EARBY CHRONICLES

Edition 27 £1.50 free to members of the society

NEW ROAD CENTRE AUTUMN FAIR

A lovely warm autumn morning brought out the crowds, to New Road Community Centre, Earby, for a bumper Autumn Fair, this year themed on the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The Society used the occasion to launch its The Society aims: latest publication ‘Earby in Bygone Days’ by James Lindley and was to raise awareness, delighted when it sold the whole of the first print run before the end of the foster an interest and facilitate research event. into the heritage of Earby and district The local papers covered the event and our launch and we were delighted including Thornton in Craven, Sough, that Squire Firth agreed to be photographed. Squire is a descendant of Kelbrook, Harden, James Lindley Hague and and has Salterforth. contributed a OFFICIALS lot to the Chairman : Society as a Bob Abel phone 01282 843850 member of the committee. Secretary : Margaret Brown The new book phone 01282 843932 made £181.50 Treasurer : and the pick a Helen Horner stick game at phone 01282 843850 10p a go a Programme Secretary welcome £13.80 Sue Janion for the coffers. phone 01282 843992 Squire Firth, a descendant of James Lindley, at the launch of the book Photograph courtesy of Craven Herald and Pioneer Liaison Officer: Trevor Tattersall phone 01282 842819 One further success on the day was for our Chairman Bob Abel, who won Archivist: Margaret Greenwood phone 01282 843394 recent talks & features

NRCC & Parish Rep: Page 3 Burnley, Colne & Nelson Joint Transport - October talk by Alan Catlow Lucille Mitchell phone 01282 841325 Page 6 Wilsons of Thornton-in-Craven - Part II

Committee: Page 12 Earby Evacuees 1939-1945 Squire Firth phone 01282 817126 1 EARBY CHRONICLES the first prize in the raffle, a golden bag containing 100 pound coins. We congratulate Bob and hope he remembers who his friends are! DIXON’S ICE CREAM

Do you remember Dixons Ice Cream ?

Here is a recent photo of the van, still travelling around Barnoldswick.

Photograph courtesy of Ken Ranson

FIRST LOCAL HISTORY SEMINAR The first Local History Seminar held in conjunction with Barnoldswick History Society was hailed a huge success. The Lady Mayor of Pendle, Chairs of Earby Parish Council and Barnoldswick Town Council all attended and 100% of the 91 attendees were very pleased, according to the excellent feedback.

Speaker Eric Higham gave a detailed account of how the Census Enumerators returns for Burnley highlight the vast Bob Abel, Dennis Cairns (Barnoldswick History Society), Chris Tennant (Chair Earby Parish numbers of people coming into the Council), Maureen Blackwell (Chair Barnolds- industrial town form the Dales and wick Town Council), Mayoress of Pendle Gillian elsewhere. Caradice, Mayor of Pendle Pauline McCormick His in-depth study also managed to show (photo courtesy Barnoldswick & Earby Times) that when copies of the census were sent

2 EARBY CHRONICLES to Burnley that one district was missing and this was subsequently found by the Public Record Office. Sue Wrathmell followed with a talk on traditional buildings. We learned to look for distinctive features which could easily be missed by the untutored eye. Examples of houses, inns, shops, mills and factories were featured and the importance of conserving them for future generations was stressed. The talk was well illustrated by excellent slides. We were given food for thought and hopefully can now look at old buildings through new eyes.

The afternoon provided a choice. A family history workshop expertly led by Jean Ingham, assisted by the Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society, with their displays, computer technology and extensive records.

The other option was a tour of Bancroft Mill with engine specially in steam. Both options proved to be very popular.

It has subsequently been decided to continue the joint venture with Barnoldswick History Society and another seminar is being planned for Spring 2004.

MORE DONATIONS

Local video producer Michael Crewdson has donated to the society two files containing copies of all the Earby May Day programmes from the start in 1947 to the last event in 1992. That is except the one for 1981. This programme has remained elusive for some time and it would be marvellous to complete the set. If you know where there is a copy of the 1981 programme, which the society could make a copy of, our archivist Margaret Greenwood would be delighted to hear from you.

