A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1897
LITTLE OR NO WATER PRESSURE
In July the council received many complaints about the streets not being watered. The clerk said if the water cart was used it deprived a great many people of water. The far end of the ranges (North Featherstone and east Purston) were unable to get water for most of the day.
The chairman said a seven inch main was connected to a three inch meter. He could not understand how they got seven inches of water through a three inch meter. Suggestions put forward to remedy the situation were to take water from Pontefract, build a reservoir at North Featherstone, or to relay the water mains.
In September the council discussed building a reservoir at North Featherstone at a cost of £250, but it was said there could be mining subsidence difficulties. Other schemes were changing all the three inch mains to four inch at a cost of £1,000, or a new four inch main from Normanton Common to North Featherstone and Loscoe which would cost £750. A further problem was Wakefield Corporation were going to put in new filters at Ardsley which would reduce the pressure in Featherstone and make a bad job worse.
Wakefield Corporation wanted to put the price of the water up. The council asked Pontefract Corporation if they would supply water. Pontefract offered water at 9d per 1,000 gallons but the council only offered to pay 8d.
At the October meeting Cr Mason said it wasn't fair to have two sorts of water, as those taking Pontefract's hard water would have to use an extra two pounds of soap a week. Dr Buncle said Pontefract water was three times as hard as Wakefield water but it was pure for domestic use. Once again no immediate decision was made.
REVD STEBBING AND HEADSTONES
There
was a law that the vicar could claim a fee if a headstone was put on a
grave. Local people thought this should only apply in the churchyard and
not in the cemetery. The fees were 10s for a headstone and £1 for a
monument but the Burial Board would not agree to this for the cemetery,
so the vicar took his claim to the County Court. His Honour Judge
Bedwell gave judgement in favour of the vicar. At the Burial Board meeting in August Revd Stebbing said he would accept 10s for the kind of headstone now in use plus 2s 6d for a simple kerbstone. If an ornamental kerbstone was installed instead of a headstone then the fee would be 10s.
The Board decided the fee would have to be paid by those erecting the headstone and not be a charge on the rates. A vestry meeting was held two weeks later at which the headstone charges were agreed.
EDUCATION IN 1897
The last inspector's report had recommended a partition for the Boys'
School and the School Board accepted a tender in April of £45 15s for
the erection of a moveable partition. The inspector's report for Purston National School said it was a decided advance on previous reports. The instruction was of a most satisfactory character, and the order was good. The teachers worked diligently and the children were interested and attentive.
The School Board advertised for two assistant masters for the Boys' School. There were several applications including two from women which caused much amusement.
A new School Board election was held in October. Those successful were Messrs Higgins, Boffy, Gledhill, Durnford, Wood, Darlington and Revd Rogers. Mr Higgins, who had been chairman for six years, was re-elected unanimously. Mr Kaberry read a letter from the Education Department urging the board to provide new schools, if possible at the north side of the railway and if possible by June 1898, the present accommodation being too small.
Francis Nicholas, caretaker at the Boys' School, applied for an increase in wages because of increased work caused by the new wood and glass partition and an extra fireplace. He was granted 1s a week.
The School Board wrote to the Education Department asking if extra classes could be added to the Boys' School instead of building a new school. The reply was both schools had too many pupils, and while agreeing to extra rooms at the Boys' School a new school must be built north of the railway. The Board had to agree and possible sites for a school were discussed.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE
The big event of 1897 was Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The
Tradesmen's Association arranged a public meeting to discuss what could
be done to celebrate the Queen's sixty years on the throne. It was
agreed to give a treat to all over 60, rich and poor alike, all widows,
and the very poor. A proposal to leave out North Featherstone and
Featherstone Green received only five votes. There would also be a treat
for the schoolchildren if sufficient funds could be found. A committee
of 20 members was formed to make the arrangements.In the end there were two separate celebrations on Tuesday June 22 because North and South Featherstone couldn't agree on how to do it. The total population of North Featherstone and Featherstone Green of over 1,000 held a tea in the large yard adjoining the manor house. Afterwards there were sports plus a greasy pole. The prize for that was a pig given by Thomas Holiday, but nobody managed to climb the pole. In the evening there was dancing to half of the Featherstone Brass Band, and a bonfire was lit in the field in front of the church.
