Waterloo Colliery & the Woodhead family
On the eve of 18th June 1815, William FENTON cut the first sod of his new colliery situated on land belonging to the Ingram Family of Temple Newsam Estate. The new colliery was close to Thorpe Hall estate. On that day in France a famous battle took place, when Wellington defeated Napoleon & such was the euphoria surrounding this famous battle that FENTON named his new colliery “Waterloo”. The pit was located between Pontefract Lane & the River Aire opposite Bell Wood, but close to the Aire & Calder Navigation. The pit was ready for production in 1817. The FENTON family worked many of the collieries in the Rothwell Haigh area from around 1720. Coal was sent by waggon-way to a coal-staithe at Nether Mill, situated near Leeds Parish Church and by way of the Aire & Calder Navigation, which in 1817, was just the River Aire, made deeper by building barrages at intervals with locks around them for water traffic to get through. The photograph below shows the navigation at that time.
The river Aire map below is shown as a pair of twisty lines going from near Woodlesford Bridge to Thwaite Mill & Knostorp Lock. There is one black line across the river near where the Crier Cut meets the river. This represents a barrages or dams that by building them makes the water above them deeper than the water below them. Crier Cut, which represent what we would call canals built to negotiate a series of bends in the river, is shown as a thick black line as is another going around a barrage near Thwaite Mills. The map can be produced from the NLS map of the area surveyed in 1848 & published in 1852.
At the same time that his employees started to dig the first
shaft of the new coal mine down 75 yards to the Haigh Moor Seam, they started
to build a new colliery village, consisting of two rows of houses & a
school. The rows of houses were named “Ingram Place”, after the family name
that owned Temple Newsam & the whole area was called Irwin Square again
after the Temple Newsam estate family. This village was connected to Bullough
lane by a swing bridge across the Aire & Calder Navigation and a wooden
bridge over the River Aire.
This picture below shows the position of Crier Cut:
This picture below shows the position of Crier Cut:
Having dug down to the Haigh Moor seam at 75 yards beneath
the surface, they then went a further 20 yards down to the Middleton Main Seam
which was 56 inches thick. In 1821, 158,000 tons of coal were removed from both
of these seams, 67% from the Middleton Main & 33 % from the Haigh Moor
Seam. By 1834, there were 7 shafts in the Thorpe Pit. Eventually this whole
area consisted of several pits, the whole area became to be known as Waterloo
Collieries. In 1835, coal was
transported along the Aire & Calder Navigation in 50 ton capacity barges.
This was because between1828 & 1835 on the recommendation of John SMEATON
the Leeds Engineer, improvements to the navigation from Leeds to Allerton
Bywater consisted of replacing the barrages & locks around them with a
canal with water 7 feet deep and several locks. The canal company in 1828
onwards faced competition from companies building railways so they had to
improve their navigation to keep up with the new transport system. The mining
company also started to build coal tram routes to carry coal from the pits to
the navigation & railways.
Information about Ingram Place has been difficult to
discover. I found information about it at the National Coal Mining Museum
library which is situated between Wakefield & Huddersfield based
at the site of Caphouse Colliery in Overton, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire,
England. It opened in 1988 as the Yorkshire Mining Museum and was granted
national status in 1995. I did find a book there called “Coal Kings of
Yorkshire” by the Wakefield Historian John GOODCHILD. On Pages 53-55, there is
some information about the Waterloo Colliery & on Page 70 he refers to a
reference in Baines & Parsons directories of 1821 about a village called “Newmarket”
3½miles
SE of Leeds. 1825-1827 the village was referred to as Irvine Square and later
as Waterloo.
I also found information about Ingram Place in this newspaper article in British Newspaper Archive:
Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 07 June 1845
PARISH of Rothwell.—On Sunday last, a spacious School-room, at Ingram Place (commonly called Waterloo) in the Parish of Rothwell, was opened for Divine Service the Rev. Henry Dalton, A.8., of Whitkirk, having been previously licensed by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. The proprietors of the Waterloo Colliery, Messrs. Fenton & Leather, have given every assistance towards providing for the spiritual instruction of the men in their employment, by fitting the School-room in a neat and becoming manner. The value of Mr. Dalton's services enhanced by their being entirely gratuitous, and we have every reason to believe they will be fully appreciated the pitmen and their families. We understand that the vicars of Rothwell and Whitkirk will use their best exertions to provide for the more permanent spiritual instruction of this locality—a small Church is already spoken of as likely to be the speedy result this movement; we wish the promoters of every success. So this article is about that school that was turned at first into a Wesleyan Chapel but later an Anglican chapel.
Here's another one:
Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 05 August 1848
New Wesleyan Chapel.—On Monday last, the foundation stone of a new Wesleyan Methodist chapel was laid in Accommodation Road, Richmond Hill, Leeds, We understand that the Methodists, a little more than a century ago, had only one place of meeting for divine worship in Leeds, and that was at Ingram Place, in building known as Sp? chapel, not very far from the site where the building stone was laid on Monday. From that building they were driven by the hand of persecution, and they found refuge in the house of Mr. Matthew Chippendale, basket maker, in what was known by the name Boggart Close, and it formed the site of "The Old Chapel, near St. Peter's, Leeds. We understand that the walls of the chapel were fully erected around Mr. Chippendale's house, which, indeed, indeed was pulled down until the roof of the chapel had been put replaced and the chapel, which is about to be pulled down, we arc down, is the oldest Wesleyan Methodist chapel in the kingdom. The site of the new chapel a very advantageous one, and the will be very capacious.
I also found information about Ingram Place in this newspaper article in British Newspaper Archive:
Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 07 June 1845
PARISH of Rothwell.—On Sunday last, a spacious School-room, at Ingram Place (commonly called Waterloo) in the Parish of Rothwell, was opened for Divine Service the Rev. Henry Dalton, A.8., of Whitkirk, having been previously licensed by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. The proprietors of the Waterloo Colliery, Messrs. Fenton & Leather, have given every assistance towards providing for the spiritual instruction of the men in their employment, by fitting the School-room in a neat and becoming manner. The value of Mr. Dalton's services enhanced by their being entirely gratuitous, and we have every reason to believe they will be fully appreciated the pitmen and their families. We understand that the vicars of Rothwell and Whitkirk will use their best exertions to provide for the more permanent spiritual instruction of this locality—a small Church is already spoken of as likely to be the speedy result this movement; we wish the promoters of every success. So this article is about that school that was turned at first into a Wesleyan Chapel but later an Anglican chapel.
