A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1935
THE COUNCIL
He said beyond a verbal suggestion, after some Doncaster sportsmen had visited Featherstone, nothing had been heard of this scheme. He admitted the Rovers situation would be serious at the end of the season unless there was a marked improvement in the attendance at the rest of the home matches, but a proposal to transfer the club either to Doncaster or elsewhere would have to be placed before the members. Up to now the club had paid its way by selling its best players.
The film crew arrived in February to take action shots of the Featherstone Rovers v Broughton Rangers game. They came again in May to take crowd scenes and rugby action shots, but on the first day of filming a snowstorm delayed them for a day. About 200 out of work miners were employed at 10s a day to be the crowd and shout when required, and Rovers and Huddersfield players were used for more action scenes.
This
photo from the Featherstone Library Collection shows the Rovers and Huddersfield players used for the match
shots. The tall man at the back was Carver Doone, a six feet eight
inches tall Devonshire wrestler who played an unlikely fullback who
Sydney Howard had to beat to score the winning try.
Eight lads were also paid 10s
to climb over the railings at Post Office Road pretending they were
trying to get in free to the match. They had to do it several times
before the director was satisfied.
In June George Leather pleaded guilty to making a false statement to obtain relief. He had signed a form declaring only an income of 5s from lodgers and was given a 20s food ticket. He later admitted having received £2 for four days work as an extra on the Where's George? film. He was fined £1.
The film went on release towards the end of the year.
THE END OF FEATHERSTONE MAIN COLLIERY
The miners' branches of the Yorkshire Miners' Association at Ackton
Hall, Featherstone Main and Hemsworth Collieries asked the union in
March if they could hold a ballot for sympathy action for the men at
South Kirkby Colliery who were in dispute. The union agreed. Ben Bradley
(Featherstone Main) chaired a meeting of the four branches and said
there was much trouble at all four collieries and the members were firm
if they ceased work the whole of their grievances must be settled before
any pit resumed operations.
In April a joint meeting in the Welfare Hall agreed to support the South Kirkby miners. It was agreed the joint action should include the cancelling of the dirt allowance agreement at Featherstone Main Colliery. To confirm the support ballots were held at Ackton Hall where the men voted 728-283 in favour, and Featherstone Main 694-186. Hemsworth Colliery also voted in favour so the management settled the dispute.
At a meeting of the Yorkshire Miners' Association in May it was agreed to reopen the question of the dirt agreement at Featherstone Main Colliery. The miners voted by 802 to 122 in July to hand in their notices.
In August the Yorkshire Miners' Association decided to ballot at Ackton Hall, Hemsworth and South Kirkby Collieries in support of 560 Featherstone Main workers who had been given notice. The company then announced one seam at Featherstone Main would be permanently closed. The ballot was put off for two weeks because of the disaster at South Kirkby. (An explosion which killed ten men.)
The ballot took place in September and resulted as follows in favour of strike action.
South Kirkby Colliery 1.248 against 261
Hemsworth Colliery 698 against 187
Ackton Hall Colliery 816 against 133
There was no move from the colliery company so the Yorkshire Miners' Association gave permission to the three pits to give seven days notice to come out on strike. Ben Dakin, the union secretary at Featherstone Main Colliery, said the notices at all four collieries would be handed in on Wednesday 23 October.
The management refused to accept a block seven days notice from the union and each workman had to hand in his own notice. No negotiations had been arranged. Before this happened Mr A W Archer sent a letter to the union secretary of each of the three pits, part of which was "If therefore the workmen at South Kirkby, Hemsworth and Ackton Hall elect, without any grievance whatever (at their own pits), to plunge the district into poverty and turmoil, entirely regardless of the interests of themselves, their dependents and tradesmen, then upon their shoulders will be placed the full responsibility for what public opinion will surely consider an outrage in the community".
It also pointed out the closure of Ackton Hall coke ovens would end gas heating and lighting in Featherstone, Purston and Ackworth. Also a joint committee of management and workmen had been investigating Featherstone Main Colliery to try and make economical what was left of the mine.
The Featherstone gas company installed an emergency plant and said "our customers need not have the slightest fear of being without supply".
At the beginning of November, when the miners made it obvious they were going to ignore his letter, Mr Archer sent a second one. It read "It has been made clear over and over again for a long period Featherstone Main Colliery has been carrying on at a serious loss, and any further interruption of work would automatically put the colliery out of action. Notwithstanding these warnings the Featherstone Main workmen have handed in their notice, and therefore the pit will be permanently closed down and drawn off at the end of next Wednesday's shift. This letter is to intimate to you that on Wednesday there will be no Featherstone Main Dirt Agreement, and there will be no Featherstone Main Union Branch, for the reason there will be no Featherstone Main workmen. This is a great tragedy, and the responsibility will rest absolutely upon the workmen who have put the colliery out of existence as a means of employment. As Featherstone Main Colliery will after Wednesday no longer be in operation, there can be no issue between the company and any of their employees, and therefore the South Kirkby, Hemsworth and Ackton Hall Collieries will continue to work as usual".
The Featherstone Main and Ackton Hall workers were devastated by this letter and held a mass meeting which decided the strike at Ackton Hall Colliery would go ahead. The owners put up a notice saying Ackton Hall Colliery was open for work, but no face workers went in.
