A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1936
THE COUNCIL
JANUARY
The Public Works Loans Board agreed to loan £7,352 repayable in 60
years at 3½% interest for the erection of 26 homes in Little Lane. The
medical officer said of 57 cases of diphtheria in 1935 only 5 had been
previously immunised, and so far this year there were no cases where the
child had been immunised.
FEBRUARY The medical officer reported many cases of influenza and mumps in the district.
MARCH The council agreed to write to the Ministry of Health to say Featherstone had special claims for consideration in Government help to special areas. Cr Bradley said if ever Ackton Hall Colliery closed down it would be a derelict town.
APRIL The council put the rates up to 8s 8d in the pound, a rise of 3d, saying the closure of Featherstone Main Colliery had been a serious blow. The committee of the Miners' Welfare Institute said they were unable to pay their rates because of the fall in income. Cr Hall said they would have to consider a further rise soon as they could not continue to pay water charges of £890 in excess of the amount received from consumers.
In the council elections the International Socialists put up against the retiring Labour councillors but Joseph Rodgers, Evan Evans and Ben Bradley were all re-elected. A Evans was unopposed and Percy Woodcock was elected in place of Cr Sharratt who had died.
Cr King was elected chairman. He said it would be a difficult year owing to the closure of Featherstone Main Colliery and every member of the council should make it his aim to keep expenditure down as much as possible.
MAY The council considered cases of landlords charging more than the increase in rates warranted. The clerk said on houses rated at £11 or £12 the increase should only be about 1d a week.
JUNE Cr Bradley said he opposed coal picking for sale, but it was a damnable shame the unemployed could not pick it for their own use. Cr Evans said the Featherstone men could have the same facilities as Hemsworth men if they would appoint a supervisor. (Ackton Hall Colliery had agreed to 20 men a day on the stack providing they agreed to a supervisor and would be responsible for any damage caused). A permit would not be given every day but some were determined to pick each day.
AUGUST The council protested at a proposal by the Pontefract postmaster to change the postal address from Featherstone, Yorkshire, to Featherstone near Pontefract, Yorkshire.
Demolition orders were made for houses in Henrietta Street and New Row in North Featherstone. The rent of the 13 new bungalows in Little Lane was fixed at 5s 6d including rates. Some of the bungalows are shown below. Photo - personal.
FEBRUARY The medical officer reported many cases of influenza and mumps in the district.
MARCH The council agreed to write to the Ministry of Health to say Featherstone had special claims for consideration in Government help to special areas. Cr Bradley said if ever Ackton Hall Colliery closed down it would be a derelict town.
APRIL The council put the rates up to 8s 8d in the pound, a rise of 3d, saying the closure of Featherstone Main Colliery had been a serious blow. The committee of the Miners' Welfare Institute said they were unable to pay their rates because of the fall in income. Cr Hall said they would have to consider a further rise soon as they could not continue to pay water charges of £890 in excess of the amount received from consumers.
In the council elections the International Socialists put up against the retiring Labour councillors but Joseph Rodgers, Evan Evans and Ben Bradley were all re-elected. A Evans was unopposed and Percy Woodcock was elected in place of Cr Sharratt who had died.
Cr King was elected chairman. He said it would be a difficult year owing to the closure of Featherstone Main Colliery and every member of the council should make it his aim to keep expenditure down as much as possible.
MAY The council considered cases of landlords charging more than the increase in rates warranted. The clerk said on houses rated at £11 or £12 the increase should only be about 1d a week.
JUNE Cr Bradley said he opposed coal picking for sale, but it was a damnable shame the unemployed could not pick it for their own use. Cr Evans said the Featherstone men could have the same facilities as Hemsworth men if they would appoint a supervisor. (Ackton Hall Colliery had agreed to 20 men a day on the stack providing they agreed to a supervisor and would be responsible for any damage caused). A permit would not be given every day but some were determined to pick each day.
AUGUST The council protested at a proposal by the Pontefract postmaster to change the postal address from Featherstone, Yorkshire, to Featherstone near Pontefract, Yorkshire.
Demolition orders were made for houses in Henrietta Street and New Row in North Featherstone. The rent of the 13 new bungalows in Little Lane was fixed at 5s 6d including rates. Some of the bungalows are shown below. Photo - personal.
OCTOBER
A rate of 8s 8d was fixed for the half-year, the same as last time.
