150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (28th NOV. - 4th DEC. 1872)
This week's stories include the court proceedings that were labelled a sham, the parents of a 2-year-old severely scalded Sutton boy who took two days to call the doctor, the Church Street cobblers that hosted a dentist, the campaign against the cost of the proposed new Town Hall heats up and the Sutton Oak postmaster's Sunday evening burglary.
We begin on the 28th when a well-known ventriloquist called Fred Maccabe performed in the Volunteer Hall in St Helens (pictured above in later years). Until the building of the new Town Hall with its capacious Assembly Hall, the Mill Street venue was the only place in St Helens capable of accommodating a very large audience. Fred Maccabe also went by the name of Frederic (the Great) Maccabe and in 1875 published a book called 'Maccabe's Art of Ventriloquism and Vocal Illusions' – a seminal manual on how to become a ventriloquist.
Also on the 28th Thomas Rattigan from Moss Nook in Sutton was severely scalded while playing at home on the hearth. The 2-year-old's mother had left a pan of water boiling on the fire while briefly out of the room and her son somehow managed to upset it. The Newspaper wrote: "The water by that time hot, scalded him fearfully on the body and legs." Despite the boy's condition no doctor was called in for two days and within hours of medical assistance eventually arriving the boy had died. No reason was stated for the parents not taking their child immediately to a doctor. However, the prospect of a bill often deterred poorer people from seeking help.
The Wigan Observer on the 29th reported that the price of house coal in St Helens had dropped due to lessening demand and now cost only 9d per cwt. The paper also described another railway accident involving a train that had left Widnes for St Helens. As it passed a siding, a train coming from an alkali works ran into it with great force, disabling one engine and smashing up several waggons. There were no reports of injuries, which was often the case as engine drivers and stokers gained plenty of experience in leaping safely to the ground from their engines!
Not only was there a shortage of large venues in St Helens but there were also few small places that could be hired for a short period. That's why coroners' inquests tended to take place in pubs. And so when visiting professionals came to town to offer their services for a few hours, they could be found in unusual places.
An advert in the Newspaper on the 30th stated that every Saturday a dentist would be in attendance at Brockbank's bootmakers premises in Church Street. And so you could get your teeth and your clogs fixed at the same time! Now that's convenience for you! You might also learn a bit of local history too – as James Brockbank would later author the book 'History of St. Helens'.
Since Charles Duval had taken over the running of the St Helens theatre in the premises we know as the Citadel, he'd renamed the former music hall the 'New Theatre Royal and Opera House'. The last part of its moniker was clearly indicative of his move up market, although plays were actually its main genre. On the 30th 'The Scamps of London' was performed in the theatre.
"Scamps" is a word that has somewhat softened its meaning over the years and calling someone that name in the 1870s was far more offensive than today. Perhaps, the 'Villains of London' would be today's equivalent. The theatre was also advertising their 'Great Christmas Pantomime' which they said was currently in preparation. The prices at the theatre were quite reasonable. You could even sit in a box away from the common folk for just a shilling.
The peak time for burglaries in St Helens was Sunday evening. Gangs would watch families leaving for church and know that their house would be deserted for at least an hour. The victim on Sunday December 1st was Evan Cross, the postmaster of the Sutton Oak Post Office. The Newspaper wrote:
"The burglars made a diligent search through the house, pulling open drawers, and scattering their contents about, but the prize they were evidently in search of was beyond their reach; for a sum of £40, the only money in the house, was securely locked up in a safe, where it remained untouched. The rogues were probably alarmed and decamped hastily."
For some time the Newspaper had been campaigning for a paid, professional magistrate, known as a stipendiary, to be hired. The existing amateur magistrates were businessmen who often had difficulty finding the time to attend court. On the 2nd only one magistrate turned up to the petty sessions and as the law for many cases required two magistrates to sit on the Bench, much of the day's business had to be postponed for a week – much to many persons inconvenience. The Newspaper called proceedings a "sham" and said a stipendiary magistrate was the only solution as: "It would really be too much to expect that gentlemen who have a great deal of private business will sacrifice it for the good of the general public."
