Earby Chronicles

Edition 65 SUMMER 2012

SOCIETY AIMS: to raise awareness, ANNUAL DINNER foster an interest This year the Society had a change of venue and format for the and facilitate Annual Dinner. The event on Saturday 25 th February£1.50 was held at Rolls research into the Royce Social and Welfare Club in Barnoldswick and we invited an after- heritage of Earby & dinner speaker. After enjoying an excellent meal we were delighted to district including Thornton in hear Ian Dewhirst’s light-hearted look at life in the 1950s. Below are Craven, Sough, photographs of members and friends enjoying the evening. Kelbrook, Harden, Hague and Salterforth.

OFFICIALS Chairman : Bob Abel phone 01282 843850

Vice Chairman & Edi- tor of Chronicles: Stephanie Carter Phone 01756 794099

Secretary : Margaret Brown phone 01282 843932

Treasurer : Wendy Faulkner phone 01282 863160

Programme Secretary Wendy Venables phone 07780 603652

Archivists: Margaret Greenwood phone 01282 843394 Wendy Faulkner

NRCC Rep: Wendy Venables phone 07780 603652 We would like to have a speaker at the next dinner in 2013 so if you have any recommendations for an after-dinner speaker please let Web Site / IT Vacant the committee know.

Committee: Trevor Tattersall Recent talks & features phone 01282 842819 Page 2 Keeping Watch—an incident at Thornton Races in 1765 Page 5 Henry Pickles—a professional poultry exhibiter of the late 19th century £2.50 Page 12 The King is Dead—Long Live the Queen Members of 1 Society free Earby Chronicles

The following article has been kindly submitted by Mary Slater of Langcliffe. She is a committee member of the North Craven Heritage Trust.

KEEPING WATCH James Hargreaves, a tailor from Colne, was at Thornton-in-Craven races held on St. Bartholomew's day (24th August) and the day following, in the year 1765. Late in the day, and while in a crowd near the starting post, he realised that a pickpocket had relieved him of a silver watch. It had a china face and was marked with the maker's name, Lawrence Holme, Liverpool, and the number 336, and opened with a pricker key. He therefore "caused the said watch to be published at Thornton Church the Sunday following, offering a guinea reward". He also sent a message to several clock and watch makers, in particular to William Hargreaves, a Quaker clockmaker in Lancaster, from whom he had bought the watch, in case it was brought in for sale or repair. Unfortunately, the messenger forgot the watch number, so William Hargreaves was unable to do anything.

Having heard nothing by the following April, James Hargreaves again contacted Wil- liam Hargreaves, now in Settle, by letter, giving full details of the watch, and in due course received a reply dated 26th October 1767. William Hargreaves had seen the watch in the hands of a William or John Greenbank who had said he lived at or near Thornton, and he had been staying overnight with one Thomas Marshall, who knew him. James Hargreaves therefore set off from Colne with Joseph Higson, an inn holder, to call on George Green- bank (there being no William or John Greenbank there). On the way they learnt that Green- bank was at a sale near Earby, so James Hargreaves went to an Earby public house while Higson went to fetch Greenbank. When Greenbank arrived, he was read the letter from William Hargreaves, whereupon he said "he had not been at Settle for a month nor never showed a watch at Settle in his life, and that if what he said was not true he wished that the ground might open and that he might sink into it and be made a miracle". Greenbank then sent for his wife who said she had found the watch in a cornfield, and he then admitted going to Settle to get a new glass for the watch. Greenbank then offered the watch back to James Hargreaves, but would not produce it unless and until Hargreaves accepted four guineas "for an agreement", which was refused.

James Hargreaves must then have gone to P.W. Overend, a Justice of the Peace for the West Riding. At Bentham on 7th November, besides gathering information from James Hargreaves and corroborative evidence from Higson, Overend examined Greenbank and Greenbank's daughter Esther to get their side of the story. Esther said that the morning after the Thornton races she was going with her mother to her father's ground, she to hang cloths on a hedge and her mother to milk the cows. Esther saw a watch in a field called Windlefield, a few yards off the footpath, and her mother picked it up and "put it into her bosom". When she had hung up the cloths, she and her mother went to the milking place, her mother began milking, and Esther gathered sticks. Then her father, accompanied by a neighbour, Mary Wilkinson, came towards them. Esther then going towards home, she overheard her father (about 100 yards away) say he had found a halfpenny, to which her mother replied that "she had found a greater prize" or words to that effect. At home, and the neighbour gone, Greenbank said his wife had told him she had found a watch and showed it to him. He had gone to Thornton Church "to get the same proclaimed" but when he got there, he heard it being proclaimed as picked out of the pocket of James Har-

2 Earby Chronicles greaves, so he "thought it not prudent to discover it as he apprehended he might have some trouble about it". Ever since, his wife had had it, except when she had let the watch fall and the glass broke and he called at Settle on the way home from his brother's funeral (John Greenbank, Ingleton Church, 23rd October) to get a new glass put in by William Hargreaves the younger. He gave the watch back to his wife when he got home.