The residents of South Featherstone and Purston had raised £70 to pay for their celebrations. All the aged and poor people (320 in total) were given a dinner of roast beef and mutton followed by plum pudding. They were all accommodated in the Featherstone, Railway, Junction and Travellers' Rest Hotels. All the 1,800 schoolchildren were given a medal and a tea followed by sports on the recreation ground. Balloons were sent up and there was a fireworks display. The other half of Featherstone Brass Band provided the entertainment. All the main roads had flags and banners and all the shops were closed.
The Jubilee Hotel below was named to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. A photo from the Tony Lumb Collection,
GOINGS ON AT THE "TOP HOUSE"
Thomas Palmer, landlord of the Featherstone Hotel, commonly known as
the Top House, engaged two singers for two weeks in July at a fee of £3
each. They went by the names of Harriet De Lyle and Clara Gale.One night while Harriet was singing Clara was lighting a lamp at the front of the stage which may have been part of the act. She turned it up too far which caused Harriet to burst out laughing. Back stage Mr Palmer accused Harriet of laughing at him and then the lamp glass became overheated and broke. Mr Palmer sacked them both. They sued him for their £6 in Pontefract Court.
Harriet told the court she only laughed because the audience laughed. Mr Palmer said he considered her drunk because of her conduct on the stage. She refused to leave so he sent for PC Anderson.
The constable told the court in his opinion Harriet was in a state of intoxication but was not drunk because she was able to talk. The pianist and a waiter both backed up Mr Palmer's evidence and the judge decided the singers would not get their £6.
MORE DISPUTES AT ACKTON HALL COLLIERY
Lord Masham was said to have spent £700,000 sinking a shaft to the
Silkstone Seam and opening it out. The men had been paid 6s 6d to 7s a
day for the opening out work and in March were offered a price to be paid on
tonnage. The men refused the terms and about 150 were given two weeks
notice. The men said they doubted it was the Silkstone Seam and they
could not make a living at normal Silkstone Seam prices of from 1s 8d to
2s 2d a ton. The doubts arose because it was thinner than the normal
Silkstone Seam and contained too much dirt (shale). When the
notice was up the management agreed to extend it for another week to let
the Yorkshire Miners' Association consider the men's claim for another
6d a ton.
The men employed in the Silkstone Seam at Ackton Hall Colliery issued
the following appeal in April. "We have entered on a struggle in the above pit
not being able to agree with the price offered by the manager for the
coal got. One hundred and fifty of us received notice to leave and they
offered us a price list of 1s 8d a ton unriddled. The management then
withdrew that offer and submitted another list offering 1s 7d a ton to
be riddled. Hence the present crisis. There is not a seam in the
district similar to ours. We have three dirt partings in the coal
varying from one inch to 1 foot 5 inches. The coal averages about three
feet 9 inches in thickness. We could not possibly get a living at the
price offered. Trusting you will assist us in our present difficulty."
In October the men in the new Silkstone Seam were still out on
strike. Now they were joined by the Warren House men who complained
about poor allowances for black bands in the coal, and the Haigh Moor
miners who objected to the working of four men in one place.
Delegates from all three seams and the Yorkshire Miners' Federation met the management who offered to have all disputes referred to a joint committee of colliery owners and miners' representatives, but the deputation refused.
A meeting was held the same night at the Featherstone Hotel and was addressed by Mr E Cowey, the president of the YMA. The local delegates said the fortnight's notice of a strike by the other two seams had been given but some men were out of benefit.
Mr Cowey suggested the notices be recalled and two weeks allowed for miners to get back in benefit and then be reissued for the Haigh Moor and Warren House men. He hoped a strike could be avoided because many men had not yet got over the 1893 lockout.
At the beginning of November strike notices went back in, but the next week the union agreed terms with the management. The men accepted the management's condition of working for a six months trial period.
The plans had already been passed by the Council and the contract for the building was awarded to Messrs Jackson Bros of Goole. A few weeks later 30 men were engaged on building work.
In March the ceremony was performed in the school. Dr Buncle made the presentation of the address and purse which contained 30 sovereigns. He said apart from being postmaster Joseph Watson had also been churchwarden, sidesman, assistant overseer, chairman of the Burial Board and the backbone of the gas company.
Delegates from all three seams and the Yorkshire Miners' Federation met the management who offered to have all disputes referred to a joint committee of colliery owners and miners' representatives, but the deputation refused.
A meeting was held the same night at the Featherstone Hotel and was addressed by Mr E Cowey, the president of the YMA. The local delegates said the fortnight's notice of a strike by the other two seams had been given but some men were out of benefit.
