150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 12 - 18 JANUARY 1876
This week's many stories include a damning indictment of St Helens Railway Station, the military ball that was held in the Volunteer Hall, the penny reading in Parr, the ice skater that drowned in Sutton, more on the Corporation's purchase of the gasworks and the woman that dropped dead outside the Sefton.
We begin during the evening of the 12th when the employees of the passenger department of St Helens Railway Station held their annual supper. The event took place at the George Hotel in George Street and 46 persons sat down to what was described as "an excellent and substantial repast", the cost of which was paid for by the manufacturers and tradesmen of the town – and not, surprisingly, by the railway company, who was often accused of being tight-fisted.
Also on the 12th, the eleventh annual ball of the 47th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers was held in the Volunteer Hall in Mill Street. The Newspaper said the dance of St Helens' part-time army reserves had been a complete success, with the room having been "very tastefully decorated for the occasion, with drapery, shields, mottoes, armorial devices, mirrors, &c., and had an exceedingly attractive appearance.
"The hall was, as usual, compressed into the dimensions of a large drawing-room, the gallery being entirely hidden from view by drapery, and along the front of it were alternately arranged devices of crossed rifles, and bayonets forming semi-circular stars, with “47” in the centre. Beneath these were three large mirrors tastefully hung with white curtains." At each of the annual balls, the members of the services who attended were instructed to dress in military uniform, with their horse-drawn carriages arriving by Duke Street and leaving by North Road.
On the 13th the inmates' Christmas tree was installed at Whiston Workhouse. It was an oddity that mid-January rather than December was chosen for the annual event, which was accompanied by present giving, entertainment and a concert. Then on the 15th the 100-plus children in Whiston Workhouse were taken to see the panto 'Beauty and the Beast' in the Theatre Royal in St Helens at the invitation of its kind manager, George Charles. During an interval in the performance, the youngsters were treated to buns and oranges and were afterwards given a tea.
Last week a 32-year-old farmer called James Swift had died after being struck down by a train at St Helens Station while crossing the line. His inquest was held at the Royal Alfred in Shaw Street where it was stated that a great many people dangerously crossed the railway lines every day in spite of warning notices telling them to use the footbridge that had been provided.
But the St Helens Newspaper in a damning editorial published on the 15th felt that the railway company should be held responsible for what had happened, as they had no interest in improving the station. The paper wrote:
"If the person killed had been a Bishop, a Member of Parliament, or a Railway Director, there would most probably have been such an out-cry, and public attention would have been so strongly drawn to the inadequate accommodation and dangerous state of our station, arising from defective management, that the directors, of the London and North-Western Railway Company, would have felt themselves compelled, to have taken immediate steps, to remedy the evils of which the public so justly complain.
"But as the life sacrificed belonged to a man moving in a comparatively humble though respectable sphere of life, in all probability there will be nothing done, and we shall have to wait until some important personage is slaughtered, or until some dire disaster, involving the sacrifice of a number of lives, takes place. Time after time has public attention been called to the defectiveness of the company's station, but it would appear that the directors are bent only on providing for large dividends, regardless of the public safety and convenience." And on getting other people to pay for their employees' annual supper!
St Helens Council was purchasing the town's privately owned gasworks and had agreed a fee of £131,600 with John Ansdell. He was the solicitor who lived in Cowley House, which is now known as the Mansion House. This had been built for Ansdell in 1851 and his private grounds later became Victoria Park. Ansdell was also the chairman of the gasworks and had negotiated the deal to sell it to St Helens Corporation.
But he needed permission from his shareholders for the agreement to proceed and the Newspaper described how this had now occurred. A meeting had been held in the long room of the Fleece Inn in Church Street and the paper said it had been of "the most unanimous character" in consenting to the sale. Ansdell had clearly struck a very good deal on behalf of his shareholders from a position of strength and, unsurprisingly, none of those present wanted to dissent from making themselves a lot of money. This was the start of the council placing local utilities and transport under its municipal control.