Here's another one:
Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 05 August 1848
New Wesleyan Chapel.—On Monday last, the foundation stone of a new Wesleyan Methodist chapel was laid in Accommodation Road, Richmond Hill, Leeds, We understand that the Methodists, a little more than a century ago, had only one place of meeting for divine worship in Leeds, and that was at Ingram Place, in building known as Sp? chapel, not very far from the site where the building stone was laid on Monday. From that building they were driven by the hand of persecution, and they found refuge in the house of Mr. Matthew Chippendale, basket maker, in what was known by the name Boggart Close, and it formed the site of "The Old Chapel, near St. Peter's, Leeds. We understand that the walls of the chapel were fully erected around Mr. Chippendale's house, which, indeed, indeed was pulled down until the roof of the chapel had been put replaced and the chapel, which is about to be pulled down, we arc down, is the oldest Wesleyan Methodist chapel in the kingdom. The site of the new chapel a very advantageous one, and the will be very capacious.
A map from NLS Maps of 1852 illustrates this colliery
village:
A larger map gives a bit more information about this village:
On the map above are numerous pits & an ironworks, all known as Waterloo Colliery. The map shows tram routes for carrying of coal.
There was a wooden bridge across the Aire near this village known as “Waterloo Bridge” or Mr. Fenton’s bridge. The school building on a Sunday was used by the Wesleyans as their chapel, but one day in 1840, a preacher from Leeds gave a sermon about gambling & horse racing, and as Mr. Fenton considered the preacher was alluding to him and his favourite pursuits, so he closed down the chapel for the Wesleyans and in 1867 it was licensed for use by the Anglican Church as a chapel. Eventually in 1882, Ingram Place & Irwin Square became derelict, probably as the local mine was closed down.
The route linking Irwin Square to the Pontefract Road or Turnpike is called Bullough Lane-the name Bullough House is on the map above which I think was a public house. You can see the bridge over the navigation called Bullough bridge. The map below shows Bullough Lane, taken from the same 1852 map from NLS Maps. http://maps.nls.uk/view/102344959. The lock on the far right of the map is called Fishpond Lock
This a photograph of Rothwell Holy Trinity Church taken from the car park opposite the church.
This is the record of the burial of her relative Joseph Woodhead. I know it's quite hard to read this record from the West Yorkshire Archives through Ancestry.
but Joseph Woodhead's burial is on the bottom left hand side.
No 2773: Joseph WOODHEAD, of Ingram Place, buried on February 26, 1850, aged 35 years by Robert Hardwick, officiating minister.
Research shows that Joseph's Family were described as paupers in the 1851 Census, so no doubt they couldn't afford to buy a gravestone which we all know are quite expensive.
1851 England Census for Elizabeth Woodhead
Yorkshire Rothwell 1d
Entry 44: Ingram Place, Rothwell:
Elizabeth WOODHEAD, Head, Widow, 38, Pauper, Born Methley, Yorkshire
Eliza WOODHEAD, daughter, 9, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Joseph WOODHEAD, son, 7, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire
Uriah WOODHEAD, son, 3, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Elizabeth WRIGHT, Mother, Widow, 75, Pauper, Born Beeston, Yorkshire.
So to find whereabouts in the graveyard that Joseph would have been buried I looked on this list of burials at Rothwell Holy Trinity and noticed that on the page opposite the entry for Joseph Woodhead was an entry for a John MORETON. The entry is on the top, right hand side of the page.
No. 1977, John MORETON, of Rothwell Haigh, buried on 28th February 1850, by John Beth...Vicar.
So I looked at the photographs I had taken in the graveyard of the gravestone for John MORETON and found this photograph.
Sacred to the memory of John Moreton John O Gaunt Inn Rothwell Haigh who departed this life February 24th, 1850 aged 52 years.
Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 02 March 1850
On Sunday last, aged 52, of apoplexy, Mr. John Moreton, of the John O'Gaunt lnn, Rothwell Haigh, near Oulton, for many years guard on the London mail, and coachman on the Invincible.
So as Joseph died a few days before John MORETON, I think he would have been buried before him, so when I went to the graveyard today, I photographed the area to the west of John Moreton's stone where there was an unmarked space. So below shows John Moreton's stone with an unmarked space beyond it. The second photograph to the right of the first one shows that unmarked space in more detail.
The photograph below the shows the church tower, with the unmarked space beyond John Moreton's stone. As you can see the graveyard is a bit of a mess. It's not maintained by the church anymore.
So let's look further about this family and see what there is to know about them.
This is the same family in the 1841 census:
1841 England Census for Joseph Woodhead
Yorkshire Rothwell Rothwell District 4
Joseph WOODHEAD, 27, Miner, born Yorkshire.
Bess WOODHEAD, 27, born Yorkshire.
Charles WOODHEAD, 5, born Yorkshire.
Frances WOODHEAD, 2, born Yorkshire.
This was the description of the 1841 census:
n the 1841 Census a description of Ingram Place exists:
1841 census description of Yorkshire Rothwell Rothwell District 4
Ingram Place: This District included so much of the Township of Rothwell comprised within the Boundaries commencing at Geo.s Ingham’s the Lock House, Cryer Cut, from thence Westwards to Ingram Place Cottages at Dandy Bridge, and the Thwaites, Toll Bar House on the Pontefract and Leeds Road, thence on the Pontefract Road to Mr Pickford, and in an easterly direction to Mr Moss’s Public House near to Geo.’s Ingham’s on the opposite side of Cryer Cut before named.
This is the same family in the 1841 census:
1841 England Census for Joseph Woodhead
Yorkshire Rothwell Rothwell District 4
Joseph WOODHEAD, 27, Miner, born Yorkshire.
Bess WOODHEAD, 27, born Yorkshire.
Charles WOODHEAD, 5, born Yorkshire.
Frances WOODHEAD, 2, born Yorkshire.
This was the description of the 1841 census:
n the 1841 Census a description of Ingram Place exists:
1841 census description of Yorkshire Rothwell Rothwell District 4
Ingram Place: This District included so much of the Township of Rothwell comprised within the Boundaries commencing at Geo.s Ingham’s the Lock House, Cryer Cut, from thence Westwards to Ingram Place Cottages at Dandy Bridge, and the Thwaites, Toll Bar House on the Pontefract and Leeds Road, thence on the Pontefract Road to Mr Pickford, and in an easterly direction to Mr Moss’s Public House near to Geo.’s Ingham’s on the opposite side of Cryer Cut before named.
The 1841 census has far less detail than the 1851 Census, one of the differences being that it doesn't show the place that Joseph Woodhead, husband of Bess WOODHEAD, was born, just the county.