The county council would take 5s 3d of that. After a report on
overcrowding the council would consider suitable building land at Losco,
Purston and North Featherstone to build 70 houses. A small automatic
telephone exchange was to be installed for Featherstone.
Cr
E Rowley said six to eight Featherstone men were to be in the
unemployment march to London. He asked if the council could contribute
to the cost. The clerk was asked to find out. It was agreed to send a
letter objecting to the new unemployment regulations and means test.DECEMBER The council had intended discussing the Coronation of King Edward VIII but because of the circumstances (Mrs Simpson) the matter was postponed indefinitely.
SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE
Mr
R C Olley of Barclays Bank in London, who had "adopted" the
Featherstone Social Service Centre, sent £10 in January towards a tea in
the Parochial Hall for 106 children of the members, followed by tea for
64 members.
The members had to make do until now with temporary accommodation in the Parochial Hall in Green Lane for the men and the Adult School in Featherstone Lane for the women. The aim was to have their own building for both men and women and a start was made last year on erecting a wooden building in Green Lane, but a gale blew it down and the opening was delayed until 6 July.
The official opening was done by Mr Olley who received a warm welcome from the people of Featherstone. He told how he and other employees of the bank had responded to the Prince of Wales' radio appeal (in January 1934 after his visit to Featherstone in 1933) on behalf of the Social Service movement. They got in touch with the National Council who referred them to the West Riding Council and they eventually "adopted" Featherstone. Commander F G Worsley, for the National Social Service Council, West Riding Area, said he hated the words "unemployed club" and said it should be a real centre of communal life - a home for music, drama and the like. He said it was one of the best centres he had seen.
Mr J S Haigh said total receipts since 1933 were £642 and the new building had cost £460. Expenses over the last three years meant there was still some to pay off. Mr Olley's fund had given £300 and the National Society £250.
The building consisted of a large central hall, a workroom for the men and one for the women. A letter was sent to King Edward VIII recalling his visit in 1933 when he suggested Featherstone should have a permanent centre, and telling him it was now open. A reply was received thanking the committee and members for loyal greetings and expressing good wishes for the centre. Mr W H Fearnley, the architect for the centre, presented Mr Olley with a gold key to mark his efforts towards the cost of the building. Mr Olley gave an assurance the completion of the building did not mean an end to the help received though his medium.
Jobs had been offered at Hemsworth and South Kirkby Collieries to
some Featherstone Main Colliery workers. Bullock and Sons applied to
the council in January for permission to run a bus from the Welfare to
the collieries.
In February 13 of the men were in court summonsed by the West Riding Public Assistance Committee for failing to maintain themselves, wives and families. In evidence it was said the company offered 200 jobs and only 36 accepted. The 13 men in court had only worked two shifts and then left saying it was too hot and too far to travel.
Mr Linney, for the West Riding, said the real reason was they received unemployment pay and money from the union. A married man received 46s a week and those with two children £3 a week. Thus there was little incentive to work.
He asked the Bench to make it plain men could not throw up their work with impunity and such a thing would not be tolerated. They were each fined 5s and told they had been treated leniently - they could have been sent to prison.
The members had to make do until now with temporary accommodation in the Parochial Hall in Green Lane for the men and the Adult School in Featherstone Lane for the women. The aim was to have their own building for both men and women and a start was made last year on erecting a wooden building in Green Lane, but a gale blew it down and the opening was delayed until 6 July.
The official opening was done by Mr Olley who received a warm welcome from the people of Featherstone. He told how he and other employees of the bank had responded to the Prince of Wales' radio appeal (in January 1934 after his visit to Featherstone in 1933) on behalf of the Social Service movement. They got in touch with the National Council who referred them to the West Riding Council and they eventually "adopted" Featherstone. Commander F G Worsley, for the National Social Service Council, West Riding Area, said he hated the words "unemployed club" and said it should be a real centre of communal life - a home for music, drama and the like. He said it was one of the best centres he had seen.
Mr J S Haigh said total receipts since 1933 were £642 and the new building had cost £460. Expenses over the last three years meant there was still some to pay off. Mr Olley's fund had given £300 and the National Society £250.
