Saints' Church was offered to Revd F G Stebbing of St Peter's Mission Church, Mirfield. Captain Hiles of the Salvation Army left for Brighouse and was replaced by Captain Goss. Both were ladies.

  Walter Ward and Henry Littlewood were sued by Mr A Copley, a cab proprietor, for the hire of a waggonette. On behalf of Featherstone Football Club they had agreed to hire the waggonette at 18s a journey for away games. He had not been paid for two journeys and it was claimed the money had been given to the club secretary Mr Watson but he had absconded. A verdict was given against Mr Ward who had done the actual hiring.

  The Guardians asked Dr Buncle why a large number of smallpox vaccinations had not been carried out. He replied it was because of measles and scarlet fever which had been in Featherstone for six months.

  The Methodist Free Church off Station Lane was opened. It had been built by Mr Elleson of Featherstone at a total cost of £906. John Price of Ackworth had provided 3,000 bricks and delivered them free from the blowing up of a chimney at Streethouse Colliery. The Express reported the Free Church began when the worshipers at the Wesleyan Methodist Church fell out and some left to form their own church. They had only 30 members but 200 Sunday school pupils.
  The Methodist Chapel is shown below with the Sunday School pupils in front. A Tony Lumb Collection photo.

NOVEMBER  The Local Board decided to take out a summons against George Bradley who had refused to pay his rates because he was appealing against his assessment. The Board fixed a rate of one shilling for the next six months.

DECEMBER  At the annual meeting of the Purston and Featherstone Cricket Club it was reported the club had 48 members. The income last year was £21 19s 7d and the expenditure £21 16s 7d. The club still owed £8 rent for the last two years on the cricket field. 

  The ratepayers at North Featherstone had complained for many years they did not get the same service as the rest of the district, the main problems being the lack of street lighting and drainage. The difficulty with the drainage was the sewage works were at the River Went a long way away.

  The lack of town gas for street lamps was because North Featherstone was in the district given to Castleford Gas Company and they would not lay a main because they said it would be too expensive. The Local Board agreed to erect 12 oil lamps.

  A rabbit coursing event on the New Inn grounds was well attended.

  The Ordnance Survey map below shows the new Primitive Methodist Chapel in Wakefield Road and the United Free Methodist Chapel in what the Express called Providence Street but which is unnamed on the map.
  Also shown is the New Inn (actually just a beerhouse) at the far end of Phipps Street and the sports ground beyond which was used for cricket and football and also rabbit coursing.  

1888

   A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 

 1888

WATER SUPPLY ARGUMENTS

  In January Malcolm Paterson of Bradford put in his bill for the work he had done so far on the water scheme. It came to £68 2s 8d. He offered to act as engineer for the scheme at 5% of the cost and if appointed would waive his present account. The Local Board agreed he would be paid £300 or 5% which would include the previous bill.

  Most of the wells in the district had dried up and there was an unprecedented shortage of water. Wakefield Corporation offered to supply water for 20 years to be metered at Wakefield Bridge. Featherstone Local Board were to lay the water main and erect a reservoir capable of holding 320,000 gallons. The Board had to take a minimum of 30,000 gallons a day in the first year and a maximum of 60,000. The price would be 10d per 1,000 gallons up to 30,000 or 9d if the quantity was between 30,000 and 60,000. The Wakefield Rural Sanitary Authority declined to consider a joint scheme for Sharlston so the Local Board voted to accept the Wakefield offer.

  Problems over the contract arose in April. The Featherstone Local Board wanted the agreement to be for 30 years, and they wanted a trial period of three years before the minimum take was fixed. Wakefield Corporation said if they agreed to 30 years they would have to have the power to put up the rates by 2d per 1,000 gallons if necessary. Wakefield wanted to supply water only during weekday nights and from 2pm on Saturdays until 6.30am on Mondays. Also Featherstone must not sell the water to any other authority even if they could not use the 30,000 gallons themselves.

  At the Board's April meeting it was announced Wakefield would not extend the period to 30 years but would allow a two years trial period to fix the minimum. Mr Denton asked how the Board was situated by getting a loan for 30 years if the agreement was for 20 years. The clerk assured the Board it was in order, so the agreement was approved subject to a drought clause.

  In June a letter was received from Pontefract Corporation saying they could supply water at a lower cost than Wakefield, and the Park Hill reservoir would serve both districts. Wakefield had refused to insert a clause in the contract saying during a drought they would supply Featherstone in preference to manufacturers in Wakefield. The chairman said they were in honour bound to sign the agreement if Wakefield inserted the clause and they could not discuss the Pontefract letter.

