1889

   A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE

  

1889

JOSEPH FEARNLEY RESIGNS

  In July The new West Riding County Council appointed Joseph Fearnley, who had been chairman of Featherstone Local Board since it was formed in 1875, as an inspector of highways and the district he was to inspect included Featherstone. His brother James was surveyor for Featherstone Local Board and he considered there would be a clash of interests if he remained as a member of that Board.

  He wrote to the Board regretting he would have to resign as they had always been unanimous in electing him chairman and also regretting "the loss of opportunities for continuing those duties which I feel every good citizen should perform without fee or reward for the physical and moral good and well being of his neighbours; if he has the time and qualifications which will allow him to do so".

  The clerk told the Board he had already written to the County Council to see if the Board should accept the resignation and had received a reply that Joseph Fearnley had acted properly in resigning and it would have been very unwise for him to have continued.

  The Board then passed the following resolution unanimously. "That this Board, whilst feeling itself compelled under the circumstances stated by the chairman to accept his resignation, it does so with the deepest feeling of regret, and hereby testifies its high appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the Board by the chairman ever since its formation, and the irreparable loss it will be to the Board to lose his services at an important time in the Board's history and that the Board tender on behalf of themselves and the whole of the district their most grateful and sincere thanks for those services, and congratulate him at the same time upon the honourable appointment conferred upon him by the County Council, and wish him health and strength to discharge the duties of his new office."

  So Joseph Fearnley's reign as chairman of Featherstone Local Board came to an end after 14 years and he was replaced by John Waller.

THE MAINS WATER SCHEME

  In January the Local Government Board held an inquiry into the water scheme. The details were it was nine miles from Ardsley reservoir with a fall of 11.25 feet per mile. It was now proposed to have a supplementary water storage tank for North Featherstone. Materials were rapidly increasing in price and it was necessary to hurry on the work as quickly as possible. The only objection was from Mr H Beaumont of the Wakefield Rural Sanitary Authority who said it was the height of absurdity to lay two pipelines side by side when one would suffice for both authorities. He did not explain why his authority had changed its mind when they had previously refused to have a joint scheme. The Featherstone Local Board said they preferred to have their own scheme. The inspector said his report would be ready in a few weeks.

  Before the report was published the scheme was changed again. Wakefield Corporation said they were now going to supply Normanton and Castleford as well as the Sanitary Authority and Featherstone. They suggested laying an 18 inch main up to the first take off point. Also the supply would be continuous so a reservoir would not be needed. The Local Board agreed the new proposals would be advantageous to both parties.

  The Local Government Board gave permission for the water supply loan in April, and Featherstone agreed to pay an extra three farthings per 1,000 gallons if Wakefield laid the main as far as Warmfield-cum-Heath.

  In June Mr Paterson said he still recommended a storage tank and the Local Board agreed to have one. A price of £100 was agreed for the land, but there was an argument about whether or not the reservoir should be covered. Some members said people would bathe in it or throw dead dogs in it.

  The contracts for the various parts of the water scheme were let in August and work got under way. Poor winter weather held up construction work and pipe laying, but Mr Paterson said he hoped to have all the pipework ready so the water could be turned on even if the reservoir was not finished. Work on the reservoir was held up for a time because the bricklayers said it was too cold to continue.

  That part of the scheme for North Featherstone was for the shortest pipe run over the fields. Some Board members now wanted to change it so the pipe was laid under the road to feed the farms and houses along the way. Mr Paterson pointed out it would reduce the pressure and add 1,400 yards to the pipe run. It was agreed to leave the pipe range as it was and lay a small service pipe to any house that wanted the water.

EDUCATION IN 1889

  It was estimated in March £600 would be needed for the next six months. Of this £390 would be raised in grants and "school pence", so it was agreed to fix a rate of 5d in the £1 to raise £250.