Another mass meeting was held at Fitzwilliam where 5,000 miners gathered. It was unanimously decided to stay loyal to the men at Featherstone Main Colliery and to stay out on strike.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association advised its members not to take part in the drawing off of Featherstone Main Colliery. The company said officials and non-union men could do the work.
The men on strike sent a letter to Mr Archer saying the Dirt Agreement said if after a fair trial either side considered it a failure "the company and the men's representatives will in a fair and friendly manner reconsider the matter". They considered the pit could be worked at a profit and there was still enough coal for 25 years.
The question of whether or not Featherstone Main men were due to unemployment pay was being considered by the Ministry of Labour. Men at other collieries on strike would get strike pay from the union. Non-union men could obtain relief on loan from the Public Assistance Committee for their families but not for themselves. They would get 10s for a wife, 5s for a first child and 3s for other children. The money would have to be paid back. At the end of November the YMA and the company met at Ropergate House in Pontefract and agreed on a return to work, but Featherstone Main Colliery would remain closed. The men at South Kirkby and Hemsworth accepted the decision but those at Featherstone's two pits refused and set off to march to Hemsworth Colliery but they arrived there after the men had gone down.
At the beginning of December an inspection of Featherstone Main Colliery for the union showed drawing-off was proceeding and the pit was indeed permanently closed. So the Ackton Hall Colliery miners called off their strike and went back to work.
Old age pensioners totalling 420 were given tea in the Welfare Hall, and tea was taken to another 50 who were unable to attend. Those living in Old Featherstone were able to see nine beacons lit in the surrounding countryside.
The children who were not old enough for school were given a beaker at the baby clinic, and those born between 1 January and 6 May were given a souvenir spoon.
Out of work men provided the voluntary labour when work began in April building the new premises in Green Lane. Brick foundations were laid and a start made on the wooden structure but a gale blew it all down.
The Yorkshire Council of Social Services ensured all the women members of the Featherstone Social Service Centre had a holiday, some for the first time in their married lives. At various times visits were made to Kirby Lonsdale, Whitby and Froggatt Guest House, Derbyshire.
Mr Olley's fund sent a total of £134 to Featherstone during the year.
The Social Service Centre women on holiday had their photo taken with the maids.
The population had been declining for ten years. The three local collieries used to employ 5,000 workers. It was now down to only 3,600 and they seldom worked a full week. There were 780 wholly unemployed and 1,200 partially unemployed. Part of the reduction was due to mechanisation.
There were 170 deaths including 18 children under one year old. The infant mortality rate was 71 against an average for England and Wales of 59. In November and December all schoolchildren were offered immunisation against diphtheria. The total done was 1,020 and not one child had a bad arm.
The council were considering the demolition of a number of houses, but they could not go ahead until the displaced persons could be rehoused.
The sanitary inspector's report said three colliery stacks were still burning. During the year 11,942 ashpits and privies were emptied, and 93,110 dustbins. He remarked the refuse was a very high yield even for a colliery area.
At the start there had been 180 children daily for a meal in the Salvation Army Hall and this increased to 273 by October. and now the county council said the number in need was 450. The hall could not cope with such numbers so the feeding arrangements were changed to Regent Street School.
Some members of the committee were not convinced because some children of the best-off families had been included as suffering from malnutrition, and the answer appeared to be they are not getting the correct type of food, and proper nutrition depended on quality rather than quantity.
He had taken a keen interest in Featherstone affairs and was well liked by Ackton Hall Colliery miners' leaders. He was for a long time a member of Featherstone Council and was chairman for many years. He was a leader of the Gospel Hall community and lived at Featherstone Hall. He was 63 years old.
1935 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY
There were complaints of elderly people waiting for the bus home in
Pontefract being pushed about by the rough young element who made a dash
as soon as the bus drew to the stand. The company pointed out they
would be out of order trying to deal with anyone not actually on their
buses. The chairman, Cr Thatcher, said the companies should provide
their own waiting stations and control them like the railway companies
did. Cr Darlington pointed out the bus companies had to run their buses
where the local authorities said. The railways were able to build
shelters because it was their own property.
FEBRUARY Plans were approved for the housing scheme in Little Lane. It was decided to borrow £450 from the Public Works Loan Board for hot water installations in the present council houses. Out of 2,500 children 1,000 had been immunised against diphtheria.
It was agreed to support a resolution from Whitstable UDC which said the unemployed should be out of wet weather and not in public view when attending unemployment exchanges. Cr Thatcher said he had seen men standing in rain and snow but when approached the manager had taken steps to see the men were under shelter.
FEBRUARY Plans were approved for the housing scheme in Little Lane. It was decided to borrow £450 from the Public Works Loan Board for hot water installations in the present council houses. Out of 2,500 children 1,000 had been immunised against diphtheria.
It was agreed to support a resolution from Whitstable UDC which said the unemployed should be out of wet weather and not in public view when attending unemployment exchanges. Cr Thatcher said he had seen men standing in rain and snow but when approached the manager had taken steps to see the men were under shelter.
MARCH
The council decided a penny rate expenditure (£187) would be made
available for the King's Jubilee celebrations. Cr P Darlington was put
in charge of the arrangements.
The council had received complaints about Henry Cuttle preventing people using Coach Road. The clerk was told to write to him to ask his grounds for this and advising him the council would contest any closure. The new bowling green in Purston Park was ready to be opened.