  Wakefield refused to budge on the drought clause. A special meeting of the Local Board was called which refused to sign the agreement. The Express commented "Much regret is expressed by the inhabitants of the district at the arbitrary dealing, as it is termed, of the Corporation, and they hope that as an engineer had been appointed, the necessary plans of the district prepared, and other preliminary work carried out, the Corporation may still give way on the point and thus allow the people of Featherstone to enjoy, on fair and equitable grounds, a good supply of pure and wholesome water".

  At the July meeting it was said Wakefield Corporation was sticking to the right to supply Wakefield business before Featherstone. There was a telegram from Pontefract Corporation saying they would send a deputation to the meeting. The deputation arrived and said the analysis of their new water supply showed it to be pure and excellent for domestic and manufacturing purposes. It would be available in 12 months time and the price would be 8d per 1,000 gallons from Pontefract reservoir or 7d if Featherstone had its own reservoir. The minimum would be 30,000 gallons per day and Featherstone could dispose of water elsewhere if necessary to make up the minimum. Pontefract would share the water in times of scarcity. It was agreed the terms would be put in writing.

  The August meeting was "one of the most protracted and uproarious meeting on record of the Featherstone Local Board". Wakefield would still not give way so Mr Denton proposed acceptance saying Wakefield Corporation would ultimately have sufficient water for everybody. Mr Bennett opposed saying they would spend £2,000 more than necessary and proposed they adjourn the matter for six months. Mr Waller said there was plenty of water in his hay field. Mr Wardman moved a second amendment that the matter be adjourned for one month.

  Three members voted for the second amendment, two for the first, and four wanted to sign the agreement. On Mr Denton's resolution being put again only three voted in favour, Mr Eley had changed his mind.

  Things then got heated. Some members stormed out and Mr Battye called Mr Denton a liar. The chairman, Mr Fearnley, said he would leave the chair unless Mr Battye withdrew that remark so Mr Battye gave way. The reporters were then asked to leave and the meeting continued in private.

  At the September meeting it was decided to ask Wakefield to supply water for 30 years instead of 20 as a means of reopening negotiations. The chairman said the only stumbling block was the possibility of withdrawing water in cases of drought. Mr Denton said Wakefield Corporation had borne the brunt and burden of the scheme so it was only reasonable they should be supplied first. The chairman said they were bearing a great burden if they put down four miles of pipes. Mr Denton asked the chairman what he offered as a substitute but received no reply.    

  In October Wakefield Corporation agreed to extend the terms to 30 years as a kind of set-off to the other contentious parts of the agreement. Messrs Fearnley, Waller and Bennett voted against, but all the other six voted in favour. Mr Fearnley said he would still pursue an alternative. When this was queried by Mr Denton he replied the agreement was still subject to an inquiry (to borrow the money). He then signed the agreement and fixed the Local Board seal to it. "It’s a blessing" was Mr Denton's final comment.

  Wakefield Corporation also fixed their seal to the agreement. Notices had then to be put in the local papers for three months to allow objections before a loan could be arranged.

EDUCATION IN 1888

  In February eight Featherstone men were in court for not sending their children to school and they all claimed they were sending them to Michael White's school. For the Featherstone School Board it was claimed Michael White's school was not open to inspection, it was not under the rules of the Government, and because it did not charge more than 9d a week it was not exempt from the Education Act. All eight were fined 5s each and ordered to send their children to the Board Schools.

  When it was time for the School Board elections in September posters were put up saying the "classes" had been long enough represented on the Board and now the "masses" ought to look to their own interests. A meeting was held at the Boys' School where the main criticism was the bad financial management which had caused a rate of 11d in the £1.

  At the poll those elected were A Higgins, H Gledhill, Alexander Alexander, T Phipps and Revd F G Stebbing. Those who failed were J Battye, Jonah Barratt, W Hepworth, J Chambers and F Wood. So Joseph Battye and Joseph Chambers lost their seat on the Board.

  The first meeting of the new Board elected Mr Phipps as chairman. They were told by Mr Simpson the Boys' School was now accommodating more pupils than it was built for, and he had been told by the inspector they were liable to pay £1 for every child over that figure (presumably taken off the grant).

  The Board decided to have a new classroom for 72 boys built on land in George Street already bought from Mr H Horner of Wakefield for £320. A decision was also taken to allow the children of miners out on strike to attend school free.

