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Interesting Facts &
Information
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Postman's Half Holiday 1925 (July 3rd) - Supplied By:
Dennis Harker |
| A letter from the Post Office authorities to
Cowling Parish Council recommended that, for the
Cowling postman to have a half day off each
week, it was necessary that the time of the
second delivery on Saturday's to be brought
forward by about three hours, and the
collections from the wall boxes at Middleton,
Ickornshaw and Lane Ends three hours earlier.
The final dispatch from Cowling Post Office
would be brought forward from 5-50 p.m. to 2-50
p.m.. The council passed a resolution to this
proposal. |
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Temperance Society's Demonstration 1925
(July 17th) - Supplied By:
Dennis Harker |
The Temperance Society's procession and gala
takes place annually on Feast Monday. A large
procession gathered at Winkholme Top, and walked
round the village by the way of Nan Scar,
Ickornshaw, Middleton and New Road Side
(Keighley Road). The Cowling Temperance Brass
Band leading the Parish Church, United
Methodist, Wesleyan and Baptist Sunday Schools.
Temperance Society banners were carried at the
front of the procession. A large number of
adults were also in the
gathering. Prizes were given to the winners of a
competition to write an essay, with the subject
being "An imaginary conversation between a
non-member and a member of the Band of Hope".
Winners in the under 11 years of age were: 1)
Walter Winstanley, 2) Elsie Maude Thompson.
Under 15 years were: 1) Jonas Laycock, 2)
Stanley Redman, were presented with their prizes
by a Mr. Bannister (Rev. Fred Bannister).
A gala and field day were held in the new
cricket field where children's sports were
enjoyed and they were given buns and coffee.
Sports for the adults were also held and the
winners received prizes which were awarded by
the Temperance Society. The Temperance Brass
Band played a selection of music in the evening. |
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Karl Ramsbottom's Diary for April 1947 |
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1st
April 1947 - |
Though snow has gone fast, just past the
bend below Garden Terrace is still a drift, 8
yards long and several feet wide. |
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8th
April 1947 - |
Down at Lane Ends Box Shop people are
calling regularly for any wood that will burn. |
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12th
April 1947 - |
Bus ride to Nan Scar Top from Lane Ends
price one penny. |
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13th
April 1947 - |
Double summertime began, clocks put forward
another hour. |
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New Tennis Courts 1925 (July 17th) - Supplied By:
Dennis Harker |
Local tennis players have to use improvised
tennis courts for the last three years in the
corner of the
recreation ground. This was not conducive for
accurate play. Two hard court all weather courts
are to be
laid on the same site. The Recreation Ground and
War Memorial were opened in October 1924.
Mr. Watson Hartley performed the opening
ceremony of the new all weather tennis courts in
the
new recreation ground. Mr. Stephen Emmott
vice-chairman of the Recreation Ground Committee
presided. The opening games were played by
Misses L. Newrnan, I. Swales, D. Smith, M.
Swales, and
Messrs. F.W. Bailey, F.W. Heaton, H.W. Forte,
and J.R. Emmott. |
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Cowling Cricket Club 1925 (April 24th) - Supplied By:
Dennis Harker |
The month of April sees the start of the
cricket season, and the popularity of the game
in Cowling
comes partly from the cricket field being in the
centre of the village for the past 33yrs.. The
Royd
Ground has been bought for the new Public
Recreation Ground. This season sees the transfer
of the
cricket ground to a large and comparatively
level ground at Woodside. Harry Dracup, a
regular player for
over 20 yrs, will play again, as will Harvey
Watson. Sydney Bradley will be captain, with
batsmen being
Jim Metcalfe, Harry Whitaker, Clifford Benson
and Fred Birch. Albert Metcalfe will also be
playing for
Cowling this time in spite of offers from other
clubs in Yorkshire. Left-hand bowler will be
joined in
action by Albert Dale, who is a right-arm bowler
of some repute.
Everett Kitson will be captain of the second
team again, and batsmen will be J.C.Pickup,
Edgar
Smith, Donald Snowden and Raymond Benson.
