1883

  A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE

 

1883

 TWO NEW SCHOOLS

  The first requirement of the new School Board was to decide where to provide the new school accommodation. Their first idea was to build a school at each side of the railway, but they eventually decided to concentrate south of the railway. By February the Education Department had approved plans for schools in Regent Street and George Street and the land had been purchased. A census was held to find out how many children there were of school age.

  Once the prospective school population was established Robert Brown of Featherstone prepared plans for an infants' school of 150 places and a girls' school of 174 places for Regent Street at a cost of £2,618, and a boys' school of 174 places for George Street at a cost of £1,640. A loan was obtained from the Public Works Loans Committee at 3½% for 50 years. 

THE DRUNKEN TRAIN

  James Umpleby of the Railway Hotel was charged with permitting drunkenness. The market train from Pontefract arrived at Featherstone Station at 9.30pm carrying some passengers who had had too much to drink. They made a rush for the Railway Hotel, and Supt Whincup said on many occasions he had had to detail officers to await the arrival of the train to protect the station master and the landlord.

  On this occasion in February the police entered the hotel at 10.30 and found George Malpass seated in a room drunk with a glass of whisky before him. For the defence it was said he had got in during the rush from the train. The Bench said under the circumstances they would be lenient, and fined Umpleby £2 and costs but did not endorse his licence.

THE COACH ROAD CONTROVERSY

  The original name for the Purston end of the road from Ackworth Road to the top of Castlesyke Hill was Chapel Lane. It was later called Ackworth Park Road, but to the locals it was known as Coach Road. In 1883 the land alongside the lane belonged to Thomas Peel JP and Claud Leatham. In September they applied to the Local Board to stop it being used as a footpath because, they claimed, immorality and gambling were frequently practiced there and people passing along it did damage to the corn and other crops. Most Local Board members were men of property so it is not surprising they agreed and it was decided to apply to the Quarter Sessions for a legal stoppage.

  Many local folk didn't thing it was a good idea and so a town meeting was arranged. The usual method of letting people know was used, that is touring the streets with a brass band and a placard. As a result about 600 people gathered in a field off Station Lane.

  George Shackleton was appointed chairman and he said when he lived in Pontefract he never took a more delightful walk than over these fields from Pontefract and back again to Pontefract by East Hardwick. Though those present were met to claim a right which had been theirs from time immemorial, for themselves and their children, yet they must remember simply meeting there and protesting was not sufficient to accomplish their object. They would have to put their hands in their pockets to maintain their cause at the Quarter Sessions.

  Mr Buffy proposed "That the resolution by the Local Board at their last meeting with reference to the stopping of Ackworth Park Footpath is subversive to the rights of the people, and the meeting call upon the Board at their next meeting to rescind the same".

  It was carried unanimously, as was one to employ a barrister to defend the rights of the people. It was said ex-Police Sergeant Grimshaw had been put at the lodge gate to turn people back unless they had business at the farm.

  On September 29 Messrs Leatham and Peel took their case to the Pontefract Highways Board. Mr Leatham claimed no bona fide travellers used the path and Mr Waller had told him only about three persons a week used it. It was used mostly for the pilfering of crops and by certain persons for purposes of an immoral nature. It was also used by colliers for gambling, and because of its length it was impossible to keep a proper surveillance over it. There was a parallel lane to the bottom of Castlesyke Hill which was actually 133 yards shorter.

  Mr Peel confirmed what Mr Leatham had said and described damage to trees, gates and locks. He said two persons had volunteered to come forward and give the names of loose women who they had seen with men on this footpath.

  The Highways Board agreed to serve a notice on the overseers of Ackworth to call a meeting of ratepayers so that Quarter Sessions might be applied to for an order to stop the footpath.