  Mr Stebbing drew the attention of the Board to the plight of North Featherstone National School. The school did not pay any rent but could not pay its way. The Board could take it over, or a penny rate could keep it going. Mr Alexander said the Board did not want to take it over and advised a ratepayers meeting be called.

  The meeting was held in April at the Boys' School to decide on a penny rate or a transfer to the School Board which would cost a 6d rate. Revd F G Stebbing said the building was unsuitable for a Board School, the accommodation was poor and the playground was insufficient. If it was transferred to the School Board a new school would have to be built which would mean increased rates.

  It was explained the previous vicar (Revd B Hinde) had left the school £300 in debt. For the 1887-88 year the total income was £151 which included fees of £51, grant of £61 and rent of school houses £23. The main expenses were Mrs Wroe £60 and a house, Mrs Timewell £52 and Miss Robinson £12.50. The total expenditure was £179 showing a loss of £28.

  The school fees were: under four free, four to five one penny, five to seven 2d, over seven 3d, but if the over sevens attended all five days they got a penny back. (Although the report doesn't say so these fees must have been per week.) Mr Battye said in his opinion the total income was £200, and he objected to the high salary of the headmistress.

  It was eventually agreed to put two members of the Featherstone Board on the National School Board and to have a voluntary rate of one penny. A letter was read out from Mr Shaw (owner of Featherstone Main Colliery and the largest ratepayer) saying he was willing to pay any reasonable rate that was fixed to keep the school going.

Featherstone National School. A photo from the Dr Gatecliff collection.

  The April meeting of the Board decided to apply for a loan of £800 for a new classroom at the Boys' School and a boundary wall at Regent Street. The new classroom at George Street School is shown below. A photo from the Tony Lumb Collection. 

    

Miss Sykes, headmistress of the Girls' School, resigned and Miss May Cockerham was appointed in her place in August at a salary of £70. She had previously been headmistress of Sutton on Sea Board School.

  The inspector's report for 1889 said "The boys have on the whole passed a satisfactory examination, and considering the crowded state of the school the results are very creditable to the master. The slate and paperwork in this department deserved much praise, and the reading is satisfactory and had evidently been very carefully taught. The girls might show more intelligence in the vive voce (oral) examination. The general condition of the infants is very fair and much progress had been made in spite of many difficulties".

  The population of South Featherstone was ever rising and in November Miss Bird of the Infants' School reported to the School Board the attendance was 66 higher than a year ago. She was given permission to engage a monitress to assist her.

  The annual distribution of prizes to the boys, girls and infants was held in the Boys' School in December. Some 200 books were given to the regular attenders out of the 550 pupils. Mr Simpson urged parents to send children to school regularly, which would not only be better financially for the school but would enable them (the children) to become better business men and women. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Simpson, Miss Cockerham and Miss Bird.

NORTH FEATHERSTONE LIGHTING AND DRAINAGE

  At the January meeting of the Local Board Joseph Battye was annoyed at the delay in the drainage scheme for North Featherstone so he presented a petition for it to be carried out at the earliest opportunity. The Board's reply was it was being found difficult to purchase the necessary land at a reasonable cost. Mr Battye also complained about the street oil lamps which were not as good as first thought.

  In June the Board had a letter from Howgate and Chapman of Wakefield, the receivers running the Bradley estate, saying they would be pleased to receive offers for the land required for the sewage scheme. Then they sent another letter saying they could not sell and it rested with Mr Bradley himself.

  At the August meeting the Local Board agreed to install gas lamps in North Featherstone. The Featherstone Gas Company was asked for the cost of providing the lamps and the extra cost of keeping all the lamps lit all night.

  The Gas Company replied they would supply gas at the same rate as in South Featherstone providing the Local Board laid the main and fixed the lamps. If the company did this work they would charge 5% annually on the outlay. The gas main would cost £175 and it would cost an extra £76 (per year) to keep lamps burning all night. The company reminded the Board North Featherstone was in the Castleford District and mains could not be laid without the permission of that gas company.