Penny readings were a form of entertainment designed for the working class that featured readings from popular authors, Biblical readings, songs and talks for the price of just a penny. Penny readings had begun in London in the 1850s and became hugely popular nationwide during the ‘60s, before beginning to decline in popularity. In fact it had been a while since I had read in the Newspaper of such an event taking place in St Helens but one occurred this week in St Joseph's schoolroom in Parr.
Penny readings were not necessarily connected with temperance but this gathering had been organised by the Holy Cross Association for the Suppression of Drunkenness. The place was packed and there had been an insufficient number of chairs to accommodate everyone that attended. After the meeting fifty people took the pledge.
Of course, seemingly healthy people still suddenly collapse and die today at a young age. But such events did appear to be much more common in the 19th century, with many jobs being unhealthy and people often breathing in a filthy, noxious atmosphere. What the Newspaper described as an "awfully sudden case of death" occurred in Baldwin Street this week when Ellen Hesketh was wheeling what was described as a barrow load of grains.
The 57-year-old from Windle City had obtained her load from Greenall's brewery in Hall Street and as she passed the Sefton Arms, she was seen to stagger and fall onto her barrow. Ellen was carried into James Bates' hairdressers and Dr Twyford was sent for. "She, however, only breathed a few times and then expired," explained the Newspaper.
A doctor gave apoplexy as the likely cause of Ellen's sudden death, which was a sort of catch-all term meaning a stroke of some kind – but, in truth, they really didn't know the cause. The unmarried Ellen was described as having been a "most healthy woman", with only one slight attack of illness during the past 15 years.
On the 17th the inquest on George Woodward was held at the Glassmakers Arms in Waterdale Crescent in Sutton. The 21-year-old from Blinkhorns Row in Sutton was one of many young men who, when the weather turned cold, went on the many places of open water in St Helens. George had been skating with several others on the frozen reservoir belonging to Sutton Glassworks. It was a typical story of the ice suddenly breaking up and the skater falling into the freezing water. Strenuous efforts were made to rescue him but it took half-an-hour until George could be extricated and by then he was found to be dead.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the notorious poacher in Rainford, the new Rainhill sewage farm to prevent contagious disease, the row over water in Pocket Nook and there's another mysterious death in the street.
We begin during the evening of the 12th when the employees of the passenger department of St Helens Railway Station held their annual supper. The event took place at the George Hotel in George Street and 46 persons sat down to what was described as "an excellent and substantial repast", the cost of which was paid for by the manufacturers and tradesmen of the town – and not, surprisingly, by the railway company, who was often accused of being tight-fisted.
Also on the 12th, the eleventh annual ball of the 47th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers was held in the Volunteer Hall in Mill Street. The Newspaper said the dance of St Helens' part-time army reserves had been a complete success, with the room having been "very tastefully decorated for the occasion, with drapery, shields, mottoes, armorial devices, mirrors, &c., and had an exceedingly attractive appearance.
"The hall was, as usual, compressed into the dimensions of a large drawing-room, the gallery being entirely hidden from view by drapery, and along the front of it were alternately arranged devices of crossed rifles, and bayonets forming semi-circular stars, with “47” in the centre. Beneath these were three large mirrors tastefully hung with white curtains." At each of the annual balls, the members of the services who attended were instructed to dress in military uniform, with their horse-drawn carriages arriving by Duke Street and leaving by North Road.
On the 13th the inmates' Christmas tree was installed at Whiston Workhouse. It was an oddity that mid-January rather than December was chosen for the annual event, which was accompanied by present giving, entertainment and a concert. Then on the 15th the 100-plus children in Whiston Workhouse were taken to see the panto 'Beauty and the Beast' in the Theatre Royal in St Helens at the invitation of its kind manager, George Charles. During an interval in the performance, the youngsters were treated to buns and oranges and were afterwards given a tea.
