THE FEATHERSTONE ........CHRONICLE....... ...........the 1950s..........: 1955

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE

1955

THE COUNCIL

JANUARY Agreement was received from the Ministry to accept the tender of £18,440 by McLaughlan (Knottingley) Ltd for the adaption of Purston Hall into council offices.

Mr J G Windmill was appointed as the superintendent of the Lister Baths to replace Mr J Black who had left for a post in Nottingham.

FEBRUARY Concern was expressed about landlords not carrying out repairs to property after statutory notices were served. Such repairs would be insisted upon or they would be carried out by direct labour and the owners charged.

MARCH Mrs Windmill was appointed as matron at the Lister Baths at a salary of £100 a year. It was agreed a room in the Progressive Working Men's Cub could be used as a light clothing factory for two years. The West Riding County Council agreed to prepare a scheme to improve the North Featherstone crossroads.

Cr J Parker reported moves by the Government to introduce legislation to allow children to plunder and rob the singing birds of the country, and hoped Featherstone school teachers would ignore the invitation. Cr Bessie Major assured Cr Parker the local teachers supported his views.

APRIL The council accepted a quotation of £40 for a silver gilt chain of office. Assurances had been given about opencast coal mining off Common Lane. There would be no mining on the proposed school site and the tipping of excavated soil would not interfere with building work.

The council passed a resolution expressing appreciation of the services to the Fire Brigade of Mr J Hilsley, the sanitary inspector, who retired from the brigade after 27 years' service, for 22 of which he had been chief officer. From his colleagues he received a combined electric clock and lamp.

For the fourth year running there was no contest in the council election. The members unopposed were:

Purston Ward Edward Rowley miner Appletree Road

North Ward Bessie Major schoolteacher Rhyl Street

South Ward William Griffiths miner Wentbridge Road

Ackton and Snydale Ward Thomas Morgan Manor Drive

MAY At the annual meeting Cr J Harper was elected chairman for the coming financial year.

Purston Hall would be renamed as Town Hall when the adaptations were completed, and the county council would be informed the existing council offices would be available for alternative use. All properties from 180 and 181 on Pontefract Road would be renumbered, and properties which did not previously have a number would be charged 6d.

Concern was expressed by Cr Rowley at the amount of rent arrears. He said the council would not tolerate the position. If we don't get our rents there are at least 600 people who will be glad to pay.

JUNE It was reported much damage and inconvenience was being caused in Featherstone Square by vehicles collecting shale from the muckstack. It was proposed a spare room at the Town Hall be reserved as a museum.

There was regular comment in the town about councillors being favoured for council houses, and when Cr H Darbyshire moved from a house on Apple Tree Road to one fronting Ackworth Road it started again. Cr Fox pointed out the privilege of exchanging council houses was allowed to all tenants. Surely one of our own councillors should be shown the privilege.

JULY Planning permission was given for light industry on the premises of the former Ebenezer Church in Featherstone Lane, and for dressing rooms and other rooms under the main stand on the Rovers' ground.

The large number of council houses built since the war had caused inequality in the voting numbers in the wards so it was proposed to adjust the boundaries and rename three of them as:

Purston Ward to East Ward

North Ward to Central Ward

Ackton and Snydale Ward to North West Ward

SEPTEMBER It was agreed to inspect The Green, Featherstone Lane, which had been offered for sale to the council. Traffic lights would be recommended for the Junction of Station Lane and Pontefract Road. Cr Bingley urged the council to act immediately to remove the danger at the bend in Ackworth Road round the park. He said he had seen many narrow escapes.

OCTOBER The council reminded the public about their comprehensive plan of slum clearance, and advised people proposing to buy old property to enquire first at the council offices.

A tenant in Wellgarth Road who had not paid rent for six weeks, and intimated she would not until repairs were carried out, was given notice to quit. Featherstone Rovers were given permission to incorporate the council's coat of arms in a new club badge.

NOVEMBER The council decided to purchase The Green in Featherstone Lane, to consider the disposal of the present council offices and outbuildings, and to invite tenders for the building of 76 dwellings on the Common Lane Estate.

The council arranged to interview tenants who were in arrears with rent. Cr Bingley said the council had no wish to turn out any tenant, but it had no alternative. Cr Rowley said the housing subsidy cuts (by the Government) would reduce building and would make the council more fastidious in the choice of tenants. Drastic action would be taken against those who were persistently in arrears. The council was very tolerant in genuine cases.

