150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (29th April - 5th May 1869)
This week's stories include the Sutton Bowling Green eviction outrage, there's bad blood in Parr, a triple tragedy at the Pocket Nook glassworks, the soldier who broke a bobby's leg in Prescot, the May Day celebrations in St Helens, cruelty to a horse in Prescot and a Bridge Street butcher warns the public to be on their guard.
We begin on the 29th with a fire at the Mayor's chemical works at Gerards Bridge. A mill at David Gamble's factory caught fire and, of course, in those days you couldn't just pick up a phone and dial 999.
A messenger had to be sent and then the horse-driven appliance had to wend its way to the blaze. It took time and on many occasions the fire had been put out by the time of its arrival. That is what happened at Gamble's works as the workmen had used their own engine and hose to extinguish the flames.
During the morning of the 30th three lads – aged between 16 and 18 – were drowned in the reservoir at the Pocket Nook Glassworks. Some workmen carrying out repairs had left a raft on the water and William Towers, Francis Davenport and Isaac Thorp – along with a man called Prescott – decided to take a sail during their breakfast break.
Prescott either fell or jumped off the raft and the other three occupants got thrown off. Prescott saved himself but none of the others could swim and were immediately drowned. Doctors were quickly on the scene but could do nothing for the foolish young men who had been warned not to go on the water.
May Day was always celebrated in St Helens by a display of horses and carts, as described by the St Helens Newspaper: "We do not see the morris-dancers in picturesque procession, enlivening our streets, but we have processions of horses which seem to excite just as much interest, and draw as many people from their houses."
It fell on a Saturday in 1869 and so there was a greater turn out than usual as most people finished work at noon. The Newspaper described the event as thousands lined the streets:
"The muster took place at the junction of Bridge-street and Church-street, between ten and twelve o’clock. There was a very large gathering of horses, in all sorts of carts and waggons, and a considerable space was occupied on each side of both streets. Messrs. Greenall made a good display of horse flesh and beer barrels, and Mr. Grace made his first appearance with six carts and lorries, and sixty barrels of ale. The horses of all the exhibitors were magnificent animals, and conveyed to the most casual observer the superiority of the English breed.
The omnibuses, which ply between St. Helens and Prescot, were peculiarly attractive. The horses were neatly decorated, and one of the drivers had adorned himself in a gaudily-coloured bonnet of the coal-skuttle pattern, which afforded infinite amusement to the juvenile portion of the throng. The procession went through the principal streets of the town, and then broke up early in the afternoon."
This notice was placed in the St Helens Newspaper on May 1st: "CAUTION – Mr. Peter Davies, Pork Butcher, 9, Bridge Street, St. Helens, wishes to inform his Friends and Customers, and the Public generally, that William Norley, who was lately an Assistant in his shop has now no connection with him whatsoever, and is NOT authorised to collect any Accounts due the Establishment. Should he make an application for money to any tradesmen, on pretence that it is for the advertiser, the latter will feel obliged if the police be informed of the matter at once."
On March 22nd in St Helens County Court Thomas Platt had brought an action for £50 damages against Isaac Grace, the owner of a public house in Robins Lane (and mentioned above in the May Day celebration). This was probably the Bowling Green Inn, although its name was not stated during the hearing.
Platt was the manager of the house but in January 1869 was given a week's notice to quit. Before the 7 days had expired, Grace sent a man called Yates to take possession, accompanied by many miners carrying clubs.
They threw all the family's possessions into the street, causing much damage and Platt – who at the end of the notice period handed in his keys to Isaac Grace – demanded £50 compensation. Grace's counsel said that under the Master and Servant Act Thomas Platt could be turned out at any moment without regard to any agreement.
The judge – or sergeant to use the correct term – said he would give his decision in a month's time and that arrived on May 3rd. Sergeant Wheeler outlined the case, highlighting that Yates had admitted telling the miners when picking them up on the street that getting Platt and his family out of the pub would be a "rough job".
The judge said: "It was not to be wondered at that violence was apprehended". He called what had happened an "outrage" that was "hardly credible in a civilised neighbourhood" and awarded Thomas Platt the full £50 that he had sought.
At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 3rd William Fitzgerald was fined 40 shillings for being drunk, disorderly and indecent in Eccleston. The St Helens Newspaper labelled the man a "brute" as he had once been convicted of an indecent assault on a little girl.
A man called Offord had been summoned to appear in the court to face a charge of poaching in Parr. However the Bench were told that since the "respectable" man had received the summons, he had become insane. Offord had now been removed to the asylum at Rainhill and so the case against him was dropped.
The St Helens Newspaper also gave a colourful description of Martha Grimes' summons against Mary Wadsworth and Elizabeth Grimes (no relation) for threatening to do grievous physical injury to her. The husband of Martha Grimes was lodging at the house of Mary Wadsworth in Parr and there was bad blood between the women.
The Newspaper wrote that Martha had encountered her husband and Mary Wadsworth together on the street and complained he was in arrears in his maintenance payments: "She laid her grievance before him, and while he was debating mentally what course he should pursue, Mrs. Wadsworth feelingly suggested that he should break his spouse's mouth.
