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".
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.
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).
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).