A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1934
JANUARY The medical officer reported an epidemic of scarlet fever. There were 14 cases in December.
There was a letter from the Featherstone Labour Party saying they were greatly concerned at the ills arising out of the slums in Featherstone. The council should inform the public what was being done about the Slum Clearance Act. It was said the council had provided 600 houses, but because it was a distressed area it was difficult to finance more out of the rates. The council said 57 houses were under review under the Act, but some could be made habitable.
There was a letter from the Featherstone Labour Party saying they were greatly concerned at the ills arising out of the slums in Featherstone. The council should inform the public what was being done about the Slum Clearance Act. It was said the council had provided 600 houses, but because it was a distressed area it was difficult to finance more out of the rates. The council said 57 houses were under review under the Act, but some could be made habitable.
The Special County Review Committee recommended Featherstone Urban
District should remain almost the same with small parts of Huntwick,
West Hardwick and Nostell added. The clerk told the council it would add
four or five to the Featherstone population and £231 to the rateable
value.
FEBRUARY
All council tenants in arrears because of the Featherstone Main
Colliery dispute must pay an additional 2s a week rent. There were 12
scarlet fever cases and 12 of diphtheria last month. Six workmen over
the age of 70 would be asked to resign and this would apply to all
future workmen reaching that age. An offer of £7 for the old fire
engine, hose cart and road wagon was accepted.
MARCH
The council refuted suggestions they had employed black-leg labour by
paying casual labourers less that the Industrial Council rate. It was
stated the council payed 1d an hour more than the agreed rate.
APRIL
The rates had to be increased from 7s 6d to 7s 9d because of a 3d
increase by the county council. There were 72 cases of infections last
month, mainly because of a measles epidemic. The council had asked the
local collieries to allow coal picking as at Hemsworth and South Kirkby
but had not received a reply. Cr A Sharratt retired as chairman and was
replaced by Cr A T Thatcher.
MAY The medical officer reported on 64 cases of infectious diseases in April. The council agreed to take over the maintenance of Jardine Avenue if Mr Sawyer constructed it to the council's specification. There were 49 application for the job of rates collector when John Coolie resigned. Ex-councillor Arthur Coult was appointed.
MAY The medical officer reported on 64 cases of infectious diseases in April. The council agreed to take over the maintenance of Jardine Avenue if Mr Sawyer constructed it to the council's specification. There were 49 application for the job of rates collector when John Coolie resigned. Ex-councillor Arthur Coult was appointed.
JUNE
The council agreed to buy a bed for Mr B Garbutt to replace one
destroyed on account of an infectious disease. The police were asked to
prevent adults using the children's apparatus in the park. The
children's part would be fenced off and locked at night. A bowling green
would be provided. The fire engine was to have pneumatic tyres fitted
at a cost of £42.
JULY
Wakefield Corporation had asked for economy in the use of water. This
was so successful that consumption was likely to be below the guaranteed
minimum that the council had to pay for. Wakefield Corporation would be
asked to remove the minimum during the present shortage.
SEPTEMBER There were accusations the housing committee were not being fair in drawing up a short list of prospective tenants for council houses. Cr Bradley said a family of seven living in one room had been on the waiting list for ten years. The full council meeting sent the list back to be reconsidered.
OCTOBER The council put up the half-year rates by 6d because of an increased call by the county council and an extra 2d for Ackton Hospital caused by the increase in diphtheria and scarlet fever cases. Cr Darlington criticised the method by which the hospital precept for £900 was presented to the council. He thought they should be told what the increase was for. Cr Aaron Evans who was on the Hospital Committee as well as the council said one reason was they had to buy a new ambulance. Also they had gone from £1,000 in hand to a £1,000 overdraft. Cr Darlington said he thought the explanation should have come from the Hospital Committee and not have to be provided by a member.
In reply to the West Riding Playing Fields Association the council said it had approved a scheme for the full development of Purston Park but lacked the funds to carry it out. The plans for the Social Service Centre building were approved.
DECEMBER The medical officer reported on serum injections he was giving to schoolchildren and children at clinics for immunisation against diphtheria. There was a dispute over more council houses or better streets. It was said streets in the South Ward were over the ankles in wet weather, and every street in Green Lane from Earle Street to Cressey's Corner had deep pools after wet weather.