The building consisted of a large central hall, a workroom for the men and one for the women. A letter was sent to King Edward VIII recalling his visit in 1933 when he suggested Featherstone should have a permanent centre, and telling him it was now open. A reply was received thanking the committee and members for loyal greetings and expressing good wishes for the centre. Mr W H Fearnley, the architect for the centre, presented Mr Olley with a gold key to mark his efforts towards the cost of the building. Mr Olley gave an assurance the completion of the building did not mean an end to the help received though his medium.
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| The Social Service Centre. A photo from the Barclays Bank archives. |
Lord and Lady Allendale invited wives of unemployed members of
occupational centres to Bretton Hall for lunch and tea in July. Four
clubs including Featherstone gave a keep fit display and performed
country dancing. Lady Allendale announced next year there would be a
shield to be competed for by keep fit teams.
In August Mr Olley arranged a meeting at Barclays Head Office in
London to attempt to get more of the bank's employees to contribute one
shilling a month for his Featherstone Fund, plus extra in November to
provide Christmas treats for the children. He spoke of the conditions in
Featherstone, "A sad little town, with rows of drab, brick cottages
crouching against the slag heaps of the colliery", and of the gratitude
shown by the inhabitants for the assistance rendered to them. He pointed
out much remained to be done and although his fund was growing he would
be pleased to hear from any members of the staff who were interested in
contributing.
The October issue of Barclays Bank house magazine The Spread Eagle reported subscriptions had increased substantially since the August meeting and the amount collected in September was £18 2s 11d. The December issue reported £35 had been sent to provide Christmas fare and treats for the children. The total subscriptions to the fund was now £415.
The October issue of Barclays Bank house magazine The Spread Eagle reported subscriptions had increased substantially since the August meeting and the amount collected in September was £18 2s 11d. The December issue reported £35 had been sent to provide Christmas fare and treats for the children. The total subscriptions to the fund was now £415.
AFTERMATH OF FEATHERSTONE MAIN CLOSURE
In February 13 of the men were in court summonsed by the West Riding Public Assistance Committee for failing to maintain themselves, wives and families. In evidence it was said the company offered 200 jobs and only 36 accepted. The 13 men in court had only worked two shifts and then left saying it was too hot and too far to travel.
Mr Linney, for the West Riding, said the real reason was they received unemployment pay and money from the union. A married man received 46s a week and those with two children £3 a week. Thus there was little incentive to work.
He asked the Bench to make it plain men could not throw up their work with impunity and such a thing would not be tolerated. They were each fined 5s and told they had been treated leniently - they could have been sent to prison.
A ONE DAY STRIKE
The management said none of the coke oven men were members of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, and they all continued to work and said they had no intention of coming out on strike, so only 950 out of 1,600 workers downed tools. They also said the West Yorkshire Coke Owners' Association and the National Union of Municipal and General Workers' Union had already agreed on a new wage rate. The YMA said they had no knowledge of it but called the strike off after one day.
The strike started on a Tuesday morning and the men said they would go back on the Wednesday but the management said the pit would now stay closed until the following Tuesday, after Easter. There were suggestions the YMA was using the dispute to try and get the coke oven workers into their union.
FEATHERSTONE ROVERS
At the annual meeting in June George Johnson, the president, the officials and committee were complimented on their astute management of the club. Apart from the stand loan the club did not owe a penny.
George Albert Appleyard of Purston, who had been secretary of Featherstone Rovers for over five years, was appointed secretary of the newly-formed Newcastle Rugby League Club. He was replaced by Hubert Littlewood of Purston who was a member of the clerical staff at Ackton Hall Colliery.
DR STEVEN'S REPORT
The sanitary inspector said there were 15 houses due to be demolished and waiting for the residents to be rehoused. The 1935 Housing Act required a survey of every house and it resulted in a total of 180 being considered overcrowded.
ST GERARD'S CHURCH OPENED
A Roman Catholic Church was opened in Station Lane in October. The
Roman Catholics in Featherstone began as a small mission in a stable in
George Street and later transferred to a building in Lord Street off
Green Lane which had been the Methodist New Connection Chapel. Their new
church was designed by C Fox and I Gill of Dewsbury, and built by
Messrs Gallagher of Castleford. It had seating for 170 and cost
approximately £1,800. The Bishop's Fund had provided £300 and another
£500 had been raised. It would be consecrated when the debt was cleared.
The congregation gathered at their temporary premises in Lord Street
for the last time, and then went to their new church. The photo of Lord Street is from the Dr Gatecliff Collection.