  The Local Board wrote to the Castleford Gas Company asking if they would lay a main to North Featherstone or give up that district. The company replied they would give way for an annual payment of £5. The Board refused and said either supply gas or give up the district. The Castleford Gas Company refused to give way so the Board decided to find out if they had powers to compel the company to provide gas or let someone else do it.

  The surveyor's plan for a North Featherstone drainage scheme was approved and it was decided to ask the Local Government Board for a loan of £500 to carry it out, but both the gas street lighting and the drainage scheme had to be put on hold because the Local Board couldn't get the better of the Castleford Gas Company and George Bradley refused to have a sewage works near his home.

A SUBWAY OR A BRIDGE

 The Local Board had been trying for seven years to get the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to make improvements to the station including a subway but George Bradley refused to sell the necessary land.

  The company wrote to the Local Board in November to say it was applying to Parliament for powers to obtain land to enable a footbridge to be built and the station accommodation to be increased. The Board wrote back and said they still preferred a subway and would oppose the Bill if necessary.

  The Board's surveyor prepared plans for a subway and a deputation consisting of Messrs Waller and Denton, the clerk and surveyor and two ratepayers went to Manchester to see the company. The company asked if the Board would pay the estimated extra cost of £250 for a subway and the answer was no. It was decided to have a census at the crossing to measure the traffic.

1889 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY  Ingenious methods resorted to by some Featherstone miners to defraud the railway company were told to Pontefract Court. They bought a single ticket to Tanshelf and gave up half as if it was a return ticket. They came back when it was dark and gave up the other half hoping to avoid detection. On one occasion the ticket collector at Tanshelf found he had three halves of single tickets from Featherstone so he informed Featherstone Station. The other three halves were handed in at Featherstone at 9.40pm and one man was arrested. He was fined 10s or a month in prison as a deterrent.  

FEBRUARY  Perhaps the last outstanding court case against George Bradley was when four miners took him to court because they had not been paid as ordered by the court. He was ordered to pay immediately or go to prison for six weeks. No committal order is recorded so presumably the receiver bailed him out.

  The voting for the Castleford Division (which included Featherstone and Purston) for the first West Riding County Council was:

          Hugh McDowell Clarkie (Liberal)                       1,426

          Job Harling (Independent but said to be Tory)     617

          Walter Godfrey Jackson (Independent)               448

  The Revd F G Stabbing complained to the Burial Board about the late arrival of funerals. The Board agreed to send a letter to undertakers, hearse and cab proprietors saying they would be fined if they were late in future. It was agreed to purchase a hearse to be hired out at 2s 6d. There had been 1,062 funerals since the cemetery was opened on 12 September 1874.

  Police Superintendent Thomas Whincup wrote to the Local Board saying Park Lane was in a dangerous condition. The Board chairman disclaimed liability saying it belonged to the Lord of the Manor who had repaired it in the past and collected the tolls. It now belonged to George Bradley. Mr Denton suggested as only 300 yards was involved (the Pontefract section was in good order) the Board should repair it for the general good. However, the Board agreed to write to Howgate and Chapman, Wakefield, receivers for the Bradley Estate pointing out their liability and asking for the road to be repaired.

  James Fearnley, owner of Fearnley's Buildings, sued George Woodcock in the County Court for 12s 6d damages claiming he had besmirched his house with yellow wash before leaving it. The damages were awarded.

  There had been an abnormally high death rate of 55 per 1,000 in Featherstone for the last quarter of 1888. This was mainly because of infant mortality from infectious diseases.

  A meeting of the Featherstone and Purston Constitutional Association was held in the Girls' School. A hundred members and their wives and friends were presided over by Lord St Oswald but he did not stay until the end. He said the Conservatives were disappointed by the County Council election but they must look to the future.