The owners of streets off Green Lane were ordered to make them up in a proper and sanitary condition, or the council would do the work and charge for it.
Some councillors said Peter Darlington, the only non-Labour member, should be allowed a "walk-over" in the election as he was three years ago. He had 39 years continuous service on the council and 44 years on the education sub-committee. The Featherstone Labour Party disagreed and put up a candidate against him.
APRIL The election results were:
North Ward P Darlington 847 P Smith 330
South Ward J Hobson 297 E Holden 121
Purston Ward F Banks 429 E Warner 280 J W Jones 182
Ackton and Snydale Ward C King unopposed
Cr Thatcher was reappointed chairman.
Thirty North Featherstone residents asked for dog racing in a field near the Bradley Arms to be stopped. They said they had to put up with dogs yelping from early afternoon to late evening. The council agreed to support the protest to the county council, the licensing authority.
A deputation to the council were told "slave camps" were nothing to do with the council, trade union rates were paid to casual labourers, allocations for council houses were fairly considered, and the council had done all it could in the matter of allowing coal-picking.
The medical officer reported on 133 cases of measles in March, and the chief constable of the West Riding wrote agreeing with the council's view a pedestrian crossing was not necessary in the area.
JUNE The council had decided to build another 26 houses in Little Lane of which 13 would be old folks homes. They accepted a tender from William Sawyer, but the Ministry of Health said the cost was too high. Horace Littlewood was refused permission to sell minerals etc in Purston Park as it was against council policy.
JULY A deputation was to be sent to London to meet the Ministry of Health over the Little Lane houses. Residents in Victoria Street had objected to buses being parked there. The company said it was only because they could not get into Station Lane from the garage because of road works. It was agreed to post a notice to see if council employees wished to follow the lead of the collieries by making weekly payments to the Rovers for membership cards.
AUGUST After the deputation had been to London about the houses in Little Lane the Ministry agreed to an amended tender from W Sawyer of £7,350 for the 26 homes which would be 13 three-bedroom houses and 13 bungalows.
SEPTEMBER The council had a change of mind and agreed to have a pedestrian crossing installed on the main road near to Purston National School.
OCTOBER The council set the half-year rate the same as last time - 8s 3d. Plans for a Catholic Church in Station Lane were approved. The council was concerned at the wanton damage done in the public conveniences.
The county council asked for a list of footpaths on which cycling should be prohibited. Some members said Halfpenny Lane should be included, but other said it was used by Pontefract miners working at Featherstone collieries and great hardship would be caused if they had to use the main roads.
DECEMBER The medical officer said scarlet fever and measles were spreading in the district. The council were to ask the education sub-committee to consider a new school in place of Gordon Street School. A letter was received from Mr A W Archer saying Featherstone Main Colliery closed on 6 November and no rates were payable after that date.
The council had received complaints about Henry Cuttle preventing people using Coach Road. The clerk was told to write to him to ask his grounds for this and advising him the council would contest any closure. The new bowling green in Purston Park was ready to be opened.
The owners of streets off Green Lane were ordered to make them up in a proper and sanitary condition, or the council would do the work and charge for it.
Some councillors said Peter Darlington, the only non-Labour member, should be allowed a "walk-over" in the election as he was three years ago. He had 39 years continuous service on the council and 44 years on the education sub-committee. The Featherstone Labour Party disagreed and put up a candidate against him.
APRIL The election results were:
North Ward P Darlington 847 P Smith 330
South Ward J Hobson 297 E Holden 121
Purston Ward F Banks 429 E Warner 280 J W Jones 182
Ackton and Snydale Ward C King unopposed
Cr Thatcher was reappointed chairman.
Thirty North Featherstone residents asked for dog racing in a field near the Bradley Arms to be stopped. They said they had to put up with dogs yelping from early afternoon to late evening. The council agreed to support the protest to the county council, the licensing authority.
A deputation to the council were told "slave camps" were nothing to do with the council, trade union rates were paid to casual labourers, allocations for council houses were fairly considered, and the council had done all it could in the matter of allowing coal-picking.
The medical officer reported on 133 cases of measles in March, and the chief constable of the West Riding wrote agreeing with the council's view a pedestrian crossing was not necessary in the area.
JUNE The council had decided to build another 26 houses in Little Lane of which 13 would be old folks homes. They accepted a tender from William Sawyer, but the Ministry of Health said the cost was too high. Horace Littlewood was refused permission to sell minerals etc in Purston Park as it was against council policy.
JULY A deputation was to be sent to London to meet the Ministry of Health over the Little Lane houses. Residents in Victoria Street had objected to buses being parked there. The company said it was only because they could not get into Station Lane from the garage because of road works. It was agreed to post a notice to see if council employees wished to follow the lead of the collieries by making weekly payments to the Rovers for membership cards.
AUGUST After the deputation had been to London about the houses in Little Lane the Ministry agreed to an amended tender from W Sawyer of £7,350 for the 26 homes which would be 13 three-bedroom houses and 13 bungalows.
SEPTEMBER The council had a change of mind and agreed to have a pedestrian crossing installed on the main road near to Purston National School.
OCTOBER The council set the half-year rate the same as last time - 8s 3d. Plans for a Catholic Church in Station Lane were approved. The council was concerned at the wanton damage done in the public conveniences.