The chairman, Cr J Harper, agreed the council was very tolerant, particularly in cases of illness and injury. Tenants with no excuse should note there were 800 people on the waiting list, and it was not fair to these people tenants should occupy houses without paying their rent.

DECEMBER The council held its first meeting in Purston Hall, renamed the Town Hall. Mr McLaughlan, managing director of the firm that converted the hall, handed to the council chairman, Cr J Harper, a gavel and block made from the oak of an original chimney piece in the hall.

The council decided to investigate the possibility of buying suitable back-to-back properties and converting them to through houses. Consent was given for the first floor of the Jubilee Hotel to be used for clothing manufacture, and the co-operative store in Post Office Road for wire basket manufacture.

THE ROVERS

In the days preceding the closing of the cup register at the end of January the Rovers received inquiries for eight of their players. The chairman, Mr R H Jackson, said "We shall never sell so long as we can avoid it, for we have always tried to keep faith with our supporters".

At a dance at the Lister Baths in January Miss Marjory Williams age 18 was chosen as the Featherstone Rovers' Rugby League Queen. She would now enter a contest for the Miss Yorkshire title.

The Rovers reached the semi-final of the Rugby League Cup, but missed out on a second appearance at Wembley by losing to Workington Town at Headingley in April by 13-2.

In May Mr G L Collier resigned as secretary and he was replaced by Mr R Bailey of Leatham Crescent who, at 22 years old, was the youngest secretary in the Rugby League.

Plans to build changing rooms, refreshment and committee rooms under the main stand were revealed in June by the Green Lane Working Men's Club branch of the supporters' club. The estimated cost of the changing rooms was £1,500 and the branch gave a cheque to the club for £300 as a first installment. It was hoped other branches would join in the effort.

A profit of £973 was shown in the Rovers' accounts for last season. The Rugby League stand loan was reduced by £100 to £450. The club also had liabilities of £500 for a supporters' club loan, and the guarantors' loan of £1,000.

At the annual meeting held in the Miners' Welfare Hall in June Mr E Holstead said it was one of the most successful years in its history, both financially and from a playing point of view.

The secretary, Mr R Bailey said they finished ninth in the league table, the best since 1928. The committee had adhered to its policy of what we have we hold. He said some people thought the decline in attendances was due to the counter-attraction of television, but good football would overcome that.

Amendments to rules put forward by the Joint Supporters' Club were ruled out of order because every member of a supporters' club was not a paid-up member of Featherstone Rovers. Mr V Guy, on behalf of the Joint Supporters' Club agreed he could not guarantee all their members were paid-up members of the Rovers.

Eric Batten was re-appointed coach for the coming season, but he was taken off the players' register. He played only twice last season.

The New Zealand touring team came to Post Office Road in October and beat the Rovers 7-6. After the match they were entertained to dinner at the Railway Hotel. The team manager, Mr H Tetley, thanked the Featherstone Club for its hospitality, and presented a Kiwi badge to the Rovers chairman, Mr Jackson, and secretary Mr Bailey, and also a touring pennant for the club. The programme is from fevarchive.

The supporters clubs continued with their ground improvements programme. In November work was going on on building dressing rooms under the stand, and on the ground work continued with the terracing.

The Green Lane branch of the supporters' club handed over another £300 towards the cost of the new dressing rooms. The Rovers had provided some of the cost in order to get it done quickly.

THE CRICKET CLUB

The Featherstone and Purston Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club changed the scene and style of its annual dinner. It was held in the Welfare Hall in February and the formal toasts and speeches were dispensed with.

The president, Mr E Fearnside, said the interest taken in the club by the Welfare authorities would be beneficial but individual and co-operative effort by members was required. About £1,300 was to be spent on the ground this year, on a football field, a tennis court, the cricket ground and pavilion. Long term would be a bowling green and a second tennis court. The evening ended with a concert. (The bowlers had been told they could use the green in Purston Park while the changes at the cricket ground were being made.)

Children were believed to have caused a fire in April in the old wooden pavilion at the cricket ground. Practice nets and batting pads were lost, and the damage was estimated at £250. The Featherstone and Knottingley Fire Brigades were delayed by the gates at the level crossing.

The annual meeting was held at the Junction Hotel in October. The secretary, Mr R Belfield, regretted the many promises made two years ago by the colliery welfare authorities had not materialised. The club was grateful for a new pavilion, but new tennis courts were needed, and the bowling section had closed, he hoped only temporarily, because the land had be ploughed to provide a football pitch. The committee deeply regretted the loss of the bowling section.

