Goole Grammar School 1926

A good number of years ago now I was a pupil at Goole Grammar School. The headmaster was Mr J L Latimer although he retired whilst I was there and was followed by Mr Peter Teed.

I remember the strict insistence on uniform - no duffle coat, only a blue gaberdine mac and the horrible 'pork pie' hat. Outdoor shoes had to be black and lace up and we had to wear  white socks until we were 14.

I have recently found a picture of the whole school - then Goole Secondary School - in June 1926. It has suffered a bit over the years but generally all the faces are recognisable. What is interesting is that the girls' uniform does not look so different from mine with a gymship and white blouse.

Mine came from Gordon Clarke's down ?Carlisle Street.  However the girls here are wearing open-necked  blouses. Was this their summer uniform, when we wore blue and white striped dresses or did they not have to bother with the dreaded tie?

This is a section from the middle of what is a very long picture.  I believe the gentleman wearing a gown in the centre is the school's first headmaster Mr Clarence Jacob Forth

From my garden

This weekend has been very hot and sticky and then last night the weather broke with the crashing and banging of a thunderstorm during the night. It always seems more impressive and a little more frightening when it is dark.

We have been picking raspberries and blackcurrants, I freeze them on baking trays and then transfer them into plastic containers. I think the rasps are my favourite although we enjoyed a blackcurrant crumble for tea.

Norman the cockerel now has a small harem of two hens and seems to be strutting more happily round the garden with them. In fact he found some low-hanging rasps and was quite reluctant to be parted from them.

The nearby grass land has all been cut and put into large green bags - just beating the rain. I thought it was silage but have been informed it is more probably haylage. I am not sure I know the difference.

It is however a far cry from when we had ponies as a child and my father cut grass on the roadside verge with an Allen scythe. We raked it and turned it by hand and then pitch forked it into hay cocks. It was very scratchy and itchy to deal with but I can still remember the  lovely smell.

Gilberdyke school old photo of Mrs Sellers' class

Following on from my previous post about Staddlethorpe station here is another piece of  Gilberdyke  history. In the same file as before I have found a picture of a Gilberdyke school class. I do not know the date - although the teacher again is Mrs Sellers.

I would love to know who the children are and when the picture was taken.

The re-naming of Staddlethorpe station

I have been looking through some files and have come across  a song, written by Gilberdyke teacher Mrs Jean Sellers on the occasion of the change of station name from Staddlethorpe to Gilberdyke in 1974.

To the tune of the Vicar of Bray, the Gilberdyke schoolchildren sang the following:


In Queen Victoria's golden reign
This station was first opened
And all the population round about
Approved the innovation.
For Goole, for Hull, for Doncaster
The people congregated
From Staddlethorpe they travelled far
With freedom long awaited.

But from this day, by one and all
Re-named shall be this station
As Gilberdyke it shall be known
Hurrah for this grand occasion.

But since these days now long far off
This village has seen changes
And British Rail's passed this decree
To suit the situation
That from this day by one and all

Re-named shall be this station

As Gilberdyke it shall be known

Hurrah for this grand occasion.

After the singing, a contemporary newspaper report (February 1974) says the new sign was unveiled by local councillor Lewis Clayton and the old sign was presented to the parish council. Here is part of the cutting (click to view larger). I do have also some photos of the event which I shall eventually put onto the old photo section of my website but in the meantime if you were there singing, let me know!!

Barmby on the Marsh history - 2

Soon after writing about the mills at Barmby I had a message from Stuart whose ancestors were in fact the millers there at one time. His 3x great grandfather was John Cook who was a miller at Barmby. John's daughter Sarah married John Fox in 1856 whose father, Joseph Fox, was a miller at Airmyn.

Joseph Fox had moved from Airmyn to Brumby (Lincolnshire) where he was unfortunately killed on the 7th January 1839 during the great storm when he went out to inspect the mill and a large wooden spar fell on him.

Stuart is happy to share this information and I too would be happy to put any other interesting bits of family history on this blog for others to read.

I am continuing my researches into the village and have just obtained a copy of an 18th century Barmby inventory for a weaver who left a loom in his (work) shop.

Eastrington Show 2011

We went to Eastrington Show yesterday and enjoyed meeting several old friends.

It was a cool day but dry and not windy like last year. Then we had a tent with a display of old photographs and copies of my book about Eastrington. It did not last long in the gale and despite our best efforts it blew down.

