IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 8 - 14 DECEMBER 1925
This week's many stories include the plans to evict tenants from a poison gas works in Sutton, the ice skating on Eccleston Mere, the coal stealing from Southport Colliery, the epidemic of water pipe bursts and the Pilks' apprentices that were prosecuted for going on strike.
For nearly forty years Sutton hosted a major poison gas works (pictured above) off Reginald Road, where the Abbotsfield Road industrial estate is now. Between the wars it became the UK's main centre for research, development and production of chemical warfare agents. In later years the Sutton Oak Chemical Defence Research Establishment was a secret facility, with workers forced to sign the Official Secrets Act and the government even refusing to admit that it existed. But that was certainly not the case in 1925 when there was much public discussion about the poison gas works.
That was after the War Department attempted to evict the tenants of sixteen houses in Abbotsfield Road. In 1923 the War Dept had purchased the whole site, which included the houses adjoining the facility. Many of their tenants were mineworkers who were conveniently situated for their local collieries, especially Bold, and with a housing crisis still in place, finding alternative accommodation would be extremely difficult.
On the 8th of this week, James Sexton – the St Helens MP or borough member as he was always known – asked the Secretary of State for War in the House of Commons if he was aware that the tenants of 16 homes in what was described as Abbotsfield Lane in St Helens had received notice to quit. Sexton stated that they had received one week's notice to get out and at the end of that period they would be rendered homeless because of the great shortage of homes in the district.
The reply that he received was that the cottages could not continue to be occupied without risk through the facility's research work on poison gas and the tenants had received lengthy warning of the War Department's intention to evict them. A Captain King on behalf of the Secretary of State added: "The honourable member is aware they adjoin the experimental poison gas factory, and I do not think it is right to subject the inhabitants of these cottages and their children to risk."
To that, Sexton replied: "Have not some of the people lived in these houses for nearly fifty years? Was not the poison gas factory a war measure, and now that the emergency for poisoning people has gone, will he remove the poison gas factory?" The answer he received was firmly in the negative! Eventually an arrangement would be made that the tenants could remain in their homes until St Helens Corporation was able to build new houses for them.
On the 9th it was reported to a meeting of the council's Water Committee that the frosty weather over the past month had led to 25 burst pipes in various parts of the town. The Deputy Engineer said: "We have had an epidemic of bursts, and it will probably have lost us a couple of million gallons of water at a low estimate." Mr Statham added that the Water Department had been under extreme pressure and felt that some people had been allowing their taps to run, presumably to prevent them freezing.
A century ago teachers tended to have very lengthy careers at the same school. On the 11th a presentation was made to Joseph Pritchard who had retired from Sutton National School after 34 years.
Last week the Reporter gave great prominence to a letter complaining about "hooligans" on Eccleston Mere. Its owners Pilkington allowed the general public to ice skate on the nature reserve during the winter and many hundreds would take the opportunity. But the letter writer said this year a small group had been visiting Eccleston Mere to "play the fool" and cause damage to trees and shrubs and as a result Pilks were threatening to stop access.
The Reporter on the 11th of this week provided more insights into the popularity of ice skating in the St Helens district, particularly on the Mere, writing: "For yet another week Jack Frost and his devoted slave, the skater, have dwelt amongst us, and every stretch of ice in the land has been the scene of all the frolics and delights which only skating can give."
The paper stated that over the last seven days the temperature in St Helens had continued to hover around zero and consequently "great joy entered the hearts of the skaters…At the week-end thousands of people flocked to the frozen meres and lakes, and revelled in one of the finest of winter sports." Eccleston Mere was by far the most popular place to skate and it was estimated that 3,000 persons had attended on the Saturday afternoon alone. Other popular venues include Carr Mill Dam and Taylor Park but after three weeks of frost the inevitable thaw had now arrived.
On the 12th a sale of work took place in St Mark's Church schoolroom, which raised £175. The proceeds were in aid of the church's new burial ground fund. The event began with nearly 40 children giving songs and recitations. The Reporter wrote: "Father Christmas and the children with their Christmas stockings and “nighties,” presented a pleasing scene, which was splendidly carried out."