SEPTEMBER There were accusations the housing committee were not being fair in drawing up a short list of prospective tenants for council houses. Cr Bradley said a family of seven living in one room had been on the waiting list for ten years. The full council meeting sent the list back to be reconsidered.
OCTOBER The council put up the half-year rates by 6d because of an increased call by the county council and an extra 2d for Ackton Hospital caused by the increase in diphtheria and scarlet fever cases. Cr Darlington criticised the method by which the hospital precept for £900 was presented to the council. He thought they should be told what the increase was for. Cr Aaron Evans who was on the Hospital Committee as well as the council said one reason was they had to buy a new ambulance. Also they had gone from £1,000 in hand to a £1,000 overdraft. Cr Darlington said he thought the explanation should have come from the Hospital Committee and not have to be provided by a member.
In reply to the West Riding Playing Fields Association the council said it had approved a scheme for the full development of Purston Park but lacked the funds to carry it out. The plans for the Social Service Centre building were approved.
DECEMBER The medical officer reported on serum injections he was giving to schoolchildren and children at clinics for immunisation against diphtheria. There was a dispute over more council houses or better streets. It was said streets in the South Ward were over the ankles in wet weather, and every street in Green Lane from Earle Street to Cressey's Corner had deep pools after wet weather.
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| Back John Street after the rain. A photo from the Dr Gatecliff Collection. |
THE SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE
In January the Prince of Wales, after his visit to Featherstone last
December, made a radio appeal for support for the unemployed in
distressed areas. This was heard by Mr R C Olley, of Barclays Bank Head
Office Correspondence Department in London. He was moved by the
broadcast and wishing to assist in some personal way he got in touch
with the National Council of Social Service who decided Featherstone
would be a good place for him to direct his efforts.
He began a voluntary scheme at the bank of a deduction of one shilling a month. At the start it was just a few friends but the scheme gradually grew in numbers and the total amount sent to Featherstone for the year was over £100.
In the meantime plans were made in September for a wooden hall in Green Lane to be Featherstone Social Service Centre. It would be erected by voluntary labour. The National Council of Social Service had promised a grant of £200 towards the cost.
In October Lord Allendale, the chairman of the West Yorkshire Unemployment Advisory Committee, visited the Social Service Centre in the Parochial Hall. He was told the group's proposed new home would cost between £500 and £600, of which £200 had already been raised.
He began a voluntary scheme at the bank of a deduction of one shilling a month. At the start it was just a few friends but the scheme gradually grew in numbers and the total amount sent to Featherstone for the year was over £100.
In the meantime plans were made in September for a wooden hall in Green Lane to be Featherstone Social Service Centre. It would be erected by voluntary labour. The National Council of Social Service had promised a grant of £200 towards the cost.
In October Lord Allendale, the chairman of the West Yorkshire Unemployment Advisory Committee, visited the Social Service Centre in the Parochial Hall. He was told the group's proposed new home would cost between £500 and £600, of which £200 had already been raised.
A NEW LIBRARY
Featherstone's new library was opened by Roslyn Holiday in February.
The chief education officer Mr J H Hallam, described it as the kind we
have seen in our dreams. The Miners' Welfare Central Committee made a
grant of over £2,000 towards the cost. Mr J J Murphy, chairman of the
Featherstone education sub-committee and the Welfare Institute, made it
clear the library was not confined to members of the Welfare Institute.
The majority of the 700 books in stock were the gift of Roslyn Holiday.
There was provision for 1,000, and room in the library for many more if
needed.
Mr Holiday said he had a long association with Mr Murphy, and in their
industrial relations they had often had a sharp difference of opinion,
but they were always together on matters concerning the town's welfare.
They had worked together in getting allotments, the Baths and the
Miners' Welfare Institute.
The Featherstone Teachers' Association said they would present a complete edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica to the library in memory of the teachers who fell in the Great War.
