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Guardian / Observer Newspaper Archive and other free online info
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Derbyshire County Council Library users have FREE access from their home computers to numerous online information services, including the Guardian / Obeserver Newspaper Archive (usual cost £7.95 for 24 hours!)
www.derbyshire.gov.uk/24hrlibrary
View the list of sites available, then login by typing DCC followed by your library card number (or number from the back of a Derbyshire Gold Card for those who have one).
If anyone finds anything of interest please post it here for us all to share.
Happy searching.
Jean
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Thanks for the information Jean. The Guardian may well be of more relevance to us, having been published in Manchester. I now have to spend all my spare time scanning that archive.
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Stormy Weather
December 1949 and lightning struck. Whaley Bridge and surrounding towns were plunged into darkness when a power cable was struck. The 100 foot chimney at Lady Pit colliery was also hit causing it's collapse.
Lady Pit, also known as Beard and Bugsworth colliery, had closed in 1903. The colliery had been served by a long siding off of the Manchester to Sheffield railway and the earthworks can still be seen. Also remaining is the familiar brick ventilation shaft. Lady Pit was linked underground with Marsh Lane where there was a loading wharf. The tracks, probably of 18 inch or 2 foot gauge served the colliery and continued in a 500 yard long tunnel to the yard next to Gow Hole farm where there were a number of sidings. Coal would then be loaded on to road wagons for onward delivery. The area at Gow Hole now serves as some sort of builder's storage yard.
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Local Government
The Guardian in November 1929 reported on proposed local government reforms in Whaley Bridge. The existing situation was described as "gilbertian" as there were two county councils, an urban district council, two rural district councils and three parish councils. Further, there were two boards of guardians, a joint sewage board and the famous joint park committee. Two licensing authorities controlled the public houses which closed at different times on opposite sides of the Goyt. More than 70 part time officials were employed including including six medical officers, four sanitory inspectors and six surveyors. There were six different water suppliers.
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May 1946 and the vicar of Fernilee, George Firth was charged with public mischief. He had reported to the police that £28 had been stolen from the vestry safe at his old parish of Ault Hucknall. After the police had made a number of inquiries, he admitted having taken the money himself . Firth pleaded not guilty and was remanded on bail awaiting trial.
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November 1865 and a wedding at Taxal ended in disaster. Following the wedding ceremony, the guests boarded two carriages and an argument followed as to which vehicle should take the lead. A race ensued and on reaching the turn at Horwich End, one of the carriages then rode for some distance on only one wheel and then overturned. The bridegroom William Waine suffered a dislocated shoulder but his sister Eliza Waine was found "devoid of all animation" and "it was feared that life was extinct". Being attended to by Dr. Bennet of Chapel it was said that there were but faint hopes of recovery. By the following morning however, she managed for the first time to speak a few words. It was feared though, that her spine may be premanently damaged. The parish clerk, Isaac Lomas was also "taken up insensible" but "revived with stimulants". John Andrew also sustained injuries to head and body. The carriage was broken and the horse badly injured
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Letter To The Editor July 1907
parabuild attached the following image(s):
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Now then, David,
I have a few press cuttings of my own as you know and just as a prequel to this one of yours here is one from a local rag in 1897 on the same subject:
Reporter
16 October 1897
Well, I Never -- Last Sunday Whaley was invaded by a mortar car, or rather a motor car. It astonished the natives, who turned out as if a circus procession was going by. Amongst the spectators were eager professional men.
It does seem rather strange that the reporter/typist made a mistake with the spelling of Motor but used another 5 words to correct himself/herself rather than just respelling Motor in the first place.
R. S-S
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I think it was probably a deliberate misspelling in the first place. The cars were very noisy, and would have made a big impact in little towns where they hadn't been seen before. Similar impact to a mortar going off methinks !
Jon. |
Jon Goldfinch - Forum Administrator and Town Councillor
Whaley Bridge Town Council - Fernilee Ward
cllr.jong.wbtc@googlemail.com |
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Hey Up Jon,
On a similar topic but some years later we have below this gem from The Reporter:
It does seem that in 1920 the Council then had more power than you personally these days but we must wait and see if you can provide results for us now that you are our one and only representative.