The county council asked for a list of footpaths on which cycling should be prohibited. Some members said Halfpenny Lane should be included, but other said it was used by Pontefract miners working at Featherstone collieries and great hardship would be caused if they had to use the main roads.
DECEMBER The medical officer said scarlet fever and measles were spreading in the district. The council were to ask the education sub-committee to consider a new school in place of Gordon Street School. A letter was received from Mr A W Archer saying Featherstone Main Colliery closed on 6 November and no rates were payable after that date.
THE ROVERS FOR DONCASTER?
George Johnson, the Rovers president, denied in January a scheme for
the transfer of the Rovers to Doncaster next season was settled with the
exception of the consent from the Rugby League authorities.He said beyond a verbal suggestion, after some Doncaster sportsmen had visited Featherstone, nothing had been heard of this scheme. He admitted the Rovers situation would be serious at the end of the season unless there was a marked improvement in the attendance at the rest of the home matches, but a proposal to transfer the club either to Doncaster or elsewhere would have to be placed before the members. Up to now the club had paid its way by selling its best players.
THE CRICKET CLUB
The Featherstone and Purston Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club made an
urgent plea for increased support at their annual dinner in the Junction
Hotel in February. Mr E C Jordan, the chairman, said the most pressing
difficulty was the lack of support. They had received £85 in
subscriptions, and the receipts for 23 games were only £11 6s 11d. The
expenditure was £250. Special efforts brought in £100 and £40 had to be
borrowed from the Ladies' Committee. Mr G F Goulding, the president,
said they had always maintained their independence and received no
support from the Miners' Welfare Fund.
"WHERE'S GEORGE"
The film company British and Dominions Film Corporation made a film in 1931 called Up For the Cup
based on the FA Cup Final. It was a success so they decided to make one
with a rugby league theme. They approached the Rugby Football League
to see if two sides could go to London for action scenes. The League
suggested the money would be better spent in the North because of the
economic depression, and as Featherstone was among the worst areas they
came to Post Office Road. The film was to be called Where's George? George was actually a young horse.The film crew arrived in February to take action shots of the Featherstone Rovers v Broughton Rangers game. They came again in May to take crowd scenes and rugby action shots, but on the first day of filming a snowstorm delayed them for a day. About 200 out of work miners were employed at 10s a day to be the crowd and shout when required, and Rovers and Huddersfield players were used for more action scenes.
 |
| A newspaper photo taken at Post Office Road. |
In June George Leather pleaded guilty to making a false statement to obtain relief. He had signed a form declaring only an income of 5s from lodgers and was given a 20s food ticket. He later admitted having received £2 for four days work as an extra on the Where's George? film. He was fined £1.
The film went on release towards the end of the year.
THE END OF FEATHERSTONE MAIN COLLIERY
In April a joint meeting in the Welfare Hall agreed to support the South Kirkby miners. It was agreed the joint action should include the cancelling of the dirt allowance agreement at Featherstone Main Colliery. To confirm the support ballots were held at Ackton Hall where the men voted 728-283 in favour, and Featherstone Main 694-186. Hemsworth Colliery also voted in favour so the management settled the dispute.
At a meeting of the Yorkshire Miners' Association in May it was agreed to reopen the question of the dirt agreement at Featherstone Main Colliery. The miners voted by 802 to 122 in July to hand in their notices.
In August the Yorkshire Miners' Association decided to ballot at Ackton Hall, Hemsworth and South Kirkby Collieries in support of 560 Featherstone Main workers who had been given notice. The company then announced one seam at Featherstone Main would be permanently closed. The ballot was put off for two weeks because of the disaster at South Kirkby. (An explosion which killed ten men.)
The ballot took place in September and resulted as follows in favour of strike action.
South Kirkby Colliery 1.248 against 261
Hemsworth Colliery 698 against 187
Ackton Hall Colliery 816 against 133
There was no move from the colliery company so the Yorkshire Miners' Association gave permission to the three pits to give seven days notice to come out on strike. Ben Dakin, the union secretary at Featherstone Main Colliery, said the notices at all four collieries would be handed in on Wednesday 23 October.
The management refused to accept a block seven days notice from the union and each workman had to hand in his own notice. No negotiations had been arranged. Before this happened Mr A W Archer sent a letter to the union secretary of each of the three pits, part of which was "If therefore the workmen at South Kirkby, Hemsworth and Ackton Hall elect, without any grievance whatever (at their own pits), to plunge the district into poverty and turmoil, entirely regardless of the interests of themselves, their dependents and tradesmen, then upon their shoulders will be placed the full responsibility for what public opinion will surely consider an outrage in the community".
It also pointed out the closure of Ackton Hall coke ovens would end gas heating and lighting in Featherstone, Purston and Ackworth. Also a joint committee of management and workmen had been investigating Featherstone Main Colliery to try and make economical what was left of the mine.
The Featherstone gas company installed an emergency plant and said "our customers need not have the slightest fear of being without supply".