Last week a 32-year-old farmer called James Swift had died after being struck down by a train at St Helens Station while crossing the line. His inquest was held at the Royal Alfred in Shaw Street where it was stated that a great many people dangerously crossed the railway lines every day in spite of warning notices telling them to use the footbridge that had been provided.
But the St Helens Newspaper in a damning editorial published on the 15th felt that the railway company should be held responsible for what had happened, as they had no interest in improving the station. The paper wrote:
"If the person killed had been a Bishop, a Member of Parliament, or a Railway Director, there would most probably have been such an out-cry, and public attention would have been so strongly drawn to the inadequate accommodation and dangerous state of our station, arising from defective management, that the directors, of the London and North-Western Railway Company, would have felt themselves compelled, to have taken immediate steps, to remedy the evils of which the public so justly complain.
"But as the life sacrificed belonged to a man moving in a comparatively humble though respectable sphere of life, in all probability there will be nothing done, and we shall have to wait until some important personage is slaughtered, or until some dire disaster, involving the sacrifice of a number of lives, takes place. Time after time has public attention been called to the defectiveness of the company's station, but it would appear that the directors are bent only on providing for large dividends, regardless of the public safety and convenience." And on getting other people to pay for their employees' annual supper!
St Helens Council was purchasing the town's privately owned gasworks and had agreed a fee of £131,600 with John Ansdell. He was the solicitor who lived in Cowley House, which is now known as the Mansion House. This had been built for Ansdell in 1851 and his private grounds later became Victoria Park. Ansdell was also the chairman of the gasworks and had negotiated the deal to sell it to St Helens Corporation.
But he needed permission from his shareholders for the agreement to proceed and the Newspaper described how this had now occurred. A meeting had been held in the long room of the Fleece Inn in Church Street and the paper said it had been of "the most unanimous character" in consenting to the sale. Ansdell had clearly struck a very good deal on behalf of his shareholders from a position of strength and, unsurprisingly, none of those present wanted to dissent from making themselves a lot of money. This was the start of the council placing local utilities and transport under its municipal control.
Penny readings were a form of entertainment designed for the working class that featured readings from popular authors, Biblical readings, songs and talks for the price of just a penny. Penny readings had begun in London in the 1850s and became hugely popular nationwide during the ‘60s, before beginning to decline in popularity. In fact it had been a while since I had read in the Newspaper of such an event taking place in St Helens but one occurred this week in St Joseph's schoolroom in Parr.
Penny readings were not necessarily connected with temperance but this gathering had been organised by the Holy Cross Association for the Suppression of Drunkenness. The place was packed and there had been an insufficient number of chairs to accommodate everyone that attended. After the meeting fifty people took the pledge.
Of course, seemingly healthy people still suddenly collapse and die today at a young age. But such events did appear to be much more common in the 19th century, with many jobs being unhealthy and people often breathing in a filthy, noxious atmosphere. What the Newspaper described as an "awfully sudden case of death" occurred in Baldwin Street this week when Ellen Hesketh was wheeling what was described as a barrow load of grains.
A doctor gave apoplexy as the likely cause of Ellen's sudden death, which was a sort of catch-all term meaning a stroke of some kind – but, in truth, they really didn't know the cause. The unmarried Ellen was described as having been a "most healthy woman", with only one slight attack of illness during the past 15 years.
On the 17th the inquest on George Woodward was held at the Glassmakers Arms in Waterdale Crescent in Sutton. The 21-year-old from Blinkhorns Row in Sutton was one of many young men who, when the weather turned cold, went on the many places of open water in St Helens. George had been skating with several others on the frozen reservoir belonging to Sutton Glassworks. It was a typical story of the ice suddenly breaking up and the skater falling into the freezing water. Strenuous efforts were made to rescue him but it took half-an-hour until George could be extricated and by then he was found to be dead.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the notorious poacher in Rainford, the new Rainhill sewage farm to prevent contagious disease, the row over water in Pocket Nook and there's another mysterious death in the street.