Well here it is:
Reporter
24 July 1920
The Finance Committee had recommended that the speed limit for motors through Whaley should be 8 mph.
The Clerk said it would be necessary for the County Council to get an order from the Ministry of Health to impose a speed limit and that could not be less than 10 mph.
Mr Secombe said that in a few minutes on Sunday morning he saw 27 motors go through Furness Vale at 20 mph.
Now how do you suppose the Clerk got good old Harry to do the traffic census in Furness?
That must be the equivalent these days of you getting Peter Kay and Johnny Vegas to stand with clipboards counting the cars.
Come on Jon we’re relying on you we know you can do it.
R. S-S
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Knife Crime
Fred Hulse was charge with unlawfully wounding George Bramwell. The stabbing with a penknife took place at Taxal Bleachworks where the two boys worked. Additional evidence was awaited and it was anticipated that the charge would be reduced to assault. The expected sentance would be a fine of 21shillings or 21 days imprisonment.
The case was heard at Stockport County Sessions in November 1882
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A Forum member recently asked if anything was known of a proposed railway between Macclesfield and Whaley Bridge. It seems that this was proposed by the North Staffordshire Railway.
On 20th December 1865, a meeting was held at Macclesfield Town Hall, presided over by the Mayor. Mr Dennis, the engineer detailed a plan to link Macclesfield and Buxton. The railway which would form a junction at Whaley Bridge with the existing line, would be 8 miles long. The meeting heard of the enormous communication and commercial benefits that would accrue and supported the proposal enthusiastically. Edited by user 19 February 2010 08:49:12(UTC)
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A Lucky Escape
January 10th 1873 and two men, Jonanthan Jodrell and Matthew Wilson were working underground at Fernilee Pit. Hearing a noise from the roof, they headed towards the shaft which was about 100 yards away. They had not got far when an enourmous rush of water engulfed them. The shaft was at an incline and the force of water propelled them to the surface. The adit was on a hillside and the water continued to pour out of the mine. The men were said to be much exhausted and the pit still flooded.
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A Guardian article of May 1874 tells of regional characteristics and peculiarities, it seems to be written anonymously.
A Yorkshireman will bite whether dead or alive , A Lankie on entering a room will invariably rush to the fireplace whether it be winter or summer. " Everyone coming across Whaley Bridge has hooked fingers, i.e. he is careful and close fisted. "
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parabuild wrote:
A Lucky Escape
January 10th 1873 and two men, Jonanthan Jodrell and Matthew Wilson were working underground at Fernilee Pit. Hearing a noise from the roof, they headed towards the shaft which was about 100 yards away. They had not got far when an enourmous rush of water engulfed them. The shaft was at an incline and the force of water propelled them to the surface. The adit was on a hillside and the water continued to pour out of the mine. The men were said to be much exhausted and the pit still flooded.
This copied from my own post 96 within the thread Toddbrook Reservoir:
Hi Jamie,
And here we have the proof that miracles do happen. Well sometimes but I shall refrain for 5 days from mentioning our Council.
Taken from a newspaper cutting dated 18th Jan 1873.
miraculous escape of two men. On Wednesday evening week, at about 7 o’clock a most singular occurrence took place at Fernilee near Whaley Bridge, to two men who were engaged in working in search of coals, at a shaft which had been opened by Mr Lehas Proctor. It was 14 yards deep and the working underneath extended to some 50 yards from the pit mouth, and whilst the men, one of whom was called John Jodrell, were busy, the water burst in with such force, as to sweep both of them right away, and forced them to the top of the shaft, where they were pulled out by J. Proctor, who was working at the top. Both had a most miraculous escape, as the shaft was filled with water.
However the provider of miracles was either on holiday or taking the day off to go fishing on this next occasion:
Taken from a cutting from the same newspaper dated 10 October 1874:
a man found dead in a coalpit. On Tuesday last, a sad occurrence was made known in Whaley Bridge, a young man named John Haslam, descended the coalpit of Messrs Proctor at Fernilee, and not returning in such a length of time as it was thought he might have done, a search was made, and he was found dead in the pit, apparently having been choked with damp.