At the beginning of November, when the miners made it obvious they were going to ignore his letter, Mr Archer sent a second one. It read "It has been made clear over and over again for a long period Featherstone Main Colliery has been carrying on at a serious loss, and any further interruption of work would automatically put the colliery out of action. Notwithstanding these warnings the Featherstone Main workmen have handed in their notice, and therefore the pit will be permanently closed down and drawn off at the end of next Wednesday's shift. This letter is to intimate to you that on Wednesday there will be no Featherstone Main Dirt Agreement, and there will be no Featherstone Main Union Branch, for the reason there will be no Featherstone Main workmen. This is a great tragedy, and the responsibility will rest absolutely upon the workmen who have put the colliery out of existence as a means of employment. As Featherstone Main Colliery will after Wednesday no longer be in operation, there can be no issue between the company and any of their employees, and therefore the South Kirkby, Hemsworth and Ackton Hall Collieries will continue to work as usual".
The Featherstone Main and Ackton Hall workers were devastated by this letter and held a mass meeting which decided the strike at Ackton Hall Colliery would go ahead. The owners put up a notice saying Ackton Hall Colliery was open for work, but no face workers went in.
Another mass meeting was held at Fitzwilliam where 5,000 miners gathered. It was unanimously decided to stay loyal to the men at Featherstone Main Colliery and to stay out on strike.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association advised its members not to take part in the drawing off of Featherstone Main Colliery. The company said officials and non-union men could do the work.
The men on strike sent a letter to Mr Archer saying the Dirt Agreement said if after a fair trial either side considered it a failure "the company and the men's representatives will in a fair and friendly manner reconsider the matter". They considered the pit could be worked at a profit and there was still enough coal for 25 years.
The question of whether or not Featherstone Main men were due to unemployment pay was being considered by the Ministry of Labour. Men at other collieries on strike would get strike pay from the union. Non-union men could obtain relief on loan from the Public Assistance Committee for their families but not for themselves. They would get 10s for a wife, 5s for a first child and 3s for other children. The money would have to be paid back. At the end of November the YMA and the company met at Ropergate House in Pontefract and agreed on a return to work, but Featherstone Main Colliery would remain closed. The men at South Kirkby and Hemsworth accepted the decision but those at Featherstone's two pits refused and set off to march to Hemsworth Colliery but they arrived there after the men had gone down.
At the beginning of December an inspection of Featherstone Main Colliery for the union showed drawing-off was proceeding and the pit was indeed permanently closed. So the Ackton Hall Colliery miners called off their strike and went back to work.
THE JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
The celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of King George V were held in
May. There was not much individual decorating in the town apart from
shops and detached houses. The council gave each schoolchild a beaker
and a tea at school. Then followed a procession to Purston Park headed
by the Featherstone Subscription Silver Band where there were games and
singing to the band.Old age pensioners totalling 420 were given tea in the Welfare Hall, and tea was taken to another 50 who were unable to attend. Those living in Old Featherstone were able to see nine beacons lit in the surrounding countryside.
The children who were not old enough for school were given a beaker at the baby clinic, and those born between 1 January and 6 May were given a souvenir spoon.
THE SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE
In January Mr R C Olley of Barclays Bank Headquarters in London
provided money out of his Featherstone Fund for a tea for 100 children
in the Parochial Hall. They were followed by 180 men and women who had a
pie supper. Out of work men provided the voluntary labour when work began in April building the new premises in Green Lane. Brick foundations were laid and a start made on the wooden structure but a gale blew it all down.
The Yorkshire Council of Social Services ensured all the women members of the Featherstone Social Service Centre had a holiday, some for the first time in their married lives. At various times visits were made to Kirby Lonsdale, Whitby and Froggatt Guest House, Derbyshire.
Mr Olley's fund sent a total of £134 to Featherstone during the year.
DR STEVEN'S REPORT
Dr Steven, the Council's medical officer, published his 1934 report in
July. In it he said Featherstone was a typical colliery area and it was
unfortunate the houses were close to the collieries and waste tips. The
atmosphere was laden with dust and contaminated with sulphurous fumes
from the coke ovens. The population had been declining for ten years. The three local collieries used to employ 5,000 workers. It was now down to only 3,600 and they seldom worked a full week. There were 780 wholly unemployed and 1,200 partially unemployed. Part of the reduction was due to mechanisation.
There were 170 deaths including 18 children under one year old. The infant mortality rate was 71 against an average for England and Wales of 59. In November and December all schoolchildren were offered immunisation against diphtheria. The total done was 1,020 and not one child had a bad arm.
The council were considering the demolition of a number of houses, but they could not go ahead until the displaced persons could be rehoused.
The sanitary inspector's report said three colliery stacks were still burning. During the year 11,942 ashpits and privies were emptied, and 93,110 dustbins. He remarked the refuse was a very high yield even for a colliery area.
ATTEMPTED MURDER?
FEEDING THE CHILDREN
In November
the education sub-committee were concerned more schoolchildren were
being fed than was necessary, and the county council was asked to
arrange a medical examination with a view to reducing the number if
possible. The result was the number being fed went up instead of down.
Joseph
Barratt age 25 of Pontefract was remanded in custody in July on a
charge of attempted murder on Irene Kelly age 23 of Featherstone Lane.
it was alleged he had hit her on the head with a hammer, cut her neck
with a sharp instrument and attempted to strangle her.
He was put up at the West Riding Police Court in Pontefract in August. In a hearing lasting
4½ hours it was said he had been keeping company with Irene Kelly since
January but she decided to end the association. He waited for her
coming home from the pictures at 11pm and dragged her into the
allotments off Featherstone Lane where he attacked her with a hammer
and a knife. Her screams for help were answered and he ran away.