The result was that Greenbank was committed the same day and charged on suspi- cion of taking a watch, value 30s, out of the pocket of James Hargrave (or Hargreaves). At York Assizes commencing 2nd March 1768, before Mr Justice Bathurst, he was found Guilty of Grand Larceny within the Benefit of the Statute (thus escaping capital punishment) and sentenced "to be transported to some of His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America for the term of 7 years". A harsh punishment indeed when there seems to be a real possibility that someone else may have been the pickpocket and the Greenbanks merely finders of the discarded watch.

References: Calendar of Felons, North Yorks Archives, Northallerton, Microfilm 0669 The National Archives, Kew, ASSI 41/5, 42/8, 45/29/1/69-72 Ingleton Parish Register, online at ancestry.co.uk

If any reader knows the location of the Thornton races, the Editor would be pleased to hear from you.

CULLED FROM THE CRAVEN HERALDS APRIL-JUNE 1912 by Stephanie Carter April The Coal Strike ended on 12 th April and the pits re-opened. Just before midnight on 14 th April the Titanic struck an iceberg in the Atlantic, resulting in the deaths of 1519 people.

In Earby the Cricket Club held its AGM in the Albion Hall and on 26 th April opened the season with a match against Clitheroe. The Primrose League held a social in the Albion Hall. The Wesley Guild had a ramble to White Moor, whilst musical services, including a performance of the Cantata “Daughter of Jairus”, were held to celebrate the Wesleyan Chapel anniversary. The School Attendance Officer reported that 13 children had left school at 13 and were em- ployed in the mills and that a lad had been absent from school as he had been sent to get wood for the fire.

May A “musical treat” was given by the Barnoldswick Choir in the Albion Hall, to raise funds to enable them to compete in an International Musical Tournament to be held in Paris. The Baptists also held their Annual Choir Festival. The Primitive Methodist Mission (Edward Street) held their anniversary services. (The Primi- tive Methodists were a major off-shoot of the principal stream of Methodism and saw them- selves as the true guardians of the original form of Methodism, focusing on simplicity and the role of lay people. The Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists formed the present day Methodist Church in 1932.)

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As the month progressed the Baptist Sunday School held a picnic, walking to Elslack via the Mount to Mr Parson’s farm where tea was served. A concert of sacred music given by Earby Prize Brass Band was also held in the open air and St John Ambulance Brigade held “a very successful” Leap Year dance in the Albion Hall.

On the down-side, Dr Falconer reported an outbreak of measles in the town, at Riley Street School.

June The Earby Naturalist’s Society enjoyed a ramble to Twiston, with “a number of members walking ‘over the Alps’ from Barnoldswick to Earby”. Earby weavers were dissatisfied with their pay and wanted an increase of 5% in their wages, to put them on the same footing as those on the standard list. The Earby Weavers Union held meetings in the Weavers Institute and balloted for strike action. The result of the ballot did not give the two-thirds majority required for the strike to go ahead, with 1012 for the strike and 712 against; the matter was dropped.

GERMAN ARRESTED IN EARBY – MR MAX WEERTZ RELATES HIS EXPERIENCES This was the subject of an article in August 14th 1914 edition of the Craven Herald & Pio- neer, researched by Stephanie Carter.

The outbreak of the First World War saw a huge increase in negative public opinion towards immigrants, especially Germans and Austrians with a growing fear of espionage. This brought in regulations of the Defence of the Realm Act which increased the state’s power to control and act against unpatriotic forces in order to secure public safety and defence of the country. Germans living in Britain were categorised as “enemy aliens” and had strict controls on their civil liberties. They could either be deported, interned or prohibited from visiting certain parts of the country, such as defence and military bases, army and naval establishments and coal supply stations. All “aliens” were required to register at their local police station and provide their nationality, occupation, appearance and address. Like- wise in the Second World War, a large number of Germans living in Britain were feared to be Nazi spies, appeared before tribunals, categorised and many were interned in camps all over Britain.

Against this background, complying with War Office orders, Mr Weertz, a well known electrician and operator at the Empire Theatre was arrested in Earby in the summer of 1914. “Max”, as he was popularly known, was “greatly esteemed” by all and the newspaper gives details of his background: “Mr Weertz is a German by birth, having been born in Cre- feld near Cologne… He was exempted from service in the German army. Seven years ago he came to England, and five and a half years later commenced life in Earby, the Empire Theatre being in course of erection at that time. He immediately became a universal favour- ite. He is a very clever mechanic and has a pardonable pride in the installation at the Em- pire. His unfailing courtesy is always evident and he is ever ready to explain the mysteries of the installation at the theatre. He is married to an English lady”.

Mr Weertz spoke of his arrest to a Pioneer reporter after he was released and

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“reappeared on the streets where all were anxious to congratulate him on his liberation”: “PC Fieldhouse and a constable apprehended him at his home on Friday night. He was taken to Skipton by motor car and lodged in a police cell for the night. Here he re- mained until Saturday afternoon, when he was taken forward to Halifax, along with two other Germans from Skipton. There was a bodyguard of forty Territorials for these men, and the march through Skipton streets caused no small excitement in the town. Major Cass, however, was careful to explain that the large guard was accounted for by the fact that there were other Germans to be taken in charge further down the line. Arrived at Halifax the “prisoners” were lodged in the Barracks and were asked for the names of any persons whom the authorities might telephone to ascertain characters etc. Mr Weertz gave Mr J W Hartley and Mr Howe solicitor of Bradford. The subsequent enquiries were evidently quite satisfactory, for Mr Weertz was released on Sunday noon and arrived home at about 6pm, where his wife was anxiously waiting him.