The treasurer, Mr J Bramley, reported a record profit of £76, mainly because the club's only expenses under the welfare scheme was for tackle, but over £30 was lost in subscriptions from tennis and bowling members.

There was doubt about the New Year's Eve dance in the Lister Baths because the local council officials had booked a party for members and children in the morning. However, realising the hall would be free in the evening arrangements were quickly made and the dance was well attended.

THE AMDRAMS

The Quaker Girl was the choice for the 13th annual production by the Featherstone and District Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society at the Welfare Hall in March. The Express reported it played to full and appreciative audiences.

Two days after the close the members and friends, numbering about 130 met in the Welfare Hall for their annual dinner and social. The profits of last year's production, £60, were divided between the Miners' Welfare Committee and the St John Ambulance Brigade. The evening ended with songs, games and dancing.

The production for next year was Maid of the Mountains, and the members went to Cleethorpes in November to see the local society perform the same musical.

THE GALA

The fifth annual gala was held in July in Purston Park. At the opening ceremony, Cr Harper said he remembered Dr Duncan, at the first gala in 1951, stressing the usefulness of the park to the community, and his words proved very true. The park justified to the hilt its motto "For the heath of the people"

He praised the park superintendent, Mr J Conway, on the work he had done since coming to Featherstone from London. He said whenever we apply for people to come to Featherstone, they take a walk up Station Lane, come down again and refuse the job, but Mr Conway was an outstanding success.

There was a large funfair, a sheepdog display, a Punch and Judy and circus acts. There was a boat race during which a boat tipped over and another sank. One Streethouse woman who got very wet had to be taken home by car. There were races for cart horses and ponies.

The day ended with a fireworks display watched by thousands of people and the Express commented it was a display not matched in local areas since the one in the park a year ago.

Handed in to the Police Station after the event were a green leather purse, two children's cardigans, and two children's odd shoes. The Punch and July photo is from the Express.

THE MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT

The medical officer, Dr J F Fraser, in his annual report said the birth rate was the lowest since 1947. Primary immunisation against diphtheria had been given to 131 children.

The sanitary inspector, Mr J Hilsley, said 86 houses were built in 1954, but the demand for houses showed no sign of abating. Twenty houses were demolished, and 89 remained not connected to the sewers, many of them at Ackton Pastures. Nearly 40 tons of salvage were sold for ££230.

THE SALVATION ARMY RECRUITMENT DRIVE

The Salvation Army had a world-wide recruiting campaign and it came to Featherstone in October. It was arraigned by the Central Yorkshire Division, and there was a procession through the town with brass bands, flaming torches and banners. There were about 250 in the procession including the British Legion, the RAOB, Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies.

Crowds lined the streets to see them pass by on their way to Purston Methodist Church where a rally of over 400 people were spoken to by the Divisional Commander, Senior Major J B Cooper. The rally ended with a benediction by the Vicar of Featherstone, Revd H R Haworth.

WATER RATIONING

The Wakefield Corporation reservoirs were at a seriously low level so there had to be severe restrictions on water usage in October. The Featherstone Council's plan was to erect standpipes in the streets and cut the water off to houses and other premises. This would be done south of the railway one week and north of the railway the next week. Doctors, dentists, farmers and food traders were exempt.

The first week showed a saving of 18%, and the council surveyor sent a circular to the ratepayers thanking them for the response. Ii was hoped to get the saving up to 30%. A cold snap after three weeks meant the council's workmen had to thaw the frozen standpipes with blowlamps. The photo is from the Express.

In November Wakefield Corporation suspended rationing by standpipes in favour of shutting off water for 12 hours a day. Featherstone Council turned off the standpipes but said unless normal consumption was not reduced by one-third the standpipe system would have to return.

Mr G F Adamson, the council surveyor, said there were several reasons against shutting off the water for 12 hours, including a serious outbreak of fire and stirring up rust in the pipes.

Although the target set by the council was not reached, the standpipes were not turned on because the situation at the reservoirs was improving, but Mr Adamson said there was still need for greater economy.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

The tribute to the fallen began with the customary procession from Cressey's Corner led by the Ackton Hall and Snydale Collieries Workmen's Band, and the stop at the Ackton Hall Colliery Memorial where Mr J Wright, a lay reader, conducted a short service.

At Purston Parish Church the service was conducted by the vicar Revd I O Jay. A bugler from Pontefract Barracks sounded The Last Post and Reveille and wreaths were laid. The parade reassembled and the chairman of the council, Cr J Harper, took the salute at the Police Station.