The main talking point in St Helens at the moment was the cost of the proposed new town hall and how paying for it would likely result in a big rates rise. When seven builders recently submitted bids of between £35,000 and £40,000 to construct the new municipal centre in what would become known as Corporation Street, some expressed shock at what they saw as a grotesque, needless expense.
In an editorial this week the St Helens Newspaper called for a common sense approach to the issue: "The new Town Hall is not to be built without opposition. Within the last few days different views have been taken by different parties in the borough. One party is entirely against the erection of the Town Hall, on the ground that they can do without it. Perhaps the town might return the compliment and tell them it can do without them. We are as strongly opposed to all unnecessary expenditure as any body of men can be, but we cannot join in the senseless opposition of men who, because they are content to live in a miserable huckrey muckrey way, think that their neighbours are not to have a decent house.
"Can any of the opponents of a good Town Hall point to any town in the kingdom, equal to St. Helens in commercial and social wealth, which has not a spacious Town Hall? We believe they cannot. Why, then, should St. Helens be without a respectable Town Hall suited to its size and importance? Can the persons who make these objections be animated by patriotism, or love of their native or adopted town? As a rule, men love to see their native town rising in importance and in beauty. A great outcry is made about the cost, and terrible forebodings of heavy rates and all that sort of bug-bear, are in the mouths of men who ought to know better."
The Newspaper believed that a compromise could be reached in which a slimmed down version of the proposed Town Hall could be built and reported that the architect had already been asked to amend his designs to make savings. However, at the monthly meeting of the Town Council on the 4th, two petitions – or memorials, as they were then usually called – were presented to its members calling for their plans to proceed with the new building to be scrapped.
The ratepayers of East Sutton Ward argued that with the rising prices of materials, the actual cost of building the hall would be far higher than had been intimated. They argued that it made far more sense for the old building in New Market Place – that had twice suffered fires – to be made fully usable again. Some parts were back in use but the group felt that with an investment of a few thousand pounds, it could serve as a Town Hall for many years to come. And as buildings in its immediate vicinity became vacant, the Corporation could snap them up and use them as additional offices.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the anti-vaccinators in St Helens Police Court, the German man in Rainford with a mania for stealing hay cutters, the storm of the most exceptional severity and the lazy, worthless vagabond that bellowed in court.
Also on the 28th Thomas Rattigan from Moss Nook in Sutton was severely scalded while playing at home on the hearth. The 2-year-old's mother had left a pan of water boiling on the fire while briefly out of the room and her son somehow managed to upset it. The Newspaper wrote: "The water by that time hot, scalded him fearfully on the body and legs." Despite the boy's condition no doctor was called in for two days and within hours of medical assistance eventually arriving the boy had died. No reason was stated for the parents not taking their child immediately to a doctor. However, the prospect of a bill often deterred poorer people from seeking help.
The Wigan Observer on the 29th reported that the price of house coal in St Helens had dropped due to lessening demand and now cost only 9d per cwt. The paper also described another railway accident involving a train that had left Widnes for St Helens. As it passed a siding, a train coming from an alkali works ran into it with great force, disabling one engine and smashing up several waggons. There were no reports of injuries, which was often the case as engine drivers and stokers gained plenty of experience in leaping safely to the ground from their engines!
Not only was there a shortage of large venues in St Helens but there were also few small places that could be hired for a short period. That's why coroners' inquests tended to take place in pubs. And so when visiting professionals came to town to offer their services for a few hours, they could be found in unusual places.
An advert in the Newspaper on the 30th stated that every Saturday a dentist would be in attendance at Brockbank's bootmakers premises in Church Street. And so you could get your teeth and your clogs fixed at the same time! Now that's convenience for you! You might also learn a bit of local history too – as James Brockbank would later author the book 'History of St. Helens'.
Since Charles Duval had taken over the running of the St Helens theatre in the premises we know as the Citadel, he'd renamed the former music hall the 'New Theatre Royal and Opera House'. The last part of its moniker was clearly indicative of his move up market, although plays were actually its main genre. On the 30th 'The Scamps of London' was performed in the theatre.