At the
opening ceremony the Bishop of Leeds said the church could stand as a
lighthouse in Featherstone to all those who realised this life was the
only thing that mattered. Life here, however hard or unpleasant, is only
just an opportunity for us to prepare ourselves for the life hereafter.
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| The newly built church in Station Lane. A photo from the Wakefield Museum Collection. |
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| The interior of the new church. Another photo from the Wakefield Museum Collection. |
1936 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY
Bullock and Sons, who had contributed to last December's Christmas
hamper fund, gave a series of teas to local schoolchildren in their
employees' recreation room. In all 500 children enjoyed the food,
entertainment, fruit and sweets.
An inquest was held on Enoch Roper age 55 of Hartley Terrace. It was said he joined the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1914 and in 1916 he was gassed and wounded. Dr Gardner said death was due to bronchial pneumonia and asthma, but he agreed the asthma could have been brought on by the gassing. The jury decided the war injuries had accelerated his death.
King George V died and the producers of the film Where's George? filmed partly in Featherstone last year decided it was not an appropriate title so they changed it to The Hope of his Side.
James Stafford appealed against his 12 months jail sentence last October. The Vicar of Purston, Barry Wall, spoke on his behalf and his sentence was reduced to being bound over for three years under the care of a probation officer.
The miners called off their proposed national strike for 2s a day extra and accepted rises of from 5d to 1s a day.
An inquest was held on Enoch Roper age 55 of Hartley Terrace. It was said he joined the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1914 and in 1916 he was gassed and wounded. Dr Gardner said death was due to bronchial pneumonia and asthma, but he agreed the asthma could have been brought on by the gassing. The jury decided the war injuries had accelerated his death.
King George V died and the producers of the film Where's George? filmed partly in Featherstone last year decided it was not an appropriate title so they changed it to The Hope of his Side.
James Stafford appealed against his 12 months jail sentence last October. The Vicar of Purston, Barry Wall, spoke on his behalf and his sentence was reduced to being bound over for three years under the care of a probation officer.
The miners called off their proposed national strike for 2s a day extra and accepted rises of from 5d to 1s a day.
The will of Roslyn Holiday who died last December showed he had left £6,009 3s, all to his wife Amelia Eva Holiday.
Special services were held in the churches and chapels following the death of King George V. Ackton Hall Colliery worked on the day of the funeral but two minutes silence was observed heralded by sounding the colliery hooter.
FEBRUARY Wellgarth Road and The Green Carnival Committee took 46 children between five and 14 years to the Theatre Royal in Leeds to see the pantomime Little Red Riding Hood.
Dr William Stanley Finch of Purston died age 67. He came from Wigan to be in partnership with Dr Steven, a Scotsman. He was medical adviser to the Rovers and the cricket club. He had been in Featherstone 38 years and made his calls on a bicycle.
Alfred Sharratt age 54 of Purston died. He was a member of Featherstone Council for many years and he was chairman in 1933 and received the Prince of Wales when he visited the Social Service Centre in Green Lane. He was also chairman of the now defunct Featherstone Main Colliery Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Federation.
Special services were held in the churches and chapels following the death of King George V. Ackton Hall Colliery worked on the day of the funeral but two minutes silence was observed heralded by sounding the colliery hooter.
FEBRUARY Wellgarth Road and The Green Carnival Committee took 46 children between five and 14 years to the Theatre Royal in Leeds to see the pantomime Little Red Riding Hood.
Dr William Stanley Finch of Purston died age 67. He came from Wigan to be in partnership with Dr Steven, a Scotsman. He was medical adviser to the Rovers and the cricket club. He had been in Featherstone 38 years and made his calls on a bicycle.
Alfred Sharratt age 54 of Purston died. He was a member of Featherstone Council for many years and he was chairman in 1933 and received the Prince of Wales when he visited the Social Service Centre in Green Lane. He was also chairman of the now defunct Featherstone Main Colliery Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Federation.
William Robinson, a well known local singer, reached his 94th
birthday. He was a member of the Leeds Parish Church choir and he walked
to Leeds and back every Sunday, a total distance of 28 miles.
MARCH At the annual Cricket Club dinner Mr C S Magee said too gloomy a view was being taken of Featherstone. In time, all the displaced miners could be absorbed at the other three collieries. Albert Dobson was congratulated on being appointed the referee for the Rugby League Cup Final. The club had taken only £20 at the gate and needed £250 a season. Once again the Ladies' Committee had come to the rescue and there was a small balance on the season.
