A Bentley Childhood - Part Two

February 11, 2015, 12:38 pm

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Bentley Village School juniors, 1931

Kathleen Higson

Kathleen Higson (1923-2008) recorded her memories of growing up in Bentley. She wrote them out longhand, and then voice recorded them on cassette tapes. Some of her memories were published in a 'Doncaster Today' publication some years ago. 

With family photographs and background information kindly supplied by her daughter Barbara, this is a full copied account of Kathleen's article.

High Days and Park Days

'One week of every summer was 'Feast' week when Tuby's brought their roundabouts and sideshows into the field behind where Doris lived. My Dad always gave me a shilling, so as soon as we were inside the gate, we bought some brandy snap and soft balls on elastic. Some of the fairground people were allowed to use the toilet in the farmyard, and in return we got a free ride when things were just starting to warm up on Saturday afternoon. At night when I had been put to bed, I could hear the music and the shrieks of fear and delight of young women as the fairground youths spun the Waltzer faster and faster.

A typical Waltzer ride

The same field was bounded by a railway line. Many extra trains brought crowds to the St Leger Races. Often the trains had to queue to get into Doncaster station. these trains were from the north, so it had become the custom for children to gather in the field to wait for a train to halt. We shouted 'Hotchy, Scotchy, throw us a penny'. The passengers would lower the carriage windows on the strong leather straps and throw out coins, which were caught mostly by the big boys.

When I was deemed old enough I had to fetch the milk. Carrying a little milk can, I left by the side gate, and walked down New Street to Wagstaff's on Cooke Street corner, passing the never to be forgotten steamy, soapy smell of Bentley Laundry. Over the road I could see Lewis Massarella's farm, which often had an ice cream stall at the gate. Andrew Massarella lived just a little further along the same road. They had beautiful ice cream vans with paintings inside the roof, and in good weather one was always to be found in Bentley Park. Above the Askern Road gateway to the park, in a trellis work of tree branches were the words 'Miner's Welfare'.

Early Massarella's ice cream van

The park has been of immense benefit to Bentley. Near that gate was the park keeper's house, and behind it were greenhouses where he nurtured the plants for the lovely flowerbeds. Every night at dusk he used to lock all three entrances, and open them again at daylight. He cared for a wide domain; there were swings and seesaws at the Cooke Street end, a goldfish pond, sand pits, bowling greens, and grass and hard tennis courts. On summer evenings, the hard courts were lit by fairy lights and used for ballroom dancing. Most Sunday evenings I was taken by my Mum and Dad to the bandstand to listen to various visiting colliery brass bands. Eventually the Pavilion was added. The Mill Dyke flows by the Pavilion; it has a big fat partly submerged pipe that countless children have walked across and fallen in! When I fell in, I was wearing my best white Sunday shoes. 

Bentley Park and bandstand, 1925 - 1930

School Days and the Gloops Club

When I was five, I began at Cooke Street School. Inside the main door was a room with a rocking horse that was known as the babies room - sadly I never had a ride on it because I was too old. Further on past the cloakroom, a large room was partitioned by a wooden screen into two classrooms, I began in the far end. However when April came round and we formed our usual class lines in the playground, the top class was led off into the Junior School. All the other lines moved over. The teacher said, "Now you have all gone up [a class]". This meant I had a different teacher.

An older girl wore a close fitting woollen hat all the time and I asked my Mum why. She said that the girl had to have her head shaved because of ringworm. When her hair began to grow it grew curly, so I wanted Mum to shave mine so that I could have curly hair but of course she wouldn't.

Shrove Tuesday seemed to be chosen as the beginning of spring. Children arrived that day with marbles, whips and tops and shuttlecocks and battledores, which is a very basic version of badminton. Ring games provided fun that needed no equipment.

We played all the popular games such as 'The farmer wants a wife' and 'Poor Mary'. Now that I was at school, childhood infections caught up with me, and I was laid low by measles, whooping cough and finally diphtheria, which landed me in Conisborough Isolation Hospital. No visitors were allowed, and it was ten weeks before I saw my parents again.

Conisborough Isolation Hospital

A near neighbour began inviting a few little girls to play in her house one evening a week. I think it was connected to the Sheffield Star newspaper, because we became the 'Gloops Club'. As our numbers swelled we moved to meet in a room above the Druid's Arms pub. It got packed, so little ones like me were allowed to stand on tables at the back. Sometimes a group of actors came to the Coliseum on a Saturday afternoon to present a comedy show about Gloops and Grandad. We laughed from start to finish.

Gloops Club memorabilia

New Village Life

When I was seven, my Grandma Eden died and my Mum wanted to leave the shop. My Dad worked in the fitting shop at Bentley Colliery, and he took on a newly created job. Mechanisation was increasing and he was to head a small team of workers to ensure that the machines were in tiptop working order, so that nothing could halt coal production. He needed to be on call, therefore, we must live near the pit. Starting with number one, a row of eight houses began at the pit gates. When we moved into number seven, it was the first house that we ever had with electricity. Mum was able to have an electric iron, but as there were no sockets, she stood on a chair to remove a light bulb and plugged in there. I became a pupil at New Village Girls' School. I was unable to see as much of Doris now, so I began to make new friends.

Bentley New Village School

Until we moved I had never seen the pit, and now we had a constant plume of black smoke passing over our house. We heard the shunting of coal trucks, and the tramp, tramp, tramp of the heavy boots of the miners at the three shift changing times. We saw the long line of men as they moved up the gantry towards the pit cage. The shifts were marked by a buzzer that had been a siren on an ocean liner. If there were three prolonged blasts at 6pm, it signalled that there would be no work the following day because sales of coal had fallen.

Bentley Pit with the row of houses (left) in which Kathleen lived at number 7

From our house we could see the newer pit offices, which formed one side of a hard surfaced quadrangle with the older offices inside. These offices had pay windows where the men collected their wages on Fridays. If the men were going to work, they brought their wives with them to take the money home. It was a tremendously busy scene. Harry Teale, well known for making humbugs, came to sell his wares for a few pennies a bag. In contrast to all this activity, the evenings were very quiet. Children played games in the pay yard - wickets were chalked on the wall for cricket, and we rode our bikes round, safely away from the road.

Only a short time after we moved there, we heard that passengers alighting from the trolley bus at Victoria Road had stepped ankle deep into water. The 1931 floods had begun. Dad was called out to maintain the pumps to prevent water going down the pit. The water just lapped our front doorstep. Many people in Toll Bar were moved and lived in our school. We were told to go the Bentley High Street School every afternoon, but some of us were cut off by the water until a man came with a horse and cart. He took us across the water to the 'Tinnings'. This was the name given to the corrugated iron fence that stretched along a cricket pitch on one side of the road and a football pitch on the other. It was painted in a washed out green, and was the most boring part of my walk to and from school four times a day. We often played marbles along this stretch, but one player had to run ahead to stop the marbles from going down the grates.

Sometimes Dad had to pass on messages to some of his team. One Friday night in November 1931, he went into the time office, and was met by an anxious clerk who said, "Can you help me? They have just rung from below ground to say that there has been an explosion". Dad helped him to alert the rescue services, the Colliery Manager and the Colliery Agent.

Bentley Pit disaster 1931

When he came home to Mum, she rounded up the neighbours to fill and light their copper fires so that hot water would be available if needed. Word began to spread. The two grocers on Victoria Road sent free supplies of tea and sugar. I watched from my bedroom window as a crowd of anxious people built up, filling the road outside and spreading into the pay yard. It was a silent waiting crowd that sometimes parted to let a vehicle through. Forty five men lost their lives. It was at school on Monday morning that I learned that the father of one of my friends had died. In the playground everything was hushed - girls gathered in little groups and spoke in whispers. It was some time before games were played, but gradually skipping ropes appeared, and the older girls organised skipping games with chants like 'All in together girls' and 'Raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry jam'. As we moved into spring there were ball games again.

Without the shop, our home life was more relaxed. Mum and Dad took me into Doncaster once a week to the cinema, or to the Grand Theatre. We acquired our first radio - it was just a piece of black metal with dials on the front. I listened to Children's Hour every night. when my aunt made up a foursome, I was taught to play whist, or sometimes we played Ludo. 

Doncaster Grand Theatre

Behind our house was Daw Wood where I played with a group of children at jumping ditches, and that caused more dirty shoes. We organised backyard concerts with songs and dances. We all wanted to be Jessie Matthews, the London star of stage and screen. We charged a half penny or one wrapped sweet. The cinema was having an increasing influence on our lives. We collected what finery we could to be posh, and we played at 'Swanky ladies'. My weekly comic now was Film Fun. 

When I was given a blackboard and easel and a post office set, playing at schools and offices took over. There was a severe Head Teacher in my early days at New Village School, but when she retired, a young ambitious lady took over. There were 60 girls in my class and we were kept very much to our desks, but now we had a gramophone for country dancing and there were painting lessons too. We had a sports' day, with little prizes, and in our final year we did a play for our parents to watch - normally parents never set foot in school.

We were coached well for our eleven plus exam. It was a bumper year, with a record number of passes. In September 1934, twelve of us went to Doncaster High School in Waterdale. Our horizons had broadened, and the make-believe of childhood was left behind.'

The End

Many thanks to Barbara Dickinson for information and family photos. 

 

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A Bentley Childhood - Part One

February 12, 2015, 1:34 pm

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Bentley High Street

The Memories of Kathleen Higson

Kathleen Higson

First hand memories are like gold dust and should be recorded for others to enjoy. 

Occasionally I'll come across someone only too willing to tell what memories they have of their time growing up in Bentley, and at other times I'm sent previously published material which may have only be seen by a few.

I was sent some scans of part of a publication called 'Doncaster Today' a while ago. I have no idea how old it is, but I'm sure many won't have had the chance to read it. 

The article, written by Kathleen Higson (1923-2008) is a wonderful rendition of her early years in Bentley. With family photographs and background information kindly supplied by her daughter Barbara, I present a full copied account of Kathleen's article.

Kathleen's Family

Kathleen Olive Parkinson was born on the 28th of July 1923, in Bentley, near Doncaster. Her parents were James Parkinson (1897-1975), and Maria Eden (1892-1976). 

Maria (Eden) and James Parkinson

Kathleen was born in a room above her Grandmother's shop at number 15 Church Street, Bentley. The shop used to be on the corner of Church Street and New Street, it has since been converted to a private dwelling. Her Grandmother was Ann Eden (formerly Geldart), (1868-1931).

Kathleen in 1927

After moving to The Avenue, where Kathleen completed her junior education, the family moved away from Bentley, to Elmfield Road, Doncaster. Kathleen attended Doncaster High School for Girls in Waterdale.

Kathleen married Gilbert Cronshaw Higson at Arksey Church in 1949, and had two children. She died in October 2008, in Ashford, Kent. 

Kathleen & Gilbert Higson's wedding in 1949

Here is Kathleen's article, in her own words.

Grandma Eden's Shop

'I was born on July 28th 1923, above my Grandma Eden's shop at the corner of Church Street and New Street, in Bentley. My  parents were James and Maria Parkinson. I was baptised Kathleen Olive.

Ann Eden

We had two counters in the shop*, one was for general serving and the other held the scales; the base was a thick slab of white marble. The weights and mechanism were of brightly polished brass. Smaller scales were used for sweets and yeast. Flour was delivered in bulk and needed weighing into one stone white bags. Sugar went into blue bags of one or two pounds. 

On the shelf behind the counter would be several cards of home health remedies. there would be Castor Oil, Carter's Little Liver Pills, Aspro, Fenning's Fever Cure, Germolene and other treatments. Essential items were gas mantles and firewood. We sold donkey stone, used to give the finish to the edge of the doorstep when it had been scrubbed. In summer flypapers were needed; the packet pulled out to about 18 inches and was coated with a sticky substance that attracted flies, and kept them there. 

A determined effort was made to exclude me from the shop, but sometimes a sweet representative would enquire, 'Is your little girl in?' then I was allowed to watch him open his case, and see all the sweets in different compartments, before getting a sample of the latest line. Once a week I served a customer with one Oxo cube, which she got with her order. One day I heard her mention pepper to Grandma, so to be helpful I rushed to the pepper that was in a large round tin. By standing on tiptoe, I could just reach, but the lid was loose, and I tipped it over - soon everyone was sneezing. I was brushed down with a hand brush and a bicycle pump wafted the pepper away from my eyes. On another occasion, the lid had been lifted off the flour bin, I climbed onto some firewood bundles to look inside - I leaned too far and fell in.

Shopkeepers were invited to the yearly Trade Fair in the Corn Exchange [in Doncaster]. When I was five Grandma took me with her; I enjoyed it so much, that she took me again the next year. I recognised the sweet travellers, and had a few samples. We were seeing more cars on the roads, and to keep up with the times, Rowntrees came up with 'Motoring Chocolate' - the first flick book I ever had - when I flicked the pages I saw moving images of a dapper little man wearing checked trousers. He climbed into his open topped car and drove off.

Sharpe's Toffees, in their adverts usually showed a parrot on a perch, and beside him a man in a morning suit, wearing a monocle. There they were - they were there, the man and a real parrot. the fair must have been held in spring or autumn because we arrived in daylight, but as the light faded, it became time to watch the fountains which were set up at the opposite end to the entrance, just where the steps go up into the market hall. when it was dark, the fountains began to play, lit by changing colours of electric light bulbs. It was like magic.

A corner shop was a very busy place. On Mondays, Grandma and Mum were up at 5am to light the copper fire, and set up the mangle, peggy legs, wash board and zinc wash tubs, so that the washing could be hanging on the line before the shop opened. On wet Mondays, the washing steamed as it dried round the open fire cooking range. by bedtime, everything had to be ironed and the two flat irons heated alternately over the hot coals. Tuesday was bedroom day, but on Wednesday it was half-day closing for our shop, which allowed a trip to Doncaster, and afternoon tea at Parkinson's cafe on the High Street. There was regular bread making, but Thursday was baking day for cakes, with some to sell. Extra cleaning was done on Friday, when the black cooking range was treated with Zebo that looked like black boot polish. the brass fire irons and the cutlery were polished with metal polish. On Saturday, a farmer on his way to Doncaster market would call to take Grandma with him in his pony and trap, where she would buy farm eggs and butter to sell in the shop.

Shops, the Cinema and Bellowing in Chapel

The variety of shops on Bentley High Street catered for many needs. I loved Sill's Penny Bazaar where they sold cheap toys. From the newsagent came my weekly comic, Chick's Own, and Grandma had her magazine with Pip, Squeak and Wilfred on the page for children. The most magnificent shop was the Co-op, where a metal container took the money along wires to the cashier and returned with the change (if you stand across the road today you will appreciate what an asset this building was). Close by was the Coliseum Cinema which was the Saturday afternoon venue for children, when many of us went to the 'Penny Rush'. We entered by a side door and paid one penny to sit downstairs. We usually saw the next part of a black and white cowboy serial. As there was no sound, captions appeared. Sometimes there would be a Charlie Chaplin, a Laurel and Hardy or an early cartoon - Felix the Cat.

Bentley Co-op

The Coliseum

Felix the Cat

At the far end of the High Street, on the rounded corner leading into Arksey Lane was John Playfair's grocery shop. Even now, it is still called Playfairs corner. Although nobody remembers why.

The Wesleyan Chapel was on High Street too. I made a start there at the age of four. Every year preparations began early at all the Sunday Schools [in the area] for the Anniversary Sunday. On the Sunday morning we paraded through the streets wearing our very best clothes, stopping at various points to sing. The piano came with us on a horse drawn dray and money was collected along the route. In the afternoon we assembled in the Chapel, sitting on rows of wooden shelves that stretched from the pulpit to the organ. We sang and said recitations - the first time that I said a poem I was five and very nervous. At the rehearsal I spoke so quietly that the Superintendent told me that I must find my biggest voice, so on the day, I bellowed so hard that everybody started to laugh.

Wesleyan Chapel, High Street, Bentley

 

Mud Pies and Making a Living

Over the road from where I lived, were two old farmhouses. In one lived a girl called Doris [Burkitt]. She was older than me, but I loved to get across to play with her. Her Dad was a coal merchant, and kept his horse and dray in the old farmyard buildings. The old farmhouse must have been impossible to maintain. There were four rooms on the ground floor, and four doors to the outside, three bedrooms led from an upstairs landing, but another room was reached by a wooden ladder in the kitchen. The only water supply was a pump at the long stone sink, but there was a flush toilet in an outside building.

Church Farm, where Doris lived

In the yard dangers were all around, but I found it a wonderful playground. They were usually fattening a pig, so an outside copper was lit to cook the food and a big knife-sharpening wheel stood nearby. Under a hedge a collection of tin cans, broken bricks and glass had accumulated and we raked out the bricks to set out the plan of a house. The word 'pretend' was not in our vocabulary. We used the word 'reckon', so it would be, 'Let's reckon this is the kitchen, and I ask you what we are having for dinner'. We made mud pies using the old tin cans. Scenarios were planned and acted out. When we put on our little nurses' outfits the whole house became our hospital. We played all over the premises and nobody ever stopped us, except when we were about to jump from the stable roof.

Near to the other farmhouse was a wooden hut. The door was usually open, and just inside 'Blind' Frank would be making doormats. He lost his sight in World War One. He liked people to greet him, so we always spoke to him as we went by. The rag and bone man was a regular visitor, and occasionally a man with a hurdy gurdy music box would come. He had a monkey on his shoulder, and as the man turned the handle the monkey held out a metal cup for pennies. A tinker came round offering to mend holes in the iron cooking pans that got burned out on the coal fires. He seemed to use two metal washers fastening one inside, and the other on the outside of the pan. A pedlar called at the shop with a tray of buttons, needles and other sewing things. My Mum always bought something. She would say "They are all trying to make a living".'

Scroll down for Part Two.


Many thanks to Barbara Dickinson for information and family photos. 

* Listed in Kelly's Directory of 1927 as 'Eden, Annie (Mrs), grocer, Church St.'

D. P. Breach & Son, Motor Engineers

March 28, 2015, 1:32 pm

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D. P. Breach & Son around 1971

Bentley Businesses

In the first of what I hope will become a series of articles about Bentley businesses of the past, I have the pleasure of presenting a story rather close to my heart. This is the story of a Bentley business owned and run by my late father and grandfather at their Cooke Street premises for over fifty years, D. P. Breach & Son, motor engineers.

Beginnings 

 

My grandfather, David Percy Breach (Percy) was born on the 25^th of November 1907 in York. The son of a police constable and a former nurse, he was raised in the Northallerton area of North Yorkshire with his two elder sisters.

At the age of eighteen he joined the Middlesbrough Ship Repairing Company, where he trained in engineering. He left twelve months later, in 1927 to start his own business.

He moved to Malton and opened his first business, Newsham Garage, in Newsham Bridge. While in the Malton area, he met and married Nora Fox in 1930. Their son David Norman was born later that year. 

Business card

Percy, possibly at the Newsham garage, around 1931

By 1933 the family had left the Malton area for city life in Leeds. Percy joined Potter’s Motor Service at Camp Road, and remained there for eighteen months. He must have been well liked at Potter’s as a letter of reference dated August 17^th 1935, states that his employer is ‘very sorry to lose him’. Percy left on his own account as the family were planning another move, this time to Doncaster.

Doncaster Bound

The Breach’s first home in Doncaster was at number 40 The Grove, Wheatley Hills, which was probably rented. Percy took a job at Brock’s Garage, Thorne Road, where he remained for about two years.

In 1937 the Breach family bought a home on the opposite side of Doncaster, at 43 Fairfield Road, Bentley. The close proximity of York Road provided Percy with more work, and he found employment with Roodhouses Garage, then The Royal Blue Garage. Meanwhile, seven year old David attended nearby Kirkby Avenue School. 

Nora, David and Percy, NFS days

History becomes a little hazy into the war years, but it is very likely that Percy wanted to be useful to the war effort, which is probably why he decided to go into the National Fire Service. His principle occupation was to service and repair fire appliances, but it’s likely he was available for active duty too. He was based at the fire station in Silver Street, Doncaster at first, but in a letter dated 9^th January 1946 he was appointed as Officer in Charge of the Regional Workshop in Rotherham. This post obviously didn’t last long because by May of that same year, Percy had set up his own business in Bentley.  

D. P. Breach & Son

It was in the spring of 1946 that Percy found premises to rent at Nelson’s Yard, Cooke Street, Bentley. The land was tucked in a corner, bordered by the Doncaster to Leeds railway line, and Cooke Street – I say ‘Cooke Street’ as the garage address was always given as ‘Cooke Street’, however, a glance at any Bentley street map clearly shows that this stretch of road is actually a continuation of Church Street. Confusion over the street name aside, D. P. Breach & Son managed to operate successfully for over fifty years with a wrong address! 

Site of Nelson's Yard (red spot)

The land had been previously occupied by a railway cottage and caravan site. The cottage had been demolished, and the caravans had migrated over the stone wall into the church field.

I have no exact date for when the garage began operating, but the first job in the ledger was entered on the 5^th of May 1946, when a Mr Booth had major repairs on his Austin 7. The job totalled £17. 8s. 9d, quite an expense in those days.

& Son

 

A young David showing a keen interest in the family business

Percy’s son David left school in 1945 at the age of fourteen, and with an ambition to follow in his father’s footsteps; he gained engineering experience at garages on York Road, manning petrol pumps at Kennings, before moving on to Roodhouses for about a year. David then joined his father for the opening of D. P. Breach & Son in 1946, and began his formal engineering training in 1948 at Doncaster Technical College.

Doncaster Technical College*

 Over the course of the next eight years he continued his training, which was interspersed with a two year spell in the RAF, where he completed his National Service. After basic training at Padgate, Lancashire he moved on to do engineering work at Honington, Suffolk and Wharton in Lancashire. David did not enjoy his time in the RAF and was keen to return to the family business.

David Breach RAF

 

By 1956 he had completed his training, gaining a City & Guilds and a National Craftsman’s Certificate in Motor Mechanics. His senior course practical training had been carried out at Edwards Motors Ltd and he was later presented with the Mechanical Engineers Shield by Peter Edwards.

 

Mechanical Engineers Shield

David shaking hands with Peter Edwards

David (with smaller shield) at the presentation

 

The 1960’s

 

Business Card

 

    

Percy and David worked successfully together in the family business, building a loyal clientele. They never employed any other help, preferring to keep the business small and in the family.

In 1965 the chance to purchase Nelson’s Yard came up. Up until then Percy had been renting the premises from Emma Gahagan (widow of Thomas Gahagan), who lived at 132 The Grove, Wheatley Hills. Percy and Nora had lived at number 40 The Grove when they first moved to Doncaster, so we can only assume that they knew the Gahagan’s from their time in Wheatley.

Mrs Gahagan had died in 1963 and as her estate went to probate, it wasn’t until late 1965 that the estate administrator, a Mrs Rita Mair, was able to sell the property.

Percy borrowed just over £2000 from the Yorkshire Bank and the purchase went ahead. Completion was on the 28^th of April 1966, and the garage, its surrounding land and outbuildings were finally in the ownership of D. P. Breach & Son.

Following the purchase of the premises, a new garage was created to house a hydraulic ramp. Memories are hazy, but it may be the case that the garage once belonged to the property adjoining Nelson’s Yard. There was a piggery and slaughter house behind the main garage building, which belonged to Fred Redfern, a local pork butcher, so it may be the case that the subsequent ramp building had once belonged to him. 

David outside the garage with the new ramp

I remember being taken to the piggery to see the pigs, which often broke out of their yard and got into the garage yard, where they would have to be rounded up and herded back through the gate between the two yards.

I also remember having a ride on the new ramp after it was first installed in around 1968/69.

The Sorry Seventies 

Percy (right) and his friend Austin Maynard 1971

In the mid 1970’s tragedy struck, and the garage entered very dark times.

In 1972, Percy turned sixty five years old, and took semi-retirement. With David taking over the day-to-day running of the business and Percy coming in to lend a hand as needed. It was around this time that a large wooden outbuilding in the grounds of the garage caught fire.

It was used for storage of old equipment etc, but one night it was completely destroyed by the fire. I don’t know if the cause of the fire was ever discovered, but I do have vague memories of being told about a lightening strike at the garage, which may explain it.

In November 1974 Percy died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Fairfield Road, just short of his 67^th birthday. It was a huge shock to the family and a very stressful time for David, who now had sole ownership of the garage.

The stress of Percy’s death, his mother’s grief, and coping alone at the garage finally caught up with David, and on the 17^th of January 1976 he was taken to hospital with chest pains. At the age of 45, David had suffered quite a substantial heart attack and he spent the next ten days in hospital. 

With no-one to run the garage in his absence, David had no option but to close up for six months while he recovered.

Some businesses would have struggled to survive a prolonged closure like this, but such was the loyalty of his customers, they all came back when he re-opened later in the summer.

Following this bad spell in the 1970’s, things returned to normal and David continued to work alone at the garage, sometimes assisted by his friend Austin Maynard when some particularly heavy work was required.

The 1980's was a stable time in the history of the business and things continued until the mid 1990's when thoughts turned to retirement. 

Interior of main building, D. P. Breach & Son

 

Winding Down in the 90’s

David was well respected in the engineering business; he never had to advertise as recommendations always brought in new customers. Some customers were so loyal they returned to D. P. Breach & Son for their annual service even after leaving the area. One customer moved all the way to Cornwall, but made the trip back to Bentley every year for David’s excellent service. Nothing was too much trouble for him, if he couldn’t provide a part for a car; he’d find a way of making one – conscientious should have been his middle name! 

David Breach under a car in the ramp garage, early 1990's

In September 1995 David reached the age of sixty five and decided to retire. Winding up the business took time and David kept things running by working part-time until the land and buildings could be sold.

On the 9^th of June 1997 the entire plot was sold to The Kingdom Hall Trust, who acquired the land as a future place of worship for a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since that time the Trust has built a church on what was the parking area, while the garages themselves were either sold or leased to Belmont Motors, who owned the old piggery premises behind.

Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witness Church

Belmont Garage

This ended fifty one years of business in Bentley for the Breach family, and a way of life for my father, David. I would like to say that he had a long and happy retirement (he deserved nothing less), however, that was not to be. Just a few months into retirement his heart problems returned, and gradually got worse. Finally, in June 2001, aged seventy years, he died following triple bypass surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

A sad end to a life devoted to keeping the people of Bentley (and further afield) safely on the road.

  

The Old Ledger

 

A page from the 1946 ledger

  

An old ledger from the earliest days of D. P. Breach & Son lists some well known and remembered Bentley businesses. Here are a few that I spotted.

A Massarella & Sons

Mr Beresford (Bentley butcher)

Mr Redfern (of the piggery and pork butchers) 

Mr H Joy (of the electrical shop)

Bentley with Arksey U D C

Mr Crawshaw of Arksey Lane (milkman)

Mr Stanley (Chemist on High Street, Bentley)

Father Falby (vicar of Bentley)


This entry (below) is under the name of 'Policeman'. Such was the trust in the police in those day, they didn't even have to provide a name!

Policeman of Bentley

More Photos

 

Myself and David Breach in 1968. Massarellas ice cream depot was just opposite the garage

Myself in 1968, the dividing gateway to Redfern's piggery in the background

Myself and David entering the yard in 1968, Percy on the right

Percy (right) and a customer in the yard, Bentley level crossing in the background

The ramp garage

Signage

Compliment slip

1940's receipt header

1960's receipt

1970's receipt

Collection of oil cans

* Courtesy of Colin Hardisty

Request

Do you have any connection to a family business in Bentley? Do you have information and photos? Would you like to see it featured on this site?

If so, please email me at arkvillhistory@yahoo.co.uk

Thank you

Bentley-with-Arksey UDC

April 18, 2015, 12:26 pm

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Front Cover

This small booklet recently came into my possession. Dating from around 1962 the Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District Official Guide is a fascinating little publication, full of history, old photos and adverts.

Using scanned images from the booklet, I present a fully transcribed version of it here for you to enjoy.

Manors, Civil Parishes and Urban Districts

Both Arksey and Bentley grew up during the manorial system era. After a succession of landowners, the manor of Bentley and Arksey was latterly under the ownership of the Cooke family. The Cooke baronets of Wheatley ran the manor for two centuries from the mid seventeenth century. When the Cooke baronets finally relinquished their lands, a civil parish was created in 1866, which placed the church in charge of rural administration. The civil parish was the lowest tier of local government, coming below districts and counties.

In 1875 the villages became part of Doncaster Rural Sanitary District until 1894, and from 1894 until 1911 continued under its successor, Doncaster Rural District.

In 1911 a separate urban district was formed, which meant that Bentley and Arksey were no longer part of the Rural District. The Urban District had its own Council with headquarters in Cooke Street, Bentley, and was divided into five wards for electing members.

The Local Government Act 1972 brought about a reorganisation of administrative areas in England and Wales, so from the 1^st of April 1974 Bentley and Arksey, along with ten other authorities, combined to form the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster.  

Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District– Official Guide

Inside Front

Covering an area of 4,956 acres, Bentley-with-Arksey is situated to the north of the County Borough of Doncaster, from which it is separated by the River Don. Broadly speaking, its eastern and northern boundaries are formed by a waterway known as the Ea Beck. Its western boundary lies in part along the Great North Road and in part along the Roman Ridge; the latter highway being, today, no more than a country lane, but which was originally part of the ancient Watling Street, the Roman road to the north.

To a large extent the district remains predominantly agricultural, urbanisation having tended to take place on the higher grounds, where, indeed, it still continues to expand towards the west.

The Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District came into being in the year 1911; it embraced the ancient townships and hamlets of Arksey, Bentley, Toll Bar, Scawthorpe, Shaftholme and Almholme. These were parts of the rural district of Doncaster, and, at that time, had a population of 6,487. It is interesting to note that both “Archesei” and “Benedlei” were mentioned as manors in the Domesday Book. The village of Bentley has since grown round the Manor House, now known by its grass-covered site only as the “Moat Hills”. A church at Arksey was known to be in existence at the end of the thirteen century; seventeenth century almshouses and Tudor dwellings are still in existence in the picturesque High Street. 

As recently as 1811 the Parish of Arksey-with-Bentley (as it was then) had a population of 1,102. During the following 100 years virtually the only development in the district was in that part immediately adjoining Doncaster. It remained wholly rural in character. In 1908 however, following the opening of Bentley Colliery, which has the distinction of being the first pit to be sunk in the South Yorkshire Coalfield, the population began to increase. Today it is expanding rapidly; its population is 23,160, and it seems likely that it will attain 25,000 within the next few years.

In olden days, Bentley had its monastic connections, for it has been recorded that the monks of Byland were active in this district during the twelfth century, and among their possessions was a forge which was situated at Bentley, and Jordan de Flockton granted them wayleave to Denby thereto. At this latter place, also, their possessions included mines of iron-ore which supplied the Bentley forge.

One of the present-day possessions of Bentley, which creates great interest among visitors, is situated at the crossroads and consists of a monument, of comparatively recent date, which was erected to the memory of Dr. Joseph Walker. Dr. Walker took a great interest in the activities and the work of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and rendered exceptional services to that organisation. Incorporated in the monument there is a cabinet containing first aid appliances for use in an emergency.

Although it is impossible, in a publication of this size, to give the reader a detailed picture of the Urban District, it is hoped that this short introduction will be sufficient to outline the principal facts. In the section that follows an endeavour has been made to supplement these facts with a table of local information, which it is hoped may prove useful both to visitor and resident. 

Map

Local Information
 

Accessibility: Being in such close proximity to Doncaster, the Urban District of Bentley-with-Arksey is easily accessible from that centre, there being a good service of bus transport, and the District itself being similarly served as regards internal communications. As has been previously intimated, the District is also served by good roads.

Area: The Urban District covers a total area of 4,956 acres.

Banks: Banking facilities are provided in the District by a branch of the Westminster Bank Ltd., situated in High Street, Bentley; while the Doncaster Savings Bank, which is a branch of the York County Savings Bank, has a branch office in Arksey Lane.

Charities: A number of charities are still extant in the District, and a number of donors have contributed to these Dole Charities. In 1593, by the will of Cartwright, alias Vicars; in 1631 by Mrs. M. Wormley; in 1641 by the will of H. Howson; and in 1824 by G. Radley. The income is distributed annually to the needy persons resident in the Urban District.

Other foundations include the Cooke’s Almshouse Charity, and those of both Sir George Cooke and Sir Brian Cooke for educational application.

Following the Bentley Pit Disaster in 1931, a fund was established for the payment of weekly sums to the widows and dependents of the miners. This is entitled the Doncaster Mansion House Bentley Disaster Fund.

Churches: The church of All Saints at Arksey is at least 700 years old; it has a fine display of glass windows and contains a number of interesting monuments and the arms of several ancient manorial families can still be traced in the front porch.

Arksey Church

The parish church of Bentley (which is situated in Bentley High Street) is that of St. Peter. It was erected in 1891 as a memorial to the Cooke family. The bells were installed by Lady Mary Cooke, and the clock by the Broughton family as a memorial to their 300 years residence in the district. The vicar is Rev. G. O. Cummings.

In New Village stands the Church of St. Philip and St. James, which was built to serve the needs of the colliery village. It is a pleasing building with a warm brick interior and exterior and red tiled roof. An interesting feature is the exterior pulpit constructed in the front elevation. A war memorial, which was erected by public subscription, is together with the surrounding Rest Garden on the northern side of the church, maintained by the Urban District Council. The vicar is the Rev. D. Saunders.