"Scamps" is a word that has somewhat softened its meaning over the years and calling someone that name in the 1870s was far more offensive than today. Perhaps, the 'Villains of London' would be today's equivalent. The theatre was also advertising their 'Great Christmas Pantomime' which they said was currently in preparation. The prices at the theatre were quite reasonable. You could even sit in a box away from the common folk for just a shilling.
The peak time for burglaries in St Helens was Sunday evening. Gangs would watch families leaving for church and know that their house would be deserted for at least an hour. The victim on Sunday December 1st was Evan Cross, the postmaster of the Sutton Oak Post Office. The Newspaper wrote:
"The burglars made a diligent search through the house, pulling open drawers, and scattering their contents about, but the prize they were evidently in search of was beyond their reach; for a sum of £40, the only money in the house, was securely locked up in a safe, where it remained untouched. The rogues were probably alarmed and decamped hastily."
For some time the Newspaper had been campaigning for a paid, professional magistrate, known as a stipendiary, to be hired. The existing amateur magistrates were businessmen who often had difficulty finding the time to attend court. On the 2nd only one magistrate turned up to the petty sessions and as the law for many cases required two magistrates to sit on the Bench, much of the day's business had to be postponed for a week – much to many persons inconvenience. The Newspaper called proceedings a "sham" and said a stipendiary magistrate was the only solution as: "It would really be too much to expect that gentlemen who have a great deal of private business will sacrifice it for the good of the general public."
The main talking point in St Helens at the moment was the cost of the proposed new town hall and how paying for it would likely result in a big rates rise. When seven builders recently submitted bids of between £35,000 and £40,000 to construct the new municipal centre in what would become known as Corporation Street, some expressed shock at what they saw as a grotesque, needless expense.
In an editorial this week the St Helens Newspaper called for a common sense approach to the issue: "The new Town Hall is not to be built without opposition. Within the last few days different views have been taken by different parties in the borough. One party is entirely against the erection of the Town Hall, on the ground that they can do without it. Perhaps the town might return the compliment and tell them it can do without them. We are as strongly opposed to all unnecessary expenditure as any body of men can be, but we cannot join in the senseless opposition of men who, because they are content to live in a miserable huckrey muckrey way, think that their neighbours are not to have a decent house.
"Can any of the opponents of a good Town Hall point to any town in the kingdom, equal to St. Helens in commercial and social wealth, which has not a spacious Town Hall? We believe they cannot. Why, then, should St. Helens be without a respectable Town Hall suited to its size and importance? Can the persons who make these objections be animated by patriotism, or love of their native or adopted town? As a rule, men love to see their native town rising in importance and in beauty. A great outcry is made about the cost, and terrible forebodings of heavy rates and all that sort of bug-bear, are in the mouths of men who ought to know better."
The Newspaper believed that a compromise could be reached in which a slimmed down version of the proposed Town Hall could be built and reported that the architect had already been asked to amend his designs to make savings. However, at the monthly meeting of the Town Council on the 4th, two petitions – or memorials, as they were then usually called – were presented to its members calling for their plans to proceed with the new building to be scrapped.
The ratepayers of East Sutton Ward argued that with the rising prices of materials, the actual cost of building the hall would be far higher than had been intimated. They argued that it made far more sense for the old building in New Market Place – that had twice suffered fires – to be made fully usable again. Some parts were back in use but the group felt that with an investment of a few thousand pounds, it could serve as a Town Hall for many years to come. And as buildings in its immediate vicinity became vacant, the Corporation could snap them up and use them as additional offices.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the anti-vaccinators in St Helens Police Court, the German man in Rainford with a mania for stealing hay cutters, the storm of the most exceptional severity and the lazy, worthless vagabond that bellowed in court.
This week's stories include the court proceedings that were labelled a sham, the parents of a 2-year-old severely scalded Sutton boy who took two days to call the doctor, the Church Street cobblers that hosted a dentist, the campaign against the cost of the proposed new Town Hall heats up and the Sutton Oak postmaster's Sunday evening burglary.