A second event was held on 11 November arranged by Captain F J Neilson of the Salvation Army. The procession started at the railway station and was led by the army band. Representatives of local organisations, including the British Legion, took part. At the Miners' Welfare a service was conducted by Captain Neilson, and a Barracks' bugler again sounded the calls.

1955 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY The West Riding County Council agreed to lease from Mr H Littlewood for ten years, at a rent of £25 a year, the plot of land at the junction of Andrew Street and Wakefield Road with the buildings to be used as the Featherstone Fire Station.

Mr A Smithies of Station Lane bought a barbers' chair from a hairdresser in Morley and put it on the back of his car. On the way home he lost it, and was told a week later by Dewsbury Police they had it. He got it home and was carrying it in to his house when it became entangled with a clothes line and fell from his shoulders breaking a leg off it.

FEBRUARY The Ebenezer Methodist Church in Featherstone Lane closed because membership had fallen to below 20. It was originally the United Methodist Church and a branch of the one in Wilson Street. The building was to be sold. The photo is from the Express.

MARCH The Featherstone Road Safety Committee decided to ask the National Coal Board to remove part of the spoil heap at Snydale Colliery which obscured the view of motorists on Wakefield Road. It was said the stack formed a blind corner where two fatal accidents had occurred in the past 12 months.

Purston Church had an appeal for a memorial fund for the Late Miss Alexander. It closed at £195. It was proposed to have an oak tablet on the north side of the church with the words "Jane Stear Alexander for 68 years a Sunday School teacher in this parish," The balance would be invested to provide Bibles and Prayer Books for Sunday School scholars.

MAY Private Derrick Blackburn age 21 of Church Lane, North Featherstone, was killed in a road accident in Kenya while doing his National Service. A memorial service was held in Featherstone Parish Church where he was a former choirboy.

The Featherstone Savings Committee reported a recent savings campaign produced 216 new members making the total membership of regular savers 2,023.

In the General Election the result for the Pontefract Constituency, which included Featherstone, was:
G O Sylvester (Labour) 32,646
Alan Blake (Conservative and National Liberal) 10,183

JUNE The Vicar of Purston, Revd I O Jay, in the parish magazine wrote the National School had only 14 children in 1872, when education had to be paid for. In the school record is "One child admitted free to undertake the sweeping of the school". Young women took up duties as monitors and then became qualified teachers.

JULY The Ackton Hospital Comforts Fund decided to provide a gramophone for educational purposes for the children's ward, an invalid chair, and cubicle curtaining.

Helpers for the Sailors' Children's Society paid a visit to the homes in Hull where they had lunch and toured the grounds. Afterwards they visited the Queen Alexandra Dock where they were shown over the Baltic Exporter ship and viewed shipping operations.

SEPTEMBER An infants' school at Purston was included in the estimates for next year by the West Riding County Council. Negotiations for the sale of the land required had failed, so the council was to apply for a compulsory purchase order.

Colin Goldsborough age 11 of Maxwell Street hurried home from school on a Friday, donned his scout uniform, rushed his tea, and went out to join 30 other Scouts from Featherstone and Pontefract who were to pick fruit from apple and pear trees in Pontefract's Valley Gardens before it went bad. It was to be given to local hospitals.

OCTOBER It took Featherstone firemen half-an-hour to put out a blazing hollow tree in Purston thought to have been set alight by children. They had to attend another fire on the muckstack at Featherstone Main Colliery where a platelayers' hut was burnt out.

NOVEMBER There were two accidents in two days at the the junction of Church Lane and Willow Lane. A motorcyclist knocked a woman down, and a bus collided with another motorcyclist. Mrs L Sharp of Manor Drive and Derek Taylor of Albert Street were taken to Castleford, Normanton and District Hospital, both suffering from a broken leg.

DECEMBER A glass cutter and brown paper was used to cut into the shop display of Mr H Nicholl's grocer and tobacconist's premises in Station Lane. Three cigarette lighters were stolen.

An overnight heavy snowfall caused chaos on the roads. An articulated lorry jackknifed on Marlpit Hill, and Featherstone police had to divert Pontefract traffic up Station Lane.

A farewell party was arranged at the Junction Hotel for Mr J Wright, the Ackton Hall Colliery manager, who was leaving for a post in another area of the NCB. He was given a chiming clock from the underground workers and officials, and an inscribed gold watch from the surface men and officials. Mrs Wright received a tea service. The photo is from the Express.