THE FEATHERSTONE ........CHRONICLE....... ........1911 to 1919.......: 1914

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE

1914

THE COUNCIL

JANUARY When the smallpox hospital was opened at Glass Houghton to cover the same area as Ackton Hospital, Featherstone's own smallpox hospital in Little Lane, Purston, became redundant and the council decided to shut it down. An offer of £12 10s from Messrs Wall and Carroll was accepted for the contents, and another offer of £52 from Mr H Schofield for the buildings, fixtures and two out-buildings.
   It was also agreed the cab would be disposed of, and Mr and Mrs Wells would relinquish their duties as hospital caretakers and live in a private house, whether the hospital was sold or not. Mr Wells would be employed in the sanitary inspector's department, and because he would loose his free house, coal etc his wage would be 30s a week.
   It was decided to obtain samples of helmets, boots and tunics to fit out the fire brigade. Joe Swift and the brigade were complimented on the way they dealt with the fire at the Assembly Rooms.
   A letter had been received from the Yorkshire Electric Power Company asking the council to pass a resolution favouring the application by the company for lighting powers in Featherstone. Cr Murphy said they should not support it. The council ought to reserve any rights in the matter for themselves. Cr Maxwell agreed.
   The chairman, Roslyn Holiday, said it did not matter to him either way, but from the ratepayers point of view the council should see both sides of the question. On the one hand they should not grant any company a monopoly pure and simple, and on the other hand they should not adopt a dog-in-the-manger attitude on a question which might be of benefit to the ratepayers. The company were in a position to provide a service which the town could not otherwise get. The council ought to consider very carefully before depriving those ratepayers who might wish for a supply of the chance of getting it. Subject to certain safeguards he was inclined to support the application.
   Cr Murphy said gas and electricity supplies, and indeed anything else which might make a profit, should belong to the public. If the company were prepared to offer the council some benefit he would be prepared to support them.
   Cr Waller said 3 years ago a company had been granted certain rights as to the supply of electricity in Featherstone but they had done nothing. The chairman said the previous powers were to supply in bulk only. If the council had asked for a supply for street lighting they could have had it.
   Cr Maxwell said if electricity meant trams up Station Lane he would oppose it. There were enough difficulties with the present traffic. Cr Evans said they had heard a good deal about not granting a monopoly, but no-one had mentioned the monopoly which the gas company had got, and the price for gas in Featherstone compared with Normanton. If the power company would submit a good scheme he would support it.
   The chairman pointed out the Bill would be before Parliament on February 3, so they should not delay any action. A vote was taken and the majority were against the application. The chairman then said if the Bill got through Parliament the council would have no further say in the matter.
   A letter from Andrew Carnegie said the grant offered to the council in 1903 for a library had not been taken up. The offer was now withdrawn.
FEBRUARY It was decided to put off the provision of a building for the fire brigade and the supplying of uniforms. Crs Holiday, Scholes and Maxwell would consider what should be done.
   The council had received from the Charity Commission a copy of the new rules for the combined charities. The clerk said he was obliged to put a copy of the new rules on the door of Normanton Parish Church but the gate to the churchyard was locked and the vicar refused to give him the key. The chairman said he should give a boy tuppence to put one up on Sunday morning and the vicar would be liable if he took it down.
   The rules said Featherstone Council should have four representatives on the trustees and one should be a woman. Crs Holiday, Murphy, Maxwell and Darlington were proposed, and Mrs Darlington was elected the lady representative. Cr Darlington offered to withdraw to avoid a vote, but after some friendly banter Cr Holiday said he would not stand.
   The West Riding District Councils' Association said they had opposed the electricity bill because it was loosely drawn. The clerk expressed the opinion the Bill had no chance of being passed.
MARCH The council decided to ask the isolation hospital committee to undertake the disinfecting of clothing of patients suffering from tuberculosis, and the medical officer, Dr Buncle, be authorised to allow up to 10s compensation for clothing etc destroyed on his orders.
   The sub-committee appointed to consider the fire brigade recommended the building be extended 14 feet but the purchase of clothing be deferred.
APRIL The Palace Cinema had been obliged to provide a public lavatory for its customers. The council agreed to pay £6 a year for the conversion of it for the use of the public. The Palace owner was ordered to provide better ventilation and to spray disinfectant daily.
   Cr Maxwell proposed an unchanged rate of 2s 3d. He said the provision of a mortuary and a new building for the fire brigade had upset the council's arrangements. He hoped they could do better next time. The new rate was passed.
   The isolation hospital committee said they would not disinfect clothing for the council. Roslyn Holiday, the council chairman who was also on the hospital committee, said there was only one van at the hospital, and there was a risk of spreading other diseases if the council's suggestion were adopted. The council decided to seek the opinion of the county council.
   The voting in the council elections resulted as follows.
Ackton and Snydale Ward John Joseph Murphy 216 Arthur Simpkin 189
South Ward William Henry Scholes 209 Sydney Batten 131
Purston Ward James Maxwell 294 Thomas Turton 228 Thomas Amison 33
North Ward Peter Darlington was re-elected unopposed
At the meeting held to appoint a chairman for the new financial year Cr Waller proposed Cr Holiday be re-elected. He said Cr Holiday's constant attendance at meetings showed he was fully alive to the town's needs and was anxious to keep in touch with the sometimes tedious business of the council. Although interests clashed at times they got through their business with a minimum amount of fuss. This was due to the influence which Cr Holiday wielded and his fairness in debate. They would be showing a lack of confidence in their chairman if they did not re-elect him.
Cr Murphy said he did not intend to criticise Cr Waller's views, but he thought there were men on the council quite as capable as Cr Holiday of holding the office. He expected they would have to abide by the majority, so he would not propose an amendment, but would add there were other members who had an equal length of service with Cr Holiday.
Cr Evans said Cr Holiday had been an excellent chairman, but he did not like to see the position occupied year after year by the same man. Even if the council wished to re-elect Cr Holiday he thought Cr Holiday should retire so as to give some other member a chance of the honour.
There was no amendment so Cr Holiday was chairman again. He thanked the members and said he fully appreciated the remarks of Crs Murphy and Evans. He did not wish to hold the office against the general opinion, and if the council thought a change would be better he would be guided by them. Cr Waller, in proposing Cr Darlington as vice-chairman, said he would be dead against a sweeping proposal that the chairmanship should go round.
All the committees were as before, except Cr Darlington replaced Cr Protheroe on the education sub-committee. Cr Murphy said once again attendance at this committee's meetings had been very poor. Although the office was a thankless one the members ought to do their duty.
MAY It was agreed to accept an offer of £2 for the cab at the smallpox hospital. It was also agreed to offer Bede houses land at Church Lane corner required to enable the road to be widened at 2s 6d a square yard.
A sub-committee had considered 112 applications for the post of clerk of works for the council house scheme and three were selected for a short list. The full council appointed Mr W Robson of Manchester.
JUNE It was announced Mr Robson had declined the job, so it was offered to Mr W Simmons of Doncaster at a wage of £3 3s a week on condition he stayed until the work was completed.
Planning permission was granted to Messrs Gallons in Station Lane for a new front and alterations to the premises.
The West Riding public health and housing committee had written to ask if the council would be willing to pay half the cost of any person from the council's area receiving sanatorium treatment. Otherwise the full net cost of any person so treated would be charged on the district as special expenses in accordance with the order of the Local Government Board. The estimated cost for the next six months was 200 beds at 30s a week - a total cost of £7,800 of which the West Riding Insurance Committee would pay £4,000. Half of the balance would be paid by the Government leaving £1,500 to be met. The estimated cost to the council if they agreed was 3s 8d a bed per week.
The clerk said the council had practically agreed to all what was asked, and the chairman pointed out if no patients were sent from their district there would be no charge. By entering into the agreement they would ensure treatment for non-insured patients. (Workers paid for a weekly insurance stamp to cover them when off work but it did not include wives and children.) The council unanimously agreed to enter into the agreement with the West Riding.
JULY The meeting accepted Joe Swift's resignation as captain of the fire brigade and he was thanked for his many and valuable services. Albert Swift was appointed captain on the same terms and John Roberts was appointed vice-captain.
Mr Schofield had decided not to buy the smallpox hospital. The council considered trying to get Ackton Hospital to buy it. It was decided to let the site at a ground rent to be decided.

