150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 21 - 27 JULY 1875
This week's many stories include the fire on a coal heap at Sutton Heath Colliery, the Parr Mount woman who wanted blood for supper, an analysis of the water shortages in St Helens, the Sutton Copper Works foreman's natal day and the Smithy Brow threat to scatter brains.
A meeting of the Rainford Local Board was held this week. These were the folk that administered the village's affairs and their surveyor described how a number of roads in the village required attention. There had been many complaints about the rough state of a length of road near the Wheatsheaf Inn and also what was printed in the Newspaper as Brushy Lane. I thought that was a typo for Bushey Lane but there was a further reference in the article to Brushy bridge. There were also a number of issues with pavements at Crank with the kerbs (printed as curbs) between the New Bull Inn and the Red Cat said to be in a dangerous state.
The new academic school year began in St Helens this week with term times in the 19th century similar to the Scottish ones of today. That would have been a blow for some of the kids who, I imagine, would have preferred to have been watching the fire in Sutton Heath. That was ongoing throughout the week and concerned a coal heap at Sutton Heath Colliery, which was owned by James Radley, the present Mayor of St Helens.
The Newspaper said despite heavy rain and efforts to subdue it, the blaze had spread over two days with "alarming rapidity". On the 22nd it was decided to cease all work in the pit while the coal in the heap that had yet to catch fire was loaded into waggons, thus limiting the blaze's future spread. The Newspaper added that the cause of the fire was believed to be spontaneous combustion.
The paper also wrote that the men employed at the Sutton Copper Works had made a presentation of a gold chain and locket to their foreman Joseph Shenton "on the occasion of his natal day". That, I've learned, means birthday (which is where pre and postnatal childcare derives from) and Joseph had turned 65, although he was not retiring from his job.
It was normal for men to continue in employment while physically able to work, as many elderly lived in poverty. Joseph was clearly popular with his workmates and he made a short speech in which he said it was the happiest day of his life and his workmates gave him "three hearty good cheers".
This week's feuding neighbours in the St Helens Petty Sessions were the Edens and the Tierneys of Parr Mount. Catherine Tierney had taken out a summons against Elizabeth Eden alleging assault by her next-door neighbour by means of a variety of weapons. It was claimed that at 5:30 pm last Thursday evening Mrs Eden had gone to Mrs Tierney's door and asked her to come outside because she wanted "blood for supper" and would not go away without some.
The prospective vampire then rolled up her sleeves and put herself in what was described as an attitude for fighting. Elizabeth Eden's mother then arrived on the scene but instead of calming her daughter down gave her a jar full of water which she threw over Catherine. That was followed by the jar itself but it missed its target. Two more jars were then thrown with a similar result, both falling on the floor and smashing.
The helpful mother next produced what was described as a "thick loaded stick" and she handed it to her daughter who took it in both hands and struck Catherine on the side of her head creating a deep wound that bled profusely. Then Elizabeth picked up a piece of one of the broken jars and threw it at Catherine, striking her foe on the other side of her head. Catherine said that in self-defence she had retaliated by throwing a piece of wood at Elizabeth, cutting her head.
Catherine's daughter then managed to eject the two women from their house and peace was restored. But, of course, Elizabeth Eden and her mother had not been attacking Catherine for no reason. In court it was claimed that the Tierneys were the real aggressors, with one witness stating that both sides had freely pelted the broken jars at each other. It was clearly the last act of a longstanding dispute but the magistrates decided that the case had been proved and fined the defendant £2 and costs, or if in default, the woman must serve a month in prison.
The Canovan and Gallagher families of Smithy Brow were also in court after their dispute had also descended into violence. Richard Gallagher claimed that he had met James Canovan to simply ask him why he had struck his boy at his work. He claimed that in response Canovan had picked up a stone and threatened to "scatter my brains" and when Canovan's two sons turned up, the father had handed one a poker and a thick piece of wood to the other.