Other places of worship in the District are the Methodist churches in Arksey, Old Bentley, Bentley Road Toll Bar, which are under the pastorate of Rev. H. Maurice Hart; the Roman Catholic Church in High St. (Rev. Father E. Geaney); the Baptist Chapel in Askern Road, Ministry is vacant, The Manse, Shakespeare Road, Bentley; the Pentecostal Church in Arksey Lane (Mr. R. Harrison, secretary) and the Salvation Army Headquarters in Arksey Lane.

In the newly developed area of the Urban District at Scawthorpe, St. Luke’s Church Hall was dedicated in November 1955. This is a dual purpose building, used as a mission on Sundays and for social activities during the week, St. Luke’s Mission is part of the Parish of St. Leonard and St. Jude, Scawsby. The Methodist Church, Amersall Road, Scawthorpe was opened during 1959 and accommodates 300 worshippers.

New Village Church

Climate: Despite its being a mining area and an Urban District, the climate in this part of the county is a healthy one, the area having its full share of sunshine during the summer months, while the rainfall is not excessive; and the air is, generally speaking, bracing in its quality and purified by the breezes from the Yorkshire wolds.

Clubs and Societies: Since the early days of its existence Bentley-with-Arksey has cultivated a communal spirit which still exists in a gratifying measure. There are no less than ten Working Men’s clubs, catering for the social and recreational needs of the people, and these are spread throughout the district as follows: Toll Bar Central; Arksey Victoria; Bentley; Reform; West End; Yarborough; Bentley Colliery and Londes Borough; Comrades; Bentley North End. There is also a British Legion Club and Institute situated in the High Street, and facilities for playing billiards (apart from the clubs themselves) are available at the Coliseum Billiards Hall; also in the High Street.

The St. John Ambulance Brigade is represented by the colliery, consisting of Men, Nurses and Cadets. There is a flourishing branch of the National Deposit Friendly Society in Arksey Lane. 

The “E” Cadet Squadron Q.O.Y. Dragoons are trained in the Drill Hall, Arksey Lane. 

Early Closing Day: Early closing day in Bentley Urban District is on Thursday, when the shops close at 1 p.m.

Education: There are ample facilities for the education of the children of residents, these being provided at all grades, and there being, of course, a number of larger schools and institutes in nearby Doncaster. Secondary: Don Valley High School, Scawthorpe, opened in September, 1957, and covers a wider catchment area than this Urban District. Ultimately secondary education for 600 places will be provided.

Primary school, Scawthorpe estate

Garages: Motorists entering the Urban District are well served, there being two garages situated on the Great North Road, both of which offer a twenty-four hour service. These are the garages operated by Messrs. Anderson and Co., and by Moore’s Garage Ltd.

Hotels and Inns: Similarly, both resident and visitor are well served by the hostelries in the District, there being ten hotels or inns within the area, some of which can offer accommodation to visitors. Among these may be mentioned the Bay Horse Hotel, the Bentley Hotel, the Magnet Hotel and the Sun Inn, the latter occupying a commanding site on the Great North Road. The new housing estate is served by the “Adam and Eve” Hotel in Amersall Road. There are also such smaller premises as the public houses among which may be mentioned the Railway Tavern and the Druids’ Arms.

Housing: For a great many years now the Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District has been noted for the consideration it has given residents in the matter of housing. Indeed, early in the present century, when the Victoria County History of Yorkshire was being prepared for publication, the editors of the history were aware of this progress and noted it. The following extract is taken from the County History:

“At Bentley model villages are being erected, and instead of long depressing rows of houses so commonly met with in the mining districts, the miners’ houses are being built in blocks of eight or ten, with gardens and wide streets.”

Since its inception, the Urban District Council has always adopted a vigorous and progressive attitude towards the housing requirements of the District. The total number of Council Houses, Shops, Flats, at present is 2,276 of which 223 are dwellings for Old People. Individual building plots are also offered for sale by the Council to assist private persons to obtain their own houses. There are now approximately 7,000 dwellings within the Urban District.

The New Scawthorpe Housing Estate

Indoor Entertainments: Apart from the facilities offered by the many clubs in the District, and of which mention has been made on an earlier page, there are other centres which offer facilities for indoor entertainment. The ballroom at the Welfare Pavilion accommodates both modern and old-time dances, sponsored by different organisations throughout the year. Shows sponsored by the Arts Council, boxing displays and dog shows have also been held in this Hall. In addition, the Cooperative Hall in the High Street provides convenient accommodation for dances, receptions and meetings.

There are two cinemas situated in the District: the Don Cinema is on the southern boundary, and central Bentley is provided for at the Coliseum Cinema. At both these houses, the latest films may be seen in comfort immediately upon their release in the District.

The Bentley Pavilion

Industries: While the principal industry in the entire District continues to be that of agriculture, Bentley is also (as has been noted) a coal-mining area and these may be considered the predominant industries. There are, in addition, a number of lighter industries carried on in a smaller way such as those of building, electrical engineering, etc., etc.

Libraries: Situated within the District are branches of the West Riding County Library, where books (both fiction and non-fiction) may be borrowed free of charge. The existing branches are at 118 High Street and a branch to serve the residents of the rapidly-expanding area of Scawthorpe, in Amersall Road.

Licensed Hours: Licensed hours in the District are as follows: weekdays, from 10-30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10-30 p.m.; and Sundays from 12 noon to 2 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10-30 p.m.

Local Government: Local Government in the area is the responsibility of the Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District Council. The Council consists of 18 members representing six wards, and the meetings are held in the Council Chamber, Cooke Street, Bentley, every four weeks throughout the year.

The postal address of the Council Offices is Cooke Street, Bentley; and the telephone numbers: Doncaster 54154, 54155 and 54349.

The Clerk of the Council is W. H. M. Alexander, Esq., whose address is Midland Bank Chambers, High Street, Doncaster.

Newspapers: In addition to the daily and Sunday national newspapers, which are on general sale in the District, news of the area is contained in the local newspapers published at Doncaster: the Doncaster Free Press, the Doncaster Chronicle and the DoncasterGazette.

Police Station: The Urban District is policed by the West Riding Constabulary, the  Police Station being situated at Arksey Lane, Bentley (‘phone Doncaster 54115) and Police Station, Grove Avenue, Doncaster (‘phone Doncaster 66422).

Political: The District is represented in Parliament by Mr. Richard Kelley, M.P. for Don Valley, in the Labour interest.

Population: The present population of the Urban District is approximately 23,160; but, as has been previously noted, the population is rapidly increasing, and a further 5,000 residents are expected to settle in the Urban District within the next few years. 

Postal Services: Bentley is served by a Post Office at which telegraph and money order business may also be transacted, while there is a sub-Post Office situated in Bentley Road. There are regular daily collections and deliveries of letters and parcels.

Public Services: Public services of a high standard are enjoyed by the residents of the Urban District. Both gas and electricity are supplied by the respective regional Boards. The Doncaster and District Water Board is responsible for the provision of water, which is in excellent supply. The sewage disposal works and other health services are administered by the Urban District Council.

Rates: The rateable value of the Urban District is £193,529, the rate levied for the year 1962-63 being 21s. 0d. in the £.

Recreation Grounds: The Council maintains approximately 50 acres of recreation grounds, including a large and well-developed Central Park, where facilities are provided for the enjoyment of outdoor games. There are also, in the District, a number of private sports grounds, together with the ground of the Doncaster and District Rugby League Club.

Fountain, Bowling Green and Pavilion

An attractive pavilion presented to the Council by the local Miners’ Welfare Committee, is ideally situated in the centre of the township. It contains a spacious ballroom, café, etc., and is available for dances and other functions. Some indication of the care taken by the Council to provide amenities for its residents in this respect can be obtained by consulting the King’s Englandseries of hand-books. In that devoted to the West Riding a note is made of the efforts undertaken to bring beauty into Bentley’s park, with its lawns, bushes and flowers, and its rockery of Alpine plants.

The Park and Bandstand

Recreation Centre for Aged Persons: A recreation centre for the aged in the Homestead area has been built. This centre has a large room, kitchen, laundry and spare bedroom.

Road Safety: The Urban District Council is responsible for road safety precautions within its area, which it regards as a highly important responsibility. In consultation with the County Authority, a sustained propaganda campaign is carried out, by which it is hoped to materially reduce the number of avoidable accidents which take place upon the roads.

Shopping Facilities: The Urban District is an excellent shopping centre, there being premises devoted to all trades and services, including branches of the larger stores, such as the Doncaster Co-operative Society. So representative is this centre that there is little need for residents to travel further afield for their supplies, and it should be mentioned here that the shopkeepers and business men in the District are both courteous and helpful and anxious to assist their customers and clients to the best of their ability at all times.

In those unusual cases, however, where more ambitious shopping expeditions must be occasionally planned, the residents are fortunate in being within very easy reach of Doncaster, with its fine and varied selection of shops and business houses of all kinds.

Wardens Scheme – Aged Persons: There are now 10 wardens employed to visit the five sites in Scawthorpe, The Homstead, Redbourne Road and Queen’s Drive areas. In addition there are also 4 relief wardens.

The wardens each have a telephone installed in their homes to enable the service to operate more efficiently. They also have a list of duties and conditions and reports are submitted to the Public Health Department.

In addition to the schemes covering Council houses and bungalows a pilot scheme has been commenced for the aged persons living in private houses. Two wardens and one relief warden are employed to visit some 40 houses in the Bentley Road areas. 

At the present time, arrangements are in hand to commence a further scheme for the Pipering Lane and Park Road areas.

Back Cover

To view scans of the full pages click here.

Many thanks to Barry Morgan for passing this booklet on to me.

Alison Vainlo 2015.

Bentley Street Names

February 20, 2016, 12:34 pm

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My Facebook group, Arksey & Bentley Bygone Years, is a great place to ask those questions about the villages that have always puzzled you. One such question, which got everyone debating, was just where did Playfairs Corner get it's name? This led to debates about other street names in Bentley, so I thought it was time to look into the history of some of these names, and see if their origins could be traced. 

Most street names relate to their locations, for example, Mill Gate - entrance to the mill, Askern Road - the road to Askern, Chapel Street - road where the chapel is, you get the picture. Other street names remember prominent local people or families, for example, Cooke Street, named after the Cooke Baronets and Lords of the Manor of Arksey and Bentley. Also Broughton Avenue, named after the prominent farming family, many of which are buried in Arksey Church. Others are a little harder to pin down and those form the focus of this article.   

As it was Playfairs Corner that started this debate, let's begin there.

Playfairs Corner

Playfairs Corner c.1960

Right in the centre of Bentley lies the junction of High Street, Askern Road and Arksey Lane; popularly known as Playfairs Corner the name even appears on the large road sign adjacent to Winnipeg Road (see photo, top). 

The corner itself appears to refer to the row of shops on Askern Road, which sweep around the corner into Arksey Lane, but why Playfairs?

It is actually named after Playfair & Co grocers which used to occupy one of the premises on this corner, probably the one with the prominent windows right on the corner in the above photo.

Sheffield and District Telephone Directory 1928.

Information from old telephone directories tells us that John Playfair had a grocery store on Askern Road from at least 1928 until about 1933, when he moved to Tannery Buildings in Friendly Street, Doncaster. The 1927 edition of Kelly's Trade Directory lists Playfair's store on High Street, Bentley. Whether that part of the road was classed as High Street rather than Askern Road in 1927 I cannot say, but he certainly had a business in that part of Bentley from at least that date. Earlier editions of phone books and trade directories are not readily available online, so this is the earliest record I can find of him at present. 

I think John Playfair must have had a store on this corner for many years for the reference of it to survive so long. Probably used by locals as a reference point ('I'll meet you at Playfair's corner'), the term obviously stuck and has now become a signposted place. I think John Playfair would be very proud to know we are still using his name almost a hundred years later.

Jossey Lane

Jossey Lane c.1940's

Starting at Cooke Street in Bentley and stretching all the way to the A638 Great North Road in Scawthorpe, Jossey Lane is probably one of the oldest thoroughfares in Bentley. Originally named Brushingholme as early as 1759, this evolved into Bruslinghome Road (1827), then Brusling Holme (1843), and Bruslingholme Lane from about 1854. The name may have been derived from a nearby close (parcel of land) named Rushing Holme, but there is no hard evidence to support this.

As can be seen on the above photo, the lower end of the lane was mostly occupied by farms and housing, but higher up it snaked off into the distance across open fields, until the urban sprawl of Scawthorpe was built in the 1950's.

Just how it became known as Jossey Lane is down to one man, 'Bentley Josse', also known as 'Doncaster Josse or Jossy'. 

Bentley Josse

  

This local character, who's real name is unknown, took seasonal work on farms around Bentley, and also worked as a 'knocker upper' in Doncaster. He charged a small fee to go around the streets knocking on doors and windows to get factory workers out of bed early in the mornings. He would charge double if two workers lived at the same address. Often dressed eccentrically (as in the above photo), he would use a drumstick as his 'knocking up' tool.

Often referred to as a 'Gentleman of the road', he was rumoured to be the illegitimate son of a distant relative of the Battie-Wrightson (of Cusworth Hall) family. It is said that once a month Josse would meet up with one of the family in the street, and he would be paid an allowance.

'Rt Hon', probably part of his nickname

Josse lived in a ramshackle hut on Bruslingholme Lane and locals soon began referring to him when mentioning the lane, and before long it became known as 'Old Joss's Lane', which finally evolved into 'Jossey Lane'. It's not clear when the name was officially changed to Jossey Lane, but certainly by the 1960's it was beginning to appear on local maps. 

Other Street Names

Other street names aren't so easy to research and we can only look for clues in the names themselves, for instance:

Watchouse Lane - the popular thinking here is that this name refers to a Roman watch tower which may have existed on the nearby Great North Road, however, there is another meaning. A watch house used to be a place of temporary detention until a policeman could come along to take the criminal to a police station. There doesn't seem to be any evidence to back the theory that such a building existed in this part of Bentley, but it is worth considering until  the answer can be found.

Pipering Lane - like Jossey Lane, Pipering Lane seems to be one of those old lanes which has survived from the earliest days of Bentley's history. It is shown on an enclosure map of 1827, and again on an O.S. map of 1841, when it was known as Piper Lane. The name 'Piper' is derived from the Middle English 'Pipere' and is an occupational name for someone who played the pipes. So, maybe, just maybe, someone who lived in that vicinity long ago was known for playing such an instrument and the name stuck? The jury is still out on this one.

Finkle Street - this name is found in almost every town, but what does it mean? Well, 'finkle' or 'vincle' comes from the old Norse for a corner or bend on a narrow street. The name also has ancient links to markets suggesting that many Finkle Streets began as market places, either as a regular market or a specialized one such as a fish market. To my knowledge Bentley has never had a market, so its narrow, bending nature may have led to it being given this name. 

Map showing Finkle Street (top centre) in 1854

And so ends our little exploration of Bentley's street names. With the arrival of the colliery and the building of housing estates such as the New Village, many of the street names hold no mystery, being made up because lots of new streets needed lots of names. Still, Bentley retains some very old street names which have interesting stories behind them, and that is something we should cherish.

Alison Vainlo 2016 

A - Z site Map

December 31, 2013, 12:56 pm

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List of all articles and pages on this site. Use the links below to access the posts.

A

A Bentley Childhood - Part One(Kathleen Higson's Bentley memories, 1 of 2)

A Bentley Childhood - Part Two(As above, 2 of 2)

A Brief History of Bentley - Part 1(Chronological history of Bentley, 1 of 2)

A Brief History of Bentley - Part 2(As above, 2 of 2)

About and Contact(Site information)

Arksey Cemetery A - M(Grave transcriptions from the main parish cemetery 1 of 2)

Arksey Cemetery N - Z(As above 2 of 2)

B

Bay Horse Folk Club(Retrospective by Gerald Sables)
Bentley and Arksey As An Outsider - P1 (Personal memories, 1 of 6)
Bentley and Arksey As An Outsider - P2(As above, 2 of 6)
Bentley and Arksey As An Outsider - P3(As above, 3 of 6)
Bentley and Arksey As An Outsider - P4(As above, 4 of 6)
Bentley and Arksey As An Outsider - P5(As above, 5 of 6)
Bentley and Arksey As An Outsider - P6(As above, 6 of 6)
Bentley Bonanza, 21st September 2014(An event held in Bentley Park)
Bentley Colliery Part 1(History of the pit, 1 of 2)
Bentley Colliery Part 2(History of the pit and disasters, 2 of 2)

Bentley Poem(Poem written by William Marsh in 1867)
Bentley Street Names(Looking at how some street names came to be)
Bentley-with-Arksey UDC(The history of the Urban District Council)

C

Call the Midwife(Story of Bentley midwife Ann Brown)

D

D. P. Breach & Son, Motor Engineers(A look at one Bentley business)

E

F

Flood Images(Pictorial of Bentley floods)

G

Godfathers of Ice Cream, The(History of Massarellas)

H

I

J   

K

L

Lance Corporal Thomas Bryan VC(Bentley's VC medal winner)

M

Maps(Old parish maps)

N

O

P

Pit Photos(History of Bentley colliery in pictures)
Please State Your Destination(History of Bentley public transport)

Q

R

S

Scrapbook(Collection of newspaper cuttings)

T

U

V

W

William Marsh, Son of a Miller, Friend of a President(Of Marsh's Mill)

X

Y

Z

Site Updates

June 24, 2016, 1:35 pm

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Bentley Village, A History is pleased to announce the completion of site updates.

Posts are now easier to find with the addition of an A - Z site map.

A new page has also been added - Flood Images, which has a comprehensive collection of photos taken in the 1930's and 2007.

Also, check out the Old Photo Gallery, lots of new photos have been added and they are all arranged street by street to keep it simple.

This update follows a similar one recently completed on sister site, Arksey Village, A History, so why not use the link and take a look?

Thank you

Alison

Scawthorpe - It's Older Than You Think!

September 11, 2016, 2:22 pm

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From Castle to Conurbation

Looking at Scawthorpe today, with it's rows of local authority housing, you would think it has very little history of interest, and I must admit that before I embarked on this project I thought an article about Scawthorpe would be very short indeed. Well how wrong I was. The land which is now home to a twentieth century housing estate has a much older tale to tell, with a history stretching back to Roman times, a history which includes a Roman road, a medieval castle, a moat, a hall and a large farm. 

And so we begin our look at how the Scawthorpe we know now has developed over the centuries. 

Land by a Roman Road 

Roman Ridge, in red.

Modern Scawthorpe lies in a triangular area of land bordered by Bentley to the east, the Great North Road to the west, and open fields to the north before reaching Adwick le Street. 

To the west of the Great North Road lies the Roman Ridge (or Rigg). A now unused part of the old Ermine Street, which was a Roman military route between the forts at Doncaster and Tadcaster.
Beginning at the junction of Barnsley Road (A635) and the Great North Road (A638) and ending at the Redhouse Interchange, north west of Adwick le Street, this three mile stretch of exposed Roman road is all that is left of one of the most important routes of colonial Britain. 

The modern A635 (Barnsley Road) overlays what used to be a medieval 'saltway' or 'saltergate' which was used to bring salt to Doncaster via the Pennines from the production sites in Cheshire. 

These two ancient roads converge at the Great North Road/Barnsley Road junction, which was originally named 'Bodles' and is now home to the Sun Inn.

The Sun Inn 1915

Skuli-thorp

The first documented use of the place-name 'Scoulthorpe' appears in a document of 1317. It is believed to derive from an Old Norse personal name 'Skuli', coupled with the Scandinavian 'thorp', meaning 'secondary settlement, dependent farmstead or hamlet'* and was probably a satellite settlement of Arksey or Bentley. When Roman imperial rule ended the roads mostly fell into disuse but their banks, called 'aggers'made convenient land boundaries for Scandinavian and Saxon landowners. The Roman Ridge formed the boundary for the parish of Arksey with the early post-Roman settlement remaining near the centre of the estate.

The Roman Ridge from Green Lane

Scawthorpe does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, but it probably formed part of the Bentley estate under the ownership of Roger de Bully.

Castle Hills and Radcliffe Moat

Nigel Fossard was a major tenant of Robert, Count of Mortain (the half brother of William the Conqueror). Fossard was an important supporter of King William, and following the Conquest in 1066 he was rewarded with land for his loyalty and service during the battle with King Harold. He held extensive properties from the count all over Yorkshire and that included the manor of Arksey which encompassed Bentley, Scawthorpe, and other satellite settlements in the area.

Nigel Fossard

Fossard left his mark on the area by building fortified manor houses, two of which were situated by the deserted village of Langthwaite (later Hangthwaite), which is just north of present day Scawthorpe.

The de Langthwaites who owned the manor of Langthwaite in the twelfth century became quite an important family, with their name appearing in many northern documents.

In the Tudor period the manor was owned by the Woodruffes of Woolley,  and was sold by Francis Woodruffe in the reign of Elizabeth I. 

Castle Hills and Radcliffe Moat 1849

The two earthworks of Castle Hills and Radcliffe Moat are all that physically remains of the manor of Langthwaite. 

Castle Hills is an 11th century scheduled ancient monument, which consists of a 4-5m high motte with a kidney shaped inner bailey to the north, and a sub-rectangular outer bailey to the east, the outer bailey measuring approximately 70m x 40m. Its complex earthworks suggest this was an important monument which would have dominated the approach to the village along what is now Langthwaite Lane. 

In the later middle ages (14th or 15th centuries) Castle Hills was superseded by Radcliffe Moat, which lies some 500m to the east north east, and now lies partly under railway embankments. This trapezoidal island measures 65m on the east side, around 55m on the north side, under the railway embankment, 50m on the south side, and around 45m on the west side. Joseph Hunter (Hunter's South Yorkshire 1828/31) makes reference to a house demolished there in the late 17th century, which had belonged to Sir William Adams, but there is no obvious building platform within the site today. 

Aerial view of Castle Hills and Radcliffe Moat today

Between the two monuments of Castle Hills and Radcliffe are the remains of the lost medieval village of Langthwaite (or Hangthwaite), now just a collection of earthworks.

Agriculture and Quarrying

While the Langthwaite area has evidence of early occupation, the same cannot be said for the lands further to the south. These lands seem to have been used primarily for agricultural use. Evidence of medieval ridge-and-furrow strip farming are recorded on the surveyors' draft plans for the 1830 Enclosure scheme. These furlongs lay to the north and west of Pipering Lane, which used to be a continuous route between Bentley and York Road (part of the Great North Road). 

Field patterns in the Scawthorpe area, 1849

Apart from agriculture there is evidence of early industry in the area with the remains of Long Edge Quarry lying to the west of Long Edge Lane. Magnesian limestone has long been quarried in the Doncaster area, mostly for building purposes, and although the age of Long Edge Quarry evades me it features on many maps from the mid 1800's up to the mid twentieth century.

Long Edge Quarry 1849

Scawthorpe Farm and Hall

By the mid nineteenth century Scawthorpe consisted of no more than one single farm situated on the west side of the Great North Road. This main thoroughfare between Doncaster and Boroughbridge had been  a turnpike road since the mid eighteenth century. In 1741 a Turnpike Trust was established to collect tolls from travellers using its particular section of road; the reason being to maintain the road with the profits. The turnpike gates at York Bar remained standing until 1880.

According to the 1871 census a family by the name of Morton were living at Scawthorpe Farm, which consisted of 200 acres.

Scawthorpe Farm on a map of 1849

By 1881 the single farm had grown in size, to now include Scawthorpe Hall and by the end of the century it was joined by three lodges, North Lodge, Middle Lodge and South Lodge. South Lodge was positioned by the entrance driveway to the Hall. 

South Lodge

Scawthorpe Hall, Lodges and Scawthorpe Grange 1907

Living at the Hall in 1881 was Edward Jackson, farmer. His son Edward Walker Jackson, a retired cloth manufacturer who designed the Cheswold motor car, lived at nearby Scawthorpe House.

Cheswold car, 1914

The Hall in the early 1900's had tennis courts, stables, a laundry and a sunken rose garden.

Scawthorpe Hall

During World War 1 soldiers were billeted at Scawthorpe Hall, the photo below shows 'D' Company, 14th Platoon, 51st Sherwood Foresters, Scawthorpe Hall, February 1918.

WW1 Soldiers billeted at Scawthorpe Hall, 1918

After the First World War miners from Brodsworth bought plots of land on Green Lane for development. A temporary 'tin city' made of corrugated shacks, wooden huts and railway carriages sprang up to house the miners and their families while they built permanent houses. The area became known as 'Little Canada' as the structures resembled Canadian houses. The 'houses' did however, have to be inspected and approved 'habitable'. 

By 1925 the Hall was owned by the Barber Walker Company, who also owned Bentley Colliery. The colliery agent Mr McGregor lived in the Hall, while the chauffeur lived in the South Lodge and the farm manager lived in Middle Lodge. The Hall was continually occupied by colliery agents until around 1960.

By the 1980's the Hall and other buildings had been demolished and the site was redeveloped for housing under the name 'The Sycamores'.

New Development

The 1930's saw the first phases of residential development in the Scawthorpe area. Sunnyfields was laid out on land once belonging to Scawthorpe Farm, to the west of York Road, and is characterized by its flat roofed houses which originally cost around £380 new. 

The Sun Inn was rebuilt in 1936; it was built nearer to the junction with Barnsley Road and the old inn was demolished shortly after.

The new Sun Inn under construction, with the old building behind.

Private houses were built in the Raymond Road area, as can be seen on this 1938 map (below). Raymond Road at the time was built as a cul-de-sac. 

Sunnyfields and streets south of Scawthorpe 1938

Sunnyfields 1935

At the same time as Sunnyfields and the Watch House Lane area were being developed, work had also commenced further north.

Middlegate was the main thoroughfare between Bentley and York Road, it ran from the end of Brustlingholme Lane at the railway bridge, to York Road in the west. The first phase of building began north of Middlegate with the creation of Scawthorpe Avenue, Walden Avenue and Ashton Avenue in 1935.

Streets appearing in north Scawthorpe, 1938

Post-war building initially consisted of semi-permanent and permanent housing. Pipering Lane, which was originally nothing more than a dirt track through open fields, was developed with Nissen huts as accommodation for the Bevin Boys working in the coal mines. These were eventually replaced by council and colliery housing in the early 1950's.

Click here to link to a personal account of a former Bevin Boy who lived in the Pipering Lane huts.

An example image of Nissen huts

In the mid 1940's council housing was built on Long Edge Lane, Langthwaite Road and Balham Avenue.

Around 1950 Middlegate and Brustlingholme Lane underwent a change of name. The two roads became one and the name was changed to Jossey Lane. It was named after a local character 'Bentley Josse' who lived in a ramshackle hut on the lane and worked as a 'knocker upper' in Doncaster. 

'Bentley Josse'

The name 'Middlegate' was reused for a new street between Ballam Avenue and Castle Hills road. Pre-fabs were built on the new Middlegate and Jossey Lane.

Coronation party on Middlegate 1953 (note the pre-fabs), photo courtesy of Bill Wright

At first there were no shops, schools or other amenities in Scawthorpe, the nearest being in Bentley. Scawthorpe County Primary School opened in May 1952 with 250 children registered. In 1955 the school separated into two departments, infants and juniors when a new infants school was built next door. The school was amalgamated in 1992, becoming Castle Hills First and Middle School, before finally becoming Castle Hills Primary School in 1993.

Scawthorpe Primary School 1962

Scawthorpe County Primary School staff 1955. Courtesy of Bill Wright

The second phase of house building got underway in the early 1950's. Amersall Road, as the 'spine' road was built first in 1951 and was soon joined by Springcroft Drive, Stonehill Rise, Amersall Crescent, Broachgate and Homefield Crescent. By 1955 the National Coal Board had built over 300 homes on Jossey Lane, Danesway, Petersgate, Newstead Road, Clevedon Crescent, Woodside Road and Chatsworth Crescent. Concrete housing was built mainly to accommodate an influx of Scottish miners.

Private housing on Amersall Road was also developed in the 1950's. Beginning at the junction with Stonehill Rise and ending at the former cul-de-sac of Raymond Road. Amersall Road was joined up with Raymond road thus creating one road with two names.  Land was also available for £275 per plot and many people built their own houses. Building continued into the 1960's. North of Stonehill Rise, Amersall Road consisted of council housing.

Map of Scawthorpe 1958

Pipering Lane, once a continuous track from Bentley Railway crossing to York Road was intersected by Amersall Road and Stonehill Rise, resulting in the two roads, Pipering Lane East and Pipering Lane West, which do not meet.

Shops and Amenities

The Co-op was the first to open a shop in Scawthorpe, this was on Stonehill Rise and was followed by Meadow Dairy situated next door. Herring's General Store on Scawthorpe Avenue accommodated a post office some time after it opened. The newsagent Mr Dunn sold his newspapers from a wooden hut until he moved into premises on Crossland Way. 

There was no bus service at first, and Scawthorpe residents had to walk to York Road to catch a bus into town. When a bus service was finally introduced it ran up Amersall Road to Jossey Lane until 7pm in the evenings. 

Doctor Harry McKeown held a clinic in Scawthorpe once a week, while the first library operated out of a room on Watch House Lane and the Adam and Eve opened in 1957. 

The Adam and Eve public house

Scawthorpe Grange Farm became the site of Don Valley High School in 1959. Now known as Don Valley Academy, the site is currently being rebuilt with students expected to move into the new building in November 2016, this will result in the old 1950's buildings being demolished.

Don Valley High School (original buildings)

School Emblem 1977

Churches

Before any churches were built in Scawthorpe the building which was to become Castle Hills Middle School was used for church services. The Church of England used it in the mornings and the Methodists in the afternoons and both had Sunday Schools. 

In 1958 the Methodists got their own church, a red brick building on Amersall Road, opposite the Adam and Eve. It was built with help from the Joseph Rank Benevolent Trust.

Scawthorpe Methodist Church

The white washed church of St Luke's was built on Broachgate in 1965 for the Church of England. A nearby white hut provided space for Sunday School, Cubs, Brownies and Guides, the Guides' leader being a Mrs Lawton.

St Luke's Church

Modern Scawthorpe

Modern aerial view of Scawthorpe

With Scawthorpe firmly established as a residential area in its own right, other amenities were added such as a new library in 1962, an off-licence, launderette, Tree's the bakers, Clark's the barbers, Robinson's the dentist and a garage, which later became a Lada dealership, on Amersall Road. 

By the early 1970's levels of development were roughly at the same as they are today. Land to the north of Danesway and east of Amersall Road, at the Watch House Lane end has since been developed, but apart from that Scawthorpe has largely remained the same.

Suburban Scawthorpe might be seen as nothing more than a mid twentieth century housing estate, but in reality it has a rich history stretching right back to one of the country's most important Roman Roads and for that reason alone, it places it firmly in the fascinating historical landscape of north Doncaster. 

Scawthorpe Photos

Scawthorpe Farm

Ballam Avenue Coronation party 1953, courtesy of Bill Wright

Coronation party 1953, courtesy of Bill Wright

Darby and Joan club 1950's, Scawthorpe Junior School, courtesy of Bill Wright

Scawthorpe Methodist Church fancy dress competition, 1950's, courtesy of Bill Wright

Castle Hills Junction 1932

Castle Hills School c1966, courtesy of Susanna (Mez) Merryweather

Castle Hills School c1966, courtesy of Susanna (Mez) Merryweather

Castle Hills School 1970

Tram on York Road

Alison Vainlo 2016

* Smith, A. H., 1961, The Place-names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Part 1, Lower and Upper Strafforth and Staincross Wapentakes: The English Place-name Society, Vol XXXXVII. Cambridge University Press.

Sources: Memories of Scawthorpe - A Local History Guide produced by Doncaster Libraries (courtesy of Colin Hardisty, with extra information given by Bill Wright).

Scawthorpe - By Symeon Mark Waller, originally available on his Doncaster History website.

Archaeological report for Gray & Adams by Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln)

Many thanks to Bill Wright for photographs and information.

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A tram crossing St Mary's Bridge with the Three Horse Shoes public house on the left, 1905

Where Bentley Meets Doncaster

The Story of Town End

Town End, Bridgefoot, Bridge End, Don Bridge, whatever you call this area of Bentley, and yes, it is a part of Bentley, you have to pass through it if you are travelling in or out of Doncaster via the northern routes. 

It may seem a bit of a non-place these days, dominated by St George's Bridge, St Mary's Bridge, a ring road, a cluster of shops and businesses, but you may be surprised to learn it has a history dating back to Roman times which is full of conflict, disease, industry and change. 

Town End is situated in a strategic position at the northern entrance to Doncaster, an important place who's history is worthy of retelling, and is retold here. 


Note: To prevent confusion, this area will be referred to as Town End throughout this article, unless referring directly to historical records. 

Town End shops

Through the Barricades

The importance of Doncaster as a market town lies in its position at the meeting place of the Great North Road and the River Don. 

The area has been in use since at least Roman times, when a fort existed roughly where St George's Minster now stands. The area was chosen as a convenient crossing point over the Don and as such has been inhabited ever since.

Medieval Doncaster was reached from the north by crossing the wooden 'Greater Doncaster Bridge' over the River Don, and according to a deed of 1311 there was a causeway leading to this bridge from 'le Bordel' (a brothel). Beyond the bridge over the river was an area of low lying land called 'Marshgate' ('gate' in this instance coming from the Scandinavian for 'road', 'road over a marsh'). This area was inhabited by poor dwellings, while further along the road the 13th century Franciscan Friary was reached. Another bridge, called the Friary Bridge led over the River Cheswold (now culverted) to Frenchgate and the town of Doncaster.

Impression of the original wooden bridge over the River Don

Town defences were built at the River Don in 1215 on the orders of King John who, in dispute with his barons, ordered Peter de Mauley, lord of Doncaster to erect barricades at the bridge. This led to stone gateways being erected on all bridges over the town ditch. This is where some street names have their origins, for instance; Hallgate, French Gate and Fisher Gate. The fortified gates on the bridge lasted into the eighteenth century.