Michael has also given two Earby Urban District Council year books, 1959/60 and 1963/64.

Many thanks to Michael for these donations.

BURNLEY, COLNE AND NELSON JOINT TRANSPORT

Our guest speaker at the October meeting was Alan Catlow whose talk related the history of local bus transport. Alan’s wonderfully illustrated talk took us back 121 years to 1881 when the first steam trams came into operation in Burnley. These trams didn’t get off to an auspicious start when on the first run the tram exploded causing several injuries. They were also prone to causing a smoke nuisance which led to several prosecutions by the local council.

In 1901 Burnley Corporation took over the company and electrified the system. They also reduced the track gauge from the railway standard of 4ft 8½ns to 4 ft to match the gauge of

3 EARBY CHRONICLES neighbouring tram systems with a view to future through running of the trams.

Both Colne and Nelson had tram companies, the former owned by the Colne and Trawden Light Railway company and the latter by Nelson Corporation. By 1924 Burnley Corporation started a limited bus service linking up with the tram routes. The first buses were built on a design very similar to the trams and had a speed limit of 12 mph.

Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport came into being in 1933. Alan explained that the order of the names in the company title obviously was not based on geographical location but on the size of the individual fleets of vehicles at the time.

By 1934 Colne and Nelson trams had ceased to operate and Burnley followed suit in 1935.

A rare photograph of a war time bus was shown, with Alan reminding us of the austere vehicles with wooden benches and no heating.

1958 saw the first experiments with one man operation of buses with All aboard for Colne - an early bus (date unknown) rear access buses being outside the Station Hotel Earby converted to front access and in 1959 the first purposebuilt one man operated bus was purchased.

There were three bus depots, Colne had Heifer Lane depot, Burnley Queensgate Garage and Nelson had Charles Street which closed in 1959.

1963 saw the first delivery of new modern double decker buses. However the basic design had not altered much. Leylands were the main stay of the 1960s. The company was not for great innovations and for a long time stuck with tried and tested vehicles.

1969 saw the building of the new Nelson bus station.

In 1974 a 41 year era came to an end with local government reorganisation and Burnley Colne and Nelson Joint Transport was reformed as Burnley and Pendle Transport.

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In 1997 the company was taken over by Stagecoach who, after failing to make sufficient profit, sold out to Bracefield Holdings of Harrogate the current owners.They immediately invested in 40 new vehicles.

Alan worked for BC&N JointTransport for 32 years starting in 1961 as a conductor before graduating to driver and inspector. He also spent some time as a driver instructor.

Alan belongs to a Society with special interest in BC & N Joint Transport which has 80 members throughout the country. There are also 10 vintage buses from the fleet in preservation.

Thanks to Alan Catlow for his well presented talk.

ANOTHER LOCAL ARTEFACT

Who can remember Grove Street in Earby? Local historian and member of the Society Michael Crewdson certainly can as he was born in Grove Street which ran along the side of Grove Mill (currently occupied by Wardle Storey).

In fact when Grove Street was demolished, Michael recovered the street’s name plate which he has recently donated to the Society for safe keeping. It needs some minor repair work, but will be an excellent addition to the Society’s ever growing collection.

Many thanks to Michael for entrusting its safe keeping to the Society.

EVEN MORE ARCHIVES

At the October meeting we were pleased to welcome an ex Earbyer and his wife, Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Lumb. Geoffrey brought along a set of Earby May Day Programmes dating from 1948 to 1958, 1960 to 61 & 1964 to 1976 which he has kindly donated to the Society’s ever growing archive collection.

The programmes were in the possession of Geoffrey’s mother, Winnie Lumb. Geoff’s father, Herbert Lumb, was a member of the Earby District Social and Festival Committee, whose task it was to organise the annual May Day Festival.

