A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1900
ACKTON HOSPITAL INQUIRY
So the WRCC held an inquiry at Normanton Council offices in June. Mr Fernandez, for the hospital committee, said they decided on the proposed site last October and on January 11 the purchase was confirmed, negotiations were entered into for the transfer and the contract was signed. Nothing was heard from Lord Masham until January 25 when Mr Durnford wrote regretting they had selected a site near his house and on behalf of Lord Masham and himself objecting to the purchase, suggesting two other sites in the same district which might be secured on more favourable terms. On January 29 Mr Holiday, land agent to Lord Masham, also wrote strongly objecting to the site selected.
The committee considered these objections and in spite of further correspondence decided to stick to their decision. On May 3 a letter was received from Mr Lowden of Pontefract, clerk to Featherstone Council, stating they thought there were grave reasons against the adoption of the site and suggesting another site belonging to Lord Masham who would sell the land at a lower price than it was proposed to give for the selected site.
On May 25 Mr Durnford wrote offering two alternative sites, and after the committee had viewed them they decided they were not as suitable as the site selected. Although the committee had advertised on September 16 and 23 they did not hear a word from Lord Masham or his agent until January, and in the meantime the committee had entered into negotiation with other parties and had expended a lot of time and money. The site was well roaded on two sides, it was sewered, and gas and water were laid on within a short distance.
With regard to the two alternative sites offered by Lord Masham, the ground was undulating and the erection of a hospital block on them would be attended with considerable expense, in addition to which the sites were skirted by a railway, which was a most objectionable feature, because the noise of passing trains and screeching engines would have a most injurious effect upon patients, and in addition to this the sites were near to the sewage works.
Mr F Simpson of Wakefield, architect and surveyor, said he had visited the ground selected by the committee and he considered it central and convenient in every respect for the five districts. There were about a dozen houses within a quarter of a mile and 71 within half a mile. If the land was architecturally laid out the proposed building would be no detriment to the adjoining property. If he was the owner of the adjoining property he would prefer to look upon an infectious hospital rather than a row of cottages. He had seen the alternative sites offered by Lord Masham and he considered them very inferior because the gradients and approaches were not so good. In reply to Mr T R D Wright, barrister for Lord Masham, he said he would not seek to have a fever hospital near his house, but he had no objection to being within 300 yards of it.
Mr A Hartley, chairman of the joint committee, said they had originally selected a site near Mr Durnford's residence but Lord Masham refused to sell so they selected the site near Ackton Hall. He considered a better site could not be selected. In reply to Mr Wright he said the railway which skirted the other sites was a mineral railway (to Featherstone Main Colliery) and he believed only two or three trains passed over it each day. The committee knew there was coal under the selected site but they had been assured it would be perfectly safe to build there.
Mr Durnford said he was manager of Lord Masham's collieries and Mr Holiday acted as his lordship's land agent. As Mr Holiday could not attend the inquiry he had authorised him to act on his behalf. The whole of Ackton belonged to Lord Masham except a small piece owned by Mr Bradley. The alternative site had been offered at £150 an acre. The committee were paying £1,700 for the selected site, which was about £188 an acre. The mineral railway belonged to the Midland Railway Company and there were only three trains up and two trains down per day, and no trains between 6pm and 9am. The alternative sites were nearer to Normanton than the selected site.
Speaking in his private capacity he said he lived about 300 yards from the selected site, and he was honestly afraid to live near a fever hospital. In reply to Mr Fernandez he said he was aware an application had been made by the Midland Railway Company to allow passenger traffic on the mineral line. Also it was hoped to sell Lord Masham's land near the selected site for villa sites at 4s a square yard. He did not know of any of the land being sold at that price and only two or three houses had been built within a quarter of a mile of the selected site during the past 15 years. He considered the site at the top of Featherstone Hill would be the healthiest for a hospital; he did not think it too high or too breezy.
Dr Mackenzie, medical officer to the Normanton and Altofts Councils, said he had inspected the sites and in his opinion the selected site was the most suitable.
Dr Hillman, medical officer for Castleford, said he had visited the sites and in his opinion the site selected was the best for the purposes of an isolation hospital. He considered it most suitable because it was rather more elevated, well wooded, it was grassland (the other sites were ploughed fields), it was more central and further away from the sewage farm.
Mr T Middleton junior of Leeds said his father was the owner of Ackton Hall and about 62 acres of land. The site of the proposed hospital was opposite the lodge gates and he thought if the hospital was built there it would affect the letting of the hall and depreciate the value of the land for building purposes. It was their intention to lay out the front land as building land.
His father was the absolute owner and not the mortgagee in possession. His father bought the property about two and a half years before and paid the money to a solicitor in London. He admitted he and George Bradley had offered to sell to the joint committee about 15 acres at 1s 9d per square yard but this land was further away from the hall than the present site. They opposed the site selected as it would be injurious to their other land.
Mr Wright then addressed the inquiry on behalf of Lord Masham and Mr Durnford. He said in selecting a site for an isolation hospital it was important to secure as great a degree of isolation as possible, and then there were the questions of access, water supply and sewerage. The question was whether the site which had been selected was better than the sites now offered. With regard to the alternative sites not having being offered earlier this did not affect the question. It seemed to him a little bit unfortunate the joint committee had not shown a little bit more deference to Lord Masham and had a report on his alternative sites. The consistent attitude adopted by the joint committee had been from the first to decline to reconsider their decision; they had evidently made up their minds that having come to that decision they were going to adhere to it and not upset it for anyone. The alternative sites were cheaper than the selected site and it was the duty of the county council to study economy where it did not depreciate efficiency.
The objections raised to the alternative sites were of such a trivial nature they were not entitled to any weight. It might be an infectious hospital would do no harm to those living in the immediate neighbourhood, and no one need be afraid of them, but not everyone was like Mr Fred Simpson who preferred a fever hospital to a row of cottages. Ordinary human beings were afraid of the contiguity of such places to their homes, the House of Lords had decided these natural fears of mankind must be taken into consideration, and he pressed this point upon them and asked them to exercise their common sense with regard to it.