MARCH At the annual Cricket Club dinner Mr C S Magee said too gloomy a view was being taken of Featherstone. In time, all the displaced miners could be absorbed at the other three collieries. Albert Dobson was congratulated on being appointed the referee for the Rugby League Cup Final. The club had taken only £20 at the gate and needed £250 a season. Once again the Ladies' Committee had come to the rescue and there was a small balance on the season.
Fifteen Featherstone men and one woman were in court for stealing coal
from Ackton Hall Colliery. The management said they had a great deal of
trouble with people stealing coal, and they had had complaints from
customers about short weight in wagons. PC Downhill said coal dealers
complained to the police about people stealing coal from the stacks and
selling it. Fines from 5s to £2 were imposed. One man brought his total
coal picking convictions up to five.
Edward Johnson was taken back to court for not paying a 7s 6d fine. He
said he only had 17s a week public assistance money and he paid 7s 6d a
week for lodgings - room only. He was sentenced to seven days in prison
put off for a month to give him time to pay.
The Featherstone education sub-committee said they were now feeding 320 children. Regent Street School was not big enough and they were considering using the Welfare.
Fred Ward was ordered to pay 5s a week out of his £3 18s wages towards the relief of his 65 years old mother.
The Featherstone education sub-committee said they were now feeding 320 children. Regent Street School was not big enough and they were considering using the Welfare.
Fred Ward was ordered to pay 5s a week out of his £3 18s wages towards the relief of his 65 years old mother.
APRIL The Featherstone film The Hope of his Side was shown at the Crescent Cinema, Pontefract, and the Star Cinema, Castleford.
An inquest was held on James Dyas age 18 of Featherstone Square. He had fractured his spine in a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery in October 1934. He was taken to Pontefract Infirmary and transferred to the Poor Law Institute (the Workhouse) in March 1935 paralysed from the waist down. The medical evidence was he died because of kidney failure due to the accident, and the jury agreed so the verdict was death by misadventure.
An inquest was held on James Dyas age 18 of Featherstone Square. He had fractured his spine in a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery in October 1934. He was taken to Pontefract Infirmary and transferred to the Poor Law Institute (the Workhouse) in March 1935 paralysed from the waist down. The medical evidence was he died because of kidney failure due to the accident, and the jury agreed so the verdict was death by misadventure.
The benefit payments were so low people sometimes took a chance and
told lies about their circumstances. Percy Roberts was in court because
he had said his daughter had been dead for five years when she was in
service in Leeds and sent 10s a week home. He also had two boys earning
1s 8d and 1s 4d a week selling newspapers. Fred Evans had signed a form
saying his weekly income was 15s when he had received £2 from Ackton
Hall Colliery Sick Fund the previous day. Charles Kirton applied for
relief for himself, wife and two children. His wife died last June and
one of his children was earning money. All three were fined.
John Thomas Jordan celebrated his 90th birthday. He did not retire as a
joiner at Featherstone Main Colliery until he was 84 after he had been
there 56 years.
MAY Featherstone's firemen won the President's Cup at the Yorkshire Brigades Friendly Society annual demonstration at Pudsey. J Hilsey was captain and the team members were T Hollis, J Noble, C Roberts and G Dransfield.
An inquest was held on Joyce Pant age 13 of Green Lane. There were suggestions the physical training the same day at school had something to do with her death, but the medical evidence was an enlarged thymus gland was the cause. The jury decided it was natural causes.
MAY Featherstone's firemen won the President's Cup at the Yorkshire Brigades Friendly Society annual demonstration at Pudsey. J Hilsey was captain and the team members were T Hollis, J Noble, C Roberts and G Dransfield.
An inquest was held on Joyce Pant age 13 of Green Lane. There were suggestions the physical training the same day at school had something to do with her death, but the medical evidence was an enlarged thymus gland was the cause. The jury decided it was natural causes.
The new Featherstone and Purston Sports and Carnival Committee
decided to arrange a carnival but not have a carnival queen because of
the cost.
The Featherstone education sub-committee reported the number of meals provided for children had dropped from 400 to 260 because of those leaving school and families leaving Featherstone because of the depression.