  The Featherstone Main Miners' Union held a public tea and meeting in the Boys' School. Over 300 men and their wives and friends attended. John Jukes, president of the local branch, took the chair. He said some in that room were not members and he hoped they would join. There were only 130 members in Featherstone when the struggle for the 10% began, but now they had 450. The advantage of union men over non-union men both at work and when on strike was pointed out, and the following resolution was passed unanimously. "That in the opinion of the meeting, all men and boys working in the Featherstone Main Colliery should join the union, so that the best terms may always be made for work done, and the workmen fairly treated when seeking to improve their condition, whether in the matter of wages or legislation."

MARCH  Dr Buncle told the Local Board in houses where a child had an infectious disease the others were going to school. Dr Buncle said this was because of the efforts of the school attendance officer. It was decided the attendance officer should get in touch with Dr Buncle in future cases.

  The School Board agreed to allow a room to be used by the Yorkshire Penny Bank. Mr Stebbing said one had recently been opened at North Featherstone and he had no doubt it would encourage habits of thrift, and do a good work to the neighbourhood.

  The Local Board was discussing with the new County Council the repair of the roads in Featherstone. The Board offered to do the work for 12 months for £340 in quarterly installments. A rate of 10d was fixed for the half year. The three old Bede Houses at North Featherstone were roofed with straw which was now letting in the rain but the owners could not be traced. Dr Buncle said they would have to be re-roofed but not with straw.

  The Burial Board accepted a tender of £29 for a building to put the hearse in but left over a decision about buying one. There were protests at the vicar claiming the burial fees for all interments (both in the consecrated and unconsecrated parts). The clerk, Mr Raper, said the Board had no power to alter the byelaws.

APRIL  The retiring members of the Local Board were Messrs Bennett, Fearnley and Waller. Also nominated for the election were A Alexander, S Coward, H Cowling, H Gledhill and A Higgins. Placards were posted announcing the withdrawal of Gledhill and Higgins in favour of Coward. They said "Liberals, be true to your principles and vote for Coward, the Liberal candidate". Cards were distributed to houses with the same request. There was also canvassing for the other candidates and much criticism of the manner of voting which was not by ballot.

    At the Local Board meeting Mr Denton said he had been informed certain people were in the habit of coming to the offices to inspect the voting papers after the Board elections. This had the effect of preventing many people from voting. Although this was legal it was morally wrong. He suggested the surveyor, who had charge of the office, should keep a record of who inspected the voting papers and how long they took. This was passed unanimously.

  The chairman, Joseph Fearnley, said posters about the election purporting to have been signed by him were a forgery and he had nothing to do with the writing, printing or circulation. The offending posters bore the names of Fearnley, Waller and Bennett and contained somewhat discourteous and incorrect remarks about Mr Coward. Messrs Waller and Bennett also said it was nothing to do with them.

  A letter from Mr W Gray, master of Purston National School, denied teachers and attendance officers had urged children to attend school when there was fever in their homes. No doubt there were some cases, but he wrote this was the Board's duty more than the teachers. He suggested the Board should issue a leaflet warning parents, and the teachers would gladly distribute it. There was also a letter from the Board of Guardians disclaiming such a practice.

  There were no public funds to repair the Bede Houses so Mr Denton offered 5s. Mr Wardman then offered 5s and Mr Waller 10s. Other members promised similar amounts.

  At the Local Board elections the recently formed Featherstone Brass Band led by Mr Jones played in front of each of the candidate's residence. The voting for the three members was Waller 562, Coward 558, Fearnley 553, Bennett 482, Alexander 340, Cowling 371, Higgins 89 and Gledhill 77. So not everybody had got the message about Messrs Gledhill and Higgins withdrawing, but even so Mr Coward won easily in place of Mr Bennett.

  There was an application at Pontefract Court from George Frederick Coulston for a change of off-licence from his mother who had recently died. She had bought a large amount of stock and the brewery would only take it back at a much reduced price. He received an excellent character reference from Mr Watson, the postmaster, and the Bench granted a temporary licence.