Prosecutions in the 19th century of apprentices that had not been turning up to their work were quite common, with the ultimate penalty being prison for those that continued to defy their employer and the court. They were far less common in the 1920s but on the 14th John Johnson of Morley Street, William Johnson of Kirkland Street and James Hayes of Hamer Street appeared in St Helens Police Court. All three were trainee electricians and faced a charge of breaching their apprenticeship contracts with Pilkingtons.
What had happened was that a brief strike had taken place at their works in connection with a dispute over the status of semi-skilled electrical workers and the three apprentices had participated. That was something they were forbidden from doing but the trio had now given an assurance to Pilks that they would never repeat their action while apprenticed to the glass firm. And so the magistrates were told that Pilkingtons had decided not to proceed with the summons, although the three lads would have to pay the court costs.
It was difficult to know whether those who stole coal were doing it through need or greed. The vast majority were, I expect, taking coal because of poverty and being out of work. But when people were selling the coal on, it gave the impression that their motivation was making money and not providing heat for their impoverished family.
When Robert Taylor of Pocket Nook Street appeared in court on the 14th charged along with two others with coal stealing he made this statement to the magistrates: "I could not bear to see the kids in front of the empty fire grate, so I went and picked a bit of coal." Taylor was on the dole and in receipt of parish relief for those in the greatest need. And so it did appear that his case was one of poverty. However, the police argued that he was part of a gang of men who were annoying coal merchants by stealing coal and selling it on at a reduced price.
Taylor had been observed in an undercover police operation at Southport Colliery in Parr taking coal from wagons and throwing it to the ground. A constable stated that Taylor and his companions were very cautious and had stopped their thieving several times when an engine shunted past. When the police left their place of concealment, the men bolted and Taylor was only caught after a lengthy chase. The Chairman of the Bench said Robert Taylor and the two other men would be fined 10 shillings and costs and they should consider themselves lucky to escape so lightly.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Christmas Fat Cattle Show, the Christmas postal arrangements, Lennon's turkeys and geese for sale, Rivington Road Girls School's Christmas plays and Beauty and the Beast is performed at the Theatre Royal.
That was after the War Department attempted to evict the tenants of sixteen houses in Abbotsfield Road. In 1923 the War Dept had purchased the whole site, which included the houses adjoining the facility. Many of their tenants were mineworkers who were conveniently situated for their local collieries, especially Bold, and with a housing crisis still in place, finding alternative accommodation would be extremely difficult.
On the 8th of this week, James Sexton – the St Helens MP or borough member as he was always known – asked the Secretary of State for War in the House of Commons if he was aware that the tenants of 16 homes in what was described as Abbotsfield Lane in St Helens had received notice to quit. Sexton stated that they had received one week's notice to get out and at the end of that period they would be rendered homeless because of the great shortage of homes in the district.
The reply that he received was that the cottages could not continue to be occupied without risk through the facility's research work on poison gas and the tenants had received lengthy warning of the War Department's intention to evict them. A Captain King on behalf of the Secretary of State added: "The honourable member is aware they adjoin the experimental poison gas factory, and I do not think it is right to subject the inhabitants of these cottages and their children to risk."
To that, Sexton replied: "Have not some of the people lived in these houses for nearly fifty years? Was not the poison gas factory a war measure, and now that the emergency for poisoning people has gone, will he remove the poison gas factory?" The answer he received was firmly in the negative! Eventually an arrangement would be made that the tenants could remain in their homes until St Helens Corporation was able to build new houses for them.
On the 9th it was reported to a meeting of the council's Water Committee that the frosty weather over the past month had led to 25 burst pipes in various parts of the town. The Deputy Engineer said: "We have had an epidemic of bursts, and it will probably have lost us a couple of million gallons of water at a low estimate." Mr Statham added that the Water Department had been under extreme pressure and felt that some people had been allowing their taps to run, presumably to prevent them freezing.