Mr Cowey suggested the notices be recalled and two weeks allowed for miners to get back in benefit and then be reissued for the Haigh Moor and Warren House men. He hoped a strike could be avoided because many men had not yet got over the 1893 lockout.
At the beginning of November strike notices went back in, but the next week the union agreed terms with the management. The men accepted the management's condition of working for a six months trial period.
THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS
The first general meeting of the Featherstone Assembly Rooms and
Institute Company Ltd was held in February. It had been decided to
choose the Station Lane scheme and the land had been bought. But
sufficient capital had not been obtained to enable the whole of the
grand scheme to be realised so it was decided to go ahead with just the
club and assembly rooms. The plans had already been passed by the Council and the contract for the building was awarded to Messrs Jackson Bros of Goole. A few weeks later 30 men were engaged on building work.
THE NEW POST OFFICE
The new Post Office in the road to Moor Farm off Station Lane was to
be run by Joseph Watson, so his present customers decided it would be a
good enough reason to have a presentation to mark his 25 years as the
Purston and South Featherstone postmaster. A meeting was held at Purston
National School in January and it was agreed to present him with a
framed and illuminated address and a purse of gold. £24 had been
collected so far.In March the ceremony was performed in the school. Dr Buncle made the presentation of the address and purse which contained 30 sovereigns. He said apart from being postmaster Joseph Watson had also been churchwarden, sidesman, assistant overseer, chairman of the Burial Board and the backbone of the gas company.
The photo below shows the new Post Office in the newly named Post Office Road. A photo from the Tony Lumb Collection.
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NEWS ITEMS FOR 1897
JANUARY Last December the council had appointed Mr Rowlands of Louth
to be the surveyor. A special meeting was held and his appointment was
rescinded. Mr Palliser of Ilkley was offered the job at a salary of
£140. No reason for the change was given.Three Featherstone women were fined 19s 6d each for stealing coal from Ackton Hall Colliery.
MARCH At the council meeting Cr Durnford said there were now about 500 houses in the Green Lane and Featherstone Lane area and the council should reconsider the Pontefract Corporation request that Halfpenny Lane be made suitable for vehicular traffic. Cr Denton said it would cost £3,000 and would not benefit all Featherstone ratepayers. Then they would have to open up Green Lane to Normanton and that would put the cost up to £6,000. Another comment was if the colliery owners wanted it let them pay for it. Four voted in favour and five against.
An inquest was held on Mary Ann Lumb of Rhyl Street who was found dead in bed with the clothes over her head. Dr Hay, who lived nearby, was sent for and he said death was due to suffocation by the bed clothes while in an epileptic fit. The jury agreed.
A gale blew down chimney pots, removed slates and blew out shop windows. A high chimney at the west end of the nearly completed Jubilee Hotel was blown down.
An
inquest was held on a child of Simon Burns of Leeds Terrace which lived
only 30 minutes. The jury agreed with Dr Buncle's evidence that it died
of feeble vitality.
APRIL The council election results were:
North Ward - J Walmsley, contractor 196, H St John Durnford, colliery manager 157
South Ward - G W Mason, checkweighman 164, H Wormald, engineer 90
Purston Ward - C Cranswick, checkweighman 260, G Crosby, undermanager 40
Snydale Ward - W Swain, contractor unopposed.
APRIL The council election results were:
North Ward - J Walmsley, contractor 196, H St John Durnford, colliery manager 157
South Ward - G W Mason, checkweighman 164, H Wormald, engineer 90
Purston Ward - C Cranswick, checkweighman 260, G Crosby, undermanager 40
Snydale Ward - W Swain, contractor unopposed.
The council gave planning permission for many houses and buildings
including the Pontefract Co-operative house and shop off Station Lane.
The Tradesmen's Association agreed to write to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to ask why the bell was not rung before a train arrived and could this system be reinstated.
There were 5,000 spectators at the sports field to see Featherstone play Castleford in the fourth round of the Yorkshire Rugby Union Challenge Cup. Featherstone won 6-4.
An application at Quarter Sessions to alter the line of the footpath from Purston where it crossed the Ackton Hall Colliery sidings was granted. The colliery company set about making the diversion immediately.
The following appeared in the Express. "A stranger visiting the colliery village on Saturday night might have been struck with the puzzle-like countenance of some of the residents and pardoned for asking if a terrible calamity had happened in the neighbourhood." The reason - Featherstone had lost 4-0 against Shipley at Wortley in the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup.