So life as a coal miner in Ingram Place must have been quite difficult and I did wonder where Mrs. Woodhead, Joseph's wife would have bought the food for her family's needs. I also looked on the census for that year to see if I could see how many coal miners & other trades were there as well as the number of children in the school. The Census doesn't mention the children as scholars, so I looked to see how many children there were 7 and under 13. I also searched for the marriage of Joseph & Bess/Elizabeth but failed to find it. The 1841 census: shows that in that year, there were 65 coal miners, 1, school-master, 1, tailor, 1, Lock-keeper, 1 Publican, 1 shop-keeper, 1 Bag Wright(what ever that is), 2 Farmers, 1 Waggoner, 2 Carpenters, 2 Labourers & 36 children over the age of 6 & under 13.
So there was a shop that maybe sold the food that Mrs. Woodhead wanted for the family.
A description of the 1851 census is as follows:
1851 census description for Yorkshire Rothwell District 1d
All that part of the parish included in this district within the Boundaries commencing at George Ingham’s Lock House, Cryer Cut, from thence Westward to the cottages at Ingram’s Place, Dandy Bridge, and Thwaite Lock and Toll Bar, thence on the Pontefract Road to Dobson’s Publican, thence in an easterly direction to Twiggs Cottage on the Railway and terminating at Smith Asquith’s Publican near George Inghams aforesaid.
You notice that in the 1851 Census,as below:
1851 England Census for Elizabeth Woodhead
Yorkshire Rothwell 1d
Entry 44: Ingram Place, Rothwell:
Elizabeth WOODHEAD, Head, Widow, 38, Pauper, Born Methley, Yorkshire
Eliza WOODHEAD, daughter, 9, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Joseph WOODHEAD, son, 7, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire
Uriah WOODHEAD, son, 3, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Elizabeth WRIGHT, Mother, Widow, 75, Pauper, Born Beeston, Yorkshire.
Again I looked at the census to count the number of coal miners & other trades & number of children who were attending the local school in 1851: This is that result:
Coal Miners:69, Publicans: 1, Servants: 1, an Errand Boy, 1 Lock Keeper, 48 Scholars, 5 farm labourers, 2 Watermen & boatmen, 1 school-master & 1 school-mistress, 7 flax spinners, a flax doffer, 1 linen weaver, 6 coal engine-men, 1 Furnace-man (iron), 1 iron moulder, 1 Iron worker & 2 iron puddlers, (remember there was an Iron works at Thorpe Hall), 2 coal banksmen & 2 coal labourers, a machine maker, a horse driver, a millwright, a log-wood grinder, 2 carpenters and an oil miller, so no shopkeepers this time, maybe that's clue to what Elizabeth Woodhead became after her husband's death.
10 years after the census of 1841, Charles & Frances Woodhead are missing from the family & that Bess Woodhead was in fact Elizabeth Woodhead, but with her mother living with them in 1851, it gives a clue as to the maiden name of Elizabeth Woodhead.--yes it was WRIGHT. So Joseph Woodhead must have married Elizabeth WRIGHT before Charles Woodhead was born and as he was 5 years old in 1841, then he must have been born about 1836, so Joseph & Elizabeth were married before 1836.The other clue from that 1851 Census, states that Elizabeth Woodhead's mother was Elizabeth WRIGHT, born in Beeston, Yorkshire 75 years before 1851, so about 1776. So I am looking for a baptism of a girl called Elizabeth in Beeston about 1776, then a marriage to a person called WRIGHT to discover her husband who had died before the 1851 census. So lots to discover-let's start with those 2 young Woodhead children, Frances & Charles.
First of their christenings:
Baptisms in the Parish Church of Rothwell, Yorkshire in the Year 1836:
September 25th, Charles, son of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD, of Rothwell HAIGH, a miner, by Jas.Horrd, Curate.
So in 1836, Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD live in Rothwell HAIGH, which is a part of Rothwell to the north of the village on what was originally where the ground was uncultivated and used for hunting wild boar. Certainly there were coal mines in that area.
The map above shows Rothwell Haigh & Irwin Square, so the Woodheads in 1836 could still have lived in Irwin Square when their first child was christened at Rothwell Holy Trinity Church, or they lived at another place in Rothwell Haigh area-it's difficult to be accurate.
Monmouthshire Merlin - Saturday 15 February 1840
Seven men and boys have been killed by an explosion in the Rothwell Haigh coal-pits, Yorkshire, and many others dangerously burnt; although provided with safety lamps, they were all using naked candles! What a recklessness of life these miners constantly display.
Now for his Frances WOODHEAD, here is her christening
6th October, 1839, Frances daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD of Ingram Place, Miner, by Jas. Horrar, Curate. So by October 1839, Joseph & Elizabeth have moved from Rothwell HAIGH to Rothwell, Ingram Place. That's why in the 1841 census, both children are mentioned with the family in Rothwell.(Next door is a John NOWELL, a miner & his family, with wife called Ann.
On the bottom of the entry is:
Wm. WOODHEAD, 30, Coal Miner, born Yorkshire.
Nancy WOODHEAD, 30, born Yorkshire.
Sarah WOODHEAD, 5, born Yorkshire.
Mary WOODHEAD, 3, born Yorkshire.
Christening of Uriah WOODHEAD at Rothwell Holy Trinity in the County of York in the year 1847:
29 August 1847, Uriah, son of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD, of Ingram Place, a miner, by John Swin B.A. Curate.
So between 1842 & 1847, all these 3 children were born in Joseph & Elizabeth's mining cottage in Ingram Place and survived their birth & infancy. Living in Ingram Place, which was situated between 2 bodies of water, a canal and a large river must sometimes have been very wet. I am sure the area must have been subject to flooding from time to time. Each time a child is born, the family walk along the towpath of the canal, cross over it on the swing bridge, then walk up Bullough lane which is a steep climb, then walk down the hill into the village of Rothwell to go to to the Trinity Church for the child to be christened.
So after their father's death in 1850, one wonders how Elizabeth their mother was going to survive feeding the family without marrying again. Probably that was why the family were listed in the 1851 census as paupers which meant they were subject to Parish Relief.
Today, Wednesday 31 January 2018 I went to West Yorkshire Archives, Nepshaw Lane, Morley & consulted the following document: LC/Ro/4: Rothwell Township, Relief Book dated from 1849:
Name of Pauper & Chidren Age Residence Marital Status Weekly Income Dependents Husband Weekly Amount
Eliazbeth Woodhead 18 March 1850 37 Waterloo Widow Nil Yes Deceased Miner 3/-
Eliza Woodhead 8 Waterloo
Joseph Woodhead 5 Waterloo
Uriah Woodhead 2 Waterloo
So after 18 March 1850, Elizabeth Woodhead received 3 shillings a week from Parish Relief to bring her self up & her 3 children. The record between 1850 & 1861 did not change in the Parish Relief book.