Richard Gallagher then said that the Canovan boys had used their weapons to attack him and that he had been knocked unconscious for over an hour. But they claimed that the Gallaghers were the real aggressors and after a lengthy hearing with lots of witnesses, the magistrates bound all the warring parties over to keep the peace.
I recently mentioned how the water shortage in St Helens had led to some rationing being introduced in the town with supplies being turned off at set times. In this week's St Helens Newspaper, which was published on the 24th, an editorial discussed the situation. The report said that it used to be the case that private wells provided much water for St Helens families. But the paper stated that these no longer existed to any appreciable extent, writing:
"In fact, except on the very outskirts of the borough there is not a spot which a well could be sunk from which water fit for human consumption could be drawn. The mining operations carried on throughout the whole of the district have caused such a wholesale sinking of the surface of the ground that general filling up has been had recourse to for years. There are very few places in the borough upon which to build a house where the surface has not been interfered with to some extent."
The article pointed out that much of the filling up of sunken ground had involved the use of cinders and waste from chemical and copper works. That, they wrote, had made the land unfit to obtain a supply of water from and the noxious nature of the materials used had poisoned the land in the immediate neighbourhood. St Helens – the article went on – was now almost totally dependent on the waterworks at Eccleston and at Whiston.
The former was providing the manufacturing plants in the town with water and the new and unfinished Whiston works was supplying domestic needs. But the Eccleston dams were not distributing sufficient water and Whiston was proving to be unreliable, with the paper saying: "The slightest stoppage at these works is immediately followed by a dearth of water, and almost every family in the town is made to feel the deprivation."
The shortages had led to the new Whiston waterworks having to be brought into operation before it was finished. But, they said the shortages would soon be a thing of the past, writing: "The people will rejoice shortly, at the completion of the Whiston Works, when a million gallons per day of pure water will be placed at the service of the town."
And finally, St Helens Cricket Club had a notice published in the Newspaper asking for publicans and confectionery suppliers to supply tenders for a special match planned for early August. The game would be played on their Dentons Green ground and be between St Helens CC and Casey and Robson's Clown Cricketers. Such semi-serious cricket matches were not uncommon in the 19th century.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the claim for compensation after a little girl loses a toe, the child's death at Rainford Potteries, the true cause of the Sutton Heath Colliery fire is explained and another drunk drowns in St Helens Canal.
The new academic school year began in St Helens this week with term times in the 19th century similar to the Scottish ones of today. That would have been a blow for some of the kids who, I imagine, would have preferred to have been watching the fire in Sutton Heath. That was ongoing throughout the week and concerned a coal heap at Sutton Heath Colliery, which was owned by James Radley, the present Mayor of St Helens.
The Newspaper said despite heavy rain and efforts to subdue it, the blaze had spread over two days with "alarming rapidity". On the 22nd it was decided to cease all work in the pit while the coal in the heap that had yet to catch fire was loaded into waggons, thus limiting the blaze's future spread. The Newspaper added that the cause of the fire was believed to be spontaneous combustion.
The paper also wrote that the men employed at the Sutton Copper Works had made a presentation of a gold chain and locket to their foreman Joseph Shenton "on the occasion of his natal day". That, I've learned, means birthday (which is where pre and postnatal childcare derives from) and Joseph had turned 65, although he was not retiring from his job.
It was normal for men to continue in employment while physically able to work, as many elderly lived in poverty. Joseph was clearly popular with his workmates and he made a short speech in which he said it was the happiest day of his life and his workmates gave him "three hearty good cheers".
This week's feuding neighbours in the St Helens Petty Sessions were the Edens and the Tierneys of Parr Mount. Catherine Tierney had taken out a summons against Elizabeth Eden alleging assault by her next-door neighbour by means of a variety of weapons. It was claimed that at 5:30 pm last Thursday evening Mrs Eden had gone to Mrs Tierney's door and asked her to come outside because she wanted "blood for supper" and would not go away without some.