Subsequently Mr Weertz had to register. This he did at Skipton on Tuesday morning. Should he have to leave Earby and sleep elsewhere, he will have to get a written permit to enable him to do so. These proceedings are taken in case he should be re-arrested elsewhere.

Questioned as to the conduct of the officials, Mr Weertz said it was excellent. There was nothing to complain about, the most odious feature being the fact that they were lodged in a police cell on Friday night. They had plenty to eat. At Halifax huge baskets of pressed beef and biscuits were brought in, and they were told ‘to make the best of it’. On his depar- ture from Halifax the commanding officer said he was sorry he had had to inconvenience him, and he would understand their position. Mr Weertz agreed that it was inevitable and shook hands with the officer.”

The article concludes— “Mr Weertz was taking steps to become naturalised at the time of the trouble. His naturalisation papers, however, had not arrived and this was responsible for the steps taken by the authorities.”

A PROFESSIONAL POULTRY EXHIBITOR OF THE LATE 19th CENTURY Down the years Earby has had many professional poultry farmers and breeders, and at one time poultry keeping was one of the main occupations in the district. T H Hartley had great success as a poultry fancier in the period after the 1 st World War, winning numerous cups and firsts with his Birchen Bantams. Edgar Watson was breeding and showing his White Wyandottes at the Gate House, going on to win the Daily Mail Gold Cup. Long before this, in the late 19th century, Henry Pickles of Kayfield Farm was well established as a famous breeder and exhibiter of Hamburghs and indeed was known as the “Hamburgh King”.

Kayfield Farm is situated over the hill towards Barnoldswick from North Holme Farm and until very recent times was owned by the Shuttleworth family. It is reached by road from Salterforth past the cemetery on the right. The 1871 census shows Henry Pickles, aged 30, poultry dealer, born in Salterforth and living at Kayfield with his wife Mary, son John aged 2 and daughter Martha aged 1.

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The 1901 census records: Kayfield Farm Henry Pickles 59 prize poultry breeder born Earby Mary Pickles 62 wife born Oakworth John Pickles 32 son, weaver born Salterforth Tom Pickles 28 son, tackler born Salterforth Charles Pickles 26 son, servant on poultry farm born Salterforth

The following article from the Fancier’s Gazette of March 18 th 1904 has been sent to us by Rita White of Wetherby.

DEATH OF MR HENRY PICKLES A STURDY PILLAR OF THE HAMBURGH FANCY GONE

We deeply regret to announce the death of that veteran breeder and exhibiter of Hamburghs, Mr Henry Pickles of Kayfield, Earby, Colne, in his 63 rd year. Mr Pickles has for close on forty years been a veritable tower of strength to the fraternity of fanciers devoted to those most beautiful of all the breeds, the Hamburghs. In the days of Messrs Cannon, Beldon and the Rawnsleys, he was as well known, and perhaps more so than of recent years, when Hamburgh exhibiting had till the resuscitation of the United Hamburgh Fanciers’ Association by the Rev. J.N. Williams, fallen a little into the background. During later years Mr. Pickles tried his best to stem the want of popularity that in the mania for a big buff and self-coloured breeds seemed to have set in against the Hamburgh, and it was only a fortnight or so before his death that he wrote to the Hon.Sec. and told him that for many years past he had been in the Henry Pickles with one of his habit himself of guaranteeing Hamburgh classes at shows, prize hens which had annually cost him from £6 to £10 a year. He was a man of great natural sagacity, and was one of the first to accept the policy of the new Hon.Sec. to the Northern Association, which, briefly put, was help to little men and more self-denial and uprightness amongst the older hands. And in his very last letter to the hon. sec. received so shortly before his death, he expressed dissatisfaction of the fact that just at that time there were some that did not, or would not, see matters in this light, and he expressed his intention as soon as the weather broke, of going and talking matters over seriously and strongly with them. The writer made the acquaintance of Mr Pickles some thirty-three or four years ago, and marked him as a strong, stalwart, character then, likely to succeed in any undertaking he put his hand to. And he has been more or less in touch with him in recent years, not always agreeing with Mr. Pickles but, as that gentleman so recently said, never so far dis- agreeing but what they were united on all the important points. And undoubtedly one of the points of disagreement was whether it was advisable or whether it was not, in the interests of Hamburghs generally, to exhibit champions at summer shows, so that birds of less merit became altogether worthless. We are personally of opinion it did much harm by reason of