I know that in the Census of 1861, Elizabeth Woodhead is shown as being a grocer, whilst both her sons, Joseph & Uriah are coal miners with her daughter Eliza a dressmaker.
Now when this lady from New Zealand asked me the location of Ingram Place in Rothwell I had to confess I did not know where it was at all. Hence why I started this blog with the story of the opening of the mine by William Fenton. Having found that map of 1852 showing Ingram Place which appears to be between the River Aire on the north side & the Aire & Calder Navigation on the south side. I have been to the area recently, but found that the site of the settlement has been cut through by a new course of the River Aire put there in the 1990's.
September 25th, Charles, son of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD, of Rothwell HAIGH, a miner, by Jas.Horrd, Curate.
So in 1836, Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD live in Rothwell HAIGH, which is a part of Rothwell to the north of the village on what was originally where the ground was uncultivated and used for hunting wild boar. Certainly there were coal mines in that area.
Monmouthshire Merlin - Saturday 15 February 1840
Seven men and boys have been killed by an explosion in the Rothwell Haigh coal-pits, Yorkshire, and many others dangerously burnt; although provided with safety lamps, they were all using naked candles! What a recklessness of life these miners constantly display.
Now for his Frances WOODHEAD, here is her christening
On the bottom of the entry is:
Wm. WOODHEAD, 30, Coal Miner, born Yorkshire.
Nancy WOODHEAD, 30, born Yorkshire.
Sarah WOODHEAD, 5, born Yorkshire.
Mary WOODHEAD, 3, born Yorkshire.
However, then in June 1841, both children fall ill and die within a few days of each other. Firstly Frances as she was buried in Holy Trinity graveyard on June 17, 1841, then her brother, Charles was buried on June 23rd, 1841, both you will notice had been living in Ingram Place, Rothwell.
I suppose getting their death certificates would explain their cause of death.
The other children in the family as listed in the 1851 census were
Eliza WOODHEAD, daughter, 9, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Baptisms at the Parish Church of Rothwell in the County of York, 1842:
Christening of Eliza WOODHEAD: March 20, 1842, Eliza, daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD of Ingram Place, Miner, by John Jackson, Curate
Joseph WOODHEAD, son, 7, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire
Christening of Joseph WOODHEAD:
August 11, 1844, Joseph son of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD, of Ingram Place, Miner, by John Beleaih, Vicar.
Uriah WOODHEAD, son, 3, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
The other children in the family as listed in the 1851 census were
Eliza WOODHEAD, daughter, 9, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Christening of Eliza WOODHEAD: March 20, 1842, Eliza, daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD of Ingram Place, Miner, by John Jackson, Curate
Joseph WOODHEAD, son, 7, Scholar, born Rothwell, Yorkshire
Christening of Joseph WOODHEAD:
Uriah WOODHEAD, son, 3, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
29 August 1847, Uriah, son of Joseph & Elizabeth WOODHEAD, of Ingram Place, a miner, by John Swin B.A. Curate.
So between 1842 & 1847, all these 3 children were born in Joseph & Elizabeth's mining cottage in Ingram Place and survived their birth & infancy. Living in Ingram Place, which was situated between 2 bodies of water, a canal and a large river must sometimes have been very wet. I am sure the area must have been subject to flooding from time to time. Each time a child is born, the family walk along the towpath of the canal, cross over it on the swing bridge, then walk up Bullough lane which is a steep climb, then walk down the hill into the village of Rothwell to go to to the Trinity Church for the child to be christened.
So after their father's death in 1850, one wonders how Elizabeth their mother was going to survive feeding the family without marrying again. Probably that was why the family were listed in the 1851 census as paupers which meant they were subject to Parish Relief.
Today, Wednesday 31 January 2018 I went to West Yorkshire Archives, Nepshaw Lane, Morley & consulted the following document: LC/Ro/4: Rothwell Township, Relief Book dated from 1849:
Name of Pauper & Chidren Age Residence Marital Status Weekly Income Dependents Husband Weekly Amount
Eliazbeth Woodhead 18 March 1850 37 Waterloo Widow Nil Yes Deceased Miner 3/-
Eliza Woodhead 8 Waterloo
Joseph Woodhead 5 Waterloo
Uriah Woodhead 2 Waterloo
So after 18 March 1850, Elizabeth Woodhead received 3 shillings a week from Parish Relief to bring her self up & her 3 children. The record between 1850 & 1861 did not change in the Parish Relief book.
I know that in the Census of 1861, Elizabeth Woodhead is shown as being a grocer, whilst both her sons, Joseph & Uriah are coal miners with her daughter Eliza a dressmaker.
Now when this lady from New Zealand asked me the location of Ingram Place in Rothwell I had to confess I did not know where it was at all. Hence why I started this blog with the story of the opening of the mine by William Fenton. Having found that map of 1852 showing Ingram Place which appears to be between the River Aire on the north side & the Aire & Calder Navigation on the south side. I have been to the area recently, but found that the site of the settlement has been cut through by a new course of the River Aire put there in the 1990's.
In the foreground is the canal, and in the distance is a metal bridge over the new course of the River Aire. The land alongside the canal would have been Ingram Place, because the canal was widened in the 1960's. In the far distance is Skelton Lake a former open cast mine dug out in 1947. It has been turned into a nature reserve now, so the River Aire's course was diverted so as not to risk flooding this new reserve.
Remember this map, showing Ingram Place, the 2 rows of houses & a school sited next to the bank of the River Aire & the canal.
This is the new course of the River Aire curving round with a bank of metal piles. In the distance is the old course of the river as seen below, with Skelton Lake beyond.
Remember this map, showing Ingram Place, the 2 rows of houses & a school sited next to the bank of the River Aire & the canal.
This is the site of Ingram Place, the tow path of the canal is on the left of the photograph.
Above is the new metal bridge erected over the new course of the River Aire in 2017.
Above is the old course of the River Aire with the M1 bridge in the background. This would have been probably the site of the old wooden bridge known as Waterloo Bridge over the Aire from Ingram Place or Irwin Square.
This Skelton Lake.
So Bess Woodhead or Elizabeth Woodhead who was Joseph's common-law wife i.e. his wife without a ceremony. Her mother was also called Elizabeth, born about 1776 in Beeston, and was a widow in 1851, because her husband, and the children's grandfather died on the 15 May 1847 and was buried in the graveyard of Rothwell Holy Trinity on 18 May 1847.