The programmes are a wonderful snap shot of Earby in those years. They contain many adverts for local Mary Ward - 1952 May Queen businesses, mills and shops and also include many photographs of the May Day Queens and their retinues.

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Geoffrey left Earby when he joined the Airforce. After serving his time in the forces he moved to Ellesmere Port where he was employed as a Youth and Community Worker. Eventually he moved to Nottingham in 1981, where he still lives, to run a sports and community centre. Geoff is a keen football fan and may be remembered as a referee in the local West Craven leagues. He continued refereeing in the Airforce, on one occasion being asked to referee the Airforce vs London University match.

Geoff tells the story of one occasion when he went with his Dad to watch Earby Victoria, only to find that the referee hadn’t turned up. A pair of boots was quickly found and Geoffrey was persuaded to take charge as the match referee. Even in his seventies he still referees junior matches!

Our thanks to Geoff for donating the May Day programmes to the Society Archives.

WILSONS OF THORNTON IN CRAVEN - Part II (a continuation of reminicences of the Wilson family as written by Deborah Drewett at the turn of the 20th Century)

When my father left school he was apprenticed to a Dr Maud of Bradford, who, as was then the custom, combined the sale of drugs with the practice of medicine, and my father lived with the family. When he finished his apprenticeship he took a holiday going to Paris, not a common thing then. It was of course an unusual experience for him; he had a guide and interpreter who took him to see all the sites and he managed to acquire something of the French language. I was particularly impressed by his description of Pere la Chaine, and when I visited Paris many years later I made a point of visiting that vast cemetery. It was on a wild autumn day, with dark and stormy clouds sweeping across the sky, in keeping with the weird scene.

My father became a partner with Dr Maud and resided at Ashfield Terrace with his cousin and Deborah Parkinson, widow of Roger Parkinson, for a time. He married Mary

FORTHCOMING PROGRAMME

Tuesday 21st January 2003 Dr Ian Dewhirst – An informal history of the 20th century.

Tuesday 18th February 2003 Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 18th March 2003 David Allison – The Settle-Carlisle line. A history / journey along the line via slides

Tuesday 15th April 2003 John Hartley – Flanders Fields

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Stansfield of Halifax in 1843. When they left for their honeymoon they drove in the gig to the Lake District and my mother's cousin, Elizabeth Dixon, who was married on the same day and at the same place, did likewise, but probably not the same destination. My parents resided at Ashfield Terrace until they removed to Thornton and my only brother, Charles Stansfield, was born there (Bradford) in 1844. My father continued in the drug business for some years after coming to Thornton. There was a room above the shop which was set apart from the sale of Bibles and Testaments for the "B. & F. Bible Society", and where a stock was kept. My father was one of the earliest directors of the Friends’ Provident Institution and continued his monthly visits to the Board Meetings for some years after leaving Bradford. Gradually, however, these were given up and many interests took their place.

One of his Bradford acquaintances jokingly said "what do you do at that the dead alive place?" He replied "come and see" - and indeed he had abundant interests to fill all the time and such a thing as dullness was unknown. The microscope was a great interest and he mounted many slides as well as examined the wonders unseen by the naked eye. Then he had an electrical machine and used to give us shocks. He made a model of the solar system called a planetarium; it was arranged to show the movements of the heavenly bodies and they could all be placed in position. Another was planned to show the relative sizes of the planets as compared with the sun which was represented by a gilded wooden sphere.