  Miss Frances Mary Hall of Purston Hall married the Revd Frederick William Cecil Neville of Gloucester at Purston Church. The church and approaches were crowded by locals in their admiration and respect for the bride, who for many years past had visited among them, and had endeared herself to them by her many acts of personal kindness and sympathy.

MAY  George Coulston appeared at Pontefract Court for the transfer of the off-licence. The application was opposed by Supt Whincup who said it was not necessary because there were four grocer's licences as well as the Railway Hotel in Station Lane and another one very near in Purston at John Waller's.

  Mr R H Rodgers said he appeared on behalf of a number of ratepayers and produced a petition urging the Bench not to grant the licence, it had been signed by 70 people equally as respectable as the petition produced by George Coulston. In answer to a question Mr Rodgers admitted he represented those who had a horror of anything stronger than water. The Bench refused the application.

  At a meeting of the Snydale and Featherstone Flower Show members were told many pieces of ground previously barren and uncultivated had been turned into nice gardens.

JUNE  Dr Buncle told the Local Board there had been 29 cases of scarlet fever and nine deaths, but the epidemic of that disease and measles had now been stamped out.

  The Burial Board took deliver of the new hearse to be kept at the cemetery. The one above, from the Tony Lumb Collection, is not that one but is typical of the period. It is said to be Copley's.

JULY  Mr Battye told the Local Board something should be done to disinfect the gullies on the side of Station Lane as the stench from them was fit to poison anyone.

  Charles Jackson, formerly a footman at Ackton Hall, was charged with stealing glass, china and other articles. He was suspected by the police of another robbery, and when they searched his belongings they found the Ackton Hall articles. He admitted the offence.

  The West Yorkshire miners' demonstration was held at Barnsley on a Monday so Featherstone Main Colliery had a play day. Featherstone Brass Band marched through the streets and then went with 400 people to Barnsley. The union men were disappointed because their new banner did not arrive in time.

AUGUST  The annual trip of Featherstone Main Colliery's Accident Fund Society was to Scarborough. More than 1,000 people left on two special trains.

  The Burial Board found a way round the byelaws and agreed in future the funeral fees would be paid to the person conducting the ceremony and not to the vicar as he had requested.

  The second Snydale and Featherstone Flower Show was held at Purston. It was opened by Lord and Lady St Oswald and had the same number of entries as last year but the quality was said to be better.

  The annual feast was held at the bottom of Station Lane, but there were not as many attractions as last year mainly because of the high price charged by the owner of the land. There was also a gala in the cricket field at the end of Phipps Street.

  Thieves broke into the bedrooms at the Junction Hotel at 10pm while Mr Waller and his son were downstairs. Jewellery belonging to the late Mrs Waller and other items were stolen.

  At the Local Board meeting Mr Battye proposed the gas lamps should remain lit all night but he lost on a casting vote. Plans for five shop-houses in Station Lane for Mr J Walmsley were approved.

SEPTEMBER  At the Brewster Sessions Reuben Johnson applied for a full licence for the New Inn beerhouse. It was intended to make extensive alterations to the property to render it suited to the requirements of the district. It was claimed no new licence had been granted in Featherstone for ten years, and the increased population justified a full licence so that all intoxicating liquors could be sold. Mr Umpleby, landlord of the Railway Hotel, objected on the grounds his house and the Junction Hotel were adequate to serve the district. Mr Fearnley, the Local Board surveyor, said the alteration plans had been passed, but the Bench refused the application.

  At a meeting in the Girls' School there was a presentation of certificates by John Shaw of Darrington Hall to 32 members of the St John Ambulance Association who had passed the exam. Mr Shaw said there were now 60 persons in Featherstone qualified to give first aid, and the ladies had decided to form a class. Dr Buncle, who received much of the credit for people passing, was presented with a silver-mounted cut-glass claret jug.