"As the latter was desirous of preserving the symmetry of her mouth, and retaining her teeth while nature permitted, she beat a retreat, and left the pair to pursue their way. In the evening she was unfortunate enough to encounter the two defendants in company and they gave her the comforting assurance that they would soon relieve her of all further earthly trouble, by giving her a sudden and violent death."
One witness supported Martha Grimes' account but the defence had their own witnesses who stated that the abuse was far from having been one-way. The Newspaper described what Jane Tither from Parr Stocks Road had to say:
"She, it appears, heard the complainant cursing and blaspheming, outside her door. Her husband was asleep at the time, and dreading that his dreams should be vitiated, his slumbers marred, or his purity of mind adulterated by the naughty language that was being uttered, she went outside, and advised the complainant to wash her mouth in the brook." The magistrates decided that one side was just as bad as the other and dismissed the case.
In the chair at the Prescot Petty Sessions on the 4th was Rear Admiral Geoffrey Hornby, who in his naval career had taken part in anti-slavery operations. One case concerned a boy called Henry Brown who was alleged to have stolen eggs and told a lie in court. The Rear Admiral told the lad's father: "If he were my boy, I should flog him; you can do as you like."
James Roby also appeared in the court for an order to be made against him for the maintenance of his wife. This time the man appeared to have been on his best behaviour and agreed to pay 4 shillings a week towards his wife's care in Rainhill Lunatic Asylum.
The St Helens Newspaper wrote that: "when last before the court, the recital of the defendant's conduct so incensed Mr. W. Pilkington, who was on the bench, that he sent him to prison as a vogue and vagabond."
Thomas Nulty was a member of the 4th Royal Artillery Militia and was arrested for being "drunk and riotous". While being taken to the station, he grabbed hold of two police officers in Mill Lane, Prescot and threw them to the ground and PC Hicks broke his leg (or ankle).
At the time of his arrest there was what was described as a row taking place in the street involving seven or eight hundred people. Admiral Hornby told Nulty that he would have been better off if he had stayed with his corps. As he could not afford to pay a fine, the man was to prison for three months.
Thomas Dunne was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse at Prescot. A carter said he had seen the man "shamefully abusing the horse" with a whip and afterwards he kicked the animal's legs with his boots.
Police Constable Bradley said he found blood running down one of the horse's legs from blows of the whip. The bench said it was a very bad case and Dunne was fined 35 shillings and told to pay 16 shillings costs or go to prison for six weeks.
Next week's '150 Years Ago' stories will include a sex scandal at Whiston Workhouse, a 60-round prize fight in Thatto Heath, the child "street Arabs" outside Lowe House Church, the old men who smoked turf, cases of trespassing in Boundary Road and Bold Heath and the illegal Sutton Board meeting.
We begin on the 29th with a fire at the Mayor's chemical works at Gerards Bridge. A mill at David Gamble's factory caught fire and, of course, in those days you couldn't just pick up a phone and dial 999.
A messenger had to be sent and then the horse-driven appliance had to wend its way to the blaze. It took time and on many occasions the fire had been put out by the time of its arrival. That is what happened at Gamble's works as the workmen had used their own engine and hose to extinguish the flames.
During the morning of the 30th three lads – aged between 16 and 18 – were drowned in the reservoir at the Pocket Nook Glassworks. Some workmen carrying out repairs had left a raft on the water and William Towers, Francis Davenport and Isaac Thorp – along with a man called Prescott – decided to take a sail during their breakfast break.
Prescott either fell or jumped off the raft and the other three occupants got thrown off. Prescott saved himself but none of the others could swim and were immediately drowned. Doctors were quickly on the scene but could do nothing for the foolish young men who had been warned not to go on the water.
May Day was always celebrated in St Helens by a display of horses and carts, as described by the St Helens Newspaper: "We do not see the morris-dancers in picturesque procession, enlivening our streets, but we have processions of horses which seem to excite just as much interest, and draw as many people from their houses."
It fell on a Saturday in 1869 and so there was a greater turn out than usual as most people finished work at noon. The Newspaper described the event as thousands lined the streets:
"The muster took place at the junction of Bridge-street and Church-street, between ten and twelve o’clock. There was a very large gathering of horses, in all sorts of carts and waggons, and a considerable space was occupied on each side of both streets. Messrs. Greenall made a good display of horse flesh and beer barrels, and Mr. Grace made his first appearance with six carts and lorries, and sixty barrels of ale. The horses of all the exhibitors were magnificent animals, and conveyed to the most casual observer the superiority of the English breed.
The omnibuses, which ply between St. Helens and Prescot, were peculiarly attractive. The horses were neatly decorated, and one of the drivers had adorned himself in a gaudily-coloured bonnet of the coal-skuttle pattern, which afforded infinite amusement to the juvenile portion of the throng. The procession went through the principal streets of the town, and then broke up early in the afternoon."