The prospective vampire then rolled up her sleeves and put herself in what was described as an attitude for fighting. Elizabeth Eden's mother then arrived on the scene but instead of calming her daughter down gave her a jar full of water which she threw over Catherine. That was followed by the jar itself but it missed its target. Two more jars were then thrown with a similar result, both falling on the floor and smashing.
The helpful mother next produced what was described as a "thick loaded stick" and she handed it to her daughter who took it in both hands and struck Catherine on the side of her head creating a deep wound that bled profusely. Then Elizabeth picked up a piece of one of the broken jars and threw it at Catherine, striking her foe on the other side of her head. Catherine said that in self-defence she had retaliated by throwing a piece of wood at Elizabeth, cutting her head.
Catherine's daughter then managed to eject the two women from their house and peace was restored. But, of course, Elizabeth Eden and her mother had not been attacking Catherine for no reason. In court it was claimed that the Tierneys were the real aggressors, with one witness stating that both sides had freely pelted the broken jars at each other. It was clearly the last act of a longstanding dispute but the magistrates decided that the case had been proved and fined the defendant £2 and costs, or if in default, the woman must serve a month in prison.
The Canovan and Gallagher families of Smithy Brow were also in court after their dispute had also descended into violence. Richard Gallagher claimed that he had met James Canovan to simply ask him why he had struck his boy at his work. He claimed that in response Canovan had picked up a stone and threatened to "scatter my brains" and when Canovan's two sons turned up, the father had handed one a poker and a thick piece of wood to the other.
Richard Gallagher then said that the Canovan boys had used their weapons to attack him and that he had been knocked unconscious for over an hour. But they claimed that the Gallaghers were the real aggressors and after a lengthy hearing with lots of witnesses, the magistrates bound all the warring parties over to keep the peace.
I recently mentioned how the water shortage in St Helens had led to some rationing being introduced in the town with supplies being turned off at set times. In this week's St Helens Newspaper, which was published on the 24th, an editorial discussed the situation. The report said that it used to be the case that private wells provided much water for St Helens families. But the paper stated that these no longer existed to any appreciable extent, writing:
"In fact, except on the very outskirts of the borough there is not a spot which a well could be sunk from which water fit for human consumption could be drawn. The mining operations carried on throughout the whole of the district have caused such a wholesale sinking of the surface of the ground that general filling up has been had recourse to for years. There are very few places in the borough upon which to build a house where the surface has not been interfered with to some extent."
The article pointed out that much of the filling up of sunken ground had involved the use of cinders and waste from chemical and copper works. That, they wrote, had made the land unfit to obtain a supply of water from and the noxious nature of the materials used had poisoned the land in the immediate neighbourhood. St Helens – the article went on – was now almost totally dependent on the waterworks at Eccleston and at Whiston.
The former was providing the manufacturing plants in the town with water and the new and unfinished Whiston works was supplying domestic needs. But the Eccleston dams were not distributing sufficient water and Whiston was proving to be unreliable, with the paper saying: "The slightest stoppage at these works is immediately followed by a dearth of water, and almost every family in the town is made to feel the deprivation."
The shortages had led to the new Whiston waterworks having to be brought into operation before it was finished. But, they said the shortages would soon be a thing of the past, writing: "The people will rejoice shortly, at the completion of the Whiston Works, when a million gallons per day of pure water will be placed at the service of the town."
And finally, St Helens Cricket Club had a notice published in the Newspaper asking for publicans and confectionery suppliers to supply tenders for a special match planned for early August. The game would be played on their Dentons Green ground and be between St Helens CC and Casey and Robson's Clown Cricketers. Such semi-serious cricket matches were not uncommon in the 19th century.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the claim for compensation after a little girl loses a toe, the child's death at Rainford Potteries, the true cause of the Sutton Heath Colliery fire is explained and another drunk drowns in St Helens Canal.
This week's many stories include the fire on a coal heap at Sutton Heath Colliery, the Parr Mount woman who wanted blood for supper, an analysis of the water shortages in St Helens, the Sutton Copper Works foreman's natal day and the Smithy Brow threat to scatter brains.