The wooden bridge over the Don was replaced by a stone one in 1247. To pay for it a three year toll was levied of 1d. on every cart carrying merchandise crossing it.

The Chapel of St Mary

As with other bridges in the region, such as at Rotherham and Wakefield, the Don bridge had a Chantry Chapel, but unlike those of the aforementioned towns, whose chapels were built on the bridges themselves, this one was built to the side of it. The chapel was dedicated to St Mary and as thus, the bridge was later named 'St Mary's Bridge'. 

The purpose of the chapel was to solicit donations from the pious for the upkeep of the bridge. The chapel had niches in it's gateway which housed effigies of the twelve apostles.

Following religious changes the chapel became redundant and for a time during the reign of Queen Anne (1702 - 1714) it was used as a dwelling house. The chapel was demolished in the early 1770's.

This simple diagram shows the approximate position of the chapel and gate on a small island in the middle of the river.

The Mill Cross

In the 1270's there were probably as many as four corn mills standing on the river. Owned by the lord of the manor, all his tenants would be obliged to pay his millers to grind their corn in one of the mills. The presence of the corn mills led to the bridge being named the 'Mill Bridge', as well as the later 'St Mary's Bridge'.

The mill cross marked the northern entrance to the town. It stood to the left side of the road leaving town. There were at least eight stone crosses around medieval Doncaster, including an impressive one built by Otho de Tilli, the steward of Conisbrough in the late 12th century. This stood at the top of Hallgate, probably at the same location as the present Georgian cross.

The medieval cross at Hallgate

The cross near the Mill Bridge was built about 1250 and said to be of excellent workmanship. It had three steps and niches for three effigies to stand within. It was demolished in 1765, but fortunately not before Robert Copley of Nether Hall sketched it. This rather romanticised version of Copley's sketch, below, comes from the Rev. Edward Jackson's book 'St George's Church, recently destroyed by fire, 1855'.

Representation of Robert Copley's Mill Cross sketch in 1764

The Pilgrimage of Grace

In 1536 the bridge over the Don was the scene of one of the most dramatic uprisings in English history.

Religious changes brought about by Henry VIII abandoning the Catholic Church in order to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn, set in motion a series of uprisings in the north of England. The most famous of which was the Pilgrimage of Grace, led by Robert Aske.

Robert Aske (1500 - 1537)

Aske and his supporters began a rebellion in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the summer of 1536. They made their way to Pontefract where they made their headquarters. They began restoring expelled monks and nuns to their homes and resuming Catholic observances. Such was their success a five thousand strong King's Army, led by the Duke of Norfolk, marched north from London in the October.

Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk 1473 - 1554

Doncaster was the location of the scene of confrontation between the rebels and the royal army. The rebels, which numbered in excess of thirty thousand, had left Pontefract and were camped out on Scawsby Lees on the north side of the River Don. Outnumbered, the royal forces halted and took lodgings with the Carmelite friars in High Street, while Aske and his party lodged at the Grey Friar's in Marsh Gate during November and December.

Lawrence Cook*, head of the Carmelite Priory where the Duke's party were residing, was found to be in support of the rebels. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London where he was found guilty of treason and condemned to death. He was later pardoned, but having failed to conform was executed at Tyburn in 1540. 

Banner used by the rebels at the Pilgrimage of Grace.

The opposing forces were now left facing each other across the Don, but with the Duke's diminished army preventing him from fighting the rebels, they had reached stalemate. The Duke had to be content with denying the rebels the bridge and a nearby ford.

The rebels, superior in numbers tried twice to cross the Don, but were prevented by the high level of the river, swollen by the autumn rains.

Finally, negotiations were opened up by the Duke, who made certain 'promises' which Aske naively believed. Aske dismissed his followers and they dispersed. 

Once it became clear that the 'promises' would not be met new uprisings began in Cumberland and Westmorland. The Duke reacted quickly to these new threats and Aske, along with other ringleaders were arrested, convicted of treason and finally executed.

  

*Prior Cook of the Doncaster Carmelite Priory was an early member of the Cooke family (of Wheatley Hall). While he was held in the Beauchamp Tower at the Tower of London, he carved his name into the wall. I was able to see this graffiti for myself in the summer of 2016, and was photographed alongside it (see below).   

St Mary's Bridge

St Mary's Bridge has been rebuilt several times in it's history. In 1661 the bridge was washed away in a great flood and had to be replaced. The roof over the bridge gateway was pulled down in 1749. In 1752 the road between Mill Bridge and Friar's Bridge was raised above flood level and Mill Bridge was rebuilt again in 1782. 

Sheep crossing the stone St Mary's Bridge at the end of the nineteenth century

The 1782 stone bridge seen in the above photo lasted until the early 20th century. It was later rebuilt with a robust iron construction presumably to withstand the new trams which would have to cross it. North Bridge was built once the trams were established. This was to replace the Marshgate level crossing and allow trams to run right into Doncaster rather than having to terminate at Marshgate. North Bridge opened in 1910.

St Mary's Bridge with the corn mill in the background.

The large building to the right side of the bridge in the above photo was Doncaster Mill. It sat on an island to the eastern side of the bridge. In 1817 the building suffered a serious fire which, it is said, could be seen as far away as Sheffield. It was rebuilt following the fire. 

This mill and two others which existed on the river, were all powered by waterwheel until steam power took over in the mid nineteenth century. The chimney for the steam can be seen behind the mill in the above photo.

View of the old mill from the back, with the weir to the left which would have driven the waterwheel originally.

Another view of the rear of the mill

The mill was replaced by the Town Garage, probably in the 1920's and can be seen in the 1932 flood photo lower down.

A Bentley tram passing over the new St Mary's Bridge around 1905

The new bridge withstood the devastating floods of 1932 despite the water reaching almost to road level.

Crowds flock to watch the flooded River Don in May 1932

Another view of St Mary's Bridge during the floods of 1932

By the 1950's, trolleybuses had replaced the trams, but increasing traffic meant that a wider bridge was needed to cope with the numbers.

A trolleybus crossing St Mary's Bridge in 1954

A bus crossing St Mary's Bridge prior to the widening work of the late 1950's. Note the old mill/Town Garage building is being demolished.

The new bridge was built by Holland and Hannen and Cubbitts (Great Britain) Ltd. It was designed by Fred Bamforth who also carried out the substructure, road works, retaining walls and flood culvert. It opened on the 27th of November 1959 and was soon carrying 25,000 vehicles a day. 

Work on the new St Mary's Bridge in 1958

Bridge House

Bridge House

This beautiful seventeenth century house used to stand where the bottom end of St George's Bridge meets the roundabout at Town End today. 

Sometimes known as 'Bridge Hall', the house was built by the Wilbore family and the first reference to the Wilbore's at 'Bridgefoot' (as it was known then) is in 1617, when Robert Wilbore's son, Godfrey was baptised at Arksey church. The Wilbore's became prosperous after taking leases of land from Francis le Straunge between 1574 and 1577. The house was probably in existence from around the early 1600's although it isn't until the Hearth Tax records of 1672 that the house itself is referenced in writing. 

Bridge House (in red) at the end of the A19 turnpike road, from a map of 1854.

The Hearth Tax was a method of calculating tax payments dependent on the number of hearths in the house, the more hearths you had, the more tax you had to pay. With the number of hearths proportional to the size of the house, it gave a good indication of house sizes.  Bridge House records a sizable house containing nine hearths, and it appears from Arksey parish records that subsequent generations of the Wilbore family resided there for about a century. 

What happened at Bridge House following the departure of the Wilbore's isn't clear, however, in his book on the Wapentake of Strafford and Tickhill (which includes the manor of Bentley with Arksey) 1829, John Wainwright describes the house as once being 'a great hall or hospital for the entertainment of strangers or pilgrims.''Hospital' in this instance meaning a place of hospitable reception, a kind of hostel. 

Following a spell as a school, under the tutelage of Mr Robert Graham, Bridge House served as a hospital in the modern sense following an outbreak of cholera in nearby Marsh Gate in 1832.

The first case of cholera is well documented in The Cholera Gazetteof 1832. It is said that on the 6th of January 1832 two sailors, aged 20 and 30 respectively, arrived in the town following a six week journey down through North Yorkshire from Stockton. 

They took lodgings in Marshgate and seemed in good health, eating fried beef and potatoes before retiring to bed. The next morning however, it became apparent that the younger of the two men, James McDowell, was suffering from some sort of digestive illness, however, he did recover sufficiently for them to continue their journey.  

Fortified with a breakfast of coffee, James and his companion set off to continue on to London. They had only reached Balby, a mile and a half from Doncaster before James suffered a collapse. After some difficulty, which involved James having to be carried on his companion's shoulders, they returned to the lodgings in Marshgate. Four members of the Medical Board of Health attended Mr McDowell and observed symptoms of cholera, i.e. vomiting, 'rice water' stools, violent spasms, skin cold, clammy and with a blue hue. 

They administered stimulants and every other treatment at their disposal, but without success. James McDowell died at 2 a.m. the following morning, the 7th of January.

This isolated case was just the beginning of a major outbreak in Doncaster. In June of that same year a boat arrived on the River Don and moored at Marshgate. A man on board was said to be suffering from 'spasmodic cholera'. He soon died and inexplicably, a large number of Marshgate's inhabitants went on board to see him. The inevitable happened, and a huge outbreak of the disease hit the town.

Example of a boat moored at Marshgate.

Fifteen cholera deaths were recorded in just one week of June 1832, the overall total being about forty for the whole outbreak. Arksey parish registers record eleven deaths for the months of July and August of that year among Bentley residents. All the deaths were attributed to 'Asiatic Cholera'. 

Later, a cholera hospital was established at Bridge House, which at the time was owned by Richard Fountayne Wilson Esq.  

Following its time as a cholera hospital, Bridge House became a carpet factory and by 1849 formed 'a portion of the extensive warehouses (of) the business of... a tillage and seed merchant.' Another source tells of the house being used as a brewery at one time too, although there seems to be no further information on that.

Information for Bridge House ceases after 1861 when, according to the census, it was in the hands of James Gears, who at that time was the seed and tillage merchant as mentioned above. After 1861 it is unclear who owned the building as that information is not included on subsequent census returns.

1906 map showing smaller building on site of Bridge House (in red)

A much smaller building is shown on the Bridge House plot on a map of 1890, so it may have been partially knocked down or replaced. This smaller building is also shown on maps of 1906 (above) and 1929, and this appears to be the last trace of the building once known as Bridge House. 

The A19 Turnpike Road

The Doncaster to Selby Turnpike Road beside Bridge House

If we look at a broader picture of Bridge House, it gives a fascinating view of the turnpike road to Selby (today's A19). The road stretches away into the distance where it will reach Bentley before continuing on to Selby. Just visible beyond the coach are the flood arches over the Bentley flood plain. The obelisk on the left was erected to commemorate the construction of the turnpike road in 1832.  

The road in the foreground is the old Doncaster to Pontefract road; with Doncaster off to the right (or south), and Pontefract to the left (north) via the Great North Road (today's A638). 

Larger view of the turnpike road and obelisk

Prior to the turnpike road being built, the route to York was via the Great North Road to Brotherton and then through Tadcaster. In the eighteenth century this often meant that York was missed out by the mail coaches, with routes to Wetherby and Boroughbridge being favoured.

The problem was the lack of a through road across the low lying land north east of Doncaster. Looking at the Thomas Jefferys map of  Yorkshire (1772), it is evident that this area is peppered with small roads and lanes meant for serving small communities rather than providing a direct route to Selby and York.

Thomas Jefferys's Yorkshire map, 1772

  

As this land was prone to frequent flooding too, it made the necessity for a through road even more important.

The Doncaster to Selby Turnpike Act was passed on the 6th of June 1832 and this enabled a new road to be built. Turnpike trusts had been established to collect tolls on major stretches of road, the money collected being used to maintain the roads. Toll houses were usually erected to collect fees from travellers wishing to use the roads. 

The new road left Doncaster at Frenchgate, crossed the Don bridge and forked right towards Bentley at Bridge House. Crossing the Bentley flood plain, a new causeway consisting of a flood arched bridge was constructed in 1832/33. Thirty brick arches covered by stone facings were built to span this low lying boggy area, allowing traffic to pass above, unaffected by breaks in the river banks. At the same time the arches allowed flood water to drain safely away from inhabited areas.

The flood arches. Photo courtesy of Keith Wilburn

Even the flood arches couldn't cope with the floods of 1932

The flood arches once again showing what they were made for during the floods of 2007. Photo courtesy of Colin Powell

Reinforcement work on the flood arches in the 1990's. Photo courtesy of Tom Booth

After crossing the flood arches the road continues up through Bentley, Toll Bar and Askern, eventually reaching Selby before terminating at York. Running almost parallel with the A1 the road was an alternative to the Great North Road, and even shared it's name until the railways took over from coaches hauling mail.

Doncaster Avoiding Line

A Bentley trolleybus passes under the east bridge over the A19, mid 1950's

The double railway bridge at Town End has dominated the skyline for as long as anyone can remember, but I wonder how many people know just what the line was built for, and where it goes?

The west bridge over the A638 Great North Road at Town End in the 1930's

The railway for which the bridge was built is called the Doncaster Avoiding Line. It was built to allow freight traffic to avoid passing through Doncaster station. To reach the Hull or Cleethorpes lines would have meant crossing the line from Sheffield and creating bottlenecks.

An act of parliament to build the line was passed in 1903, but it was another five years before work began. It was built mostly on an embankment and opened in 1910.

The Avoiding Line runs from Hexthorpe Junction on the Doncaster to Sheffield line, to Bentley Junction on the Hull and Cleethorpes line.

The Doncaster Avoiding Line seen here running from west to east on a map of 1948

Built mainly to carry coal and steel, more than one train was allowed on the line at any time. This changed to single passes only for safety reasons, when passenger trains began to use the line. 

With faster trains using the East Coast Main Line, the Avoiding Line still has a function in the smooth running of the railways in Doncaster.

The Don Cinema

Don Cinema in 1954

Lying just to the right of the Avoiding Line bridge over the A19 was the Don Cinema. A large brick, steel and concrete Art Deco building, it was designed by Mr J. Blythe Richardson and opened on the 17th of August 1939 with a screening of 'The Citadel' starring Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell.

The entrance was on the main road and there was a spacious adjoining car park. Inside there was a large foyer with box office and refreshment kiosk, cloakroom and manager's office. 

There were two entrances to the stalls, and a staircase led up to a first floor lounge and the circle. In the auditorium there was spacious seating for an audience of 996, in front of a proscenium of thirty feet wide, but which lacked a proper stage.

The unique lighting continually changed the colour of the walls and with the curtains similarly illuminated, it must have made a lovely effect.

The sound system was provided by Western Electric and the latest Kalee projectors were installed.

Don Cinema auditorium interior

The final film to be screened at Don Cinema was the Beatle's 'A Hard Days Night' before closing on the 30th of January 1965.

The building became the Don Bingo and Social Club following its closure as a cinema.

Don Bingo and Social Club, 1st February 1965

  
A new roof was fitted in 1983 and it became the Don Bingo and Cabaret Club. It was closed in the early 1990's and was demolished during July 1992 to make way for the new North Bridge Relief Road (see further on in this article).

Don Bingo as demolition gets under way, 1992

The Three Horse Shoes

The Three Horse Shoes in 1914

The earliest known record of The Three Horse Shoes public house is from 1783, when it first opened as a beer-house. Standing on the north bank of the River Don, just to the left of St Mary's Bridge, the inn often held inquests of people who had drowned in the river.  

The 'old' Three Horse Shoes in 1900

The building we see today is not the original, it was rebuilt to it's current design (barring recent alterations) in 1914. The original building is pictured above and at the top of this article.

Landlords of the Three Horse Shoes can be traced through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century via the census returns.

In 1841, the earliest record, the landlord is Joseph Bailey, forty five, who lived there with is wife Mary, thirty one, and their two children.

The Three Horse Shoes seen from the north east bank of the river.

By 1851 there had been a change of ownership with John Jackson, aged fifty, taking over. He lived there with his wife Hannah, fifty, their two children and two lodgers.

A younger John Jackson had taken over the premises by 1861, aged thirty five; he is most likely the son of the former John Jackson, especially as he was born in Lincolnshire where his mother came from. This younger John was married to Catherine, aged forty. They had two children living with them as well as a niece. 

John could be traced on the electoral registers at the Three Horse Shoes until 1868. By the time of the 1871 census John had moved to nearby Marshgate, remarried and had taken up farming. No trace of the owners of the pub could be found for this census, it simply isn't listed which could mean had been temporarily closed.

1881 finds the Three Horse Shoes in the hands of George Beevers aged forty, and his wife Emma aged 36. This was the only census they appeared in at these premises because in 1890 the Inn had a new owner, and we know a little more about him.

The Three Horseshoes and St Mary's Bridge in the early 1900's

Charles Towse was born in 1858 in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire. His early work included working as a groom for a horse dealer, fourteen miles from his birthplace. 

His wife Harriet had been married to George Carvey and they had a daughter, Marie Lucy Ann Helen Quotina Carvey, who was born in Rouen, France in 1885 when Harriet was thirty. George Carvey died in Dublin that same year and just one year later Harriet married Charles Towse, probably in Ireland as no English marriage record exists for them.

Charles and Harriet didn't have any children of their own. Marie continued to live with them, and work for them when she was older after they took on the Three Horse Shoes in 1890.

Charles died on the first of November 1911 at the age of 53. He is buried in Hyde Park Cemetery and has quite an interesting memorial.

Charles Towse memorial.  Photo courtesy of Alan Downing

The three horseshoes on the memorial are undoubtedly a reference to his hostelry at Town End, and as a keen sportsman and former groom, they may have added significance. The fact that the horseshoes are upside down may mean that his luck had run out, but that is pure speculation.

The inscription on the memorial isn't your usual piece of spiritual prose either, it says:

To Charles Towse

Who died November 1st 1911

Aged 53 years

A Husband Great

A Father Good

A Truer Sportsman Never Stood

Whether Harriet stayed on at the Three Horse Shoes after her husband's death isn't known. 

The old Three Horse Shoes was demolished and replaced with the building we see today in 1914. Minor alterations have taken place since then, but it is essentially the same.

The Three Horse Shoes (left) wasn't the only hostelry in the area.

There is a bit of a gap in the records regarding further owners. The next reference comes from the electoral registers of 1931. Charles Dalby, aged thirty eight, and his wife Edith had taken over the premises and were there until 1947.

Sadly, it has proved difficult to find out any further information about the pub at this time, but anything found later on will be added. 

The Three Horse Shoes in 1988

St George's Bridge

Despite the widening of St Mary's Bridge in the 1950's, by the late 1980's it was becoming clear that the amount of traffic using this route in and out of town was increasing year on year. Traffic jams were frequent and lengthy and with no alternative crossing point over the river, canal and railways, the need for a relief road was pressing.

On the 24th of May 1991 the Secretary of State signed an order allowing for the A638 Trunk Road (Doncaster North Bridge Relief Road) to be built.

This was to be part of the wider £63m North Bridge Relief Road Scheme, which would see cars using the new bridge and a newly refurbished North Bridge for public transport.

The bridge was planned to start at a new roundabout near the market on Church Way and end at the site of the old Don Cinema, now a bingo club, at Town End. A new ring road would see the traffic roundabout extended to circle around the railway embankment between the junction of the A638 and A19.  

Demolition of the Don Bingo Club took place in July 1992. Also cleared for demolition were a row of terraced houses behind at Willow Bridge.

Willow Bridge Terrace in 1992. Photo courtesy of Tom Booth

It would be another ten years before the new bridge would be open to traffic and at a cost of £28m. 

In November 2001 the bridge, now named 'St George's Bridge' after Doncaster's parish church, opened. A ceremonial walk across took place on the 18th of November and then opened to all traffic. North Bridge was closed for the next fifteen months to allow for refurbishment. North Bridge re-opened at Easter 2003 to taxis, pedestrians, cyclists and Doncaster bound buses. Buses leaving town would have to wait until work on the first phase of the new transport interchange was completed.

Button badge to commemorate the first walk over St George's Bridge. Photo courtesy of Paul Buckley

St George's Bridge in 2002. Photo courtesy of Mark Coley

Around Town End

Before we end our look at Town End, let's pause and remember some of the other businesses, places and people from the area. There are only small amounts of information in some cases although there are a few photos around, so here's a round up of the best of the rest.

Westfields Removals had their premises at Town End for many years. Here is their fleet of vans in 1955.

Prosper De Mulder was founded in 1926. Their animal rendering plant is at a site off Ings Road, Bentley. They expanded during the late 1960's and 1970's by buying up other rendering sites across the UK. The company recycles waste from the meat and food industries, providing green energy, pet foods and agricultural products. 

The above photo is one of De Mulder's lorries, a frequent sight around Bentley. 

Although its not a problem these days, who can forget the lingering aroma put out by this plant? It is true to say - once smelled, never forgotten!   

Doncaster Power Station was located on Crimpsall Island, on the west side of St Mary's Bridge. It operated between 1953 and 1983. It is now the site of HM Prison, Doncaster.

This 1970 map shows the location of Doncaster Power Station.

C F Booth Ltd scrap metal dealers. This photo was taken from the railway bridge and shows the Bentley Road side of the yard. The premises main entrance was on the Great North Road. When Booth's closed this site in the 1990's the area was redeveloped, part of it becoming part of the new ring road, and the rest taken by  the Centurion Retail Park.

Town End Juniors 1930 - 31. Photo courtesy of Lyn Taylor Picken.

Town End in the 1980's. The roundabout, which was built in the 1970's, replaced the forked junction which used to join the A638 to the A19. This would be moved in the 1990's to encircle the embankment between the two railway bridges, creating the ring road we see today, and called St Mary's Roundabout.

  

The original junction of the A638 and A19 seen here in the 1940's. The photo is taken from the railway bridge above the A638.

View looking the opposite way to the previous photo. Vehicles cross St Mary's Bridge with the railway bridge leading to the A638 in the background (with 'Lucas' signage).

A cyclist and a trolleybus crosses St Mary's Bridge in the 1940's.

River Don from Willow Bridge Road, 1938/39. Photo courtesy of Pauline Philp.

Tattersfield, home of 'The Don's' rugby league club from 1953 to 1995. The ground was named Tattersfield in honour of their former chairman Len Tattersfield.

Tattersfield in the 1980's.

Tattersfield as seen from Yarborough Terrace. Photo courtesy of Tom Booth.

The last 'Tattersfield' team 1994/1995.

A Place of Importance

Google Earth image of Town End in the 21st century

As we end our look at Town End we will probably all agree that this over-looked corner of Doncaster had more history than any of us ever realized. From an ancient river crossing, to a fortified entrance, a place of conflict and industry, Town End has seen it all. so the next time you're stuck at the traffic lights on St Mary's Roundabout just try to imagine how it used to be, a semi-rural idyll beside a river where travellers would pass though by horse-drawn carriage on their way to Doncaster. 

Our conveyances may have changed a little, and Town End may have changed a lot, but it still marks the northern gateway into Doncaster town and that makes it very important indeed.


Alison Vainlo 2017 



Many thanks to all contributors, named and unnamed.

When Bentley Stars Shine

August 6, 2017, 8:15 am

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Bank Holiday outing on the Marsh family dray, August 4th 1913.

Memories of an idyllic life in Bentley at the turn of the century. 

By Ernest Goodridge 1892 - 1916.

Ernest Goodridge.

The Same Stars Shine

A few years ago I was told about a wonderful book The Same Stars Shine (2000), a book based on the Great War diary and letters of Ernest Goodridge. Ernest had spent his early life in Bentley and the book features many precious family photos taken in the Bentley area. 

Having bought a copy of the book I managed to make contact with one of Ernest's relatives, and co-editor of the book, John A. Goodridge. He very generously allowed me to re-tell some of Ernest's memories and to share some of the rare photos, many taken by Ernest himself, with my readers.

The first part of The Same Stars Shine focuses on Ernest's family life growing up in Bentley, and his short working life in Doncaster. The second half of the book focuses on Ernest's war diary and letters home. This article will mainly focus on Ernest's family and his life in Bentley.

The Same Stars Shine book cover.

The Goodridge Family

The Goodridge family consisted of father, William (1851 - 1919), mother Maria (1854 - 1919), and siblings, Ruth (1887 - 1947), Jonathan Brooks (1889 - 1962), Annie (1890 - 1960), and Ernest (1892 - 1916).

William Goodridge 1851 - 1919

William Goodridge was born in Kirk Bramwith in 1851. His marriage to Maria was his second. William's first wife Ann Elizabeth Johnson, whom he had married in 1873, died shortly after giving birth to a son, John William in 1885, she was twenty eight. A railway platelayer, William was also a Wesleyan Class Leader, looking after the pastoral and spiritual needs of church members.

Maria Goodridge 1854 - 1919

William's second wife was Maria Brooks from Kendal in Westmorland. She had probably come to Doncaster to work in service and made Doncaster Oxford Place Chapel her place of worship, probably meeting William there. They were married at the Oxford Place Chapel in 1886.

Their first child Ruth was born on the 25th of September 1887. She left home to go into domestic service at an early age, working away in places such as Sheffield, Leeds and Ilkley. She married Harry Sharpe in 1918; he was a pit pony handler at Bentley Pit. She and Harry didn't have any children of their own and Ruth died in 1947.

Ruth Goodridge 1887 - 1947

The eldest son was Jonathan Brooks Goodridge (known as 'John' or 'Jack'). He was born on the 11th of March 1889. Jonathan spent six years studying at Doncaster Grammar School and a further three years at Headingley College, Leeds. He then entered the Methodist Ministry. Between 1914 and 1918 he was stationed at Tutbury, Burton-upon-Trent. Having enlisted he was subsequently exempted from military service. He married Ethel Mary Leathers of Bury St Edmunds in 1920. They had two sons, Ernest Noel in 1921, Jonathan Francis in 1924, and a daughter Ada Margaret in 1933. John travelled extensively as a minister and finally settled in Ely to live out his retirement. John died in 1962.

Jonathan Brooks Goodridge 1889 - 1962

Annie 'Tim' Goodridge was born in August 1890. She was close to her younger brother Ernest in both age and as a close confidante. She remained at home during the war years to care for her ailing mother. After her parents died in 1919 she started working at the National Children's Home and became a highly respected Sister there. She later became a Matron of a boys' and girls' school. In all she served for forty years in these homes. One of her wards was the actress Shirley Ann Field, who remembers her with great affection. Annie never married and in her later years she suffered from senile dementia and was cared for at the Tower Hospital, Ely, close to her brother John. She died in 1960.

Annie Goodridge 1890 - 1960, with brother Ernest in 1913

The Goodridge's youngest child was Ernest. Born in April 1892 he was the 'little un' or 'nipper' of the family. A reluctant scholar, he attended Doncaster Grammar School for three years until the age of fourteen. He found work as a lawyer's clerk at the office of Edwin Ernest Burgess, Solicitor, in Doncaster. With the outbreak of WW1 Ernest took his time to come to a decision about enlisting, but by October 1915 his decision had been made and by the end of the following month he had joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Following a period of military training in the south of England, Ernest joined the fighting in France. He was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on the 4th of October 1916 at the age of 24.

The Goodridge family, 1907.

Home in Bentley

William and Maria's first home was a cottage on Cooke Street, Bentley, just opposite the Wesleyan Chapel, next to the Mill Stream. All four of their children were born in the cottage which backed on to Bentley High Street.

The Goodridge family at the cottage on Cooke Street, 1895.

Bentley High Street around 1905.

The photo above shows the row of cottages (centre) where the Goodridges lived. Taken from Bentley High Street, near the Mill Bridge, the family lived in the end cottage on the left, which is just out of view behind the next row of houses.

Little is written about Ernest's early life, as he got older he kept diaries about his daily life and events in and around Bentley, and it is from these diaries that we get an insight into what life was like in turn of the century Bentley.

An early school photo shows Ernest and brother John at the Bentley Board school on Cooke Street when the boys were aged about eight and eleven.

Bentley Board School c.1900. Ernest (front row left), John (second row, fifth from left).

The teacher standing on the right in the photo above is Mr Cowling who helped John obtain a County Council Scholarship to Doncaster Grammar School.

Cooke Street Infant's School, 1890's.

Railway View

Sometime between 1895 and 1901 the Goodridge's moved to Railway View, or Bentley Gatehouse. The house stood beside the level crossing at the Church Street, Pipering Lane junction (now occupied by Kingdom Hall). 

Location of Railway View on a map of 1928.

William's job as a railway platelayer would have included inspecting and maintaining sections of the line as well as carrying out special or emergency duties. 

One of these special duties was 'fogging'. As the name suggests it was a task carried out when fog became a problem. The job involved placing small explosive charges (like 'caps' in a toy gun) on the line to warn the train drivers of hazards ahead.

In 1911 Ernest records in his diary for the 30th of March how he and his father had searched the line up to Castle Hills for someone who had possibly fallen on the line. They found nothing.

On another occasion, over a weekend in August 1911 there was a railway strike. The signal box was shut up and gates closed and the signals were down. Fewer trains than usual were running and the night trains ran without lights. On the Sunday morning William witnessed a Thrashing Engine break through the crossing gates. Apparently it didn't cause too much damage but following that incident a watchman had to be on guard day and night.

Train approaching Bentley Gates from the south C.1905.

Railway View, or 'Rose Cottage' as Maria preferred to call it, was not a large dwelling and when friends or cousins stayed over little sleep was had.

A clear photo of the house itself doesn't exist, although Ernest's attempts to sketch the place give a good likeness to the few faded images that do exist.

Railway View, an unfinished sketch by Ernest Goodridge.

Railway View and signal box c.1900.

Railway View, Christmas morning 1914.

Maria and Annie at the Gatehouse front door.

The gatehouse must have had a sizeable garden as Ernest and John were often required to work in it, even before breakfast. They were growing their own vegetables as one entry in the diary for October 1910 describes Ernest 'digging potatoes all afternoon'. Other outdoor tasks undertaken by Ernest included 'Carting manure for father instead of going for a walk', and 'helping to kill the pig', a duty he didn't much care for.

The Goodridges utilized every bit of land they could, even using the strip of land alongside the railway line for cultivation.

Ernest working in the gatehouse garden.

William and Maria in the garden of 'Rose Cottage', 1911.

After Railway View

When Ernest turned 21 in April 1913, the family left Railway View. With William now in his sixties he was presumably retired from his work on the railways and the gatehouse would have been needed for the next controller of the crossing.

The family moved to number 30 Bentley Road, where William and Maria would see out their final years. Little is written about their time there, except when it was mentioned in letters that they had considered letting the two front rooms out to a Sergeant's wife when times became tough, but the fact that the lady had a cat and a dog put Maria off that idea.

Following the death of her parents in 1919, Ruth and her husband Harry Sharpe moved into 30 Bentley Road.

Harry Sharpe (Ruth's husband) at 30 Bentley Road c.1935.

Railway Children

For the Goodridge children the railway was their playground and they liked nothing better than to visit Mr Lambley in the signal box across the line. It was usually the last port of call in the evening for John and Ernest. They loved spending time in the cosy retreat of the signal box, even if Mr Lambley didn't always appreciate their frequent visits. On one occasion John pulled a lever too soon and created an 'incident'. On another Mr Lambley wanted them to go home, but they 'would not'.

Bentley signal box.

The Lambleys, Joseph and Louisa, lived on Bentley Road with their four children, all contemporaries of the Goodridge children. Their son John was a particular friend of Ernest's and he appears in many of the group photos of outdoor activities and outings.

Sunday School picnic at Burghwallis Stackyard, John Lambley is far right with Ernest to his left.

The Lambleys weren't the only railway friends of the Goodridges, the Beverleys of Marsh Lane Gatehouse, Arksey, were an elderly couple who were like grandparents to the Goodridge children. 

Marsh Lane Gatehouse was up the line from Arksey Station, on the Doncaster to York line.

Mr and Mrs Beverley at Arksey Gatehouse (centre).

John Henry Beverley (1848 - 1909) and his wife Mary Hannah (1844 - 1917) kept the Marsh Lane Gatehouse through the first decade of the 20th century. John was a distinguished Afghan War Veteran who had served with the 92nd Gordon Highlanders. He served for eleven years in India, was a one-time bodyguard to Queen Victoria and fought in the first Boer War. After returning home he took employment with the Midland and Great Northern Railway. He married Mary Hannah Umpleby in 1882 in Manningham St Paul.

John Henry Beverley.

Following John's death in 1909, Mary Beverley moved into the Arksey Almshouses and many Class Meetings of the small Arksey Wesleyan Society were held there.

The Goodridge boys delighted in the company of the Beverley's, holding Mr Beverley in high esteem. After his death, their devotion to Mrs Beverley was akin to that of a grandmother. After the boys left home, Mrs Beverley was considered a priority visit when on home leave.

Family Friends

The Goodridge family had quite a wide circle of friends, probably down to their connections with the Wesleyan community, but also through the Goodridge children's school life too.

Many of the friends feature in memories of activities and outings that Ernest recorded, so it is worth taking a moment to introduce a few of them.

The Marshes

Anyone who has read my article William Marsh, Son of a Miller, Friend of a President,will already be familiar with the Marsh family. The Marshes, headed by John Marsh (1794 - 1880), worked the Finkle Street corn mill for decades. The famous son of John Marsh was William (1826 - 1912). His incredible life story is told in the aforementioned article, which includes his life in America, becoming a close friend to Abraham Lincoln and actually aiding his rise to the Whitehouse. William did return to Bentley to live out his later years, but Ernest doesn't mention him in his diaries.

