January 2024

Happy New Year to all who read my blog.   I wish it would stop raining as the land is waterlogged and our pond is as high as I have seen it for many years. But on the plus side  I can feel all the snowdrops pushing through as I walk Molly around the wood and there are some daffodils peaking up too.

I have tried to have a computer-less Christmas and have succeeded to some extent although I did manage to produce a short slide show about Howden pubs to go with the history of Howden pubs booklet which I produced with Geoff Taylor just before Christmas and which has sold very well as Christmas presents. Here it is as a You Tube link to my as yet small You Tube channel for those many readers who do not 'do' facebook.

I thought I would include here some accounts of how Christmas and  the New Year was celebrated in times past.

1851 Howden

Howden Church.—On New Year's Eve, according to annual custom, the ringers of the Parish Church ascended tho tower at half-past eleven o'clock, and commenced ringing the old year out; firing with the bells together twelve close volleys, in imitation of the clock striking twelve, which at that time had a most solemn and impressive effect. They then welcomed in the new year of jubilee with a merry series of changes on tho melodious peal of eight bells

1861 Howden

 Christmas Tide.—Frost and snow have this year given to Christmas the old characteristics of' the season, and the ancient customs of bell-ringing, carol singing, and Christmas gifts have been kept up at Kowden as the olden time. Christmas-day, the inmates of the Union House, about 85 in number' were feasted with roast beef and plum pudding, the beef being supplied by Mr. Robert Claybourn, and consisting of the best parts of some remarkably fine beasts fed by Robert Scholfield, Esq., of Sand Hall. Mrs. Clarke, of Knedlington, the Rev. G. Richards, Mr. Wm. Fitch, Mr. and Mrs. Anderton, Mr. aud Mrs. Dix, Mrs. John Taylor, and Mrs. Rigby assisted Mr. and Mrs. Meadley, the master and matron, in carving aud waiting on tho poor people. During the past week considerable quantity of fine beef was distributed by Thomas Carter, Esq., among the old retainers of the family. Excellent soup was given away, to all comers, by George Anderton, jun., Esq.; and other generous individuals distributed meat, coals, and blankets.

Goole  Jan 1899

With what " hooting " and a " tootling " was the New Year ushered in to sure. such screaming and a screeching of buzzers and  heralded the birth of 1899, the like of which one seldom hears at Goole at any rate.  The snow which fell on Saturday morning did not stay long; in fact, before night it had all dieappeared. It was exceptionally dirty under loot, and very unpleasant for the large number of people who flocked into the town to the market. Thick fog also set in, and prevented the steamers from getting away by the night's tide. It was quite bad yesterday morning, and is consequence there were sailings or arrivals. Of course, it just suited the men for they were able to spend New Year's Day at home.  Talk about mud! Why, Bridge-street yesterday was "a sight for the Gods!" Passing vehicles splashed pedestrians, some of whom presented a sorry picture. Aire-street may boast about its tar macadam, but Bridge-street stands second to none for its mud. 

1942

New Year Honour for Goole Man. Included in the New Year Honours List is Captain Percy Pratt, master mariner, of Victoria-street, Goole, who receives the M.B.E. (Civil Division). 

Captain Pratt is 50 years of age, and a native of Goole. Following the death at sea of' his father, who was a marine engineer, Captain Pratt entered the Newland Homes at Hull, where he spent his boyhood days, and served his apprenticeship in deep sea vessels. He has held a master mariner's certificate for nearly 30 years, and for many years has been in the service of Messrs Atkinson and Prickett, Ltd., coal exporters, of Hull and Goole. He has had command of their motor vessel Coxwold since she was launched a year or two before the war, and she was one of the last vessels to leave Norway during the evacuation. Since then the Coxwold has on two occasions rescued the crews of ships sunk by enemy action. Captain Pratt is married, with two sons and a daughter. He is a Younger Brother of Trinity House.

Today we no longer hear the blowing of the sirens from Goole docks, not have we had snow. But we have had fireworks and mud!!!  Health and happiness for 2024