  At the next meeting Mr Alexander objected to the free places for striking miners. He said some of them were boasting they could get more from the union and begging than when they were working. Some were getting up to 25s a week. It was agreed to allow free places only for special cases.

  In November Mr Higgins told the School Board he had been elected in order to make economies in the running of the schools. He proposed reducing Mr Simpson's salary by £10 and taking away his free gas and coal so his salary would be £110 plus house plus a quarter of the grant, making the equivalent of £150. Revd Stebbing proposed it should be £150 plus house and nothing else and that was passed by four votes to one. It was also agreed to reduce the clerk's salary from £25 to £20 and to reduce the attendance officer to his former wage.
  

GEORGE BRADLEY AND THE POOR RATES

  In April John Bramley and William Bradley, the Ackton overseers, were summonsed by the Board of Guardians for £91 10s poor rates. John Bramley told the magistrates he knew no more about the outstanding accounts then they did and he claimed William Bradley himself owed £19 5s and one ratepayer had not paid for four years.  The Bench decided the overseers must take proceedings against every person in rate arrears at once and the case would be adjourned for a week to see if they had done so.

  A week later it was time for the next year's overseers to be nominated by the parish and approved by the magistrates. Because Ackton was in the Agbrigg district this was done at Wakefield Court. Only William Bradley and Charles Keith had been nominated and both worked for Henry Briggs, Sons and Company who paid two-thirds of the rates for Ackton because their miners' homes at Loscoe were included in the Ackton district.

  Mr Horner appeared on behalf of some of the ratepayers who objected to the way things were run, and John Bramley told his tale again and said the outstanding arrears were now £381.

  The Bench appointed Messrs Bradley and Keith and said there should be an overhauling of the rate books. On the same day at Pontefract Court it was announced the £91 10s had been paid.

  In May George Bradley was summonsed for £136 18s 3d owing on the poor rates. He did not appear in court and PC Foster said he had been twice to Ackton Hall but he could not gain admission, so he gave the summons to a servant in the stable yard some distance from the hall.

  Mr Lodge, for George Bradley, asked for an adjournment and said George Bradley had paid £100 on account. Mr Leatham, for the overseers, opposed an adjournment and said George Bradley owed for the last eight rates over the last four years. The Bench said the summons had been properly served and the case would be heard.

  Mr Leatham then said at a recent vestry meeting John Dunn Parker, assistant overseer, had been ordered to take proceedings against all poor rate arrears but had failed to do so. He had also declined to give any information or hand over the rate books. A Township meeting was held on May 3 at which Mr Parker was dismissed and ordered to hand the rate books to the overseers. It was then found George Bradley owed eight rates totalling £236 towards which he had now paid £100.

  John Dunn Parker was called and was reticent in his answers until told by the chairman he would not leave until the matter was finished. He then said he had been assistant overseer for 20 years and the collector since 1884 for which he received £20. It was now obvious George Bradley had not paid any poor rates during Mr Parker's period as collector, and Mr Parker said he had not entered Mr Bradley's arrears in the rate book because the magistrates would not have agreed a new rate if they knew such a large amount was outstanding.

  Mr Lodge claimed the £100 paid in was for the last three rates and Mr Bradley was not liable for the others because the rate fixings had not been properly posted in the church. The Bench didn't agree and said the outstanding amount must be paid forthwith.

GEORGE BRADLEY BANKRUPT

  George Bradley bought the Ackton Hall estates with borrowed money. He borrowed more to sink Manor Colliery next to the railway station. The coal trade slumped and he had trouble paying his bills. In March he was summonsed by four miners for unpaid wages. He was summonsed back again the next week by another eight miners and the poor rates collector.