A meeting of the Rainford Local Board was held this week. These were the folk that administered the village's affairs and their surveyor described how a number of roads in the village required attention.
There had been many complaints about the rough state of a length of road near the Wheatsheaf Inn and also what was printed in the Newspaper as Brushy Lane.
I thought that was a typo for Bushey Lane but there was a further reference in the article to Brushy bridge.
There were also a number of issues with pavements at Crank with the kerbs (printed as curbs) between the New Bull Inn and the Red Cat said to be in a dangerous state.
The new academic school year began in St Helens this week with term times in the 19th century similar to the Scottish ones of today.
That would have been a blow for some of the kids who, I imagine, would have preferred to have been watching the fire in Sutton Heath.
That was ongoing throughout the week and concerned a coal heap at Sutton Heath Colliery, which was owned by James Radley, the present Mayor of St Helens.
The Newspaper said despite heavy rain and efforts to subdue it, the blaze had spread over two days with "alarming rapidity".
On the 22nd it was decided to cease all work in the pit while the coal in the heap that had yet to catch fire was loaded into waggons, thus limiting the blaze's future spread.
The Newspaper added that the cause of the fire was believed to be spontaneous combustion.
The paper also wrote that the men employed at the Sutton Copper Works had made a presentation of a gold chain and locket to their foreman Joseph Shenton "on the occasion of his natal day".
That, I've learned, means birthday (which is where pre and postnatal childcare derives from) and Joseph had turned 65, although he was not retiring from his job.
It was normal for men to continue in employment while physically able to work, as many elderly lived in poverty.
Joseph was clearly popular with his workmates and he made a short speech in which he said it was the happiest day of his life and his workmates gave him "three hearty good cheers".
This week's feuding neighbours in the St Helens Petty Sessions were the Edens and the Tierneys of Parr Mount.
Catherine Tierney had taken out a summons against Elizabeth Eden alleging assault by her next-door neighbour by means of a variety of weapons.
It was claimed that at 5:30 pm last Thursday evening Mrs Eden had gone to Mrs Tierney's door and asked her to come outside because she wanted "blood for supper" and would not go away without some.
The prospective vampire then rolled up her sleeves and put herself in what was described as an attitude for fighting.
Elizabeth Eden's mother then arrived on the scene but instead of calming her daughter down gave her a jar full of water which she threw over Catherine. That was followed by the jar itself but it missed its target.
Two more jars were then thrown with a similar result, both falling on the floor and smashing.
The helpful mother next produced what was described as a "thick loaded stick" and she handed it to her daughter who took it in both hands and struck Catherine on the side of her head creating a deep wound that bled profusely.
Then Elizabeth picked up a piece of one of the broken jars and threw it at Catherine, striking her foe on the other side of her head.
Catherine said that in self-defence she had retaliated by throwing a piece of wood at Elizabeth, cutting her head.
Catherine's daughter then managed to eject the two women from their house and peace was restored.
But, of course, Elizabeth Eden and her mother had not been attacking Catherine for no reason.
In court it was claimed that the Tierneys were the real aggressors, with one witness stating that both sides had freely pelted the broken jars at each other.
It was clearly the last act of a longstanding dispute but the magistrates decided that the case had been proved and fined the defendant £2 and costs, or if in default, the woman must serve a month in prison.
The Canovan and Gallagher families of Smithy Brow were also in court after their dispute had also descended into violence.
Richard Gallagher claimed that he had met James Canovan to simply ask him why he had struck his boy at his work.
He claimed that in response Canovan had picked up a stone and threatened to "scatter my brains" and when Canovan's two sons turned up, the father had handed one a poker and a thick piece of wood to the other.
Richard Gallagher then said that the Canovan boys had used their weapons to attack him and that he had been knocked unconscious for over an hour.
But they claimed that the Gallaghers were the real aggressors and after a lengthy hearing with lots of witnesses, the magistrates bound all the warring parties over to keep the peace.