Mr W H Fearnley, the architect, said Featherstone should have had a
library many years ago. The Carnegie Scheme had offered £2,500, but the
niggardly dog in the manger Local Board or Urban Council of the time,
men of the capitalist class, refused the grant because it would mean a
penny rate, and by their action deprived the working men of the
opportunities of reading books.
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| The library next to the Miners' Welfare Institute. A photo from the Tony Lumb Collection. |
THE MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT
Dr W Steven, in his July report for 1933, said
the population had reduced from 15,740 in 1923 to 14,720 last year.
There were 3,405 homes, an increase of eleven on the previous year. The number of men
unemployed was 780, and partially unemployed was 1,850. There were 294
births and 17 still-births. The number of deaths was 292 of which 25
were children less than one year old. He wrote it is usual for colliery
areas to have an infant mortality rate above the rest of the country.
Infectious diseases totalled 223 and seven died. There were 70 cases of
tuberculosis on the register at the end of the year. Cancer had killed
21. Radium treatment had been tried but only one case was cured.
Several streets had been greatly improved, but it was absolutely
necessary further streets should be given attention. He wrote I would
like to draw your attention to the prevalence of litter being thrown
down all over the district, and the general untidiness of many of the
streets, notwithstanding the constant attention of the council workmen.
The sanitary inspector wrote "Privy closets are an abomination which
ought not to be tolerated, especially in a district where sewers are
available, but the law does not regard privy closets as a nuisance just
because they are privy closets. The three colliery spoil banks are still
in active conflagration".
He also commented demolition orders had been issued on some houses but
it was difficult to get the houses vacated. A considerable number of
houses were infested with bed bugs and a special preparation distributed
free had been in great demand. Special precautions were necessary on
removing persons displaced under the Housing Acts to new homes (to stop
them taking the bed bugs with them).
MORE PROBLEMS AT THE MAIN
Seventy men working in the Stanley Main Seam at Featherstone Main
Colliery received seven days notice in June. In August Featherstone Main
Colliery workers had been out of work for six weeks because of a lack
of trade. Mr A W Archer, the managing director, said it would remain
closed until further notice. The men had agreed to a work sharing scheme
but the management wanted the home coal agreement amended so that if a
man worked only half the time he received only half the home coal. The
men rejected this saying the coal was part of their wages.
The next month Mr Archer sent a letter to Mr B Dakin, secretary of the Featherstone Main Colliery Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, saying the pit would open for work on 17 September and, subject to trade and the condition of the pit, work would be found for as many as possible. He wrote "In any event, however, a large number of former employees will, greatly to our regret, have to be discharged".
The next month Mr Archer sent a letter to Mr B Dakin, secretary of the Featherstone Main Colliery Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, saying the pit would open for work on 17 September and, subject to trade and the condition of the pit, work would be found for as many as possible. He wrote "In any event, however, a large number of former employees will, greatly to our regret, have to be discharged".
The union agreed to a joint investigation to "increase the admittedly
low output per collier shift". A mass meeting at the Welfare Hall agreed
to the managements terms for reopening the pit and the work sharing
idea was dropped. About 150 men would lose their job.
THE ANNUAL GALA
The Featherstone and Purston Annual Gala was held in August on the
Rovers' ground. The procession from the Bradley Arms was headed by the
Featherstone Subscription Silver Band. Post Office Road was decked in
green and white with 16,000 paper flowers to represent a garden, and won
the street competition. Cyril Chilton won the Decorated Shop Window
award.
Ethel Hill, the Carnival Queen, said it was the one great day in Featherstone. Owing to the trade depression many of their people were worried and sorely troubled, and such a carnival would help people to forget their worries for a while.
Alderman Brindley thanked the organisers for their contributions to Pontefract General Infirmary's £17,000 modernisation scheme.
The Yorkshire Evening Post commented "The decorated streets competition is one of the most popular features. Doorsteps and curbstones were whiter than housewifely zeal normally makes them. Dolly tubs were wrapped about with coloured paper to serve as pedestals for decorated poles. Almost the only things in Featherstone that escaped decoration were the pitheads".
Ethel Hill, the Carnival Queen, said it was the one great day in Featherstone. Owing to the trade depression many of their people were worried and sorely troubled, and such a carnival would help people to forget their worries for a while.