6 Earby Chronicles the fact that such exhibiting was not then fenced about as it will be in the future, by limit classes. With open classes and limit classes such exhibiting would have been highly to be encouraged as tending to place a larger sum in the hands of breeders, who sold champion birds. But Mr. Pickles was always ready to consider the matter, and to talk it over amicably with anyone. His great suggestion was that a few big cups would bring back the Hamburgh to a highly popular and remunerative fowl, and, acting upon this idea, the Rev. J.N. Williams had some cards issued for collectors. Lord Deerhurst handsomely responded, but the matter was somehow lost sight of for a little time, but now it is hoped that every Hamburgh man in the kingdom will, with one consent, subscribe to make that wish of our late friend a real, solid, tangible, effective thing. Nothing could be a nicer tribute to his memory, or show what we all know every Hamburgh fancier would like to show, his deepest sympathy with the man who has, for the past half of a century or thereabouts, exhibited more Hamburghs successfully than any other man living. Mr. Pickles had, of course, his many redoubtable rivals, and at the big shows such veteran breeders as Messrs. Jackson Bros. and others cut out more work for their old friend latterly than he could always get successfully through. He had to be content with a share only of the good things provided. But after these big events were over, the cream generally lay in England, in Mr. Pickles’ hands, and exhibitors for the rest of that season had to look out for equals. The “Hamburgh King” bred some very notable birds, but he also bought very largely from such men as Jackson Bros., Robertshaw, Roberts, Fortune, Shankland and paid very heavy prices for them, too, so that he was extremely bad to get past. It may not be generally known to all that Kayfield is practically on a hill top. The hill rises suddenly from the station at Earby, and it is a fair climb up to Kayfield. Mr. Pickles was not a farmer. He practically rented the runs only, but we believe did not cultivate or meddle with crop or land, simply for close on forty years paying so much for the use of the fields. The day the writer went round with him there would be close on three hundred chick- ens, mostly cocks of the cock sorts and pullets of the pullet sorts. These were what had been left after the undesired sexes had been removed. They were a very grand lot. Of late years Mr. Pickles added Silver Laced Wyandottes to his yards, and made a magnificent start, breeding in his first and second years some of the very best, and parting with them at such figures as made a £50 cheque look very sorry afterwards. It was a wise policy. A lover of markings, and a most accomplished judge, he found in the Silver Laced Wyandotte something his eye could rest on with pleasure. Still, he did not abandon the Hamburgh. The Wyandotte was an addition and did not act in the way of the subtraction at all. As a judge of Hamburghs we think no one will seriously challenge the statement, that “what he did not know was absolutely not worth any man’s while to bother about”. Still it was possible to set him a task at times. He once told the writer that he was set, some years back, the task of judging a large class of Hamburghs at a county show, where he val- ued each bird after inspection, at about from two to three shillings each. His own words were “I never had such a job in my life. It was absolutely impossible to find a best; all were so utterly bad together”. We suggested that he should have shut his eyes, walked up and down a time or two, and then let his wand fall. “Well,” said he, “that is about what it amounted to. I never saw so much rubbish in Hamburghs at a show before in my life”. Poor Pickles! To think he has left us all for good. It seems to add years to one’s own life, and to remind us the entire solemn bourne to which we are wending. It would seem that the end came rather suddenly to him. He was out just a little on Sunday and Monday,

7 Earby Chronicles though complaining of his health. No doubt his exposed situations, and the storm of snow and hail which has been for a fortnight or three weeks on the uplands, would tend to make the keen air keener and for an attack of pneumonia the situation was not all that could be desired. He became rapidly worse on Tuesday and Wednesday and died on Thursday about half-past two o’clock. His funeral took place on Saturday at about the same time in the afternoon. We met at the various stations en route for Earby many old fanciers going to pay their last respects to their old friend. Amongst these were Mr. Wm. Jackson, Mr. Joe Roberts, Mr. Samuel Jackson, Mr. Weatherhead. Mr Pickles leaves behind him many grand names to carry on the work he so dearly loved. Much as his loss will be felt by all Hamburgh men, still, whilst there are such stalwart pillars of the Fancy left as his son Charles, Messrs. Jackson Bros- than whom perhaps there are no more successful breeders living – Messrs. Fortunes, Roberts, Robertshaw, Turton, Wakefield and Elliott and a host of other well known names in England, to say nothing of the Blackley’s, Campbell’s. McKinnon’s, Shankland’s, Dow’s, that exist up and down Scotland under various well known names, the Hamburgh fowl will not want an admirer or a skilful breeder. Still for the moment, the Hamburgh Fancy bows its head in solemn silence o’er the dead, and in deepest sympathy with the bereaved family now left behind and with one another, for they feel that a real man, and a capable one has gone out of the world, and a great gap is left behind which will be bad to fill. We may indeed most regretfully write over his tomb the epitaph “Magnus amator avium obit et formidatus amicis” – a great lover of birds is dead, and one dreaded by his friends.

SPRING FAIR

The Society participated in a Spring Fair at the New Road Community Centre at the end of March this year. The event was held to raise funds for the Earby Community Mini- bus. For nearly 12 years the Community Minibus based at New Road Community Centre in Earby has provided a much needed transport facility for the town. The Minibus is run on a totally voluntary basis and is used by a wide cross section of the local community from tod- dlers and teenagers to senior citizens including the disabled. In fact the History Society has used it on several occasions for summer outings. As we will all be aware, the costs of running any vehicle are increasing day by day and the Committee has embarked on a fund raising initiative on two counts; not only to boost the day to day running fund but more importantly, with an eye to the future, to supple- ment the fund for a replacement vehicle when this becomes necessary. The Society had a tombola type stall and a pick-a-stick game which together raised £91 which was donated to the minibus fund. I would like to extend thanks on behalf of the Minibus committee to all those members who donated items for the stall and helped to man the stalls on the day. Other organisations affiliated to the Community Centre also took part and a total of £1277 was raised and the minibus committee were extremely delighted by the response to the event and the generosity of so many people.

