A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1864 and 1865
PURSTON NATIONAL
SCHOOL
In December
1864 clergymen and friends gathered at Purston National School to hear the children recite their Christmas pieces
and see the distribution of the prizes.
Because of a
rapid increase in the population of Purston the school was now too small so it
was proposed in April 1865 to remove the south wall and add on 30 feet by
22 feet 6 inches to make one room 47 feet by 22 feet 6 inches.
The school was
reopened in October 1865. The children numbering 110 assembled at 2pm and after playing games were given tea at 3pm. They
then walked in procession to Purston Hall headed by a militia band. The grounds
and park were thrown open to the public and several hundred people were
present. Nuts and apples were given to the children, there were games and other
amusements, and swings for the girls and younger boys. At 5pm there was a public tea in the schoolroom for which
280 tickets had been given out.
The Pontefract
Advertiser reported "The school, which in its enlarged condition, is
one of the most highly finished and best ventilated rooms in the neighbourhood,
was elegantly decorated with banners, flowers and evergreens, and a
wheatsheaf bound with a wreath of
flowers. After dusk an exhibition of views and sketches by an exhibitor was
greeted with cheers and approbation. The object of this festivity on the part
of the promoter was to afford a day's rustic enjoyment for the working classes,
which those in a higher position should be invited to aid and share. That the
whole affair was a most decided success is evident from existing results. That
it will have a future and beneficial effect in cementing good will and kind
neighbourly feelings, there cannot be a shadow of doubt. Few efforts for the
promotion of education could have been more successful, and the inhabitants of
Purston most willingly render a lasting expression of gratitude to that
benefactor, who is the founder and chief supporter of the school".
ACKTON HALL AND GEORGE BRADLEY
Ackton Hall
passed through a number of families before George Bradley purchased it in 1865.
From its first mention in the Featherstone parish register in 1570 when it
belonged to the Frost family it passed by marriage to the Beckwiths who in 1652
sold it to Langdale Sunderland after the Civil War for a price said to be
£5,000.
It next passed
to Edward Winn, the younger son of the second baronet Winn of Nostell Priory.
Thomas Winn was heir to Edward and when he took over he enlarged Ackton Hall
in 1765.
Thomas Winn
died in 1780 and was succeeded by his son Mark who lived in the hall as a
bachelor until his death in 1833. The estate passed to his niece Mary who
married Arthur Heywood and they took up residence in the hall. After the death
of the Heywoods the estate was put up for sale.
The sale
catalogue describes the hall as an attractive stone built mansion on a moderate
scale seated on a hillside and surrounded by a richly wooded and undulating
country. Extending on the south and east is a tract of rich park-like land
studded with noble oak and other trees of large growth and great beauty. The
lawn and pleasure grounds slope gently to the south west and are well-arranged
with retired shrubbery and shaded walks embracing extensive views over
luxuriant meadows and a magnificent country.
In the ground
floor are the entrance hall, inner hall, dining, drawing and morning rooms, and
a library. On the first floor are a drawing room and two large bedrooms, and on
the second floor are another five bedrooms and three servants' rooms. There are
two water closets. Outside is a stable yard with accommodation for ten horses,
a double coach house, a dovecote and farm buildings for the 42 acre farm. There
are two kitchen gardens, a conservatory and a vinery, and the hall also has its
own spring water supply.
George Bradley
paid £23,400 for the hall and estate, and another £20,300 for other land
purchases. He did it by borrowing £55,000 from the University Life Assurance
Society.
This
Ordnance Survey 1890 map shows Ackton Hall at it would have been when George Bradley
bought it. The photo below is from the Tony Lumb Collection and shows
the hall with the entrance door in the centre, before it was converted to apartments.. It's a pity it is obscured by the trees.
PURSTON WESLEYAN CHAPEL
Purston Wesleyan Chapel in Hall Street was rebuilt in 1865 on the same site as the original chapel.
1864 NEWS ITEMS
APRIL Whitwood had been part of the parish of
Featherstone for hundreds of years, but in 1861 the Dean and Chapter of Christ
Church, Oxford, endowed the rectorial tithes (worth £120 a year) to
Whitwood. The foundation stone for Whitwood Mere Church was laid on Easter
Monday in 1864.