Marshes Mill c.1900.

The branch of the Marsh family the Goodridges knew best was the family of Thomas Cockin Marsh (1847 - 1936). Tom was the youngest son of the elder John Marsh and half-brother to William. When his father died, Tom took over the running of the Finkle Street mill. His children from his second marriage to Mary Barbara Baker, John Bertram 'Bert' and Constance Baker 'Connie', were good friends of the Goodridge children.

The photo below is of Bert Marsh's wedding to Alice Nicholson in December 1913 and shows quite a few of the people mentioned above.

Left to right, Tom C Marsh, Ernest, Miss Cliff, John Goodridge, Mrs Beverley, Bert, Alice, Emily Trippett (housekeeper to TC Marsh), Charlotte Marsh (William Marsh's widow, aunt of Bert), Miss Beilby. Seated, Flo Peace, Connie Marsh and 'Master Marsh'.

Miss Cliff was one of the grand daughters of another of Tom's brothers, John (1822 - 1899). Miss Beilby was a friend of the Marshes and Flo Peace was a good friend of both families (see below).

The Peace Family

Joseph Peace, his wife Elizabeth and their three children, Florence 'Flo', Arnold Ross, Leonard and Samuel Eric moved to Bentley from Heanor in Derbyshire around 1909. They lived at 89 West End Avenue and Joseph worked at Bentley Pit.

A year younger than Ernest, Flo Peace was one of his greatest friends and one time love interest.  

Flo Peace (left), and Hilda Gallop.

Of her brothers - Leonard was killed in 1915, Arnold, was killed in October 1918, while Samuel married Gertrude Ashworth and lived on Finkle Street. In the 1920's Samuel (sometimes listed as 'Eric') went into partnership with the Marshes at the corn mill, which was renamed 'Marsh and Peace'.   

The Lambert Family

Richard Lambert, his wife Ellen and their three children, Gertrude (Gertie), Bernard and Edgar lived at 41 Watch House Lane. Richard was a foreman wagon builder at Bentley pit, Ellen was a retired teacher, and Gertie an assistant school mistress. Bernard, who was a close friend of Ernest's and the same age, was a junior draughtsman at the colliery, while Edgar was a joiner's apprentice (information 1911 census).

Ernest and Bernard Lambert, c.1914.

Bernard, a fellow pupil of Ernest's at Doncaster Grammar School, joined the fighting in France before Ernest and they appear to have met up at a Wesleyan Parade in July 1916, on the Ploegsteert Front. Bernard survived the War and died in 1962. His brother Edgar was not so lucky and died of his wounds in December 1917. 

Church

Wesleyan Chapel, Bentley High Street.

Church played an enormous part in the life of the Goodridges. As mentioned earlier, William took Classes for the Wesleyan Chapel, but the boys were also heavily involved with church activities. John had various roles within the church such as Secretary and Vice-President. Ernest meanwhile was occupied with the social and literary sections of the church, and taking on the role of Sunday School Secretary. Even Annie had involvement on a committee level.

Bentley Wesley Guild Syllabus, 1908 - 09.

While the Bentley chapel was their primary place of worship, excursions to other Wesleyan places of worship provided a little variety. Priory Place Church and the chapel at Oxford Place in Doncaster were visited on occasion, but they also liked to visit smaller chapels, such as the tiny chapel at Arksey, which was of particular interest to John and Ernest, who helped the formation of a Sunday School there. The chapel was located in one end of the Old Smithy near All Saints Church until a purpose built chapel was erected on Station Road.

The Old Smithy/Chapel, Arksey in 1992.

Church routine took up most of the week and sometimes it would seem that they spent as much time at church as at home.

Sundays would consist of morning and evening services with Classes, and afternoon Sunday School. The rest of the week was taken up with 'Guild Night' - Mondays, except in the summer months, 'Class Night' - most Tuesdays, held in church or in homes under a lay pastoral leader (such as William). Mid-week saw various types of meetings and rehearsals (in season). John and Ernest were loyal attendees, Ernest especially to his father's Class. An added attraction for the Goodridge boys was the abundance of young ladies at these gatherings.

  

Church Activities c.1906.

Ernest was apt to make judgements in his diaries on the performances of the various preachers whose services he attended. Comments such as, 'not bad', 'better than expected', and 'very dry', were often noted. Even his own brother did not escape comment when he became a Probationer Minister. Recording his thoughts on a sermon John preached in October 1909, Ernest writes: 

'John preached in morn but too strong on money Grubbers'. 

Rev. Richard Idwal Hopwood MA, Bentley Wesleyan Minister 1909 - 1912

On another occasion John was preaching a trial sermon at Barnby Dun Chapel in March 1910. It was carried out in the presence of an ordained minister, in this case Rev. Hopwood of Bentley Chapel. Ernest's comment about this was brief: 

'John preached Trial Sermon at Barnby Dun, Mr Hopwood made mincemeat of him'.

Bentley Wesleyan Chapel, April 1911.

Sunday School

In December 1909 Ernest was appointed Assistant to one of the Executive Committee members, Tom Brownlow. As Secretary it was a position of responsibility that extended to every part of the church as well as the Sunday school. Even with help, the work-load was heavy, and after two years in the position Ernest confessed that the secretaryship was 'killing work'. 

Bentley Wesleyan Sunday School Primary Department staff, 1914.

There were around 230 children with about 30 staff, and accommodating them was an ever present problem. In 1911 eight classes were meeting in the schoolroom alone, each class having ten to fourteen scholars. Accommodation was rented from the Infant's school for some years, and plans to extend the Sunday school building were shelved more than once. The extension wasn't actually built until 1933. Ernest's brother John came to lay a foundation stone in memory of those who had fallen in the Great War.

John Goodridge laying a memorial foundation stone at the new extension to the Wesleyan School, 1933.

Aside from the hard work of Secretary, Ernest recalled many enjoyable picnics and outings he organized, or helped organize for the Sunday school.

Walking party on Dock Hills Bridge, Ernest (left on bank), April 1914.

One of the favoured picnic places to go was the Dock Hills area east of Bentley, where a bridge (pictured above) marked the end of the Mill Stream and joined Bentley Ings Drain along Bentley Bank. The bridge is now no more than a few stones on the ground. 

Remains of Dock Hill Bridge 1995.

Ernest seemed to enjoy the company of the younger children on these outings to Dock Hills as he remembers in his account of a picnic in early September 1910:

'Picnic to ruins, Dock Hills Lane. Had an extra time. I the only male. Moscow [the dog] with us - about 20 children there besides Annie [his sister], F[lo] [Peace] and A. Memb...[?]. No slackness of fun. All gaity. Little Hilda my care and sweetheart during the afternoon. Made tea in approved picnic style. Fine sight all children round cloth set on the emerald green. Had to give them all a ride on my back. Oh the happy day - coming home in the twilight - the day giving place to night amongst the innocent bairns.' 

Map of 1907 showing Common Lane (centre) to Dock Hills and the bridge in photo above.

Enjoyable as these excursions were, they didn't always go smoothly as in Ernest's description of a children's picnic on the 7th of September 1911:

'Children's picnic down Common Lane. Fine hot afternoon. Over 30 turned up. Mr. Ryder lent us Donkey and tub. Took Moscow [the dog] with us. Quite a large happy family. Lily my little flame there pretty lassy. Ben Flint and Leonard there. Florrie, Annie... Miss Hollings there. Harry Ryder gave them rides in trap. Many of children paddled in spite of our ORDERS.

Too many to keep them in order. Our difficulty was water. Nippers crying out for it all the time. Only able to allow them 1/2 inch of a mug. Annie and Ethel went to Arksey to get more. Boiling two kettles and two Billy Cans rather large order. Had a good time however on the whole. Stayed until nearly dark then lost donkey for time. HAPPY recollections will remain.' 

August Bank Holiday outing to Burghwallis, 1913. Ernest seated 2nd from left at front.

For longer excursions Burghwallis was a favourite destination, where picnic tables would be set up in a farm stackyard. Bert Marsh or his father would provide horses and drays to transport around thirty people to the village. Of one such picnic in 1913 Ernest writes:

'We held a novel Wesley Guild outing on August Bank Holiday to Burghwallis. Mr J.B. Marsh kindly lent us two horses and drays for the occasion. On each dray we were able to fix three forms, accommodating a party of fifteen or sixteen on each dray. Taking our food, we travelled in this old fashioned way along the Askern-Road, turning to our left by Owston Park and returning at night through Skellow, Carcroft, Adwick and home.

In our journey many people seemed to be attracted and highly amused at seeing young people who should have a lively sense of propriety riding like children upon drays.

Nevertheless, we were out for a day of pure enjoyment, and we got it in spite of our departure from conventionalities.

Burghwallis lent itself admirably to our ideals, and we would recommend it to any other Guilds as being a very suitable and pretty place.

Our thanks are due to Mr. Scurrah, who so kindly lent us a field and boiled our water, besides other numerous offices which went to make the day a complete success.' 

Burghwallis picnic, Ernest cutting a large loaf of bread under his arm, T.C. Marsh peering around him.

Sometimes the trips further afield required taking more formal transport than a horse and dray, for instance, a picnic to Brocadale woods (written by Ernest as Broc-o-dale, now Brocadale Nature Reserve), near Little Smeaton in 1914, which required taking the train from Arksey Station to Norton.

Trips to Sprotborough were taken by barge along the River Don, for which Ernest was responsible for arrangements including accident insurance cover. The barge would board and later, disembark at the old iron St Mary's bridge near the Three Horse Shoes public house.

Returning Sunday School picnic party by barge from Sprotborough, to disembark at St Mary's Bridge, July 1913.

The Countryside

The Bentley that Ernest knew was much more rural than it is today, with long, tree lined lanes connecting the surrounding villages. Special places like Castle Hills, Radcliffe Moat, Jossey Lane pond, Daw Wood and the Willow Garth were particularly favoured for adventures. 

Children at Castle Hills c.1900.

The corn harvest was a fascinating diversion for Ernest, from the cutting of the corn, to building 'stooks' from the sheaves, and to their eventual removal to the farm stackyards where they would be stored until the following January. The threshing drum would tour the farms early in the year, hauled behind a heavy traction engine to complete the operation of separating the corn from the straw. Stack yards were however, a potential fire hazard. Ernest recalls one such fire in Arksey:

'Fire at Elwesses Stacks. awfully grand.'

William Elwess was farmer at Brook House Farm, near to Arksey church in the early 1900's.

Traction engine at Elwesses farm, Arksey, 1907.

Walking was a chief pastime in the early years of the 20th century, and despite the arrival of the tram systems in 1902 everyone still regarded walking as the usual way of getting anywhere, whether for business or pleasure. 

Tram near Chapel Street.

The countryside provided pleasant walks and places for adventure, and the Goodridge children didn't have to go far to reach these places.

Nearby, Pipering Lane and Watch House Lane were both undeveloped and stretched across fields before reaching the Great North Road.

Sketch by Ernest Goodridge of Pipering Lane, looking west from the Gatehouse, 1907. Handwritten notes were added by his brother John.

The woods on Pipering Lane provided sport for the boys. Annie recalled in a letter of 1917 how Ernest would stand her next to a tree so he could use her shoulders as a step-ladder. John would later recall how he and Ernest went to see woodcutters felling trees in the 'old familiar wood'. That was 1908 and Pipering Lane would soon become part of the extended village.

Ernest up an Elm tree in Pipering Lane, 1902.

Felled trees in Pipering Lane.

Pipering Lane wasn't the only part of Bentley undergoing change in 1908 - 10. The north end of Bentley was gradually being invaded by the new colliery. Much loved places that Ernest and his friends frequented, such as Daw Wood, were gradually being overshadowed by heavy industry. Ever curious, Ernest paid at least one visit to the pit, of his visit he writes:

'Round Pit - what rushing hurrying busy place - Thankful we live at the quiet end.'

Bentley Pit 1911.

Bentley had its fair share of 'characters' over the years, and one of those whose tales captivated Ernest was one Jimmy Clarke, whose stories were part of Bentley village lore.

Ernest recalls two of Jimmy's tales in his 1912 diary. One was about a donkey race held on Watch House Lane in 1863. There were fourteen entrants who were required to negotiate obstacles such as hurdles and a water splash. The prize was five shillings and Jimmy won. In the second story Jimmy recounted his prowess in rounding up and penning stray cattle. He claimed that in his time he had rescued and penned more than three thousand animals. It was rumoured in the village that Jimmy (who was probably paid for each animal he caught), was adept at letting the animals out in the first place.

The pinfold where Jimmy Clarke probably penned all the animals he rounded up. Adjacent to Marsh's Mill on Finkle Street.

Walking for pleasure seemed to be a pastime enjoyed at any time of the day, but during the working week this was often carried out in the early morning or evening, with moonlight walks especially alluring. 

Routes taken were either long or short; short routes included Bentley Road, on to York Road, sometimes extended to the Roman Rig, and then back via Watch House Lane.

A favoured longer walk was along the mill stream to Arksey and back. This walk could also be extended. In December 1909 Ernest writes: 

'Went walk with John. Followed Mill Dyke to river Don and Sandall. Came home by Arksey. Looked in at Mrs Beverley.' 

Arksey c.1900.

In April 1911 Ernest recalls a moonlight walk: 

'Went for a moonlight walk at night with Bernard [Lambert] down mill stream. Beautiful night. Awfully weird. Night owls screeching. ducks quacking. Very skeery [scary] and funny.'

Bridge over the mill stream 1910.

Excursions further afield included walks to Cusworth Park. An entry in Ernest's diary for July 1910 reads: 

'John and I went long walk - Doncaster, Newton, Sprotborough Park and home. Got lost in Cusworth Park. Beautiful part. Saw deer and wild ducks'. 

Deer in Cusworth Park, 1916.

On another occasion in September 1911 Ernest writes:

'After Sacrament, the undaunted three, i.e. Ben [Flint], Leonard [brother of Ben] and I had walk to Cusworth Hall and back. Moon out again, a grand companion.'

A month later Ernest writes:

'Went walk with Wilf Hollings to Cusworth. Got in the thick of some duck shooting at young Battie Wrightsons. The firing was going sharp. quite a brisk pace. All passing for sport.'

Cusworth Park 1910.

While Ernest and his friends enjoyed walking very much, there was only so far you could comfortably go in a day, however cycling opened up many more destination possibilities for the friends.

With a bicycle it was suddenly possible to reach such places as Barnby Dun, Kirk Sandall, Thorpe in Balne, Kirk Bramwith, Braithwaite and Trumfleet. Even places such as Whitley Bridge, Hensall, Epworth and Sandbeck were within reach. Of these rides out Ernest recalls in September 1911:

'Ben, Leonard and self went for ride at night. Exquisite night. Its grandeur was magnificent. Moon at the full. Air cool and fresh and fragrant, spicy and sharp. Ideal for such a ride. Askern, Sutton, Burghwallis, Red House, Brodsworth and home. All enjoyed it to the full.'

Burghwallis c.1908.

Messing About in Boats

With plenty of streams, dykes, ponds and not to mention the river Don all within easy reach, it's not surprising that the Goodridges and their friends used these water filled places for their own adventures.

Jossey Lane pond c.1900.

Jossey Lane pond lies in a triangle of land between the Doncaster - Wakefield railway line, a disused railway line and Jossey Lane. The pond provided Ernest with a winter sketching opportunity in January 1907 as he records in his diary:

'Went to Jossey Pond and took a sketch. Very cold'.

Getting on the water was certainly more adventurous as Ernest recalls the time his friend Bert Marsh bought a canoe. The Mill stream near the Marsh property was ideally placed for some memorable escapades.

Bert Marsh in his canoe on the Mill stream, just going under Cooke Street Bridge.

Bert acquired his canoe in February 1910, a few days later Ernest recorded this in his diary:

'Chopped sticks for Mrs Spurr. Went to Bert's at night to try canoe... Paddled gently downstream... about 40 yards down capsized. Wet through. Canoe floated down stream - buffet - cushions etc. Went to bed in Bert's hut - got me some clothes. Togged up in knee breeches - fished canoe out. Paddled it back - risky job...'.

Obviously not put off by capsizing in the chill of February, two days later Ernest records this next excursion:

'Took canoe other side of Mill. fixed sail up. We went like lightening through bridges at a tremendous rate on for about a mile - and then alas - Smash we were over in the water. Struggled to land - wet as rats - canoe nearly full of water. [At the Marsh home] Flo [Peace] there - Bert lent me togs. Stayed tea - Had a glorious time. Best night ever spent for some time. Flo drying trousers, shirt etc. - awful - mother cross'.

Risking the wrath of his mother once again, Ernest recalls another trip two days later:

'Met Bernard [Lambert] at night and sallied forth. Water had been turned off at Mill. Got stranded in the middle. Ben and Bert laughing at us. Took canoe other side of Mill and off we went - Bernard paddling and I steering. Went along fine one and a half miles. Bert walked along side of stream. Hard to get back. Had rough time past bushes etc. and against wind and current. Got it back at last nearly dead. Pulled him ashore with difficulty. Clothes a mass of mud. Home at 10.30. Annie / Ma met me'. 

Just what his mother made of all the muddy clothes Ernest doesn't say, but it seems he wouldn't be put off boats easily. Ernest and John recall many trips out on the river, rowing to Strawberry Island, close to town or further away to Sprotborough, Thorpe-in-Balne and even Conisbrough.

The Willow Garth Boat

The boat on the Willow Garth, 1907.

In 1907 when Ernest was fifteen and John eighteen, the boys spent a pleasurable six months occupied with a boat at the Willow Garth in Arksey (a stretch of water near to the Beverley's Gatehouse, now a fishing pond).

In May of 1907 the Goodridge boys visited Squire Chadwick at Arksey Hall  to ask for permission to raise a sunken boat from the water of the Willow Garth. Two weeks later they got the boat out of the water 'with a lot of bother'.

Annie, Cousin Edith and Ernest on the Willow Garth boat,  September 1907.

Over successive visits they cleaned and painted the boat, and the Beverleys allowed them to heat some tar on their kitchen fire so they could tar the bottom of it.

The rest of the summer was spent among the willows and reeds of the pond, enjoying what John would later refer to as 'golden time'.

Bert Marsh, Ernest and a friend, 1907.

Unfortunately the boat didn't survive, it is said that some village boys holed the boat and it was sunk once more. After that the Goodridges never visited Willow Garth again.

Scouting

Ernest's love of outdoor pursuits led him to take up scouting with the Bentley Scout Troop, which met almost every Saturday night. Camping was a favourite part of scouting activities and nights under canvas were often favoured over a night in his own bed. This was especially true when, in May 1910 Ernest bought his own tent. It was erected in the orchard next to the Bentley Gatehouse and Ernest meant to sleep out all summer long, expecting his brother John, or other willing friends to join him. 

John in the tent, June 1910.

The first night in the tent proved eventful as it had been raining all day. John refused to sleep in the tent so Ernest persevered on his own. It poured down all night and by 5am the water was leaking in above the bed. Undeterred, the tent stayed up and became the focus of some fun times.

In late June 1910 Ernest recalls a photo call at the tent with friends:

'Aft. had Gladys, Connie [Marsh] and Dorothy at tent - taking photos - Posing in different attitudes... they acted a treat. No laughing - Had a grand time developing photos.'

Gladys, Connie and Dorothy June 1910.

Permanent scout camps could be found in Sprotborough and Bentley. My Ryder's field was home to one such camp; Harry Ryder generously lent both his field, which was probably located down Common Lane, and his pony and trap, used for rides by the Sunday School children.

Bentley scout camp in Ryder's field.

In 1909 Ernest was appointed as Patrol Leader and, along with his father, established a new camp in a field belonging to Mr Forrington in Jossey Lane. John Hughes Forrington (1850 - 1909) was a Bentley farmer and one-time chairman of the Parish Council and Treasurer of Bentley Wesleyan Chapel Trust. Mr Forrington died shortly after offering the site for the scout camp, and Ernest commented that his death was a great loss to the village.

An Infirmary Demonstration held in Forrington's field, 1910.

Sports and Pastimes

Ernest had a wide range of interests, he took part in sports such as football, hockey, wrestling and boxing, and also gentler pursuits like sketching, clay modelling and other miscellaneous crafts.

In 1909 he bought himself a pair of boxing gloves and although his spars were mostly friendly, he did find himself taking part in more serious fights. Some of the fights involved men from the nearby collieries, one such entry in his diary of August 1909 recalls:

'Awful row between colliers. Frickley chap nearly killed.'

However, things took an even more serious turn less than a month later, when Ernest records:

'Man killed in Common Lane while fighting.'

While the boxing could turn ugly, wrestling was always enjoyed and was an accepted sport at scout camp. Recording a win in 1909, Ernest writes:

'Won at wrestling. Boss lent gown.' 

Ernest enjoyed a range of arts, from calligraphy and illumination to sketching places he loved. Some of his artistic creations have survived, such as these sketches of Arksey Church and St Peter's Church.

East end of Arksey Church, sketch by Ernest Goodridge 1907.

St Peter's Church, sketch by Ernest Goodridge, 1909.

Grammar School and Beyond

 

Following an early education at the Cooke Street School in Bentley Ernest entered the Doncaster Grammar School, but unlike his brother John, who attended the school for six years and stayed on until he was over eighteen, Ernest left after three years in 1906, at the age of fourteen.

Doncaster Grammar School, Thorne Road.

Like John, Ernest had obtained a Minor Scholarship allowing him a Grammar School education. Ernest gained at least one prize during his time at the school. He was a reluctant scholar but the school remained one of his 'go to' places when in town.

Doncaster Grammar School chemistry lab, c.1902.

Burgess and Dawson's

In January 1907 John Goodridge wrote in his diary:

'Went to town with Ernest to see Solicitor Burgess about situation for Ernest'. 

Ten days later he reports:

'Ernest starts business at Mr Burgess' Solicitor'.

Ernest's entry in his diary for the same day reads:

'Started business, v. easy start.' 

The Solicitor, Edwin Ernest Burgess had an office in St George Gate, Doncaster. He would probably have met Ernest through the Wesleyan Church as he was a member of the Priory Place Church and would have known Ernest's cousins who attended the Oxford Place Church.

St George Gate, Doncaster.

Although office work was not demanding, Ernest was required to learn shorthand. At first he attended classes with a Mr Pickering, but by 1909 he was required to sign on at the Technical School. Unenthusiastic at this arrangement, Ernest wrote:

'In morning went to see Mr. Eagles at Tech. School and signed my death warrant for 3 nights a week'.

Ernest made slow progress and according to his diary 'did very badly in Shorthand Exam'.

Despite the problems with shorthand, Ernest progressed to study for an Articleship after five years at the firm. An exam for his Oxford Junior seems to have been postponed from March 1911 to February 1912; at this Ernest seemed to be relieved to have an 'easier summer'. 

Ernest at the door of Burgess and Dawson's office 1906.

Ernest's work with Burgess and Dawson was varied; at times he would find himself taken away from the office to serve summons notices and examine deeds in places such as Brodsworth, Beverley, Wisbech and Luddington (near Crowle). These trips out were often enjoyed but in the case of the Luddington trip, not so:

'Went to Luddington via Crowle to serve - with writ. Couldn't catch him... Dodging about Luddington all day - it was misery. Went to Garthorpe Shore. Tide was down - wild place - Trent very wide. Wandering around like a lost sheep. Miserable day.'

Mr Hood

One person who seemed to feature intimately in Ernest's life from about 1909 was Albert G. Hood. Mr Hood was from Newcastle and founder of The Shipbuilder and Marine Engine Builder magazine. He gave two lectures in November 1909, one in Bentley and one at the tiny Arksey Chapel:

'Hurried home - went to Arksey. Gentleman gave description of Mauritania'.

Shipbuilder magazine.

Over the course of the next three years, Mr Hood, a lonely man who had lost a leg in his youth, befriended Ernest to the point that he pressed William to allow him to adopt Ernest as his own son. William declined. 

Drafts of correspondence sent to Mr Hood fill one of Ernest's diaries and demonstrate the closeness of their relationship.

Further to this close personal relationship, Mr Hood was instrumental in making possible Ernest's Articleship by becoming his benefactor and easing his financial difficulties. In that respect Hood kept a close eye on Ernest's professional progress. 

Following Ernest's death Albert Hood kept a friendship with John Goodridge and his family, and it was only revealed seventy or so years after Ernest's death that Hood, who lived in Stocksfield, Northumberland, dressed his village cenotaph in poppies every Remembrance time, in memory of his great friend. Albert Hood died in 1942.

Stocksfield cenotaph.

And So To War... 

 

A cloth-bound scrapbook which Ernest kept showed his interest in war. Newspaper cuttings of war stories, articles and photographs provide a jumbled view of what was happening as war broke out.

On the 4th of August 1914 Ernest simply recorded in his diary:

'WAR DECLARED.'

Very soon, men that Ernest was close to started joining up, among them his good friend Bernard Lambert. 

While life continued as normal for Ernest, reminders of war were not far away. The arrival of soldiers in Bentley brought excitement and Ernest cheerfully recorded the event in a letter to his brother that November, describing their billet at the Cooke Street school:

'...Fancy the old pillars toddling up to the Schools at night and finding the 'sacred ground' being rioted by the singing of ragtimes, dancing clog-steps, and the smoking of Woodbines - the appearance being far more like a tap-room than a school room, but the soldiers appreciate it and there are some very fine fellows among them...'

Despite Ernest's interest in the War and soldiering he took his time in deciding to join up. Throughout 1915 his sense of duty was never far away. In writing to John about a proposed holiday on the Norfolk Broads he states:

'If we do not take the opportunity now, it may NEVER offer itself again - in these stirring times one never knows what a year may bring to us in the way of breaking up of social circles etc.'

The question of enlistment was pressing upon Ernest although he was still having doubts. In a letter of July 1915 to one of the soldiers he had got to know when billeted at Bentley, he writes:

'I do not see my way clear to join as yet and must follow the dictates of my conscience in all things...'

'Shall I Enlist?' Counsel for young Christians c.1914.

A verse penned in Ernest's diary shows the awareness he has that the decision he has to make cannot be reversed:

Consider well your action  

What's done you can't recall

When once you've pulled the trigger

You cannot stop the ball. 

The turning point seems to have come when a senior Sunday School colleague, Sergeant John Ogley died in a French hospital in September 1915. Writing to his brother at the end of October he raises the subject of his decision to enlist once again:

'It is up to such as me to see that English freedom is never stained by the blotch of conscription.'

Conscription seemed to the very worst thing that could happen to Ernest, for him the very idea of being forced into fighting for his country was something his pride would not allow. He wanted to be in control of his decision and to join the cause because of a deep sense of duty, rather than have the decision taken out of his hands. He mentions his feelings on it once again when writing of his final decision to Albert Hood in early November 1915:

'...I have given the matter very careful consideration before finally deciding to take the step. Now the greater call has come. I am sure you will agree with me when I say that it is up to every young man to see to it that the Question of Conscription shall never be pressed nearer home than it has been already. Without wishing to slight our allies, we are men of freedom and liberty for which our fathers have shed their life's blood and we English can never brook anything in the form of compulsion.' 

On the 12th of November Ernest writes to his brother John to give him the news he has enlisted, along with his friend Will Long in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps.

Doncaster area volunteers taken at Gidea Park, Essex or Andover. Ernest, front row left, Will Long left back, standing, John Lambley, front row, third from left.

Ernest began his military training on the 27th of November at Gidea Park in Essex, and after less than three weeks there he was posted to the 23rd (Reserve) Battalion KRRC stationed at Andover, Hants. He was part of a scheme that incorporated recruits into an army reserve and could be called up to the ranks at any time.

The next few months saw Ernest's Battalion move to various camps around the south of England, Banbury, Dosthill near Tamworth, and Wimbledon before the departure for France in late May 1916.

Ernest, front row, left. John Lambley, standing, second left. Will Long, standing, third left. John Lambley was the only one to survive of this 'Group of Seven'.

Ernest's last leave home took place over the Easter weekend, April 21st to the 25th. A cutting from the Doncaster Priory Place circuit magazine states:

'Easter Sunday proved a memorable day of real spiritual refreshment through the preaching of the Rev(d). G.H. Pickering and the Rev(d). R.J. Hutchinson. The institute members enjoyed the afternoon meeting, which was addressed by the Rev(d). R.J. Hutchinson and presided over by Lance-Corporal E. Goodridge.'

On May the 25th 1916 one hundred men of the 23rd Reserve KRRC made the crossing from Folkstone to Boulogne and from there on to a British training camp at Etaples. 

The stay at Etaples was short and on the 14th of June the reservists left for the Belgian Front at Ploegsteert to join the main (18th) Battalion. By 6p.m. that evening Ernest was in the Trenches.

His experiences of life in the Trenches is revealed in numerous letters and diary entries which would require more space than can be given here to do them full justice. 

Ernest remained at Ploegsteert until the 25th of August when the Battalion moved to The Somme. This is where Ernest witnessed 'A different kind of fighting'.

Ernest Goodridge 1916.

Again, his experiences, always upbeat, are told in the many letters home and through his briefer diary entries, his final letter of the 3rd of October to his family ends with the following prophetic post-script:

'My last word to my numerous and dear friends who have made Earth nothing short of Heaven for me many times. Christ is still the most precious possession in the world for me. Continue to serve Him until the Dawn.'

The man who had never lost his faith was killed in action, possibly in the early morning of the 4th of October 1916, while fighting near the town of Flers. 

The following letter sent to Ernest's mother Maria on the 17th of October by Chaplain A.N. Preston must have offered at least a crumb of comfort to the grieving family:

'Dear Mrs Goodridge, You will have heard by now of the death of Cpl. E. Goodridge of the 18th KRR. I am sure it will help you to know that on Oct. 13th I was able to get in his body and give him a decent Christian burial and put up a little Cross to mark his grave. Please remember that he died the noblest death a man can die and that, it is only his body that lies here in France, while his Soul, the real self you know and love has gone back to God who loves him.

May JESUS CHRIST who DIED for you, and knows what pain and sorrow mean, comfort you now in your time of sorrow.

Yours sincerely, A.N. Preston (Chaplain) att/20th King's Liverpool Regiment...' 

It is not known precisely where Ernest's grave lies, however the Imperial War Graves Commission indicated in a letter to John that he was buried just north of Flers.

Ernest is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

A Family's Grief

The news of the loss of their dear Ernest must have hit the Goodridge family very hard indeed. In his memoirs, John Goodridge writes:

'On Saturday morning (Oct 21st) when Rev[d]. Mark. H. Earl and his wife called to see mother who was very ill in bed, she insisted on his reading II Sam. I. the chapter which records the death of Saul and Jonathan. They tried to dissuade her from having it read but she insisted. Mr Earl could scarcely get through it for emotion but Mother remained strong and brave throughout. The passage which she especially wanted was verse 25 [23] 'Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided.' It appears that she was thinking of Ernest and his chum William H. Long and strangely enough a few days later news came to us that his chum had been killed in action shortly after Ernest. They were indeed 'lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death they were not divided.'

Mother's bravery and Father's triumphant faith have been a wonderful miracle of grace. I hurried home on Oct 21st almost expecting to find father prostrate but I found him serene and happy in God's Love. Several friends had called and he was in their midst comforting them and to me his face seemed to be radiant. God has given him grace and courage to cross the bridge now he has come to it. As I write this, he has gone upstairs to obtain something or to do some little duty but I can hear him pouring out his soul to God. His faith is unshaken. His feet are on the Rock. God's Peace fills his heart.' 

William Heathcote Long and Ernest Goodridge, 'lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death they were not divided.' They died within 24 hours of each other.

Bentley Wesleyan Church

The Roll Of Heroes

Pro Patria

The Names Of Those Who Have Been

Connected With

Bentley Wesleyan Church

Who Have Given Their Lives For Their Country

Leonard Peace. K.O.Y.L.I. June 1915

John H. Hope. K.O.Y.L.I. July 1915

John Y. Ogley. K.O.Y.L.I. September 1915

Ernest Goodridge. K.R.R. October 1916

William H. Long. K.R.R. October 1916

Bernard Seaton. K.O.Y.L.I. 1916

Edgar C. Lambert. R. [?.?] December 1917

Albert Windle. M.O.C. April 1918

Sidney Burgin. R.A.D.

George Grayshon. Y.L.I.

Allan O. Honeyphone.

Leonard Durrow. October 1918

Arnold Peace. October 1918

Ernest is also commemorated on a similar memorial at St Peter's Church, Bentley as a former bellringer, and at Doncaster Grammar School as one of the 'Old Danensians Fallen in the War 1914-1918.'

Ernest's Commemorative Scroll.

Ernest's medallion.

The Same Stars Shine

Star shells glare in the sky

It is a consolation to me that we have the

same verities as at home, the same stars shine

upon us the same moon the same sky smiles

upon us.

The book, The Same Stars Shine, was written, compiled and edited by Ernest N. Goodridge and John A. Goodridge. Ernest N. was the son of Jonathan Brooks Goodridge (Ernest's brother), and his nephew John A. is the son of Jonathan's son, Jonathan Francis (Frank). Sadly Ernest N. Goodridge passed away some years ago. 

To read more about Ernest's life and especially his War Diary and letters, the book'The Same Stars Shine' is available (used copies only) from Amazon. An online version of the full book will be available at a later date.

A Note on 'Railway View'

On receiving my copy of The Same Stars Shine I was surprised to find I had a personal link to Ernest's childhood home, Railway View. In 1946 my Grandfather began renting the land that Railway View had once occupied. He was a motor engineer and rented (later purchased) the land for his garage business, D.P. Breach and Son. The cottage had already been demolished when Grandad first set up his business there, but some of tiled flooring remained, hidden by undergrowth in the car park. I remember as a young girl in the 1960's being shown the tiles and my Grandad telling me about the railway cottage that used to stand there. 