Bob Abel—Secretary, Community Minibus Committee

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TITANIC

As part of the centenary commemorations of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15th 1912, we invited Nigel Hampson to give his presentation entitled Titanic. Nigel has been a collector of Titanic memorabilia for many years and is a founder member of the Brit- ish Titanic Society. Last year he decided to share his collection with the public by opening the Titanic in Lancashire Museum in Colne, the birth place of Wallace Hartley the Titanic’s band master. Using a combination of stills, video and sound, Nigel took us from the construction of the White Star Lines flag ship, Titanic, to its ultimate fate and beyond. Built at Harland and Wolff’s Belfast shipyard, Titanic was one of three huge ships to be constructed; her sister ships were the Olympic and Britannic. They were the biggest moving objects ever built and were to be used on the transatlantic shipping route to New York. A tender ship, the Nomadic, was also built to service these huge vessels at Cher- bourg. Titanic cost some £1.5 million (£360m today’s equivalent) and was a spectacular sight at Southampton. She was lavishly fitted out particularly for the first class passengers and even the third class passengers got more comfort that they would have known on shore. The grand staircase descending for 5 decks and topped with its large glass dome was the centrepiece of the ship. The passenger list obviously included numerous wealthy and well known personali- ties many of whom embarked at Cherbourg. There was a mountain of luggage to load. It was typical for first class passengers to change their clothes several times a day, the ladies up to eight times and the men four. Class divisions were strictly adhered to in that the first class passengers had the best promenade area on deck, but surprisingly the stoker’s and boiler men’s area for taking the air was next to the first class. The boiler stokers and engineers were working in tem- peratures up to 130 deg centigrade and could only work in four hour shifts (4 on 8 off). As the great ship edged its way out of a crowded Southampton harbour there was almost a collision and the Titanic was delayed by an hour. Some say that if this had not oc- curred, the final disaster may not have happened, as the iceberg she hit would have been several miles off her course at the time of the actual impact.

RMS Titanic

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The ship called at Queenstown (renamed Cobh) in County Cork in Ireland, to pick up its final passengers, before setting out across the Atlantic. On the night of April 14 th Titanic was starting to receive ice warnings from other ships; there was an ice field some 90 miles long ahead. They were not ignored but they were all from ships close by and look outs were posted. Unfortunately it was a moonless night and the sea was flat calm, both making it difficult to see any icebergs. There were no waves breaking on the ice which would have made it easier to see it. Shortly before midnight a huge iceberg was seen looming up in front of them; the im- mediate action was naturally to put the ship into reverse and try a hard turn to avoid a collision. The ship however took a glancing blow from the ice and rather than a continuous gash below the water line as is often stated, the hull was damaged at intervals causing the steel plates in the hull to buckle and separate letting water in. The hull was made of a number of watertight compartments which could be isolated if water got in. However water was gushing into five of these and the weight of water was pulling the bow down. As the compartments were not sealed above, a domino effect started and when water reached the top it overflowed in to the next compartment and so on. The critical factor was that if only four compartments had been punctured the ship would proba- bly have stayed afloat; as it was, water penetrated the first five and created a see-saw effect. Ironically, it is thought that if the Titanic had hit the ice head on, although there would have been terrible loss of life in the crew area, the ship would have kept on an even keel and could have survived. Also slamming the ship into reverse would have caused tre- mendous turbulence around the rudder making the ship difficult to control. It did not take long for the ship’s designer, Thomas Andrews, who was on board, to realise that the cas- cading water effect happening below decks was unstoppable and that the ship was inevita- bly doomed. It was also recognised that at least 1000 people would die as there were only 1200 places in the lifeboats and 2200 souls on board. The order was given to man the lifeboats and this was interpreted differently. On one side of the ship it was women and children first and then the men, on the other side it was interpreted as women and children only and several lifeboats were launched only partially full and many more could have been saved. Distress signals were tapped out continuously from the radio room to no avail until the RMS Carpathia acknowledged their plight, but she was several hours steaming time away. Nigel discussed the myth that the Californian was near but ignored the rockets Ti- tanic sent up and sailed away. New evidence has shown that the ship sighted could not have been the Californian as she was much further away than originally thought. It is also now known that the ship which left was an illegal whaler thinking she was fleeing from a US naval ship. The see-saw effect on Titanic was getting inexorably worse and the stern rose high above the water until it reached the stage when the weight could not be supported and Ti- tanic broke her back and the two halves, still joined at the keel, slid under the icy water There was little hope for those still on the ship, if they weren’t sucked under as she went down they were thrown into the icy waters where they would have died of shock or been overcome by the cold and died of hypothermia.. Wallace Hartley and his band of brave musicians played their music, in a vain at- tempt to calm the situation, until the inevitable end. His body was recovered some two