In the 1841 census he she is with her husband Benjamin also in Ingram Place, Rothwell.
Benjm. WRIGHT, aged 60, Bag Wright or is Bog Wright, born Yorkshire
Elizabeth WRIGHT, aged 60, born Yorkshire.
Benjm. Hirst, 25, Coal Miner, born Yorkshire
So to find Elizabeth Wright's maiden name I searched for the christening of her daughter Elizabeth WRIGHT in West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 for Elizabeth Wright
Methley, St Oswald 1813.
This is what I found:
Born December 12th 1812, christened on 24th January, 1813, Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT and Elizabeth WILSON of Mickletown, a collier, by J. E. Cole.
This was the church where the christening took place:
So Elizabeth WRIGHT, Joseph Woodward's grandmother was Elizabeth WILSON.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 for Elizabeth Wilson
Leeds, St Peter 1796
No. 409: Benjamin WRIGHT, of this Parish, Collier & Elizabeth WILSON of this parish spinster, were married in this church by banns on 14th October 1796 by me Oswald Wilson, clerk in presence of Matthew SMITH (his mark) & Thos. Atkinson.
After their marriage, Elizabeth & Benjamin go back to live in the Parish of Methley, but in the village of Mickletown, where Benjamin's job was a coal miner.
Children of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON from Family SEARCH
Nancy Wright
Christening Date, 16 December, 1799, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born 2 December, 1799, as daughter of Benjamin Wright & Elizabeth WILSON.
Sarah Wright
Christening Date, 22 May 1802, born on 13 May, 1802 at Methley, Yorkshire, England as daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON, died 18 February 1805.
John Wright,
Christening Date:, July 1804, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born 18 June, 1804, as son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON, died 24 February, 1805.
James Wright
Christening Date, 29 June 1806, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born 05 June 1806, as son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth.
Jane Wright,
Christening Date: Jan 1809 at METHLEY,YORKSHIRE ,ENGLAND, daughter of Benjamin Wright & Elizabeth born 24 November, 1808.
Sarah Wright
Christening Date, 03 February, 1811, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born on 10 December 1810, daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT &
Elizabeth Wright
Christening Date, 24 January, 1813, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, as daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON.
Benjamin Wright
Christening Date, 29 May 1815, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, as son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON
Christening of Benjamin Wright May 29th 1813 Methley St Oswald son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON, collier of Mickletown.
Martha Wright
Christening Date, 26 July 1818, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON.
So to find the burial place of Benjamin WRIGHT in Rothwell Holy Trinity Graveyard who again couldn't afford a gravestone I looked for the burial record and anyone buried nearby whose name was on a stone. Above I have said that Benjamin WRIGHT died on the 15 May 1847 and was buried in the graveyard of Rothwell Holy Trinity on 18 May 1847.
So in row 3S, is this inscription on a gravestone:
Elizabeth WRIGHT, aged 60, born Yorkshire.
Benjm. Hirst, 25, Coal Miner, born Yorkshire
So to find Elizabeth Wright's maiden name I searched for the christening of her daughter Elizabeth WRIGHT in West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 for Elizabeth Wright
Methley, St Oswald 1813.
This is what I found:
This was the church where the christening took place:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 for Elizabeth Wilson
Leeds, St Peter 1796
No. 409: Benjamin WRIGHT, of this Parish, Collier & Elizabeth WILSON of this parish spinster, were married in this church by banns on 14th October 1796 by me Oswald Wilson, clerk in presence of Matthew SMITH (his mark) & Thos. Atkinson.
After their marriage, Elizabeth & Benjamin go back to live in the Parish of Methley, but in the village of Mickletown, where Benjamin's job was a coal miner.
Children of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON from Family SEARCH
Nancy Wright
Christening Date, 16 December, 1799, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born 2 December, 1799, as daughter of Benjamin Wright & Elizabeth WILSON.
Sarah Wright
Christening Date, 22 May 1802, born on 13 May, 1802 at Methley, Yorkshire, England as daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON, died 18 February 1805.
John Wright,
Christening Date:, July 1804, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born 18 June, 1804, as son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON, died 24 February, 1805.
James Wright
Christening Date, 29 June 1806, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born 05 June 1806, as son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth.
Jane Wright,
Christening Date: Jan 1809 at METHLEY,YORKSHIRE ,ENGLAND, daughter of Benjamin Wright & Elizabeth born 24 November, 1808.
Sarah Wright
Christening Date, 03 February, 1811, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, born on 10 December 1810, daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT &
Elizabeth Wright
Christening Date, 24 January, 1813, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, as daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON.
Benjamin Wright
Christening Date, 29 May 1815, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, as son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON
Christening of Benjamin Wright May 29th 1813 Methley St Oswald son of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON, collier of Mickletown.
Martha Wright
Christening Date, 26 July 1818, at Methley, Yorkshire, England, daughter of Benjamin WRIGHT & Elizabeth WILSON.
Inscription: Also Ann Nowell, wife of James Nowell of Ingram Place who died May 6th 1847 aged 73 years
So looking in the graveyard in the vicinity of this stone this is the result.
The stone at the bottom of the photo is that of Ann Nowell, so the space beyond it which has no stone may be the burial spot of Benjamin WRIGHT.
The other side of the Nowell Stone also has a space without a gravestone.
The lives of the Woodhead family at Ingram Place, Rothwell must have been pretty hard, with both sons being coal miners. I have found one or two articles in newspapers about accidents in the mine, but also found an article about the miners of Waterloo Colliery playing in cricket matches.
For example here are 2 articles about mining accidents:
Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 07 January 1854
Death from the Breaking of a Coal-pit Rope. On Thursday the 29th ult., accident occurred Mr. Kirkby Fenton's Waterloo coal-pit, at Thorpe Stapleton, by which a collier named Jonathan Swain lost his life. Deceased, who was 20 years of age, was attending to the engine. He having to go down the pit, an examination of the ropes was made, and they were considered safe. He then got into the cage, the engine being held by Charles Haigh. The rope was two inches in diameter, and had to pass over a pulley, the groove of which was 2¾ inches wide, and 2¾ inches deep. It had been spliced in one part, and piece of hemp tied round it. As soon as the part thus distinguished, reached the top of the pulley, it got out of the groove, and the rope, falling upon the axle, immediately broke. Deceased was found about 32 yards below the top coal, in the empty cage, quite dead. An inquest was held on the body at the Anchor Inn, Bullough Bridge, Rothwell, on Saturday, by Mr. T. Taylor. Mr. Chas. Morton, the government inspector of mines, deposed that, in his opinion, the passage of the lump of hemp through so small a groove, would be exceedingly likely to lift the rope out of the pulley, and that the weight of the man and the chain would be sufficient to break a better rope falling upon the axle. He suggested a larger groove and signal bell. The jury returned verdict of Accidental Death," recommending attention to the suggestion.