THE BURIAL BOARD

At the January meeting of the Burial Board held in St Peter's Mission Room Mr S Earnshaw was elected chairman for the new year. Mr J Sutherton, the previous chairman, wrote from Leeds resigning his seat on the board because he had left the district, but because he had only one year left to serve, the board decided to ask him to defer his resignation to avoid the expense of an election.
There was a letter from the vicar which referred to the last meeting at which he said uncalled for remarks were made about the Church of England and the vicar. Because of this he asked the board to find another meeting place and not meet again at St Peter's.
Mr Norton wrote to notify the Board of the resolution passed by the meeting of parishioners asking the board to give permission for a part of the new cemetery extension to be consecrated, and pointing out the majority of the inhabitants must also believe in it seeing two-thirds of the burials were in consecrated ground.
Mr Boulton, the cemetery curator, had said the consecrated part would be full in two years time. The clerk, Mr J Routlidge, said he took it that at the proper time part of the new ground would be consecrated. Mr T Leadbeater said "We can't stop them having it consecrated, can we?" and the clerk said "No, not if they wish it and provide the cost".
Mr Holroyd said some folk were under the impression he was against consecration. He had no objection at all to it; his only objection was it created a monopoly. When the time came to deal with the matter he would support consecration because the majority of the ratepayers evidently desired it.
The chairman ended the meeting and said there was a suitable room in the Green Lane Club which could be approached by a private entrance in Market Street The board agreed to ask for permission to use it.

THE OLD FOLK'S TREAT

In January the Adult School held their annual treat in the Drill Hall in the Assembly Rooms for 400 aged and needy persons living in North and South Featherstone and Purston. About 20 former residents living in the workhouse were conveyed to and from the hall in a waggonette.

The meal consisted of ham, tongue and beef sandwiches, pork pies and buns and cakes. It was generally said to be the best do they had put on. Two pairs of slippers from Messrs Freeman, Hardy and Willis were given to the oldest couple present. Once again this was Mr and Mrs Thompson of North Featherstone aged 76 and 73. William Bailey age 84 of Featherstone was the oldest man present and he was given two shirts by Mr H Burrass of Station Lane. Mrs Gaskell also 84 was the oldest woman and she was given a shawl.

The men were given 1½oz of tobacco and each woman received a 4oz packet of tea. Later 1½ gross packets of chocolate given by Messrs Rowntrees were distributed. In the evening all the guests and workers attended a special performance at the Hippodrome through the kindness of Jack Harris.

The Express commented "If the Adult School workers of Featherstone did nothing else of a public character during the year than provide a treat for the poor and aged people of Featherstone and Purston their existence would be justified".

THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS FIRE

One week after the Old Folks' Treat at about 9.20am on a Tuesday morning a piece of plaster fell from the ceiling of the club caretaker's kitchen (Mr Wood), in the Assembly Rooms building. He looked up and saw a small fire in the ceiling near the chimney. Mr Wood and several helpers got fire extinguishers from the Drill Hall (the main room) and put the fire out. The fire brigade arrived and after playing some water to cool things down they left at 11.30.

Shortly after midnight smoke was seen issuing from the secretary's office which was next to the kitchen and bar. Mr Wood was alone at the time so he ran to the gas works and sounded the fire alarm. The fire brigade turned up again and put this fire out and left at 3am. Peter Darlington, manager at Featherstone Main Colliery, left Mr Wood with two men as fire watchers.

The fire brigade had only just left when flames were seen coming from under the stage. The caretaker went for the fire brigade again. This time the fire was more serious. The stage was one big blaze, and the scenery and decorations for the Old Folks' Treat were burnt up very quickly. The stage roof collapsed and the flames shot skywards.

The stage was destroyed and the contents of a storeroom, but the fire brigade succeeded in saving the dressing-rooms. Great damage was caused to the caretaker's premises, the bar and the secretary's room, mainly by the water. The fire was out by 6.30am but damping down continues for some hours.

The premises were owned by the Featherstone Assembly Rooms and Institute Co Ltd and Featherstone Main Colliery Working Mens' Club. The Drill Hall was used by the Featherstone Company of Territorials. Their rifles and piano were damaged by the water. The cause of the fire was put down as a defective flue and the damage was estimated at £500.

A military inquiry was held into the loss of 21 rifles, a piano and the contents of the officers' and NCO's rooms. The outcome was not announced but it was obviously accidental.

THE FDAPO

The annual meeting of the Featherstone and District Association for the Prosecution of Offenders was held in the Featherstone Hotel in January. They now had 202 members and there had been 58 prosecutions for damage in their 13th year and all were successful. In another 25 cases juvenile offenders had paid damages and costs to avoid going to court.
Mr J Watson said this showed the association was a success, and the less prosecutions there were the greater success it would be. He had much to say about "the reckless county council" whose spending had put up their rates by 400% in 36 years.
John Waller deplored the fact he was going deaf and could not take as much interest as usual, but declared he was not going daft. He was now nearer 90 than 80 and wished to give up public work, but he was persuaded to go on. For about ten years past he had been asking for one year at a time and he hoped to be with them again next Christmas.