  Five days later at the next meeting of the Featherstone Local Board, David Denton proposed the minute consenting to the stoppage of the Ackworth to Featherstone footpath be rescinded. He said the allegation about damaged crops could be dealt with by the law. The second reason that few bona fide travellers used the footpath was scarcely fair to class as idlers men who had thought fit to have a leisurely walk after a hard day's work. Public feeling showed the proposed action was contrary to the wishes of the public, and the Board ought therefore to have another opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject. The public was fully determined to use every means to prevent the closing of what he understood to be one of the loveliest spots in the district.

  John Waller said the men who passed along were continually taking large quantities of corn, turnips and potatoes. He thought all such footpaths should be stopped.

  When put to the vote five voted for Mr Denton's amendment and four for the confirmation of the minutes, so the minute in question was expunged. It was suggested by Mr Waller and his supporters this was not the end of the matter - but it was. Messrs Leatham and Peel saw the futility of going to the Quarter Sessions without the backing of the Local Board and the matter was dropped.  

  A BRIDGE OVER THE WENT?

  The Local Board received a letter from Joseph Battye in November on behalf of the Featherstone Footpath Protection Committee objecting to the condition of the footpath from Featherstone to West Hardwick. The Board agreed to meet a deputation who asked for a bridge over the Went which was sometimes 18 inches deep. There was only a narrow piece of wood at present.

  The clerk to the Board explained the public had only a right to use this footpath because it had been used for the past 20 years. The owner had no obligation to keep it in good repair. The Board were not responsible unless the road had been dedicated to the public in a proper manner. The deputation would have to prove the old Purston highway surveyors had always maintained the road before the Board could do anything. If the Board erected a bridge it would certainly be surcharged by the auditors.

  Mr Denton proposed a bridge be erected and said he would pay his share if the Board was surcharged. Mr Wardman seconded but all the others voted against. The clerk (Mr Kaberry) offered to refer the matter for council's opinion and pay the three guineas if he was wrong providing Mr Denton paid if the clerk was correct. Mr Denton declined.
  A footbridge over the River Went was eventually provided, but this is unlikely to be the original. Photo - personal.  

1883 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY  William Wilcox, a collier age 44 of Station Lane, was killed by a fall of roof at Snydale Victoria Colliery.

MARCH  At 12.30am on a Saturday morning PC Missenden found five men gambling by the light of a candle in Halfpenny Lane. He rushed among them but only managed to grab one who struck him in the face. The other men ran away leaving their mate to be fined 10s for gambling and 40s for assault.

  A Featherstone man died from typhoid and his widow burnt the bed. She applied to the Local Board for a grant towards a replacement and was given £1. Dr Buncle said the order for destruction had not come from him, but if necessary he would make out a certificate as he would have given such an order. The Pontefract Advertiser commented it is to be hoped the District Auditor may not surcharge them for the act of humanity.

  Foot and mouth disease had broken out at Hemsworth and South Kirkby and it spread to James Fozzard's farm at North Featherstone. Thomas Fisher of Knottingley was fined 20s for taking a cow to Fozzard's farm when it had not been in his possession for 14 days. He had received the cow from Wakefield market and had driven it to Featherstone the next day. It was this cow that had spread the outbreak.

  Elizabeth Grant age 13, who escaped a poaching charge last year, was back in court accused of stealing a purse containing 5s 7d and a gold earring from Sarah Goodall. Mrs Goodall felt her take the purse from her dress pocket when in a shop. Elizabeth was sent to prison for ten days and then to a reformatory for five years. 

  Matthew Travis, a pony driver age 15 at Featherstone Main Colliery, was found dead under a tub. The inquest verdict was accidentally killed.

APRIL  PC Missenden was commended for his bravery in arresting a burglar he found in Station Lane. When challenged the burglar (James Williamson of Nottingham) drew a knife and threatened to kill the constable. Assistance was given by Robert Smith, a signalman, and Williamson was overcome and handcuffed. Even then the prisoner attacked PC Missenden and ran off. He was recaptured and taken to the police station.