Mr Fernandez in reply said the joint committee selected the site last October and not one word was heard from Lord Masham until January 24. He had left the joint committee to traverse the district and expend time and money in negotiations and travelling about, and then when all had been settled he offered the alternative sites. They had the incontrovertible testimony of the medical officers and the chairmen of the different councils interested that it was superior to the sites offered by Lord Masham.
With regard to the objection persons were afraid to live near to an infectious hospital that amounted in the eye of the law to nothing as the Superior Courts ruled over and over again a man was not justified in objecting to a hospital site unless he could prove it would be an absolute nuisance. He maintained the opposition had not proved the sites offered by Lord Masham were superior or even equal to the site selected by the joint committee, and he hoped the county council would see their way to confirm the action of the joint committee. Mr Fernandez concluded by proposing a vote of thanks to the commissioners and the inquiry was brought to a close.
In the end the West Riding County Council decided to stick to the original site.
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This Ordnance Survey map shows the corner site in Ackton preferred by the hospital
joint committee, and the fields down Sewerbridge Lane near the railway
line where Mr Durnford wanted it. His house is in the top right hand
corner. |
EDUCATION IN 1900
Mr Higgins said the problem was in the people's dwellings, not in the schools. The schools would stay closed until August 27 but in future they would not close without the permission of the School Board.
The inspector's report for North Featherstone Lane Board School was satisfactory so the headmaster, Robert Cowey, asked for a rise. At the School Board meeting a rise of £10 a year was proposed but not enough members voted for it, so he didn't get it.
The three-yearly elections for the School Board were held in September. The voting was: Peter Darlington 1,133, Henry Gledhill 933, Frank George Stebbing 605, John Walmsley 600. Alfred Higgins 547, Harry Spearing Rogers 466, Samuel Wilks Mason 327, James Wroe 250, Joseph Dyson Turner 168, William Johnson withdrew. Hubert St John Durnford and William Boffey did not seek re-election and the first seven were elected.
At the first meeting of the new board Peter Darlington was elected chairman. The inspector's reports were read out and showed "The Boys' School is well organised and the boys are smart and orderly. The first standard has received special attention but it also contains a large number of old and backward children. The Girls' School is in a very satisfactory state. In the infants there is much diligent and methodical work done and the children are kindly treated. The singing should improve". The highest possible grants were given - boys 22s 3d, girls 21s 6d and infants 17s.
The next month Mr Walmsley proposed a £10 a year rise for Robert Cowey because he had received the highest possible grant for his school. Mr Gledhill said Mr Cowey ought to be satisfied. He had been promoted over another assistant master and his salary increased from £80 to £120. This was a nice rise for a young man who had never been anywhere but Featherstone. Revd Stebbing said he had been 25 years as a school manager and if he advertised the job at £110 he would have 50 applicants. Mr Walmsley said there was a great difference between Robert Cowey's and Tinley Simpson's salaries (£30 a year). The voting was 3-3 and the chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the rise.
There was a large attendance in the Assembly Rooms just before Christmas to listen to a concert by the pupils of North Featherstone Lane Board School held to raise funds for a school treat next year.
MORE SEWAGE PROBLEMS
In April the clerk to the council reported the Bill for compulsory
purchase of land for a new sewage works had received its first reading
in the House of Commons with no opposition. In the meantime things were
getting worse. The council's sanitary committee recommended laying a new
sewer from the bottom of Station Lane three feet lower than the
original and with a fall of I in 350. It was reported the present sewer
was blocking every week and was costing a lot of money to keep in
operation.
At a special meeting of the council it was estimated a new sewer would cost £2,270. Dr Buncle said the sooner it was put in the better so the council agreed to apply to the Local Government Board for a loan. The LGB was a long time replying and in the meantime there was an outbreak of typhoid fever in the district to be served by the new sewer. The council decided to send a deputation to the LGB to speed things up.
That worked and the LGB held an inquiry into the loan application in December. Mr F H Tullock was the inspector and he was told the main sewer in Wakefield Road had to be replaced because it was affected by mining subsidence. An 18 inch earthenware main would be laid which would also carry rainwater. Dr Wilson, for the Rivers Board, asked why the whole scheme was not being carried out (for a new sewage works). Mr Hodgson, the engineer, said the council had still not got the land from Lord St Oswald and the price would have to be fixed by an arbitrator because the two sides could not agree. The loan was approved.
A WEDDING TRAGEDY
Saturday September 29 and the following day should have been a happy
time in Featherstone (Masham's) Square. Robert McCarteny and Annie Alton
went to Purston Church to be married. William Smith, a 28 year old
miner who lived in the Square, came out of the pit, went home to get
washed and changed, and took his wife Sarah Ann, the bride's sister, to
the wedding. It was traditional in mining families to "get the barrel
in" at Christmas and weddings and this was no exception. Unfortunately
some partook too freely and William Smith ended up dead.
The inquest was held in Wakefield because he died in Clayton Hospital. Sarah Smith said the morning after the wedding they went next door to her parent's house where there were two barrels of beer for the men and port wine for the women. They stayed for dinner and then she went for a walk. When she came back she found her husband in the yard covered in blood from a wound in his arm. A window in her house was broken. Her husband said "Don't blame anyone, I've done it myself".
He was carried to Dr Buncle's surgery where the bleeding was stopped. Dr Buncle sent for the horse ambulance and her husband was taken to Clayton Hospital. He seemed alright when she visited him at 6.30pm but when she returned at 8.30pm he was dead.
At a special meeting of the council it was estimated a new sewer would cost £2,270. Dr Buncle said the sooner it was put in the better so the council agreed to apply to the Local Government Board for a loan. The LGB was a long time replying and in the meantime there was an outbreak of typhoid fever in the district to be served by the new sewer. The council decided to send a deputation to the LGB to speed things up.
That worked and the LGB held an inquiry into the loan application in December. Mr F H Tullock was the inspector and he was told the main sewer in Wakefield Road had to be replaced because it was affected by mining subsidence. An 18 inch earthenware main would be laid which would also carry rainwater. Dr Wilson, for the Rivers Board, asked why the whole scheme was not being carried out (for a new sewage works). Mr Hodgson, the engineer, said the council had still not got the land from Lord St Oswald and the price would have to be fixed by an arbitrator because the two sides could not agree. The loan was approved.