A century ago teachers tended to have very lengthy careers at the same school. On the 11th a presentation was made to Joseph Pritchard who had retired from Sutton National School after 34 years.
Last week the Reporter gave great prominence to a letter complaining about "hooligans" on Eccleston Mere. Its owners Pilkington allowed the general public to ice skate on the nature reserve during the winter and many hundreds would take the opportunity. But the letter writer said this year a small group had been visiting Eccleston Mere to "play the fool" and cause damage to trees and shrubs and as a result Pilks were threatening to stop access.
The Reporter on the 11th of this week provided more insights into the popularity of ice skating in the St Helens district, particularly on the Mere, writing: "For yet another week Jack Frost and his devoted slave, the skater, have dwelt amongst us, and every stretch of ice in the land has been the scene of all the frolics and delights which only skating can give."
The paper stated that over the last seven days the temperature in St Helens had continued to hover around zero and consequently "great joy entered the hearts of the skaters…At the week-end thousands of people flocked to the frozen meres and lakes, and revelled in one of the finest of winter sports." Eccleston Mere was by far the most popular place to skate and it was estimated that 3,000 persons had attended on the Saturday afternoon alone. Other popular venues include Carr Mill Dam and Taylor Park but after three weeks of frost the inevitable thaw had now arrived.
On the 12th a sale of work took place in St Mark's Church schoolroom, which raised £175. The proceeds were in aid of the church's new burial ground fund. The event began with nearly 40 children giving songs and recitations. The Reporter wrote: "Father Christmas and the children with their Christmas stockings and “nighties,” presented a pleasing scene, which was splendidly carried out."
Prosecutions in the 19th century of apprentices that had not been turning up to their work were quite common, with the ultimate penalty being prison for those that continued to defy their employer and the court. They were far less common in the 1920s but on the 14th John Johnson of Morley Street, William Johnson of Kirkland Street and James Hayes of Hamer Street appeared in St Helens Police Court. All three were trainee electricians and faced a charge of breaching their apprenticeship contracts with Pilkingtons.
What had happened was that a brief strike had taken place at their works in connection with a dispute over the status of semi-skilled electrical workers and the three apprentices had participated. That was something they were forbidden from doing but the trio had now given an assurance to Pilks that they would never repeat their action while apprenticed to the glass firm. And so the magistrates were told that Pilkingtons had decided not to proceed with the summons, although the three lads would have to pay the court costs.
It was difficult to know whether those who stole coal were doing it through need or greed. The vast majority were, I expect, taking coal because of poverty and being out of work. But when people were selling the coal on, it gave the impression that their motivation was making money and not providing heat for their impoverished family.
When Robert Taylor of Pocket Nook Street appeared in court on the 14th charged along with two others with coal stealing he made this statement to the magistrates: "I could not bear to see the kids in front of the empty fire grate, so I went and picked a bit of coal." Taylor was on the dole and in receipt of parish relief for those in the greatest need. And so it did appear that his case was one of poverty. However, the police argued that he was part of a gang of men who were annoying coal merchants by stealing coal and selling it on at a reduced price.
Taylor had been observed in an undercover police operation at Southport Colliery in Parr taking coal from wagons and throwing it to the ground. A constable stated that Taylor and his companions were very cautious and had stopped their thieving several times when an engine shunted past. When the police left their place of concealment, the men bolted and Taylor was only caught after a lengthy chase. The Chairman of the Bench said Robert Taylor and the two other men would be fined 10 shillings and costs and they should consider themselves lucky to escape so lightly.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Christmas Fat Cattle Show, the Christmas postal arrangements, Lennon's turkeys and geese for sale, Rivington Road Girls School's Christmas plays and Beauty and the Beast is performed at the Theatre Royal.
This week's many stories include the plans to evict tenants from a poison gas works in Sutton, the ice skating on Eccleston Mere, the coal stealing from Southport Colliery, the epidemic of water pipe bursts and the Pilks' apprentices that were prosecuted for going on strike.