Leeds Mercury - Saturday 18 October 1856
FATAL COLLIERY ExPLOSION.-.Yesterday after- noon, C. Jewison, Esq., district coroner, held an inquest at the Anchor Inn, Rothwell, over the body of Thos. Kilburn, who died from injuries received by an explosion of gas at the Waterloo Colliery, occupied by Mr.. Kirby Fenton. Kilburn was a lad, twelve years of age, employed as a hurrier at Waterloo Colliery. On Monday, the 29th ult. he was sent to a part of the workings about sixty yards from the place where he was employed, to fetch two picks, He took a lighted candle with him and had not been gone more than five or six minutes on his errand when a report like a clap of thunder was heard, and it was found that the pit had fired. The poor lad was shockingly burnt on the head and chest, and gradually sank under the injuries he received. Some supports gave way a short time ago, and although repairs were made a slight escape of gas had been observed. The road traversed by the deceased with the candle had not been used previously during -the day of the explosion. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
A Hurrier was a child used to pull coal tubs.
Information about children working in coal mines in the Victorian Age can be found here:
http://www.mylearning.org/coal-mining-and-the-victorians/p-2070/
Here's an article about a cricket match:
Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 08 September 1860
Waterloo Colliery v. Bank Mills, Leeds.— A game at cricket was played on Monday last with the above clubs, and terminated in favour of the former, with seven wickets to fall. Waterloo Colliery v. Woodlesford. —Two elevens of these clubs met together Tuesday afternoon, when an exciting and interesting match was played on the Woodlesford ground. The game was played out with spirit, the fielding was good on both sides, and the last wicket fell in favour of the Waterloo men with 29 runs. Score—Woodlesford 26 26, total 52; Waterloo 25 56, total 81.
So in 1861 this was the entry for the Woodhead family:
1861 England Census for Elizabeth Woodhead
Yorkshire Rothwell Rothwell District 4
Entry 4, Ingram Place:
Elizabeth WOODHEAD, Head, widow, 48, Grocer, Born Methley, Yorkshire.
Eliza WOODHEAD, daughter, Unmarried, 19, Dress-maker, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Joseph WOODHEAD, son, Unmarried, 16, Coal Miner, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Uriah WOODHEAD, son, Unmarried, 13, Coal Miner, born Rothwell, Yorkshire.
According to an obituary in the LAKE COUNTY PRESS, ISSUE 2391, 31 AUGUST 1911
OBITUARY. found in PapersPast
Joseph Woodhead— 68 Years
Another link with the early history of Arrowtown was severed on Wednesday, 28rd inst., by the passing away at Drummond, Southland, of Mr Joseph Woodhead in his 68th year. The deceased gentleman was one of the hardy hand of pioneers who came to this district about 1862 and assisted materially in developing the mineral resources of the place. He was interested and worked in several mining claims on the Arrow Diver. But few of his old mates survive him. For a very great number of years he acted as foreman of the workmen engaged by the Lake County Council on the County roads, and successfully carried out several important works. For a time he acted as road inspector for the County, he was a good servant and held in the highest esteem, not only by the community, but by his fellow workers. He resigned his position with the County some 7 or 8 years ago and went South to live with his sons in the Drummond district. He was a native of Leeds, England. During the many years he resided in Arrowtown he identified himself with all good objects for the good of the place, he was an enthusiastic cricketer and on more than one occasion his efforts secured victory for Arrow against opposing teams. The news of his death was received with feelings of the deepest regret throughout the district. He was predeceased by his wife some I8 years ago, and leaves three sons and two daughters to mourn the loss of a good father, vi/„, Messrs W. and J. Woodhead (Drummond), If. L. Woodhead (Dunedin), and Mesdames A, Hotop (Calling) and F. F.dgerton (Wiuton). We tender them our heartfelt sympathy. The remains of the late Mr Woodhead were brought to Arrowtown on Friday and interred in the Arrow cemetery on Saturday. Many friends were present to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory 11
of an old pioneer. The service at the church and grave was conducted by the Rev. H. Packe.
So Joseph Woodhead emigrated to Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand in 1862, and married Catherine CRAVEN, a native of Ireland, on 20 November 1865. Between them they had a daughter Elizabeth Annie "Eliza" Woodward on 15 July 1866 in Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand. Catherine Woodhead died in 1900-here is an announcement of her death & an obituary from Paperspast:
He built for his family a house-this photograph supplied by Megan Richards.
This is the house that Joseph Woodhead (Jnr) built for his family of 5 children in Arrowtown, Central Otago, New Zealand.
He built for his family a house-this photograph supplied by Megan Richards.
OTAGO DAILY TIMES, ISSUE 11797, 28 JULY 1900
Mrs Catherine Woodhead, a respected resident of Arrowtown since the early sixties, died there yesterday morning, after a short illness.
PERSONAL.
EVENING STAR, ISSUE 11304, 27 JULY 1900
PERSONAL.
Mrs Catherine Woodhead, a respected resident of Arrowtown since the early sixties, died there this morning after a short illness.
OBITUARY.
OBITUARY.
LAKE COUNTY PRESS, ISSUE 922, 2 AUGUST 1900
Regret was general when the sad news of the death of Mrs Joseph Woodhead on Friday morning last became known. Deceased lady had only been ill two days, when the cold arm of death was laid upon her, inflammation of the bowels being the direct cause of death. Deceased lady was one of the first residents of Arrowtown, and from the time of her arrival in the district, some 35 years ago, till her sudden demise, was respected and esteemed by one and all. She was a good mother, an affectionate wife, and a faithful friend. Her age was 55. The funeral took place on Sunday last and was largely attended. The Rev. Mr Blair read the burial service. We tender the relatives our deepest sympathy in their sad bereavement.
Meawhile in Britain, Joseph's siblings also married and moved away from home.
On 14 May 1864, Eliza, Joseph's elder sister, married an Edward LAYCOCK at Rothwell Holy Trinity Church. Together they had 2 children before 1871, Mary E in 1868 & Joseph in 1870. In the 1871 census they are recorded as living in Bachelor Street, Leeds.
Uriah Woodhead married Maria Askwith at Cross Green St Saviours on 24 March 1868.