A WEDDING TRAGEDY
The inquest was held in Wakefield because he died in Clayton Hospital. Sarah Smith said the morning after the wedding they went next door to her parent's house where there were two barrels of beer for the men and port wine for the women. They stayed for dinner and then she went for a walk. When she came back she found her husband in the yard covered in blood from a wound in his arm. A window in her house was broken. Her husband said "Don't blame anyone, I've done it myself".
He was carried to Dr Buncle's surgery where the bleeding was stopped. Dr Buncle sent for the horse ambulance and her husband was taken to Clayton Hospital. He seemed alright when she visited him at 6.30pm but when she returned at 8.30pm he was dead.
Thomas Allan, a neighbour, said he was standing at his back door
when he saw Mr and Mrs Alton and Oliver Turner come out of their house
and go to the Smiths. Mrs Alton, the worse for drink, thumped on the
door saying "I'll fetch you out of it". Sarah Smith came out and told
her mother to go away but her mother said William Smith had called her
bad names. Smith came out and said "I don't want no bother, it's
Sunday". Mrs Alton hit Mr Smith in the face and he hit her knocking her
senseless. Oliver Turner grabbed William Smith and William Alton
produced a bright instrument and struck Smith on the arm. Alton ran off
but Turner and Smith continued struggling and blood was splattered all
over the place. Andrew Walker, another son-in-law, came out and got
Turner off Smith. Answering the coroner Thomas Allan said he knew a
window was broken but he did not think that caused the injury.
Andrew Gordon Walker said he had been invited to the wedding. Mrs Alton had ordered William Smith out of her house and he had gone home. When he went out later to see what the trouble was he said William Smith told him Oliver's done it.
Thomas Allan was recalled. He said he was quite sure the knife or razor was in Alton's hand. In the struggle it was possible for William Smith to be confused as to who used it.
Andrew Gordon Walker said he had been invited to the wedding. Mrs Alton had ordered William Smith out of her house and he had gone home. When he went out later to see what the trouble was he said William Smith told him Oliver's done it.
Thomas Allan was recalled. He said he was quite sure the knife or razor was in Alton's hand. In the struggle it was possible for William Smith to be confused as to who used it.
Dr
Thomas Walsh Tetley, house surgeon at Clayton Hospital, said the wound
was very serious and down to the bone. William Smith was suffering from
loss of blood and was in a state of collapse. An operation was performed
to try and save his arm but he died soon after from syncope. In his
opinion the wound was more likely caused by a knife rather than glass.
The coroner said the disgraceful affair was the result of drink. The
jury had to pick out the circumstances of the complicated affair. The
widow had been reticent in her evidence which was natural seeing her
parents were involved, and they should consider the most weighty
evidence was that given by Allan.
After consulting in private the jury said both men were guilty and returned a verdict of manslaughter against William Alton and Oliver Turner. The coroner agreed and made out a warrant for their arrest which was carried out by members of Wakefield Police Force who were in attendance.
The police were at the funeral and the Express commented with feelings running so strong, but for the presence of the police there is little doubt there would have been more violent outbursts of popular indignation.
The police decided to ignore the inquest jury's verdict and charged both men with murder when they were put up before the magistrates. Dr William Stanley Finch said William Smith was brought to Dr Steven's surgery with a wound on his forearm down to both bones. He was suffering from great shock and loss of blood. Dr Finch said he dressed the wound and sent for the colliery ambulance. In his opinion Smith was not sober. He found no glass in the wound but it could have been caused by being pushed through a window.
After consulting in private the jury said both men were guilty and returned a verdict of manslaughter against William Alton and Oliver Turner. The coroner agreed and made out a warrant for their arrest which was carried out by members of Wakefield Police Force who were in attendance.
The police were at the funeral and the Express commented with feelings running so strong, but for the presence of the police there is little doubt there would have been more violent outbursts of popular indignation.
The police decided to ignore the inquest jury's verdict and charged both men with murder when they were put up before the magistrates. Dr William Stanley Finch said William Smith was brought to Dr Steven's surgery with a wound on his forearm down to both bones. He was suffering from great shock and loss of blood. Dr Finch said he dressed the wound and sent for the colliery ambulance. In his opinion Smith was not sober. He found no glass in the wound but it could have been caused by being pushed through a window.
Dr Thomas Walsh Tetley said he tied severed blood vessels, transfused
salt and water and applied hot water bottles. Smith improved and it was
decided to repair the arm. At the conclusion of the operation he showed
signs of serious syncope and died. In his opinion a blunt knife might
have caused the wound.
Sara Ann Smith changed her evidence from
that given at the inquest. She now said Oliver Turner was her uncle and
there was some scuffling on the Saturday night during which her husband
had wanted to fight Oliver Turner but she held him back. On the Sunday
her husband had called her mother "a rotten sod" and her mother ordered
him out of the house. They went home and her mother followed later. She
claimed before Oliver Turner intervened her husband slipped and his hand
went through the window. She did not see a knife and did not see her
father at all.
Thomas Allan and Andrew Walker repeated what they had said at the inquest, and after hearing all the evidence the Bench decided to reduce the charge back to manslaughter and both defendants were committed to Leeds Assizes.
The case came up in December before Mr Justice Wright. Mr Longstaffe, for the prosecution, said large quantities of ale and wine had been laid in and the debauch went on for some time. He repeated the evidence given at the inquest, but the judge said there was no evidence from the depositions as to the use of a knife.
Thomas Allan and Andrew Walker repeated what they had said at the inquest, and after hearing all the evidence the Bench decided to reduce the charge back to manslaughter and both defendants were committed to Leeds Assizes.
The case came up in December before Mr Justice Wright. Mr Longstaffe, for the prosecution, said large quantities of ale and wine had been laid in and the debauch went on for some time. He repeated the evidence given at the inquest, but the judge said there was no evidence from the depositions as to the use of a knife.
When Dr Finch gave evidence the wound was more likely caused by glass
than a knife, Mr Longstaffe realised he could not sustain the charge. He
said he had no positive evidence a knife had been used and he did not
propose to proceed further with the case.
The judge said council
had taken the proper course. The man's death was evidently the result of
a bad accident during a fight. On His Lordship's direction the jury
found both men not guilty.
