Reighton and Speeton Parish Magazines
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Reighton and Speeton Parish Magazines Introduction Reighton and Speeton are two small villages at the southern end of Filey Bay. Their parish magazines appear as parts of larger publications issued by the Parish Magazine Union which comprised the magazines of many of the parishes of the eastern part of the East Riding of Yorkshire. Having begun with just the parishes of Sewerby, Marton, Grindall and Argham in 1878 the Union grew steadily over the years and was still going strong on the eve of the First World War. The East Yorkshire Archives at Beverley holds many volumes of these magazines, and they make fascinating reading for anyone interested in the minutiae of the day to day lives of ordinary people. A surprising amount of information can be found in them about the individual people living in the villages. The entries for the larger villages are too lengthy for transcription but are easily accessible to anyone who cares to make the journey to Beverley. The volumes come in two sections: the first parts comprise material of a general nature with a religious slant, such as stories with morals, descriptions of churches, hints on housekeeping, and quizzes with Biblical themes such as would have formed part of the magazine for every parish. The second parts comprise the magazines of the individual parishes. Reighton joined the magazine union in 1898. The vicar at the time was William Rowley (Vicar of Reighton 1883 to 1901, formerly curate under Rev Nathaniel Constantine Strickland) but he was, for some reason, unable to attend to his duties. These were carried out by Rev J M Wynne, curate in charge, who later became the vicar. Speeton was at this time a chapelry of Bempton and its news was included in the magazines for that parish. In most cases this was limited to times of services but when other news was reported I have included it here. The business of the villages at this time was overwhelmingly agriculture, the few people not working directly on the land being such as the vicar, schoolmaster, joiner, blacksmith and a couple of shopkeepers. A further account of life in Speeton in the later years covered here can the found in William Sellers’ Diary which can easily be found online. What I find interesting about the parish magazines, apart from the insight they give into the life of the village, is how much has changed and how much has stayed the same. Congregations are obviously much smaller nowadays and the church is no longer so central to the social life of the village. However, there is still the continuing need to raise funds for the preservation of the fabric of the church and for other worthy causes. The same people still seem to do all the work, and Reighton was, even then, a holiday destination, as the many references to residents having visitors or guests makes clear. In those days, before the opening of Reighton Gap camp in the 1920s, the holidaymakers would have lodged in the village or at the Dotterel Inn. Now Reighton forms part of the ‘Headland Benefice’ comprising Reighton, Speeton, Buckton, Bempton and Flamborough. Though Reighton now offers few employment opportunities, there is still a sense of community there with an annual ‘Reighton in Bloom’ competition, village walks and evenings gardening in the churchyard among other activities which take place. Anyone who wishes to read the current parish magazine will find it on the ‘Headland Benefice’ website. All the entries here are for Reighton unless specified as being for Speeton. At the present time I have only had access to those volumes of parish magazines held by the East Yorkshire Archives in Beverley and those held by the Local History Section of Bridlington Library, which is why the magazines for 1910 do not appear in these transcriptions as neither collection has a copy. Text in quotation marks is directly transcribed, that without quotation marks is abstracted or paraphrased. Photographs come either from my collection of postcards or were taken by me. The transcriptions are mostly verbatim as regards both spelling and punctuation. I have, however, corrected obvious errors and have, in the most part, used a standard format for sums of money. In a few places I have omitted material of a purely religious nature. (NB: £1 = 20s, 1s = 12d, 1d = 2 halfpennies or 4 farthings, 1gn = £1 1s [£1.05]. 