1868 Marriage solemnized at St. Saviours Church in the Parish of St Saviours, Leeds, Yorkshire.
No. 382: 29 March 1868, Uriah WOODHEAD, 20, Bachelor, Cartwright, of Bachelor Street, son of Joseph WOODHEAD, collier & Mary Ann Asquith, 24, Spinster, Milkmaid, of Sussex Street, daughter of John Askquith, a Hay & Straw Dealer were married in the church after banns in presence of James Barnes & Charlotte Hewitt.
Uriah Woodhead married Maria Askwith at Cross Green St Saviours on 24 March 1868.
No. 382: 29 March 1868, Uriah WOODHEAD, 20, Bachelor, Cartwright, of Bachelor Street, son of Joseph WOODHEAD, collier & Mary Ann Asquith, 24, Spinster, Milkmaid, of Sussex Street, daughter of John Askquith, a Hay & Straw Dealer were married in the church after banns in presence of James Barnes & Charlotte Hewitt.
Note that Uriah's father should have been given the title as deceased. Their first child was a boy called Willie Woodhead or maybe Willis who was born according to his christening record below at St Saviour's Church, where he is parents married was on 7 November 1870.
The record reads: Baptism solemnized at St Saviour Leeds, Yorkshire.
27th August 1871, born 7th November 1870, Willie, son of Uriah & Mary Anne WOODHEAD, of the Boy's Building, Bradford, Wheelwright, by William Richard. So Willie was born in Bradford, but christened almost a year later in the same church that his parents married. Ten years later in 1881, the family are living in Leeds at number 3, Butterfield Street, where his father Uriah is still a wheelwright. During the next ten years Willie has a sister born in the family, Lilian Woodhead,
Private Baptism: October 27 1886, Lilian WOODHEAD daughter of Uriah & Mary Ann WOODHEAD of 3, Butterfield St, a wheelwright, by T. H. Hastings.
The records like census state that both Lilian & Willie remain at home for quite a while, though the next record for Willie is a banns of Marriage record.
Banns of marriage, not the marriage:
On July 3 1899, Willie WOODHEAD, of Leeds, & Mary Ann BROWN of Bradford, Willie WOODHEAD, aged 28, Bachelor, a shunter for N. E. R. (North Eastern Railway Company), of 9, Leather Street & Mary Ann BROW N, aged 26, Spinster. So at some after 1891 he starts working for the North Eastern Railway Company, eventually becoming a shunter.
The couple then got married at Bradford Parish Church: on 15 July 1899
27th August 1871, born 7th November 1870, Willie, son of Uriah & Mary Anne WOODHEAD, of the Boy's Building, Bradford, Wheelwright, by William Richard. So Willie was born in Bradford, but christened almost a year later in the same church that his parents married. Ten years later in 1881, the family are living in Leeds at number 3, Butterfield Street, where his father Uriah is still a wheelwright. During the next ten years Willie has a sister born in the family, Lilian Woodhead,
The records like census state that both Lilian & Willie remain at home for quite a while, though the next record for Willie is a banns of Marriage record.
Banns of marriage, not the marriage:
On July 3 1899, Willie WOODHEAD, of Leeds, & Mary Ann BROWN of Bradford, Willie WOODHEAD, aged 28, Bachelor, a shunter for N. E. R. (North Eastern Railway Company), of 9, Leather Street & Mary Ann BROW N, aged 26, Spinster. So at some after 1891 he starts working for the North Eastern Railway Company, eventually becoming a shunter.
The couple then got married at Bradford Parish Church: on 15 July 1899
1899 Marriage solemnized at Bradford Parish Church,
122: 15th July 1899, Willie WOODHEAD, 28years, Bachelor, Railway Shunter, of 9 Leather Street, Leeds, son of Uriah WOODHEAD a Wheelwright & Mary Ann BROWN, 26 years, spinster, Wool drawer, of 10, Harris Street, Bradford, daughter of Thomas BROWN a retired grocer, were married in the parish church in presence of J. H. & Elizabeth BROWN.
So in 1901 census day Willie & his wife are living at 4, Silk Street, Leeds, with Willie a railway shunter.
Then 10 years later, in 1911, they are living at 2, Richmond Terrace, Richmond Hill, Leeds with their only daughter, May, who was 7 years old so born 20 May 1903 & christened at St Peter Leeds on 6 June 1903, from their home address then at 4 Silk Street, Leeds.
122: 15th July 1899, Willie WOODHEAD, 28years, Bachelor, Railway Shunter, of 9 Leather Street, Leeds, son of Uriah WOODHEAD a Wheelwright & Mary Ann BROWN, 26 years, spinster, Wool drawer, of 10, Harris Street, Bradford, daughter of Thomas BROWN a retired grocer, were married in the parish church in presence of J. H. & Elizabeth BROWN.
So in 1901 census day Willie & his wife are living at 4, Silk Street, Leeds, with Willie a railway shunter.
Then 10 years later, in 1911, they are living at 2, Richmond Terrace, Richmond Hill, Leeds with their only daughter, May, who was 7 years old so born 20 May 1903 & christened at St Peter Leeds on 6 June 1903, from their home address then at 4 Silk Street, Leeds.
Born 20 May 1903, christened on 6 June 1903, May, daughter of Willie & Mary Ann WOODHEAD, of Silk Street, a Shunter, by Morris Hodson, curate.
I suppose the next date of a family nature would be the death of Willie's father, Uriah Woodhead, who died 27 February 1920, and his burial at Harehills Cemetery on 1st March 1920. Prior to 1911,
Then this occurrence which may well refer to Uriah's occupation:
Yorkshire Evening Post - Tuesday 16 February 1909
UNJUST WEIGHTS AND SCALES IN* LEEDS. At Lewis Court, to-day—before Stipendiary Magistrate (Mr. C. M. Atkinson) —several prosecutions (under the Weights and Measures Act were heard. Uriah Woodhead, general dealer Greenfield Terrace, for having in his possession for use for trade an unstamped spring balance, was fined 5s.. with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. For neglecting to produce the same balance for inspection when requested to by Inspector Short, he was fined 15s, or seven days imprisonment.
Uriah's wife Mary Ann died in the July quarter of 1909.
In the 1911 Census, just like the 1901 Census, Uriah's occupation is shown as a licensed hawker, and in 1911 he and his daughter Lilian, without his wife & her mother are living in Accommodation Road, Leeds.I think that both Uriah & Lilian could not afford a gravestone of their own. Uriah's name is recorded on a gravestone in Harehills cemetery, part of a mass grave.
Then in 1925, Willie Woodhead, who was still working as a railway shunter was found dead as this newspaper article explains:
Leeds Mercury - Saturday 12 December 1925
LYING ON THE LINE. DEATH OF LEEDS RAILWAY SHUNTER. A shunter, ' William Woodhead (55), of Richmond-terrace, York-road, employed at the Marsh-lane goods yard, Leeds, was found lying on the line early this morning, evidently having been knocked down by a shunting engine. He was immediately taken to the Infirmary, but was dead on arrival.