At a meeting of the council to elect a new chairman the clerk was not having a performance like last year and he insisted the retiring chairman take the chair. However, the new members had radically altered the composition of the council and Cr Keith was reappointed by seven votes to three.
A bazaar was held in the Boys' School for the new Purston Wesleyan Church Fund which was opened last month. The Revd G Oyston of Pontefract said the land for a new church had already been purchased and the plans passed. Previous to this bazaar £350 had been raised and the sale of the present building was expected to fetch £360. The cost of the church would be about £2,000. The bazaar raised £102.
MAY Charles Foster of Pontefract was killed by a fall of roof at Snydale Colliery. He left a wife and seven young children.
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company refused to go back to ringing the bell before a train arrived. They said it was because passengers were waiting for the bell before going to book their tickets and thus causing trains to be delayed.
There were now improved banking facilities for those who could afford to save. The York City and County Bank opened each Monday at the house of Mr J Dutton on Station Lane, the Yorkshire Bank was at Mr Cuttle's each Tuesday, and Leatham, Tew and Company were at the council offices each Monday.
Seven young miners from Featherstone were fined for gaming with coins.
JUNE Bedroom furniture was shaken at 11.15pm and pots and pans rattled in the Green Lane area. Many residents went to the collieries thinking there had been an explosion, but it was probably a minor earthquake.
Tommy Thompson, ex-manager, had left Featherstone Main Colliery and the Accident Society decided not to have the manager as treasurer any more, but an independent person. Mr Bell was appointed and required to give a bond of £50. It was agreed to send William Morris, Thomas Greenhough and Harry Kemp to a convalescent home in Bridlington or Southport.
Albert Southerbank, a Purston grocer, got up at 7am as usual, went downstairs and cut his throat. His wife found him and sent for PC Hirst and Dr Steven. Fortunately they were in time and he made a gradual recovery.
A final meeting was held to wind up the cottage hospital fund because there was no hope of raising the necessary finance. It was agreed the money collected should be used for the community by paying the cost of sending people to convalescent homes.
JULY The Tradesmen's Association annual outing was to Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey.
Enoch Harvey, a miner aged 40 of George Street, collapsed and died in the Railway Hotel yard. Dr Steven said he died from the bursting of an aneurysm of the aorta and the inquest verdict was according to the medical evidence.
PC Downes found James Marshall in a crowd kicking a soldier on the ground. The constable rescued the soldier and took him into a nearby house. When PC Downes came out Marshall attacked him with his fists and boots. He was sent to jail for 14 days with hard labour.
The final total raised by the Featherstone Jubilee Fund was £108, and after all expenses had been paid there was £10 left over. The committee decided to ask the council to put it towards a permanent bandstand in the new recreation ground.
An inquest was held on James Winstanley aged 44 who had been working at Ackton Hall Colliery for only three weeks. He was killed by a fall of roof and the jury's verdict was accidental death. His body was taken back to Cheshire for burial.
The old Local Board and the new council had been trying for years to get a drainage scheme done for North Featherstone and the estimated cost had risen greatly. Finally the scheme was ready and the Council accepted a tender of £7,000 for the drainage of North Featherstone to new sewerage works at Snydale.
AUGUST Revd Hugh Jones came from Liverpool to conduct services in Welsh in the Girl's School for the benefit of the many Welsh inhabitants.
The Tradesmen's Association agreed to write to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to ask why the bell was not rung before a train arrived and could this system be reinstated.
There were 5,000 spectators at the sports field to see Featherstone play Castleford in the fourth round of the Yorkshire Rugby Union Challenge Cup. Featherstone won 6-4.
An application at Quarter Sessions to alter the line of the footpath from Purston where it crossed the Ackton Hall Colliery sidings was granted. The colliery company set about making the diversion immediately.
The following appeared in the Express. "A stranger visiting the colliery village on Saturday night might have been struck with the puzzle-like countenance of some of the residents and pardoned for asking if a terrible calamity had happened in the neighbourhood." The reason - Featherstone had lost 4-0 against Shipley at Wortley in the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup.
At a meeting of the council to elect a new chairman the clerk was not having a performance like last year and he insisted the retiring chairman take the chair. However, the new members had radically altered the composition of the council and Cr Keith was reappointed by seven votes to three.