  PC Missenden was awarded the badge of merit which he would wear on his sleeve. The citation was "Police Constable 141, John William Missenden is appointed to a pass of merit for the praiseworthy manner in which he apprehended a notorious burglar at Featherstone on April 4th, 1883". He would also receive an additional 2d a day.

  The Local Board accepted a tender of £110 for the flagging of Purston from Stephenson's farm to Mrs Hall's lodge gates.

  There had been no local elections for a number of years for the Board of Guardians at Pontefract so all three were to serve for another year. George Bradley hadn't turned up to any meeting in the past year. Ernest Andrew had made 10 appearances and John Waller 18.

MAY  John Edward Briggs of Knottingley was fined 5s for leaving a horse and cart in Station Lane for 50 minutes while he went to his mother-in-law's for a cup of tea.

  John William Hickling was sent to prison for one month after being caught poaching in Purston. He had seven previous convictions for poaching, assault, threatening behaviour and drunk and disorderly.

  William Ashton was fined 10s plus 12s costs for assaulting Sarah Ann Yates. He said he wouldn't pay so he was sent to jail for 14 days.

JUNE Dr Buncle reported to the Local Board ash pits and privies were still being emptied into the streets and sometimes left for two nights before being collected. It was said some of the ash pits had been constructed such that a cart could not get to them, and Dr Buncle said in such cases a barrow should be used.

  Two miners were fined 10s each for doing damage to trees. They said they were cutting walking sticks. The Bench said this practice must be stopped as it was now becoming so frequent.

JULY  A special service was held at All Saints' Church to commemorate the repair of the belfry and the re-hanging of the three bells. The belfry had been considered unsafe for many years, but the bells could now be rung again. One was said to date from the 15th Century and the other two from the 17th.

  A hot air balloon from a gala in York came down near Pontefract. Thomas Hopkinson of Pontefract was engaged to transport the balloon and its several occupants to the town. A crowd of roughs from Purston and Featherstone demanded money from the gentlemen of York for services rendered, and failing to get any George Sharpe struck the horse on the head. It reared and broke the shafts and tipped the passengers onto the road. He was fined 5s, 35s damages, and £1 4s costs, or two months in jail..

AUGUST  The surveyor asked the Local Board for permission to order 200 tons of dross for the highways and 200 tons for the main roads. There were comments that the stones were thrown about by children and used in catapults. The Board agreed to put up posters warning stone throwers and offering £1 reward for the conviction of offenders.

  Alfred Steele age 15 had taken his pony to the stables in Manor Colliery. He was walking away when a large fall of coal buried him and he was dead when got out.

  It was reported there were three public houses, one beerhouse and eleven off-licences in Featherstone. There were just two public houses in Purston.

SEPTEMBER  John Tears was fined 5s for being drunk and disorderly. At his trial it was said he was a lecturer on teetotalism.

  Supt Whincup objected to the renewal of the off licences in Featherstone because he said there were too many, and that the beerhouses provided ample accommodation for the want of the people. He objected to Henry Gledhill, Samuel Banks, Robert Parkins and Charles Searby (all near to each other at the top of Station Lane), William Cowling (half way down), Joseph Phipps, John Cadman, Elisabeth Poulson and John White. Licences were granted to Banks, Cowling, Phipps and Poulson. The others were refused.

OCTOBER  A petition to the Local Board signed by 70 ratepayers asked for a causeway above the station similar to that below. The Board agreed to lay one six feet wide.

  The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company sent a letter to the Local Board saying they did not propose to construct a subway at the station but had given instructions to erect a footbridge. The Board objected to a footbridge and said a subway would cost the same.

DECEMBER  William Richards was charged with deserting his wife and five children who had to be taken into the workhouse.  Richards left Featherstone to avoid arrest but was found in Altofts. However he had found a job and his wife was living with him again, so the charge was dropped providing he paid 2s a week to the Pontefract Union to repay the £6 6s it had cost to keep his family.