He had a workshop on this top storey fitted up with tools of all descriptions and a laithe, which made an interesting occupation for the winter months. Many wonderful things were turned by it; a set of wooden tea things , a churn, a coffee mill, a bell and a candlestick which gave much pleasure to myself and many children since. An ingeniously contrived wooden rattle was mounted on an iron support and moved by the wind but apparently by a little wooden man laboriously turning it. Specimens of rare woods were used in making acorn shaped specimens of them and these were mounted on a wooden stand to form an interesting collection. Another room adjoining ( in the house garrett), also part of the old warehouse, contained a jumping board and chain swing from which we could not fall also made by my father. A flight of stairs from the large empty room descended to a passage on the first floor where there was a small room used for the Friends’ meeting held there when we no longer drove the six miles to Skipton in the old-fashioned carriage. It was approached by a flight of stone steps from the outside and could also be accessed from the house when wet. It was quite a little walk upstairs into the top warehouse which communicated with the house. We were few in number who assembled in this upper room but we had good and memorable times, especially when we had visiting Friends. In later years the room was also used for a Sunday School and sewing meeting conducted by my cousin June Handley. Later it was used for a temperance class held by Alice Thorp and myself, an adjunct to the Band of Hope Meetings which were held in the National School room by the kind permission of Canon Morris who used to preside.

My father, always very moderate in his occasional use of stimulants, became a pronounced abstainer in later life and a Temperance advocate in conversation and distribution of

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Temperance tracts.

Meteorology also claimed a large share of his attention. Observations and records of rain and temperature were taken every morning and duly forwarded annually to Mr Symonds at the Head Office in London. The readings were absolutely true as the maximum and minimum thermometer and hygrometer where contained in a cage (with double boards to exclude sunshine) on the lawn.

The latest and most important interest of all, however, was the Observatory, containing the equatorially mounted telescope. It had a 4 ½ inch aperture and had a driving clock to keep it moving with the stars, or rather our earth. The wooden dome moved round on a sort of railway with pulleys set in motion with ropes and handles attached to open the shutter so that all parts of the sky could be viewed as desired. The Observatory was of wood and built over the carriage house on a perfectly firm foundation so that no jar or vibration could interfere with the delicate movement of the clock or telescope. My father made a calculation which showed that the instrument could be placed in respect of the two movements of right Ascension and Declination in so many positions that, working day and night, it would take 5000 years to accomplish, above the horizon only.

On clear nights he spent many hours in the observatory often when so cold that a bottle filled with hot water was necessary to keep his hands from getting numb. A cousin writes as follows:

“Uncle showed through his telescope many wonders of the sky, the surface of the moon, some of the planets etc. We had to observe while waiting for the calculations he made, the instructions fastened to the telescope. Visitors were requested to avoid conversation during the time the instrument is being fixed upon any celestial object or any calculation being made preparatory thereto".

My father was kind in showing visitors the various celestial objects to be seen; stars by daylight, the surface of the moon, Jupiter and the satellites; Venus and her moons; the Milky Way, star clusters and double stars, etc. He was no respecter of persons and the intelligently appreciative workingman received as much attention as the rich and influential. He would often end a long description of the wonders of astronomy by saying "but we know nothing, nothing at all". When any astronomical phenomenon was afoot he took a share in observation and contributed the results to the Astronomical Journal and made drawings of Sunspots, Occultation's and Transits etc. On one occasion he had a call from Osmond Airey, son of the Astronomer Royal.

I often regretted that my lack of mathematical knowledge prevented me from entering more fully into this sublime science but the deficiency was overcome by my only brother, who as a Civil Engineer, used mathematics for the many calculations needful in his profession.

He married his cousin Hannah Wilson in 1874. They had many changes of residence having

8 EARBY CHRONICLES to live near the railway in course of construction. Their first home was near Shipley, during the construction of the Shipley and Guiseley line. The next move was south and for some years they lived at Sharnbrook near Bedford for the widening of the line for goods traffic.This involved a new tunnel which meant more careful calculation taking the levels etc. They also lived at Ilkley while the Ilkley and Skipton line was made and then at Wymondham which was not far from the home (until she married) of Mary Hawley, my great-grandmother. The last place was Millhouses near Sheffield where my brother died in December 1893, after a short illness, from pneumonia. His widow and their five children soon removed to Leeds where they lived for 24 years or so and are now (the mother and two daughters) located near the ancient Meeting House at Brigflatts near Sedbergh.