This year we watched the display by the locally based Action Horses and then went to see how we had fared in the produce section. My aunt's begonia had won a prize in the houseplant class, our picture of a water lily at Kew was the best flower photo but most pleasingly our eggs had also won a prize. As the grand daughter of the owners of the Eastrington Poultry Farm I felt  my grand parents would have been pleased. (I have to say I was less pleased when three of our eggs, left on display, were taken by someone. Not, I felt, in the spirit of the show!)

My family have lived in Eastrington for  over three centuries. My ancestors have, no doubt, attended most of the shows of former years and for many years my father, Doug Watson, was the secretary. I  personally have very happy memories of  shows where I took part in fancy dress, rode on the speedway, entered my pony in trotting races and later sat in some very hot tents as we tried to keep the horse jumping running smoothly.

This year's show was perhaps a bit quieter but I hope to attend Eastrington Show in 2012.

Barmby on the Marsh history

I am finding the history of Barmby on the Marsh fascinating at the moment. Whilst I have quite a lot of information on the village already, I am looking at it again and finding new material. 

Situated as it is at the end of the road from Howden, not too many people nowadays know the village - but in earlier times most of those who lived there benefited from being both on the banks of the Ouse and at the start of the Derwent navigation. 

There was a large weaving industry making sailcloth for the visiting vessels and many families were watermen, making their living from the river. There were ferries to both Drax and Hemingbrough and regular 'market boats' to both Hull and Selby.

The land around the village was not enclosed until 1853 and before this villagers had rights to graze on the Marsh - 'marsh gates' - and annual  horse races were held.

I have been looking at the mill or mills - I think there were two: a post mill outside the village and a smock mill in the village centre. I would like to know more of them.

So far I know that in January 1839  both Barmby mills were  blown down in a storm and that in 1851 Alexander Bell from Gilberdyke, John Cooke and Thomas Collins were millers. By 1861 Joseph Wood was a miller.

Barmby also had an inn called the Windmill kept by Thomas Johnson in the 1850s and in 1864 by William Jackson, who was fined that year for staying open too long.

In 1870 Joseph Fenton was refused a spirit licence for the the Windmill beerhouse as it was said that there were already four public houses for the 330 inhabitants in the village.

An advertisement for the sale of the Barmby on the Marsh windmill from 1834

The last public execution at York

While researching the village of Barmby on the Marsh I came across an interesting, if rather gruesome, piece of information.

One of the village families in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was called Brooksbank. In the mid-nineteenth century William Brooksbank of Barmby married an Ann Parker. Her brother, 21-year-old Frederick Parker of Hemingbrough, was apparently the last person to be publicly executed at York Castle.

He was executed on 4th April 1868 having been found guilty of murdering another young man, Daniel Driscoll, at Hemingbrough on 1st March 1868.

From my garden

I have been cutting the grass today but although we had quite a lot of rain on Sunday afternoon it is still very dry and the grasscutter stirred up clouds of dust. I am writing this after 9pm and it is still light enough to watch a thrush tugging a worm out of the lawn.

I have been looking at the fruit trees and think we may well have a good apple crop. The Laxton Superb tree which has sometimes been barren has plenty of fruit - it is a lovely crisp eating apple. The pears and damsons look good too but the Victoria plum has lost many of its leaves and is not happy. It used to be a reliable heavy cropper but has recently died back.

But my greatest surprise is the peach tree. It is quite young - maybe 6 or 7 years old - and for the last couple of years has suffered from peach leaf curl - I think that's what it's called. This year the same thing happened but now it seems to have grown through it and looks quite healthy. And best of all it has a crop of peaches. I hope they will grow big enough to be edible!

The fig tree continues to produce a few more leaves but is still looking bare, as is part of the privet hedge. We are eating our radishes and have eaten some of the pak choi. It is a new crop for me but has a good flavour and seems to grow well in these dry conditions.

Two nights ago my daughter saw a barn owl, gliding like a ghost along the road outside the house. I had heard that barn owls had suffered heavy losses in the bad winter so it was good to know they are still around here.

And finally a few words about Norman. He is still a lonely bird, unable to keep his wives with him and spending the afternoons wandering about on his own. I have taken to feeding him bits of bread near the house - probably a mistake but I feel sorry for him.

Norman the cockerel

Goole Times weddings - Albert and Emma Taylor

Here is another Goole golden wedding.