The Featherstone education sub-committee reported the number of meals provided for children had dropped from 400 to 260 because of those leaving school and families leaving Featherstone because of the depression.
The county council introduced a 30mph speed limit on roads in built-up areas as allowed under the Road Traffic Act 1934.
JUNE Nellie Downing and Hannah Elizabeth Richardson were in court charged with stealing clothes from shops in Leeds. Nellie was single but had four children and received 24s 6d unemployment pay, and Hannah was a widow with two children and received 18s a week widow's pension and 10s assistance.
JUNE Nellie Downing and Hannah Elizabeth Richardson were in court charged with stealing clothes from shops in Leeds. Nellie was single but had four children and received 24s 6d unemployment pay, and Hannah was a widow with two children and received 18s a week widow's pension and 10s assistance.
Three Featherstone men were sent to prison for a month for stealing
coal from Ackton Hall Colliery. Seven others were fined. One man had
eight convictions.
Kenneth Thompson and Clifford Hopton both age 15 were cycling to work at Leeds and while going down Bell Hill, North Featherstone, they passed a slow moving bus and collided with a lorry coming the other way. Thompson was taken to hospital and died shortly after. The inquest jury decided it was death by misadventure.
The education sub-committee decided Regent Street School could now cope with the reduced number of children for meals, now down to 230.
Mr Albert William Archer died. He lived at Pontefract and became
associated with John Shaw, the owner of Featherstone Main Colliery about
40 years ago and joined it with South Kirkby Colliery under one
company. Hemsworth Colliery was added in the early 1900's and Ackton
Hall Colliery in 1927.
George Street School converted an outbuilding to a rabbltry, caviary and mousary. Relays of scholars were appointed as feeders.
George Street School converted an outbuilding to a rabbltry, caviary and mousary. Relays of scholars were appointed as feeders.
Three bus loads of residents from Phipps Street had an outing to
Cleethorpes. The children received chocolates and nuts. It was hoped to
make it an annual affair.
Despite the rain, Featherstone and Purston Sunday Schools Association carried out their annual Sunday school demonstration. The Salvation Army Band led a procession of over 2,000 children, each school accompanied by its own decorated wagon or banner, through the main streets.
JULY An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall on Oscar Westwood age 50 of Scarborough Terrace. He joined the army in 1914 was eventually discharged as physically unfit. After hearing medical evidence the jury decided he died from pulmonary tuberculosis contracted while on military service.
Featherstone poultry keepers set themselves a target of collecting 1,000 eggs in a week for Pontefract Infirmary. They ended up with more than 2,000.
Despite the rain, Featherstone and Purston Sunday Schools Association carried out their annual Sunday school demonstration. The Salvation Army Band led a procession of over 2,000 children, each school accompanied by its own decorated wagon or banner, through the main streets.
JULY An inquest was held in the Gospel Hall on Oscar Westwood age 50 of Scarborough Terrace. He joined the army in 1914 was eventually discharged as physically unfit. After hearing medical evidence the jury decided he died from pulmonary tuberculosis contracted while on military service.
Featherstone poultry keepers set themselves a target of collecting 1,000 eggs in a week for Pontefract Infirmary. They ended up with more than 2,000.
Over 200 children at the South Featherstone Senior Girls' School gave a pageant of local history from 1123 to 1935 at an open air theatre in the school grounds. There was a large gathering of parents and friends.
The annual report of the West Riding medical officer for 1935 showed
out of a total of 144,083 free meals to children in the county 62,507 were at
Featherstone.
The annual gathering of the Featherstone and Streethouse Child Welfare Clinics took place on the cricket field. Lady Allendale appealed to the those present to spread the news of the valuable work done by the clinics, and to resolve by next year the membership would be doubled and the infant death rate materially reduced.
Three Featherstone boys were fined for shaking Samuel James Lowe's cigarette machine outside his barber's shop and stealing a packet of cigarettes.
The annual gathering of the Featherstone and Streethouse Child Welfare Clinics took place on the cricket field. Lady Allendale appealed to the those present to spread the news of the valuable work done by the clinics, and to resolve by next year the membership would be doubled and the infant death rate materially reduced.
Three Featherstone boys were fined for shaking Samuel James Lowe's cigarette machine outside his barber's shop and stealing a packet of cigarettes.