My dear mother died in 1876 of quick pulmonary consumption. She was of a sweet and unselfish disposition and it was a great loss. Father survived her nine years and died in 1885.

The garden was a never failing delight in all seasons. My father particularly delighted in coniferous trees as they were green in winter and we had many specimens on the lawn and in the two fields adjoining and a small arboretum. The large fruit garden gave us plenty of employment in summer, picking and preserving the fruit. The apples when stored away in the garrett were good for winter use. Grapes were cut as the winter approached and hung in a dark attic. On one occasion I remember our rector, when calling, enjoying some which were frozen.

A cousin writes as follows about her recollections of Thornton:-

"Another influence of our childhood and early life was the visits we paid with our cousins to our uncle and aunt, Thomas and Mary Wilson and their only daughter. Theirs was a lovely home at Thornton-in-Craven, six miles from Skipton. It was truly rural with extensive grounds etc. It was like a fairy land to us town bred children. The old-fashioned garden with its many delights. The orchard with bees and poultry, the vinary and greenhouse; the coach house, the cows, the barn, the butter churning and to crown all the Observatory where Uncle showed through his telescope the wonders of the sky, the surface of the moon, etc. Then the beautiful walks and the wild flowers which grew in abundance. The old lane near the house where we wandered down to the stream to play and make bridges and I expect getting wet. Watching rabbits scurrying away on the stone railway embankment. The summertime brought haymaking in Brierlands and I recall the rescue of a field mouse which escaped the scythes.”

This history will not be complete without mentioning my maternal grandmother , Mary Stansfield, who spent the last four years of her life with us as an invalid and passed away on April 19th 1879, having survived my dear mother by nearly three years. She died at the age of 86. We missed her very much; when not suffering she was bright and cheerful and pleased to see her sons and grandchildren who often came over to see her.

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I have not said much about my dear mother because the influence of her life was that of gentleness and a sweet unselfish disposition which pervaded the home life and which is so difficult to put into words.

On looking back from those days of rush and hurry I am much struck with the calm unruffled atmosphere of our home. I cannot recall an angry or impatient word; my dear parents lived their religion, which was one more of deeds than words. (Signed) Deborah Drewett, Rosemont, Kendal. SUBSCRIPTIONS INCREASE ...

As detailed in the Autumn Chronicles the committee has now found it necessary to increase the subscriptions, principally due to the increased costs of producing our newsletter Earby Chronicles.

Subscriptions for 2003 are as follows Local Member £5-00 UK Member £7-00 Overseas Member £11-00 If two or more members living at the same address and receiving one copy of the Chronicles, deduct £1-00 from each membership Subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer, Helen Horner, 22 Salterforth Road, Earby, BB18 6ND

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New member Gladys Jones was interested in the article by Peter McLaron about his time at Hill Top Farm as an evacuee. Stanley Crabtree and Mary were cousins of her mother’s. Edith Crabtree formerly Windle was a younger sister of her grandmother Jane Smith. She often spent family holidays at Alder Hill Street and visited Hill Top several times. She went on the milk round - strictly as a passenger in the late 1920s. In the 1930s her brother spent at least one summer holiday with the Crabtrees and went out with Alec every morning on the milk-round. He wrote home about a plan to learn the route and deliver some of the pints on his own, but whether he managed it I don't know. He helped with almost everything and really enjoyed himself. He died 11 years ago. Also interesting was ‘Old Building - New Name’ as one of Hartley Wilkinson’s daughters Martha (Aunt Pattie) was married to Uncle Percy Windle, a brother of Jane and Martha.