DRUNKEN UNION OFFICIALS?
In January a deputation on behalf of the miners at Ackton Hall Colliery
went to see Mr Holiday the agent. The reason for the meeting was the
pony drivers wanted a 6d a day rise and were threatening to strike.
Afterwards the men on the deputation claimed Mr Holiday had described
them as a drunken lazy lot.
Although Mr Holiday later modified his remarks the men held a mass meeting in Green Lane. A strike was threatened but it was decided to give Mr Holiday a chance to apologise and then hold another meeting in a few days.
Six days later 500 miners gathered in the Assembly Rooms with Mr Sykes presiding. He said the deputation had claimed Mr Holiday said they were men who were idle, drunken and disgraceful. Mr Holiday claimed he had said "there are" not "they were". Mr Holiday had been asked to withdraw his remark but he said there was nothing to withdraw.
The men had actually come out on unofficial strike after the first meeting but after a long argument they decided to go back to work. The pony drivers, however, had given in their notice.
At Pontefract Court it was said there was a possibility of 800 Ackton Hall Colliery workers being summonsed for breach of contract by going on strike without notice. In the end common sense prevailed. There were no summonses, the pony drivers put off their strike to allow negotiations and it was settled the next week.
Although Mr Holiday later modified his remarks the men held a mass meeting in Green Lane. A strike was threatened but it was decided to give Mr Holiday a chance to apologise and then hold another meeting in a few days.
Six days later 500 miners gathered in the Assembly Rooms with Mr Sykes presiding. He said the deputation had claimed Mr Holiday said they were men who were idle, drunken and disgraceful. Mr Holiday claimed he had said "there are" not "they were". Mr Holiday had been asked to withdraw his remark but he said there was nothing to withdraw.
The men had actually come out on unofficial strike after the first meeting but after a long argument they decided to go back to work. The pony drivers, however, had given in their notice.
At Pontefract Court it was said there was a possibility of 800 Ackton Hall Colliery workers being summonsed for breach of contract by going on strike without notice. In the end common sense prevailed. There were no summonses, the pony drivers put off their strike to allow negotiations and it was settled the next week.
Did Lord Masham really intend to sell Ackton Hall Colliery? Whether he
did or not was the subject of a court case in December at the Commercial
Court of the Queen's Bench Division, where Eagle Bott sued Lord Masham
for the commission in preparing a purchase for Lord Masham's Ackton Hall
Colliery.
Joseph Ropseychauderon, a Belgian businessman, gave evidence which had to be translated. He said he was given the particulars of the colliery and he agreed, subject to them being correct, to buy the mine for £1,000,000. He said he was quite capable of raising the money. He intended selling at the same price to a limited company but he would have made £79,000 in the intervening six months. He claimed Lord Masham refused to sell at that price and wanted more.
Eagle Bott said he was acting as agent to sell Ackton Hall Colliery at a specific price. He communicated with Mr Ropseychauderon and he received a letter from him last August 29 confirming the offer of £1,000,000 - the asking price.
Alfred J Holiday, the agent for Lord Masham, denied the property had been withdrawn because the price of coal was going up.
After hearing the evidence Mr Justice Matthews said he came to the conclusion Mr Ropseychauderon was not an actual purchaser but was hoping to act for shareholders. Therefore the claim must fail. However, because of the peremptory way Lord Masham had acted the judgement was given without any order for costs so Lord Masham would have to pay his own.
Joseph Ropseychauderon, a Belgian businessman, gave evidence which had to be translated. He said he was given the particulars of the colliery and he agreed, subject to them being correct, to buy the mine for £1,000,000. He said he was quite capable of raising the money. He intended selling at the same price to a limited company but he would have made £79,000 in the intervening six months. He claimed Lord Masham refused to sell at that price and wanted more.
Eagle Bott said he was acting as agent to sell Ackton Hall Colliery at a specific price. He communicated with Mr Ropseychauderon and he received a letter from him last August 29 confirming the offer of £1,000,000 - the asking price.
Alfred J Holiday, the agent for Lord Masham, denied the property had been withdrawn because the price of coal was going up.
After hearing the evidence Mr Justice Matthews said he came to the conclusion Mr Ropseychauderon was not an actual purchaser but was hoping to act for shareholders. Therefore the claim must fail. However, because of the peremptory way Lord Masham had acted the judgement was given without any order for costs so Lord Masham would have to pay his own.
THE SURFACE MEN AND THE UNION
The unions were always trying to get all the mineworkers to join and
held frequent meetings to press their case. One such was held at the
Railway Hotel in August to consider a 15% rise, home coal, and who was
benefiting from the high price of coal.
William Wilson, the Featherstone secretary of the Gas Workers and General Labourers Association (for the surface men) presided. He said a 5% rise had been granted to the miners but the surface men only got 2½%. The union had held a meeting at Sheffield and got the surface men the 5%.
A voice from the crowd shouted "We did not get it here". Mr Wilson replied "The chief reason is you are a non-member of the Association. If the surface men at Featherstone joined the Association we could speak on their behalf. In 99 cases out of a hundred that we have taken up where the men were not getting the advance we have been successful".
He understood the owners were willing to offer 5% in October, 5% in January and 5% in February but only to "manipulators of coal" which would exclude blacksmiths, wagon track repairers and even winders.
On home coal he said at some pits the topmen only paid one shilling a ton more than the miners, but even if it could be got down to 3s or 5s a ton more (at local pits) it would be a big saving. The men would also fare better under the Compensation Act if they had a strong society behind them.
He had heard the masters had warned a certain man not to take part in proceedings of this kind. He suggested any informant should be boycotted. One questioner asked what if anyone was dismissed for becoming a member of the society. Mr Wilson said he would get "victim's pay".
The Express report does not say how much success Mr Wilson had in his recruitment campaign.
William Wilson, the Featherstone secretary of the Gas Workers and General Labourers Association (for the surface men) presided. He said a 5% rise had been granted to the miners but the surface men only got 2½%. The union had held a meeting at Sheffield and got the surface men the 5%.
A voice from the crowd shouted "We did not get it here". Mr Wilson replied "The chief reason is you are a non-member of the Association. If the surface men at Featherstone joined the Association we could speak on their behalf. In 99 cases out of a hundred that we have taken up where the men were not getting the advance we have been successful".
