1953

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 
 1953
 
 THE COUNCIL
JANUARY  The council agreed to adapt Purston Hall as a civic centre at a cost of £13,450. Planning approval was given for a reinforced concrete stand on the Rovers ground. A scheme would be prepared for 12 bus shelters. Planning permission was given for a housing site in Girnhill Lane for the NCB.
FEBRUARY  A severe gale caused death, flooding and destruction on the east coast. The council sent six dinghies from Purston Park by county fire service tenders, and the chairman, Cr W Griffiths said the urgent need is for relief, and I know it will be the wish of residents of Featherstone to play a full part. I am therefore opening a local fund to which I now invite donations. 
  Traffic lights were recommended for the bottom of Station Lane, but the county council suggested deferring the matter pending the development of the Girnhill Lane housing site by the NCB.  
MARCH  The council was at odds with the Express over what they considered was wrongful reporting of recommendations by committees which had not been confirmed by the council. They said such recommendations would be withheld because the Express refused to give a written assurance "regarding resolutions of a confidential nature publication of which might operate to the detriment of the ratepayers in general".
  The Express replied the written assurance asked for represented a serious restriction of the legal rights afforded to the Press, and suggested the reports of the council meetings might not be allocated the same space in the newspaper.
APRIL  For the third time in five years there was no contest in the council elections. The retiring members were John Parker, Henry Woodcock, Harold Darbyshire and Willie Bingley.
MAY It was reported the baths superintendent, Mr J Black, and his wife had tendered their resignations and then submitted a request to be allowed to withdraw them. The council agreed to the withdrawal of the notices and said increased wages would be considered when an application was received. 
  The East Coast Flood Relief Fund closed at £249 16s 1d, and the King George VI Memorial Fund at £24 2s 1d. The Coronation Fund has reached £287 4s 6d.
  The annual meeting elected Cr J Parker as chairman. He was concerned the head of Featherstone Council, when meeting his local counterparts at various functions, did not have a chain of office. He said Featherstone had produced no less than 100 million tons of coal, and he hoped the former coal owners would follow the lead of Mr A Bullock (who had give £1,000 for a new stand on the Rovers ground), and do something about it.
  The clerk, Mr H Tattersall, said a chain of office could not be bought from public funds. Cr W Griffiths suggested the matter might be considered again when the coast is clear (ie when the present fund raising was ended). 
JUNE  The chairman said Featherstone had been widely complimented on its postponed Coronation programme, and he thanked the council officials for their work. He also hoped during his year of office they would be able to work amicably with the Press.
SEPTEMBER  The council noted the receipt by the Coal Industry Housing Association of tenders amounting to £228,724 for 174 houses in Girnhill Lane. Also that an order constituting a Joint Cremation Board would operate from 1 April 1954.
OCTOBER  It was decided to suspend the points system for allocating council houses and to give absolute priority to tenants of properties to be demolished. A public inquiry would be held into the council's application to borrow £17,028 to adapt Purston Hall into a civic centre.
NOVEMBER   An offer of £5 5s per Saturday evening for old-time dancing at the Lister Hall from Mr N Longbottom was accepted. The profits would be shared by the St John Ambulance Brigade and the British Legion. It was considered the safety of the floor was in question for modern dances. 
DECEMBER  The Ministry of Housing told the council because of the number of houses under construction, and the number approved but not yet begun, no more tenders for traditional houses should be submitted for 1954, but 50 more non-tradition houses (flats) would be considered reasonable. It was decided to explain to Mrs Darlison (the house builder) non-completion of houses is injuring the future programme, and the work must be speeded up. 

THE WATER TOWER
   After many years in the planning the new water tower at North Featherstone was declared open in January by Cr W Griffiths, the chairman of the council. He said the project was first discussed in 1946, but shortages had made it a long drawn out job. He was certain the tower would make a vast difference in the Purston Area, and nowhere would there be any more water problems.
  Cr Rowley said the project was one needed for a long time, and the need had been emphasised by housing development. Reports received after the test indicated a tremendous increase in water pressure in the Purston Area, and it would now be possible to provide an adequate water supply to existing houses and those planned.
  The Express reported the capacity of the tower was 100,000 gallons and it could deliver 35,000 gallons per hour. It took its water from the original 314,000 gallons steel tank which was fed from a nine inch main from Wakefield. A new five inch main would serve Ackton and Streethouse, and the old reservoir at Mill Hill would be retained for emergency use only. The photos are from the Express.
 