A bazaar was held in the Boys' School for the new Purston Wesleyan Church Fund which was opened last month. The Revd G Oyston of Pontefract said the land for a new church had already been purchased and the plans passed. Previous to this bazaar £350 had been raised and the sale of the present building was expected to fetch £360. The cost of the church would be about £2,000. The bazaar raised £102.
MAY Charles Foster of Pontefract was killed by a fall of roof at Snydale Colliery. He left a wife and seven young children.
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company refused to go back to ringing the bell before a train arrived. They said it was because passengers were waiting for the bell before going to book their tickets and thus causing trains to be delayed.
There were now improved banking facilities for those who could afford to save. The York City and County Bank opened each Monday at the house of Mr J Dutton on Station Lane, the Yorkshire Bank was at Mr Cuttle's each Tuesday, and Leatham, Tew and Company were at the council offices each Monday.
Seven young miners from Featherstone were fined for gaming with coins.
JUNE Bedroom furniture was shaken at 11.15pm and pots and pans rattled in the Green Lane area. Many residents went to the collieries thinking there had been an explosion, but it was probably a minor earthquake.
Tommy Thompson, ex-manager, had left Featherstone Main Colliery and the Accident Society decided not to have the manager as treasurer any more, but an independent person. Mr Bell was appointed and required to give a bond of £50. It was agreed to send William Morris, Thomas Greenhough and Harry Kemp to a convalescent home in Bridlington or Southport.
Albert Southerbank, a Purston grocer, got up at 7am as usual, went downstairs and cut his throat. His wife found him and sent for PC Hirst and Dr Steven. Fortunately they were in time and he made a gradual recovery.
A final meeting was held to wind up the cottage hospital fund because there was no hope of raising the necessary finance. It was agreed the money collected should be used for the community by paying the cost of sending people to convalescent homes.
JULY The Tradesmen's Association annual outing was to Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey.
Enoch Harvey, a miner aged 40 of George Street, collapsed and died in the Railway Hotel yard. Dr Steven said he died from the bursting of an aneurysm of the aorta and the inquest verdict was according to the medical evidence.
PC Downes found James Marshall in a crowd kicking a soldier on the ground. The constable rescued the soldier and took him into a nearby house. When PC Downes came out Marshall attacked him with his fists and boots. He was sent to jail for 14 days with hard labour.
The final total raised by the Featherstone Jubilee Fund was £108, and after all expenses had been paid there was £10 left over. The committee decided to ask the council to put it towards a permanent bandstand in the new recreation ground.
An inquest was held on James Winstanley aged 44 who had been working at Ackton Hall Colliery for only three weeks. He was killed by a fall of roof and the jury's verdict was accidental death. His body was taken back to Cheshire for burial.
The old Local Board and the new council had been trying for years to get a drainage scheme done for North Featherstone and the estimated cost had risen greatly. Finally the scheme was ready and the Council accepted a tender of £7,000 for the drainage of North Featherstone to new sewerage works at Snydale.
AUGUST Revd Hugh Jones came from Liverpool to conduct services in Welsh in the Girl's School for the benefit of the many Welsh inhabitants.
John Thomas Key of Purston sued Ackton Hall Colliery for £87 at Leeds
Assizes. He said plant put in at the colliery to make coke could not be
made to work properly and he had been contracted to put it right, engage
workmen, and pay the wages for which he would receive 1s 6d a ton. He
denied the Ackton Hall version that the sum had been reduced to 1s 4d
and he asked for the difference. The jury accepted he was telling the
truth and awarded him the sum claimed.
Although the idea of a cottage hospital had been abandoned it was decided to carry on with the Hospital Sundays to raise more funds to send people to convalescent homes. The Featherstone, Pontefract and Kinsley Brass Bands paraded the streets prior to a sacred concert at the Beech Grove football ground. However, heavy rain caused it to be put off for a week.
A vestry meeting agreed to the Burial Board borrowing £450 in order to extend the cemetery.
SEPTEMBER An inquest was held on Isaac Harvey, a labourer at Snydale Colliery. He died after being crushed by wagons under the screens. The jury's verdict was misadventure.
Although the idea of a cottage hospital had been abandoned it was decided to carry on with the Hospital Sundays to raise more funds to send people to convalescent homes. The Featherstone, Pontefract and Kinsley Brass Bands paraded the streets prior to a sacred concert at the Beech Grove football ground. However, heavy rain caused it to be put off for a week.
A vestry meeting agreed to the Burial Board borrowing £450 in order to extend the cemetery.