The next day he sent a letter to her mother saying "I am not sorry for what I did to your daughter last night. I wish to warn you that the next chance I get I will make a good job and finish your daughter off".
Dr Steven gave evidence of the woman's three wounds. He said the hammer blow was not violent because the skull was not fractured. Barratt was committed for trial and became hysterical and had to be helped from the dock.
At Leeds Assizes in December Joseph Barratt was found guilty of wounding with intent to murder. He was sentenced to four years penal servitude.
The next day he sent a letter to her mother saying "I am not sorry for what I did to your daughter last night. I wish to warn you that the next chance I get I will make a good job and finish your daughter off".
Dr Steven gave evidence of the woman's three wounds. He said the hammer blow was not violent because the skull was not fractured. Barratt was committed for trial and became hysterical and had to be helped from the dock.
At Leeds Assizes in December Joseph Barratt was found guilty of wounding with intent to murder. He was sentenced to four years penal servitude.
FEEDING THE CHILDREN
At the start there had been 180 children daily for a meal in the Salvation Army Hall and this increased to 273 by October. and now the county council said the number in need was 450. The hall could not cope with such numbers so the feeding arrangements were changed to Regent Street School.
Some members of the committee were not convinced because some children of the best-off families had been included as suffering from malnutrition, and the answer appeared to be they are not getting the correct type of food, and proper nutrition depended on quality rather than quantity.
DEATH OF ROSLYN HOLIDAY
Roslyn Holiday died suddenly on 19 December. In 1904 he succeeded his
father as general manager and agent of Ackton Hall Colliery until it was
taken over by South Kirkby, Featherstone and Hemsworth Collieries Ltd
in 1927. He was in Lepton near Huddersfield where he was advisor to the
Lepton Colliery Company and had left his car to open a gate when he
slipped on frozen ground. He died shortly afterwards. He had taken a keen interest in Featherstone affairs and was well liked by Ackton Hall Colliery miners' leaders. He was for a long time a member of Featherstone Council and was chairman for many years. He was a leader of the Gospel Hall community and lived at Featherstone Hall. He was 63 years old.
A photo from the Dr Gatecliff Collection.
1935 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY George Chapman was sent to prison for a month for failing to make payment towards the maintenance of a relative.
Jessie Dickinson age 18 of Lord Street was cycling on the Leeds to Pontefract road and she skidded while trying to pass a lorry and collided with a bus. She died from her injuries and the inquest decided it was misadventure.
For the Police Ball at the Lister Hall 750 dancers turned up.
A new Unemployment Assistance Scheme was to operate from 1 March. A householder and wife would get 24s a week plus 3s to 6s per child depending on age.
Ronald Lewis age 52 of Colliery House, Ackworth, the overman in charge of Ackworth Pit, was fatally injured by a fall of coal on 11 January. He died four days later in Pontefract General Infirmary. The inquest jury decided it was accidental death.
Jessie Dickinson age 18 of Lord Street was cycling on the Leeds to Pontefract road and she skidded while trying to pass a lorry and collided with a bus. She died from her injuries and the inquest decided it was misadventure.
For the Police Ball at the Lister Hall 750 dancers turned up.
A new Unemployment Assistance Scheme was to operate from 1 March. A householder and wife would get 24s a week plus 3s to 6s per child depending on age.
Ronald Lewis age 52 of Colliery House, Ackworth, the overman in charge of Ackworth Pit, was fatally injured by a fall of coal on 11 January. He died four days later in Pontefract General Infirmary. The inquest jury decided it was accidental death.
Henry Butler of Rhyl Street died age 91. He had worked at Featherstone Main Colliery until he was 70.
FEBRUARY
Featherstone members of the National Union of Unemployed Workers
attended a rally at Pontefract to protest against the relief scales of
payment, and the forcing of unemployed youths to attend "slave camps"
which were actually labour camps and if they did not go their relief was
stopped.
MARCH
William Booth of Pontefract was fined £2 for ill treating a pony at
Ackton Hall Colliery. It was said he had tried to make it pull six full
tubs when it was only capable of pulling four.
The Featherstone Rechabites held celebrations in Featherstone Lane Methodist School for the Rechabites' centenary. Brother E Bullock presided.
Aaron Vaughan was ordered to pay 1s 6d a week out of his £3 wages towards the maintenance of his father who was receiving out-relief.
Ackton Hospital reported a fall in admissions for diphtheria and scarlet fever. One child had to be kept in longer than necessary because he had sore eyes caused by continuous crying because the hospital wanted to send him home.
James Maclean of Earle Street sued Ackton Hall Colliery for £2 19s in lieu of notice. He had been sacked because the deputy, Arthur Haigh, found him in the roadway instead of at the face. Maclean claimed he was doing repair work because at that time there was not enough room for him at the face. John Ewart Nelson, the manager, gave evidence but the judge said there was insufficient evidence for the sacking and awarded the £2 19s plus costs.
The Featherstone Rechabites held celebrations in Featherstone Lane Methodist School for the Rechabites' centenary. Brother E Bullock presided.
Aaron Vaughan was ordered to pay 1s 6d a week out of his £3 wages towards the maintenance of his father who was receiving out-relief.