He understood the owners were willing to offer 5% in October, 5% in January and 5% in February but only to "manipulators of coal" which would exclude blacksmiths, wagon track repairers and even winders.
On home coal he said at some pits the topmen only paid one shilling a ton more than the miners, but even if it could be got down to 3s or 5s a ton more (at local pits) it would be a big saving. The men would also fare better under the Compensation Act if they had a strong society behind them.
He had heard the masters had warned a certain man not to take part in proceedings of this kind. He suggested any informant should be boycotted. One questioner asked what if anyone was dismissed for becoming a member of the society. Mr Wilson said he would get "victim's pay".
The Express report does not say how much success Mr Wilson had in his recruitment campaign.
THE BUTTY SYSTEM AND MOTTYING
Ackton Hall Colliery worked on the butty system, which meant that the
colliers worked in groups and one man (the butty man) collected all the
wages for the group and shared them out.
Checks number 56 and 152 were for the wages of six men, and when the butty man went to the time office for them on Friday they had already been given out. William Daniels was suspected as being the guilty party, so the next day William Longstaffe, a timekeeper, and Mr Livesey, the men's deputy, went to Pontefract where they found William Daniels in the Greyhound Inn the worse for drink. He denied the offence but agreed to go with them to the house of the manager Hubert St John Durnford.
According to Mr Durnford he was not in a fit state to give a good account of himself so they all went back to Pontefract where Mr Durnford insisted Daniels be put in a police cell because he might abscond.
On the Sunday William Daniels was seen by Mr Lowden, a solicitor, who then went to see Mr Durnford to arrange Daniels release. He was set free on the Monday and no charges were put. William Daniels then decided to sue Ackton Hall Colliery for £60 for false imprisonment.
After hearing all the evidence His Honour Judge Raikes decided it was all William Daniels own fault for being under the influence to such an extent he could not give a good account of himself, but he suggested to the company because of the hasty action they had taken they should not ask for costs and that was agreed.
William Daniels was back in court two months later to hear Walter Cole and Sam Smith say they had filled six tubs with coal on the day before Good Friday and had left their motty number 56 on them. When they returned to work the tubs were still there but the motties had been changed to 152 belonging to William Daniels.
The chairman of the Bench said these were cases which the Bench always found it necessary to punish very severely and Daniels was sent to prison for 14 days with hard labour.
Checks number 56 and 152 were for the wages of six men, and when the butty man went to the time office for them on Friday they had already been given out. William Daniels was suspected as being the guilty party, so the next day William Longstaffe, a timekeeper, and Mr Livesey, the men's deputy, went to Pontefract where they found William Daniels in the Greyhound Inn the worse for drink. He denied the offence but agreed to go with them to the house of the manager Hubert St John Durnford.
According to Mr Durnford he was not in a fit state to give a good account of himself so they all went back to Pontefract where Mr Durnford insisted Daniels be put in a police cell because he might abscond.
On the Sunday William Daniels was seen by Mr Lowden, a solicitor, who then went to see Mr Durnford to arrange Daniels release. He was set free on the Monday and no charges were put. William Daniels then decided to sue Ackton Hall Colliery for £60 for false imprisonment.
After hearing all the evidence His Honour Judge Raikes decided it was all William Daniels own fault for being under the influence to such an extent he could not give a good account of himself, but he suggested to the company because of the hasty action they had taken they should not ask for costs and that was agreed.
William Daniels was back in court two months later to hear Walter Cole and Sam Smith say they had filled six tubs with coal on the day before Good Friday and had left their motty number 56 on them. When they returned to work the tubs were still there but the motties had been changed to 152 belonging to William Daniels.
The chairman of the Bench said these were cases which the Bench always found it necessary to punish very severely and Daniels was sent to prison for 14 days with hard labour.
AN EXCURSION TO FEATHERSTONE
There were many excursions from Featherstone Station, but on September
13 there was an excursion to Featherstone. The British Association was
holding a meeting in Bradford and Lord Masham invited them to inspect
his modernised Ackton Hall Colliery.
The British Association invited applications for a whole day excursion limited to 50 persons. They got their 50, which included six women, and the party had their day out at the pit which included a visit underground as well as a tour of the surface.
The Association produced a booklet for the excursion which was almost certainly written by Alfred Holiday or Hubert St John Durnford, and so it gives a good account of the colliery at that time.
It explains although Lord Masham was 76 years old when he bought the colliery from George Bradley, he was able to bring to bear upon the new venture the same mental vigour, power of organisation and peculiar dogged persistence that distinguished the whole of his long and wonderful careers.
The mine he bought had only one coal winding shaft down to the Warren House Seam with an output of about 200 tons per day. Now there were three shafts winding coal from the Warren House, Haigh Moor and Silkstone seams at a total output of 2,700 tons a day and that could be increased to 4,000 tons a day. The Silkstone shaft was 1,700 feet deep but it only took the winding engine 50 seconds to pull the cage with three tons of coal to the surface.
If it was written by Mr Holiday one passage seems a bit tongue in cheek. It says "The corves are not emptied direct into the railway wagons, as was once the common method. This is too rough and ready a device for the modern consumer, who wants to know exactly what he is buying, and usually thinks that he does - though occasionally the colliery agent smiles in his sleeve, and quietly makes a good profit out of his customer's fancied wisdom". Perhaps Mr Holiday, who must have at least agreed what was in the booklet, didn't think any of his customers would read it.
A large coal washing plant had been installed and most of the small coal extracted was used in the 50 coke ovens to be converted into furnace coke, mostly for the ironworks at Frodingham, in Lincolnshire. The majority of the other coal went to other customers via Goole docks.
The mine employed 2,200 men and boys, and needed 160 horses and 1,600 railway wagons. The booklet included this photo.
The British Association invited applications for a whole day excursion limited to 50 persons. They got their 50, which included six women, and the party had their day out at the pit which included a visit underground as well as a tour of the surface.
The Association produced a booklet for the excursion which was almost certainly written by Alfred Holiday or Hubert St John Durnford, and so it gives a good account of the colliery at that time.