For nearly forty years Sutton hosted a major poison gas works (pictured above) off Reginald Road, where the Abbotsfield Road industrial estate is now.
Between the wars it became the UK's main centre for research, development and production of chemical warfare agents.
In later years the Sutton Oak Chemical Defence Research Establishment was a secret facility, with workers forced to sign the Official Secrets Act and the government even refusing to admit that it existed.
But that was certainly not the case in 1925 when there was much public discussion about the poison gas works.
That was after the War Department attempted to evict the tenants of sixteen houses in Abbotsfield Road.
In 1923 the War Dept had purchased the whole site, which included the houses adjoining the facility.
Many of their tenants were mineworkers who were conveniently situated for their local collieries, especially Bold, and with a housing crisis still in place, finding alternative accommodation would be extremely difficult.
On the 8th of this week, James Sexton – the St Helens MP or borough member as he was always known – asked the Secretary of State for War in the House of Commons if he was aware that the tenants of 16 homes in what was described as Abbotsfield Lane in St Helens had received notice to quit.
Sexton stated that they had received one week's notice to get out and at the end of that period they would be rendered homeless because of the great shortage of homes in the district.
The reply that he received was that the cottages could not continue to be occupied without risk through the facility's research work on poison gas and the tenants had received lengthy warning of the War Department's intention to evict them.
A Captain King on behalf of the Secretary of State added: "The honourable member is aware they adjoin the experimental poison gas factory, and I do not think it is right to subject the inhabitants of these cottages and their children to risk."
To that, Sexton replied: "Have not some of the people lived in these houses for nearly fifty years? Was not the poison gas factory a war measure, and now that the emergency for poisoning people has gone, will he remove the poison gas factory?"
The answer he received was firmly in the negative!
Eventually an arrangement would be made that the tenants could remain in their homes until St Helens Corporation was able to build new houses for them.
On the 9th it was reported to a meeting of the council's Water Committee that the frosty weather over the past month had led to 25 burst pipes in various parts of the town.
The Deputy Engineer said: "We have had an epidemic of bursts, and it will probably have lost us a couple of million gallons of water at a low estimate."
Mr Statham added that the Water Department had been under extreme pressure and felt that some people had been allowing their taps to run, presumably to prevent them freezing.
A century ago teachers tended to have very lengthy careers at the same school.
On the 11th a presentation was made to Joseph Pritchard who had retired from Sutton National School after 34 years.
Last week the Reporter gave great prominence to a letter complaining about "hooligans" on Eccleston Mere.
Its owners Pilkington allowed the general public to ice skate on the nature reserve during the winter and many hundreds would take the opportunity.
But the letter writer said this year a small group had been visiting Eccleston Mere to "play the fool" and cause damage to trees and shrubs and as a result Pilks were threatening to stop access.
The Reporter on the 11th of this week provided more insights into the popularity of ice skating in the St Helens district, particularly on the Mere, writing:
"For yet another week Jack Frost and his devoted slave, the skater, have dwelt amongst us, and every stretch of ice in the land has been the scene of all the frolics and delights which only skating can give."
The paper stated that over the last seven days the temperature in St Helens had continued to hover around zero and consequently "great joy entered the hearts of the skaters…At the week-end thousands of people flocked to the frozen meres and lakes, and revelled in one of the finest of winter sports."
Eccleston Mere was by far the most popular place to skate and it was estimated that 3,000 persons had attended on the Saturday afternoon alone.
Other popular venues include Carr Mill Dam and Taylor Park but after three weeks of frost the inevitable thaw had now arrived.
On the 12th a sale of work took place in St Mark's Church schoolroom, which raised £175. The proceeds were in aid of the church's new burial ground fund.
The event began with nearly 40 children giving songs and recitations. The Reporter wrote:
"Father Christmas and the children with their Christmas stockings and “nighties,” presented a pleasing scene, which was splendidly carried out."