Albert Frederick Taylor married Emma Senior on August 4th 1909 at Goole. The Goole Times newspaper report of their golden wedding in 1959 follows:

GOOLE COUPLE HAD 18 CHILDREN

GOLDEN WEDDING OF MR AND MRS TAYLOR

Celebrating their golden wedding next Tuesday, and looking back on a life together which brought them 18 children will be a well known old Goole couple Mr and Mrs Albert Frederick Taylor of 69 Don Street.

They were married at Goole Parish Church on August 4^th 1909 by the late Rev Canon Carr. Mr Taylor holds the unenviable distinction of having been shipwrecked in both world wars during a sea going career which extended for almost 50 years.

Aged 73 he was born at Trimley, Ipswich - one of a family of nine all of whom are still alive. At the age of 11 he left school and served as a cabin boy aboard a sea going barge plying between east coast and continental ports. He eventually became a mate on several barges before moving to Goole on 1907 to begin a career in steam. He served with several local shipping companies aboard such vessels as the Colwith Force and the original Dearne.

During the First World War Mr Taylor was a member og the crew of the Bennett Steam Ship Company's Burma when she hit a mine and sank off Harwich with the loss of seven lives. Despite a severe arm injury, which later necessitated a month's hospital treatment he helped to pull several other survivors aboard one of the ship's boats.

After the war he continued to sail from Humber ports as second engineer, chief engineer and second mate on several vessels including the Kalua, in which he served for fifteen years.

Mr Taylor`s second ship wreck was experienced in the last war when he was serving as second engineer in the Igthan. About 20 miles out from Spurn Point (I was having breakfast at the time recalls Mr Taylor) she struck a mine and sank but no lives were lost.

After giving up the sea about ten years ago Mr Taylor worked for the Goole Shipbuilding and Repairing Company Ltd, for the River Ouse Catchment Board and at Scunthorpe before retiring completely two years ago.

At the age of 73 Mrs Taylor is a native of Goole. Formerly Miss Emma Senior she was the daughter of the late George Senior, a barge captain sailing mainly on the Goole Leeds canal,  and as a girl she attended St John's Church school.

Mr and Mrs Taylor both of whom enjoy good health lived for many years in Wesley Square before moving to their present address about 15 years ago. They had 18 children,  six of whom (two sons and four daughters) are still living.

The couple intend to celebrate the occasion with a family gathering at their home on the day of the anniversary.

Goole Times weddings - Robert and Elizabeth Harland

Another in the wedding series - this time a diamond wedding.

Robert John Harland married  Elizabeth Broadbent on October 8th 1889 at Old Goole Wesleyan Chapel.

DIAMOND WEDDING CELEBRATION

MEMORABLE EVENT FOR GOOLE COUPLE

To-morrow is an important day for Mr and Mrs Robert John Harland of 16 Weatherill Street Goole - the day when they celebrate the 60^th anniversary of their wedding which took place on October 8^th 1889 at the Old Goole Wesleyan chapel  in Couper Street. They will spend their day quietly at home.

Both are well known over a wide area. Mr Harland was born at Staddlethorpe and worked as a youth in the Marshland area while Mrs Harland was born at Whitgift and later lived at Swinefleet.

Mr and Mrs Harland are both octogenarians (Mr Harland is 82 and his wife 80) but they look many years younger. In the words of Mr Harland “we are only young yet”. They have lived in the town since they were married, moving to their present house in Weatherill Street 40 years ago; previously they had resided in Humber Street and Beverley Street.

During their married life Mr and Mrs Harland have watched the growth of Goole, both as a port and a town. They can recall the days when Aire Street and Ouse Street formed the main shopping centre of the town, while the present shopping centre consisted of residential houses; when Pasture Road was a country lane and the town west of the level crossing did not exist.

They both enjoy good health and are still very active. Mr Harland goes for a daily walk while Mrs Harland continues to do most of her own housework and cooking.

Early days

The son of the late Mr and Mrs Robert Harland, Mr Harland spent his early days at Staddlethorpe, where his father was farm foreman for a Mr Jacques. Later he moved with his family to Swinefleet Common and worked for about eight years as a farm labourer on farms in the Marshland area.

In 1889, the year he was married he came to Goole, working on the docks and at the old malt kiln, before joining the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company later the same year. He worked as a shunter and guard and retired from the company's service in 1931 having spent the last ten or eleven years as goods foreman.