A CRASH AT THE STATION

At about 9.40pm one dark night in January the station gates were closed to allow a coal train through. The train had just begun to pass when a taxi came up Station Lane and smashed through the gates and hit the engine. The taxi was badly damaged. It belonged to Messrs Smith and Son of Central Garage, Doncaster, and it was driven by George Lund of Balby. He and his two passengers escaped with a shaking and shock. Six months later at Pontefract Court the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company sued Smith and Son for £21 10s 10d damages. Smith and Son counterclaimed for £66 1s 6d.

Reuben Bailey, the stationmaster, said when he left the station at 9.15pm the oil lamps in the gate were burning brightly, and there were gas lamps on the road at both sides. He heard the crash and when he arrived the taxi driver claimed the lamp on the gate was not lit, but he (Mr Bailey) said the lamp was still smoking although it had been knocked out by the crash. The gates were so badly damaged they had to be replaced. He admitted it was possible for a lamp to be jerked out when the gates were closed, but this happened very seldom. In his opinion the taxi was going too fast.

   Charles Davison, a postman, said apart from the lamp on the gate the other lamps in the lane made the gates visible. He saw the gate lamp immediately after the accident and he agreed with Mr Bailey's version of events. Richard Harrison of Purston, Thomas Amison, hairdresser, and Jackson Woodhead all agreed with Mr Bailey's evidence. George Thomas Clayton said he had re-lit the lamp 15 minutes before the accident.
   Fred Johnson of Belle Vue said the night was dark and the road muddy. He saw the gates closed against the traffic and the jarring of the gate over the block put the lamp out. It was not re-lighted. The taxi was travelling at about six mph. He shouted to the driver "Lookout, the gates are against you, but the light is out", but he didn't hear him. Alfred Timmins of Balby, who happened to be in Featherstone, also said the light was out.
   George Lund said it was wet and misty and he was going at about 8mph. He did not see any light on the gate. Joseph Day of Scarborough Terrace and William Stringer both said the light was out.
   George Clayton was recalled and he said if the light was put out when the gates were shut he re-lit it. His Honour Judge Benson said he believed him and he thought the lamp was lit and the driver didn't see it. He gave judgement for the railway company.

The Station crossing. A photo from the Featherstone Heritage Group.

The gates the taxi hit with the lamp on top. A Featherstone Library Collection photo.

THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY DINNER

The Featherstone and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society held their ninth annual dinner in the Featherstone Hotel in February. The meal, supervised by Mr and Mrs T Sides, was a variety of ten courses.

Roslyn Holiday presided and Joe Poppleton, the chairman of the committee, said Mr Holiday was always ready to respond to their call although he was a very busy man. He took his share, and it was always a good share, to many movements in their district. He had never failed their society yet. If they were in a difficulty Mr Holiday came to their aid. The flying exhibition at the last show had cost them £14 10s more than anticipated, and the president had promised to make good any deficit. Fortunately he was not called upon to give anything more than his usual subscription.

Mr Holiday said he was always glad to help those who helped themselves. He referred to the success of the flying exhibition, and congratulated the committee thereon. He would continue to do his best for the society, but he would have far more pleasure in being president if he could feel the committee were doing more to discourage local exhibitors including in their exhibits things from outside the district. Such an action was downright cheating. The committee should remember their show was not supposed to be York Show.

The man who conquered against the difficulties of growing flowers in a colliery district achieved far more than the man who owed everything to ground and climate. Although he was a much busier man than he was a few years ago he would takes pleasure in doing all he could to help the society to keep not only its head but its chest above water. Once more he reminded the exhibitors if there was to be a real and lasting success as a local show they should be strictly honest.

Peter Darlington said they were all proud of our show, for a mining district the show could not be beaten in the country. They started with nothing and they now had a balance of over £42. Last year's show, with its flying exhibition, had been a delight to all.

Dr Steven said he had been an exhibitor, and they had been accused of lacking in moral rectitude. Well, his conscience was clear. he did not think the committee would ever eliminate dishonesty as to exhibits, and he advised them for local classes in the show they should see the produce in actual growth. They might also give prizes for flowers and let exhibitors get them where they wished considering the atmospheric conditions in Featherstone were altogether against successful growing.

Mr A W Archer said one of Featherstone's faults was they appeared to have a great love for religious controversy and ecclesiastical strife. Another was they seemed, according to that night's speeches, to be thoroughly steeped in the spirit of cheating and subterfuge. He said if you are in any doubt as to what to do about rates, accounts or contracts, inquire how Pontefract has dealt with similar matters - and then do the opposite.

Regarding council houses, he said if private enterprise failed to provide a sufficiency of houses the local authority was justified, where there was a proved and settled district, in meeting the demand providing no unreasonable burden was thrown upon the present ratepayers, and the rents paid were sufficient to cover the costs of the scheme. Every able bodied man may properly claim the right to a living wage and the right to live in a house suitable to his station in life.

Some might say there was an obligation on the colliery owners to provide houses, but every £1,000 invested in houses was £1,000 less to be spent on extensions and developments which provided labour and benefited the community.

As to trade prospects, he said there were disquieting signs, but he hoped they would do their best for each other. He said while colliery owners should do their best to maintain the collieries in full operation, even at a loss sometimes, employers had a right to expect the workforce to work as regularly as possible when there was work to be done. He calculated absenteeism accounted for a loss of about £80,000 in wages last year in the districts of Ackton and Featherstone (the collieries?), the difference between workmen's prosperity and abounding prosperity, and representing a great economic waste.

The evening ended with a musical programme.

ST PETER'S v ALL SAINTS (CONTINUED)

There had been animosity between the church workers at St Peter's Mission Church on Green Lane and All Saints' Church in North Featherstone for years and it still rumbled on. In February the Express reported further conflict. as follows.

"Trouble has broken out afresh between the Vicar of Featherstone (the Revd F G Stebbing) and the workers of St Peter's Mission Church. The old trouble had never really been healed, but for some little time there was apparent harmony. There was a proposal recently that the St Peter's part of the parish should be transferred to Purston Parish, and a curate-in-charge should be appointed who would be responsible to the Vicar of Purston (the Revd H S Rogers). This project, however, fell through. The last properly appointed Curate of Featherstone was the Revd W E Freeman. He made it plain he had not come to take charge of St Peter's, but to be curate of the parish.

"A licenced lay-reader, Mr Almond, has also laboured in the parish, we believe with great acceptance. Some time ago the Revd J J Wilson (who then held a vicarage in the south of England, but has since been appointed in the north) came as locum tenens, and at present he is in the parish doing similar duty for a second period. But there is not as yet a permanent curate, although two were at one time promised, one of whom was to have sole charge of St Peter's. Instead of a curate the workers have had the services of Mr Haigh, a layman, and the vicar and Mr Wilson have also conducted services.