 
 
VERMINOUS HOUSE
  John Jepson Smith of Altofts went to court in January seeking possession of a house in Robbins Terrace so he could restore it, and the adjoining property, to a state fit to live in.
  Mr A M Smith, on behalf of the owner, told the court cupboard doors and panels had been kicked out, window panes broken and replaced with rags, fluff was littered about the place, the house smelt of decay and neglect, and the houses on each side had to be fumigated against vermin which had escaped from the house in question. He said bugs seem to have gone one way and blackclocks the other.
  The rent collector, Leslie Brown, said the house was very dirty and smelly and appeared not to have been decorated for years. The houses had been damaged by subsidence, and the NCB had promised to repair the houses next door to the one in question, but the workmen refused to work in them because of the vermin.
  The sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, said he had fumigated the houses at one side because the workmen would not continue, and the house at the other side at the request of the tenant. He told the court Robbins Terrace was classed as a very nice street, and there are some good tenants in it, but it has deteriorated in its social standing. The judge gave an order for possession in two months.

THE CRICKET CLUB
  The annual dinner of the cricket club was held at the Junction Hotel in January. Dr J Duncan proposed the health of the club. He said the club was going through a transition period, and perhaps some of the older players were a little beyond their best and they may have to concentrate more on the younger players. The cricket field was one of the few open spaces left in the town and he wished more use was made of it. The approach to it was appalling, bur improved accommodation for spectators and facilities for athletes would make it more popular.
  The president, Mr A E England, said finance was a major problem, and the financial position of the club gave no hope for capital expenditure or of renewing or improving existing facilities. The club had told the colliery welfare authorities it was willing to participate in a welfare scheme. It might result in the expenditure of thousands of pounds on lines similar to those mentioned in 1926 but never proceeded with. 
  The annual meeting was held at the Junction Hotel in December. The secretary, Mr W Fenton, said both cricket teams had improved their performance in the past season. The bowling members were full of enthusiasm and lost no opportunity to improve the green and its surroundings. The tennis players were severely handicapped by the courts being on the cricket field. More would be done by the committee if funds were available.
  He said Featherstone had to struggle each year to make financial ends meet. "I think we could carry on for years as we have been doing but without making the most of our ground. Consequently we have decided to become a welfare club. Only by giving our usual support to all efforts shall we gain the maximum benefit from this scheme which, I feel sure, will be to the good of Featherstone people in general".
  He mentioned the loss of Mrs H Mason, a driving force on the ladies' committee who had often expressed her desire to see a new scoring box on the ground. He hoped it would be possible to erect one as a lasting tribute to her memory.
  The Lister Hall was full for the New Year's Eve dance where Brenda Briggs's Sunbeams were an added attraction. There was community singing as midnight approached, and a fairy let in the New Year. 
    
THE ROVERS
  At a meeting in the Miners' Welfare in February the Rovers secretary, Mr G L Collier, said everything seems to be going wrong at the moment. An onrush of injuries had unsettled the team. 
  The financial secretary, Mr A H Greaves, said the increased entertainment tax had forced clubs to raise admission and subscription charges. He expressed the view the present rate of the tax was killing football.
  Mr A Berry said increased gates were the only answer. He wondered what had happened to the hundreds of additional supporters attracted by last season's cup triumphs. 
  The annual meeting was held in June at the Welfare Hall. The accounts showed expenditure had exceeded income by £875 which was accounted for by the club paying £1,642 in entertainment tax.
   Mr G L Collier, said the season ended with 18 players injured. Eric Batten scored 26 ties and broke the long standing record held by Jack Hirst. Several more matches could have been won with a more reliable goal kicker. The new season would find the popular side covered at long last by the generosity of the president Mr A Bullock.
  Once again there was a proposal regarding the guarantors, but it was heavily defeated. The chairman, Mr R H Jackson, said he was heartily sick of this business of the guarantors. Several were men who years ago virtually saved the club from extinction. They resent the inference they do nothing, and I can understand their feelings. He asked for an alternative to the guarantor system, and said his suggestion two years ago to form a limited company met with no response.
   The meeting agreed a message of thanks and best wishes for a speedy recovery after his illness be sent to the president Mr A Bullock.
  The players' annual dinner was held at the Junction Hotel in July and as usual the guests were the club's committee and representatives of the supporters' clubs. Mr W Williams said he was overjoyed at the wealth of young talent which the club possessed, and he felt many of the young players had a promising future.
  Cr W Bingley said he was sure if they produced the right type of football the public would do the rest. Mr J Jepson presented Irishman Jack Daley with his medal for playing in the Other Nationalities team last season, and thanked the council for securing a licence to build the new covered stand.  
 