SEPTEMBER An inquest was held on Isaac Harvey, a labourer at Snydale Colliery. He died after being crushed by wagons under the screens. The jury's verdict was misadventure.
OCTOBER A young man employed by Mr
A Makin, grocer, was delivering by horse and cart just north of the
station when someone set off fireworks and the horse bolted down the
Lane. Mr Makin saw the horse coming and managed to get some children out
of the way. The horse fell over a large step and broke a leg so it had
to be destroyed. It was valued at 40 guineas.
The council approved plans for a villa in Green Lane for Dr Steven. Dr Thomas and Dr Johnson had submitted accounts for the notification of measles. This was queried because it had been agreed some time ago to take measles off the list of notifiable diseases. It transpired the clerk had written to the Local Government Board telling them the council intended to do this. The board had written to Dr Buncle asking for his opinion. He replied he considered measles should still be notified but at 2s 6d per household instead of 2s 6d per patient. The LGB had not replied to that so the council, after much argument, decided by seven votes to five to pay the accounts and write to the LGB for a definite answer.
John Malpass of Whiteley Street came out of Ackton Hall Colliery at the end of his shift feeling unwell. He was taken to the ambulance room where he died a short while later. It was decided his death was due to natural causes. He left nine children and a dangerously ill widow.
NOVEMBER
After the men had been drawn out of the pit at Featherstone Main
Colliery it was found the rim of one of the pulley wheels was broken.
They had been in use for at least 20 years. The pit was laid off for 12
days until new wheels could be obtained and fitted.
John Walton summonsed Ackton Hall Colliery for £2 15s loss of wages for being dismissed without notice. He said he had been employed for five months when he was taken ill and had three weeks off work. He sent his wife to the pit with a sick note from Dr Thomas. When he returned to work he was told he could not start. He applied to the manager, Mr Durnford, and was told the same.
He then went to see a solicitor who told him to apply again for work. He was refused yet again and Mr Durnford wrote to the solicitor saying John Walton had left work some time ago without giving a reason. The magistrates' clerk said a man had broken his contract by staying away from work even if he was ill and had sent in a certificate. Mr Lowden, for Mr Walton, said this opinion had been sprung on him and asked for an adjournment.
John Walton summonsed Ackton Hall Colliery for £2 15s loss of wages for being dismissed without notice. He said he had been employed for five months when he was taken ill and had three weeks off work. He sent his wife to the pit with a sick note from Dr Thomas. When he returned to work he was told he could not start. He applied to the manager, Mr Durnford, and was told the same.
He then went to see a solicitor who told him to apply again for work. He was refused yet again and Mr Durnford wrote to the solicitor saying John Walton had left work some time ago without giving a reason. The magistrates' clerk said a man had broken his contract by staying away from work even if he was ill and had sent in a certificate. Mr Lowden, for Mr Walton, said this opinion had been sprung on him and asked for an adjournment.
Two weeks later Mr Lowden gave numerous instances where similar action
by workmen who had been dismissed for illness had been upheld in court.
Mr Moxon, for Ackton Hall Colliery, waived the point and said Mr Walton
had not sent a sick note until he had been off work for some time and
someone had been employed in his place. Mr Lowden said the note was sent
the day after Mr Walton was taken ill, but the man who took it was now
in prison and could not give evidence. The chairman of the Bench said in
his opinion the money claimed was due.
Elias Allen aged 45 was killed at Ackton Hall Colliery when a large piece of rock weighing about a ton fell on him. Work in the Haigh Moor Seam was suspended for the day. He left a widow and nine young children.
The council approved plans for 45 houses in Post Office Road. They also reconsidered the taking of measles off the notifiable list. Dr Buncle said he had asked the doctors to take 2s 6d per house instead of per case but one had refused to accept it.
The Pontefract Industrial Co-operative Society premises in Post Office Road were opened. Built by Mr Sutton of Featherstone the Express described them as one of the largest buildings in Featherstone.
Those on relief in Purston received 2s 6d each from John Waller. Those
in Featherstone received two shillings from the overseers (Messrs
Foster, Cowling and Walmsley) and one shilling from Henry Gledhill.
DECEMBER The Tradesmen's Association tried again to get the railway company to have a delivery service from the station They also got the West Riding Federated Chamber of Trade involved but once again the railway company refused.
DECEMBER The Tradesmen's Association tried again to get the railway company to have a delivery service from the station They also got the West Riding Federated Chamber of Trade involved but once again the railway company refused.