Prosecutions in the 19th century of apprentices that had not been turning up to their work were quite common, with the ultimate penalty being prison for those that continued to defy their employer and the court.
They were far less common in the 1920s but on the 14th John Johnson of Morley Street, William Johnson of Kirkland Street and James Hayes of Hamer Street appeared in St Helens Police Court.
All three were trainee electricians and faced a charge of breaching their apprenticeship contracts with Pilkingtons.
What had happened was that a brief strike had taken place at their works in connection with a dispute over the status of semi-skilled electrical workers and the three apprentices had participated.
That was something they were forbidden from doing but the trio had now given an assurance to Pilks that they would never repeat their action while apprenticed to the glass firm.
And so the magistrates were told that Pilkingtons had decided not to proceed with the summons, although the three lads would have to pay the court costs.
It was difficult to know whether those who stole coal were doing it through need or greed.
The vast majority were, I expect, taking coal because of poverty and being out of work.
But when people were selling the coal on, it gave the impression that their motivation was making money and not providing heat for their impoverished family.
When Robert Taylor of Pocket Nook Street appeared in court on the 14th charged along with two others with coal stealing he made this statement to the magistrates:
"I could not bear to see the kids in front of the empty fire grate, so I went and picked a bit of coal."
Taylor was on the dole and in receipt of parish relief for those in the greatest need. And so it did appear that his case was one of poverty.
However, the police argued that he was part of a gang of men who were annoying coal merchants by stealing coal and selling it on at a reduced price.
Taylor had been observed in an undercover police operation at Southport Colliery in Parr taking coal from wagons and throwing it to the ground.
A constable stated that Taylor and his companions were very cautious and had stopped their thieving several times when an engine shunted past.
When the police left their place of concealment, the men bolted and Taylor was only caught after a lengthy chase.
The Chairman of the Bench said Robert Taylor and the two other men would be fined 10 shillings and costs and they should consider themselves lucky to escape so lightly.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Christmas Fat Cattle Show, the Christmas postal arrangements, Lennon's turkeys and geese for sale, Rivington Road Girls School's Christmas plays and Beauty and the Beast is performed at the Theatre Royal.
Between the wars it became the UK's main centre for research, development and production of chemical warfare agents.
In later years the Sutton Oak Chemical Defence Research Establishment was a secret facility, with workers forced to sign the Official Secrets Act and the government even refusing to admit that it existed.
But that was certainly not the case in 1925 when there was much public discussion about the poison gas works.
That was after the War Department attempted to evict the tenants of sixteen houses in Abbotsfield Road.
In 1923 the War Dept had purchased the whole site, which included the houses adjoining the facility.
Many of their tenants were mineworkers who were conveniently situated for their local collieries, especially Bold, and with a housing crisis still in place, finding alternative accommodation would be extremely difficult.
On the 8th of this week, James Sexton – the St Helens MP or borough member as he was always known – asked the Secretary of State for War in the House of Commons if he was aware that the tenants of 16 homes in what was described as Abbotsfield Lane in St Helens had received notice to quit.
Sexton stated that they had received one week's notice to get out and at the end of that period they would be rendered homeless because of the great shortage of homes in the district.
The reply that he received was that the cottages could not continue to be occupied without risk through the facility's research work on poison gas and the tenants had received lengthy warning of the War Department's intention to evict them.
A Captain King on behalf of the Secretary of State added: "The honourable member is aware they adjoin the experimental poison gas factory, and I do not think it is right to subject the inhabitants of these cottages and their children to risk."
To that, Sexton replied: "Have not some of the people lived in these houses for nearly fifty years? Was not the poison gas factory a war measure, and now that the emergency for poisoning people has gone, will he remove the poison gas factory?"
The answer he received was firmly in the negative!
Eventually an arrangement would be made that the tenants could remain in their homes until St Helens Corporation was able to build new houses for them.
On the 9th it was reported to a meeting of the council's Water Committee that the frosty weather over the past month had led to 25 burst pipes in various parts of the town.