To find out all these years later that my Grandad's, and later my Dad's land had a connection to such a powerful story was astonishing to me.

The full story of D.P. Breach and Son, the family business, is told here.  

My Grandad at D.P. Breach and Son in 1971.

Afterword

When I set out to write an article based on the book The Same Stars Shine I was intending to just pick up on Ernest's recollections of old Bentley and more or less review the book itself. However, once I started, I became so caught up in Ernest's life, and those of his family and friends that I couldn't leave anything out! His enthusiasm for life was captivating and he packed more into his short 24 years than most do in a full lifetime!

I am very grateful to Ernest, for writing all these experiences down. He lived at a turning point in Bentley's history, when rural life gave way to industry. Bentley would never be the same again and to have this insight into what it was really like in those gentler times is something to cherish. Throughout Ernest's correspondence no quotation turns up more than this one:

'Memory of things precious keepeth warm the heart.'

I for one think that is so true.

Ernest Goodridge 1892 - 1916

 

Written with the kind permission of John A. Goodridge, please note all photographs are copyright.

Alison Vainlo 2017

Bentley Workhouse

September 4, 2017, 1:59 pm

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'Old Workhouse' marked on an 1854 map of Bentley

'I Never Knew Bentley Had a Workhouse'

It is a little known fact that at one time Bentley had a workhouse. In fact if it wasn't for the existence of the 1854 map (above) with the 'Old Workhouse' clearly marked on it, I doubt whether any of us would be any the wiser about this building.

When I was recently approached for information on the said workhouse, I had to admit that I didn't have much to go on. But although there are no surviving records of this building, I was determined to find out as much as I could about why Bentley had a workhouse, when it might have been in operation and what conditions might have been like for those unfortunates forced to turn there for help, here is what I managed to find out.

Provision For The Poor

The Old Poor Law

To better understand how Bentley came to have a workhouse it is necessary to look at how these institutions came into being in the first place.

Poor relief in some form has existed since at least the fifteenth century. Various legislation and acts, including the 1601 Poor Relief Act were introduced mainly to deal with vagrants and beggars, forcing able bodied men to work for little reward. Some of these acts were brutal in their execution, sending men to the stocks or into slavery, more as a punishment for their low circumstances rather than assisting them in their time of need.

However, by the end of the sixteenth century the future of poor relief was taking a more charitable turn. The parish took over provision for the poor, collecting donations in a 'common box' to be used to support those in need. 'Overseers of the Poor' were introduced to ensure that the elderly, blind and lame were provided for in almshouses or poorhouses, while the able bodied were required to work or face the 'House of Correction' (prison).

The first workhouses were set up following the Knatchbull Act of 1723. Knatchbull's act allowed parishes to purchase or hire a house (or houses), for the purpose of providing lodgings and employment to poor persons. It was intended that the regime of these workhouses would act as a deterrent and only those in desperate need would be likely to accept the way of life there.

These workhouses were often run by a third-party contractor on behalf of the parish, who would be paid a weekly rate for each inmate. The contractor would provide the inmates with work and keep any income generated, a system known as 'farming' the poor.

By 1777 there were almost 2,000 parish workhouses in operation in England and Wales, with approximately one parish in seven running one. 

Unrest and rioting in the late 1820's

Further acts followed that of Knatchbull's, each one bringing in various  new amendments, but by the late 1820's there was growing dissatisfaction with the whole system. The landowners were burdened with having to pay a growing poor rate and there was unrest among the poor, which led to rioting and attacking poorhouses. In 1832 a Royal Commission review was appointed by the government to overhaul the whole poor relief system. 

The New Poor Law

Following the Royal Commission review of the poor relief system a new poor law amendment act was passed in 1834. The main change this new act brought about was to abolish poor relief for those living 'outside' the workhouses, and that parishes should group together to operate a workhouse with a central body to administer the system.

Parishes were absorbed into the new administrative units called Poor Law Unions. This allowed the parish run workhouses to close and for larger, purpose built workhouses to provide for the destitute in the nearest market town.

The Poor Law Unions were run by a locally elected Board of Guardians. Overseeing the Unions were the Poor Law Commissioners which set out every aspect of the way the workhouses were to be run.

Poor Relief in the Parish of Bentley and Arksey

As far back as the late 1500's, Dole Charities existed in the parish, and records exist of donations and applications for dole made over the following three hundred years or so. 

The Cooke family are probably the best known for their charitable actions toward the poor of the parish. In 1660 Sir George Cooke built twelve Almshouses at Arksey for the poorest and oldest people in the parish. This was probably the first 'hospital', as they were apt to be called back then, for the poor to be provided anywhere immediately north of Doncaster. However, this was no workhouse, each widow or pauper had their own dwelling plus an endowment of £5 each per annum for the rest of their lives. 

Arksey Almshouses entrance 1895

With the introduction of parish provision for the poor in the late 1600's, the parish got it's first 'Overseers of the Poor' in 1674. They would have been responsible for the poor, elderly, lame and infirm of the parish until the New Poor Law was passed in 1834 and the 'Poor Law Unions' took over from the parish, transferring their 'care' to central Doncaster.  

Doncaster Workhouses

Doncaster's first workhouse in a sketch of 1887

The first parish workhouse in Doncaster opened in 1730. It was in a house first built by Alderman William Pell in 1683 on land which used to belong to the old Carmelite Priory between High Street and Duke Street (in the area of the present day Priory Place).

Following the formation of the Poor Law Union in 1834 Doncaster became one of the 'centres' which would absorb over forty parishes and townships in the area. For this to be achieved a new site for a purpose built workhouse would have to be found. 

In 1837 the Poor Law Guardians purchased a two and a half acre site in Hexthorpe. This first Union Workhouse was built in 1839/40.

Hexthorpe workhouse (within red area) showing how close the railway had become

By the end of the 19th century the workhouse was becoming crowded out by the encroaching Plant and Railway works (see map above), so a new site was opened in 1900 at Springwell Lane, Balby. Ten times larger than the previous site, this new workhouse had capacity for 600 inmates, an infirmary, isolation hospital, laundry, lunacy wards and cottages for elderly couples.

Springwell Lane Workhouse in 1930

In 1913 workhouses were renamed Poor Law Institutions and in 1929 the government abolished the Poor Law Guardians meaning that provision for the poor fell to the council.

The Springwell Lane premises became 'Springwell House Public Assistance Institution' and was used as a local authority hospital which also provided accommodation for the destitute and 'mentally deficient'.

The poor quality of the accommodation prevented the building being taken into NHS use as a hospital, but they did take it over and use it for maternity and geriatric services in 1950's, renaming it the 'Western Hospital'. It was demolished in 1974 and the site was used for a primary school and housing.

Springwell Lane workhouse in 1900

Evidence for a Workhouse in Bentley

As we have noted above, perhaps the only clue to Bentley having a workhouse is in the 1854 map (above). The challenge was to find other evidence of this institution among written records. 

Bentley Hall

The 1854 map shows the workhouse lying in a sizable piece of land just off Mill Gate, and as the map describes the building as the 'old workhouse', we can be pretty certain that it pre-dates 1854.

The obvious starting point when looking for workhouse records is the census. Usually easily identified by the long list of 'inmates' within one property. It was quite straightforward to check the 1841 and 1851 census for these lists. However, when it was established none of the census records had any kind of workhouse records it was time to look elsewhere.

Previous research for the article William Marsh, Son of a Miller, Friend of a President had found mention of the workhouse. Mr Marsh, who was born in Bentley had lived for a number of years in America, becoming a good friend of Abraham Lincoln and working as a diplomat for him in Denmark. Once he returned to Bentley in 1868 William bought Bentley 'Old Hall' on 'Mill Street' (Gate) from the Wheatley Estate. The Hall was said to have once belonged to Sir Godfrey Copley of Sprotborough Hall, and that it was a former workhouse. Mr Marsh spent £500 on renovations (a considerable sum in those days) to make the house habitable for him and his family. They moved into the Hall in 1869 but by 1882 he left for a new position in Lancashire.

Sprotborough Hall

From this information it was established that the workhouse had once been housed in Bentley Hall and as it had once belonged to Sir Godfrey Copley, that pushed the age of the Hall back considerably. Sir Godfrey Copley was born in 1653 and died in 1709. He built Sprotborough Hall between 1685 and 1690, inheriting the title of Baronet from his father, also called Sir Godfrey, the first baronet in 1677. Copley was a major landowner in the area and was known to own lands in Bentley, including it seems, Bentley Hall. 

We can now safely assume the Hall was at least built in the early eighteenth century, or even in the late seventeenth century. 

Looking a little further Edward Miller describes 'the ruins of an old fabric, formerly called Bentley Hall, situated in the Mill Close.' This was in Miller's book The History and Antiquities of Doncaster and it's Vicinity, of 1804. To be a ruin in 1804 suggests a much earlier date for its building.

In fact the Hall was included in the Hearth Tax of 1672, so this pushes the date of the building even further back. But that isn't even the earliest reference to Bentley Hall; that is found in the parish registers. In 1634 Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Gill was buried at Arksey and the burial record mentions that she was 'of Bentley Hall'. The Gill family have records dating back to 1621 when an infant child of Thomas Gill's was buried. Not every entry mentions where they lived so we have no way of knowing how early their time at the Hall began. Then of course we cannot be sure that the Hall which existed in the early seventeenth century is the same building that became the workhouse. Old buildings were often torn down and replaced when they become too costly to maintain.

Bentley Hall does not have any other mentions in the parish registers so it is impossible to name any other occupants of the residence.

The Hall was finally demolished in the mid twentieth century and 'Old Hall Road' now runs across what would have been it's lands.

When Did the Hall become a Workhouse?

This is still a tricky question to answer without access to written records, but if we take all the clues found so far it is possible to take an educated guess at the most likely time-frame for the existence of the workhouse. 

• 1634 - Earliest reference to a Hall at Bentley
• 1672 - The Hall is included in the Hearth Tax
• 1674 - Overseers of the poor established in the parish
• Late 1600's - Sir Godfrey Copley owns the Hall
• 1723 - Knatchbull's Act allows workhouses to be operated by parishes.
• 1800's - The Hall is owned by the Wheatley Estate
• 1804 - The Hall described as a ruin by Edward Miller
• 1834 - New Poor Law Unions created
• 1837 - A new workhouse built at Hexthorpe
• 1841 - 1851 - No mention of 'inmates' on census records
• 1854 - 'Old Workhouse' shown on map
• 1868 - William Marsh buys the Hall and 'former workhouse'
• 1882 - William Marsh sells the Hall  
• Mid 20th century, the Hall is demolished 

Given what we have learned about the history of poor relief so far, it is safe to assume that Bentley's workhouse was a 'parish workhouse', not a 'Union workhouse'. In 1837 all those Bentley people requiring residential poor relief would have been moved to the new Union workhouse at Hexthorpe, which would account for there being no census records for inmates at Bentley.

The very earliest date that a workhouse could have operated in Bentley is from 1723, following Knatchbull's Act. So that leaves 114 years during which the workhouse could have existed. If we factor in the evidence from Edward Miller that Bentley Hall was a ruin in 1804, that means it must have been unoccupied for a considerable length of time. Interestingly, Miller makes no mention of the Hall ever having been used as workhouse up until then.

Therefore, the most likely time for the Hall to have been used as a workhouse must be after 1804, but before 1837. It is entirely possible that the parish, with a growing need for residential poor relief, rented the ruined Hall from the Wheatley Estate, paid for renovations to make it habitable and ran it as a workhouse until the new Poor Law Unions took over provision for the poor in 1837, in the new Hexthorpe property. 

Of course there is a level of guesswork here, and some may have other ideas about the dating of the workhouse, but taking all the evidence into account, this is probably the best conclusion we can hope to achieve.  

Workhouse Life and Conditions

So what would life have been like inside Bentley workhouse? Well, although we can't be certain of the hardships faced by the Bentley inmates, we can get an idea of their daily routines and the kinds of conditions they endured from the orders kept at Doncaster parish workhouse.

It is hard to say what the building itself would have been like, but as a former seventeenth century hall it would likely have been dark, despite the whitewashed walls, and quite sparsely furnished. There would have been up to ten beds in each room, depending on the size of the rooms. 

Those seeking poor relief from the workhouse were usually too poor, ill or old to support themselves. Unmarried pregnant women, thrown out by their families or those with mental problems often ended up in the workhouse too. Poor relief was not given to individuals within a family, it was usually a requirement that the whole family come into a workhouse together. 

On entering the workhouse, it was usual to wash or bathe and be given a uniform. The inmate's own clothes being put in the stores until their discharge.

Unlike Union workhouses where males, females and children all lived in separate blocks, there was less segregation in the smaller workhouse. Everyone ate together in a large dining hall, and families would assemble and follow the Master and Mistress to church services. 

The workhouse would have been run on a day to day basis by the Master and Mistress. They were overseen by the Governors, who would have final say on admissions and discharges. The Governors would meet weekly to discuss orders and regulations, and they would also carry out visits to the workhouse to inspect conditions and deal with any issues.  

Clean linens were provided once a week and clean bedding every three to four weeks. Children had their heads combed and faces washed each morning before either attending lessons or being cared for while their parents worked. 

In the summer half of the year (from 25 March to 29 September) inmates rose at five in the morning, worked from six a.m. until seven in the evening and were in bed by nine. While in the winter half of the year, they rose at six, worked from seven a.m. until four, and were in bed by seven.

Rules were harsh with restrictions on smoking and drinking, leaving the premises without permission, swearing, quarreling and even talking to outsiders on the walk to church. As for punishments, the Master and Mistress were not allowed to strike any of the adult inmates, but may use a rod on the children. Those adults who were disorderly were to be put in the 'dark hole' until the visiting Governor next did his rounds. 

Living in close quarters like this meant that disease was rife. Vermin and infestations caused all manner of fevers and illnesses and when infectious diseases, such a smallpox struck, mortality rates would be very high.

Food was simple and monotonous, most workhouses served up the same sort of fare day in, day out. To give an idea of what the inmates were living on here is a food list from Doncaster parish workhouse:

Morning
A quart of milk porridge (women a lesser proportion).

Noon
Meat, roots and pudding broth and bread, or pease pudding, hasty pudding or furmity (a dish of hulled wheat boiled in milk), and a mug of beer (beer was safer to drink than water).

Night
Bread and cheese and mug of beer.

The aim of the workhouse was to train and prepare the inmates for work outside upon their discharge, it also helped with the running of the premises. Women and girls of appropriate age would work in the kitchen, laundry and garden, where food was grown. Able bodied men would be required to carry out some labouring work such as, stone breaking (for use in road building), gypsum crushing (for making plaster), wood chopping, and oakum picking. Oakum picking involved teasing out fibres from old hemp ropes, which was then sold on to shipbuilders, mixed with tar and used to seal the linings of ships.

Workhouse women oakum picking

Discharge from the Workhouse

Despite the strict regime, the workhouse was not a prison and inmates could leave whenever they wanted. Inmates were not usually allowed to go out except in certain circumstances or to look for work. If they did abscond, they would be charged with theft of the workhouse uniform.

Usually notice of a wish to discharge from the workhouse would have to be given to the Governors. The process took a few hours, and their clothes returned to them from the stores. If a man with a family wanted to leave, his family would be required to leave too.  

The Closure of Bentley Workhouse

If, as we believe, Bentley workhouse was in operation in the early 1800's, then it is likely that it continued to operate until the new workhouse at Hexthorpe was built in 1837, following the passing of the New Poor Law in 1834.

Inmates of the Hexthorpe workhouse in the 1890's

Once Bentley's inmates had been transferred to the new Union workhouse the Bentley premises would have likely been closed immediately. 

Whether the building was occupied privately by anyone else in the intervening years before William Marsh bought it in 1868, we cannot be sure. The building is not named on the census records which makes it impossible to know.

Not Just Words on a Map

So, the 'Old Workhouse' is not just words on a map anymore. By looking at the history of the Mill Gate building, we discovered that it was once called Bentley Hall and built in the seventeenth century. We also found out about past owners and occupiers. The history of the poor laws gave an insight into when the Hall may have been used as a workhouse, and what type it was. We were also able to determine what workhouse life was like by looking at a similar workhouse in Doncaster. 

Today we look back on workhouses as demeaning, cruel places, with about as much freedom as a prison, however, if you and your family were starving and couldn't afford the rent on your cottage, then you would be glad of such help. Thankfully, we have much better social care these days and the suffering of the paupers of the past is now a distant memory.


Further reading:
Doncaster Workhouses
The History of the Workhouse by Peter Higginbotham


Alison Vainlo 2017

  

     

Coal in the Blood

January 30, 2018, 1:29 pm

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Bentley Colliery. Courtesy of Jill Lowe.

The Story of a Mining Family

Sometimes I come across something on Facebook and I know I just have to find a place for it on Bentley Village, A History. So when I spotted a post on the Looking Back At Doncaster group which detailed how one family depended on, and gave back to the coal mining industry, I just knew it needed to be shared. What made it all the more remarkable was that the story was the work of a ten year old schoolgirl.

A Job for Life

Coal mining was one of those jobs that instilled a certain pride among the workforce. Yes, they often hated the shift patterns, the heat, the dirt and the health risks, but mining was a good job. It was a hard job but it came with perks. It was (on the whole) fairly paid and once you were a miner, you had a job for life. Not only your life, but your sons and their sons too if they wanted it. Mining belonged to the miners and when it came under threat they fought hard to save it. 

Our country needed coal miners. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution it was recognized that automation needed fuel - lots of fuel, so the reliance on men risking their lives to obtain this fuel was crucial to keep the country going.

For over a century this country ran on coal, and with rich seams of it in Yorkshire. The Yorkshire coalfield attracted many mining companies to the area, so it came as a bitter blow in the early 1980's when the industry faced changes that would devastate the miners' livelihoods. The Miners' Strike of 1984-85 was bitterly fought but it couldn't stop the eventual closure of every single coal mine in the country. 

To today's generation of children, coal mining is something rarely encountered, and it seems sad that the industry is already fading into history. Therefore, it is so important to tell our children about the proud coal mining heritage their ancestors once had before it becomes confined to the history books.

The Hardisty History of Mining

Molly Hardisty was a pupil at Bentley High Street School in 2013 and was learning about coal mining. She knew her father Colin and many of her ancestors had worked in the mines so she asked her father to help her put together a piece on the Hardisty mining history. 

Colin was working voluntarily at the school on the day that Molly handed her work to the teacher. As the teacher read her work tears streamed down her face, much to the surprise of the rest of the class. The teacher made every one of the children read Molly's story and explained to them that stories like this were why we should never, ever forget what the coal mining industry did for our country.

This is Molly's story:

'My Dad Colin left school in May 1978 and started his training at Bentley Colliery on the 11th December, the same year. Only three weeks earlier seven men had lost their lives on an underground train (a paddy) accident. A close friend of Dad's, who was just 18 years old died in that tragedy.

Colin Hardisty in 1984

Grandma Hardisty begged him not to go to the pit but something just drew him down the pit.

Dad's eldest brother Les was at Bentley pit and had been there since the late sixties. When Bentley closed in 1993 he went to [the] Selby coalfield until the late 90's when he retired from mining.

Les Hardisty, brother of Colin

Also at Bentley was Dad's Uncle Lloyd, who was born in 1934 and started his mining career at Bullcroft Colliery in 1948. Moving to Bentley Colliery in the late sixties because of Bullcroft's closure, he retired in 1993 after nearly 50 years down the mines.

Lloyd (left) with other members of the Hardisty family

My Dad's mining career wasn't so long. 1984 brought the bitter year long miners' strike. Dad's staunch support of the strike and his activities on the picket line cost him his job and he was sacked in 1985.

My Grandad Les Hardisty also had a long mining career. He was born in 1930 and started at Bullcroft in 1946. when Bullcroft closed in the late sixties Grandad moved briefly to Brodsworth, then Bentley. In 1970 he had to retire from mining through ill health. He [had] given 38 years to the black stuff.

'Grandad' Les Hardisty with a young Colin

Great Grandad James was born in Cumbria in 1901 and worked at Aspatria Colliery from the age of 12. He and my Great Grandma came to Doncaster during the Great Strike of 1926, as his pit had shut. He worked at Bullcroft until ill health forced him out of the pit in 1962, the year of my Dad's birth. He didn't have long to enjoy his retirement as his lungs were severely damaged from all his years in the mine. He passed away in 1963, not even a year after he finished at the pit. He gave nearly fifty years to mining. 

'Great Grandad' James Hardisty

My 2nd Great Grandad John was born in Cumbria in 1881. He also worked at Aspatria Colliery from the age of 12. He also came to Doncaster during the Great Strike of 1926. He worked at Bullcroft Colliery until the end of the Second World War (1945). He died in 1952 having given 53 years of his life to [the] pit.

His father was William, born 1863, in Cumbria. He also worked at Aspatria Colliery from the age of 12. On the 13th of May 1884 he was caught in some machinery in the pit bottom. The report said he was mangled and died instantly. He was 19 years old and left a widow and two young boys.

William's father was John, born 1842 in Cumbria and also worked at Aspatria Colliery. He started work at ten years of age as a trapper (opening air doors underground).

A year after William's death John was buried by a massive fall of coal while he was hewing coal on the coal face. His workmates dug him out but he was too badly injured and died two days later, on the sixteenth of April 1885. He was 43 years old and had given 31 years and ultimately his life in the pursuit of coal. He left six children and a wife.

My Dad helped write and research this brief history of Hardisty mining, and as you have read, the price of coal has been costly to my ancestors.'

Molly Hardisty

As you can see from Molly's moving account, this one family were so dedicated to the coal industry that they clocked up 216 years of work between them over the course of around 145 years. Coal certainly ran in their blood as it must have in thousands of other families who worked for generations keeping the country running on the fuel they risked everything for. 

My thanks go to Molly Hardisty for her beautifully written piece, and to her Dad Colin Hardisty for allowing me to reproduce it here.

Alison Vainlo 2018

Let's Go To The Park

September 30, 2018, 1:04 pm

≫ Next: A History of Bentley Park and Pavilion

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Relaxing by the Lily Pond. Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

Memories of Bentley Park

In the previous article A History of Bentley Park and Pavilionwe looked at the history of the park, it's origins, features, decline and re-birth. In this sister article we hear first hand accounts of the memories made at Bentley Park. 

Following an appeal on my Facebook group Arksey & Bentley Bygone Years, members kindly posted or sent me their photos and memories of the park. I have collated all the comments and photos and present them here for you now. Also included are some photos of the park that didn't make the first article. Maybe these memories and photos will conjure up a few memories of your own?

Two Bentley Park postcards. Courtesy of Pat Cuckson

Words and Pictures

Original posts have been edited for errors and in some cases, split to fit the headings.

Happy Days in the Park 

'We spent hours there as kids. Walked from Arksey, paddled in the dyke, catching those tiny fish. Hours in the sand pits. Loved the tennis courts, oh and the fair. Very happy memories. Also had our wedding reception at the pavilion.'

Tina Southwell

In front of the paddling pool. Photo courtesy of David Buckley

'Our Nanna and Grandad lived in the OAP bungalows opposite the park. We, my brother and four cousins spent many happy hours in the park. We went alone, the older ones looking after the little ones. We played in some kind of brick shelter, it was a hospital, mission base, house... there was a road marked out, we played race cars and emergency services on it. We played in the sand pits... girls in one, boys in the other. We paddled in the pool, if we didn't have swim stuff we stripped to vest and pants! We 'talked' to the 'poor boy' who drowned in it and now lived under it, through the drain grate.  We drank water from the big stone fountain, the boys got water for us little ones in their hands. We caught sticklebacks in the stream. OMG I could go on, and on, and on! Sweetest memories of carefree days. Thank you for making me remember.'

Christina Barber-Callender

The brick shelter in a photo from David Buckley c.1969

'I lived on Trueman Street as a kid, so all my childhood was spent in the park. We were always the first to go in the clean paddling pool. We managed to be there in the morning when the park keeper was filling it up. I also remember playing 'Putting', it was 20p a go I think. I also remember the tap which you could drink from outside the old pavilion and toilets.'

Joanne Nicholson

The paddling pool. Photo courtesy of Brian Holling

'Virtually played in the park every day during the 60's and have lots of memories of it, but unfortunately no pictures. I remember Mr Jackson the park keeper who taught me how to play bowls when I was about 12 years old. Wish I had kept playing as I really enjoyed it. Also remember a small aeroplane/glider making an emergency landing on the big field where the paddling pool was situated. Think it was there for a couple of days before it somehow left.'

Graham Westerman

The sand pit early 1940's. Photo courtesy of Marilyn McElroy

'I used to regularly play tennis on the grass courts.'

Dean Learoyd

The Sand pits

'Remember the big roundabout called the 'Bobbies Helmet'. We could really get that going fast, and on some days used to bump it off. This was a regular occurrence done by most groups of lads hanging around the park in the 60's.'

Graham Westerman

The 'Bobbies Helmet' ride

'I remember going there to do my bike safety course, learning hand signals and the lot! I remember playing there, walking through it and smelling the lovely flower gardens... and being a bridesmaid for my Aunty and having the reception there.'

Edwina Brodziak 

Floral displays near the Askern Road entrance in the 1970's. Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'I remember when the band used to play in the bandstand on Sundays. Also the summer shows they put on in the tennis court. When we could play in the swimming (paddling) pool [and] also watch the men playing bowls.'

Maureen Smith

The Bandstand in the early 1950's. Photo courtesy of Joanne Smart

'The park has been of immense benefit to Bentley. Near the Askern Road gate was the park keeper's house, and behind it were greenhouses where he nurtured the plants for the lovely flowerbeds. Every night at dusk he used to lock all three entrances, and open them again at daylight. He cared for a wide domain; there were swings and seesaws at the Cooke Street end, a goldfish pond, sand pits, bowling greens, and grass and hard tennis courts. On summer evenings, the hard courts were lit by fairy lights and used for ballroom dancing. Most Sunday evenings I was taken by my Mum and Dad to the bandstand to listen to various visiting colliery bands. Eventually the pavilion was added. The Mill Dyke flows by the pavilion; it has a big fat partly submerged pipe that countless children have walked across and fallen in! When I fell in, I was wearing my best white Sunday shoes.'

Kathleen Higson (first appears in the article A Bentley Childhood - Part 2, The Memories of Kathleen Higson)

Swings 1951. Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'There was an ornate lily pond, complete with a rocky fountain at its centre, you could see goldfish and all sorts of critters when you laid on your tummy and peered over the edge. It was situated at the edge of the tarmac play area. On hot days kids would splash around in it until the parkie came and 'suggested' it was not allowed. The shrubs around the pond then provided cover for cowboy, war or jungle games. 

There were sand pits and tennis courts, bowling greens and a paddling pool, bandstand and more tennis courts, trees to climb, soft tarmac and grass to run across; and the magnificent pavilion.'

Continues below

Seats by the bowling greens, June 1962. Photo courtesy of Richard Bell

'Beyond there was a shelter overlooking the football pitch. The shelter was used by the football teams as a changing room and a meeting area for teenagers. Enough said. 

In the 60's, near the Park Road end, there was a superb little road system set up for children to learn cycling proficiency. Complete with cross-roads, white lines and the lot.'

Continues below

Playing near the bowling green. Photo courtesy of Barbara Dickinson

'The park was not just a play area for children; it was a social, meeting, gathering, courting and well-being area for all generations. Born out of the Victorian imagination it was the place to go for many. Teenagers loved it. It was like a magnet on a warm day. Parents loved it. If the swings got boring, there was always the prospect of an ice-cream from the ice-cream van or Shipstones on the corner of Cooke Street and Askern Road.'

Mike Hoyland (first appears in the article Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part 5, Cornerstones)

A rather frozen lily pond in February 1963. Photo courtesy of Richard Bell

Mischief in the Park

'Playing bowls [and] tennis. Getting caught scrumping in the orchard behind the tennis courts. The sand pits and paddling pool, and of course the football pitches.'

Ian Dales

The paddling pool. Photo courtesy of Donna Marie Jowett

'There are stories I was banned from the sand pit as a one year old for hitting another toddler, but we'll gloss over that!'

Gill O'Grady

Sandpits

'We knew the loose boards on the bandstand and hid inside it to scare people away!'

Christina Barber-Callender

The Bandstand. Courtesy of Den Lowe

'The rocking horse that the boys made go so fast we fell off, onto concrete! The brilliant game of taking our shoes off and putting them at arms length round the roundabout, laying on our bellies and then being spun so fast we went dizzy and had to reach out and catch our shoes! Skinned arms and noses, all part of the fun!'

Christina Barber-Callender

The rocking horse ride 1953. Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'We were always in Bentley Park when we went to visit my Great Aunt Rose on Swan Street. I remember them as long, happy, sunny days. We used to be warned by Mum about being careful on the rides and my big sister Pat was usually with us to see that we behaved. Behaving was usually something my brother Paul found hard. Even though he was told to keep away from the big 'plank ride', as soon as my sister came to push me on the swing, he was on there. He fell off the 'plank ride' and split his head open, but luckily there was a doctor at the pavilion for the baby clinic. His head was bound up with bandages and he had to lie down as he could hardly lift his head. My brother fully recovered after the hospital visits, but any trouble he got into after that we always blamed on that knock on the head...!'

Nora Platt 

Children's play area. Courtesy of Pete Dumville

'We were wagging DVHS (Don Valley High School) sports day so went to Bentley Park. While pushing my mates very hard on the rocking horse, [I] somehow managed to get head butted by the cast iron horse's head. Cut to my eye and forehead. This was followed by some heavy bruising and a bit of fabrication of the day's events to my mother, think I [said I] slipped getting off the school bus!'

Graham Force

The Rocking Horse ride 1952. Photo courtesy of Graham Westerman

'One of my uncles, Mo Griffin, took me to Bentley Park one day where he met up with a whole bunch of his friends. They were in their early teens, strong and boisterous and were playing on this swing which has long been forbidden. It had a horse's head and a series of seats behind it in a long line. It hung from a frame by four corner poles and could be swung back and forth gaining quite a height and quite some momentum. I was meant to stand still while they swung, played and had a good time; however I walked in front of this beast and remember waking up in Mo's arms as he was passing me to my parents back at home. A trip to the doctors, aspirin, bed and in the dog-house again. I carried a cracking black eye for weeks after. On reflection methinks I should have died back then. I was lucky not to.'

Mike Hoyland. Edited. (First appears in the article Bentley and Arksey as an Outsider - Part 1)

The Rocking Horse ride 1972. Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

The Pavilion and Baby Clinic

'I did go to the pavilion clinic as a baby. Funnily enough I don't remember much about it! No photographs or anything.'

Clive Beresford

The Pavilion

'I remember the posh floor had cloth put down on it on clinic days, made it lethal, really easy to slip on. My Mum bought orange juice at the clinic I remember. When I was older I went to a dinner/dance there with Mum and Dad, I'm thinking probably Bentley Tradesmens annual affair. Had to wear a cocktail dress, felt very grown up. Was a bridesmaid at my Aunt's wedding, the reception was at the pavilion.' 

Gill O'Grady

Doncaster Press Ball 1935

'I still lived in Bentley when I had my first son. I took him to the clinic in the pavilion every week. I think it was on a Wednesday, but not certain. We had to sit around the sides of the dance hall and undress the babies down to their nappies. Then we went through to the smaller room at the back, one at a time, for the baby to be weighed. I seem to remember that there was usually a doctor there who would be consulted if there were any concerns with the babies. It was a chance to have a chat with friends who we only saw one day a week.'

Brenda Bennett

Bentley pavilion, unknown performance

'I went to the clinic as a baby and my youngest son went there also.'

Helen Bulgin

Pavilion soup kitchen during the miner's strike 1984

'The clinic was a great place to meet other young mothers, firstly to get babies weighed and talk [over] any worries you had with the nurses, then to relax and chat to other Mums over a cup of tea and a biscuit. You often got good advice from the more experienced Mums.'

Brenda Wayman

Unknown event inside the pavilion, pre-1950. Photo courtesy of Alan Walker

'The pavilion wasn't only used for the baby clinic, that's where the kids had to go for their vaccinations and sugar lumps. I remember our parents getting postcards in the post and we instantly knew we had to go for some vaccination or other. Sugar lump for polio and needle for diphtheria. Usually met friends from school as it was usually done en-mass.'

Lynda Pell

'In the 70's I used to love to push my babies in their prams from Arksey to the clinic in the pavilion, whatever the weather. It was the only place I went for some adult conversation whilst my husband worked shifts and I found myself on my own a lot.'

Olwen Johnson

'I can remember going dancing at [the] pavilion with my Mam, but only when my Dad had gone to work in [the] canteen at [the] pit and when I was supposed to be in bed. It was waltzes and ballroom dances. Later dances to Alex Winston's, good music to jive to.'

Kay Kitchin

Crowning of Road Safety Queen, Pavilion 1954. Photo courtesy of Lynn Heath

Crowning of Road Safety Queen, Pavilion 1954. Photo courtesy of Lynn Heath

'I remember visiting the clinic in the pavilion as a young child, my mother came away with a tub of some sort of malt which most children disliked, but I loved it.'

Ian Jackson

'I do remember going there with my Mum when my brother was little to have his jabs.'