Apart from his workmen and the poor rates he couldn't pay his suppliers. He was sued in the County Court in June by Mr Richardson of Leeds for £3 3s 3d the value of goods supplied to the colliery. In August he was sued by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company for £41 6s 2s for the carriage of coal. At the end of August he was summonsed by 33 miners for their wages and from then summonses were issued almost weekly because of unpaid wages.
  In October it was said he owed £50 of his current rates assessment and a distress warrant had been issued for a previous unpaid rates demand, and he owed one creditor £24,000 and steps were being made to declare him bankrupt.  
  In December George Bradley was back in Pontefract Court to say why he should not be committed to prison. It was said there were 32 outstanding claims for unpaid wages totalling £114. Some of his property had been seized and sold by auction which raised £104 and was used to pay off 29 of the miners. Two of those not paid had taken him to court again. 
  Mr Lodge, defending, said the sale had taken place at 8am instead of the usual 10am. Consequently £1,000 of goods had gone for a paltry £100, Supt Whincup said every dodge possible had been used to entrap the police because they were applying for the money of the poor colliers who were literally starving. He had even advanced some money himself on some occasions and had put back the sale as long as possible.
  Mr Lodge said all the men should have been paid 19s in the pound, but the Bench said Supt Whincup did right as they would never have got the other shilling. George Bradley was ordered to pay the two men the money owing to them plus 3s 6d each for a day's wage lost in coming to court.
  The same week it was announced the British Medical Insurance Society had filed for bankruptcy against George Bradley. 
  Back in court next week there was a row between George Bradley, his legal representative Mr Horner, and Supt Whincup. George Bradley complained he was hard done by and excessive expenses had been claimed by the police. He grabbed a schedule of payments and expenses which Supt Whincup had allowed Mr Horner to look at and refused to give it up until overpowered by Supt Whincup and Sergeant Sparrow. His case was adjourned for another week and it was then announced George Bradley had settled the miners' claims.
  In the meantime the Local Board received a letter from the British Medical Insurance Society saying Joseph Howgate of Wakefield had been appointed as receiver for George Bradley and future letters about rates should be sent to him.
  This arrived after another summons had been issued against George Bradley for unpaid Local Board rates of £41 18s 0d and poor rates of £80 0s 4d. He didn't appear in court no doubt deciding to let the receiver sort it out.

1888 NEWS ITEMS

  JANUARY  William Ecclestone was employed at Mr Bradley's pit as a doggie and when asked to do a hurrier's work by the deputy he refused. He was told to seek a fresh job so he summonsed George Bradley for £1 wages he was owed and £2 8s in lieu of notice. Mr Darlington told the court it was the custom if the hurrier did not turn up the doggie did his work. Another rule was a man could be instantly dismissed for refusing to obey the orders of the underviewer. The case was dismissed apart from the £1 wages. (A hurrier was a pony driver, a doggie was the man in charge of the pony drivers, and the underviewer was the undermanager.)

  Four South Featherstone miners were fined 6d for obstructing the footpath in Station Lane and causing several ladies to step into the road.

  The Salvation Army opened its new barracks in the former United Methodists Free Church. They claimed 1,047 members and they marched to the station to meet Major Longstaff (a lady) who then conducted open air meetings before moving to the barracks.

FEBRUARY  The Revd F G Stebbing asked the Burial Board to discontinue Sunday funerals but they declined.

MARCH  Featherstone Main Colliery formed an ambulance class. Dr Buncle gave lectures to 45 members.

 

  The School Board allowed Mr Allen to use a schoolroom to give French lessons at a rent of 5s a quarter. The Ambulance Society was also allowed a room at 1s a night. The miners' union at Featherstone Main were refused as it was considered it was out of accord for the purposes for which the schools were built.

  An inquest was held on Adolphus Rowley aged 19, a pony driver at Featherstone Main Colliery. He was trapped between a tub and the side of the road and died in Clayton Hospital. The verdict was accidental death.

MAY  An inquest was held on Feargus Exley who was found cut in two at the Halfpenny Lane railway crossing. James Walton said they had been in the White Hart Inn at Pontefract and had missed the last train so they walked along Halfpenny Lane but Exley got left behind. The driver of a goods train said he felt a bump at the crossing and stopped at the station where he found a sand pipe at the front of the engine was bent. The coroner said Exley had been in drink and had probably laid down and gone to sleep. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and recommended the crossing be lit.

  Mr Fearnley was unanimously re-elected chairman of the Local Board. A rate of 10d was fixed for the half-year. The collector said all the rates had been paid except for George Bradley who had only paid £10 on account. He had been summonsed and a distress warrant issued.

  William Schofield claimed £2 10s wages in lieu of notice from George Bradley. He said he had been given a fortnight's notice but the pit had only worked four days and he had only been allowed to work two of those. George Senior, the manager of Manor Colliery, said Schofield was stopped from working because the small coal and dirt he was getting was totally unsaleable. They could not find him other work because all the wagons were full and the pit had no orders. The case was dismissed.

  The annual soiree of the Purston and Featherstone Liberal Association was held in Purston National School. Because of the slow sale of tickets only a guarantee of 250 was given to a Pontefract confectioner but he decided to bring enough food for 400. In the event 600 crowded the school so many of them got no tea.