JUNE A double fatality occurred during shaft sinking
at Snydale. At 5.30am on June 9,
Benjamin Hepworth, John Greenwood and William Carter descended the shaft to
blast out more ground. As they were being brought out in the skip there was a
terrific explosion in the shaft and Greenwood, age 34, and Hepworth, 35, were blown out of the skip
and fell to the bottom of the shaft. Carter managed to hang on and was brought
out severely burnt. The banksman, George Spink, was blown several yards from
the shaft but was not hurt. William Blood and Butler Powell went down to
recover the bodies. The inquest was held the same day at the Heywood Arms
before Mr T Taylor. The jury's verdict was "Accidentally killed by an
explosion of firedamp from the lighted fusee of a shot in the Victoria
Colliery, Snydale, the ventilation of the shaft having been greatly
neglected".
OCTOBER A poor rate of 10d in the pound was granted
for the township of Featherstone at the West Riding Petty Sessions. This was collected
by the Featherstone Overseers and given to the Guardians of the Poor at
Pontefract.
DECEMBER The new Whitwood Church was consecrated. At
the after-service luncheon the Revd T H Hall of Purston proposed the toast
"The Archbishop", and said he hoped to live to see a new church for
his own locality.
A post box was erected at the Purston toll bar with
the consent of the trustees of the Wakefield and Pontefract turnpike road. From February 15 to November 15 it was to be cleared at 6.15pm,
and the rest of the year at 5.45pm. There was no post on Sundays.
1865 NEWS ITEMS
APRIL Mr Clough appeared at the West Riding Petty
Sessions instructed by certain ratepayers of Featherstone to object to the
passing of the Featherstone Highway Accounts. This was on the grounds once
again this year no weekly record had been kept of the surveyor's expenditure as
required by the Act. The assistant-surveyor said the accounts really had been
kept weekly and the book now produced was a correct copy made by himself. The
Bench told the assistant-surveyor the accounts would not be allowed another
year if the various entries were not made weekly.
James Shooter, a farm servant, was summonsed for
riding without reins on the Weeland Turnpike Road at Purston. PC Grimshaw was working in his garden
when he saw the defendant driving a wagon and three horses. He got down and led
the horses past the house and then got up again on the wagon. The officer
followed him and found he had no reins. A five shillings fine with costs was
imposed.
John Marsden, a collier, was accused of a violent
assault on George Shaw. The defendant was said to have set his dog on Shaw
after a fall-out over work. The dog bit his nose and leg and put him off work.
Marsden was fined £5 or two months hard labour.
SEPTEMBER The public licences were up for renewal at the West Riding Petty Sessions. PC Grimshaw said he heard a fight in Thomas Waller's public house (not named) and on entering was abused by John Waller, the son who ran the house, who made use of disgusting language. Thomas Waller was told he was responsible for the conduct of his house, and on his promise it would be conducted properly the licence was renewed.
OCTOBER George Green of Featherstone was fined 10s and costs or 14 days in jail for throwing a bottle at Thomas Cooper of Purston when they were down the mine.
Mrs Mary Carter, the widow of Thomas Carter of Pontefract, left a number of legacies in her will including £250 to the poor of Featherstone.
NOVEMBER Wakefield Glee Club and a similar society recently established in Purston gave a concert in Purston National School. There were piano solos by Mrs T H Hall and songs by Mrs Hoyland, Miss Saville, Mr T Garbert and Mr W Robinson. They were accompanied at the piano by Mr F Robinson. The hall was well filled for this first concert in Purston.
DECEMBER "Penny readings" began on a weekly basis in the school. There was a good number present and all seemed delighted with the evening's entertainment.
SEPTEMBER The public licences were up for renewal at the West Riding Petty Sessions. PC Grimshaw said he heard a fight in Thomas Waller's public house (not named) and on entering was abused by John Waller, the son who ran the house, who made use of disgusting language. Thomas Waller was told he was responsible for the conduct of his house, and on his promise it would be conducted properly the licence was renewed.
OCTOBER George Green of Featherstone was fined 10s and costs or 14 days in jail for throwing a bottle at Thomas Cooper of Purston when they were down the mine.
Mrs Mary Carter, the widow of Thomas Carter of Pontefract, left a number of legacies in her will including £250 to the poor of Featherstone.
NOVEMBER Wakefield Glee Club and a similar society recently established in Purston gave a concert in Purston National School. There were piano solos by Mrs T H Hall and songs by Mrs Hoyland, Miss Saville, Mr T Garbert and Mr W Robinson. They were accompanied at the piano by Mr F Robinson. The hall was well filled for this first concert in Purston.
DECEMBER "Penny readings" began on a weekly basis in the school. There was a good number present and all seemed delighted with the evening's entertainment.