The inquest:
LEEDS: Railway Tragedy. Accidental death was the verdict in Leeds yesterday on Willie Woodhead (55), of Richmond-terrace, Accommodation-road, a L N.E. R. shunter, who was killed by a pilot engine at Marsh-lane goods station.
He was buried at Harehills Cemetery: Harehills Cemetery Grave Reference 10144, Section D1 number 0335
Inscription reads: WILLIE WOODHEAD / AT REST DEC. 12TH 1925, AGED 55 YEARS
Two years later their daughter May Woodhead married George BAGSHAW at Leeds Parish Church on 20 April 1927.
1927 Marriage solemnized at Leeds Parish Church, Yorkshire, No. 337, Twentieth April, 1927, George BAGSHAW, 28 years, Bachelor, an R.A.C. guide, of Richmond Terrace, Richmond Hill, Leeds, son of John Henry BAGSHAW, deceased, Moulder & May WoodHEAD, 23 years, spinster, of same address, daughter of Willie WOODHEAD (deceased), shunter, were married by Banns in presence of Thomas Scott & Hilda C. Nosland.
John Henry BAGSHAW worked for R.A. C as a road scout, presumably on a motor bike.
Shipley Times and Express - Saturday 11 February 1928
COOKRiDGE FARMER FINED HEAVILY John Grayson (44), farmer, Cookridge was charged with having been drunk in charge of motor car and also with driving to the danger of the public, on the Leeds and Otley Road at Bramhope on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 7. It was stated by Supt. Hodgson that the defendant was driving from the direction of Bramhope towards Otley, and ho got about 200 yards beyond Bramhope church when he met another car coming from the opposite direction, driven by Mr. John C. Richardson, grocer, Daisy Hill, Morley. The defendant was driving on his wrong side, and he made no attempt to get on to his proper side, Mr. Richardson turned to the middle of the road. Immediately he did so the defendant also turned, and the two cars collided. After some conversation the defendant began to use abusive language. He remained sitting in the car, leaning over the steering wheel, with his arms over the wheel. Seeing that the man was drunk, Mr. Richardson went for P.C. Lawrence, who took the defendant to the police station. Here he denied that he was driving the car at all. He said it was his friend who was driving. He was examined by Dr. Horsfall, who certified that he was drunk.
George Bagshaw, an R.A.C. scout, said that when he arrived on the scene the defendant was still sitting in the car, grasping the broken steering wheel with both hands. The front wheels were flat on the ground and the engine was almost touching the road. He told a friend who was with him to start her up and let’s get away.”
Then unfortunately in September of that year, later John Henry still an R.A. C. road scout was killed and the newspapers described his death & one asked for motorists to contribute to a fund for his widow & child. was involved in a road accident and was killed.
Leeds Mercury - Thursday 20 September 1928,
R.A.C. GUIDE DEAD. Mangled Arm Amputated at Leeds Infirmary. The plucky R.A.C. guide. George Bagshaw, of Richmond Hill, Leeds, the story of whose accident was told in the Mercury yesterday, died in Leeds Infirmary yesterday following the amputation of his mangled arm. Blood transfusion was unavailing. Bagshaw was trapped between a motor ’bus and a lorry at Pool on Monday night, while on duty there. He was thrown on to the rear wheel of the lorry, and his left arm broken in two places,
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 20 September 1928
R.A.C. SCOUT’S DEATH. Leeds Man Crushed Between ’Bus and Lorry. An inquest was held in Leeds yesterday on George Bagshaw, Richmond Terrace, Leeds, R.A.C. scout, who was crushed between a motor ’bus and a lorry at Pool. The motor ’bus driver, Tom Kent, Cross Green, Otley, said that on stopping at Pool he had few moments’ talk with Bagshaw . Then Bagshaw walked off and almost at once witness heard a bump. Looking in his reflector, he saw a lorry coming from behind, and at that moment nearly level with his ’bus. Witness then opened the door of his cab and saw Bagshaw lying on the ground. William Evans, of Burnley, the driver of the lorry, said lie saw the motor ’bus a long way off. At the corner, a light car coming in the opposite direction seemed to be coming head on to him,* so lie turned slightly to the left. Then he seemed to be a few feet away from the side the ’bus. He felt a bump and stopped. He never saw Bagshaw. The jury returned verdict of Accidental death,” attaching no blame to any one, and recommended that the ’bus stop should be further up the road.
Shipley Times and Express - Saturday 29 September 1928
(To the Editor). Sir,—Many thousands motorists who use the Wharfedale roads will miss the cheery helpfulness of George Bagshaw, , the R.A.C. scout who for many years directed the traffic at Pool Bridge. A little over week ago he was crushed between a lorry and bus. In spite of the fact that his left arm was terribly mangled and broken in two places, he did not lose consciousness, and calmly told those who ran to his assistance how stem the bleeding until the doctor arrived. Last week it was found necessary amputate the arm, and in spite of the gallantry of a fellow scout from Pool, who gave a large quantity of his own blood for transfusion, Bagshaw’s life could not be saved. He leaves a widow and young child. If there are any motorists who feel they would like help the widow to tide over the difficult time until the child is out of hand, I shall be glad to receive donations at my Bradford office, 137, Thornton Road. The subscriptions so far to hand have been accompanied by appreciations of the late scout’s sterling qualities, and I am hoping to be able hand over to the widow a sum worthy of the motorists of this district. Your graphic and full account of the accident in last week’s issue should elicit liberal response from all those road-users who can admire pluck and appreciate cheerful and efficient public service. Yours, etc., GEO. W. STOCKS, Bradda. Halstead Drive, Mansion-in- Wharfedale. September 26 1928,
Gravestone of George BAGSHAW at Harehills Cemetery:
GEORGE BAGSHAW / DIED SEP 18TH 1928, / AGED 30 YEARS-this is the same gravestone as Willie WOODHEAD & later May BAGSHAW.
Also his dear wife May BAGSHAW died February 19th 1982 aged 78 years.
The last report carries the news that John Henry & May had a young child born to them-that was a Norman BAGSHAW, born in the September quarter of 1928. May BAGSHAW never married again, and she died 19 February 1982.
Gravestone of George BAGSHAW at Harehills Cemetery:
The last report carries the news that John Henry & May had a young child born to them-that was a Norman BAGSHAW, born in the September quarter of 1928. May BAGSHAW never married again, and she died 19 February 1982.