1s = 5p, 1d = about 2.5p. £1 in 1900 = about £60 in 2014.) My thanks are due to the staff of the East Yorkshire Archives in Beverley, and, in particular, to Sarah Hutchinson of Bridlington Library for her kindness in granting me the great favour of allowing me to borrow an original volume to take away and transcribe at my leisure. The codes at the beginnings of entries refer to their catalogue numbers at either Beverley or Bridlington. Reighton church with its old tower and porch 1893 PM/105/6 Like all the rest of the volumes published by the Parish Magazine Union this book contains the magazines for a number of parishes including Reighton. However, as Reighton only formally joined the Union in 1898 there is only one entry specifically for the village, that being in the February edition. Reighton church 1886 February ‘This parish has just sustained a very great loss, at an early age, of Mrs Rowley, the highly respected wife of the Vicar. After many weeks of suffering, during which she had most bravely borne up, the end which had been cheerfully looked forward to by the sufferer, came on the evening of Christmas Day. At the funeral, which took place on the Wednesday afternoon following, there were many mourners present, both from the village and from other places around. The clergy taking part in the service were Rev R Fisher (Rural Dean), Rev A N Cooper and the Rev E Mitford. There were also present the Rev N McGrath ad the Rev J Fisher Brown. ‘The following were unavoidably absent: the Rev C S Booty, Rev J Clarke, Rev W Felton, Rev C Ivens. Preaching to the congregation the following Sunday, the Rev A N Cooper, in the course of a most impressive sermon, made several very touching allusions to the deceased. Much sympathy is felt for the Vicar and his young daughter in their bereavement. ‘The deceased lady, who was married to Rev W Rowley in 1879, was the daughter of the late Rev N C Strickland and grand daughter of the late Sir W Strickland, Bart, of Boynton. ‘Greatly attached as the deceased had always been to the parish in which she was born and brought up, yet even more attached to it did she seem to become to it during the latter part of her short life. The same may also be said of her increasingly kind and anxious desire for the happiness of all around her, and few there are, now that she is gone, who will not often, and for years to come, recall the many excellencies which went to make her bright and beautiful character. J. H. A. L.’ Baptism December 15th Louisa, d/o Walton and Fanny Crawford Burials December 3rd William Hoggarth, Hunmanby Moor, 75 December 18th William Claxton of Reighton, 77 December 20th Louisa Crawford, 3 days DECEMBER 28TH MARY, THE BELOVED WIFE OF THE REV W ROWLEY “Her price is above rubies” The grave of May Strickland Rowley 1894 PM/105/7 (These are the only two entries for Reighton in this volume of the parish magazines. There are no further entries for the village until 1898.) April Reighton Services 10:45 and 6:45 Easter 1893 to Easter 1894 Baptisms 1893 April 16th Francis s/o Robert and Hannah Robinson June 26th James Pashby s/o John George and Lavinia Edmonds October 8th Harry s/o George and Jane Pudsey October 8th Rose Anne d/o William and Annie Ellen Woodhead 1894 January 14th John Thomas s/o John William and Hannah Brigham January 14th John William s/o George and Annie Leonora Hoggarth March 4th Reuben s/o Samuel and Amy Esther Bilton March 18th Hilda d/o George William and Mary Ann Stubbs Marriage October 14th 1893 John Stavely Moody and Margaret Ann Vickarman Burials 1893 August 9th James Marshall, 73 September 3rd William Piercy, 86 September 13th Eliza Hoggard, 90 November 20th Two sailors found on the beach, one aged about 30, the other about 20 1894 17th February Charlotte Clements, 38 22 February Alice Marshall, 8 28th February Sarah Sellers, 42 IN MEMORIAM CHARLOTTE CLEMENTS ‘With very deep regret we have to record the sudden death on 15th February, of Mrs Clements, at the age of 38, the wife of our coastguard. During the time Mrs Clements was amongst us she won universal respect and this has she also done during the 8½ years at Bridlington Quay, prior to her coming here eighteen months ago. At Shields, her native place, her death was very deeply deplored by a large circle of friends. Up to the time of her death she fulfilled at church the duties of Organist, her place now being taken by her daughter, Laura. Of Mrs Clements it is said by those most intimate with her, that she had a sweetly gentle nature, and was kindness itself.’ ‘Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest, Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour’s breast. We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best. Goodnight! Goodnight! Goodnight!’ J. A. H. L. The grave of Charlotte Clements One of the oldest and most respected residents of the parish, James Marshall, died six months ago at the age of 73.