Alderman Brindley thanked the organisers for their contributions to Pontefract General Infirmary's £17,000 modernisation scheme.
The Yorkshire Evening Post commented "The decorated streets competition is one of the most popular features. Doorsteps and curbstones were whiter than housewifely zeal normally makes them. Dolly tubs were wrapped about with coloured paper to serve as pedestals for decorated poles. Almost the only things in Featherstone that escaped decoration were the pitheads".
THE BAIRNS CHRISTMAS FUND
Mr
J A Haigh, clerk to the council, wrote to the Yorkshire Evening Post in
November "There is no doubt the need for the fund, so far as
Featherstone is concerned, is greater than ever, the turn in the tide
has not yet set in here.
"In previous years your excellent parcels have provided Christmas cheer, and have been the only bit of happiness at Christmas time to many families in this district. Thanks to your skillful organisation, the parcels are made up of the best and most useful articles of food, and so arranged they almost necessarily ensure the children and all members of the family sharing a good few square meals during Christmas time. Waste is eliminated, and it is a pleasure to know these parcels are genuinely appreciated.
"It is sincerely hoped your appeal will again be most successful, and I trust all those in Featherstone who are in a position to do so, will subscribe liberally to your fund. I have no hesitation in stating in my opinion it is one of the best mediums for helping those who, through no fault of their own, are unable to help themselves." The next month Featherstone received 200 parcels from the fund.
"In previous years your excellent parcels have provided Christmas cheer, and have been the only bit of happiness at Christmas time to many families in this district. Thanks to your skillful organisation, the parcels are made up of the best and most useful articles of food, and so arranged they almost necessarily ensure the children and all members of the family sharing a good few square meals during Christmas time. Waste is eliminated, and it is a pleasure to know these parcels are genuinely appreciated.
"It is sincerely hoped your appeal will again be most successful, and I trust all those in Featherstone who are in a position to do so, will subscribe liberally to your fund. I have no hesitation in stating in my opinion it is one of the best mediums for helping those who, through no fault of their own, are unable to help themselves." The next month Featherstone received 200 parcels from the fund.
1934 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY
The Rovers received an offer to play half their home games in
Newcastle. George Johnson said the future of the club rests with the
public.
J Bullock and Sons Ltd began building their own motor coach bodies in Wilson Street.
The Boots for Children Fund was opened with the remainder of the money left from last years' Miners' Distress Fund for the Featherstone Main Colliery dispute. It was hoped to begin to provide boots for needy schoolchildren. Two weeks later 253 pairs of boots were given out. Mr W J McCowan, secretary, and Mr E Cockburn, treasurer, were seeking other means of raising money.
Nineteen men were in court for coal picking on the stacks. One defendant protested at constables apprehending poor people who took the coal.
An inquest was held at Pontefract on Robert Henry Lee of Carlton Street. He was injured on 7 September 1933 by a fall of roof at Ackton Hall Colliery and suffered a fractured spine. He was taken to Pontefract Infirmary where he died on 18 January. The jury decided it was death from misadventure.
J Bullock and Sons Ltd began building their own motor coach bodies in Wilson Street.
The Boots for Children Fund was opened with the remainder of the money left from last years' Miners' Distress Fund for the Featherstone Main Colliery dispute. It was hoped to begin to provide boots for needy schoolchildren. Two weeks later 253 pairs of boots were given out. Mr W J McCowan, secretary, and Mr E Cockburn, treasurer, were seeking other means of raising money.
Nineteen men were in court for coal picking on the stacks. One defendant protested at constables apprehending poor people who took the coal.
An inquest was held at Pontefract on Robert Henry Lee of Carlton Street. He was injured on 7 September 1933 by a fall of roof at Ackton Hall Colliery and suffered a fractured spine. He was taken to Pontefract Infirmary where he died on 18 January. The jury decided it was death from misadventure.
FEBRUARY
At the annual licensing sessions Supt R J Coates said I should like it
to be known the game of Housey which is allowed in certain clubs and
licensed premises is illegal and must be discontinued.