10 Earby Chronicles weeks later (some victims were being recovered from the sea for several months). RMS Carpathia had picked up 710 survivors from the life boats. Wallace Hartley was brought back to Colne where it is estimated that 30,000 people turned out for his funeral. Enquiries were held after the event and despite much blame being hurled about, les- sons were learnt and shipping safety much improved thereafter. The wreck of the Titanic was discovered in 1985 and numerous expeditions have visited the site some 2½ miles below the Atlantic and a lot of artefacts have been recovered. Nigel showed some stunning photographs of the wreck as it is today and, despite the inevitable deterioration, it is surprising how much of it is left after 100 years at the bottom of the sea. This short précis of the talk cannot do justice to Nigel’s superb and well presented talk and is highly recommended. The Exhibition is in the old Colne Grammar School rooms next to St Bartholemews Church

RINGING THROUGH THE CHANGES

Stanley Walmsley, our speaker at the March meeting is highly qualified to talk on the subject of campanology (bell ringing) as he has been a bell ringer for six decades, firstly at Leyland and latterly at Dalton in Furness. His father was also tower captain at Leyland Par- ish Church. Stanley told us how John Bunyan, the English poet, enjoyed bell ringing but when the Puritan regime took hold enjoyment was considered a sin and he gave it up. Bell ringing is an ancient art and the English style of ringing is almost exclusive to England and some of the former colonies. There are said to be 5685 rings of bells in Eng- land and 115 in the rest of the world. The style of bell ringing has evolved through the centuries which Stanley demon- strated on a scale model. Seven hundred years ago bells were stationary with the clapper striking the bell. Gradually the wheel bell frame was developed starting with the bell wheel turning through half a revolution which by the 1600 had become a full revolution. It was found by experience that bell metal made from 77% copper and 23% tin made the best bells. The moulds for the bells are made from a mixture of clay and horse manure into which the molten bell metal is poured. After casting the bell has to be tuned by shaving off small amounts of metal from the inside until the required tone is achieved. Originally the bells were hung from wooden frames until the advent of steel frames in the 19th century Bells are almost, but nor quite, exclusive to Anglican Churches; there are a few Ro- man Catholic exceptions and some in civic buildings exampled by Manchester Town Hall. The number of bells in a set is normally six but sets of up to 16 plus two semi tone bells are known and a remarkable number of churches in our area have working bells in their towers, the nearest being Thornton-in-Craven which had five bells refurbished and a sixth bell commissioned for the millennium. Stanley went on the demonstrate simple English style change ringing with the help of a set of hand bells and explained with diagrams the permutations and combinations possible in more complicated change ringing. The talk was rounded off by eight volunteers learning how to play simple but recog- nisable tunes on the hand bells.

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The Bells of Thornton in Craven Church in their original oak bell frame Ringing the refurbished and re-hung bells —before refurbishment at Thornton Church

THE KING IS DEAD - LONG LIVE THE QUEEN By Bob Abel

These words were never truer than on 6 th of February 1952 on the death of King George VI. In accordance with constitution Princess Elizabeth became queen immediately on the death of her father and a new Elizabethan age began.

King George VI and the Princess Elizabeth The proclamation of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II was signed at St James Palace the same evening. An announcement was made from Sandringham where the king was staying at the time of his death stating that: ”The King, who retired to rest on Tuesday night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning”. John Snagge announced the news to the BBC Home Service listeners and the BBC closed down for the rest of the day except for scheduled news bulletins.

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The King’s health had in fact been deteriorating for some time; it was said that the stress of the Second World War took a heavy toll on him and this combined with heavy smoking resulted in him suffering from lung cancer. Although he was well enough to per- form the official opening of The Festival of Britain in the spring of 1951, he was too ill to attend the annual Trooping of the Colour in June and Princess Elizabeth took the salute. In the autumn the King was operated on to remove a lung which had been diagnosed as can- cerous. Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were holidaying in Kenya at the time, staying at the famous Treetops Hotel. Its remote location meant that it was some time before news of the King’s death could be confirmed and it was the Duke who broke the news to the new Queen. The news of the King’s death spread quickly and flags throughout the nation were lowered to half mast and the country was immediately plunged into mourning. Entertain- ments and sporting fixtures were cancelled. Friday the 8 th of February seems to have been a day of Silence and Services. At 2-00pm. two minutes silence was observed and there were many memorial services during that afternoon and evening. In Earby flags were lowered at the council offices, the police station and the conserva- tive club and the proclamation of the Queen’s accession was read out outside the council offices. Earby Urban District Council cancelled meetings and the churches hurriedly arranged memorial services. An inter-denominational service was held at All Saints Church. The chairman of Earby UDC and his fellow councillors processed into the church and there were representatives from all organisations in Earby including the police force and fire brigade, the St John Am- bulance and Nursing Division, the girl guides and the British Legion. The service was lead by Rev H C Mckinley and Rev A Colin (Rev J B Atkinson, vicar of Earby and Rev G Metcalf the Baptist minister were indisposed) and accompanied by the combined choirs of Earby and Kelbrook parish churches. There was later a special memorial service at Mount Zion where Rev Metcalf conducted the devotions. During the funeral ceremonial in London the streets of Earby were uncommonly quiet as the few residents who owned television sets invited friends and neighbours in to watch the proceedings. At the relatively young age of twenty five, Princess Elizabeth took on the responsi- bilities of our head of state and this year we are celebrating her 60 years of service to our country. BOOK LAUNCH The official launch of the Society’s latest publication. “Getting Better—Health Care in Earby Down the Years”, by Stephanie Carter, will take place on Saturday September 8th at 11-00am at New Road Community Centre. The book gives a fascinating insight into how attitudes to and practices in medicine have changed over the years with particular reference to Earby and District. This lavishly illustrated book costs £8.00 and all profits will be donated to Society funds. The Event will be combined with the official opening of the new History Archive Room at the New Road Community Centre. Refreshments will be available All are welcome so make a note in your Diary!