RESEARCH REQUESTS

Elizabeth Cooper of Surrey and Marie Scaife of Keighley Family History Society are researching ancestors called Tempest, many of whom lived in the Cononley area throughout the 19th century. One David Tempest a weaver from Harden above Kelbrook

10 EARBY CHRONICLES married Alice Pickles at Thornton in Craven in 1781, the census return of 1851 shows there were three sons called Edmund, Joseph and James Tempest born between 1782 and 1790. The society has already sent information about Harden, but if anyone can give further information on this family please contact Elizabeth Cooper, 24 Southfields, E. Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BP. and more ... Gladys Jones (see letters to the Editor) asks does anyone know of a record or register of the burials in the burial ground attached to the Baptist Chapel? She knows that when it was closed for re-building of the chapel the headstones were moved to the new site and later the remains of relatives of the first minister were also removed there but nothing of what happened to the rest when the ground was finally sold in 1877. She believes that some of her ancestors who were among the party who broke away from Barnoldswick were probably among those buried there. Gladys can be contacted at 40 Crescent Road, Birchington, Kent CT7 9CP.

WHO ARE WE ?

This photograph has been given to the Society by Pat Hustwick, it shows mill workers outside Johnson & Johnson factory on New Road, Earby. Back Row - John Tommy Hargreaves, Iris Barker, ? , Mary Crawshaw, Edith Pickles, Flo Laycock, Mrs Paine, Miss Stewart, ? , Clara Grimshaw, Mrs Hurst, Percy Pickles. Middle Row - Harry Wharton, Joe Laycock, ? , Dorpthy Askew, ? , ? , Jenny Stevens, Brenda Tetlow, ? , Doris Cocker, ? , ? , Nancy Bowers, Elsie Spencer, Mona Chadwick, ? , ? , Front Row - ? , Mrs Turner, M.Crowther, Lily Stevens, Mrs Turner, Flo Bailey, Freda Jackman, Doreen Holden, Maud Spencer, ? , Mrs Tetlow, M. Spencer.

Pat wants to know if anyone can you fill in the gaps -replies to the editor please

SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS The Earby and District Local History Society has produced a number of publications which are available at the monthly meetings or by post from the treasurer.

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Price Post & Pack’ng “New Road School Remembered” £3-25 £1-00 (Memories of pupils of New Road School) “The Century Eats” £2-50 £1-00 (A recipe book from local sources covering the 20th Century) “Katherine Bruce Glasier (1867 - 1950)” £1-50 50p (A life of one of Earby’s notable residents who was a founder member of the Independent Labour Party). “Skipton to Colne - The Railway Comes to Earby” £1-50 50p “General John Lambert and the English Civil Wars” £1-50 50p (John Lambert had local connections through his marriage to Frances Lister daughter of the lord of the manor of Thornton-in-Craven)

“Earby in Bygone Days” by James Lindley £3-50 50p (New publication for 2002)

Copies can be obtained by post from The Treasurer, Earby and District Local History Society, 22 Salterforth Road, Earby, Barnoldswick, Lancs.,BB18 6ND. Please make cheques payable to Earby & District Local History Society.

EARBY EVACUEES 1939 to 1945

Following Harry’s story in the Autumn edition, here are the second and third accounts of three related families e.g. three married sisters from the East End of London whose husbands were serving in the War. Their names where Mrs Simpson, Mrs Waterhouse and Mrs Durrant who were all eventually evacuated to Earby.

Celia's story (the daughter of Mrs Waterhouse).

My mother, Gran and three small children e.g. myself age 6, my sister Dorothy age 2 and brother John 10 days old, were evacuated from London to a place called Cranfield near Portsmouth in Hampshire and I remember travelling there in an open top car my father had borrowed. We were there for quite a while but when the bombing of Portsmouth got too close for comfort, we moved to Earby into a house that my uncle had rented on Albion Road. I have no recollection of the journey to Earby, my first memory being of playing in the backyard of the house and making friends with a girl of my own age called Pauline Williams, who had moved to Earby from Birmingham, we became best friends and indeed after 60 years still are. Pauline remained in Earby after the war and married Ivor Butterworth, a local man and they still live in the area, I have been to visit them several times.

My memories of Earby are all good and I had a wonderful childhood there. I remember

12 EARBY CHRONICLES going to Thornton in Craven and getting caught in a storm, there was a huge tree with a wooden bench all-round the trunk where we sheltered and a lady in a cottage opposite called us across and took us into her house to shelter from the rain, I remember Mum telling me off when I got home, for going into a stranger's house.