OCTOBER  The colliers at Featherstone Main complained their full tubs were not taken out of the pit fast enough. Mr Bennett, the manager, ordered the pony drivers to use motties (a pit counting system) to show how many each lad had brought out. They objected and three left without giving notice and were taken to court. It was claimed the pit had to stand all one Saturday and £1 each damages was claimed as a warning to others. For the boys it was said the manager should have given them 14 days notice of the scheme and it was futile to allege three pony drivers had thrown 350 men idle. The boys admitted they had used a motty system before and were ordered to pay 10s damages each.

  The disappearance of Isaac Darlington from Featherstone was causing concern. He was the confidential agent to the Ackton Hall and Featherstone Manor Colliery and treasurer to the Miners' Accident Fund. It was rumoured he had been in the company of other men one night three weeks ago and had not been seen since.

  Humphrey Matthews of Green Lane got off a train at Featherstone Station and walked in front of the engine to cross the lines. He was knocked down by a light engine from Pontefract and suffered injuries to his legs and arms. After first aid he was taken to Clayton Hospital.

  A meeting was held to consider what help could be given to Pontefract Dispensary. Mr T Bennett took the chair. He said if by any means three or four beds could be placed at the dispensary for Featherstone it would be a great boon to the working colliers of the district who, when injured, were obliged to undergo the pain and inconvenience of a journey to Leeds. The expense of visiting patients in Leeds should be a valuable inducement to the people of the neighbourhood to subscribe to a proposed fund. It was resolved that on the next Saturday the colliers in Featherstone would contribute 6d each and those at Snydale 3d each. A deputation was appointed to canvass the local tradesmen for subscriptions.

  At the Local Board meeting Mr Battye proposed the gas lamps should be lit all night saying it would only cost a farthing on the rates. Mr Denton objected and said there was no evidence the ratepayers wanted them burning all night. The voting was 2-2 but as one member had abstained the chairman refused to give a casting vote. Plans to turn the old Featherstone vicarage into three cottages were approved.

NOVEMBER  Martin Stead Blackburn of Purston was walking home from North Featherstone. He waited at the railway lines between the station and Halfpenny Lane and when a train had passed he crossed and was hit by a train coming the other way. He was knocked into the hedge bottom where he lay for some hours before being able to get up and stagger home at 5.30am. He died four days later of a fractured skull.

  Workers from all three collieries met in the Salvation Army Barracks to consider the Yorkshire Miners' Association proposals for a 10% rise and eight hours bank to bank. William Boffey, checkweighman at Snydale, was in the chair. He said during the last ten years there had been a depression which had caused a glut of coal and brought down wages. He would like the owners to get rid of order seekers so the customers could order direct which would make it better for the mines. Featherstone miners were working short hours, but others in the county were working double shifts under the butty system which was a curse. Edward Cowey urged all at the packed meeting to join the YMA. Resolutions were passed for a 10% rise, an eight hour day and all to join the union.

  An inquest was held at the New Inn on Walter Hayley aged 42 of Phipps Street. He went to see some friends and drank a lot of whisky. He died suddenly at 1.30am. The jury's verdict was "Died from alcoholic poisoning".

  An inquest was held at the Railway Hotel on Thomas Humphries aged 62. He came out of Manor Colliery at 2pm and after handing in his lamp asked William Faulkner the lampman if he could sit down because he felt ill. Dr Buncle was sent for but he arrived too late. The jury decided he had died very suddenly of heart disease.

  Mr Battye brought up again the question of leaving the lamps lit all night. He said it would only cost 3d a year to the workmen ratepayers. This time it was passed. The Board then received a letter from the Gas Company saying it would break the contract and three months notice was required. Mr Kaberry, the clerk, commented he had said the same over and over again. Nothing could now be done before the winter so the matter was postponed.

DECEMBER  Mr W Livery was seized with a fit down Featherstone Main Colliery and he died before he could be got out.