"It is in regard to Mr Haigh that the fresh trouble has arisen. The workers contend he is not licensed, which is their chief objection. They also contend, however, he has not the ability necessary to conduct a church service and to give a spiritual instruction which so large a part of a colliery parish needs. They objected (in writing) to the vicar touching Mr Haigh's not being licensed so far back as Dec 12th, but matters have gone on as before. A letter was sent to the archdeacon (the Bishop of Beverley) who replied giving Mr Haigh permission to preach on the following Sunday. This reply was received weeks ago. The churchwardens (Messrs J Norton and J Ruffley) say they have given Mr Stebbing a fair chance to remove Mr Haigh, and failing a curate-in-charge, to see a properly licensed lay-reader had charge of the services.

"As nothing was done the churchwardens took drastic steps on Sunday morning. They asked Mr Haigh when he came for morning service to produce his licence to preach. He said he could not do that and they declined to let him preach. There was no service in consequence. At night there was the ordinary service conducted by the Revd J J Wilson. He announced owing to the action taken that morning there would be no Sunday morning service until further notice.

"The vicar, in an interview reported in a daily paper, is stated to allege the trouble is caused by a few hot-headed spirits who desire the mission shall be worked separately from the parish church. Mr Stebbing also stated on consequence of the attitude adopted by these workers in a recent inquiry touching church matters in Featherstone, the local colliery owners have suspended their liberal grants, with the result he cannot do more that pay a curate £160 a year and a lay-reader £60 a year. He admitted Mr Haigh was not licensed, but said he had been before the board of examiners and pending receipt of a formal document the archbishop had sanctioned the present arrangement.

"The workers reply to this is so far as they know no grants have been stopped by the local colliery owners, and sanction had not been given for Mr Haigh to go on indefinitely as an unlicensed lay-reader. Further, they contend the following figures fully justify any action which the churchwardens took on Sunday. During the time of the Revd F H Jackson's curacy there were 282 communions made from Oct 28th 1911, to Feb 18th 1912. From Oct 28th 1913 to Feb 8th this year only 46 communions were made and from Dec 14th until Feb 8th this year no communion has been held at the mission church. In consequence of this neglect by the vicar, and also through not having a proper clerical worker, the attendance at the services has gone down, and the organisations are suffering.

"Again there is bitterness over a proposal by the workers to put in a new organ. The vicar has objected to this being put in - so say the workers - on the ground he had not been previously consulted. They point out he had actually commended the project in public, and has wished the workers every success in their efforts to obtain the necessary money for the organ. In view of this they say his change of front is indefensible.

"From whatever standpoint the trouble is viewed it is most regrettable and it is hoped the powers that be will this time be able to effect a real settlement."
Whoever the powers that be were who the Express referred to they sorted it out a few weeks later by announcing in May St Peter's Mission Church was to be included in Purston Parish subject to the official sanction of the Archbishop of York.
Two weeks later Revd H S Rogers took part in a Sunday service as the vicar of the mission, and it was also the opening of the new organ, except parts of the organ had been damaged in transit so it could not be played. By the afternoon it was ready enough for a recital to be given by Mr J N Hardy of Wakefield Cathedral.
A crowded congregation got an idea of what the organ would be like when finished, and at the end of the recital Mr Hardy said when it was completed it would be a credit to the church, to the village and to the builder, Mr Ward of Middlesborough. Revd Rogers then conducted a short service.
In July Mr Cooper, a lay-reader at Purston Church, was put in charge at St Peter's, and one week later Revd J Gray was appointed to be curate-in-charge.

THE AGED MINERS' HOMES

The aged miners' homes were first suggested in 1911 to be a memorial for the Coronation. No mention was made of why it took three years for the idea to reach fruition. In March the homes were ready for occupation at a cost, according to Mr W H Fearnley, the architect, of £650.

The Hon J C Lister had promised to perform the opening ceremony but he was ill and could not attend. His wife attended in his place and Roslyn Holiday acted as chairman. He said he had never felt more honoured than on that occasion. He touched on the great interest Mr Lister took in matters affecting the welfare of his employees, and expressed regret at his absence, but they were delighted to have Mrs Lister with them. He then gave a history of the scheme and said the men and master had contributed equally to the cost. This was another instance of the good-feeling existing between Mr Lister and his employees. He trusted this would long continue.

Mrs Lister spoke of the pleasure she derived from being among her husband's employees. Mr Lister was with them in spirit and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to think the Ackton Hall employees were happy and prosperous. His wishes on their behalf had been most ably carried out by Mr Holiday on a number of occasions. She was delighted with the homes. She trusted they would be happy homes and full of comfort, and the inmates would have rest and contentment there as long as they needed an earthly home. She had much pleasure in declaring the homes open.

Mrs Lister was thanked by Messrs Murphy and Scholes and Thomas Garritty (one of the trustees) who spoke to the good feeling between master and men. Those present then moved to the Lister Hall (the baths) for tea. Cr Murphy, on behalf of the architect, trustees, committee and workers presented Mrs Lister with a pendant of opals and peridots. He asked Mrs Lister to accept it more as an emblem of the kindly feeling which the subscribers felt towards her and Mr Lister than for its intrinsic value, and expressed the hope she would come amongst them on many occasions.

Mrs Lister thanked them from the bottom of her heart for the gift. She said she would value it highly, for it would remind her of one of the happiest days of her life. She would wear it often and when she looked at it she would think of the hearty welcome she had received that day, and also of the old folk in those homes at Ackton.

Cr Murphy said Mr Holiday and Mr Lister had offered to pay the cost of furnishing the homes, laying out the grounds and this tea. Mr Holiday said anything he had done had been a labour of love and Mrs Lister had been delighted with her reception and all she had seen. She would be able to tell her husband of the harmony existing at Ackton Hall Colliery. One outcome of this would be a lasting memorial at Ackton which those present would be able to show their children and their children's children.

The first tenants were Mr and Mrs A Adlington, Mr and Mrs J Fisher, Mr and Mrs T Williams, Mrs Knight, and Mr and Mrs Martin. Mrs Lister had promised to send an electro-plated teapot to each home.

The following photos from the Featherstone Library Collection show the newly built homes and Roslyn Holiday with three ladies, probably Mrs Lister on the left.

A TRAIN ACCIDENT AT FEATHERSTONE

In March William Cooper, a trammer (a pusher of tubs at the pit) sued the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company for £113 10s for personal injuries He told the court he had one finger of the left hand injured through the negligence of a porter at Featherstone Station.

He said he got into a compartment of the 2.50pm train to Pontefract last August. There were already nine persons in the compartment. Then another three persons got in and as the train started a man called Armitage was pushed in by the porter.

Cooper said he got up to allow Armitage to get in, and in doing so Armitage knocked against him and he put his hand against the door jamb. The porter shut the door and trapped one of his fingers. He fainted when they got to Tanshelf and had to be seen to professionally and he was off work for some weeks. John Cooper and Willie Ward, both of Pontefract, supported Cooper's evidence.