Ackton Hospital reported a fall in admissions for diphtheria and scarlet fever. One child had to be kept in longer than necessary because he had sore eyes caused by continuous crying because the hospital wanted to send him home.
James Maclean of Earle Street sued Ackton Hall Colliery for £2 19s in lieu of notice. He had been sacked because the deputy, Arthur Haigh, found him in the roadway instead of at the face. Maclean claimed he was doing repair work because at that time there was not enough room for him at the face. John Ewart Nelson, the manager, gave evidence but the judge said there was insufficient evidence for the sacking and awarded the £2 19s plus costs.
George William Bunting of Pontefract died after being buried under a fall of roof at Ackton Hall Colliery.
APRIL Winifred Pall age 19 of Moor Road was cycling in Station Lane and collided with a lorry. She was taken to Pontefract General Infirmary suffering from a fractured skull.
MAY Tom Conboy made a successful appeal against a 5s a week order towards the maintenance of his father. He had now returned home after living in lodgings and was maintaining his parents. The arrears of £2 were cancelled.
JUNE Charles Barnett was fined 50s for taking ready-money bets in Station Lane. In court he admitted he took bets in all the clubs.
Ackton Hospital reported the end of the epidemics of diphtheria and scarlet fever. The number of cases in the hospital was the lowest for a considerable time.
Miss S J Alexander retired after 50 years as a teacher. She had been
headmistress of North Featherstone Lane Junior School for 32 years. A
public testimonial fund was opened. One week later she presented the Encyclopaedia Britannica to
Featherstone Library, bought by Featherstone's teachers in memory of
those teachers who died in the Great War. Miss Overbury, the county
librarian, spoke of the growth of interest in Featherstone Library and
said the time was coming when they should have a full-time library or an
extension of hours.
Ever since they were opened Regent Street School had been for girls and George Street School for boys. It was announced they would both become mixed schools.
There was a record turnout of 51 for the Featherstone and Purston Wheelers' Club run to Stamford Bridge. Some of them had a dip in the river. The Featherstone Cycling Club travelled further to Lincoln.
JULY Miners at Ackton Hall and Featherstone Main Collieries were allowed to buy season tickets for Featherstone Rovers and pay the cost at 3d a week off their wages.
Seventy children and eight teachers from Purston School went on a day
out to Ingleton in two buses. One bus broke down and it arrived back in
Featherstone two hours late at midnight.
Ackton Hospital reduced the staff by eleven because of the fewer cases
of infectious diseases. There were now only 24 patients in the hospital
and it was suggested the nurses should be given an eight hour day instead of ten or twelve as at present.
A 13 years old schoolboy, who refused to go to school and had numerous convictions for theft and obtaining articles by false pretences, was sent to a remand home. On another appearance in court the chairman asked him if he was happy in the remand home and he replied "Oh, it's all right". He was to be sent to an approved school when there was a vacancy.
The county council approved the amalgamation of the boys' and girls' schools, and the provision of nursery classes and dining room accommodation at Regent Street. The Featherstone education sub-committee suggested Miss Haynes, headmistress of the Regent Street Girls' School, to replace Miss Alexander in North Featherstone Lane School.
Two Featherstone youths were fined 14s for throwing stones and breaking windows at George Street School to "get their own back" on the teachers.
A 13 years old schoolboy, who refused to go to school and had numerous convictions for theft and obtaining articles by false pretences, was sent to a remand home. On another appearance in court the chairman asked him if he was happy in the remand home and he replied "Oh, it's all right". He was to be sent to an approved school when there was a vacancy.
The county council approved the amalgamation of the boys' and girls' schools, and the provision of nursery classes and dining room accommodation at Regent Street. The Featherstone education sub-committee suggested Miss Haynes, headmistress of the Regent Street Girls' School, to replace Miss Alexander in North Featherstone Lane School.
Two Featherstone youths were fined 14s for throwing stones and breaking windows at George Street School to "get their own back" on the teachers.
Welgarth Road and The Green held their second "Wellgreen" carnival. The
streets were decorated and there was a procession round the estate. A
day's outing to Cleethorpes was arranged for 44 children.
AUGUST
The Featherstone and Purston Carnival was held on the Rovers ground.
There was a procession from North Featherstone headed by Carnival Queen
Sara Davis. There was a show competition for rabbits, cavies and mice,
and a baby show for the first time - won by Pat Dixon. The Mayor of
Pontefract said he was amazed at the magnificent spirit shown in
Featherstone for medical charities in spite of the many adversities in the
town.
A sacred concert was held in Purston Park the next day, and the two events plus a street collection were expected to raise about £100.
Mr J P Watson, headmaster of George Street School left to go to South Featherstone Senior Boys' School. There were 70 applications for his previous post. The education sub-committee recommended Mr E Thompson of the South Featherstone School as first choice, and Mr W J McCowan as second choice to the county council. Mr McCowan, headmaster of Purston National School, was chosen.
SEPTEMBER When the schools reopened after the holidays the girls who were to attend George Street School assembled at Regent Street School and then marched down Station Lane.
Charles William Haikings, a retired Station Lane ironmonger, went to Morecambe with his wife and he collapsed and died while they were walking on the promenade. A large crowd gathered and there was much local criticism because it was an hour before his body was taken away.
A sacred concert was held in Purston Park the next day, and the two events plus a street collection were expected to raise about £100.