This week's many stories include a damning indictment of St Helens Railway Station, the military ball that was held in the Volunteer Hall, the penny reading in Parr, the ice skater that drowned in Sutton, more on the Corporation's purchase of the gasworks and the woman that dropped dead outside the Sefton.
We begin during the evening of the 12th when the employees of the passenger department of St Helens Railway Station held their annual supper.
The event took place at the George Hotel in George Street and 46 persons sat down to what was described as "an excellent and substantial repast", the cost of which was paid for by the manufacturers and tradesmen of the town – and not, surprisingly, by the railway company, who was often accused of being tight-fisted.
Also on the 12th, the eleventh annual ball of the 47th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers was held in the Volunteer Hall in Mill Street.
The Newspaper said the dance of St Helens' part-time army reserves had been a complete success, with the room having been "very tastefully decorated for the occasion, with drapery, shields, mottoes, armorial devices, mirrors, &c., and had an exceedingly attractive appearance.
"The hall was, as usual, compressed into the dimensions of a large drawing-room, the gallery being entirely hidden from view by drapery, and along the front of it were alternately arranged devices of crossed rifles, and bayonets forming semi-circular stars, with “47” in the centre. Beneath these were three large mirrors tastefully hung with white curtains."
At each of the annual balls, the members of the services who attended were instructed to dress in military uniform, with their horse-drawn carriages arriving by Duke Street and leaving by North Road.
On the 13th the inmates' Christmas tree was installed at Whiston Workhouse. It was an oddity that mid-January rather than December was chosen for the annual event, which was accompanied by present giving, entertainment and a concert.
Then on the 15th the 100-plus children in Whiston Workhouse were taken to see the panto 'Beauty and the Beast' in the Theatre Royal in St Helens at the invitation of its kind manager, George Charles.
During an interval in the performance, the youngsters were treated to buns and oranges and were afterwards given a tea.
Last week a 32-year-old farmer called James Swift had died after being struck down by a train at St Helens Station while crossing the line.
His inquest was held at the Royal Alfred in Shaw Street where it was stated that a great many people dangerously crossed the railway lines every day in spite of warning notices telling them to use the footbridge that had been provided.
But the St Helens Newspaper in a damning editorial published on the 15th felt that the railway company should be held responsible for what had happened, as they had no interest in improving the station. The paper wrote:
"If the person killed had been a Bishop, a Member of Parliament, or a Railway Director, there would most probably have been such an out-cry, and public attention would have been so strongly drawn to the inadequate accommodation and dangerous state of our station, arising from defective management, that the directors, of the London and North-Western Railway Company, would have felt themselves compelled, to have taken immediate steps, to remedy the evils of which the public so justly complain.
"But as the life sacrificed belonged to a man moving in a comparatively humble though respectable sphere of life, in all probability there will be nothing done, and we shall have to wait until some important personage is slaughtered, or until some dire disaster, involving the sacrifice of a number of lives, takes place.
"Time after time has public attention been called to the defectiveness of the company's station, but it would appear that the directors are bent only on providing for large dividends, regardless of the public safety and convenience."
And on getting other people to pay for their employees' annual supper!
St Helens Council was purchasing the town's privately owned gasworks and had agreed a fee of £131,600 with John Ansdell.
He was the solicitor who lived in Cowley House, which is now known as the Mansion House. This had been built for Ansdell in 1851 and his private grounds later became Victoria Park.
Ansdell was also the chairman of the gasworks and had negotiated the deal to sell it to St Helens Corporation.
But he needed permission from his shareholders for the agreement to proceed and the Newspaper described how this had now occurred.
A meeting had been held in the long room of the Fleece Inn in Church Street and the paper said it had been of "the most unanimous character" in consenting to the sale.
Ansdell had clearly struck a very good deal on behalf of his shareholders from a position of strength and, unsurprisingly, none of those present wanted to dissent from making themselves a lot of money.
This was the start of the council placing local utilities and transport under its municipal control.
Penny readings were a form of entertainment designed for the working class that featured readings from popular authors, Biblical readings, songs and talks for the price of just a penny.