For the defence evidence was given by Arthur James Chester, a porter, William Dobson, foreman porter, R S Bailey, stationmaster at Featherstone, Sam Pickup of Wakefield, who was the guard on the train, and Henry Hemingway, stationmaster at Tanshelf. Their version was Armitage ran for the train after it had started and the door was opened from the inside for him to get in. Because the train was moving the porter tried to shut the door but failed, and it was closed from the inside. Also Cooper had admitted he was helping Armitage in when the door was shut on his finger.

His Honour said he was bound to accept the positive evidence of the railway officials. There had been no negligence by the defendants and the judgment would be in their favour.

Miners waiting for the Pontefract train. A Featherstone Library Collection photo.

DEATH OF A DEPUTY

An inquest was held at the Gospel Hall in April into the death of John Redgwick aged 44 of Station Lane. He was a deputy at Ackton Hall Colliery and died after being taken ill down the pit. John William Redgwick, his father, said John had returned home from work the previous Sunday at 6.30am complaining of having swallowed smoke and coal dust at a gob fire in the pit.

He went to work on the Monday and Tuesday, but on the Tuesday shift he was taken ill but was able to walk home. Dr Steven was sent for but in spite of his efforts John died on the Wednesday afternoon. The father told the jury he had heard of four men who had refused to work in the pit on Friday because of the gob fire.

Dr Steven said the deceased had been a patient of his. He had been a healthy man, but during the past few months he had complained of pain in the stomach after taking food. He saw him on the Tuesday and he was suffering severe pain in the abdomen. He had had this before but it had always passed off. He did not complain of having swallowed smoke or coal dust. The post mortem showed there was an ulcer of the abdomen of long standing. Death was due to syncope caused by the perforating ulcer. It was a purely natural death, not accelerated by the deceased swallowing smoke or coal dust. Answering Dr Buncle he said if the man's stomach had been poisoned by smoke or coal dust his blood would have been cherry red, whereas it was very dark.

The coroner, Major Arundel, said he thought the proper verdict would be in accordance with the medical evidence, and the jury decided it was death from natural causes.

THE UNITED CHARITIES

There were many small charities in Featherstone and Purston and the Charity Commissioners agreed they could all be combined under new trustees. It was hoped Bailey's Charity could be included but this was ruled out because it involved Whitwood which was once part of Featherstone Parish.

The first meeting of the trustees for the Featherstone United Charities was held in May. Revd Stebbing should have convened the meeting but he refused to do so. (He had been criticised for the way he gave out the money previously.) Messrs Maxwell and Darlington called the trustees together. The others were Mr S Batten, Mrs J Hirst, and Mr J J Murphy.

Mr Darlington was elected chairman. Mr Maxwell told the meeting Mr Stebbing had told him he would have nothing to do with the administration of the charities and would not attend the meeting. Mr J A Haigh, the clerk to the council, accepted the position of honorary secretary, and Mr J W Sisson, the council accountant, became honorary treasurer. It was decided to meet each May and November with other meetings as necessary.

Mr Maxwell said they would have to consider if the Bede houses at North Featherstone were worth repairing because they were in a bad state. There was the prospect of selling some land for road widening and if they did this they might have sufficient income to build and maintain other almshouses. The present income from the charities was between £30 and £35.

Mr Batten asked if Mr Stebbing could be replaced. The secretary said no because he had a place as the Vicar of Featherstone.

1914 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY The newly formed Featherstone and District Band of Hope and Temperance Workers' Union Held a meeting in Purston Wesleyan Chapel schoolroom. About 60 people heard Revd E W Challenge of Pontefract wish the movement every success. He said there was a need for it in Featherstone.

350 people crowded the Lister Hall for the Featherstone and Purston Women's Unionist Association whist drive and dance. Dances were held regularly by other organisations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, admission 6d.

The West Riding Education Authority wrote to the education sub-committee sanctioning a rise in salary for Miss Maxwell, headmistress at Featherstone National School, from £95 to £100.

The Adult School had been so successful at raising money for the Old Folks' Treat they had enough left to give a well-stocked bag of food to 100 aged and infirm persons who had been unable to get to the Assembly Rooms for the tea.

FEBRUARY Albert Chadwick of Streethouse died of consumption. He was the Rovers representative on various league committees since the club was formed. The players wore black arm bands in their next game.

There were regular boxing tournaments on Tuesday nights in the Lister Hall organised by Fred Amison. The boxers were all from Featherstone and a few miles around, and large crowds turned up to watch them.

There were 97 patients in Ackton Hospital, near the limit of 105. Most had scarlet fever, with a few of diphtheria and typhoid. There were 23 from Featherstone.

One Featherstone girl was in a school for mentally defectives. Because her father was out of work the education sub-committee recommended he be excused payments until he found a job. The West Riding Education Authority said they could find a place for another mentally defective child in a Liverpool school, and because of the parents' circumstances they did not propose to ask for a contribution.

Mr A Alexander, on behalf of the Featherstone Teachers' Association, asked the education sub-committee to alter their holiday scheme by substituting another half-day for Shrove Tuesday. Mr Leadbeater said apart from the last two years the youngsters had had Shuttlecock Tuesday ever since he could remember, and he did not believe in the teachers overriding the children. Mr Murphy said the committee had already decided the children should have Shrove Tuesday and on his suggestion the letter was ignored.

An inquest was held on John Roberts aged 23, a wagon builder, who was found dead in Featherstone Main reservoir. He had been off work for 16 weeks suffering mental depression. The verdict was suicide while of unsound mind.

MARCH The brass band reported donations of £71 during 1913 and total receipts of £162. The band now only owed £9 for the instruments and uniforms.

Featherstone Rovers (still a junior club) had won through to the second round of the Northern Union Challenge Cup. 4,000 spectators paid £81 to watch the game, but senior club Hull were too good for the Rovers who lost 27-3. The game was described as very rough and Savage and Green of Featherstone and Grice of Hull were sent off.

The education sub-committee had to consider the problem of pay to uncertificated teachers. There were quite a few of these in Featherstone's schools. Miss Cockerham, headmistress at Regent Street Girls' School wrote to the committee about Miss Felthouse and Miss Downes. She praised their work and said they had been on the maximum salary of £60 for eight years. She asked the committee to recommend an advance. The chairman, Mr Maxwell, said these teachers were better than many certificated teachers who were receiving £90 a year. It was agreed to ask the Education Authority to raise the maximum by £10 to meet cases like these.

APRIL Fred Emery and John Johnson were seen after Pontefract Races had ended pulling down wooded bars in the shilling ring and making off towards Featherstone. A phone call was made to Purston Police Station and PC Williams caught them going into Stanley Street with the wood which was valued at 15s. They were both fined 20s.