We begin on the 28th when a well-known ventriloquist called Fred Maccabe performed in the Volunteer Hall in St Helens (pictured above in later years).
Until the building of the new Town Hall with its capacious Assembly Hall, the Mill Street venue was the only place in St Helens capable of accommodating a very large audience.
Fred Maccabe also went by the name of Frederic (the Great) Maccabe and in 1875 published a book called 'Maccabe's Art of Ventriloquism and Vocal Illusions' – a seminal manual on how to become a ventriloquist.
Also on the 28th Thomas Rattigan from Moss Nook in Sutton was severely scalded while playing at home on the hearth.
The 2-year-old's mother had left a pan of water boiling on the fire while briefly out of the room and her son somehow managed to upset it.
The Newspaper wrote: "The water by that time hot, scalded him fearfully on the body and legs."
Despite the boy's condition no doctor was called in for two days and within hours of medical assistance eventually arriving the boy had died.
No reason was stated for the parents not taking their child immediately to a doctor. However, the prospect of a bill often deterred poorer people from seeking help.
The Wigan Observer on the 29th reported that the price of house coal in St Helens had dropped due to lessening demand and now cost only 9d per cwt.
The paper also described another railway accident involving a train that had left Widnes for St Helens.
As it passed a siding, a train coming from an alkali works ran into it with great force, disabling one engine and smashing up several waggons.
There were no reports of injuries, which was often the case as engine drivers and stokers gained plenty of experience in leaping safely to the ground from their engines!
Not only was there a shortage of large venues in St Helens but there were also few small places that could be hired for a short period. That's why coroners' inquests tended to take place in pubs.
And so when visiting professionals came to town to offer their services for a few hours, they could be found in unusual places.
An advert in the Newspaper on the 30th stated that every Saturday a dentist would be in attendance at Brockbank's bootmakers premises in Church Street.
And so you could get your teeth and your clogs fixed at the same time! Now that's convenience for you!
You might also learn a bit of local history too – as James Brockbank would later author the book 'History of St. Helens'.
Since Charles Duval had taken over the running of the St Helens theatre in the premises we know as the Citadel, he'd renamed the former music hall the 'New Theatre Royal and Opera House'.
The last part of its moniker was clearly indicative of his move up market, although plays were actually its main genre.
On the 30th 'The Scamps of London' was performed in the theatre. "Scamps" is a word that has somewhat softened its meaning over the years and calling someone that name in the 1870s was far more offensive than today. Perhaps, the 'Villains of London' would be today's equivalent.
The theatre was also advertising their 'Great Christmas Pantomime' which they said was currently in preparation. The prices at the theatre were quite reasonable. You could even sit in a box away from the common folk for just a shilling.
The peak time for burglaries in St Helens was Sunday evening. Gangs would watch families leaving for church and know that their house would be deserted for at least an hour.
The victim on Sunday December 1st was Evan Cross, the postmaster of the Sutton Oak Post Office. The Newspaper wrote:
"The burglars made a diligent search through the house, pulling open drawers, and scattering their contents about, but the prize they were evidently in search of was beyond their reach; for a sum of £40, the only money in the house, was securely locked up in a safe, where it remained untouched. The rogues were probably alarmed and decamped hastily."
For some time the Newspaper had been campaigning for a paid, professional magistrate, known as a stipendiary, to be hired.
The existing amateur magistrates were businessmen who often had difficulty finding the time to attend court.
On the 2nd only one magistrate turned up to the petty sessions and as the law for many cases required two magistrates to sit on the Bench, much of the day's business had to be postponed for a week – much to many persons inconvenience.
The Newspaper called proceedings a "sham" and said a stipendiary magistrate was the only solution as:
"It would really be too much to expect that gentlemen who have a great deal of private business will sacrifice it for the good of the general public."
The main talking point in St Helens at the moment was the cost of the proposed new town hall and how paying for it would likely result in a big rates rise.