Penny readings had begun in London in the 1850s and became hugely popular nationwide during the ‘60s, before beginning to decline in popularity.
In fact it had been a while since I had read in the Newspaper of such an event taking place in St Helens but one occurred this week in St Joseph's schoolroom in Parr.
Penny readings were not necessarily connected with temperance but this gathering had been organised by the Holy Cross Association for the Suppression of Drunkenness.
The place was packed and there had been an insufficient number of chairs to accommodate everyone that attended. After the meeting fifty people took the pledge.
Of course, seemingly healthy people still suddenly collapse and die today at a young age.
But such events did appear to be much more common in the 19th century, with many jobs being unhealthy and people often breathing in a filthy, noxious atmosphere.
What the Newspaper described as an "awfully sudden case of death" occurred in Baldwin Street this week when Ellen Hesketh was wheeling what was described as a barrow load of grains.
The 57-year-old from Windle City had obtained her load from Greenall's brewery in Hall Street and as she passed the Sefton Arms, she was seen to stagger and fall onto her barrow.
Ellen was carried into James Bates' hairdressers and Dr Twyford was sent for.
"She, however, only breathed a few times and then expired," explained the Newspaper.
A doctor gave apoplexy as the likely cause of Ellen's sudden death, which was a sort of catch-all term meaning a stroke of some kind – but, in truth, they really didn't know the cause.
The unmarried Ellen was described as having been a "most healthy woman", with only one slight attack of illness during the past 15 years.
On the 17th the inquest on George Woodward was held at the Glassmakers Arms in Waterdale Crescent in Sutton.
The 21-year-old from Blinkhorns Row in Sutton was one of many young men who, when the weather turned cold, went on the many places of open water in St Helens.
George had been skating with several others on the frozen reservoir belonging to Sutton Glassworks.
It was a typical story of the ice suddenly breaking up and the skater falling into the freezing water.
Strenuous efforts were made to rescue him but it took half-an-hour until George could be extricated and by then he was found to be dead.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the notorious poacher in Rainford, the new Rainhill sewage farm to prevent contagious disease, the row over water in Pocket Nook and there's another mysterious death in the street.
We begin during the evening of the 12th when the employees of the passenger department of St Helens Railway Station held their annual supper.
The event took place at the George Hotel in George Street and 46 persons sat down to what was described as "an excellent and substantial repast", the cost of which was paid for by the manufacturers and tradesmen of the town – and not, surprisingly, by the railway company, who was often accused of being tight-fisted.
Also on the 12th, the eleventh annual ball of the 47th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers was held in the Volunteer Hall in Mill Street.
The Newspaper said the dance of St Helens' part-time army reserves had been a complete success, with the room having been "very tastefully decorated for the occasion, with drapery, shields, mottoes, armorial devices, mirrors, &c., and had an exceedingly attractive appearance.
"The hall was, as usual, compressed into the dimensions of a large drawing-room, the gallery being entirely hidden from view by drapery, and along the front of it were alternately arranged devices of crossed rifles, and bayonets forming semi-circular stars, with “47” in the centre. Beneath these were three large mirrors tastefully hung with white curtains."
At each of the annual balls, the members of the services who attended were instructed to dress in military uniform, with their horse-drawn carriages arriving by Duke Street and leaving by North Road.
On the 13th the inmates' Christmas tree was installed at Whiston Workhouse. It was an oddity that mid-January rather than December was chosen for the annual event, which was accompanied by present giving, entertainment and a concert.
Then on the 15th the 100-plus children in Whiston Workhouse were taken to see the panto 'Beauty and the Beast' in the Theatre Royal in St Helens at the invitation of its kind manager, George Charles.
During an interval in the performance, the youngsters were treated to buns and oranges and were afterwards given a tea.
Last week a 32-year-old farmer called James Swift had died after being struck down by a train at St Helens Station while crossing the line.
His inquest was held at the Royal Alfred in Shaw Street where it was stated that a great many people dangerously crossed the railway lines every day in spite of warning notices telling them to use the footbridge that had been provided.