A presentation was held at Featherstone Main Working Mens' Club for Mr Leadbeater who had been a deputy for 25 years at the colliery. He commenced work there as a boy 17 years before then. Peter Darlington, the manager, presented him with a gold watch, double-curb gold guard and signet. His wife was presented with a pearl broach.

Ackton Hall Colliery brought a case against Joseph William Barton for £3 9s for breach of contract claiming he left the colliery without working his 14 days notice. The company said this was becoming a regular practice. They said Barton sent in a doctor's note but he was actually working at Walton Colliery. The claim was for 12 shifts at 5s 9d and was allowed by the Bench.

Mr S Taylor attended the education sub-committee meeting to ask if his son age 13 could be exempt from school. He was told the boy would have to attend until he was 14.

An inquest was held into the death of a four weeks old child of Luke and Agnes Williams who had died of suffocation. This was the fourth of their nine children to die before reaching the first birthday.

Five more Featherstone youths were fined £1 each for pulling wooden bars off a stand at Pontefract racecourse and taking the wood home.

St Peter's Mission Church rented two shops in Green Lane and decided to convert them into a club for youths.

MAY Gwennie Hirst, an assistant at the shop of John Coalfield in Station Lane, put some paper on the kitchen fire and then locked up and went home. Beatrice Coley saw smoke coming from the premises and raised the alarm. The fire brigade arrived but the fire had been put out before they got there. The damage was estimated at £10.

At the education sub-committee meeting Mr Higgins protested at a charge of 25s for the hire of school premises for a political meeting. Mr Maxwell said the majority of the committee were in favour of this fee, but Mr Higgins could give notice to have the minute rescinded.

Ackton Hall Colliery ambulance team competed in London against ten other teams for the Dewar Shield. Northampton won and Ackton Hall Colliery were second.

North Featherstone Northern Union Football Club won the Wakefield and District League Championship for the third year in succession.

An inquest was held on Alfred Turner aged 16 of Knottingley who was killed at Ackton Hall Colliery only two hours after he commenced work there as a pony driver. When he signed on he had claimed he had worked at Prince of Wales Colliery for over two years, so after being shown what to do he was set to work on his own. He was found dead, trapped between a tub and the side of the road.

Featherstone Brass Band played their first concert at Pontefract under their conductor James Moxon Jnr.

An inquest was held at Clayton Hospital on Thomas Millard aged 15 who was run over by four empty tubs he was driving with his pony at Ackton Hall Colliery. He died soon after being admitted.

JUNE The education sub-committee re-elected Mr J Maxwell as chairman. A letter from the Castleford, Pontefract and District Association of Teachers asked the committee to consider all questions of teachers' salaries in private instead of in public. Mr Higgins said as the public paid the piper they had a right to know how the money was being spent. The majority of the committee were against agreeing to the request. Mr R B Cowey, headmaster at Gordon Street Senior School, asked for a rise on his £175 salary. He said headmasters at similar schools were receiving £200. The committee decided not to recommend an increase.

JULY Ackton Hospital considered making the walls round the hospital higher because people outside were using the barbed wire on the present walls to pull themselves up onto the top of the walls so they could communicate with the patients inside.

Many miners were prosecuted for taking matches down the collieries. His Worship said the Bench had had before them that morning sufficient matches to blow up nearly all the collieries in the district.

Featherstone Brass Band had entered the Crystal Palace contests and were looking to the people of Featherstone to assist with the £30 the visit to London would cost.

The Ackton Hall Colliery ambulance team won the Skipton Challenge Shield value 40 guineas. The team was A Kershaw (captain), J W Pashley, J W Brooks and C Parker.

Mr Cowey asked the education sub-committee if he could take the children on their annual outing on a school day because the railway fares were less than on a Saturday. The committee decided the trip could be regarded as educational so they agreed to the request.

The Great War 1914

AUGUST

The declaration of war in August caused no immediate problems in Featherstone apart from the calling up of the Reservists and some alleged profiteering, but those on holiday in France had to make plans to get home as soon as possible. Percy Gould, a teacher who lived in Halfpenny Lane, was in Paris to take a course of lectures. After the first one he decided he had better give them up and he caught what was to be the last train to Dieppe for some time. The train and boat were both crowded and it took him two days to get back to Featherstone.

Roslyn Holiday had taken his family to St Laurent in Normandy, and did not know war was declared until a local radio enthusiast picked it up on his set. Mr Holiday left most of his luggage and his family and took the local train to the main line station. There he was told no tickets for Cherbourg were being issued. On explaining he was an Englishman trying to get home a place was found for him on a train. At Cherbourg he found other Englishmen waiting but no boat for England. In the end a boat from the West Indies was persuaded to stop off-shore and the passengers were taken out by a tender and then brought home.

The council were still trying to get rid of the smallpox hospital and it was offered to Ackton Hospital for £70. Cr Waller grumbled at the cost of sending a deputation to London for five days which came to £16 10s. He was told the allowances were in accordance with the scale sanctioned by the Local Government Board.
The county council wrote to Featherstone Council asking for the names of charitable organisations to undertake the relieving of distress caused by the war. The council decided they would undertake this work themselves assisted by others as necessary.
Another letter was from the Featherstone Main Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association complaining about the abnormal prices of foodstuffs during the present national crisis. The opinion of the council was there had been no overcharging since the Government had issued an official price list, and the earlier profiteering was because of the wholesalers. If specific cases were brought the council would inform the Board of Trade.
Cr Holiday appealed to the loyalty of the members and of the Featherstone public to do their best to help those who were not in as good a position as themselves. There would be distress, and he knew the members would not only do their utmost as members of the distress committee but also individually to help relieve this. There was room for everyone to do something, and particularly they should see the dependents of the Reservists who were doing their duty for their country should not want.

The Featherstone Show went ahead as normal, but the flying display by the Blackburn Aeroplane Company was cancelled at short notice. Mr Holiday said it was a matter for gratification that "our show" had been well supported for ten years. He felt proud in spite of the grave menace around them they could keep themselves calm and meet in that way. They were ready to do their duty the moment they were called upon. In the circumstances they wished Mr Blackburn good luck in the service of the nation and accepted their disappointment cheerfully.
Mr Darlington said they were fortunate to have Mr Holiday with them, and if he had not looked sharp he might have been in France or Germany yet. He hoped Mr Holiday would be with them to open at least another ten more shows.

Local organisation were soon into the swing of things. One group of women were making preparations for the reception and treatment of wounded soldiers, and others were making arrangements for the provision of underclothing for the soldiers in the front lines. Mrs Rogers, wife of the Purston vicar, and Dr Steven were responsible for setting up the clothing scheme. 200 knitters and sewers were quickly enrolled, and the material was provided from money collections, with the workers agreeing to find their own cotton and knitting needles.