It explains although Lord Masham was 76 years old when he bought the colliery from George Bradley, he was able to bring to bear upon the new venture the same mental vigour, power of organisation and peculiar dogged persistence that distinguished the whole of his long and wonderful careers.
The mine he bought had only one coal winding shaft down to the Warren House Seam with an output of about 200 tons per day. Now there were three shafts winding coal from the Warren House, Haigh Moor and Silkstone seams at a total output of 2,700 tons a day and that could be increased to 4,000 tons a day. The Silkstone shaft was 1,700 feet deep but it only took the winding engine 50 seconds to pull the cage with three tons of coal to the surface.
If it was written by Mr Holiday one passage seems a bit tongue in cheek. It says "The corves are not emptied direct into the railway wagons, as was once the common method. This is too rough and ready a device for the modern consumer, who wants to know exactly what he is buying, and usually thinks that he does - though occasionally the colliery agent smiles in his sleeve, and quietly makes a good profit out of his customer's fancied wisdom". Perhaps Mr Holiday, who must have at least agreed what was in the booklet, didn't think any of his customers would read it.
A large coal washing plant had been installed and most of the small coal extracted was used in the 50 coke ovens to be converted into furnace coke, mostly for the ironworks at Frodingham, in Lincolnshire. The majority of the other coal went to other customers via Goole docks.
The mine employed 2,200 men and boys, and needed 160 horses and 1,600 railway wagons. The booklet included this photo.
1900 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY The three guardians, John Walmsley, William Johnson and
Richard Cowling, gave their usual two shillings each to all the poor
receiving out relief.
The West Riding County Council decided to divide the Castleford Electoral Division into two and give Featherstone its own county councillor.
At the Tradesmen's Association annual dinner PS Sparrow was presented with an illuminated scroll and a purse of gold containing £30 subscribed by the people of Featherstone. He had been in Purston for 12 years. Mr Sparrow said he had always had the goodwill of the people of Featherstone and although it was a rough place he had never had cause to complain of the people's conduct towards him.
At the Featherstone and Purston Convalescent Fund annual meeting it was said they had sent 16 cases to different homes. The various hotels had collected £61 ranging from £19 at the Junction Hotel to 2s 2½d at the Bradley Arms. Medals were presented to those who had collected most.
FEBRUARY An inquest was held into the death of Ernest Staples of Pontefract who was found dead in a coal washer at Snydale Colliery. It was presumed he had fallen from a ladder and the jury's verdict was accidental death.
The council agreed to adopt the Baths and Washhouses Act although the council did not have any money to provide such facilities.
The council had adopted the Private Street Works Act and the highways committee recommended there should be a pavement made of Yorkshire Stone, kerbstones and good quality dross roads.
Amos Nash of Belle Vue Terrace deliberately threw himself against a passing train at Ackworth and he died of his injuries. After hearing evidence about his state of mind the inquest jury decided it was suicide while in a state of unsound mind.
For sliding on the footpath in Green Lane John Goldborough was fined 8s 6d. Five others were fined 7s 10d for throwing snowballs.
MARCH In the council elections John Walmsley was unopposed in the North Ward as was Joseph Walker for Ackton and Snydale. In the South Ward John Briscoe, undermanager, received 162 votes and S W Mason, checkweighman, 126. In Purston Charles Cranswick, checkweighman, polled 250 votes and Richard Cowling 188. At the next meeting Hubert St John Durnford was elected chairman.
APRIL Featherstone United ended their first year at the top of the West Riding Senior League winning ten and drawing two of their 12 league games.
MAY An Express editorial comment was "The salutary penalty of £5 imposed on a Featherstone woman-beater ought to do good to himself and others of the same class who seem to regard women as of less account than dogs and liable to be punched about accordingly".
The county council decided Featherstone could have an extra guardian and Mr S Earnshaw, the secretary of Ackton Hall Colliery miners' union, was elected unopposed.
All the school children marched through the town carrying banners and flags and waving red white and blue favours to mark the Queen's birthday. The Tradesmen's Association decided to close the shops for the afternoon.
JUNE A house in Wakefield Road was struck by lightning and considerable damage was done to the roof.
The Tradesmen's Association complained about ice cream sellers standing on Sundays outside places of worship, and mid-week vendors standing more than their authorised time.
JULY John Stanley, William Atkinson and Benjamin Philpott, bookmakers, were found taking bets in Station Lane by PC Anderson. In court it was said they had promised to go back to work. They were each fined £5.
The council discussed the re-appointment of Dr Buncle. His quarterly report for March was still not ready and other matters had not been attended to. Dr Buncle said he had been unable to write for two months but things would now be better. The council said they would re-appoint him if he would accept £40 (he had asked for £60) which was similar to other authorities. Dr Buncle agreed.
Council workmen would in future be allowed wages for Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit-Monday and one day in August.
A presentation of a case of cutlery was made to Roslyn Holiday from more than 700 men at Ackton Hall Colliery as a wedding present. Two lamps were presented to Mrs Holiday.
AUGUST The council invited tenders for the making up of the first two streets which were Post Office Road and Gladstone Street.
SEPTEMBER The oldest person in the district, Mark Pinder, died aged 93. He came to Purston when about 30 years old to make bricks. He later farmed a few acres and worked up to the week before his death.
It had been the practice at the annual feast for waggonettes to give rides from the vicinity of the fairground. This was stopped this year because of congestion in Station Lane but a petition was drawn up to get the waggonettes back. Charles Herbert, a waggonette proprietor with a licence to ply for hire, was at the feast with his waggonette. He was told to move on because he was causing an obstruction. PC Aisthorpe said in court Herbert said he would do as he liked.
Mr Lodge, for Mr Herbert, said the case was brought under the Towns' Police Clauses Act which said vehicles must not stand longer than necessary for loading or unloading goods or to take up or set down passengers, except hackney carriages or horses or other beasts for hire, standing in any place appointed by the local authority. Featherstone Urban District Council had not provided any place and while Mr Herbert was standing in the road three or four persons got into his waggonette. Mr Lodge contended there was no case to answer. The Bench agreed and dismissed the charge.