Edwina Brodziak

'I had terrible bow legs, and although a quick look at my mother would have shown that this was an inherited condition, the new NHS was determined to treat it. I needed to have my bones strengthened or the bowing would worsen. Ultra-violet light would encourage me to produce more vitamin D, and that would strengthen my bones. Despite the fact that UV light is available at no cost whatsoever by simply going out on a sunny day, a course of artificial UV treatment was prescribed. Me and several other weak-boned infants had to go to the clinic once a week. My other memories of the clinic were that it was held in the pavilion in Bentley Park, but for some reason these UV sessions were held in a hut just inside the park, near Trueman Street. We bone defectives would be stripped except for our nappies, and both infants and mums would don dark glasses. In the niddle of the room was a thing like a short lamp post. When we were ready it would be switched on and we kids would play on the floor in front of it, lit only by its weird and intense violet light. It did no good of course, and to this day I can't stop a pig in an alley!'

Bill Wright

Is that the Park Keeper on patrol I wonder? Sand pits and Bandstand.

Events and Bentley Gala

'We have cine camera footage of a hot air balloon gala, watching them being inflated and setting off. No health and safety to stop us wandering about!'

Christina Barber-Callender

Enjoying the park, 1981. Photo courtesy of Michelle O'Connor Long

'I can't forget my Grandad showing flowers in the pavilion and us getting excited when he won!' 

Christina Barber-Callender

Park bench near the pavilion. Photo courtesy of Ian Jackson

'I remember going to watch steam rollers race, I'm sure this was at Bentley Park?'

Julie Grace

On the Rocking Horse ride, 1972. Photo courtesy of Kay Wright.

'We used to go to the galas and put our flower arrangements and crafts that we had done into the competitions. They were judged in their categories and then we would go back later on to see if we had won. I think there was a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and if I remember rightly we won money. There were also prizes for the best onions, carrots, flowers and many more things. Brian Birks, my next-door neighbour when I was a child, used to win many a prize with his produce from his allotment.'

Stephanie Mousdell

The Paddling pool c 1957. Photo courtesy of Marilyn McElroy

'My Grandad used to to have prize winning flowers, he used to put bags over the blooms to keep them nice until show time! I have some of his medals somewhere.'

Christina Barber-Callender

Enjoying a ride, 1981. Photo courtesy of Michelle O'Connor Long

'I got third prize in the flower arranging, probably around 1974-ish. Think I got a certificate for it. I remember my sister Diane getting a trophy for something at the gala and it was bigger than you would get if you won the FA Cup. Think it was from Bob Nellis trophy shop in the High Street. I never took the flower arranging any further, who knows where it may have led to.'

Graham Force

1970's in the park. Photo courtesy of Andrew Grierson

'As well as flowers, Herbert used to show veg and God help you if you picked a straight runner bean or carrot or parsnip in the showing season, you ran for cover.'

Kay Kitchin

The sand pits

Photos from Lynda Pell

The following twelve photos were submitted by Lynda Pell, I have kept them together for impact. A couple of these photos feature children's rides situated near to Yew Tree Farm, which is a separate area to the more well known 'Children's Corner'.

An early version of the Rocking Horse ride. Yew Tree Farm in the background. 1949.

1949

1949. With the pavilion in the background

1949

By the Bandstand in 1949

With Yew Tree Farm and a climbing frame in the background. 1949

1949

1949

The Bobbies Hat ride

Climbing Frame

The Roundabout

The Sandpit

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I think you'll agree that all these memories are testament to the success of Bentley Park. Little did the council know when they approved the building of a 'Public Pleasure Ground' in Bentley, back in 1915, that they would create something that would live in all of us for so many decades. And now the park has been given a new lease of life, may it live long in the memories of our children and children's children. 

I will leave you with this one last memory from Heather Widdowson, who sums up the park beautifully:

'Sun hut and park keepers, Wyatt Earp and his posse of deputies, 'out you lot it's nine o'clock'. Watching Saturday pavilion dances through one of the side windows. Budding tennis stars on the grass/hard courts. Elderly gents playing bowls in the sunshine. Smell of fish 'n' chips cooking at Clarke's chippy on Askern Road. Frank Lawrence behind the counter in Shipstones. Everywhere clean and tidy. We didn't have much, but we had everything, we had the park!'

Children sat on the roundabout at Bentley Park c.1954. Photo courtesy of Den Lowe

Many thanks to all who contributed to this article and to Symeon Waller for getting me started on this.

If you have any old photos or fond memories of Bentley Park, you can submit them through my Facebook group or by email at: 

arkvillhistory@yahoo.co.uk

Alison Vainlo 2018

A History of Bentley Park and Pavilion

September 30, 2018, 1:08 pm

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A Special Park

Bentley Park has always offered a little oasis of calm from the hustle and bustle of central Bentley. With it's sweeping walkways, immaculate bowling greens, peaceful lily pond and children's play areas, the park has something for everyone, whether kicking a ball on the playing field or relaxing by the bandstand, it has endured the decades and provided a place of recreation for the people of Bentley and beyond for almost a hundred years.

Here we look at the origins of the park, its attractions, events, decline and rejuvenation. Bentley Park holds special memories for anyone who has grown up in the area. So put on your Sunday best and let's take a leisurely stroll through the history of one very special park. 

Why a Park for Bentley?

Before Bentley Colliery opened in 1908 Bentley was a rural village, agriculture being the chief occupation among the residents. Once the pit opened however, it attracted men from far afield to come to work, and they brought their families with them.

Suddenly this once rural backwater became an industrial township. Amenities such as housing, shops, schools and churches were created for the rapidly expanding population. Unlike their agricultural forerunners, who worked from sun up to sun down almost every day of the year, the colliers and their families had leisure time. 

Sports and leisure facilities were created in Bentley, such as a cinema, social clubs, football and cricket clubs. Bentley Miner's Welfare Fund was set up to raise money for the miner's social well-being, recreation and living conditions. Money was raised via a levy and later a percentage of coal royalties. 

Coliseum cinema on Bentley High Street

The idea of a recreation park for Bentley first came in  July 1911. A letter written on behalf of a Mrs Ellen Walker, formerly of Conisbrough, was sent to F Kirby, the Chairman of the Bentley Urban District Council. The letter stated that she wished to present about twenty acres of land to the council for a park and recreation ground. The land, sited on Common Lane was close to the old part of Bentley. The council voted unanimously to accept the offer.

Sheffield Daily Telegraph 1 July 1911

Transcription of the above article

'Mr F. Kirby, the Chairman of the Bentley Urban District Council, yesterday received a letter from Messrs, Alderson, Son and Dust, of Sheffield stating that Mrs. Ellen Walker, formerly of Conisborough, desired to present about 20 acres of land to the Council as a park and recreation ground. 

In their letter the firm state that Mrs. Walker has leased one bed of coal underlying the land, but, subject to that lease, she is disposed to give to the district of Bentley the two fields in question, as a park and playing ground without cost to the Council, she herself paying for the deed of gift which would be prepared by the firm on her behalf. Mrs Walker does not wish to place any restrictions upon the land "other than that intoxicating liquors shall not be sold thereon, and that the fields shall be a park and playing field belonging to the Council of Bentley for all time." The land is situated in Common Lane, near the centre of the old part of Bentley, and will make an excellent recreation ground. 

The offer of Mrs. Walker was placed before the Council last night, a special meeting having been called for the purpose, and it was unanimously decided to accept the offer, with cordial thanks.

Bentley was recently created an urban district and has greatly developed since the new colliery was opened.'

This article begs two questions - who was Ellen Walker and why did her park not materialize? 

Ascertaining who Ellen Walker was proved quite easy, but what happened to the plan for this park is less clear.

Ellen Walker

Ellen Walker (nee Anderson), who was originally from York didn't marry until she was aged 48. That was the year 1901 and she married a man named Godfrey Walker in Kensington, London. Godfrey was from Conisbrough, a former farmer and owner of the tannery, he became a J.P. 

The Walkers lived at the Priory in Conisbrough, but it was at their other residence in Devon that Godfrey died in 1908, the couple had been married less than eight years. 

Widowed Ellen inherited a sizeable fortune and after moving with her mother to Scarborough, she bequeathed the Priory to Sheffield General Infirmary for use as a convalescent home, The Godfrey Walker Convalescent Home.

The Godfrey Walker convalescent Home

In 1911 Ellen Walker gave land in Conisbrough for the provision of a park. The land donated was worth £540 and she gave a further £150 for iron railings, pathways and seats. Named Coronation Park it was named to commemorate the coronation of King George V, and was opened on the 22nd of June 1911.

Coronation Park, Conisbrough. From Conisbrough and Denaby Main Heritage Group.

Just about the same time as the park opened in Conisbrough, Bentley Urban District Council received the letter detailed above setting out Ellen Walker's desire to donate land in Bentley for a park. Despite it having been accepted by the Council this is the first and last reference to this donation to be found. Common Lane in Bentley is reached via Finkle Street, so this land cannot be the same as that used off Cooke Street. Maybe there was a problem with the lease that prevented the donation of land? The news article (above) does stress that it was 'subject to that lease'.

To complete Ellen's story, she remarried in 1919, this time to Thomas Colpitts Granger of London. He was a widower and County Court Judge. He was knighted in 1921 making Ellen 'Lady Granger'. They lived at Lower Belgrave Street in London.

Thomas died in 1927 leaving Ellen a widow after only a short marriage once again. It is unclear what happened to her next, it is probable that she died in 1931 in Chippenham, Wiltshire although the records are not clear.

Sir Thomas Granger

  

Progress Towards a Park

It would be another four years before the subject of a park for Bentley was raised again. 

In 1915 a new 'Public Pleasure Ground' was proposed to meet the needs of the growing Bentley population. The Public Health Act of 1875 allowed local authorities to purchase or lease land in order to provide public walks or pleasure grounds, the said land to be planted and maintained by the authority.

At the request of the trustees, Lady Cooke of the Wheatley Estate submitted deeds to the Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District Council to allow a pleasure ground to be created. The land proposed to be used was off Cooke Street and Askern Road. It had previously been open fields and was bordered by farm buildings on Cooke Street. This map (below) from 1892 shows the approximate boundary of the new park and the land it would occupy, from an entrance next to the Wesleyan Chapel on Cooke Street and stretching almost as far north as the hamlet of Rostall (now the Rostholme area of Bentley).

1892 map of the approximate layout of the forthcoming new park

With money from The Miners' Welfare Fund used to develop the land, the new 'Welfare Park' was laid out. The work took place during the spring and summer of 1923 and it opened that same year. The first park superintendent was a Mr Harry French. The map (below) shows the park a few years after opening in 1930. Much of the original layout survives to this day and features such as the bandstand, bowling green and pond are as familiar now as they were then.

Bentley Welfare Park in 1930

Stone sundial with inscription

The inscription

A stone sundial positioned near the pavilion had the following inscription:

'The Bentley Miners' Welfare Committee purchased and laid out this park with monies contributed from the Miner's Welfare Fund, and presented the same to the Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District Council on September 15th 1923.

Committee

D. MacGregor, Chairman; G. A. Ringrose; P. N. Brundell; S. Roberts J.P; A Longdon; Rev. A Rhys James; W. Paling M.P; D. Straw; J. Flemming (Hon Secretary); P. C. Woodhall M.I.M & C.E (Architect and Surveyor).'

The Sundial was removed in 1988 when it fell into disrepair.

  

The Pavilion

Bentley Pavilion

One noticeably absent feature of the 1930 park is the pavilion which didn't open until the end of 1931. 

Funds to build the pavilion was raised through The Miners' Welfare Committee deducting one penny from the wages of every miner. The pavilion cost £10,000 to build and work began in September 1930. 

Original drawings of the proposed pavilion. Courtesy of Michelle Smith

The pavilion was constructed from ferro-concrete in a technique developed by French engineer Francois Hennebique. It was built by the Yorkshire Hennebique Contracting Co. Ltd of Leeds. The building project was managed by local man and Bentley Colliery Site Engineer Percy C. Woodhall. The design was a mixture of styles which contained classical columns, arches and vaulted ceilings inside.

The pavilion was due to be opened on the 28th of November 1931 but this was delayed as eight days earlier, on the 20th of November Bentley Colliery lost forty five miners in a terrible underground explosion.

The pavilion was opened later by Mr D. MacGregor, Chairman of the Welfare Committee, and was handed over to Mr Lewis Massarella JP, of the Bentley-with-Arksey Urban District Council. A plaque in the foyer of the pavilion still bears the planned opening date of the 28th of November 1931.

Park Life

When the park was first laid out it provided areas for entertainment, play and sports but it also became known for its floral displays. By 1930 there was a bowling green, sand pits, a lily pond, a bandstand, tennis courts, a fountain and a shelter. There were also footpaths, trees and a large recreation area. A year later the park gained the magnificent pavilion.

Let's look at the park features in more detail.

Entrances

The park has always had three entrances, one on Askern Road, one on Park Road, and the main entrance on Cooke Street. 

The Cooke Street entrance in 1923

The main entrance featured curved railings, a turning circle with central planting bed and two public lavatories, seen here as brick buildings to each side of the main walkway. The railings and planting area were later removed and replaced by a car park. The lavatories were eventually demolished too. 

Cooke Street entrance from 1930 map

The Askern Road entrance in 1931

The Askern Road entrance lies approximately opposite the Baptist Church and was a very pretty entrance in the early days. With an attractive wooden bridge crossing the mill stream, floral arches and planting beds. Just inside this entrance was Park Lodge where the Park Superintendent lived.

Park Lodge. Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

Glasshouses to the side of the lodge were built in 1932. The lodge and glasshouses have since been demolished and has been replaced by the Myplace project building.

The bridge over the mill stream was later replaced by stone entrance piers and iron gates.

Askern Road entrance from 1930 map

The Park Road entrance didn't receive the same level of attractive features as the other two. Consisting of railings, gates and a pathway through a small wooded area, it provided a rather functional entrance in the west side of the park.

Park Road entrance from 1930 map

The Lily Pond

An original feature of the park, the lily pond was built for the opening in 1923.

The lily pond between 1925 and 1930. Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

The photo above shows how this ornamental pond once looked with its crazy paving, stone edging, lawns, flowers and shrubs. The pond also featured a fountain in the centre. Note the absence of the pavilion which was still to be built, the park lodge is visible however on the right. To the left were the tennis courts and the building in the centre is thought to be a tennis hut.

The Lily Pond from 1930 map.

This later photo shows the fountain working and how the crazy paving was replaced by concrete paths. The pond area was connected to the pavilion, now visible in the background, by a path around the bowling green.

The pond eventually fell into disrepair and was filled in with stones and soil to form a rockery. The trees became overgrown and the area lacked ornamental planting. Railings placed around the bowling green cut off the connection to the pavilion too.

The lily pond that became a rockery, pictured in 2013. Photo from Southerngreen Chartered Landscape Architects

The Bandstand

Approached by a wide, sweeping path, the bandstand was another original feature of the park. Built in 1923, the bandstand was the focus for events and activities right at the heart of the park. 

The Bandstand from 1930 map

The Bandstand c.1925 - 30

In 1925 an outdoor dance floor was constructed next to the bandstand, and that same year when the park had illuminations, strings of fairy lights festooned the bandstand.

By the mid 1930's the bandstand became covered with climbing plants, giving it an altogether different appearance.

c.1935 - 1939

By 1988 the bandstand had fallen into disrepair and was removed. Up until the renovations in 2014 the site was marked by an empty space with a single tree in the centre.

Site of the original Bandstand in 2013. Photo from Southerngreen Chartered Landscape Architects

Children's Play Areas

The play areas were an important part of the park and consisted of sand pits, paddling pool and 'Children's Corner', complete with slides and swings.

The Sand Pits

Two octagonal sand pits were constructed next to each other, just south of the bandstand in 1923. In later years a paddling pool was added to the side of them and both proved extremely popular with the local and visiting children. It must have been like having a mini beach holiday without the need to travel very far.

The paddling pool, very popular on a hot day.

Children's Corner was situated on the Askern Road side of the park, just before the lily pond. Another original feature of the park, this is where the swings, slides and roundabouts were located. Although photographs from the 1940's (see Let's Go To The Park) do show there was additional play apparatus near to Yew Tree Farm, seen in the photo above.

Children's Corner c.1930

Other Park Features

Sporting pastimes were also catered for at the park, with grass and hard tennis courts, a bowling green and a large, open grassed area for football and other games.

The bowling green

Floral displays formed a large part of the park's attraction, with ornamental beds lining most of the paths and used to separate areas from one another.

Ornamental borders near the Cooke Street entrance

One feature which lots of park goers seem to remember is the drinking water fountain. Situated outside the entrance to the pavilion, this was an ever popular park amenity and was much missed when it was removed at the same time as the stone sun dial in 1988.

The drinking water fountain near the pavilion c.1935

The Bentley Miner's Gala

Every summer a parade and gala would be held in Bentley. Essentially a trade union gathering; the original site of the Bentley Gala was the cricket and football pitches on the Avenue, however by the mid 1970's the gala was moved to the more central Bentley Park. 

With events, stalls, entertainment and fairground, the gala was an unmissable event every summer which always ended in a traditional firework display.

The galas remained popular into the early 1980's, but the miner's strike and subsequent break up of the coal industry saw an end to these annual gatherings.

Unfortunately I have not been able to track down any photos of Bentley Gala, but will be pleased to add any that come to light*.

Memorial Beech Tree

In 1997 a Memorial Beech Tree was planted in Bentley Park to honour the Todd family. Boxer Roland Todd of Bentley famously became middle weight champion of Great Britain, Europe and the British Empire in the 1920's. The tree and plaque can still be found in the park today.

The Copper Beech tree

The inscribed plaques to the Todd family

The Fall and Rise of Bentley Park

The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organization (CISWO), which had formed out of the Miner's Welfare Act in 1952, oversaw the funding and upkeep of the park. The CISWO became a national charity in 1995, separating it from the coal industry and being governed by trustees. However, a decline in investment led to a lack of maintenance in the park, features being removed, vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The park was run down and underused.

The pavilion before renovations

  

In 2011 a grant of £2.5million from the Heritage Lottery Fund was approved, a sum that was matched by Doncaster Council in order to renovate the park and pavilion and bring them back to their former glory.

Doncaster Free Press April 2013

Plans for the new look park were drawn up in 2013 by Holland Brown Architects, during which Bentley residents were given the opportunity to have their say on the design.

Proposed new look for the pavilion

The pavilion during renovations in 2014. Courtesy of Keith Wilburn

Work got underway in 2014 and saw the complete renovation of the pavilion. Lost features such as the bandstand and lily pond were reinstated. New play areas were introduced, the park entrances were refurbished, wildflower and herbaceous planting areas were brought back and new railings and paths were installed.

To reflect current trends, a wildlife area was constructed and for sports, a football pitch, skateboarding/BMX facilities and a multi use games area were introduced. The bowling green was preserved but facilities for playing tennis were not reinstated.

The play areas now include toddler and junior adventure play areas as well as a water play area complete with an Archimedes Screw. The toddler and water play areas are situated on the sites of the old sand pits, and octagonal paving serves as a reminder to their previous incarnations.

Renovated pavilion and new play area on the site of one of the old sand pits. Courtesy of Keith Wilburn.

New information boards were created to be placed around the park, showing the new amenities as well as old photos and history of the various features. I was proud to provide information and photos for these boards, and received a special mention on each board.

A sample of the new information boards around the park. Courtesy of Southerngreen Chartered Landscape Architects

Dan Jones, stone carver, created a series of carved stones depicting a timeline of Bentley's past.

Extracts from the Domesday Book of 1086

A carved miner's lamp depicting Bentley Colliery

The floods of 2007 carved in stone

Bentley Bonanza and the Grand Re-opening

With the demise of the annual Miner's Gala, a new community event was created, Bentley Bonanza. Held every June, it features entertainment, stalls, and fairground rides. The plan was to launch the new, refurbished park at the Bonanza in June 2014, however, work was delayed so the event was moved to September 21st instead. 

The park was officially opened by Doncaster Civic Mayor, Pat Haith. Tony Sockett, Bentley Area Community Partnership secretary was really pleased with the reception the new-look park received, saying:

"It's been a really good day. It's been better than I expected. To see children and families really enjoying themselves has been very rewarding."

Source: Doncaster Free Press, 21st September 2014. 

Mayor Pat Haith officially opening the refurbished Bentley Park. Courtesy of Patricia Glover

Bentley Bonanza. Courtesy of Chelle Tovell

Today Bentley Park offers the same haven of peace and recreation it set out to provide when it first opened in 1923. We all have great memories of time spent in the park, and as it approaches its centenary, the new lease of life it has been given will ensure that many more happy memories are created there.

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Please scroll to the next article, Let's Go To The Park, for personal memories and photos of Bentley Park sent in by local park goers.

* Please contact me via the contact box if you have any photos of the Bentley Miner's Galas.

Thanks to Symeon Mark Waller for providing research material and to those who have submitted photos for this article. Photos taken from other websites have been mentioned and a link provided.

Alison Vainlo 2018

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The House On The Bridge

October 16, 2018, 12:32 pm

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North Bridge Villa, abandoned (image, Google Streetview)

North Bridge Villa

I hope you will forgive me for straying outside the confines of Bentley for this one-off article in which we visit the Marsh Gate area of Doncaster.

Following my article on Town End in 2017 I was contacted by someone wanting to know the history of North Bridge Villa. Never one to turn down a researching challenge, I obliged and uncovered quite an interesting story, so I thought I would publish it more widely. Hence our stray into Doncaster history.

The Out-of-Place House

Anyone who has ever crossed North Bridge will have passed this imposing red brick house (pictured above), sandwiched between commercial buildings and wondered how on earth it came to be there, on an extremely busy main road and wedged into such an industrial area of town. Well Marsh Gate wasn't always just about industry, and if we turn the clock back to the turn of the 20th century we will see what the area was like and what led up to the building of North Bridge Villa.

Marsh Gate Uncovered

Northern end of Marsh Gate looking towards St Mary's Bridge, about 1905. Courtesy of Ian Coucom

Marsh Gate followed the route of the Great North Road and was the original gateway into Doncaster. Stretching roughly from St Mary's Bridge over the River Don, to Friar's Bridge over the River Cheswold, the road then joined French Gate. 

1769 map of the Marsh Gate area

This low-lying area near the river was prone to flooding and home to some of the poorest dwellings in the town. Proving dangerous to ride through when flooded, the road level was eventually raised to above the high water mark.

Flooded Marsh Gate from a sketch of 1854

Despite the problems with flooding Marsh Gate became a thriving industrial area. Positioned close to the river it was ideal for corn mills, warehouses and factories, served by a busy wharf bringing goods in and out via the river.

With an influx of labourers to the area, lodging houses, low quality tenements and public houses sprang up to accommodate the local and visiting workers. 

Southern end Marsh Gate in 1906,  The New River Inn is on the left and the Greyfriars building (1843) is on the right.

One can imagine Marsh Gate in the 18th and 19th centuries being quite a rough area of town. It was here in 1832 that two incidents of cholera began. The first, an isolated case, was of a traveller who died whilst lodging in Marsh Gate; but the following summer a major outbreak was triggered by a sailor on board a boat moored in Marsh Gate. His death generated much interest and many local inhabitants went on board to see him. Unsurprisingly, a terrible outbreak occurred after this resulting in around forty deaths (see the article At the Foot of the Bridge, for the full story). 

The Building of North Bridge

The beginning of the 20th century brought many changes to Marsh Gate, and most of the changes were due to transport needs. By now the railways were well established and since the opening of Doncaster Railway Station, Marsh Gate had been intersected by a level crossing close to where it joined French Gate.

Marsh Gate Crossing

Marsh Gate practically formed the only entrance to Doncaster from the north, and at only thirty five feet wide, was not designed to carry the increasing amounts of traffic in and out of town. Added to this was the growth in the railway, and as it was now the Great North Eastern Railway and the main line between London and the north, use of this mode of transport was likely to increase further, adding pressure and hold-ups at the level crossing. Capacity had become a real issue for this area of town. 

A solution in the form of a road bridge was presented in 1908. Despite much local opposition a poll returned a small majority in favour of proceeding. 

Marsh Gate in 1906 prior to the bridge being built

The bridge, which would be built to the east of Marsh Gate, would cut through the rear of many properties on the north-east side and this resulted in compensation being paid to many property owners. Certain properties had to be demolished before the bridge building began, this included The Labour in Vain public house, the licence of which was transferred to another site, which was to become The Bridge Hotel. 

18th century buildings in Marsh Gate 1908. Courtesy of Tom Beardsley

The photo (above) shows eighteenth century buildings in Marsh Gate waiting to be demolished in 1908. The stables on the left belonged to the Falcon Inn, which survived demolition until 1934.

Workers homes which needed to be demolished caused lots of controversy. In an already overcrowded town, finding new accommodation in the area was not easy. After much debate and many changes of location, temporary dwellings were erected to the rear of the gas works. This area became known as 'White City'. In 1911 when plans fell through for new housing north of Marsh Gate, on grounds of 'unsuitability for health', the tenants were eventually found accommodation elsewhere.

Construction of the brick arches for the North Bridge 1909

The road and bridge which became North Bridge Road, was over three-quarters of a mile in length. Brick arches at each end carried the road up on to a bridge constructed of steel girders which crossed both the railway lines and the Don Navigation. 

  

Map of 1929 showing the completed North Bridge Road

     

North Bridge opened in 1910. The completed bridge allowed traffic of all kinds safe and unhindered passage into and out of town. Previously trams had terminated at the Marsh Gate level crossing and passengers had no option but to use a subway to reach a feeder service at Clock Corner; now those same trams were able to run right into town from the north side of Doncaster via the bridge.

North Bridge Grand Opening 1910

John 'Knacker' Lindley  

Having explored the early history and changes in the Marsh Gate area we now return to the origins of North Bridge Villa and what became of it.

The first building to be erected on the lower slope of North Bridge's north east side was a horse repository. It was owned by the Schapiro family, who supplied horses for buses, carriages and the meat trade throughout Europe and Africa. Head of the family, Hyman Schapiro was born in Russia in 1855, he lived with his large family in Regent Square, Doncaster. The Schapiro's wealth and success led to a friendship with the Saudi royal family. Hyman died in 1921 and presumably his sons carried on the family business.

Hyman Schapiro.  Photo courtesy of Carol Weston

The photo below shows the Bridge Hotel dominating the corner of North Bridge Road and Marsh Gate around 1912. Schapiro's Horse Repository can be seen on the left side of the road.

Schapiro's Horse Repository to the left of the Bridge Hotel

The Schapiro's interest in horses may have brought them into contact with a Mr John Lindley. John was born in North Cave near Hull in 1852. John's family moved to Doncaster around 1862 and by 1871 were living at Waterloo Row on Cherry Lane, near the River Don. John's father worked in the nearby corn mill and John was a labourer at the the age of 18.

Northern end of the Marsh Gate area in 1906

In 1873 John married Elizabeth North (b.1854) of Doncaster, at St Georges Parish church. The couple made their home in nearby Marsh Gate and by 1881 they had three sons, Herbert (b.1875), John William (b.1877) and Walter (b.1880). They would be joined by a sister, Annie in 1882. There were two more children too, although the names cannot be found. By 1911 three of the children had died, two are not known, but the other was John William who is said to have hung himself with a neck tie on a bed, either accidentally or otherwise, at his home in Elwis Street. John was 24, married and had three young children. 

John 'knacker' Lindley

By 1891 John had founded Doncaster Knackers Yard and now listed his occupation as 'horse slaughterer'. Money for the knackers yard was rumoured to have been put up by the North family, Elizabeth's parents. The location of the knackers yard is unclear as Kelly's Directory of 1893 only lists John at his home address of 84 Marsh Gate, however, a descendant of the Lindley's believes it was opposite the horse repository, roughly where the Warehouse nightclub is now. Of course his yard could have been at 84 Marsh Gate, but the family moved twice more in the next twenty years; in 1901 they were living at 115 Marsh Gate, then in 1911 they were located at 107 Marsh Gate, which must have been of comfortable size as it is listed as having nine rooms. 

Lindley's slaughter yard

After 1911 the census records run out (until the 1921 returns are released). So to find John after 1911 the electoral records are the place to look. 

John remained at 107 Marsh Gate up to 1915 then there is a gap in the available records of two years, so the next year we find John is 1918, and his address is listed as North Bridge Villa.

This is the first reference to the Villa in records, so it must have been built between 1915 and 1918. 

John and Elizabeth Lindley

The Villa's story starts just a couple of years before John Lindley died, so to round off John's story before we pick up on the story of the Villa, he died in November 1919, aged 67 years. His widow Elizabeth remarried in June 1923, to a retired clergyman, John Wilson and they went to live at 43a Bentley Road. Elizabeth died in January 1931. She and her first husband are buried in Hyde Park Cemetery. 

Elizabeth Lindley at 43a Bentley Road

The Lindley memorial in Hyde Park Cemetery

The Lindley photos were kindly supplied by Mo Elwiss.

North Bridge Villa

So we have ascertained that the Villa was built between 1915 and 1918. John Lindley's Great Great Grandaughter Mo Elwiss confirmed that John had the house built for him. It is interesting that the site chosen for the house was right next to Schapiro's horse repository. At the time the house was built there were no other buildings fronting that stretch of road at all, so maybe there was a reason for building a house in that particular location, if, for instance, the Schapiro's had moved their business elsewhere then John could have taken over the stables too. The map below shows the Villa adjacent to the repository.

Map of 1929 with North Bridge Villa highlighted

After John Lindley died in 1919 his widow Elizabeth stayed on in the house until 1921, in 1922 she was back at her old home of 107 Marsh Gate and the following year she had moved to 43a Bentley Road where she would live with her new husband. 

Elizabeth's daughter Annie and son-in-law John William Donald stayed on at the Villa for another year, but from 1923 to 1926 it was occupied by a Charles Middleton.

It appears that after 1926 the Villa ceased to be used as a residence as no occupants were listed in the electoral registers right up to 1936, where the search was terminated.

A very busy North Bridge Road scene in the 1960's with North Bridge Villa just visible on the centre right, behind the bus.

As the twentieth century reached its middle years North Bridge Road saw more development and gradually North Bridge Villa was surrounded and almost swallowed up by large imposing buildings. 

Another large building had been erected on the north side of the Villa and this appears in a photo of the 1960's. It was the offices of the Askern Brick and Tile Company. The Mitchell's Builder's Merchant sign seems to indicate premises down the next left turn (see photo below). After it was wound up in 1970 it was amalgamated into the Yorkshire Brick and Tile Company, who also owned North Bridge Villa. Most people remember this building being used as a club for bus drivers which is what it was latterly used for. Schapiro's buildings were taken over by a tyre company.  

Buildings almost hiding North Bridge Villa (within white oval) in the 1960's.  Photo courtesy of Symeon Waller

It was in 1970 that a family moved into part of the Villa as caretakers. Zara Jackson was just a baby when her mother, a nurse, took on the extra job of caretaker at the Villa while her father was recovering from illness. 

Aerial view of North Bridge Road in the 1950's. North Bridge Villa is indicated by the red arrow

They lived at the Villa for five years and Zara recalls a strong room on the ground floor where the wages were kept. There was also a switchboard and a lady called 'Janet Jones' who wore a headset and put the calls through. The corridors had parquet flooring which was polished every night. The Villa was connected to the brick company offices by internal doors.In the back garden there were two stables and a brick yard. There was also a bust of a man on an ornate brick pedestal. The brick yard had a side line in terracotta busts and ornate pottery, which is probably where the bust came from. It appears in a photo of Zara with her mother from 1970 (see below).

Zara, her mother and the bust of a man, taken at the rear of North Bridge Villa in 1970. Photo courtesy of Zara Head

   

Zara also recalls the Villa grounds having a slope down to an underground garage with a door which led to a tunnel, which in turn emerged on the Don bank. When the river was high the garage would flood.

Zara Jackson in 1973 at the rear of North Bridge Villa, the stables were on the right. Photo courtesy of Zara Head

By the mid 1980's the tyre company had moved out of Schapiro's buildings and it was largely left empty except for a portion of the building that was used by the Doncaster Evening Post Camera Club. The building was eventually demolished and was replaced by a new building for Boots Opticians.

Building originally Schapiro's Horse Repository. Pictured in 1986 prior to demolition. Photo courtesy of Tony Canning

Schapiro's  building, North Bridge Villa and the bus club in 1986. Photo courtesy of Tony Canning

The Changing Face of Marsh Gate

Following the construction of North Bridge, Marsh Gate found itself on the sidelines. No longer on the route into Doncaster it became the focus for residential housing. Terraced housing had replaced the ramshackle eighteenth century buildings pulled down at the time the North Bridge was built. Businesses were changing too, gone were the mills, factories and wharves, and in their place a variety of new concerns opened, which we will look at below. This included a power station at nearby Crimpsall which opened in 1953. 

Doncaster Power Station from St Mary's Bridge 1957. Photo courtesy of George Fettis

Marsh Gate continued as a residential area well into the mid twentieth century. In 1925 a hostel was built behind the Bridge Hotel, the New Model Lodging House, owned by Jack and Florrie Temple and had forty five residents listed in 1936. The premises were a lodging house for single, homeless people. Another hostel, the Bridge Hostel was built a little further south and housed wasn't seen as quite as up-market as the Temple's hostel. The Bridge Hostel later became used as a warehouse for furniture retailers, Wades. In 1989 it opened as The Warehouse nightclub and remains a dance venue to this day.

Marsh Gate 1925 North Bridge Road is near the top, the Bridge Hostel is the tall building on the left. Photo courtesy of Mick Dutchak

Terraced housing in Marsh Gate in the 1960's

The area in front of Bridge Hostel was cleared in the 1950's and opened as a station for Corporation buses in 1958. The buses eventually moved to the North Bus Station, next to the railway station when it opened in 1967.