THE AMDRAMS
 The Featherstone and District Musical and Dramatic Society  put on A Country Girl at the Welfare Hall in March. The president, Mr A Bullock, wrote in the programme they had had four producers in nine years, so this year they had two of their own members, Charles Brennan and James Stafford  as joint producers.
  The Express said the opening performance started with a flourish in contrast with some previous first night productions. Individual talent varied enormously, as it often does among amateur entertainers, but the weak clearly gathered confidence from the strong. A Country Girl would rank high among previous performances which had raised nearly £900 for charity.
  The December pantomime was Goody Two Shoes put on at the Miners' Welfare Hall. The Express commented "Although a small mining town the society lacks neither talent nor versatility, and is able to move from musical comedy to pantomime with facility".

THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II
  The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was fixed for June 2 and the council decided the celebrations in Featherstone would take place on that date. The West Riding County Council had said they would give a souvenir mug to each schoolchild so Featherstone Council made a decision in January to give each child a propelling pencil, and those under school age would receive a silver plated teaspoon.
  Over 400 people attended a rugby league film show and quiz held in the Miners' Welfare Hall in January in aid of the council's Coronation Fund. The films were of cup finals, including the Rovers, and the quiz was conducted by Bert Cook of Leeds RLFC assisted by Lionel Cooper of Huddersfield RLFC. The Event raised £15 8s 6d.   
  On the Saturday before the Coronation a game was held at the Belle Vue ground between Wakefield Trinity and Featherstone Rovers for the Coronation Cup presented by Mr J Bullock of Wakefield. The Rovers won 23-13.
  The next day there was a civic procession to Featherstone Parish Church. It began at the Miners' Welfare and was said to be the longest in living memory. It was headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band and included police, special constables, members and officials of the council, British Legion, St John Ambulance Brigade, Scouts and Guides. After the service the council chairman, Cr J Parker, took the salute in Ackton Lane.
  On Coronation Day, Tuesday 2 June, the Express reported "Featherstone accepted bravely the challenge of the rain, and those in the parade which assembled at the Bradley Arms Hotel were heartened by the many onlookers who lined the route to Purston Park. It was a picturesque procession, in spite of the fact that many of the children in the numerous tableaux had to cover their fineries with mackintoshes and coats. Two bands helped it to swing along through the decorated streets, but few of the spectators followed to the park.
  "The sun peeped through the leaden skies for a second before the chairman of the Council, Cr J Parker, declared open the day's festivities, and its watery rays seemed to mock the efforts of those who had done so much to transform the park for this day of days".
  The rain eventually forced a halt to the park programme, and events continued in Purston Parish Hall, the Parochial Hall, Green Lane, and the Miners' Welfare. The judges could not decide on the best decorated street, and seven were placed equal first. They were Halton Street, South View, Albert Street, Short Street, Moor Road, Wentbridge Road and Belmont Street in Streethouse.
   At Ackton Hospital the Ackton Hospital Comforts Fund gave each child a beaker containing sweets; female patients and staff received a cut-glass tray; and male patients and staff a drinking glass.
  The events which were postponed because of the rain took place on the Saturday. About 30 girls from the two senior schools gave a physical training display in front of Purston Hall, the Brendron School of Dancing gave a display on the boating lake island, and Songs from the Shows were performed by tenor John Tetlow with the Featherstone and District Amateur Dramatic Society, the Featherstone Labour Party Women's Choir, and the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band conducted by Mr T Sellars.
  It was estimated the biggest crowd ever seen in and around Purston Park, about 8,000, gathered to see the park lit up with fairy lights, Cr J Parker light the bonfire, and the fireworks.
  The Queen's Coronation Medal was awarded to civic leaders among others. Featherstone got four for Cr J Parker, the council chairman, Cr W Griffiths, the chairman before him, and council officials H Tattersall and J Hilsley.
  The photos below of the floodlit Purston Hall and a party in Earle Street are from the Dr Gatecliff Collection. That of the Coronation Medal is from the Traces of War website.

 

 

 
  NEW SCHOOL SHELVED
  At the annual meeting of the Pontefract Divisional Education Executive in July Cr W Bingley complained infants in Purston had to go to Regent Street School because of structural problems at Purston C of E school and some had to travel a mile. The children had to be accompanied and this was difficult for mothers with younger children and workers to look after. He said there were three classes at South Featherstone Secondary Modern School with 48 infants in each and asked what sort of education can be established that way? Over three years ago a new infants school was on a priority list but is now forgotten. He suggested two prefabricated classrooms at the South Featherstone School would cater admirably for Purston Infants.
  Cr J Harper said new housing estates were being built but there were no new schools to go with them. Two of the classes at South Featherstone were held in a hall with a dividing partition. The babble is like a monkey's cage. The transfer to Regent Street has brought an outburst from mothers.
  The chairman, Cr G Wright, thought it was unreasonable to expect five year old children to travel so far but asked what can we do? Cr Harper said make do with a couple of Nissen huts. The Executive agreed to point out the difficulty at Featherstone and ask the county committee to erect two prefabricated classrooms.