When seven builders recently submitted bids of between £35,000 and £40,000 to construct the new municipal centre in what would become known as Corporation Street, some expressed shock at what they saw as a grotesque, needless expense.
In an editorial this week the St Helens Newspaper called for a common sense approach to the issue:
"The new Town Hall is not to be built without opposition. Within the last few days different views have been taken by different parties in the borough. One party is entirely against the erection of the Town Hall, on the ground that they can do without it. Perhaps the town might return the compliment and tell them it can do without them.
"We are as strongly opposed to all unnecessary expenditure as any body of men can be, but we cannot join in the senseless opposition of men who, because they are content to live in a miserable huckrey muckrey way, think that their neighbours are not to have a decent house.
"Can any of the opponents of a good Town Hall point to any town in the kingdom, equal to St. Helens in commercial and social wealth, which has not a spacious Town Hall? We believe they cannot. Why, then, should St. Helens be without a respectable Town Hall suited to its size and importance?
"Can the persons who make these objections be animated by patriotism, or love of their native or adopted town? As a rule, men love to see their native town rising in importance and in beauty.
"A great outcry is made about the cost, and terrible forebodings of heavy rates and all that sort of bug-bear, are in the mouths of men who ought to know better."
The Newspaper believed that a compromise could be reached in which a slimmed down version of the proposed Town Hall could be built and they reported that the architect had already been asked to amend his designs to make savings.
However, at the monthly meeting of the Town Council on the 4th, two petitions – or memorials, as they were then usually called – were presented to its members calling for their plans to proceed with the new building to be scrapped.
The ratepayers of East Sutton Ward argued that with the rising prices of materials, the actual cost of building the hall would be far higher than had been intimated.
They argued that it made far more sense for the old building in New Market Place – that had twice suffered fires – to be made fully usable again.
Some parts were back in use but the group felt that with an investment of a few thousand pounds, it could serve as a Town Hall for many years to come.
And as buildings in its immediate vicinity became vacant, the Corporation could snap them up and use them as additional offices.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the anti-vaccinators in St Helens Police Court, the German man in Rainford with a mania for stealing hay cutters, the storm of the most exceptional severity and the lazy, worthless vagabond that bellowed in court.
Until the building of the new Town Hall with its capacious Assembly Hall, the Mill Street venue was the only place in St Helens capable of accommodating a very large audience.
Fred Maccabe also went by the name of Frederic (the Great) Maccabe and in 1875 published a book called 'Maccabe's Art of Ventriloquism and Vocal Illusions' – a seminal manual on how to become a ventriloquist.
Also on the 28th Thomas Rattigan from Moss Nook in Sutton was severely scalded while playing at home on the hearth.
The 2-year-old's mother had left a pan of water boiling on the fire while briefly out of the room and her son somehow managed to upset it.
The Newspaper wrote: "The water by that time hot, scalded him fearfully on the body and legs."
Despite the boy's condition no doctor was called in for two days and within hours of medical assistance eventually arriving the boy had died.
No reason was stated for the parents not taking their child immediately to a doctor. However, the prospect of a bill often deterred poorer people from seeking help.
The Wigan Observer on the 29th reported that the price of house coal in St Helens had dropped due to lessening demand and now cost only 9d per cwt.
The paper also described another railway accident involving a train that had left Widnes for St Helens.
As it passed a siding, a train coming from an alkali works ran into it with great force, disabling one engine and smashing up several waggons.
There were no reports of injuries, which was often the case as engine drivers and stokers gained plenty of experience in leaping safely to the ground from their engines!
Not only was there a shortage of large venues in St Helens but there were also few small places that could be hired for a short period. That's why coroners' inquests tended to take place in pubs.
And so when visiting professionals came to town to offer their services for a few hours, they could be found in unusual places.
An advert in the Newspaper on the 30th stated that every Saturday a dentist would be in attendance at Brockbank's bootmakers premises in Church Street.
And so you could get your teeth and your clogs fixed at the same time! Now that's convenience for you!
You might also learn a bit of local history too – as James Brockbank would later author the book 'History of St. Helens'.