Thomas and William Pedley were asked by landlord Thomas Palmer to leave the Featherstone Hotel because of disorderly conduct. They refused and attacked him. PC Byrne arrived and he was also attacked and his arm broken. PC Aisthorpe came and although Thomas ran away he was arrested later in Green Lane. Both were sent to prison for three months with hard labour.
The council discussed a proposal by an electric lighting company to install electricity in Featherstone but they decided not to do anything about it. At the same meeting Dr Buncle said all the schools had been disinfected. There had been 12 cases of scarlet fever, six of typhoid, and there were still fresh cases of measles and whooping cough.
Fourteen Featherstone men were fined for tossing coins in Little Lane. In court it was said David Massey had six previous convictions and Arthur Cook five. They were all fined from 10s 6d to £1 0s 6d.
There was a large attendance in the Assembly Rooms to hear Dr Rutherford of Newcastle on Tyne who was opposing Sir John Austin in the coming election. Both claimed to be Liberals. At the election Austin won again.
OCTOBER William Millington, a miner, was ordered to pay one shilling a week to the Board of Guardians towards his mother's maintenance. His average earnings were £1 6s 2d a week.
NOVEMBER Jonah Davis, a pit boy who lived in Purston, was ordered to be given 12 strokes of the birch rod for stealing a silk handkerchief.
The play On Her Majesty's Service was being performed at the Theatre Royal in Station Lane. The Express commented, "The quick firing machine gun, which is cleverly manipulated and fired in full view of the audience, is a highly attractive feature of the performance".
The 18 firemen at Ackton Hall Colliery gave in their notices because they were not granted the eight hour day the same as the miners. They were paid off and work went on as normal.
At 11.30pm on Bonfire Night some young men with blackened faces were playing mouth organs in the street. One of them went round with a cap and a woman said he'll be sharp if he gets anything from me. William Sharp was an onlooker and he thought she meant him and he came out with some foul language. A scuffle ensued between men and women which resulted in charges of assault. In court William Sharp was fined £1 14s and the other cases were dismissed.
Carrie Hirst of North Featherstone took Mark Langley and Joe Baddeley to court for £2 5s which she said was the agreed price last season for washing and repairing the jerseys and drawers of North Featherstone White Star Football Club. The defendants said the club had been defunct for some months, but the judge ordered them to pay.
An inquest was held on Walter Frederick Morgan aged 23 who was a labourer at the brickyard. His brother John William was foreman and he told Walter to grease his clay pan before starting work. A while later a young lad came to tell him Walter was caught in the cog wheels. He died before he could be released. John Morgan said he should not have greased the machinery while it was in motion.
Thomas Gallaghan said he saw Richard Hollin move the lever which started the machinery. When Richard Hollin was called to give evidence he was told he need not answer any question which could be used against him later. He admitted he moved the lever and said he stopped the machinery as soon as he heard a shout. He found the deceased in the cogs and called for help. He said Thomas Callaghan had told him to start the lever as Walter Morgan had gone into the yard. He usually only started it when Walter Morgan was out of the way.
The coroner said the jury had to decided if Hollin had been grossly negligent or had made an error of judgement. It was either manslaughter or accidental death. The jury decided it was accidental death but Callaghan and Hollin should be censured which the coroner did.
DECEMBER Herbert Schofield, a night deputy at Ackton Hall Colliery, was fined £2 for reporting the ventilation in order when there had been a fall of roof which caused an accumulation of gas, and three miners' lamps were put out. The chairman said it was a serious case and if somebody had been killed he would in all probability have been put on trial for manslaughter.
Richard Fellows was fined 7s 6d for not having his dog muzzled.
Ellen Vassey, a servant girl and daughter of a Featherstone miner, was set on at the Union Cross Inn in Leeds on what turned out to be a forged reference. It was alleged she had left after stealing the contributions to Leeds charities from a tin box on the bar. A warrant was issued for her arrest. At Leeds City Police Court the following week she admitted taking the money, but she had only been charged with forging a character reference. She was fined £2 or 14 days in prison.
The West Riding County Council decided to divide the Castleford Electoral Division into two and give Featherstone its own county councillor.
At the Tradesmen's Association annual dinner PS Sparrow was presented with an illuminated scroll and a purse of gold containing £30 subscribed by the people of Featherstone. He had been in Purston for 12 years. Mr Sparrow said he had always had the goodwill of the people of Featherstone and although it was a rough place he had never had cause to complain of the people's conduct towards him.
At the Featherstone and Purston Convalescent Fund annual meeting it was said they had sent 16 cases to different homes. The various hotels had collected £61 ranging from £19 at the Junction Hotel to 2s 2½d at the Bradley Arms. Medals were presented to those who had collected most.
FEBRUARY An inquest was held into the death of Ernest Staples of Pontefract who was found dead in a coal washer at Snydale Colliery. It was presumed he had fallen from a ladder and the jury's verdict was accidental death.
The council agreed to adopt the Baths and Washhouses Act although the council did not have any money to provide such facilities.
The council had adopted the Private Street Works Act and the highways committee recommended there should be a pavement made of Yorkshire Stone, kerbstones and good quality dross roads.
Amos Nash of Belle Vue Terrace deliberately threw himself against a passing train at Ackworth and he died of his injuries. After hearing evidence about his state of mind the inquest jury decided it was suicide while in a state of unsound mind.
For sliding on the footpath in Green Lane John Goldborough was fined 8s 6d. Five others were fined 7s 10d for throwing snowballs.
MARCH In the council elections John Walmsley was unopposed in the North Ward as was Joseph Walker for Ackton and Snydale. In the South Ward John Briscoe, undermanager, received 162 votes and S W Mason, checkweighman, 126. In Purston Charles Cranswick, checkweighman, polled 250 votes and Richard Cowling 188. At the next meeting Hubert St John Durnford was elected chairman.
APRIL Featherstone United ended their first year at the top of the West Riding Senior League winning ten and drawing two of their 12 league games.
MAY An Express editorial comment was "The salutary penalty of £5 imposed on a Featherstone woman-beater ought to do good to himself and others of the same class who seem to regard women as of less account than dogs and liable to be punched about accordingly".
The county council decided Featherstone could have an extra guardian and Mr S Earnshaw, the secretary of Ackton Hall Colliery miners' union, was elected unopposed.