SEPTEMBER

One unusual problem soon arose. There were three Germans at Ackton Hall Colliery, described as very good workers. They all lived in Masham's Square. Along with other local Germans they were arrested and interned in York. After a short while they were released and went back to Ackton Hall Colliery. At first the other workers were willing to have them back, but as news of the war came from France and Belgium the miners held a mass meeting and decided they didn't want them. The management moved them to the brickyard, but that was no better so they were interned again and their families put in the workhouse.

As more and more miners joined the Forces and left Featherstone it brought up the problem of how to make sure the families they left behind did not suffer hardship. Roslyn Holiday said he had been informed by the Hon J C Lister he would do all that was necessary, but the miners at Ackton Hall Colliery decided they wanted to be involved as well, so a joint scheme was set up.

It was agreed those families who lived in colliery houses would not be disturbed, and if they couldn't afford the rent they wouldn't be asked for it. They would also have free coal and money allowances depending on their circumstances. The maximum would be 7s for a wife and 2s each for children. The miners would contribute to the fund according to their wages. The undermanagers and deputies agreed to give 1s a week.

The Featherstone Main Colliery owners agreed to pay wives 7s 6d plus1s for each child, and coal at the usual price paid by the husband. The workers at the Main agreed to top this up to 10s for wives and 2s for children.

The council house scheme ran into trouble. Messrs Birch and Sons who had the main contract said it was difficult to obtain men and materials, and the council told the surveyor to push the scheme on as fast as he could. It was agreed any council workman could join up and the council would make up his army pay to his normal wages.

The Yorkshire Electric Power Company was once again trying to bring electricity to Featherstone for street lighting. Cr Evans favoured this because the local gas company had a monopoly and they charged more for the gas than either Normanton or Henry Briggs. Cr Murphy was opposed because he objected to any private company having powers which he considered should belong to a public authority.

The Featherstone Distress Committee was formed as a sub-committee of the county council. Roslyn Holiday said because the collieries had set up their own schemes for enlisting miners, there was no distress yet. When help was necessary the committee should not give those who would receive help the impression they were doing them a favour, but rather the impression the committee were honoured by being allowed to hand over the money.

Col Shaw suggested to the War Office a battalion be raised from the miners of West Yorkshire and district. The War Office agreed and said it should be called the Pontefract Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Recruitment was not as quick as expected so the name was changed. In about five weeks 70 men from Ackton Hall and 56 from Featherstone Main had enlisted in "The Coal Trade Battalion for West Yorkshire". All 18 members of the Ackton Hall Colliery St John Ambulance Brigade had volunteered.

Mrs Rogers socks scheme passed the 100 pairs mark, and Mrs Darlington had received 300 shirts. The Boy Scouts were making Saturday collections to provide the funds, and raising about £4 a week. The working mens' clubs were also helping out. The Featherstone Main and Green Lane Clubs gave £10 each to the cause.

The Government decreed all public houses must close by 9pm and all off-licences had to stop selling intoxicants at the same time. Lord Halifax spoke on the cause of the war to a well-attended meeting at the Hippodrome.

Two young lads were in court charged with stealing items stored by Ackton Hall Colliery in Green Lane. They belonged to the German families and were being cared for by the colliery company.

Roslyn Holiday returned to France to bring home his family who had been there since July. He had to charter two cars to get them and their luggage across France to St Malo, but they arrived back in Featherstone without incident.

OCTOBER

By the beginning of October the shirts had passed the 400 mark and 160 pairs of socks had been knitted. The Government said they would supply the fighting line with shirts so some were sent to Doncaster for the 5th KOYLI (Territorials) where there were many Featherstone men.

The distress committee decided to have collections to meet cases over and above those provided for by the colliery companies and workers.

At a meeting in George Street School Peter Darlington said out of a population of 4,000 men 700 had offered themselves for the service of their country. It was the supreme duty of every Englishman who could to join the Army. They would never again have such a chance of serving the country. Mr T Ryan hoped by the end of the year the war would have been fought to a successful conclusion.

The West Yorkshire Miners' Battalion soon had a full compliment. It included 172 men from Featherstone Main and 122 from Ackton Hall Colliery. The camp was to be near Otley and the coal owners agreed to provide the men with mattresses, blankets and pillows. The Featherstone men attended the Drill Hall to be measured for their uniforms.

The Queen had appealed for cholera belts, so the Featherstone women set about making those as well as other clothing. A batch of 100 socks were got ready to be sent to the front line. Some knitters put a packet of cigarettes in the socks, and others included a packet of boracic powder.

The members of the Featherstone and Purston Women's Voluntary Aid Detachment under the command of Mrs Finch were attending classes for taking posts as nurses. They were also making collections to provide materials for hospital garments, and so far they had raised £13.

An inquest was held on William Dunmore aged 33. He was getting the middle coal in the Warrenhouse Seam when more than a ton of coal, which had been spragged, fell on him killing him instantly. The verdict was accidental death.

The council asked the undertakers to stop carrying bodies out of Ackton Hospital, and to use the trolley. Birch and Sons Ltd asked for a meeting with the council because of the rise in prices of building materials and the scarcity of labour. The Council asked Mr Birch to provide particulars.

The rate was fixed at 2s 3d for the half year. Cr Maxwell said they had done their best to limit expenditure and he hoped they would be able to reduce the rate next time. The clerk said at a recent inquest the coroner had congratulated the council on their new mortuary which had been used for the first time.

The Post Office near the level crossing was opened. The Express commented "They are a great improvement on the former premises in Post Office Road, and the change from the miserable inadequate accommodation in Station Lane will be welcomed by the public and staff alike".

The distress committee received a letter from the county council asking for accommodation for Belgian refugees. The committee decided to ask the council for free use of the smallpox hospital and the gas company would be asked to supply the gas free. It was agreed to set up a Belgian Refugee Fund and ask the public for money and clothing, and the miners to organise a small weekly levy. Dr Buncle and Mr Chesney would examine the hospital to see how many persons could be accommodated there.

Mrs Hoyle of the Junction Hotel had collected hundreds of packets of cigarettes for the soldiers socks. The knitters had now added balaclavas to their list. A letter from Queen Mary's lady-in-waiting said "The lady-in-waiting presents her compliments to Mrs Rogers, and is commanded by the Queen to thank the women of Purston and Featherstone very cordially for their most generous gifts of socks and their promise of belts to follow. The Queen is most touched by the amount of time and work these represent, and at the thoughtful little contributions by the men for their friends at the front. The Queen much appreciates the expression of loyalty by Purston and Featherstone".

John Waller died aged 85. He was called "The Grand Old Man of Purston". He was born in Purston in 1828 and the next year his father moved into the house which later became the Junction Hotel. It was then a private residence but changed to a public house and received a full licence in 1845. It had been in John Waller's name for 29 years without a single complaint lodged against him by the authorities. Mr Waller was also a brewer and a farmer. When he retired in 1894 it was his boast no man had worked harder or known more drudgery than he had.