Mr J P Watson, headmaster of George Street School left to go to South Featherstone Senior Boys' School. There were 70 applications for his previous post. The education sub-committee recommended Mr E Thompson of the South Featherstone School as first choice, and Mr W J McCowan as second choice to the county council. Mr McCowan, headmaster of Purston National School, was chosen.
SEPTEMBER When the schools reopened after the holidays the girls who were to attend George Street School assembled at Regent Street School and then marched down Station Lane.
Charles William Haikings, a retired Station Lane ironmonger, went to Morecambe with his wife and he collapsed and died while they were walking on the promenade. A large crowd gathered and there was much local criticism because it was an hour before his body was taken away.
An inquest was held at the Gospel Hall on Fred Millthorpe age 21 of
Phipps Street. He was working with Ben Goodwin of Station Yard at
Ackworth Pit when they were both buried by a fall of roof. Goodwin was
got out alive in an hour but it took two more to get Millthorpe out.
Death was due to asphyxia. George Martin, ambulance man, said artificial
respiration was tried but to no avail. The jury decided it was death
by misadventure. The rescuers, led by deputy George Canning, were
praised by the coroner.
Mr S Bilson celebrated 25 years as manager at the Lister Baths. He had been there since it opened. At the 23rd Schoolchildren's Swimming Gala it was said over 5,000 children had won a swimming certificate.
Thomas Ellison of Fearnley Street was cycling down Station Lane in a gale when a gust of wing blew him into a lorry. He escaped with just an injured ankle.
Esther Spires age 12 of Willow Lane, North Featherstone, was knocked down by a car near her home and was taken to Pontefract General Infirmary with head injuries.
OCTOBER
The education sub-committee reported school attendances were down. It was
blamed on a lack of suitable footwear for some infants.
At the Featherstone St John Ambulance annual dinner it was said from 1 January to 21 October the ambulance had carried 422 patients, travelled 4,016 miles and dealt with 16 road accidents plus it attended the South Kirkby Colliery disaster. A welcome was extended to Dr Forster who said he had had a very happy first year in Featherstone.
James Stafford of Station Lane was sent to prison for 12 months for stealing four dustbins. He asked for a great number of other stolen items since 1932 to be taken into consideration.
NOVEMBER A Featherstone postman was sent to prison for nine months for stealing a cheque and a postal order from letters.
George Robinson age 18 was found dead between the tub tracks at Ackton Hall Colliery. From his injuries the inquest jury concluded he had been crushed between the tubs while trying to uncouple them, and it was death by misadventure.
Miss S J Alexander, newly retired, was at Featherstone Library to be
presented with a walnut writing bureau, a chromium plated perpetual
calendar, and a blotter and writing pad. The teachers, education sub-committee and the public had contributed. It was said over 5,000
children had passed through her hands during her career.
The Featherstone and Purston Carnival and Sports Committee decided to disband. The treasurer, Mr J Hilsley, said the committee felt all the work put in was not worthwhile, for after raising nearly £100 the profit was only £4. Other efforts during the year meant £61 was available for the local hospitals. Three weeks later the committee was reformed.
The Featherstone and Purston Carnival and Sports Committee decided to disband. The treasurer, Mr J Hilsley, said the committee felt all the work put in was not worthwhile, for after raising nearly £100 the profit was only £4. Other efforts during the year meant £61 was available for the local hospitals. Three weeks later the committee was reformed.
Another strike vote was taken at Ackton Hall Colliery, this time on a
proposal for a national strike for a 2s a day rise. The voting was 917
to 2 in favour.
Representatives for Featherstone Rovers attended a meeting in Leeds to discuss a proposal to form a summer baseball league. The local opinion was many Rovers players played cricket and the idea was a non-starter in Featherstone.
Polly Sharratt of Albert Street was to marry Richard Lockwood of Wakefield Road but he died suddenly the day before the wedding. He was employed by a local tradesman and was out on his rounds until late on Thursday night.
Representatives for Featherstone Rovers attended a meeting in Leeds to discuss a proposal to form a summer baseball league. The local opinion was many Rovers players played cricket and the idea was a non-starter in Featherstone.
Polly Sharratt of Albert Street was to marry Richard Lockwood of Wakefield Road but he died suddenly the day before the wedding. He was employed by a local tradesman and was out on his rounds until late on Thursday night.
Ernest Jackson, a Featherstone postman, was sent to prison for nine
months for stealing a cheque for £5, a postal order for 5s and a letter
which he had not opened when questioned by the police. He pleaded
continued ill-health and said it had produced mental depression.
DECEMBER Reginald Mather of Garforth was employed by a construction firm doing work at Snydale Colliery. He went to work on his motorbike and he was hit by a lorry at the junction of Wakefield and Ackton Road. The accident was witnessed by PC Lee who judged Mather was to blame for the accident. The inquest jury decided it was death by misadventure.
The Revd J Gray left Featherstone Parish Church for Castleford. He was to be replaced by Revd W B Chapman.
The number of free dinners at Regent Street School was now 430 including Snydale and Loscoe children.
William Millthorpe of Phipps Street was awarded £250 damages for the
loss of his son in an accident at Ackton Hall Colliery. The judge said
for some years to come Mr and Mrs Millthorpe would have been largely
dependent on their son's earnings.