Well I suppose you never know when your luck’s in or not.
R. S-S
Back to top
David, your half term report was fairly good but if you are unable to keep up lines and detention may be the order of the day.
R. S-S
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A Case Of Sheep Rustling
December 1850 and Richard Warren was committed to the sessions for stealing nine sheep from Samuel Taylor, a cattle dealer from Hulme. Warren had sold a sheep in Stockport, another in Hazel Grove and another in Whaley Bridge. Police caught up with him in a Whaley pub where he was found in posession of the remaining six sheep. It is not reported which pub this was but one wonders whether the animals were in the bar with him.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Thunder and Lightning
August 1877 and Bingswood was struck by a severe storm. Mr Plant's farmhouse was struck while the family were in the sitting room and a young man was struck on the arm by the "electric fluid". Nearby at Bing's Cottages, lightning passed through a bedroom and into the kitchen. James Wilson ran into a pantry but could not escape and was "rendered insensible"
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A Celebration
28th June 1875 and great celebrations accompanied the laying of the foundation stone of the new Mechanics Institute. The Guardian described, at length, the features and facilities of the new building which had been designed by architect S.Howard of Poynton in an italianate style. Mr Stafford of New Mills was the contractor and construction was expected to cost £1600. Mr Kirk of Bothomes Hall laid the stone and in his speech expressed the hope that the institute would be "the means of doing an immense amount of good- intellectually and otherwise- for the inhabitants of Whaley Bridge". A procession paraded around the village comprising several bands, freemasons from many different lodges, oddfellows, shepherds, the rifle volunteers and the cricket club. The National Anthem was played to conclude the ceremony and the proceedings then adjourned to the Band Of Hope Hall where after the taking of tea, guests were entertained with a concert by the Tonic Sol-fa Association.
Whatever was Tonic Sol-fa ?
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Unwelcome Travellers
October 1906. A band of 60 German gipsies found themselves unwelcome in Sheffield and on the Friday night were escorted by the police across the border into Derbyshire. Derbyshire police didn't like them either and drove them back into Sheffield. Tiring of their game the police eventually let them camp by the roadside but were ready for them on Saturday morning. Twenty policemen then escorted them through Hathersage, Hope, Castleton and Chapel until eventually they came to Whaley Bridge. Once across the Cheshire border on Macclesfield Road, the police mounted a blockade against their return. Tired form their travels, the gipsies made camp and the site "looked like a fair". Hundreds of visitors turned up to see them and a trade in cheap jewellery and other goods ensued. Others, feeling sorry for their treatment gave money. The gipsies liked the country so much that they said they would like to stay for two years. The Cheshire police soon heard of their presence however and mounting a force of 30 men, drove them through Macclesfield and Stockport to Heaton Mersey. The story ends here for although being met by 20 Lancashire police, they were allowed to camp overnight in a field at the county boundary.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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parabuild wrote:
A Celebration
28th June 1875 and great celebrations accompanied the laying of the foundation stone of the new Mechanics Institute. The Guardian described, at length, the features and facilities of the new building which had been designed by architect S.Howard of Poynton in an italianate style. Mr Stafford of New Mills was the contractor and construction was expected to cost £1600. Mr Kirk of Bothomes Hall laid the stone and in his speech expressed the hope that the institute would be "the means of doing an immense amount of good- intellectually and otherwise- for the inhabitants of Whaley Bridge". A procession paraded around the village comprising several bands, freemasons from many different lodges, oddfellows, shepherds, the rifle volunteers and the cricket club. The National Anthem was played to conclude the ceremony and the proceedings then adjourned to the Band Of Hope Hall where after the taking of tea, guests were entertained with a concert by the Tonic Sol-fa Association.
Whatever was Tonic Sol-fa ?
You can look Tonic Sol-fa up on Google or Wikipedia,
Do, Reh, Me, Fa, So, La, Te, Do.
That afternoon in The Band of Hope Hall after tea the Tonic Solfa Class numbering 120 voices under the leadership of their teacher Mr Mark Ellor gave a variety of vocal music.
You won’t find this stuff in The Guardian or The Times, David.
By the way is there much written about the old Mechanics Institute?
R. S-S
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