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CONGRATULATIONS TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II ON THE OCCASION OF HER DIAMOND JUBILEE

Earby Celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Like many communities around the country, Earby celebrated the Queen’s Dia- mond Jubilee. Events were organised by the Jubilee Group made up of Earby Town Coun- cil, The New Road Community Association, Earby Development Group and Churches To- gether. There were other events arranged by the White Lion and Earby Cricket Club. Two of the events were held at the New Road Community Centre. On Saturday 2nd June a fun day was held with various stalls and games including penalty shoot out, stocks, a treasure hunt for the children, the ever popular Owl Display by the Corio Raptor Care and Rehabilitation Centre and the children (and some adults too) were entertained by a traditional Punch and Judy show. There was also a pet show and the Earby firemen brought along their fire engine. The event also included the crowning of Earby’s Jubilee Queen, Kaitlin Bradley, Abi- gail Schollick and Bethany Hope are the two Jubilee Princesses. They had their first official engagement on Monday presenting prizes at the White Lion Party and on Monday night they led the Torchlight Procession with Chris Tennant (Chairman of Earby Town Council) and helped Chris to light the Jubilee Beacon. Sunday’s event was preceded by a Churches Together United Thanksgiving Service at Mount Zion Church. In the afternoon the Community Centre was packed to capacity. The Society put on an exhibition “Remembering the 1950s” which was highly acclaimed. By popular request the exhibition was kept on display for the rest of the week before being transferred to Earby Li- brary. Thanks to members Wendy Faulkner, Margaret Greenwood and Margaret Brown for organising the exhibition and to former Earbyers Barbara Preston (nee Spencer) and Ken Ranson for additional material.

The Society’s “Remember the 1950s” exhibition proved popular

Earby Brass Band provided musical entertainment and there was a performance by the Earby Scouts. The programme included a specially composed piece called “In High Esteem” written by their conductor Peter Young in tribute to the ex World War Two service men and 14 EARBYEarby CHRONICLES Chronicles women who were to receive the “Freedom of Earby Award”. The playing of the last post and the observing of two minutes silence for absent friends preceded the very moving ceremony. The presentation of the awards and inscribed salvers was conducted by the Chairman of Earby Town Council, Chris Tennant, assisted by Councillor Jim Spence (himself a former serviceman). Twenty two local veterans of the Sec- ond World War were honoured on the day.

Those honoured were

Leonard Barnham Handford Blackey Lily Bragg James Robertson Dickson Jack Eastwood Robert Alma Lister Harry Manning John Alan Reedy Harry Riley Tom Richie Dennis Sanderson George Tait Charles Moreland Tattersall Laura Taylor Norman Vesty Violet Walmsley William Henry Walton Alan Wiseman Jim Wiseman John Derrick Wright Donald Wright

Each recipient was escorted by a member of the army cadets, a splendid idea, bringing together the two generations. Much has been said and written about, and memorials raised to, those who died in the service of the country but those who survived, many who went through “hell and back” or suffered serious wounds deserve to be honoured as well. There may be other men and women who would qualify for the award and Vera Cocker of the Earby Town Council would be pleased to hear about any others. On Monday the 4th June Earby Cricket Club hosted a family fun day at their Apple- garth ground. Fortunately the continuous rain of the previous day gave way to blue sky and bright sunshine. There were traditional stalls and games plus a cricket bowling competition, an obstacle course contest and a barbeque. The Earby Brass Band completed a busy bank holiday by entertaining the crowds. The festivities were rounded off on Monday evening with the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon on the Coolham picnic area at the top of Stoney Bank above the town. Some 200 people participated, a good proportion taking part in a lantern procession from Bailey Street. The beacon was visible all over West Craven and a large area of Pendle. Several other beacons were visible from the vantage point, two being up in the Yorkshire Dales.

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As part of the national celebration, 2012 beacons were lit around the United King- dom, all at 10-15pm; altogether with the Commonwealth Countries the total was 4000. The British part was called The National Beacon Festival and you had to register your event early to be one of the 2012 official beacons. The Beacon Festival culminated with the Queen lighting a beacon outside Buckingham Palace at 10-30. The whole week end was a wonderful success, a tribute to the cooperation of many organisations, and hopefully it will be a good example for any future events planned for Earby. The Jubilee Group had all worked as one and was grateful for the help with funding from Pendle Borough Council and the West Craven Committee. Earby Development Group was responsible for providing lunches and other refreshments on both Saturday and Sun- day. Earby Town Council funded the Awards for the Veterans from their reserves, totally separate to any other funding that they put in to the "joint fund" for the weekend.