But the St Helens Newspaper in a damning editorial published on the 15th felt that the railway company should be held responsible for what had happened, as they had no interest in improving the station. The paper wrote:
"If the person killed had been a Bishop, a Member of Parliament, or a Railway Director, there would most probably have been such an out-cry, and public attention would have been so strongly drawn to the inadequate accommodation and dangerous state of our station, arising from defective management, that the directors, of the London and North-Western Railway Company, would have felt themselves compelled, to have taken immediate steps, to remedy the evils of which the public so justly complain.
"But as the life sacrificed belonged to a man moving in a comparatively humble though respectable sphere of life, in all probability there will be nothing done, and we shall have to wait until some important personage is slaughtered, or until some dire disaster, involving the sacrifice of a number of lives, takes place.
"Time after time has public attention been called to the defectiveness of the company's station, but it would appear that the directors are bent only on providing for large dividends, regardless of the public safety and convenience."
And on getting other people to pay for their employees' annual supper!
St Helens Council was purchasing the town's privately owned gasworks and had agreed a fee of £131,600 with John Ansdell.
He was the solicitor who lived in Cowley House, which is now known as the Mansion House. This had been built for Ansdell in 1851 and his private grounds later became Victoria Park.
Ansdell was also the chairman of the gasworks and had negotiated the deal to sell it to St Helens Corporation.
But he needed permission from his shareholders for the agreement to proceed and the Newspaper described how this had now occurred.
A meeting had been held in the long room of the Fleece Inn in Church Street and the paper said it had been of "the most unanimous character" in consenting to the sale.
Ansdell had clearly struck a very good deal on behalf of his shareholders from a position of strength and, unsurprisingly, none of those present wanted to dissent from making themselves a lot of money.
This was the start of the council placing local utilities and transport under its municipal control.
Penny readings were a form of entertainment designed for the working class that featured readings from popular authors, Biblical readings, songs and talks for the price of just a penny.
Penny readings had begun in London in the 1850s and became hugely popular nationwide during the ‘60s, before beginning to decline in popularity.
In fact it had been a while since I had read in the Newspaper of such an event taking place in St Helens but one occurred this week in St Joseph's schoolroom in Parr.
Penny readings were not necessarily connected with temperance but this gathering had been organised by the Holy Cross Association for the Suppression of Drunkenness.
The place was packed and there had been an insufficient number of chairs to accommodate everyone that attended. After the meeting fifty people took the pledge.
Of course, seemingly healthy people still suddenly collapse and die today at a young age.
But such events did appear to be much more common in the 19th century, with many jobs being unhealthy and people often breathing in a filthy, noxious atmosphere.
The 57-year-old from Windle City had obtained her load from Greenall's brewery in Hall Street and as she passed the Sefton Arms, she was seen to stagger and fall onto her barrow.
Ellen was carried into James Bates' hairdressers and Dr Twyford was sent for.
"She, however, only breathed a few times and then expired," explained the Newspaper.
A doctor gave apoplexy as the likely cause of Ellen's sudden death, which was a sort of catch-all term meaning a stroke of some kind – but, in truth, they really didn't know the cause.
The unmarried Ellen was described as having been a "most healthy woman", with only one slight attack of illness during the past 15 years.
On the 17th the inquest on George Woodward was held at the Glassmakers Arms in Waterdale Crescent in Sutton.
The 21-year-old from Blinkhorns Row in Sutton was one of many young men who, when the weather turned cold, went on the many places of open water in St Helens.
George had been skating with several others on the frozen reservoir belonging to Sutton Glassworks.
It was a typical story of the ice suddenly breaking up and the skater falling into the freezing water.
Strenuous efforts were made to rescue him but it took half-an-hour until George could be extricated and by then he was found to be dead.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the notorious poacher in Rainford, the new Rainhill sewage farm to prevent contagious disease, the row over water in Pocket Nook and there's another mysterious death in the street.