This notice was placed in the St Helens Newspaper on May 1st: "CAUTION – Mr. Peter Davies, Pork Butcher, 9, Bridge Street, St. Helens, wishes to inform his Friends and Customers, and the Public generally, that William Norley, who was lately an Assistant in his shop has now no connection with him whatsoever, and is NOT authorised to collect any Accounts due the Establishment. Should he make an application for money to any tradesmen, on pretence that it is for the advertiser, the latter will feel obliged if the police be informed of the matter at once."
On March 22nd in St Helens County Court Thomas Platt had brought an action for £50 damages against Isaac Grace, the owner of a public house in Robins Lane (and mentioned above in the May Day celebration). This was probably the Bowling Green Inn, although its name was not stated during the hearing.
Platt was the manager of the house but in January 1869 was given a week's notice to quit. Before the 7 days had expired, Grace sent a man called Yates to take possession, accompanied by many miners carrying clubs.
They threw all the family's possessions into the street, causing much damage and Platt – who at the end of the notice period handed in his keys to Isaac Grace – demanded £50 compensation. Grace's counsel said that under the Master and Servant Act Thomas Platt could be turned out at any moment without regard to any agreement.
The judge – or sergeant to use the correct term – said he would give his decision in a month's time and that arrived on May 3rd. Sergeant Wheeler outlined the case, highlighting that Yates had admitted telling the miners when picking them up on the street that getting Platt and his family out of the pub would be a "rough job".
The judge said: "It was not to be wondered at that violence was apprehended". He called what had happened an "outrage" that was "hardly credible in a civilised neighbourhood" and awarded Thomas Platt the full £50 that he had sought.
At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 3rd William Fitzgerald was fined 40 shillings for being drunk, disorderly and indecent in Eccleston. The St Helens Newspaper labelled the man a "brute" as he had once been convicted of an indecent assault on a little girl.
The St Helens Newspaper also gave a colourful description of Martha Grimes' summons against Mary Wadsworth and Elizabeth Grimes (no relation) for threatening to do grievous physical injury to her. The husband of Martha Grimes was lodging at the house of Mary Wadsworth in Parr and there was bad blood between the women.
The Newspaper wrote that Martha had encountered her husband and Mary Wadsworth together on the street and complained he was in arrears in his maintenance payments: "She laid her grievance before him, and while he was debating mentally what course he should pursue, Mrs. Wadsworth feelingly suggested that he should break his spouse's mouth.
"As the latter was desirous of preserving the symmetry of her mouth, and retaining her teeth while nature permitted, she beat a retreat, and left the pair to pursue their way. In the evening she was unfortunate enough to encounter the two defendants in company and they gave her the comforting assurance that they would soon relieve her of all further earthly trouble, by giving her a sudden and violent death."
One witness supported Martha Grimes' account but the defence had their own witnesses who stated that the abuse was far from having been one-way. The Newspaper described what Jane Tither from Parr Stocks Road had to say:
"She, it appears, heard the complainant cursing and blaspheming, outside her door. Her husband was asleep at the time, and dreading that his dreams should be vitiated, his slumbers marred, or his purity of mind adulterated by the naughty language that was being uttered, she went outside, and advised the complainant to wash her mouth in the brook." The magistrates decided that one side was just as bad as the other and dismissed the case.
In the chair at the Prescot Petty Sessions on the 4th was Rear Admiral Geoffrey Hornby, who in his naval career had taken part in anti-slavery operations. One case concerned a boy called Henry Brown who was alleged to have stolen eggs and told a lie in court. The Rear Admiral told the lad's father: "If he were my boy, I should flog him; you can do as you like."
James Roby also appeared in the court for an order to be made against him for the maintenance of his wife. This time the man appeared to have been on his best behaviour and agreed to pay 4 shillings a week towards his wife's care in Rainhill Lunatic Asylum.
The St Helens Newspaper wrote that: "when last before the court, the recital of the defendant's conduct so incensed Mr. W. Pilkington, who was on the bench, that he sent him to prison as a vogue and vagabond."
Thomas Nulty was a member of the 4th Royal Artillery Militia and was arrested for being "drunk and riotous". While being taken to the station, he grabbed hold of two police officers in Mill Lane, Prescot and threw them to the ground and PC Hicks broke his leg (or ankle).
At the time of his arrest there was what was described as a row taking place in the street involving seven or eight hundred people. Admiral Hornby told Nulty that he would have been better off if he had stayed with his corps. As he could not afford to pay a fine, the man was to prison for three months.
Thomas Dunne was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse at Prescot. A carter said he had seen the man "shamefully abusing the horse" with a whip and afterwards he kicked the animal's legs with his boots.
Police Constable Bradley said he found blood running down one of the horse's legs from blows of the whip. The bench said it was a very bad case and Dunne was fined 35 shillings and told to pay 16 shillings costs or go to prison for six weeks.
Next week's '150 Years Ago' stories will include a sex scandal at Whiston Workhouse, a 60-round prize fight in Thatto Heath, the child "street Arabs" outside Lowe House Church, the old men who smoked turf, cases of trespassing in Boundary Road and Bold Heath and the illegal Sutton Board meeting.