All the school children marched through the town carrying banners and flags and waving red white and blue favours to mark the Queen's birthday. The Tradesmen's Association decided to close the shops for the afternoon.
JUNE A house in Wakefield Road was struck by lightning and considerable damage was done to the roof.
The Tradesmen's Association complained about ice cream sellers standing on Sundays outside places of worship, and mid-week vendors standing more than their authorised time.
JULY John Stanley, William Atkinson and Benjamin Philpott, bookmakers, were found taking bets in Station Lane by PC Anderson. In court it was said they had promised to go back to work. They were each fined £5.
The council discussed the re-appointment of Dr Buncle. His quarterly report for March was still not ready and other matters had not been attended to. Dr Buncle said he had been unable to write for two months but things would now be better. The council said they would re-appoint him if he would accept £40 (he had asked for £60) which was similar to other authorities. Dr Buncle agreed.
Council workmen would in future be allowed wages for Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit-Monday and one day in August.
A presentation of a case of cutlery was made to Roslyn Holiday from more than 700 men at Ackton Hall Colliery as a wedding present. Two lamps were presented to Mrs Holiday.
AUGUST The council invited tenders for the making up of the first two streets which were Post Office Road and Gladstone Street.
SEPTEMBER The oldest person in the district, Mark Pinder, died aged 93. He came to Purston when about 30 years old to make bricks. He later farmed a few acres and worked up to the week before his death.
It had been the practice at the annual feast for waggonettes to give rides from the vicinity of the fairground. This was stopped this year because of congestion in Station Lane but a petition was drawn up to get the waggonettes back. Charles Herbert, a waggonette proprietor with a licence to ply for hire, was at the feast with his waggonette. He was told to move on because he was causing an obstruction. PC Aisthorpe said in court Herbert said he would do as he liked.
Mr Lodge, for Mr Herbert, said the case was brought under the Towns' Police Clauses Act which said vehicles must not stand longer than necessary for loading or unloading goods or to take up or set down passengers, except hackney carriages or horses or other beasts for hire, standing in any place appointed by the local authority. Featherstone Urban District Council had not provided any place and while Mr Herbert was standing in the road three or four persons got into his waggonette. Mr Lodge contended there was no case to answer. The Bench agreed and dismissed the charge.
Thomas and William Pedley were asked by landlord Thomas Palmer to leave the Featherstone Hotel because of disorderly conduct. They refused and attacked him. PC Byrne arrived and he was also attacked and his arm broken. PC Aisthorpe came and although Thomas ran away he was arrested later in Green Lane. Both were sent to prison for three months with hard labour.
The council discussed a proposal by an electric lighting company to install electricity in Featherstone but they decided not to do anything about it. At the same meeting Dr Buncle said all the schools had been disinfected. There had been 12 cases of scarlet fever, six of typhoid, and there were still fresh cases of measles and whooping cough.
Fourteen Featherstone men were fined for tossing coins in Little Lane. In court it was said David Massey had six previous convictions and Arthur Cook five. They were all fined from 10s 6d to £1 0s 6d.
There was a large attendance in the Assembly Rooms to hear Dr Rutherford of Newcastle on Tyne who was opposing Sir John Austin in the coming election. Both claimed to be Liberals. At the election Austin won again.
OCTOBER William Millington, a miner, was ordered to pay one shilling a week to the Board of Guardians towards his mother's maintenance. His average earnings were £1 6s 2d a week.
NOVEMBER Jonah Davis, a pit boy who lived in Purston, was ordered to be given 12 strokes of the birch rod for stealing a silk handkerchief.
The play On Her Majesty's Service was being performed at the Theatre Royal in Station Lane. The Express commented, "The quick firing machine gun, which is cleverly manipulated and fired in full view of the audience, is a highly attractive feature of the performance".
The 18 firemen at Ackton Hall Colliery gave in their notices because they were not granted the eight hour day the same as the miners. They were paid off and work went on as normal.
At 11.30pm on Bonfire Night some young men with blackened faces were playing mouth organs in the street. One of them went round with a cap and a woman said he'll be sharp if he gets anything from me. William Sharp was an onlooker and he thought she meant him and he came out with some foul language. A scuffle ensued between men and women which resulted in charges of assault. In court William Sharp was fined £1 14s and the other cases were dismissed.
Carrie Hirst of North Featherstone took Mark Langley and Joe Baddeley to court for £2 5s which she said was the agreed price last season for washing and repairing the jerseys and drawers of North Featherstone White Star Football Club. The defendants said the club had been defunct for some months, but the judge ordered them to pay.
An inquest was held on Walter Frederick Morgan aged 23 who was a labourer at the brickyard. His brother John William was foreman and he told Walter to grease his clay pan before starting work. A while later a young lad came to tell him Walter was caught in the cog wheels. He died before he could be released. John Morgan said he should not have greased the machinery while it was in motion.
Thomas Gallaghan said he saw Richard Hollin move the lever which started the machinery. When Richard Hollin was called to give evidence he was told he need not answer any question which could be used against him later. He admitted he moved the lever and said he stopped the machinery as soon as he heard a shout. He found the deceased in the cogs and called for help. He said Thomas Callaghan had told him to start the lever as Walter Morgan had gone into the yard. He usually only started it when Walter Morgan was out of the way.
The coroner said the jury had to decided if Hollin had been grossly negligent or had made an error of judgement. It was either manslaughter or accidental death. The jury decided it was accidental death but Callaghan and Hollin should be censured which the coroner did.
DECEMBER Herbert Schofield, a night deputy at Ackton Hall Colliery, was fined £2 for reporting the ventilation in order when there had been a fall of roof which caused an accumulation of gas, and three miners' lamps were put out. The chairman said it was a serious case and if somebody had been killed he would in all probability have been put on trial for manslaughter.
Richard Fellows was fined 7s 6d for not having his dog muzzled.
Ellen Vassey, a servant girl and daughter of a Featherstone miner, was set on at the Union Cross Inn in Leeds on what turned out to be a forged reference. It was alleged she had left after stealing the contributions to Leeds charities from a tin box on the bar. A warrant was issued for her arrest. At Leeds City Police Court the following week she admitted taking the money, but she had only been charged with forging a character reference. She was fined £2 or 14 days in prison.