Miss Ruby Higgs and Mr Harry Blackburn were married. She was presented
with a silver bedroom clock by the Featherstone Lane Ladies' Guild
where she had been the honorary accompanist for 12 years.
Ruby
Blackburn at the piano in the Lister Hall with violinist husband Harry. The
others are Bill Saxton clarinet and "Codger" Comer drums. A personal photo.
AUGUST The 9th Featherstone and Purston Carnival organised by the new committee was held in a field opposite the Jubilee Hotel. The procession, headed by the Featherstone Subscription Silver Band, set off from the Bradley Arms. The silver cup for best baby in the show was won by Tony Townend, the best decorated street was Short Street and Messrs Brough Ltd won the best decorated shop display. Other attractions were the feast in Maxwell Street, and a musical concert in Purston Park with more than 100 performers.
Three Featherstone men were charged with stealing bearings from Ackton Hall Colliery valued at £18 and dumping them in Green Lane. Those three plus another were charged with stealing scrap brass from Featherstone Main Colliery valued at £3 15s. They sold it to Joseph Cookson, a street hawker for £2 2s and he sold it in Castleford for £2 15s. They got one month in jail for each charge.
J Pattison and G Herrington were fined £5 each for deliberately
damaging a haulage rope at Ackton Hall Colliery. It was suggested they
did it so it would break on the day shift. They had been on nights for a
long time and said the day shift left a lot of coal to be dealt with.
Denis Shaw Scarmens was fined £1 for firing a pistol in George Street. He said he bought it from the Army and Navy Stores and was told it was harmless.
Harry Edward Socket age 16, a haulage hand at Ackton Hall Colliery, was sent to meet a run of tubs. He was found dead in the first tub with a fractured skull. It was surmised he had hit his head on the roof in a low part.
Kenneth Wingwood age 10 and his brother Roy age 12 of Allison Street were caught by the tide at Silex Bay neat Flamborough. They climbed up the cliff and were eventually rescued by two men who swam with them to the beach. They were assisted by Betty Salmon whose photograph was on the cover of Bridlington's town guide.
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| Betty Salmon and Mr A L Wells of Leeds with the two boys. A Leeds Mercury photo. Thomas Brealey pleaded guilty to assaulting Richard Longbottom. He explained to the court he was a rugby union referee and had sent Longbottom off in a match two years ago. Since then he had been subject to a great deal of tale-telling by Longbottom and lost his temper. he was sorry for what had happened and offered to shake hands. Longbottom agreed and Brearley was let off by paying the costs of 14s. |
SEPTEMBER
The education sub-committee said school attendances were down because
of mumps. They asked parents of children with mumps not to let them mix
with other children and spread the complaint.
Ackton Hall Colliery, along with South Kirkby and Hemsworth, had voted for a strike on the issue of non-unionism. The men put in their seven days notice but a meeting of union and management reached an understanding and the strike was called off.
The management at the three pits put up a notice saying "To avoid unnecessary hardship and suffering to the wives and families at three collieries on the question of non-unionism, the company urge workmen who are not already in the Yorkshire Miners' Association to become members". There were said to be about 600 non-union men out of 6,000.
Inspector Elkins and PC Hutchinson found seven feast men drinking in
the Railway Hotel at 2am. Licensee Alfred Beresford claimed in court he
was treating them to a farewell drink because they had been good
customers in the past. He was fined £2 on each charge, £14 in all for
supplying after hours and his customers were fined £1 each.
New Row in North Featherstone was about to be demolished. It was said to be hundreds of years old. One resident, Mrs Fellows, had lived there for 66 years raising ten children.
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| New Row. A photo from the Tony Lumb Collection. |
There
were only 10 diphtheria cases and 13 of scarlet fever in Ackton
Hospital. The doctor said he could remember when there were no patients
but then it shot up to 120.
Joseph Copley of Nostell View admitted using his premises for ready money betting. PC Megson said he saw 40 persons enter and leave including women and children. The house was raided and betting slips found. He was fined £5.
George Cadman, newsagent, was summonsed for employing a boy under 16 to sell papers in the street. In court he said he had collected the papers at the station and told the boy, age 12, to take them to the shop. He sold some on the way without his knowledge or permission. The case was dismissed.
OCTOBER Another five men were fined for coal picking. The chairman asked if permits were granted at Featherstone. He was told the question had been raised but a proposed scheme had fallen through.