OLD FEATHERSTONE TREAT
    The Old Featherstone and Ackton Children's and Old Folk's Treat was held in July. The treat began in the 1920's and was an annual event except for a break because of the war. The carnival queen was Beryl Thorne, and accompanied by her attendants she took her place in the procession which visited Willow Lane, Halton Street, Ackton Road, Loscoe Hill, Ackton Hospital and the Manor estate.
  Back in Copley's field there were sports and tea for 300 children and 150 old people accompanied by selections from the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band. The cost of the treat was about £150.

MINERS' WELFARE
  The Miners' Welfare Scheme had been in financial trouble ever since the closure of Featherstone Main Colliery caused a large drop in income. in 1952 the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation took over from the old scheme, and they would be responsible for capital expenditure and the local miners would contribute to the running costs.
  For the Featherstone scheme to continue it depended on Ackton Hall Colliery miners agreeing to pay more. At a meeting in the Welfare Hall in October, the secretary of the Ackton Hall branch of the NUM, Mr C Dickinson, said the miners had agreed to increase their weekly contribution from 6½d to 8d per week.
  This cleared the way for CISWO to immediately begin a £4,600 renovation plan of the Welfare building. Also, improvements would be made at the cricket field. CISWO would meet all capital costs, but maintenance would be the responsibility of the Featherstone trustees. 
 
1953 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY For the third time in 18 months the Hippodrome was broken into through a side door. Only a torch was stolen. The safe, which had been moved on previous occasions but not opened, was now concreted to the floor.
  
  The General Post Office said 4,865 television licences had been taken out in the Pontefract and Castleford areas. As this included Castleford to Hemsworth and Knottingley to Featherstone there obviously were not many in the Featherstone district.
 
FEBRUARY  The Went Beck across the vicarage field had been cleaned out and the sides were steep. A 16 year old pony belonging to Mr A Jones of Purston got in the beck and could not get out. All attempts to rescue it failed and eventually a tractor pulled it out. It could not stand up and after about an hour it had to be shot.
 
  The Hospital Comforts Fund decided to install another wireless set at Ackton Hospital, and provide an electric razor. The fund would be responsible for Coronation Day celebrations at the hospital. 
 
  Norman Longbottom and his Band were in a regional dance band competition in Leeds. They tied with Joe Kirkland and his Band in the final, and lost in the play off by one point.
 
  Walter Wright, the people's warden at St Peter's Mission Church, was congratulated at a church meeting on his 50 years in the choir. He was the choirmaster for many years. 
 
APRIL  The Featherstone Branch of the women's section of the British Legion celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Social Service Centre. There were over 100 members and friends, including five founder members. The entertainment included the Featherstone Women's Labour Choir.
 
  The Ackton Hospital Comforts Fund arranged a variety concert in the Miners' Welfare. Dr R T Forster said extra comforts for hospitals were still greatly appreciated and did much to relieve the tedium of patients. The Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band played a march Featherstone specially written for them by Mr J Hollyhead of Morley and formerly of Pontefract. The concert raised £28.  They decided to present souvenirs to all patients in the hospital on Coronation Day. Each child would receive a beaker filled with chocolate, and each adult a piece of glassware.
 
  The annual meeting of the Road Safety Committee recommended zebra crossings should be placed outside the council offices and near the bottom of Station Lane, and the painting of slow signs on Wakefield Road either side of the Station :Lane junction.

MAY  Norman Longbottom and his Band gained first place in an area final of a national dance band competition held in South Shields and would now compete in a regional final.

  A large crowd gathered on the Rovers ground to see the Cytrix Stunt Riders and the trained Alsatian dogs of Messrs C Frickler and C Belcher make a return visit.

  The 1st Featherstone Company of Girl Guides celebrated 25 years by holding a meeting in George Street School where tea was served and a cake decorated in red, white and blue was cut by the first captain of the company Miss D Wroe. Later the party went to Low Laithe Farm, North Featherstone, for a camp fire gathering.