The Marsh Gate bus station with the Bridge Hostel behind in 1961

Across from the hostel, on North Bridge Road, British Road Services occupied a site next to the Askern Brick and Tile Company (Schapiro's buildings) during the 1950's. BRS were a British haulage and road transport company when the industry was nationalized. By 1961 the name over the building had changed to 'Curriers's General Carriers', but nothing could be found out about this company. 

British Road Services building in 1955. Photo courtesy of Tom Beardsley

In 1967 the old BRS building had been taken over by Doncaster Evening Post as an office and print works. This much loved newspaper closed in 1983 and the Sheffield based Star took over. The building was demolished in around 1990 and the site is now occupied by a Halfords store. 

The Doncaster Evening Post print works

The terraced houses of Marsh Gate and its surrounding streets were gradually demolished after the 1960's and the cleared area saw an influx of businesses. The Bridge Hotel was demolished in 1972 and all that remains is a triangular patch of grass. Today, car dealerships dominate the area, while the power station at Crimpsall has been replaced by Doncaster H.M.P. 

Not much is left to say the old buildings of Marsh Gate and North Bridge Road were ever there. Only North Bridge Villa and the old bus club next door remain, now sealed up and unused one wonders how long it will be before these last vestiges of times gone are also erased from the landscape of an ever changing Doncaster.

Sealed and forgotten, North Bridge Villa and the old bus club in 2014

Alison Vainlo 2018

Notes and Acknowledgements

Thank you to all contributors of photos and information. Those found on various Facebook groups have been credited with the persons who posted them, unless the images have been shared on multiple groups or the original poster could not be located.

The photo of Hyman Schapiro was found on Ancestry.co.uk and was posted by Carol Weston. A message asking for permission to use the photo has so far not been responded to. I post the photo in anticipation of permission being granted.

Thank you to Mo Elwiss for family information and permission to use the Lindley photos.

Thank you to Zara Head for information and photos. 

A Place of Worship

December 23, 2018, 12:27 pm

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Wesleyan Chapel, High Street, Bentley

Bentley Churches

It's hard to imagine that Bentley wasn't an ecclesiastical parish in its own right until a hundred and twenty years ago. Until then Bentley shared a parish with nearby Arksey. 

The lack of an Anglican church in Bentley however, did not prevent many nonconformist religious houses springing up a lot earlier than this.

In this article we look at the rise of these religious houses in Bentley from their earliest beginnings until Bentley finally became a parish in its own right.

Wesleyan and Primitive Methodism

Methodism was first introduced in the 1700's by John Wesley (1703 - 1791), who was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire. Born out of the Church of England Wesley's brand of worship followed a methodical study of the Bible and leading a holy life. Open-air preaching became a popular way of recruiting followers and reaching factory labourers taken out of their normal village setting by the Industrial Revolution.

John Wesley

Following Wesley's death in 1791 the Methodist movement split from the Church of England to become a separate church, ordaining its own ministers. As a church not conforming to the rules of the established church it is known as a nonconformist church. 

Wesleyan Methodism rejected the more evangelical approach of revivals and camp meetings and was seen as a more middle class form of worship. Not all were content with this method of preaching and so following a split in 1807,  the Primitive Methodist church was founded in 1810. Based among the poorer of society, the style of preaching was more spontaneous, direct and passionate. The Primitive Methodists suffered from poor funding and had trouble building chapels and supporting their ministers. However, growth in the Primitives was strong during the middle part of the 19th century, but declined after 1900 due to a number of factors - competition from other nonconformist denominations and other Methodist branches such as William Booth's Salvation Army and a resurgence in interest for the Anglican church by working classes. In 1932 the Primitives reunified with the Wesleyans and another branch, the United Methodists in what was called the 'Methodist Union'. Today the Methodist Church exists as one church, with some smaller branches, such as The Salvation Army, Church of The Nazarene and the Independent Methodist Connexion remaining as separate organizations. 

Early Methodists in Bentley

The first Wesleyan meetings in Bentley took place under a walnut tree on the village green in about 1790. The village green was a triangular grassy area now occupied by the old Cooke Street school building, latterly converted into apartments. The road layout was different two hundred years ago with the main road from Doncaster to Selby, running up the 'Doncaster Road' (today's High Street) before turning left and then right to run along the present day Chapel and Cooke Streets before heading to Askern and Selby.

1827 Enclosure Map showing the old road layout and the village green.

Indoor meetings took place at the home of Thomas Seaton, a whitesmith of Bentley. Other members included John Fox who ran a starch mill at Little London; Matthew Mallinson; Charles Lister, builder; William and Sarah Blythness; Joseph Smith; Mrs Thorpe of Scawthorpe; Thomas and Edith Townsley; Amos Simpson; George Spurr; Hannah Windle and William Strong.

It is thought that there was eventually a small meeting room or chapel close to the village green. The only reference to it is a mention in a minute book of 1814, where it states that two forms with backs were purchased from the 'old chapel' to 'furnish the new chapel'.

The 'new chapel' was built in 1818 on the corner of Cooke Street and Askern Road. It was built on land donated by Sir George Cooke Bt. and built by Charles Lister at a cost of £259. John Payne, schoolmaster of Bentley wrote the following verse which was inscribed on a slab and placed above the entrance:

"Come all who love to praise,

Give thanks and sing for gospel days;

A House is built, a house of prayer -

Come sinners, come, and worship here."

Cooke Street Chapel as it was in 1998

In 1871 a Sunday Schoolroom was built to the rear of the chapel at a cost of £87 15s, Charles Lister laid the foundation stone in a ceremony conducted by the Rev. J Watson in July of that year. George Spurr was secretary at that time. 

The building ceased to be used as a chapel in 1892 and became a joinery workshop, firstly to Mr W Smith and then to a Mr Ron Baker. It was demolished around 2007 and is now the site of an apartment block.

High Street Chapel

In the spring of 1890 it was proposed that a new chapel be built in Bentley. It was either that or spend up to £500 on repairs to the existing building. An expanding population and congregation made the case for a new chapel all the stronger. Fund raising began with a series of events held throughout the following year, this was boosted by generous donations of £300 by Mr Jackson of Scawthorpe Hall, and of land for the new chapel donated by Mr William Chadwick, Squire of Arksey, estimated to be between £300 and £400 in value. It was estimated that the cost of the new chapel would be about £2000.

High Street Chapel about 1910

The site for the new chapel lay in the central part of Bentley, with a proposed entrance on High Street, opposite the entrance to Mill Gate. A Gothic style of architecture was chosen and the building would include a spacious schoolroom to the rear. Old cottages already occupying the site were to be demolished.

High Street chapel services 1906*

Bentley Wesley Guild syllabus 1908 - 09*

The date for laying the memorial stones was fixed for the 4th of June 1891, a day memorable to many if only for the deluge of rain which fell that day. For that reason, the greater part of the ceremony had to take place within the old chapel, with the stones being laid afterward in the pouring rain. The laying of bricks by children and others was postponed until better weather allowed.

Children stood outside Bentley High Street chapel with Mission boxes in 1910. Photo courtesy of Gill Boothroyd.

The opening ceremony for the new chapel took place in October 1892 and just as on the day of the foundation stone laying, it poured with rain all day. Attendance was good but would have been greater had the weather been more favourable. 

Bank Holiday 17th April 1911 at High Street Chapel*

A sermon was read by the Rev. J. Stringer Rowe of Headingley College, Leeds at the formal opening and afterwards a celebratory tea was provided by the Board School. 

Rev Hopwood (left), Rev Ineson (right)*

The first incumbent minister was Rev. Idwal Hopwood, who presided from 1909 to 1912, when Rev. Percy Ineson took over. The first manse was located at 52 Cooke Street.

Rev. John Goodridge laying the foundation stone for the new Sunday School.*

In 1933 a new Sunday School building was added to the rear of the chapel, it was opened on the 26th of April 1934 by Tom Cockin Marsh (of Marsh's Mill) on the occasion of his 87th birthday.

High Street chapel in the 1960's

In 1968 the Primitive Methodists amalgamated with the Wesleyans  at High Street and the chapel was renamed 'Bentley Central Methodist Church'.

In 1978 planning was passed to demolish the chapel and Sunday schoolrooms. Part of the land was to be sold off to Foundry Housing Association for 16 flats to be built for the elderly. There would also be a smaller worship room for the Methodists.

Mrs Sanders (right) and Nellie Derrick (left) laying the foundation stone for the new chapel in 1979. Photo courtesy of Gill Boothroyd.

The foundation stone for the new chapel was laid by Florence Ellen (Nellie) Derrick and Mrs Sanders, overseen by Rev Leslie Shaw, on November the 10th 1979. Also in 1979 the Bentley Road chapel joined the High Street chapel and it was renamed 'The Methodist Church in Bentley'.

Aftermath of the Bentley explosion 2010. Photo courtesy of John Atkins.

In 2007 severe flooding in Bentley damaged the building and services were moved to the schoolroom for a time.

In 2010 the church suffered a degree of damage when a gas explosion ripped through the neighbouring flats. Services were held at Scawthorpe Methodist Church for eleven months while repairs were carried out. The damaged flats were demolished and rebuilt. 

Bentley Central Methodist Church with the rebuilt flats alongside. Google image.

The Primitive Methodists in Bentley

The first recorded chapel for the Primitive Methodists in Bentley is one built in 1857 overlooking the village green, however evidence does point to an earlier chapel on Bentley High Street.

Following their split from the Wesleyan's in 1807, the Primitive Methodists were founded in 1810 and the Bentley group met in a private house for many years. However, in a series called 'Village Sketches, or Hints to Pedestrians', which was published in the Doncaster Gazette (1848/49), there is mention of 'a building that was originally in use of the Primitive Methodists but was in 1849 in use as a National School.' On maps of 1850's Bentley the National School is shown as being located in the small building adjacent to the old Druid's Arms public house on High Street, which now used as an electricity substation. 

Building used by the Primitive Methodists, centre.

The Primitive Methodists occupied the building on High Street for just a few short years, after which they moved into the meeting room by the village green vacated by the Wesleyans in 1819.

For some time the Primitives had contemplated the idea of building their own place of worship, but it wasn't until 1857 that the idea was realized. A piece of land in front of the village green was purchased from Mr Henry Spurr for about £30 and in May of that year the foundation stone was laid in a ceremony attended by many. 

The Cooke Street Primitive Methodist Chapel, also known locally as 'Ebenezer Chapel' or 'The Little Prims' was built during the summer of 1857. From the laying of the first stone on May 6th 1857 to the opening ceremony on August 16th, the chapel took just fourteen weeks to complete. A schoolroom was added in 1866.

In 1968, after four years of deliberation, the chapel closed and was amalgamated with the High Street church. The Cooke Street chapel was sold and is now in the use of the Christadelphinians.

Christadelphinian Hall, originally built for the Primitive Methodists in 1857. Google image.

Bentley Road Primitive Methodist Chapel

In 1895 it was decided by the Duke Street Primitive Methodist Circuit (of Doncaster) that religious provision for the inhabitants of Bentley Road should be made. So in 1899 a chapel was built on a plot of land to the east side of Bentley Road, purchased from the trustees of the late John Elwis.

On Easter Monday (7th April) 1899 a parade from Waterdale in Doncaster to Bentley Road took place. Once the procession arrived at the site, memorial stones were laid. Each of the nine stones was inscribed with the name of the persons laying them. Bricks were also laid by other members of the congregation. A tea was held at Doncaster Guild Hall following the ceremony.

The opening ceremony took place on the 16th of August 1899. In 1952 a schoolroom was added, but by 1979 the chapel had closed and the congregation joined Bentley Central. The chapel became an Evangelical Church and later, Mount Hermon Community Church.

Bentley Road Primitive Methodist Chapel

Other Non-conformist Churches in Bentley

Before we move on to the subject of Anglican churches in Bentley, mention should be made of the other religious houses thus far not mentioned. Information on the history of these churches is hard to find, but an acknowledgement of them seems fitting.

Bentley Baptist Church

The Bentley Baptist Church stands on Askern Road, opposite the park. The foundation stone was laid on the 30th of September 1915, and was opened six months later on the 30th of March 1916.

Baptists are Christians who are baptized through belief as opposed to infant baptism. Baptism of adults and young people is usually through complete immersion in water. They subscribe to the belief of salvation through faith, however many Baptists differ in what they believe and how they worship.

Bentley Baptist Church continues to welcome worshipers 102 years after first opening it's doors to the people of Bentley.

Bentley Baptist Church in 1918.

Bentley Pentecostal Church

Just how long the Pentecosts have worshiped in Bentley is hard to determine. What is known is that they originally used the Bentley Air Scout hut on Arksey Lane, with services held there during the 1960's.

Bentley Air Scout hut, from a photo by Ian Barber

They later (probably in the 1970's) had a new church built further up Arksey Lane, on the corner of Balfour Road. What is interesting is that this corner used to house a Salvation Army hall, which is shown on a map of 1931 and is just visible in a photo from the pit disaster funeral parade, again in 1931. It is unclear when this hall was demolished as later maps do not mark it out, so it is unlikely the Pentecosts ever used this building, which was set a little further back than the present church.

Salvation Army Hall as appears on map of 1931.

Salvation Army Hall just visible at top of photo. Pit disaster funeral procession, Nov 1931.

Cropped and enhanced version of above photo.

The Pentecosts are a movement within Protestant Christianity which adheres to the authority of the Bible, and baptizes in the Holy Spirit so that the Christian can live a spirit filled, empowered life. Spiritual gifts, such as Divine Healing is one empowerment characteristic of Pentecostalism.

The Pentecostal Church continues to attract worshipers to its Arksey Lane building to this day.

Bentley Pentecostal Church

  

Kingdom Hall (Jehovah's Witnesses)

The Bentley branch of Jehovah's Witnesses meet in a 'church' named 'Kingdom Hall' which is sited next to Bentley level crossing on Church Street.

Originally, this piece of land belonged to a railway cottage, named 'Railway View'. In the early 1900's the Goodridge family lived there (see 'When Bentley Stars Shine'). William Goodridge was a railway platelayer, and ironically, a Wesleyan class leader. The cottage was demolished in the early 1940's and my own Grandfather, David Percy Breach rented the land for his motor engineering business, which was later taken over by my father (see D. P. Breach & Son, Motor Engineers). When My father retired in 1997 he sold the land to the Kingdom Hall Trust, who built a meeting hall there. The old garages remained and were either sold or leased to Belmont Motors who occupied premises behind.

Railway View in 1914*

  

DP Breach & Son in 1971

Best known for door-to-door preaching, Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs are quite distinctly different from mainstream Christianity, believing in a Christianity restored to a more ancient form of the religion. They do not observe Christmas, Easter, Birthdays or other celebrations they consider have links to pagan customs. 

Kingdom Hall, Bentley. From Google Streetview.

The Anglican Church in Bentley

The rise of non-conformist churches in Bentley was no doubt fuelled by the parish church being situated in Arksey, necessitating a two and a half mile walk each way. Those unwilling, or unable to make the journey made use of the former National School building next to The Druid's Arms. You will recall that this had previously been in use as a meeting room for the Primitive Methodists up to around 1819. After that it became a National School, but as the room became too overcrowded for mixed age teaching, a new Board School was built on the village green (Cooke Street) in 1877. The Anglican church then took over the building as a Mission Room. 

The 'Mission Room'.

St Peter's Church

Around the same time as the new Wesleyan chapel was being built on the corner of Chapel Street, discussions were taking place about the building of an Anglican church for Bentley. 

The foundation stone was laid on St Peter's Day (which gave its name to the church), the 29th of June 1891.

In 1892 the Mission Room was rebuilt to provide urgently needed extra space for services while the new church was built nearby, a project that would take years to build.

The newly built Mission Church in 1895

The church was built of stone in the Early English style from designs by J. Codd, architect of London, with seating provided for 500. The spire is 120 feet high and the church interior consists of a chancel, nave, tower, north and south porches, and vestries.

The cost of the church was met by Charles Edward Stephen Cooke esq. brother of Sir William Ridley Charles Cooke Bt. of Wheatley Hall, at a cost of £10.000. Four of the bells and a Reredos were presented by his widow Mary Cooke. Other items presented to the church included the clock, given by Mrs Broughton, whose family had long resided in the area, and the church organ and brass eagle lectern, given by Mrs Hatch. The Cooke arms can be seen inside the church. 

St Peter's church and Vicarage from the rear.

The Lord Archbishop of York granted the licence and authority to hold services in the 'Bentley Mission church in the parish of Arksey', on October the 14th 1896. the licence came with certain restrictions though, for example, the reading of Banns and the Solemnisation of marriage was not permitted. It was two years later in 1898 when Bentley became a separate ecclesiastical parish that it was able to perform all Anglican services.

The church was soon joined by a vicarage, and a Church Hall was built by 1914.

St Peter's Church and Church Hall, 1914.

St Philip & St James Church

The beginning of a new century brought many changes to Bentley; the catalyst for change came in 1908 with the opening of Bentley Colliery. Suddenly rural Bentley became a mining town and with it, scores of new miners and their families. Housing for this influx of people was provided by Barber Walker & Co (the colliery owners) with the construction of New Village. Over 400 houses were built by 1911; amenities in the form of shops, a school and recreational facilities were also provided. The only provision not made at this time was something to meet the religious needs of the incumbent families. Central Bentley was within easy reach, and by then a variety of religious houses had opened. The Wesleyan chapel on High Street, the Primitive Methodists on Cooke Street and the fifteen year old St Peter's church provided for the needs of the whole of Bentley. However, New Village did receive its own church just a few years later.

St Philip & St James Church

The South Yorkshire Coalfield Churches Extension Committee were looking to provide religious services for the new colliery districts by raising funds through donations to build churches. A plot of land on Victoria Road was donated by Barber Walker & Co, along with £1000 towards construction, as well as a promise to pay the salary of the new curate.

Parish Magazine of 1966. Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts.

The church of St Philip & St James, along with a church hall on the opposite side of the road, was built by May 1915. The design of the church matched others in the South Yorkshire Coalfield, such as those at New Edlington, New Rossington and Maltby.

Today, St Philip & St James is part of the Diocese of Sheffield and shares a vicar with All Saint's, Arksey.

Interior of St Philip & St James Church. Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts.

The Roman Catholic Church in Bentley

The only denomination not mentioned so far is that of the Roman Catholics. Finding any historical information on this Bentley church proved almost impossible, but that is no excuse to leave it out of this article.

Any trace of Roman Catholicism in Bentley before the 1920's is non-existent, so it cannot be determined if there was any such church or meeting place for the Catholic population leading up to that era.

The first mention of a Catholic church opening in Bentley is to be found in the booklet - Bentley Colliery & Bentley New Village, by Dave Fordham - where he mentions the opening of a Roman Catholic Church in the High Street in the 1920's. There is nothing more specific than that. 

The present Catholic church - Our Lady of Perpetual Help - at 54 High Street is a modern building dating from around 1960, so it is likely that the Catholics occupied another building in High Street before the present one was built. 

At around the same time as the Catholic Church opened in Bentley, a Roman Catholic school was also built just off Arksey Lane. With the completion of a new Secondary Modern School next to St Peter's church, it seemed that all Bentley's spiritual and educational needs were fulfilled.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, High Street, Bentley

  

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 Timeline of Bentley Churches

1790 - The first meetings of the Bentley Wesleyans held under a walnut tree on the village green.

1800 approx - Wesleyan meetings possibly held in a small chapel near the village green.

1810 - Primitive Methodists founded, possibly meeting in a chapel on Doncaster Road (High Street).

1818 - Wesleyan Chapel built on the corner of Cooke Street and Askern Road. Schoolroom added in 1871.

1819 approx - Primitive Methodists possibly move to old Wesleyan Chapel near village green. Old chapel on Doncaster Road (High Street) becomes a National School.

1857 - Primitive Methodist chapel built on Cooke Street, named 'Ebenezer Chapel', or 'Little Prims'. Schoolroom added in 1866.

1877 - Board School built on the village green to replace the National School. Building vacated by the National School (High Street) becomes an Anglican Mission Room.

1891 - Wesleyan Chapel built on High Street, opened 1892. Sunday Schoolroom added in 1933. Building for a new Anglican church, St Peter's gets underway.

1892 - Wesleyan Cooke Street Chapel closed, later becoming a joinery workshop. The Mission Room rebuilt on High Street. 

1896 - St Peter's Church licensed for most services, opens.

1898 - St Peter's fully licensed and Bentley becomes an ecclesiastical parish in its own right.

1899 - Bentley Road Primitive Methodist Chapel opened. Schoolroom added in 1952.

1915 - St Philip and St James Church on Victoria Road opens.

1916 - Bentley Baptist Church opens on Askern Road.

1920's - Roman Catholic Church opens on High Street (not the present building).

1932 - Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists merge to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

1960 approx - New Roman Catholic Church built on High Street.

1968 - Cooke Street Primitive Methodists amalgamate with the Wesleyans at High Street to form 'Bentley Central Methodist Church).

1979 - High Street Chapel replaced with new building. Bentley Road Primitive Methodists close their chapel and join High Street, which is renamed 'The Methodist Church in Bentley'.

1998 approx - Kingdom Hall opens on Church Street for the Jehovah's Witnesses.

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That concludes our look at the history of churches in Bentley. With life today full of stresses and strains it must be comforting to know that within one of these many houses of worship, there is still a place for quiet reflection, support and community strength.


*Images are taken with permission, from the book 'The Same Stars Shine', by Ernest N. and John A. Goodridge.

Methodist information taken from the book - '200 Years of Methodism in Bentley', by Glyn Ambrose, available for purchase at Bentley Community Library.




Alison Vainlo 2018

A Royal Visit to Bentley

February 7, 2019, 1:09 pm

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The car carrying King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in the Royal car at the Bentley Colliery offices. Photo courtesy of Tony Smith

The Day Bentley Colliery Welcomed the King and Queen 

Seventy five years ago on the 9th of February 1944 Bentley Colliery was honoured to receive a visit from Their Royal Highnesses King George VI and  Queen Elizabeth (latterly the Queen Mother). This is an account, in words and pictures, of that momentous day.

'MOST SECRET'

On the 29th of January 1944 a letter was sent to George Henry Huckerby, Secretary of the Bentley Branch of the Y.M.A. at Bentley Colliery. Labelled 'MOST SECRET', the letter informs Mr Huckerby of the impending visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen to Bentley Colliery on the 9th of February. The letter, from the Ministry of Fuel and Power in Leeds, goes on to give the time and duration of the visit, and tell Mr Huckerby that he and his wife will be presented to the Royal visitors. Gentlemen were requested to wear lounge suits. Right at the end Mr Huckerby is warned that for security reasons he should regard the letter as secret and not divulge the contents to unauthorised persons.

Letter sent to George Henry Huckerby

The Visit

Wednesday the 9th of February was a day filled with a full programme of colliery related visits in South Yorkshire for the King and Queen. The day began with their arrival at Wakefield (Westgate) Station at 10 a.m., from there they went on to the Rescue Station of the West Yorkshire Coalowners' Association, Wakefield. After a twenty minute visit they left for Bullcliffe Wood Re-instated Opencast Site, after which they visited Darton Colliery, south of Wakefield. 

At 11.30 a.m. the Royal party arrived at Barnsley Town Hall where various dignitaries were presented to them. On leaving Barnsley the Royal couple were driven through a small number of mining villages en-route to Wentworth Opencast Site for another short stop-over. 

A lengthy visit was taken at Elsecar Colliery, which included lunch in the colliery canteen. Following the visit to Elsecar, more mining villages were passed through before reaching Hickleton Colliery at 2.35 p.m.

At 2.50 p.m. the Royal party left Hickleton for their final visit of the day, to Bentley. Arriving at 3.25 p.m. 

For some Bentley folk, the wait to see the Royals was just too long. One local lad, Frank Clarke, was so fed up of waiting he set off for home, when hearing a commotion behind, he looked around to see the Royal cars coming down the road. The King and Queen waved to him stood on his own there. A nice memory for Frank, even if he did feel a little foolish at the time.

At Bentley Colliery number of dignitaries were presented to Their Majesties, among them were:

• Major Barber, D.S.O., Chairman, Messrs. Barber, Walker & Co. Ltd.
• Mr. C.W. Phillips, General Manager, Messrs. Barber, Wlaker & Co. Ltd.
• Mr. D. MacGregor, Assistant General Manager, Barber, Walker & Co. Ltd.
• Mrs. MacGregor.
• Mr H. Bailey, Delegate, Bentley Branch Y.M.A.
• Mrs. Bailey.
• Mr. J. Birks, Treasurer, Bentley Branch Y.M.A.
• Mr. T. Cook, Under Manager, Bentley Colliery.
• Mrs. Cook.
• Mr. G.H. Huckerby, Secretary, Bentley Branch Y.M.A.
• Mrs. Huckerby.
• Mr. J. Lea, Manager, Bentley Colliery.
• Mrs. Lea.
• Mr. E. Rose, President, Bentley Branch Y.M.A.
• Mrs. Rose.
• Mr. S.J. Temperley, Agent, Bentley Colliery.
• Mrs. Temperley.
• Mr. C. Wainwright, Member, Bentley Pit Production Committee.
• Mrs. Wainwright.

During the forty five minute visit, the Royal party toured the colliery surface and offices, the King swapping his Admiral-of-the-Fleet's uniform for a dust coat and flat cap.

There were stony faces all round when one member of the Royal party admitted that this mining business had him completely baffled - he wondered how the miners knew where to dig the hole to find the 'heap' of coal which they kept loading into wagons!

By 4.10 p.m. the visit was over and the Royal party left Bentley presumably to catch their train back to London from Doncaster station. 

After the Visit

Following the visit, a letter dated 22nd March 1944 was sent to George Henry Huckerby from Barber, Walker & Co. enclosing three photographs of the Royal visit.

Here are those three photos.

More photos courtesy of Tony Smith.

The official programme for the day.

Many thanks to Tony Smith for his photos. Thanks to Judith Davies for the story about her Dad, Frank Clarke. Thanks also to whoever donated the letters, programme and other photos, whose name I failed to record and cannot mention. Please let me know if you recognise sending me the images.

Alison Vainlo 2019

Bentley - Town of Sorrow

May 7, 2019, 1:58 pm

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Bentley Pit Disaster News Articles

Following the terrible underground explosion at Bentley Pit which claimed the lives of 45 men and boys in 1931, there were many stories in the national and local press telling of the horrific events of that day, the aftermath, and the suffering endured by the families left bereft, here are a few of those stories.

We start with a transcript of one story which was sent to me by Tom Booth (see photo above). The article appeared in Thomson's Weekly News on Saturday the 28th of November 1931, eight days after the disaster. The following is a copy of the transcript in full, and just a warning, it contains some very harrowing details.

Thomson's Weekly News - 28 November 1931

ARTICLE FROM 'THOMSON'S WEEKLY NEWS' - Saturday, 28th November, 1931 (pages 14 & 15)

43 LIVES LOST IN THE PIT DISASTER 

89 CHILDREN ROBBED OF FATHERS BY BENTLEY EXPLOSION

Sad eyed Mothers, and the future....

EPIC HEROISM IN UNDERGROUND INFERNO

43 men lost their lives and 6 others lie in Doncaster Royal Infirmary seriously injured as a result of an explosion at the Bentley Colliery, two miles from Doncaster.

16 men were killed outright. 22 died in the infirmary and 5 lie buried in a section of the Pit which has been sealed to prevent the spread of the flames which took toll on so many lives.

Harrowing scenes were witnessed at the Pithead as anxious relatives waited for news of their loved ones.

Bentley is a Town of sorrow and as a result of the Disaster 89 young children are left Fatherless. In 6 families - 2 of them in one street - there are more than 5 children.

Bentley is today the most tragic Town in the Country. Scarcely two months ago it was the scene of terrible flooding. More that a thousand of it's inhabitants were rendered homeless. For weeks they were housed in Schools and Clubs and distress abounded everywhere, and now this....

It was a Town of drawn window blinds into which I arrived. Tragedy seemed to lurk on every hand. It was writ plain on the faces of those I passed in the street and it shook the voices of those whom I spoke. Bentley will feel the effects of this tragedy for months to come, though efforts are already being made to alleviate the suffering which is bound to follow. It has been decided to open a Relief Fund.

This will be required to meet the distress and a fine lead has been given by the King and Queen, who have subscribed £1,000 and £50 respectively.

The Colliery Owners, Barber, Walker & Co., and the Yorkshire Mineworkers Association have promised £2,000 each. 

It is impossible adequately to describe the horror of, and the havoc which has been caused by this Disaster. There was a terrible explosion in one of the galleries of the Pit and the alarm was sounded. Men were rushed to the surface - there were nearly 1000 men working in the Colliery at the time - and they reached safety without mishap...., all but 48 (sic). 

MASS OF FLAMES

The galleries were a mass of flames - some of the men had been blown yards - none of the 48 (sic) had escaped. Those were the rumours which reached the waiting crowds. Horrified we hoped for a denial and feared a confirmation. Alas it was only too true. None of the men had escaped unscathed. 16 had been killed outright, the others were terribly burned - mutilated almost beyond recognition. So much so that we were dismayed, but not surprised, to hear that many died later in hospital.

No praise would have been too high for the heroism of the miners' wives. Midnight found them waiting round the Gates of the Colliery. Noon the following day and some were still standing. Waiting for news ... seemingly unwearied ... tense with anxiety I waited with them at the Pit Gates, wives and sweethearts as well ... Waited as the bodies were taken away in the ambulance. I was with them during the greater period of anxiety, when it was made known that the men were so mutilated as to be almost unrecognisable. I saw them try to go in and identify their loved ones, tense and alternatively hopeful and fearful.... and saw them coming out again broken inwardly with only their eyes giving evidence of the grief which tugged at their hearts. Pitifully heroic. I shall never forget their fortitude.

There were other deeds of heroism being enacted in another direction. Scores of men had volunteered to help in the rescue. Their courage in entering the inferno was magnificent. In the words of Mr. Herbert Smith, the veteran miners' leader, who took part in the rescue work, they thought only of their pals and not of themselves. Salvation Army Officers, Parsons in their shirt sleeves, all lent a hand and special praise must be given to three women who, with infinite tenderness helped to bandage the wounded and ease their sufferings.

WOMEN'S HEROISM

And when they had finished their administrations they walked quietly away without giving anyone their names.

Their identities however, have now been established. They are Mrs. Homer, of Daw Lane, Bentley, Mrs. Jones of Rostholme Square, Bentley and Mrs. Wadsworth, of Sprotborough Lane, Bentley, Nursing Sisters of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade. The fourth helper was Miss Crossby, of 56 Askern Road, Bentley, who is the Nurse of Bentley Colliery Nursing Association.

Those 4 women are deserving of all the praise that can be given, but when I visited them I found them anxious to avoid the limelight as much as possible. Modest and unassuming they insist that they only did their duty.

In this Disaster, which was marked by many deeds of heroism, the tribute which Mr. Joseph Jones, Secretary of the Local Branch of the Yorkshire Miners Association paid to Surveyor Temperley at the Inquest on the victims must be reiterated.

'Without rescue apparatus or anything to protect him', Mr. Jones said, 'Surveyor Temperley immediately he knew there were two men left and the likelihood that they might be alive, dashed in and brought one out'. 'No words can express our admiration for this particularly courageous act'.

The saddest street in Bentley, a Town of sad streets, is Hawthorne Grove. Between 2 houses 13 children have been left - 6 in one and 7 in the other. Most of them are too young fully to realise their loss and only the Mothers who have accepted their plight with stoic calm comprehend the greatness of the struggle which lies ahead. For in each case it is the sole breadwinner which has been taken.

No. 30 Hawthorne Grove was the humble home of William Ward, aged 41 years. Everything was clean and tidy when I called, apart from the discarded playthings of the children. They were lying as the 6 kiddies had left them before trooping off to bed.

Mrs. Ward stood before the fire disconsolate. she is bearing up bravely under the shock of her husband's death and in a low but steady voice she gave me some details of the plight in which she had been placed.

'Yes', she said, 'I have 6 children now to look after. They are not all mine. I have been married only a little over 3 years and have only a boy aged 2. The other children are my husband's by his first wife. But that does not matter does it? They are my responsibility now. The eldest of my husband's family is 17. He is learning to be a Jockey. The next child is 14 years. Soon he will be able to go to work and lend a hand.The others are 7, 9, 8 and 6. ................... I cannot tell you. I realise that a trying time lies ahead for all of us and I am fighting against my memories, but it is hard.... (section of type missing).... rushed to the Pithead as soon as I heard the news of the Disaster, and I waited there nearly distracted till midnight. It was terrible just to wait - to be unable to do anything to help. All I could do was to go on hoping, striving not to fear. Yet all the time I somehow felt that my husband had been terribly hurt. It came as a big shock when my next door neighbour came and broke the news to me. He is an ambulance man and had helped to bandage my husband.'

CHILDREN UNAWARE OF TRAGEDY

Just across the road in No. 23 Hawthorne Grove there is a family in as sorry a plight. 7 children have been left and it was a pitiful sight to see them grouped round their Mother, some of them understanding, some of them not, that their father, Joseph William Grain, aged 35, would never return.

'This has been a terrible blow', Mrs. Grain said. 'Some of my children do not yet know what has happened. They are too young to understand. My youngest child is only 4 and my eldest 12. 2 of the 6 girls are twins and there is only one boy, so you have some idea of the plight I am in. None of them will be able to go to work for long enough and my husband was the only one who brought in an income. How I shall manage I do not know - I scarcely dare think'.

I left this house of suffering to visit the home of John Brett in New Street. Last week this house abounded with happiness, for another baby was born, a girl, making the family 6, all of whom are very young.