After a few months of sharing the house in Albion Road, we moved or were moved to Barnwood house, owned by a lovely old couple Mr & Mrs Woods. Mrs Woods had a sister next door who had a son Arthur, who was disabled, he moved around on a long wheelchair, three wheels I think. Mr Woods kept racing pigeons and every Saturday took them in baskets to the railway station, it was a treat for us to go with him and ride back on his trolley. Mrs Woods made parkin and was always whistling Onward Christian Soldiers.

I remember a few people in Barnwood. Mr Roberts who was a retired policeman, his wife used to give us sixpence to collect her shopping from Dan Watson's shop on New Road. They were very nice people who provided a Christmas party for all the children around. I met them later when I visited Earby and was pleased they remembered me, sadly I believe they have since died. I also remember a family called Ratcliffe. Mr Ratcliffe was the local postman, they had five children, I remember Shirley and Keith who took me sledging in the fields. I attended New Road School and as far as I recall enjoyed it, one teacher Mrs Pierce once lined about eight of us up and gave as the strap, for mis-spelling they as (thay). Mum went to see her once because I had come home with head lice and wanted to know who I was sitting next to in class, the teacher saying it cannot be her, because she is the Policeman's daughter. I also remember Thwaites’ sweet shop on New Road. There was an event in a hall across from school (was it the Ambulance Hall?) when we had to dress our dolls in uniform, I remember making a Wrens outfit from my doll and receiving a prize.

I went on to senior school (Alder Hill) where I enjoyed the sports and housewifery classes. I don't remember many children at school, although I remember a girl called Vera Butterworth who lived on the corner of New Road. One night, the house caught fire and Vera had to jump from an upstairs window and hurt her leg badly.

I got my first pair of clogs for my birthday and was thrilled to bits, they were green leather, my brother still has his first pair, they are so tiny, Mum kept them for him all those years. I wish she was still alive, she would have so much to tell you.

I remember leaving Earby after the war when I was 12 years old and walking down the lane to the railway station with Mr & Mrs Woods carrying our cases, they were both crying. They loved my sister and brother so much, especially my brother and he loved ‘Grandad’ as we called him. Thinking back they must have been such good people, for taking in a woman and three young children, at their time of life.

I hope my story is an interest to you and maybe gives an idea of what things were like for an evacuee in Earby.

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Celia Turner nee Waterworth.

Diana's story (the daughter of Mrs Waterhouse).

We lived in the East End of London and were evacuated at the beginning of the war to Minehead, Somerset, where I was born in 1939. Sometime later after a few more moves and my brother Michael being born, we ended up evacuated to Earby. I remember travelling by train with the blinds pulled down and the carriages full of soldiers.

At Earby we shared a house in Albion Road with my aunts and Diana Durant aged 11 families, imagine what a tight squeeze it was to all live together left Earby about 1950 in a small house. The back of the house had a yard where we played safely, locked in by a big gate and high fence. Out of the gate was a cobbled back street across which neighbours pegged their washing. The Albion Road of Earby often flooded after heavy rain and when my brother and I were caught paddling in the dirty flood water, my Mum explained the dangers so we did not do it again.

Milk was delivered by horse and cart and measured out into the families jug from a large churn by the milkman. We used to play on the rec. which was near a garage and under the railway bridge, I remember a lot of blossom on the hawthorn trees. In winter we used to go sledging down the hill near the rec, Bailey Banks I think it was called. There was a fence halfway down that you had to avoid crashing into and sometimes there was a horse in the