He was a past member and chairman of the old Local Board and had been a member of the Board of Guardians for 40 years. He was made a JP in 1904. He did not marry until he was 40 and he left two sons. He had been vicar's warden at Purston Church ever since that post commenced. Every Christmas he gave away money and other gifts to the deserving poor of Featherstone and Purston, and on his 80th birthday he gave away 110 half crowns.

His death was peaceful and three weeks earlier he said he was ready, he had had a good innings and he hoped he had not left any enemies. All the children of Purston School were brought out to see the funeral pass. Boy Scouts formed a guard of honour. There were hundreds present to see the coffin draped in black with white flowers.

NOVEMBER

South Kirkby, Featherstone and Hemsworth Collieries Ltd had offered £25 for the coal under the Bede houses, and the council had offered 2s 6d a square yard for the land they were on for road improvements. Roslyn Holiday told a United Charities meeting if it was decided to rebuild the Bede houses he would recommend the project to the Hon J C Lister.

An inquest was held on Ernest Hopkin age 19 of Sheffield who was lodging in Station Lane and had worked at Snydale Colliery for six weeks as a pony driver. He was trapped and killed between a tub and a prop. The verdict was accidentally killed through being crushed between the second tub of a run and a prop, probably while trying to free the run from some dirt in the road.

A rumour the Featherstone and Purston Voluntary Aid Detachment were using donations to supply themselves with uniforms was described as ridiculous. These were provided at their own expense.

The council took Elizabeth Bramley to court for failing to convert privies to WC's in four houses in Wakefield Road. She agreed to have the work done and had to pay £5 5s costs.

Mr H Cooper, headmaster of Purston National School, attended the education sub-committee meeting to answer allegations against him by Mr Goodwin in refusing to release a pupil from school. Mr Cooper said he got out the child's attendance record a month before she was thirteen. On the same day he gave her the usual form for her to take home to be signed by her father. This was not sent back until the Friday before the holidays and it was signed in pencil. He sent the child back home to tell her father it must be signed in ink. The girl admitted her mother had done it. He gave her another form but she did not come back to school. If the form had been properly signed the girl would have been given her certificate, but now according to the rules she would have to attend for another week. Mr Goodwin did not attend the meeting and it was decided to accept Mr Cooper's explanation.

Featherstone Brass Band were to be asked to escort the Belgian refugees on their arrival. M Guillaume Mestdaugh was to attend a meeting about the refugees but at the last minute he was unable to be present. At the distress committee meeting Mr Darlington suggested the name of the smallpox hospital should be changed to "The Haven". Furniture had been promised and Roslyn Holiday said the Hon J C Lister had pledged £50 to the Belgium Relief Fund and £50 to the Distress Fund. It was hoped men used to agricultural work would be sent so they could work on the land around The Haven. The gas company had promised to supply gas free.

The smallpox hospital in Little Lane. A photo from the Tony Lumb Collection.

The council agreed to purchase helmets, tunics etc for the fire brigade at a cost of £41 14s 6d, and to alter a room for the use of the brigade. The captain would be paid 3s 4d for each drill plus a £3 retaining fee, and the men would get 2s 3d and £2. They had to attend two-thirds of the drills to qualify.

J Bullock and Sons commenced a bus service to Pontefract.

This B & S bus had solid rubber tyres. Such buses were called "boneshakers". From the Howard Benson website.

Bullocks also had a taxi for hire. A photo from the Featherstone Library Collection.

The Featherstone Teachers' Association sent £14 as a first contribution to the Belgian Relief Fund and they asked for a seat on the distress committee which was granted. The committee announced the totals raised so far were £87 for the Distress Fund and £96 for the Belgians. An offer from the manager at the Hippodrome to give a sacred concert in aid of the refugees was accepted, and the Featherstone Brass Band had agreed to escort the refugees on arrival. The Haven was now ready to be occupied.

The Army and Navy Shirts and Socks Committee were continuing their good work. The Government's rule seems to have been forgotten because the Express reported men at the front were being supplied with shirts, belts, socks, mufflers etc. It seems the women got round the rule by sending parcels direct to local men in the Forces. Many letters were received from the soldiers expressing gratitude for the efforts of the Featherstone and Purston women. One from Gunner J F Trevelyan expressed the hope he and his three brothers would live to come back safe and sound to Featherstone.

It was reported there were now 831 dependents of the Miners' Battalion and £53 a week was needed to relieve distress. The miners were giving 2½% of their wages towards this. The Hon J C Lister had given £804 to date to the Ackton Hall Colliery fund. The Featherstone Main owners had passed the £700 mark.

Richard Mason and Isaac Bastow, labourers, were sent to prison for sleeping out at Ackton Hall Colliery dirt stack. Mason, said to be well known at Featherstone, had 24 previous convictions.

DECEMBER

Aaron Hill, a Purston bookmaker, was charged with street betting. PC Shaw said he saw men hand Hill strips of paper and money. When arrested his betting book contained a record of 81 bets.

The distress committee announced donations were now £104 for the local fund and £121 for the Belgian fund. The children at Purston School had knitted belts, mittens and cap-mufflers which were all sent off to local soldiers.

The council decided the rents for the first council houses would be 6s a week and the surveyor and sanitary inspector would decide on the letting.

The children at North Featherstone Lane Junior Mixed School were asked what they would rather do - have the usual Christmas treat or send parcels to the soldiers at the front. They unanimously decided to send parcels, and gifts poured in from the children, parents and friends. There were enough to send 15 parcels which contained chocolates, cigarettes, handkerchiefs, Vaseline, bootlaces, shaving sticks and sweets.

The Haven had been ready for some weeks but no refugees had arrived. A big welcome had been arranged but the notice of their arrival was so short Mr Darlington had only time to arrange a bus and meet them off the 8.23pm train himself. There were nine refugees, three families, and they were taken straight to their new accommodation. The council decided the men would be found work if possible, and 50% of their earnings would be saved for when they returned to Belgium. 25% would be for their keep and the other 25% would be handed to them.

A notice would be fixed to The Haven asking the public not to interfere with the privacy of the refugees. One father and a sick child had to stay behind in London, but everyone was pleased when they arrived on Christmas Day. Roslyn Holiday stood in for Father Christmas, and other dignitaries did all they could to make it a good Christmas for the refugees.

The county council told the distress committee Christmas presents should be given to the local soldiers' children, and the Canadian Government were offering food for the Belgians. The committee decided to ask for flour, potatoes and cheese. A letter was sent to the local doctors thanking them for their voluntary services to the wives and dependents of men who had enlisted.

The three German women in the workhouse left and found lodgings in Featherstone pit houses. The Ackton Hall Colliery agent said if they did not leave the tenants would have to go, so they were turned out and ended up back at the workhouse.