I recently mentioned how the water shortage in St Helens had led to some rationing being introduced in the town with supplies being turned off at set times.
In this week's St Helens Newspaper, which was published on the 24th, an editorial discussed the situation.
The report said that it used to be the case that private wells provided much water for St Helens families. But the paper stated that these no longer existed to any appreciable extent, writing:
"In fact, except on the very outskirts of the borough there is not a spot which a well could be sunk from which water fit for human consumption could be drawn.
"The mining operations carried on throughout the whole of the district have caused such a wholesale sinking of the surface of the ground that general filling up has been had recourse to for years.
"There are very few places in the borough upon which to build a house where the surface has not been interfered with to some extent."
The article pointed out that much of the filling up of sunken ground had involved the use of cinders and waste from chemical and copper works.
That, they wrote, had made the land unfit to obtain a supply of water from and the noxious nature of the materials used had poisoned the land in the immediate neighbourhood.
St Helens – the article went on – was now almost totally dependent on the waterworks at Eccleston and at Whiston.
The former was providing the manufacturing plants in the town with water and the new and unfinished Whiston works was supplying domestic needs.
But the Eccleston dams were not distributing sufficient water and Whiston was proving to be unreliable, with the paper saying:
"The slightest stoppage at these works is immediately followed by a dearth of water, and almost every family in the town is made to feel the deprivation."
The shortages had led to the new Whiston waterworks having to be brought into operation before it was finished. But, they said the shortages would soon be a thing of the past, writing:
"The people will rejoice shortly, at the completion of the Whiston Works, when a million gallons per day of pure water will be placed at the service of the town."
And finally, St Helens Cricket Club had a notice published in the Newspaper asking for publicans and confectionery suppliers to supply tenders for a special match planned for early August.
The game would be played on their Dentons Green ground and be between St Helens CC and Casey and Robson's Clown Cricketers. Such semi-serious cricket matches were not uncommon in the 19th century.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the claim for compensation after a little girl loses a toe, the child's death at Rainford Potteries, the true cause of the Sutton Heath Colliery fire is explained and another drunk drowns in St Helens Canal.
There had been many complaints about the rough state of a length of road near the Wheatsheaf Inn and also what was printed in the Newspaper as Brushy Lane.
I thought that was a typo for Bushey Lane but there was a further reference in the article to Brushy bridge.
There were also a number of issues with pavements at Crank with the kerbs (printed as curbs) between the New Bull Inn and the Red Cat said to be in a dangerous state.
The new academic school year began in St Helens this week with term times in the 19th century similar to the Scottish ones of today.
That would have been a blow for some of the kids who, I imagine, would have preferred to have been watching the fire in Sutton Heath.
That was ongoing throughout the week and concerned a coal heap at Sutton Heath Colliery, which was owned by James Radley, the present Mayor of St Helens.
The Newspaper said despite heavy rain and efforts to subdue it, the blaze had spread over two days with "alarming rapidity".
On the 22nd it was decided to cease all work in the pit while the coal in the heap that had yet to catch fire was loaded into waggons, thus limiting the blaze's future spread.
The Newspaper added that the cause of the fire was believed to be spontaneous combustion.
The paper also wrote that the men employed at the Sutton Copper Works had made a presentation of a gold chain and locket to their foreman Joseph Shenton "on the occasion of his natal day".
That, I've learned, means birthday (which is where pre and postnatal childcare derives from) and Joseph had turned 65, although he was not retiring from his job.
It was normal for men to continue in employment while physically able to work, as many elderly lived in poverty.
Joseph was clearly popular with his workmates and he made a short speech in which he said it was the happiest day of his life and his workmates gave him "three hearty good cheers".
This week's feuding neighbours in the St Helens Petty Sessions were the Edens and the Tierneys of Parr Mount.
Catherine Tierney had taken out a summons against Elizabeth Eden alleging assault by her next-door neighbour by means of a variety of weapons.
It was claimed that at 5:30 pm last Thursday evening Mrs Eden had gone to Mrs Tierney's door and asked her to come outside because she wanted "blood for supper" and would not go away without some.