Earby Brass Band entertain the crowds at the Applegarth Cricket Ground

PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE FROM 1950s

Standing in for the indisposed Margaret Curry, Joe Midgley from Foulridge treated the small audience at our May meeting to a nostalgic look back at scenes from yesteryear, many photographed by Kenneth Blackburn from Higherford on his bicy- cle trips up hill and down dale in the late 1950s. And how things have changed, with the marked absence of traffic being evident from all the slides compared with photographs taken by Joe in more recent times. We had glimpses of Nelson, changing all the time, with its Victory V factory, Regent Cinema, Whitsuntide Parade and a view showing at least 15 mill chimneys in 1958. On to Barrowford with the giant Albert Mills behind the White Bear pub which was burnt down in the early ‘60s and Hopkinson’s hardware shop which sold everything one needed, with dolly tubs and all manner of ironmongery on display. Other scenes long gone included Foulridge station which was pulled down and re-erected on the Worth Valley line, the Lamb Inn at Newchurch, milk churns (phased out in the early ‘60s and now changing hands for big money) at the end of country lanes. We had glimpses of Rich-

16 EARBYEarby CHRONICLES Chronicles mond and Hawes with a lack of vehicles; Grange over Sands with the sands still visible and no grass clogging up the estuary, Morecambe with its ponies on the beach and a bustling Heysham in 1959—now, alas, very run down. Those who did not attend this meeting missed a treat and oh how it made us long for the return of old and warm times!

ADDITION TO ARCHIVES

Kenneth Hewson, who was Clerk of the Council at the time when the Earby Urban District Council was subsumed into the newly-created Pendle Borough Council in 1974, has kindly donated to the Society, four books of press cuttings relating to the council’s activities. The years covered are; 1946-51, 1951-54, 1960-68, 1969-73. These volumes will be available for inspection in the new History Room at the New Road Community Centre once reor- ganisation of our archives in their new home has been completed.

Elizabeth Blackburn has donated her grandmother’s copy of the Baptist Bazaar Programme / cookbook dated 1926. Her grandmother was Sarah Ann Procter the wife of Samuel Procter of Waddington Fold Farm. Elizabeth also gave us a copy of a photograph of Sarah Ann. It looks as though she is taking a basket of food out into the fields, proba- bly her husband’s lunch.

Womens’ Institute Walks

On 28th of May the society collaborated with the Women's Institute and Mines Mu- seum to provide guided tours of Earby. The event was a gathering of around 50 members from all local groups of the WI who were meeting at Linden Road Community Centre. Two groups were formed. One group followed the old railway line to Booth Bridge, then to Mill Brow and Red Lion Street before looking at the town itself. The shorter walk followed the old road and beck system between Rostle Top Road and Longroyd, looking at the development of the 19th century industrial accommodation in the town. Other features, including the White Lion and Coronation Hall were viewed before this group enjoyed a guided tour of the Yorkshire Dales Mining Museum led by Peter Hart. The evening was completed by a delicious supper in true WI style. Many commented that "I Had no idea there was so much to the town of Earby I will come back with the family another day". Visits such as this are a great way for people, who perhaps simply drive past Earby, to get to know its wealth of heritage. If you know of any groups which might enjoy a guided walk please contact the Secretary.

The walks were organised by member Bev Parker.

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SUMMER VISIT THE SOCIETY Our Programme Secretary has arranged a summer visit for us to Lothersdale Mill on Saturday 14th July at 3pm. June Barrow, the Meets at the current owner of the mill, will provide us with tea and coffee before Community Centre, New Road, EARBY walking us round the mill, including the water wheel and water on the 3rd Tuesday courses. This will last about an hour. After the mill visit the landlady of the month at of the Hare and Hounds is happy to cater for us with sandwiches 7.30 p.m. (except with a variety of fillings and chips; she will also cater for any specific for outside visits). dietary requirements. The cost of the visit will be a £5 per person donation for the ANNUAL mill visit and £4 per person for the refreshments to follow at the pub. SUBSCRIPTION There should be ample parking around the mill and if anyone re- £7.00 quires a lift this can be arranged. UK £9.00 If you would like to go on this trip please phone Wendy Overseas £13.00 Venables by Tuesday 10th July. Her mobile number is 07780 603652. If you have any special dietary requirements or would like a life to Lothersdale please let her know. Contents: Whilst every effort is made to ensure DON’T FORGET! LAUNCH OF NEW BOOK accuracy of information in this “GETTING BETTER-HEALTH CARE IN EARBYDOWN THE edition, this cannot be YEARS” guaranteed. SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER AT 11-00 AM AT NEW ROAD COMMUNITY CENTRE SEE PAGE 13 NOTE FROM THE EDITOR PROGRAMME June July and August—no meeting Don’t forget this is your newsletter. Send July 14th (Saturday) in articles, photos and any other anecdotes, Outing to Lothersdale Mill so that we get as wide a flavour of Earby & September 8th at New Road Community Centre at 11-00am District, yes that Launch of new Book “Getting Better” and official opening means Thornton in Craven, Kelbrook, of the History Archive Room Sough, Harden and Salterforth as well. September 18th Hazel Wilkinson -”Foulridge—A Village in War Time EDITOR Stephanie Carter 01756 794099 PRODUCED DATA PROTECTION ACT & printed by Members details are held on computer for mailing and Earby & District compilation of a membership list. The details will not be used for any other purpose without the express permission Local History of the member. If you do not wish your details to be held Society. on computer please inform the Treasurer immediately.