School Christmans pantomime Diana is on back row 7th from left

14 EARBY CHRONICLES field. Across the road from where we lived there was a weaving mill (Birley's). We used to go and sit on the skips and cotton bales watching the girls working looms, how dusty and noisy it was. One day there was a lot of screaming, there had been an accident when a worker had been dragged into the machine by the hair, how true this is I cannot say as we were only children, but we were never allowed near the mill again. The walk to school seemed a long way, up the hill and through fields (Springfield School). In winter snow collected under our clogs and we used to see who could get tallest as the snow built up. I also went to New Road School which I believe is now the Community Centre. My favourite teacher was Marjorie Willis, who also had a sister teaching at the School. I was very upset when we finally had to leave Earby because I would miss Miss Marjorie, although she promised to write to me. However, I received a letter and photo from her father telling me she had passed away, at the aged 36, I was so sorry. We also had a school Christmas pantomime in which I was an angel, of which I enclose a photograph. I wonder what has happened to the rest of the children on it. After living with my Aunts and cousins we moved to live in an empty house and shop somewhere along the main road, there were two steps leading down to the living room and in the shop we used to play and store prams etc.. The toilet was in the backyard and had a wooden seat, it was very dark in the toilet and one-day my brother put the cat down to see how deep it was. The cat was swept away with the water down the sewer, but was rescued later when a drain cover was lifted down the street and the cat got out unhurt. We were also friendly with the family called Bott, who I think had a newsagent shop on the main Road.

After the war we continue to live in Earby until my Dad returned home. My Mother was a good pianist and used to play in the pubs and clubs in Earby. It was later after my sister Jennifer was born and I was nine or ten, that we returned down south to Essex.

I visited Earby several years ago. All the flagstones and cobbles are being removed and replaced by Tarmac, what a shame. Everything seemed much smaller than I remembered it.

I hope you have enjoyed a few of my memories as a wartime evacuee. Diana Richards nee Durrant.

Thanks to Celia Turner nee Waterhouse & Diana Richards of Colchester Essex for these accounts and photographs,

Squire Firth.

SOCIETY COMPUTER

The Society has taken delivery of a computer donated by the Earby Parish Council.

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THE SOCIETY BRASS BANDS Meets at the Community Centre, New Road, EARBY At the meeting on 19th November, all the senses were entertained by on the third Tuesday Bryan Hughes. The topic was the History of Brass Bands and the of the month at 7.30 presentation included not only a very interesting talk but also an p.m. (except for audio-visual sound and slide show which included some rare outside visits). ANNUAL recordings of brass band music. We heard how a number of the big SUBSCRIPTION name brass bands claim to be the oldest dating as far back as the end of £5.00 , UK £7.00 the 16th century. Many of these early bands were not what we know as Overseas £11.00 brassbands today but were mainly wind bands. Originally an activity special rate for families of the working classes, brass bands became important status symbols with major manufacturing companies and collieries supporting their Contents: own band. Holding a position in a band meant one was more likely to Whilst every effort is made to ensure retain ones job when the mills began to decline. accuracy of information in this Household names like Foden’s Brass Band and Black Dyke Mills Brass edition, this cannot Band came into being. Band competitions became popular and Belle be guaranteed. View in Manchester was one such prestigious annual event.

DATA The name of the Mortimer family is legendary in brass band circles and PROTECTION their contribution to brass band music was emphasised. ACT Members details are held on computer The talk was completed with with the playing of several classic for mailing and recordings of the most famous bands with a simultaneous slide show. compilation of a membership list. The details will not be used for any other purpose MAY WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH ALL without the express OUR MEMBERS A HAPPY AND PEACFUL CHRISTMAS permission of the member. If you do not wish your details to be held on computer please inform the Treasurer immediately.

AND FINALLY A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Editor Bev Parker Produced & printed Don’t forget this is your newsletter. We’re always keen High Gate Farm

to hear from members, if only to put them in touch with Gaylands Lane by relatives and friends from the past. Do send in articles, Earby Earby & District photos and any other anecdotes, so that we get as wide BARNOLDSWICK Local History BB18 6JR a flavour of Earby & District, yes that means Thornton in Society. Craven, Kelbrook, Sough, Harden and Salterforth as

well. Look forward to hearing from you. [email protected]

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