Mrs Harland formerly Miss Elizabeth Broadbent, third daughter of the late Mr and Mrs John Broadbent, spent her early life at Swinefleet, where her parents were licensees of the Ship Inn. Later she moved to Goole.

Mr and Mrs Harland have a family of one daughter, two grand children, and one great grandchild. Their other daughter died some years ago leaving two children.

Mr and Mrs Harland have been regular readers of the “Goole Times” ever since their marriage. In the words of Mr Harland, "I don’t think we have missed a single issue during the whole 60 years".

Goole Times weddings - Plowes and Ounsley weddings

Here is an account of two golden weddings of Old Goole couples to add to the series of wedding reports which appeared in the Goole Times.

James William Plowes married Helen Wood on January 18th 1881 at Goole.
William Ounsley married Hannah Jane Armitage on January 17th 1881 at Snaith.

Both celebrated their golden weddings in  January 1931, as reported in the Goole Times:

GOLDEN WEDDING

TWO CELEBRATIONS AT OLD

GOOLE

Two Old Goole couples will celebrate their golden weddings during the week end. They are Mr and Mrs James William Plowes of 72 Swinefleet Road, and Mr and Mrs William Ounsley of 48 Moorland Road.

Mr and Mrs Plowes were married by the Rev Dr Bell at Goole Parish Church on January 18th 1881. Both are natives of Goole, and Mr Plowes who is 75 claims to be the oldest man in the South Ward.

Mrs Plowes is 72 and is the daughter of the late Captain Wood of Goole. They have had nine children three sons and six daughters (eight of whom are living) and six grandchildren. A tailor by trade Mr Plowes retired five years ago. He is a keen sportsman and takes a keen interest in cricket and football.

Above are  Mr James William Plowes and Mrs Helen Plowes, nee Wood

Mr and Mrs Ounsley were married at Snaith Parish Church on January 17^th 1881 and at the time they lived at Swinefleet. Mr Ounsley was born at Weeton Lock [Weighton Lock], and has been employed as a docker by Messers France Fenwick for nearly 45 years. They have five daughters and two sons living, 28 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They have lived in Old Goole for 45 years Mr Ounsley is 70 years of age and his wife, who was formerly Miss Anna Jane Armitage is 69.

Mr Ounsley recalls that the day before his wedding he walked across the Ouse which was frozen and the next day the ice broke after many weeks of frost.

From my garden

I have spent the day outside having a bonfire of small branches and twigs which were cut down a few weeks ago. They had become overgrown with grass and nettles and meant I could not get my very old grass cutter round the woodland part of the garden.

Norman the cockerel has settled in well but spends a lot of time on his own. His hens rush off to next door's cockerel as soon as I let them out and Norman walks round disconsolately wondering where they are. He has, however, a very powerful voice and the two birds spend a lot of time crowing at each other.

I wish it would rain properly. The vegetable plot is very dry and the potatoes are beginning to droop. I heard on the radio that the pea crop will be bad this year and we can expect to pay more for our frozen peas in the future.

I went to a talk last week given by the warden at Blacktoft Sands RSPB bird reserve. It was amazing just how many different varieties both nest and visit there. I hope to visit soon but in the meantime I will try to identify the birds I see here daily. I am not very good but can recognise the crows who hover about and who stole three eggs I left out one day.

Joseph Rank family history

I had an interesting visit this week from a descendant of Joseph Rank, the miller. The gentleman and his wife were tracing Joseph's Yorkshire roots and visiting places where there was a family connection.

Joseph was born on Holderness Road in Hull in 1854. His father was James Rank who had married Mary Ann Parrott in Hull in 1851.

However, the reason that my visitors were in this particular area of East Yorkshire was that Mary Ann was born at Saltmarshe in 1825, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Parrott. She was christened at Laxton and came from a long-established Saltmarshe family who were sailors and boatbuilders.

By 1841 the family had moved into Hull, where Joseph continued to build boats and sail them and where young Mary Ann eventually met James Rank. Sadly, Mary Ann Rank died in 1858, having never recovered from the birth of her fourth child. Joseph, although only four when his mother died, apparently had very clear memories of her.

Another local connection is that Joseph Rank later attended a small private school at Swinefleet run by Rev Edward Cragg Haynes, believed to be Yorkshire's first black vicar. I was able to show my visitors a  photograph of Rev Cragg Haynes with some of his pupils and they tentatively identified one little boy as Joseph.

I find family history and the connections it throws up, such as this, endlessly fascinating.