Reginald Hook was fined £10 for driving a car in a manner dangerous to the public and without due care and attention. He hit a bridge on the Sherburn to Cawood Road and William Price of Albert Street was thrown out and received fatal injuries.
A group of Featherstone men left for Sheffield to join the march to London to protest against the Means Test Regulations. The photo is from the Featherstone Library collection.
Joseph Copley of Nostell View admitted using his premises for ready money betting. PC Megson said he saw 40 persons enter and leave including women and children. The house was raided and betting slips found. He was fined £5.
George Cadman, newsagent, was summonsed for employing a boy under 16 to sell papers in the street. In court he said he had collected the papers at the station and told the boy, age 12, to take them to the shop. He sold some on the way without his knowledge or permission. The case was dismissed.
OCTOBER Another five men were fined for coal picking. The chairman asked if permits were granted at Featherstone. He was told the question had been raised but a proposed scheme had fallen through.
Reginald Hook was fined £10 for driving a car in a manner dangerous to the public and without due care and attention. He hit a bridge on the Sherburn to Cawood Road and William Price of Albert Street was thrown out and received fatal injuries.
A group of Featherstone men left for Sheffield to join the march to London to protest against the Means Test Regulations. The photo is from the Featherstone Library collection.
At the annual meeting of the St John Ambulance Brigade Ben Bradley
regretted young men were not coming forward to learn ambulance work,
causing a decline in numbers. The ambulance had now transported 2,832
patients and travelled 29,102 miles.
Sarah Booker, Elsie Jefferson, Ellen Dolman and Maud Stephenson were
summonsed under the Shop Hours Act for selling bread, salt, matches and
sweets respectively after 9pm. The cases were dismissed on payment of
costs.
NOVEMBER An inquest was held on Sam Barker age 20, a pony driver of Featherstone Square. He was run over by a tub on 10 November 1933 at Ackton Hall Colliery and had not worked since. Dr Duncan said he was suffering from a fractured spine and died of exhaustion. The Jury decided it was death by misadventure.
For the Remembrance Sunday church parade the Salvation Army Band headed a procession of the British Legion, police, fire brigade, St John Ambulance Brigade and the Royal and Ancient Order of Buffaloes which marched from Station Lane to Purston Parish Church.
David Davis of Farm Road was summonsed for keeping a betting house and Isaac Brookes, a lodger, was summonsed for taking ready money bets in the house. Davis, described as feeble, said he knew nothing about bets being taken; and Supt Coates said he believed him, but as he was the occupier of the house he had to summons him. The case against Davis was dismissed and Brookes was fined £5.
Harry Brooks was fined £1 for not going to work at Ackton Hall Colliery on several days in October when work was available, and allowing his wife and four children to become chargeable to the West Riding Public Assistance Committee. A total of £8 relief had been given.
An inquest was held on Silas Poole age 54 of Nostell View whose body was recovered from Pontefract Park lake. He had not worked for five years and only received 17s a week unemployment pay. The jury decided it was suicide but there was not enough evidence to show his state of mind.
A bus pulled up at the bottom of St Thomas Road to pick up a passenger and was run into by a lorry. The rear of the bus was smashed in, and splintered glass was thrown the length of the bus, but no one was injured.
DECEMBER Joseph Izon age 52 of Suttons Buildings was hit by a fall of coal at Ackton Hall Colliery and died later. The inquest jury decided it was accidental death. He had been a playing member of the Featherstone Subscription Silver Band for 35 years and at his death he was secretary and treasurer.
Leslie Freeman age 14 of Croft House had taken part in the Remembrance Sunday parade. He was wearing new shoes and later complained of a sore heel. It was bandaged and he made no further complaints for two weeks until it got worse and he was taken to Pontefract General Infirmary where he died from osteomylitis having been severely septicaemic. The medical evidence was the rubbed heel was probably the source of infection and the inquest jury decided it was death by misadventure.
Edith Brighthouse age 14 of Church View, North Featherstone, was in Corn Market, Pontefract, with friends when a piece of iron spouting fell on her head. She was taken to the hospital where she was detained.
The cricket club held their usual New Year's Eve whist drive and dance in the Lister Hall. There were 120 players for the whist and over 400 for the dance. The music was by the Arcadian Dance Band, and at midnight the company formed a huge circle and sang Auld Lang Syne and Hail Smiling Morn.