The Ackton Hall Colliery fan broke down and 400 men and boys were laid
off until it was repaired. It was at first thought the whole pit would
have to stand idle, but it was found possible to ventilate two-thirds by
Ackworth fan. Work resumed after one week.
Thomas Wroe age 69 of Featherstone Lane was walking home in a dense
fog. He fell into a disused sand quarry and broke his leg. He was not
found until the next morning.
Albert Henry Ross of Vicarage Lane was injured by a fall of roof at
Ackton Hall Colliery on 8 February. He died in Pontefract Infirmary on
13 February.
At
Featherstone Cricket Club's annual meeting it was said the receipts at
last seasons' matches did not cover the umpires' expenses, but thanks to
the effort by the Ladies' Committee the club had a healthy financial
position.
MARCH The West Riding County Council election result was:
Ben Bradley, checkweighman (Labour) 1,899
Edward Edwards, retired colliery deputy 879
Walter Hamilton Fearnley, architect and surveyor 832.
The Rovers played under floodlights at White City Stadium in London.
They left Featherstone at noon and arrived home at 5am the next day.
Police Sergeant Downhill, who was in charge of Purston Police Station,
was captain of the West Riding Police ambulance team which took second
place in the national police competition in London.
Fred Allen of Purston was fined £1 for leaving his wife and four
children chargeable to the West Riding Public Assistance Committee. He
had joined the unemployed marches to London in spite of being told if he
did he would be liable to prosecution. The cost of maintaining his
family was £4 1s. He received 31s 3d unemployment pay, but got nothing
while he was away.
APRIL An inquest was held into the death of Michael Clarke age 65 of
Church Lane, North Featherstone. Dr W Steven said Clarke was ill with
several complaints and in great pain. He would not have lived long but
he drank ammonia to ease his pain and died in consequence. The jury
decided it was death by misadventure.
Albert Dobson, a local rugby league referee, was appointed to referee
the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. It was only his third
season on the league's list of referees.
MAY
Thomas Comboy left home because there were seven others at home under
14 in a two-bedroom house. His father was receiving 28s a week from the
West Riding Public Assistance Committee. The committee took Thomas to
court to get an order for him to pay 10s a week out of his £2 10s
earnings towards his father's maintenance, The court ordered him to pay
5s a week.
A special reopening service was held at the Welsh Mission Church after renovations. The Express
commented "The service exercised a strong appeal to Welsh people, of
whom there are a good number in Featherstone, and the ability to worship
in their own language was much appreciated".
"Wizards of finance" was the Express
comment on the Rovers balance sheet. The total receipts at home games
were only £1,028, which was £500 less than last season. There was a
profit on the season of £185 thanks to £1,040 in transfer fees. The
players received £2 10s for a win and £1 10s for a losing game.
In their first season the Featherstone Supporters' Club held a
workshops competition. Featherstone Central Cub beat Snydale Colliery
Underground 22-5 in the final. The total attendance at the games was
6,000 and the club was hoping to hand £20 over to the Rovers as well as
£30 just given.
Harriet France, the attendance officer, summonsed Thomas Walton for not
sending a child to school. She said the loss in grant to the school was 2½d a day.
The Featherstone and Purston church schools scholars, St Peter's
Mission, all the Methodist churches and Salvation Army children held a
combined service on the Rovers ground. They got there in a procession of
tableau wagons headed by the Featherstone Subscription Silver and
Salvation Army Bands. There was tea for all the scholars followed by a
display by the Purston Boys' Brigade and then a programme of sports.
Arthur Harris age 39 of Ackworth was fatally injured by a fall of roof at Ackworth Pit. The inquest jury decided it was accidental death.
JUNE Willie Jones, a showman of Featherstone, was fined 10s on a charge of gaming at Ackworth Feast by being in charge of a "Wheel 'em in" stall.
At the Rovers annual meeting Mr G A Appleyard said it was the worst playing season on record. Only four league games had been won, and the club was knocked out in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup and the Rugby League Cup. The meeting voted 39-9 against making the committee pay to see the matches. Seventy members were lost in last year's pit dispute, and others sent back their membership cards when Billy Stott was transferred.