Bowlers in the team again will be Alfred
Whitaker and
Smith Whitaker. |
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'Field Sports' in Cowling - Supplied By:
Dennis Harker |
In the late 18th century, and up to the
first world war, pigeon shooting was a 'sport'
followed by many. The field where the shoot took
place is now known as Collinge Road, and there
used to be betting on the outcome of the shoot.
Pigeons were bred specially for this, and one of
the breeders was William Hill, who was the owner
of the Bay Horse at that time. He used to breed
them in the loft over the stables which were
opposite the Bay Horse.
Whilst there was pigeon shooting from the Bay
Horse, the Black Bull used to put on hare
coursing. Men came from as far as Colne and
Nelson, bringing their whippets with them, so
that they could chase the hares. This pastime
was carried on in the Knowl fields , which are
part of the Know] Hill Farm. The hare coursing
was also accompanied by betting on the dogs.
Knur (Nur) and Spel was played in the field at
the back of Wood House. This sport was revived
after the second world war, but soon fizzled
out. |
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Woodhouse a history in sight by: Mrs Myra
Warne - Date: Unknown |
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Wood House, Cowling |
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In 1770 there was a small farm called The Wood,
which was owned by a branch of the Garforth
family of Steeton, who lived at Gamesgill.
The barn was where it is today. In 1792 the old
house was pulled down and the present house
built adjoining the barn.
The first tenant after the house was rebuilt and
known as Woodhouse, was one Henry Laycock.
According to an account it cost £100 - 18 - 5d.
The road from the Church to Woodhouse was part
of a copse road, for it was along this road that
they carried coffins for burial at Kildwick
Church. |
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MARCH 1947: From Karl Ramsbottom's
diary |
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3rd
March 1947 - |
Sunday School Social for all
scholars (Bar Chapel) between 9 and 16 years of
age. Lasted 4 hours, games and film show,
Jacob's join supper. During the following week
Bentley's Wholesale Grocers tried to get a fleet
of lorries into Lincolnshire for potatoes, but
could not manage it. Potatoes are now rationed
at shops. Peace conference in Moscow. Foreign
secretaries are anxious to build foundations for
a better world! |
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15th
March 1947 - |
Road up to Court House Farm has
been blocked 12 times. |
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16th
March 1947 - |
Several loads of straw and
potatoes have gone up the road today. |
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18th
March 1947 - |
A choir of 50 persons,
assisted by 2 soloists under the leadership of
Mr. Ronald Duckworth gave Mendelssohn's Hymn of
Praise. Choir had practised for 9 weeks, not
much more than average congregation came, most
disappointing for choir.
Thaw - rivers of water! British summertime began
this morning. All clocks being put forward by
one hour. GREEN PATCHES SHOW THROUGH THE SNOW!
Road just wide enough to allow two vehicles to
pass with care. |
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The Big Snow of 1947 from Karl Ramsbottom's
diary |
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31st
Jan 1947 - |
Workers at John Binns Mills
sign on for benefit,due to fuel shortage. |
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2nd
Feb 1947 - |
Blizzards over countryside |
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3rd
Feb 1947 - |
Fuel shortage and unemployment,
government gets the blame. Prefabricated houses
which should be coming through the village are
blocked on road. Buses could not get through
until after 10 o'clock this morning. A steady
stream of laid off workers called at Bannisters
box shop at Lane Ends (now The Old Sawmills
Estate) for bags of firewood, anything that
would burn. |
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5th
Feb 1947 - |
Cowling isolated. One single
decker bus keeps communications open. Many buses
off road with broken springs. |
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8th
Feb 1947 - |
More blizzards. Milk kits from
Cowlaughton and Lumb Farms brought down on horse
drawn sledge to Winter House. Many German POWs
employed on snow clearing. |
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9th
Feb 1947 - |
Service in Bar Chapel Primary
Room (now Pinnacle View) to save coke. 50
persons present, including scholars. |
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11th
Feb 1947 - |
Croft Mill re-opened yesterday,
but closed again. |
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12th
Feb 1947 - |
Sheep eat wreaths in burial
grounds. Green St. Snow cleared for funeral
hearse. |
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13th
Feb 1947 - |
No transport over Moss from
Colne, too risky to travel. Snow still solid for
approx 6 inches over road. |
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