  Mr Pickard MP said a few words about the Primrose League (the Conservative ladies) and said the wives of the miners were as radical as the men themselves. On local councils he said he was in favour of paying councillors £1 a day so working men could put themselves forward, and if we were going to have County Councils and Local Councils why not abolish the Poor Law Unions (the Guardians) which would do away with a costly and uneconomical system of local administration.

JUNE  Simon Burns was fined £2 10s for removing his furniture at 4am from a cottage in Purston to avoid paying the rent.

  Sam and Henry Millington were playing peggy in the street and it went through an open window. William Twigger went out and told them they had no business playing there. They assaulted him giving him two black eyes and a cut face, and it cost them a fine of 10s or 14 days in jail with hard labour.

  Adam Hirst was breaking a horse in for Mr Scholey when it shied and threw him. His foot got fast and it dragged him down Station Lane. Near the station a Castleford Cooperative delivery man seized the horse. Mr Hirst had several dislocated ribs, one arm broken, a dislocated shoulder and numerous cuts and bruises. He was attended by Drs Buncle and Steven who said it was a miracle he was not killed on the spot.

  At the Local Board meeting there were more complaints about unfiltered sewage going into the River Went and polluting it where cattle drank. The surveyor was told to remedy the matter.

  There was a letter from Mr Allison of Leeds, a large ratepayer, complaining the flagging of the west side of Station Lane had not been done and the road was in a shameful and dirty state. Also he paid £6 a year for the cleaning out of his privies and ashpits which he considered was really the work of the Board. "If that body thought it was to be a one-sided improvement and a one-sided lighting of the lamps, in all fairness to myself and all the other property owners on the west side I consider it should be a one-sided paying of the rates". The Board decided as in some cases the Local Board had flagged and paved private streets and the property owners had then paid without demur, this policy should continue.

  Notices were placed in the shops saying they would be closed every Wednesday afternoon at 3pm from June to September to give a much needed rest to those engaged within.

  The first examination of the Featherstone Main Colliery St John Ambulance class was taken by Dr Martin of Leeds in Regent Street School. All 20 passed.

  Mr W Dalston Braithwaite of Ackworth gave a talk to a large meeting of ratepayers in George Street School which sought to show the need for another Guardian in Featherstone. At the end it was proposed "that this meeting of the ratepayers is of the opinion it is highly desirable an additional Guardian should be granted to the parish of Featherstone, and that the overseers at once call a vestry meeting to petition the Local Government Board to grant their request". It was passed unanimously.

JULY  Hand  bills were circulated among Featherstone miners asking them to attend a mass meeting at Sharlston Common to press for a 10% increase from next October. Several hundred miners turned up and William Boffey of Featherstone urged the assembly to train for the final heat in October. He hoped the non-union men would join them for he said it was a hard road to travel when one union man had to carry eight non-union men on his back.

  Samuel Cooper, a potato dealer of Ackworth Lane, had converted two stables into a cottage without the consent of the Local Board. Mr Cooper appeared before the Board to apologise, and he agreed to make alterations to conform with the bye-laws.

  Fanny Davis aged 14 of Newport Terrace, went on a Snydale Colliery trip to Scarborough. She fell off the Castle Hill and broke her thigh and was carried to the infirmary by soldiers and police.

  John Turner and Benjamin Davis were charged with assaulting George Pflasterer, the landlord of the Bradley Arms. They began fighting after an argument about pigeon flying and when the landlord intervened he was set on by both of them and was hit on the head with a spittoon. They were fined £1 each.

AUGUST  The Haigh Moor miners at Featherstone Main Colliery gave notice and came out on strike for an increase in wages after bringing their tools to the bottom of the shaft.

  Members of the Primitive Methodist Church paraded the streets headed by their brass band prior to a public meeting in Station Lane. It was agreed to send a resolution to the licensing magistrates protesting against two more applications for selling intoxicating liqueur, saying the neighbourhood was already provided for and the granting of such licences would seriously injure the domestic, social and moral well being of the district.
  This photo of the Primitive Methodists place of worship on Wakefield Road is from the Tony Lumb Collection.

SEPTEMBER  Three Featherstone boys were in court for throwing the Local Board roadstone about. Supt Whincup said "You can scarcely pass along Featherstone or Purston without being subject to the danger of stones thrown by boys". The Express commented "He might have added bicycle and tricycle riders feel their annoyance and appreciate the danger as much as any other people can possibly do". 