Mrs. Brett, I was told by her Sister, was bearing the blow remarkably well. 'It is going to be a terrible struggle for her', the Sister said. 'She is too weak yet to fully understand her position and we are trying to keep her mind off it for the present. She has no Parents to depend on and now that the breadwinner has been taken away I do not know what she is going to do to tend to the needs of her family'.

Those who were at the Inquest found it hard to restrain from tears. It was a pathetic sight - this sad procession of grief stricken men and women to and from the witness box.

The proceedings were conducted in a very sympathetic manner. Evidence of identification only was asked for and this was given haltingly, almost in a whisper. And as one sobbing woman after another told of how she was left with a large family the intensity and far reaching effects of this Disaster became more and more apparent.

'I have 7 children', came in a whisper from Mrs. Eve Atkinson, and when I saw her after she told me that her eldest, a girl of 14, was ready for work. She has now no income of any kind coming into the house.

'My daughter has been left school a fortnight and although she has searched high and low for work, she has been unable to find any. It will be 4 years yet before my youngest child, a boy, will be able to go to work and how we are going to manage I do not know. I have never had an opportunity to save money. We have only just managed to keep out of debt. And now as I have no friends or relatives in a position to assist me the outlook is very black'.

The courage with which the injured men suffered their pain was remarkable, judging from the story Mrs. Atkinson told me. Her husband was one of those who died in the infirmary and although mortally wounded he greeted her quite cheerfully when she went to visit him.

'I could not wait with the others at the Pithead after the explosion', Mrs. Atkinson continued. 'My children demanded my attention. But when I learnt that my husband had been seriously injured I hurried to the Infirmary at the earliest possible minute'. 'It is like new wine to see you again lass', was the remark with my husband greeted me and when I asked him how he was feeling he replied, 'I shall get better, I have got the guts'. Such was his confidence that I felt sure he would.''When I rose to go I gave him a little kiss'. 'Give me a real one lass', he begged. 'I did and as I walked away he asked me to be sure and come the following day. Naturally I went to see him again as he had asked and I found him as confident as ever. Yet I had not long returned home from this second visit when a Policeman came and told me my husband had died. I could scarcely believe it'.

FOUND HIS OWN SON

One Father experienced the terrible ordeal of finding his own son. He is the Father of Clifford Hayes, aged 25, of Cross Street, and he is a member of the Ambulance Brigade. He was working at the Colliery at the time the alarm was sounded. He was startled to hear that the explosion had occurred in the section where his son was at work.

'I cannot realise it yet', Mr. Hayes said in recounting his experiences to me. His son's young wife sat on a sofa unable to speak.

'No-one who was not down the Mine at the time could realise the horror of the scene', Mr. Hayes continued. 'Everywhere there was dust and the smell of fire, I passed men terribly mutilated, suffering severe agonies. They struggled on the stretchers on which they were carried and some had to be strapped down. Yet, in a way, I seemed blind to all this. I was near to being inhuman. 15 such men I passed, some of them beyond suffering, and then I came across the body of my own son. He was not so badly wounded as some, but yet he was terribly mutilated. I stopped when I reached him. I did not want to go any further. In fact I could not. I just waited with him and went with him to the hospital, but he was beyond aid'.

And so it goes on. I could write indefinitely of the train of tragedies which this Disaster has left behind - of two brothers both married whose lives were claimed; of how one of the brothers William Pritchett aged 46 of Balfour Road, Bentley, was reluctant to go to work that morning; of the other brother Joseph aged 52 (recorded as 53 on his memorial), of The Avenue, Bentley, who leaves 7 grown up children; of how the sons of both had worked hard, hand in hand, till they were ready to drop in an effort to reach their Fathers; and of how another woman, Mrs. Womack, of 9 Fisher Street, Bentley had been left with 6 children ranging from 3 years to 21 years, only two of whom are working.

Still there is another sad delight on the Disaster which calls for special mention - the revelation that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Laughton of Brighton Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent, mourned a double bereavement. Their younger son Harold died in the Infirmary from the injuries he sustained in the explosion and when in Doncaster the grief stricken parents received word that another son, Arthur Laughton, aged 39, of Water Street, Fenton, had committed suicide. (Name recorded on memorial spelled 'Lawton').

Not long after he heard of his brother's death, Laughton's clothing was found on the towing path of the canal and it was stated at the inquest that when his body was recovered it was naked. The ankles were tied together and one end of a noose which was found about his neck was tied to his knees. 'Suicide whilst temporarily of unsound mind' was the verdict.

32 of the victims have been buried together in one common grave and the funeral procession to their last resting place was one of the most touching Yorkshire has ever known. The grave was 36' square and the coffins were laid side by side. Later each will be surmounted by a memorial. 

The remainder of the dead are being buried in private graves. 3 of the victims will find their resting places at their native districts in Cumberland, Wales and at Goldthorpe.

Note: The number of victims was revised up to 45 following two later deaths.

With thanks to Tom Booth

__________

From an unconfirmed publication, possibly the Daily Mail. Tuesday 24th November 1931.

BENTLEY PIT DISASTER

_____

Death Toll Increased to 43

The long death roll in the Bentley Colliery disaster was added to to-day. Thomas Brown, aged 61, of Wainwright-road, Doncaster, died in Wood-street Hospital, bringing to total of dead to 43.

Six men are still in the Infirmary at Doncaster, and a 'Mail' representative was informed today that two or three of them are in a dangerous or critical condition.

FUNERAL PLANS

The final plans for the burial of the victims have been made. The bodies will be taken to Arksey Cemetery at noon to-morrow and placed in one large grave.

The coffins will be taken from the hospital and the colliery to the Mission Church of St. Philip and St. James in the new village of Bentley, and the funeral procession will go from there to the cemetery.

The service will be brief and simple and will be conducted by the clergy and ministers of various denominations.

Three of the victims were Roman Catholics and their bodies will rest to-night before the Altar in the Lady Chapel of St. Peter's Church, Doncaster.

£40,000 NEEDED

The men at the collieries in Yorkshire have been asked by their leaders to try and make a contribution of about £5,000 to the fund for the families of their dead comrades.

It is stated that at least £40, 000 will be required to alleviate the distress.

Note: Mr Brown was recorded here wrongly as 'Thomas', his name  was actually John Baden Powell Brown.  

__________

From an unknown publication. Wednesday 25th November 1931.

PIT DISASTER VICTIMS BURIED

_____

ONE GRAVE FOR 32 MEN

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Village in Mourning

_____

The blinds of every house and shop in Bentley and district were drawn to-day, and the whole village was in mourning. 

The men who lost their lives in the colliery disaster were during the afternoon laid to rest side by side in the cemetery at Arksey, within sight of the pit which they had descended so often.

A heavy grey sky created a damp bluish mist which helped to intensify the feeling of dreariness and desolation in the village.

At an early hour here people began to make their way along the road to Bentley. They went to pay homage to the dead. The road from the new village of Bentley to Arksey Cemetery, a distance of a mile and a half, along which the sad funeral procession passed, was lined with silent folks.

A special body of police controlled the traffic arrangements.

Of the 43 men who lost their lives, 32 were taking the long last journey together.

Five men lie imprisoned in the depths of the pit where they lost their lives, but a little lot is being made sacred by the side of their comrades in the cemetery and on it will be placed a tombstone bearing their names.

The bodies of the five men who died during the week-end are being laid to rest in their native places in different parts of the country, and it is likely that Tom Brown, who died only yesterday, will also be given a private funeral.

Huge Crowds

Three hours before the funeral cortege was due to reach the cemetery 2000 people surrounded the wide open grave lined with evergreens.

A dense dumb-stricken crowd lined the route, ten deep, silent and reverent. The police estimated that they numbered quite 30, 000.

Hundreds had come from mining districts in distant parts of Yorkshire. Charabancs poured into the village and crowded cars stretched for mile after mile.

Ambulance men and women were in duty along the routes. At various points were first-aid tents, fully equipped and staffed with doctors and nurses ready to render assistance to the fainting women and children, who were continuously being brought to them.

In the Church

In the soft half light of the little church of St Philip's at Bentley, from which the procession started, the coffins lay in long rows hidden beneath thousands of wreaths.

Only the close relatives of the dead were allowed within the church.

The coffins were carried from the church by ambulance men and amid a profound silence were placed on huge motor lorries bearing the wreaths. Wonderful floral creations were piled high on triangular stands mounted on the lorries.

The floral tributes were tokens of the vast wave of grief and pity which had passed over the whole of the Yorkshire coalfields.

About (illegible) of the family mourners followed behind their dead. Then came officials of the Yorkshire Miners' Association and representatives of the colliery company. 

__________ 

From an unknown publication.

A CHILD'S SECRET

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POIGNANT TRAGEDY OF THE PIT DISASTER

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DYING GIRL ASKS FOR DYING FATHER

How a dying girl in the Doncaster New Infirmary asked for her father, who had promised her a present, but was dying in the old institution from injuries received in the Bentley Colliery disaster when rescuing a comrade, was revealed yesterday.

The father, Arthur Kirkland, of Bentley-road Doncaster, one of the heroes of the disaster, and his wife regularly visited their 11-year old daughter, Mary, in the hospital until Friday, when he was badly injured in the explosion, and was taken to hospital.

With wonderful fortitude Mrs. Kirkland visited her husband and child in the two institutions. Mary had been promised a gift by her father on the day of the explosion, and when her mother visited her the next day the girl's first question was "Where is daddy?"

"WHEN DADDY COMES"

With great difficulty the mother evaded the question, but Mary  then asked for the gift her father had promised her. Mrs. Kirkland, not knowing what had been promised, did her best to find out from Mary what the gift was to be, only to be met with the reply, "You will see what it is daddy is going to give me when he comes with it."

"Daddy" never came, and the child grew worse. She died without receiving the promised gift. Her death was kept from her father, who died yesterday, and the little girl never knew why her father had ceased to visit her.

Father and daughter will be buried in the little cemetery at Arksey, near Doncaster, on Monday, where the majority of the miners who died are buried.

___________

From an unknown publication. Thursday 26th November 1931.

BENTLEY RELIEF FUND

The 44th victim of the Bentley Colliery disaster, Arthur Kirkland, was buried at Arksey Cemetery, near Doncaster, yesterday in the presence of 2,000 people. In the same grave was buried his eleven-years-old daughter, Mary, who died in the same infirmary a day before her father, who until the end was in ignorance of her death.

The Bentley Colliery disaster relief fund reached £13,000 yesterday, and further substantial sums are promised, including £2,000 from the South Yorkshire Coal Trades Association and £50 from Mr. J. T. Downing owner of North Drift, the winner of the Manchester November Handicap.

Note: Arthur and Mary Kirkland are buried in section C, plots 388 and 389, a few yards away from the Pit Disaster Memorial.

__________

From an unknown publication.

BENTLEY DISASTER RELIEF FUND

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MAYOR OF DERBY TO FORWARD DERBY CONTRIBUTIONS

The Mayor of Derby, Alderman W. H. Salisbury, has undertaken to forward to the promoters of the Doncaster Mansion House Fund for the sufferers in the Bentley disaster any donations which Derby people may desire to contribute.

An appeal is issued by Mr. A. Thompson, Mayor of Doncaster; Mr. L. Massarella, chairman of Bentley with Arksey Urban Council; and Mr. W. Bagshaw, town clerk of Doncaster. 

The fund is for 150 dependents of victims.

__________

From an unknown publication. 1932.

COLLIERY DISASTER HERO DEAD.

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Within Few Days of Carnegie Award Announcement

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Mr. S. Watkinson, of Arksey, near Doncaster, who was one of the heroes of the Bentley Colliery disaster, died in Doncaster Infirmary last night.

A year ago last November, when 45 men and boys lost their lives in an explosion at Bentley Colliery, Watkinson took [a] prominent part in the rescue work and was so severely burned that his life was in danger for several weeks. He recovered was discharged, and resumed work.

Last week he was severely injured in a fall of roof at Bentley Colliery.

Three days before this accident his name figured in a list of 12 men whom the Carnegie Trust intimated they intended to recognise for their gallantry in the explosion by awarding them certificates and grants of £20.

__________  

Alison Vainlo 2019

A History of Toll Bar

July 7, 2019, 3:52 am

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Askern Road, Toll Bar, about 1914

Toll Bar is a relatively young village which grew out of a necessity for extra housing. Following the population explosion which came hot on the heels of the sinking of Bentley Colliery, new housing was a priority, and the area around an old toll house on the main road to Selby became a brand new community in the Bentley area. Here we examine its origins, growth and key events in its history.

Where is Toll Bar?

Toll Bar would be built within the red ringed area above. Map of north Doncaster 1772

Toll Bar today lies between Adwick le Street in the north west, Shaftholme in the east and Bentley in the south, with Bentley Moor to the north. All that exists on this map of 1772 (above) is a rough track, or road heading north out of Bentley to serve a number of settlements between Bentley and Selby. 

What is evident from this map is that this road, which seems to branch off into a myriad of small lanes, was not suitable as a through road to Selby and York. Mail coaches tended to use the Great North Road which meant York was often missed out with coaches stopping instead in Wetherby or Boroughbridge. 

The Turnpike Road

It was proposed that a new road be built to provide a direct route to Selby and York from Doncaster. This was made possible by the passing of the Doncaster to Selby Turnpike Act of 1832. The new road, which would intersect the already turnpiked Great North Road at Bridge Foot (Don Bridge), would travel north through the centre of Bentley village, emerging on to Askern Road and would continue all the way to Selby.

Part of the proposed route of the new turnpike road (in green)

Turnpike roads became more common in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Charging travellers to pass along a turnpiked road provided funds for the upkeep and repairs of the road surface, however, the quality of roads varied greatly. Gradually, as methods of road construction was advanced by pioneers such as Thomas Telford and John Loudon McAdam, highways improved, allowing faster, more comfortable travel.

The word 'turnpike' referred to a 'gate' or 'bar' across the road to stop carriages etc until a toll was paid at a specially erected toll house.

As well as toll houses turnpike roads were also required to have milestones erected displaying distances between major towns. A milestone can be seen indicated on the 1904 map (see below, and on larger map further below), just south of the Bentley Moor area. The stone does not seem to exist now, but there is a surviving example on the Great North Road near to the Morrison's store.

Milestone indicator on the 1904 map

Milestone on the Great North Road

The Toll House

1904 map showing the location of the toll house

Toll houses were built along turnpike roads to collect payments from travellers. These houses also provided accommodation for the pikeman and his family. These buildings are distinctive for the prominent bay frontages which gave the pikeman a good view of the road and allowed for the display of the tollboard.

A toll house was built roughly three miles north of Doncaster in 1832 at the same time as the road to Selby was turnpiked (see maps above and below). 

Section of turnpike road showing the toll house in some detail, from a map of 1891

The old toll house in its later guise as a club

Records of toll collectors can be found in the censuses starting in 1841. In that census Benjamin Hird (35) was the collector, he lived there with his wife Mary (30) and daughter Sarah (10). Interestingly, the record names the property as 'Hall Villa Bar', no doubt taken from nearby Hall Villa farm.

1841 census record for Hall Villa Bar

In 1851 it was Edward Hinville (67) in charge of collecting tolls. He lived there with his wife Hannah (50), and sons Edward (20) and William (18). 

1851 census record for Hall Villa Bar

By 1861 James Bashforth (48) had taken over as toll collector. His wife was Sarah (48) and they had three children, William (13), Hannah (11) and Charles (7).

1861 census record for Hall Villa Toll Bar

James Bashforth had an extended stay at the toll house compared to those who came earlier. He is recorded as a toll collector and a cordwainer (shoe maker) on the 1871 census.

1871 census for Hall Villa

By 1881 and the next census, James Bashforth had returned to his native Barnsley where he was working as a coal miner. 

From 1881 no toll collectors are listed on the census records, so it might be the case that by that time toll collecting had ceased. It was during this decade that an act was passed seeing the responsibility of turnpike roads handed back to County Councils, therefore ending the trusts. 

On the electoral register for 1900 there is an entry for 'Hall Villa Barhouse', which was occupied by Harkham Horne. Looking at the census records for Horne, we find him in 1881 at Hall Villa, presumably at the old toll house, aged 37. A decade earlier he had been living in Walkeringham, Nottinghamshire, so 1881 is the first census we pick him up in the Doncaster area. Horne, who was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, was married to Mary (38) and they had a twelve year old daughter Ann. Horne worked as a brickmaker, and as we will see from the following chapter, brickmaking was a prevalent occupation in the Bentley Moor area. 

The Horne's lived at the old toll house until 1901 before moving to Tickhill Road, Doncaster.

As housing began to surround the old toll house it was converted for use as a club and became the Askern Road Working Men's Club and Institute. 

The old toll house in the 1980's, when it was Toll Bar Motors Photo courtesy of Miriam Harrison

It is unclear when the toll house went out of use as a club, but by 1928 there was another club on the opposite side of Askern Road.

The toll house still survives to this day and can be found on the corner of Askern Road and Prospect Road. It is currently in use as an auto paint shop.

Other Industry in the Area

Bentley Moor in 1904

A little further north of the old toll house lies Bentley Moor. A sparsely populated area between Adwick le Street and Tilts. To the south lay Hall Villa; this was a farm dating back into the 1700's. Parish records begin mentioning Hall Villa in 1799, when a Thomas Crookes lived there, but it could have been in existence earlier than that and just not named in the parish records. Unlike other farm buildings and dwellings in the area, there is no indication of a building shown there on the 1772 map, so this may mean we can place the date of Hall Villa Farm between 1772 and 1799. Hall Villa is said to have been owned by the Hall family, which is probably where the name came from. There are a huge number of parish records for the Hall family, dating back to the 1560's, but nothing to tie them to that particular farm. Again, this could just mean that the property wasn't mentioned in their records.

Hall Villa Farm on a map of 1891

We know that Hall Villa was a farm from information in the census records. John Footitt (33) was the farmer there in 1841; he lived there with his wife and four children. Also listed are five farm labourers, one with a family of his own, so the farm must have been of considerable size. John Footitt was most probably a tenant farmer, renting from the landowner, but unfortunately neither the census records nor the electoral register tell us who owned the farm at that time.

William Addeman and his family took over Hall Villa Farm in 1846, staying there until 1864, when Richard Addeman (possibly William's son) took over, however from the electoral registers of 1863, the owner of the farm is listed as William Charles Anderson of York.

Richard Addeman appears on the electoral registers until 1870, then the only listing up to 1877 is that of the owner, William Anderson.

In 1878 James Clark is listed as the occupier of Hall Villa Farm. James was born in 1839 in Adwick le Street. His wife was Eliza, born in 1837 and they had six children. The Clarks occupied Hall Villa Farm until James died in October 1913. 

It is unclear who occupied the farm after the Clarks as the electoral registers become too big to search without a name to go on. However, the farm is shown on maps right up to 1952, so it was probably demolished some time after then. All that remains of Hall Villa Farm today is the name 'Hall Villa', given to the lane running from Askern Road to Tilts. 

Brick Making

During the mid 19th century there was a rise in demand for bricks and drainage pipes due to the building of the railways. The abundance of suitable clay in the Bentley area led to a number of brick yards beginning operations. These brick yards, or kilns can be found on maps of the time, and in the Bentley with Arksey parish there were four such brick making facilities at different times; the Tuffield brick yard was located at Arksey and is now the Willow Garth fishing pond. There was another at Tilts Hills, a third was on Bentley Moor Lane, and a later brick yard was located on Adwick Lane.

Bentley Moor Brick Kiln (top left) 1854 (Bentley Moor Lane was named 'Duffield Lane' at this time)

Site of the Bentley Moor Brick Kiln in 1891

The 1851 census lists George Wilkinson (42) as the brick maker at Bentley Moor; he had a wife, Hannah (42) and three children, Martha (17), William (14) and Eliza (12). Also employed at the brick kiln was George Greaves (18) who must have lodged with the family to be named on the census.

The Wilkinsons could not be found on the next census of 1861, and the brick kiln seems to have gone out of use around this time. On a map of 1891 the site now has a building, which on later maps is referred to as 'Bentley Grange' and seems to have been a farm. The old clay pit is shown as a pond which still exists today. 

Later maps show a brick yard at a site on Adwick Lane, this was a later concern which seems to have gone out of use by the time the 1904 map was produced as it is referred to as the 'Old Brick Yard' (see below). In the chapter on the toll house (above), it was mentioned that Harpham Horne, who lived at the toll house from 1881 was a brick maker. It is almost certain he would have been working at the Adwick Lane yard. The Horne's left the toll house in 1901 which probably coincided with the demise of the brick yard.

The lake that was left behind after the brick yard closed down was popular with local anglers, but was filled in around the time of the Second World War as the condition of the water was seen as a health hazard.

The site was later used as a refuse dump, but is now in use as a football ground.

1904 map showing both brick yards

The Adwick Lane Brick Yard in 1891

The Building of Toll Bar Village 

Up to 1911 the only house standing on the old turnpike road was the toll house, however, during the years leading up to the First World War traditional terraced housing began to be constructed on either side of the road. The demand for housing in the Bentley area rose considerably with the opening of Bentley Colliery, and desperate miners were paying £5 for a key before foundations had even been laid. 

The new settlement growing around the old toll house was named 'Toll Bar' after the toll house. An ambitious plan to build 477 houses at Toll Bar was unveiled in 1912, however, the scheme failed to attract enough investors as the cost of building houses was rising rapidly. 

In the end around 400 houses were built behind the main road, forming the residential streets of Coney Road, Manor Road, Grange Road and Prospect Road, further housing was built on Adwick Lane. The houses off the main road were built to a very poor standard and were demolished in 1970/71 when the Manor Estate on the opposite side of Askern Road was built.

'Owston Road', the former name of Askern Road around 1914.

Shops and amenities began to appear to serve the growing village. The first shop was J M Cooper's grocers and off licence (seen in the photo above), later this was joined by a Post Office and a branch of the Doncaster Mutual Co-operative Society in 1913. The main road through Toll Bar was originally named 'Owston Road', but by 1915 this had been changed to Askern Road - an extension of the Askern Road from Bentley. In 1952 the route through Toll Bar became part of the A19 trunk road between Doncaster and the Newcastle area. 

The old Co-operative building Photo courtesy of Keith Wilburn

During the following decade businesses in Toll Bar continued to grow and a thriving village soon emerged. Looking at the trade directories for 1927 shows just how many varied business concerns had opened in the village; the following is taken from Kelly's Directory:

Commercial

Askern Road Working Men's Club (Lewis Rigby sec), Toll Bar

Birchfield, William, beer retailer, Toll Bar

Britton, Harry, shopkeeper 

Clarke, Alec, farmer

Clay, Herbert, fried fish dealer

Fretwell, Rupert, shopkeeper

Gledhill, Frederick, shopkeeper

Grimmett, Thomas, greengrocers
Hall Villa Working Men's Club (G. Kerry secretary)
Hardy, George, shopkeeper
Hartshorn, Kate Olive (Mrs), draper and post office
Hughes, John Thomas, grocer
Jackson, Margaret (Mrs), newsagent
Minor, Edward, shopkeeper
Pearson, William, butcher
Roughton, Thomas Albert, shopkeeper
Russell and Russell Ltd, furniture dealers
Russell, Leonard, hairdresser
Sparrow, George, butcher
Stables, Flora (Mrs), grocer.

The School Strike

Striking school children in 1913

The one thing early Toll Bar lacked was a school. This meant that children had to trudge around a mile each way to attend lessons in Bentley. The road conditions at this time were terrible due to all the construction going on, from buildings, to sewers and to the railway line separating Toll Bar from Bentley.

In 1913, parents believed they were not receiving an adequate return for the rates they paid by not having a local school, and becoming concerned that their children were spending all day at school in wet, muddy clothes, a large majority of them stopped their children from attending school until a new school was provided for Toll Bar. 

Children being escorted to school in Bentley during the strike

Those children who were willing to make the journey during the strike were escorted by a policeman to and from school. The photo above was taken on the junction of Askern Road and Ansdell Road in Bentley, looking towards Toll Bar.

The strike proved successful and a temporary school was provided while a more permanent school was being built. The new school opened in September 1914.

A modern photo of Toll Bar School from Keith Wilburn

Toll Bar Chapel

Toll Bar Chapel in 1967

A new Primitive Methodist chapel was proposed for Toll Bar early in 1913. Meetings were currently being held in a member's cottage, but the congregation was quickly outgrowing the premises, so the South Yorkshire Primitive Methodist Mission planned to build a chapel suitable for 300 persons.

The new chapel was to be built opposite the old toll house, which was being used as a working men's club. The wooden framed structure would have asbestos panels and be lined with match board, and with brick foundations, it was believed to be the first building in the district constructed with these materials. The size of the chapel was to be 60ft long by 28ft wide and be 20ft in height.

Toll Bar Primitive Methodist Chapel

The interior would consist of a primary meeting room, vestry and kitchen, and would cost about £300 to build.

The stone-laying ceremony took place on the 20th of April 1913, and the opening ceremony was held on the 22nd of June 1913, which had a large attendance. The total cost of the chapel, including the seating came in at £671, considerably more than the estimated £300. 

The Sunday School held their first anniversary celebrations in July 1913. The congregation, which was still too large for the chapel sat outside in the sunshine. The event was marked by guest speakers and the children singing.

First anniversary of Toll Bar Methodist Sunday School, July 1913 Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

Over the course of the next 54 years, Toll Bar Methodist Chapel provided for the religious needs of the residents as well as putting on an array of social events, but by 1967 it was becoming clear that the building was suffering from a lack of repairs. There were holes in the floorboards, a bulge in one of the walls and no heating. Only one service a month was being conducted, as well as a Sunday School and midweek choir practice. It was closed down and became derelict, only to be destroyed by fire a couple of years later. 

The Horror of the Floods of 1932 

The worst floods ever witnessed in the Bentley area came in 1932 and Toll Bar bore the brunt of it.

1931/32 was a very bad couple of years for Bentley, the colliery had suffered a terrible loss at the end of 1931 when 45 men and boys were killed in an underground explosion. The pit disaster occurred just a couple of months after a serious flood inundated the village. However, it was in May 1932 that Bentley and its surrounding villages suffered the most devastating floods ever to hit the area.

Askern Road, Toll Bar 1932

The flooding was caused by unprecedented rainfall which began on Friday the 20th of May. Following thirty hours of continuous rainfall millions of gallons of water flooded down the Don Valley, causing rivers to burst their banks.

People were caught out with little or no warning and were soon rendered homeless as villages were cut off, farms and houses stood isolated and hundreds of acres of land were filled with standing water.

Flooded Askern Road, Toll Bar May 1932 Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning

By Monday 23rd of May the water was still rising and horses were struggling in the depths of the flood and carts were beginning to sway badly, so boats were rushed to the area. The following night, Tuesday the 24th, was a night of terror for many as the water rose still further. Main roads in Bentley were flooded to a depth of six feet, while houses in side roads were filled to a depth of nine or ten feet. This was also the case in Toll Bar and the situation was so serious that government officials toured the area. 

The people of Toll Bar began to move their possessions to their upper floors at the first sign of flooding. The side roads flooded to a depth of four feet before there was much water on the main road. At first the residents were reluctant to leave their homes, but rising water caused them to realize the seriousness of the situation. Bentley Council provided a number of horses and drays to rescue the marooned and carry people in and out of the village. 

Prospect Road, Toll Bar, 1932 Photo courtesy of Bob Lord

Tuesday the 24th of May was catastrophic for Toll Bar, water draining down from other areas rushed into the village that evening and the flood waters rose rapidly. Rising to beyond Bentley Moor Lane, Askern Road and Adwick Lane became impassable.

Rescue efforts required residents to get into small boats with a few personal items and some articles of bedding. They were then rowed three quarters of a mile where they had to leave the boats and walk over the long railway bridge to the Bentley side and waiting rafts. There they would be carried a further third of a mile to the landing stage.

Askern Road, Toll Bar 1932 Photo courtesy of Bob Lord

Those people trapped in their houses required provisions, and tradespeople carried on as best they could; by means of boats and carts they reached dry land to get what they could whenever possible. Delivering fresh water and food to marooned residents cost an already overstretched Bentley Council £4 a day.

It was estimated that around 5,000 acres of land was flooded in the Bentley area and around 1,000 houses inundated, affecting 4,000 residents and forcing 500 inhabitants out of their homes and into temporary accommodation in Bentley's schools.

The aftermath of the flood in Toll Bar, 1932

The matter of the floods was brought up in the House of Commons on the 30th of May 1932. Eventually, after some wrangling over costs and responsibilities, and a further flood in early 1933 (the third in eighteen months), the Doncaster Area Drainage Act was passed which brought an end to the misery of flooding. 

However, that wasn't the end of the story; in March 1947 the Bentley area once again sank beneath rising flood waters. This time it was a rapid thaw from the deep snowdrifts of that harsh winter that caused the problems. Thankfully, since then Bentley has kept it's feet dry, that was until the year 2007, when a freak weather event brought memories of those earlier floods back to reality. 

More 1932 flood photos at the end.

The Floods of 2007

Toll Bar underwater, June 2007

Rain began to fall on South Yorkshire on Sunday the 24^th of June; it rained heavily all night and all the next day. Sheffield and Leeds were the first to suffer, large parts of both cities were flooded, but Doncaster only had some localised flooding at first. 

It wasn’t until Tuesday the 26^th of June that Doncaster became the main focus of concern. The Ulley Reservoir Dam near Rotherham was near to collapse and the fear was that if it went, a tidal wave would surge down the river Don and flood large parts of Doncaster and the lower Don Valley. Residents of Scawthorpe, Bentley and Arksey were advised to evacuate but efforts to reinforce the dam worked and the threat was lifted. Despite this, enormous volumes of water draining from the upper Don Valley were now finding their way into rivers, becks and drains at lower levels. 

During the night of the 26^th and 27^th the Ea Beck which runs through Bentley to Toll Bar had burst its banks and people had to be evacuated from Toll Bar and Thorpe-in-Balne.

Askern Road, Toll Bar in flood

During Wednesday the 27^th the situation became steadily worse, Toll Bar was under five feet of water and Bentley was starting to be affected too. Many of Toll Bar’s residents were taken to Adwick where a well organised relief centre had been set up at the leisure centre. In Arksey, people were warned to evacuate as a precaution. Those who could make their own way out went to Adwick Leisure Centre, while the elderly were taken there by other means. 
                                                                                           

Unfortunately, to add to people’s misery, stories of looting in Toll Bar began to emerge; as properties were left abandoned thieves started to move in and the police had to patrol in boats to protect the empty houses and shops.

By Thursday the 28^th of June Bentley High Street was under three feet of water and the whole of Bentley Road, from the Town End roundabout to the end of Arksey Lane was closed. Land around the old Thorpe Marsh Power Station was also flooded, and although the power station was now disused, the electricity sub station was still operational and there was a real danger of water getting in and cutting supplies of electricity to a large part of north east Doncaster. 

Toll Bar by boat

The army, fire services and council worked tirelessly to prevent further disasters, sand bags were flown in to reinforce the river banks. The fire service, including many extra teams from around the country used hundreds of hoses to pump water away from key areas. 

By Friday the 29^th of June Toll Bar and Bentley were headline news nationally, the situation was equally as serious as in 1932 and just like that event, government officials visited. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who had just taken over from Tony Blair, visited Toll Bar, and a few days later HRH Prince Charles also took the boat trip through the flooded streets of Toll Bar.

HRH Prince Charles visits flood stricken Toll Bar

While all this was going on Arksey remained dry, the village was surrounded by water but, apart from a little localised flooding on Marsh Lane, all properties were spared. By Sunday the 1^st of July the residents of Arksey had all moved back home. People in Toll Bar and Bentley were not so lucky though. By the Sunday all the water had been pumped out of Bentley High Street but lots of businesses had to start the process of drying out and repairing the damage. In Toll Bar the situation was much worse, the water, which was eight feet deep at its highest stayed for a whole week before the pumps started to make a difference. Many hundreds of people were homeless so the council built and provided a temporary caravan site so that residents could live nearby while their houses were renovated.

It would be close to eighteen months before everyone got back in their homes, many were not insured and faced hardship. The story of Toll Bar was not forgotten by the news teams who visited during the floods, BBC Look North produced a DVD telling the story of the floods and the proceeds of sales went to the flood relief fund. In another TV programme, DIY SOS, the team visited Toll Bar to renovate the home of a local foster carer and they also renovated Toll Bar Club clubhouse as a gift to the whole community.

BBC's DIY SOS team

Since the floods action has been taken to prevent a repeat performance, but I don’t think you’ll hear anyone saying ‘It won’t happen again’, that might just tempt fate.  

2007 floods, first published on Arksey Village, A History 12 July 2012  By Alison Vainlo

Photos of Toll Bar

V E Day in Toll Bar Photo courtesy of Dawn Lisa Appleyard

Toll Bar Youth Team, July 1941, Toll Bar School Photo courtesy of Pat Cuckson

Toll Bar scrapyard 1970 Photo courtesy of Veronica and Terry Braithwaite

Grange Road Toll Bar, early 1960's Unknown contributor

Askern Road, Toll Bar, 1932 Photo courtesy of Dennis Canning

Askern Road 1932 Photo courtesy of Bob Lord

As above

As above

Backs of Coney Road, Toll Bar 1932

Grange Road, Toll Bar 1932

As above

Manor Road, Toll Bar 1932 Photo courtesy of Bob Lord

Askern Road, Toll Bar 1932 W. Birchfield beer retailer in the background

Toll Bar School 1932

Old toll house 1932 Photo courtesy of Lorraine Bolger

Many thanks to all contributors.


Alison Vainlo 2019