Since Charles Duval had taken over the running of the St Helens theatre in the premises we know as the Citadel, he'd renamed the former music hall the 'New Theatre Royal and Opera House'.
The last part of its moniker was clearly indicative of his move up market, although plays were actually its main genre.
On the 30th 'The Scamps of London' was performed in the theatre. "Scamps" is a word that has somewhat softened its meaning over the years and calling someone that name in the 1870s was far more offensive than today. Perhaps, the 'Villains of London' would be today's equivalent.
The theatre was also advertising their 'Great Christmas Pantomime' which they said was currently in preparation. The prices at the theatre were quite reasonable. You could even sit in a box away from the common folk for just a shilling.
The peak time for burglaries in St Helens was Sunday evening. Gangs would watch families leaving for church and know that their house would be deserted for at least an hour.
The victim on Sunday December 1st was Evan Cross, the postmaster of the Sutton Oak Post Office. The Newspaper wrote:
"The burglars made a diligent search through the house, pulling open drawers, and scattering their contents about, but the prize they were evidently in search of was beyond their reach; for a sum of £40, the only money in the house, was securely locked up in a safe, where it remained untouched. The rogues were probably alarmed and decamped hastily."
For some time the Newspaper had been campaigning for a paid, professional magistrate, known as a stipendiary, to be hired.
The existing amateur magistrates were businessmen who often had difficulty finding the time to attend court.
On the 2nd only one magistrate turned up to the petty sessions and as the law for many cases required two magistrates to sit on the Bench, much of the day's business had to be postponed for a week – much to many persons inconvenience.
The Newspaper called proceedings a "sham" and said a stipendiary magistrate was the only solution as:
"It would really be too much to expect that gentlemen who have a great deal of private business will sacrifice it for the good of the general public."
The main talking point in St Helens at the moment was the cost of the proposed new town hall and how paying for it would likely result in a big rates rise.
When seven builders recently submitted bids of between £35,000 and £40,000 to construct the new municipal centre in what would become known as Corporation Street, some expressed shock at what they saw as a grotesque, needless expense.
In an editorial this week the St Helens Newspaper called for a common sense approach to the issue:
"The new Town Hall is not to be built without opposition. Within the last few days different views have been taken by different parties in the borough. One party is entirely against the erection of the Town Hall, on the ground that they can do without it. Perhaps the town might return the compliment and tell them it can do without them.
"We are as strongly opposed to all unnecessary expenditure as any body of men can be, but we cannot join in the senseless opposition of men who, because they are content to live in a miserable huckrey muckrey way, think that their neighbours are not to have a decent house.
"Can any of the opponents of a good Town Hall point to any town in the kingdom, equal to St. Helens in commercial and social wealth, which has not a spacious Town Hall? We believe they cannot. Why, then, should St. Helens be without a respectable Town Hall suited to its size and importance?
"Can the persons who make these objections be animated by patriotism, or love of their native or adopted town? As a rule, men love to see their native town rising in importance and in beauty.
"A great outcry is made about the cost, and terrible forebodings of heavy rates and all that sort of bug-bear, are in the mouths of men who ought to know better."
The Newspaper believed that a compromise could be reached in which a slimmed down version of the proposed Town Hall could be built and they reported that the architect had already been asked to amend his designs to make savings.
However, at the monthly meeting of the Town Council on the 4th, two petitions – or memorials, as they were then usually called – were presented to its members calling for their plans to proceed with the new building to be scrapped.
The ratepayers of East Sutton Ward argued that with the rising prices of materials, the actual cost of building the hall would be far higher than had been intimated.
They argued that it made far more sense for the old building in New Market Place – that had twice suffered fires – to be made fully usable again.
Some parts were back in use but the group felt that with an investment of a few thousand pounds, it could serve as a Town Hall for many years to come.
And as buildings in its immediate vicinity became vacant, the Corporation could snap them up and use them as additional offices.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the anti-vaccinators in St Helens Police Court, the German man in Rainford with a mania for stealing hay cutters, the storm of the most exceptional severity and the lazy, worthless vagabond that bellowed in court.