  The Snydale, Streethouse, Featherstone and Purston Flower Show Society held its first exhibition opened by John Rhodes of Snydale Hall in the cricket field at Streethouse. It was intended to be held alternately at Streethouse and Featherstone.

  The Haigh Moor miners were still on strike. They toured the streets with a hand cart to collect provisions or other gifts anyone was disposed to give them. Some were not in the union and were entirely dependent on outside support. The wives and children of the strikers were taking work of any kind to gain a livelihood.

 

  At the Local Board meeting there was more controversy about building without permission. Mr Denton said he considered if anyone built without submitting a plan he should be made to pull it down. The 12 street oil lamps in North Featherstone were lit for the first time. They had been supplied by Alfred Higgins of Station Lane, a tinner and plumber. He used the same lamps in his shop and it was said they gave out a very good light.

OCTOBER  Malcolm Paterson, the engineer for the water scheme, was asked to report on the sewage works after more complaints from Lord St Oswald. Mr Paterson said the 25 acres of land used for sewage irrigation was useless because it was mostly clay. It would cost £5,000 to lift the sewage 50 feet to suitable land and even more for precipitation works.

  The Board of Guardians were asked by the Local Government Board for an opinion on another Guardian for Featherstone. It was agreed the population of Featherstone had grown more than any other in the Union, but they would have to take a Guardian from somewhere else to give another for Featherstone. It was suggested joining Ackton (including Loscoe) or Purston to Featherstone, but as both had a population of over 700 it was against the rules. The Guardians eventually voted by 11 votes to 7 against another Featherstone Guardian.

  John Thomas Cardo aged 13, a door trapper at Snydale Victoria Colliery, got on the cage with another seven miners to come out of the pit, but when the cage reached the surface he was missing. His body was found caught on a stay 40 feet below where the cages passed. At the inquest at the Railway Hotel Thomas Taylor said he told Cardo to come away from the end of the cage and get hold of the bar but he stayed where he was.

  Sam Millington said when the cage was half way he turned to talk to a mate, and when he looked back the boy was gone. In answer to a question from the mines' inspector he said the cage was going fast and rattling and he assumed John Cardo fell out just after they passed the other cage. The jury's verdict was he accidentally fell out of the cage.

  The Haigh Moor miners at Featherstone Main Colliery had been out on strike for three months when the rest of the miners at that pit came out along with the Yorkshire Miners' Federation men at other pits. The local colliery owners gave in to the men's demands and granted them the 10% rise they were seeking.

NOVEMBER  The victorious miners held a meeting in George Street School at which Mr Law Senior presided. Mr J Wadsworth proposed and Mr W Boffey seconded the following resolution. "Seeing that we have secured 10% on our wages, through the action and at the expense of the Yorkshire Miners' Federation, the members of the Featherstone Main, Snydale and Featherstone Manor collieries do hereby agree and pledge ourselves to join the Yorkshire Miners' Federation at once, and thereby make it a power of good for the future." It was carried unanimously.

  The Purston and Featherstone Liberal Association met at the Travellers' Rest Hotel to confirm the acceptance of Mr H McD Clokie as candidate for the Castleford District, which included Featherstone and Purston, in the election for the new West Riding County Council.

  A number of children going to Purston National School hitched a lift on a wagon. William Balmforth aged five got his leg fast in the wheel and had it broken. He was carried home by Joseph Hoyle's son.

  On the same day Isaiah Marshall aged four was run over by a cart in Station Lane driven by George Asquith but was not badly injured. The Lane was crowded at the time because of a funeral headed by the Salvation Army Band.

  At the Local Board meeting it was agreed to send a deputation to visit other sewage works in the district to find the best remedy for the problem at Featherstone where a vast increase in the sewage was overloading the system and causing problems in the River Went. Some members blamed the thousands of gallons of salt water being put into the drains by Snydale Colliery which flooded the sewage works.

DECEMBER  James Arthur Hemmingway was fined 5s or seven days in jail for disturbing a Salvation Army meeting. Supt Whincup said there were numerous cases of youths interfering with the Army meetings, and the Bench declared their intentions of putting a stop to it.

  Mr Battye brought up the problem of blocked drains at the Local Board meeting. He said sewage was running into the streets and there was a soft water tank with dead cats in it. The Board officers were instructed to look into these matters.

  The St John Ambulance Society, formed last February with 50 members, held its first examination in the Girls' School. John Shaw of Darrington Hall presented certificates to those who passed.