The prospective vampire then rolled up her sleeves and put herself in what was described as an attitude for fighting.
Elizabeth Eden's mother then arrived on the scene but instead of calming her daughter down gave her a jar full of water which she threw over Catherine. That was followed by the jar itself but it missed its target.
Two more jars were then thrown with a similar result, both falling on the floor and smashing.
The helpful mother next produced what was described as a "thick loaded stick" and she handed it to her daughter who took it in both hands and struck Catherine on the side of her head creating a deep wound that bled profusely.
Then Elizabeth picked up a piece of one of the broken jars and threw it at Catherine, striking her foe on the other side of her head.
Catherine said that in self-defence she had retaliated by throwing a piece of wood at Elizabeth, cutting her head.
Catherine's daughter then managed to eject the two women from their house and peace was restored.
But, of course, Elizabeth Eden and her mother had not been attacking Catherine for no reason.
In court it was claimed that the Tierneys were the real aggressors, with one witness stating that both sides had freely pelted the broken jars at each other.
It was clearly the last act of a longstanding dispute but the magistrates decided that the case had been proved and fined the defendant £2 and costs, or if in default, the woman must serve a month in prison.
The Canovan and Gallagher families of Smithy Brow were also in court after their dispute had also descended into violence.
Richard Gallagher claimed that he had met James Canovan to simply ask him why he had struck his boy at his work.
He claimed that in response Canovan had picked up a stone and threatened to "scatter my brains" and when Canovan's two sons turned up, the father had handed one a poker and a thick piece of wood to the other.
Richard Gallagher then said that the Canovan boys had used their weapons to attack him and that he had been knocked unconscious for over an hour.
But they claimed that the Gallaghers were the real aggressors and after a lengthy hearing with lots of witnesses, the magistrates bound all the warring parties over to keep the peace.
I recently mentioned how the water shortage in St Helens had led to some rationing being introduced in the town with supplies being turned off at set times.
In this week's St Helens Newspaper, which was published on the 24th, an editorial discussed the situation.
The report said that it used to be the case that private wells provided much water for St Helens families. But the paper stated that these no longer existed to any appreciable extent, writing:
"In fact, except on the very outskirts of the borough there is not a spot which a well could be sunk from which water fit for human consumption could be drawn.
"The mining operations carried on throughout the whole of the district have caused such a wholesale sinking of the surface of the ground that general filling up has been had recourse to for years.
"There are very few places in the borough upon which to build a house where the surface has not been interfered with to some extent."
The article pointed out that much of the filling up of sunken ground had involved the use of cinders and waste from chemical and copper works.
That, they wrote, had made the land unfit to obtain a supply of water from and the noxious nature of the materials used had poisoned the land in the immediate neighbourhood.
St Helens – the article went on – was now almost totally dependent on the waterworks at Eccleston and at Whiston.
The former was providing the manufacturing plants in the town with water and the new and unfinished Whiston works was supplying domestic needs.
But the Eccleston dams were not distributing sufficient water and Whiston was proving to be unreliable, with the paper saying:
"The slightest stoppage at these works is immediately followed by a dearth of water, and almost every family in the town is made to feel the deprivation."
The shortages had led to the new Whiston waterworks having to be brought into operation before it was finished. But, they said the shortages would soon be a thing of the past, writing:
"The people will rejoice shortly, at the completion of the Whiston Works, when a million gallons per day of pure water will be placed at the service of the town."
And finally, St Helens Cricket Club had a notice published in the Newspaper asking for publicans and confectionery suppliers to supply tenders for a special match planned for early August.
The game would be played on their Dentons Green ground and be between St Helens CC and Casey and Robson's Clown Cricketers. Such semi-serious cricket matches were not uncommon in the 19th century.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the claim for compensation after a little girl loses a toe, the child's death at Rainford Potteries, the true cause of the Sutton Heath Colliery fire is explained and another drunk drowns in St Helens Canal.