An inquest was held at the Gospel Hall on Harry Fenton age 61 of Rhyl Street. He had attached a tube to a gas tap and gassed himself. It was said he was depressed over the death of his wife and son. The verdict was he committed suicide during temporary insanity.
Mr P Staines was a farmer at North Featherstone. One morning he saw a fox take one of his hens. It was promptly attacked by a cockerel which such ferocity it was glad to drop the hen and escape. Mr Staines concluded it was a young fox not yet versed in the art of hunting at night.
Ethel Letitia Hill age 18 of Girnhill Lane was chosen to be the Carnival Queen out of 250 entries.
Harold Mason of Castleford was fined £10 for cruelty to a pony at Ackton Hall Colliery. His pony refused to pull so he got another pony and put a chain round the neck of his pony and got the other pony to pull it. The chain strangled it and killed it.
JULY Three Castleford miners were in court charged with taking a chop-sack from the stables at Featherstone Main Colliery and using it to steal coal from the tip. Mr Guy Clayton-Smith prosecuting said it was becoming a common practice for men from Castleford to work all night on the tips at Featherstone taking coal that did not belong to them.
George Cadman, a Purston Newsagent, was accused of employing boys under 12 years old to sell papers at night contrary to the Children's and Young Persons' Act of 1933. For the defence it was said that part of the Act was not seriously regarded in Featherstone, but Mr Cadman promised not to do it again.
The annual summer gathering of mothers and babies attending the council's clinics was held in the cricket field. First Class Certificates in the National Parentcraft Competition were handed to mothers Alder, Ashall, Halford and Minards.
The Old Featherstone and Ackton Annual Treat and Gala was held in Mrs G Copley's field. The Rose Queen in the procession, headed by Featherstone Subscription Silver Band, from the Bradley Arms was Catherine Davison. Tea was provided for 250 children in the field, and 80 people over 60 had theirs in the National School.
Arthur Harris age 39 of Ackworth was fatally injured by a fall of roof at Ackworth Pit. The inquest jury decided it was accidental death.
JUNE Willie Jones, a showman of Featherstone, was fined 10s on a charge of gaming at Ackworth Feast by being in charge of a "Wheel 'em in" stall.
At the Rovers annual meeting Mr G A Appleyard said it was the worst playing season on record. Only four league games had been won, and the club was knocked out in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup and the Rugby League Cup. The meeting voted 39-9 against making the committee pay to see the matches. Seventy members were lost in last year's pit dispute, and others sent back their membership cards when Billy Stott was transferred.
An inquest was held at the Gospel Hall on Harry Fenton age 61 of Rhyl Street. He had attached a tube to a gas tap and gassed himself. It was said he was depressed over the death of his wife and son. The verdict was he committed suicide during temporary insanity.
Mr P Staines was a farmer at North Featherstone. One morning he saw a fox take one of his hens. It was promptly attacked by a cockerel which such ferocity it was glad to drop the hen and escape. Mr Staines concluded it was a young fox not yet versed in the art of hunting at night.
Ethel Letitia Hill age 18 of Girnhill Lane was chosen to be the Carnival Queen out of 250 entries.
Harold Mason of Castleford was fined £10 for cruelty to a pony at Ackton Hall Colliery. His pony refused to pull so he got another pony and put a chain round the neck of his pony and got the other pony to pull it. The chain strangled it and killed it.
JULY Three Castleford miners were in court charged with taking a chop-sack from the stables at Featherstone Main Colliery and using it to steal coal from the tip. Mr Guy Clayton-Smith prosecuting said it was becoming a common practice for men from Castleford to work all night on the tips at Featherstone taking coal that did not belong to them.
George Cadman, a Purston Newsagent, was accused of employing boys under 12 years old to sell papers at night contrary to the Children's and Young Persons' Act of 1933. For the defence it was said that part of the Act was not seriously regarded in Featherstone, but Mr Cadman promised not to do it again.
The annual summer gathering of mothers and babies attending the council's clinics was held in the cricket field. First Class Certificates in the National Parentcraft Competition were handed to mothers Alder, Ashall, Halford and Minards.