  Mrs Ethel Malpass of Green Lane lost a diamond and opal dress ring valued at £15 on the beach at Bridlington. She didn't miss it until she was packing to come home. On the beach with her at the time was Jean, a niece of the hotel proprietor, Mr S Sanderson. She took a search party back to the beach, and after half-an-hour the ring was found.

JUNE In the Purston Parish Magazine the vicar Revd I O Jay said the church finances were desperate. He said with the rise in prices of coal, coke, electricity and other commodities the general church account was overdrawn for the first time in many years. 

  About 800 plants were pulled and scattered about in Purston Park. They were re-bedded but it was doubtful if they would flower. The police were investigating.

JULY  For about five hours Featherstone and Pontefract firemen fought a fire in a brick barn at Bedford House Farm in Purston. The straw in the barn was destroyed but the fire was prevented from spreading.

  Five Methodist Church Sunday Schools and the Salvation Army had their annual gala. The bands from Featherstone, Wakefield and Knottingley led decorated wagons, tableaux and children walking in procession which almost filled the length of Green Lane on their way to the Rovers football ground. The Sunday School Queen was Mary Lomas of Wakefield Road Methodist Church.
 
  The Wellgreen queen was Mary Hawkesworth who was crowned by the retiring queen June Dodson. She toured the area on a decorated dray at the head of a procession. Later on The Green there were sports for children and adults, tea, and open air dancing in the evening. 

  The Road Safety Committee considered the junction of Church Lane and Willow Lane near the Bradley Arms to be dangerous for school children.

  Albert Smith, a maintenance fitter from Wakefield, drilled a hole into a gas holder in Girnhill Lane and a spark from the electric drill ignited escaping gas. Featherstone and Pontefract fire brigades played six jets of water on the holder and thousands of gallons of foam while the Gas Board emptied it of 30,000 cubic feet of gas.

AUGUST  The Beck to Station Treat Fund sent about 1,500 children and adults in two special trains to Bridlington. Fewer collectors joined in the effort this year so the children didn't receive spending money.

  The Albert Street Outing Fund in its first year used nine buses to send about 350 people to Skegness.

SEPTEMBER  A garden party was held at Ackton Hospital by the Comforts Fund. Rain caused everything to be moved indoors but £205 was raised. They had already provided two televisions and two radios.

  Dr J P Fraser in his annual report said the population was estimated at 14,060. There were only 31 cases of measles last year against 531 in 1951. The home nurses made 20,521 visits.
  The sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, said the opening of the new water tower had improved the water pressure.  During the year 61 houses and 14 bungalows were built by the Council. Twenty houses for which demolition orders had been made were still occupied, and the living conditions were depreciating. He said it was difficult to get repairs done because the owners had to pay 1952 repair costs on 1920 rents.

OCTOBER  Norman Longbottom's band qualified for the all-Britain dance band final in Manchester and came fourth. It was the first time a band taking part for the first time had got through to the national final. A large number of Featherstone people travelled by bus to support the band.

  A mechanical dumper belonging to F Sheppard and Sons of York on the Girnhill Lane housing site set on fire and was put out by Featherstone and Pontefract Fire brigades.

  Three Featherstone 12 year old boys were fined 10s each for trespassing on the railway embankment at Walton. They said they were train spotting.

NOVEMBER  At the annual meeting of the British Legion it was said the membership was a record 443 but only about a dozen were engaged in branch activities. The treasurer, Mr E Lee, asked for better support for the children's Christmas party fund, to which many members sent their children without contributing to the cost. Mr Cameron appealed for more collectors for Poppy Day because there were some parts of the town not covered.

   Remembrance Day was commemorated in the usual manner. There was a parade from Cressey's Corner headed by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band which stopped at the Ackton Hall Colliery memorial for a short service, then on to Purston Church. After the service wreaths were laid at the War Memorial and The Last Post and Reveille were sounded. The parade then reformed and Cr J Parker took the salute outside the Police Station. 

  The Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band took first place and the Yorkshire Federation Halifax Cup at an inter-county brass festival against Durham in Leeds which was won by Yorkshire.

  The Featherstone Lane Methodist Church celebrated its 50th anniversary with a cafe chantant (a cafe with entertainment). The evening was arranged by the men of the church who served supper suitably dressed and preceded it with a waiters' chorus. 

DECEMBER  Over 350 children of members of the British Legion were entertained to a Christmas party at the Miners' Welfare Hall. Each child received a packet of sweets, an apple and an orange.  

  Every member of the staff at Ackton Hospital received a gift from the Hospital Comforts Fund at a New Year's Eve party held in the hospital recreation room.