The Deputy Engineer said: "We have had an epidemic of bursts, and it will probably have lost us a couple of million gallons of water at a low estimate."
Mr Statham added that the Water Department had been under extreme pressure and felt that some people had been allowing their taps to run, presumably to prevent them freezing.
A century ago teachers tended to have very lengthy careers at the same school.
On the 11th a presentation was made to Joseph Pritchard who had retired from Sutton National School after 34 years.
Last week the Reporter gave great prominence to a letter complaining about "hooligans" on Eccleston Mere.
Its owners Pilkington allowed the general public to ice skate on the nature reserve during the winter and many hundreds would take the opportunity.
But the letter writer said this year a small group had been visiting Eccleston Mere to "play the fool" and cause damage to trees and shrubs and as a result Pilks were threatening to stop access.
The Reporter on the 11th of this week provided more insights into the popularity of ice skating in the St Helens district, particularly on the Mere, writing:
"For yet another week Jack Frost and his devoted slave, the skater, have dwelt amongst us, and every stretch of ice in the land has been the scene of all the frolics and delights which only skating can give."
The paper stated that over the last seven days the temperature in St Helens had continued to hover around zero and consequently "great joy entered the hearts of the skaters…At the week-end thousands of people flocked to the frozen meres and lakes, and revelled in one of the finest of winter sports."
Eccleston Mere was by far the most popular place to skate and it was estimated that 3,000 persons had attended on the Saturday afternoon alone.
Other popular venues include Carr Mill Dam and Taylor Park but after three weeks of frost the inevitable thaw had now arrived.
On the 12th a sale of work took place in St Mark's Church schoolroom, which raised £175. The proceeds were in aid of the church's new burial ground fund.
The event began with nearly 40 children giving songs and recitations. The Reporter wrote:
"Father Christmas and the children with their Christmas stockings and “nighties,” presented a pleasing scene, which was splendidly carried out."
Prosecutions in the 19th century of apprentices that had not been turning up to their work were quite common, with the ultimate penalty being prison for those that continued to defy their employer and the court.
They were far less common in the 1920s but on the 14th John Johnson of Morley Street, William Johnson of Kirkland Street and James Hayes of Hamer Street appeared in St Helens Police Court.
All three were trainee electricians and faced a charge of breaching their apprenticeship contracts with Pilkingtons.
What had happened was that a brief strike had taken place at their works in connection with a dispute over the status of semi-skilled electrical workers and the three apprentices had participated.
That was something they were forbidden from doing but the trio had now given an assurance to Pilks that they would never repeat their action while apprenticed to the glass firm.
And so the magistrates were told that Pilkingtons had decided not to proceed with the summons, although the three lads would have to pay the court costs.
It was difficult to know whether those who stole coal were doing it through need or greed.
The vast majority were, I expect, taking coal because of poverty and being out of work.
But when people were selling the coal on, it gave the impression that their motivation was making money and not providing heat for their impoverished family.
When Robert Taylor of Pocket Nook Street appeared in court on the 14th charged along with two others with coal stealing he made this statement to the magistrates:
"I could not bear to see the kids in front of the empty fire grate, so I went and picked a bit of coal."
Taylor was on the dole and in receipt of parish relief for those in the greatest need. And so it did appear that his case was one of poverty.
However, the police argued that he was part of a gang of men who were annoying coal merchants by stealing coal and selling it on at a reduced price.
Taylor had been observed in an undercover police operation at Southport Colliery in Parr taking coal from wagons and throwing it to the ground.
A constable stated that Taylor and his companions were very cautious and had stopped their thieving several times when an engine shunted past.
When the police left their place of concealment, the men bolted and Taylor was only caught after a lengthy chase.
The Chairman of the Bench said Robert Taylor and the two other men would be fined 10 shillings and costs and they should consider themselves lucky to escape so lightly.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Christmas Fat Cattle Show, the Christmas postal arrangements, Lennon's turkeys and geese for sale, Rivington Road Girls School's Christmas plays and Beauty and the Beast is performed at the Theatre Royal.