The Old Featherstone and Ackton Annual Treat and Gala was held in Mrs G Copley's field. The Rose Queen in the procession, headed by Featherstone Subscription Silver Band, from the Bradley Arms was Catherine Davison. Tea was provided for 250 children in the field, and 80 people over 60 had theirs in the National School.
Mr H C Birch, headmaster of North
Featherstone Lane Senior School, was appointed a government inspector.
He had been headmaster since he succeeded Robert Cowey in 1925. Mr R L
Hutt, headmaster of South Featherstone Senior Boys' School since it
opened, was moving to Askern.
AUGUST An inquest was held on David William Longstaff of Green Lane age 81. He had been in Pontefract Workhouse for two years when he died 21 August. He was a timekeeper at Ackton Hall Colliery and on or about August 1932 he was walking across the gantry and he stood on the haulage rope just as it started. He was thrown down and run over by the tubs fracturing his thigh. After seven weeks in Pontefract General Infirmary he was moved to the workhouse on 24 October 1932 and was scarcely out of bed. His death, according to the workhouse medical officer, was brought on by the accident. The jury decided it was death by misadventure.
Out of 60 applicants for the post of headmaster at South Featherstone Senior Boys' School the Featherstone education sub-committee recommended Mr J P Watson the head of George Street School. There were 88 applicants for the North Featherstone Lane School vacancy and Harold Batten was recommended.
SEPTEMBER Allotment holders at the Poor Field Allotments in Green Lane complained fumes from Ackton Hall Colliery were damaging their crops. The colliery company denied any responsibility but said a new cooling tower was being built which should obviate any trouble.
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| The new cooling tower. A Dr J Gatecliff Collection photo. |
Three
Pontefract miners were fined for loitering on the premises of
Featherstone Main Colliery with intent to commit a felony (coal
stealing). Supt R J Coates said because of the persistent thefts the
police had to take some other course - hence the loitering charge.
OCTOBER Wilfred Edwin Barr age one of Nostell View died in Pontefract
Infirmary after pulling a teapot over on to him and scalding his arm and
face.
George Stubbs age 67 retired after 54 years at Featherstone Main Colliery. He lost his left arm in an accident in 1880 when he was only 13 and he worked mainly in the clerical department after that.
Henry Wilson age 44 of Ackworth was travelling on a B & S bus to North Featherstone. He suddenly got up and jumped off while the bus was moving. He died in Pontefract Infirmary from a fractured skull. The inquest jury decided it was death by misadventure.
George Stubbs age 67 retired after 54 years at Featherstone Main Colliery. He lost his left arm in an accident in 1880 when he was only 13 and he worked mainly in the clerical department after that.
Henry Wilson age 44 of Ackworth was travelling on a B & S bus to North Featherstone. He suddenly got up and jumped off while the bus was moving. He died in Pontefract Infirmary from a fractured skull. The inquest jury decided it was death by misadventure.
NOVEMBER
Ackton Hall Colliery ambulance classes were revived after a lapse of
about eight years. Awards were presented to the 41 who passed the exam.
DECEMBER
Ackton Hall Colliery informed Ackton Hospital they were about to
extract the coal from under the hospital and they were not liable for
compensation for subsidence damage. Did the hospital wish to purchase a
pillar of coal for support? The hospital committee decided to take no
action.
There was an appeal from the Social Service Centre for 8,000
shillings to pay for the new home now being erected. It would have a
central hall and rooms for joiners, cobblers and women's workrooms.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics held their Christmas treat in
the Gospel Hall. There were 200 mothers with their babies. For the
third year the cost was defrayed by a lady who wished to remain
anonymous.
A Castleford miner was jailed for six months for indecent assault on
three very young girls at Featherstone. He was seen by Ernest Malpass
and William Jarvis who handed him over to the police. Supt Coates said
it was a very creditable thing for them to do.
Two B & S buses collided in thick for at Methley. The driver of
one, Fred Blackburn of Featherstone, escaped serious injury even though
all the glass in his cab was smashed and the side was forced in by the
impact.
The Featherstone United Charities gave 30s to 25 needy people. Mr R C
Olley of Barclays Bank sent £10 to the Social Service Centre for a
treat for the members.