1886

January

The Conduct of a Policeman was the main news in January 1886; Charges of assault and drunkedness were dismissed after the officer was questioned and evidence given
A 14 year old gets in trouble for obstruction when he went for medicine for his dangerously ill mother
and another man gets into court for leaving his horse outside the ‘Star.’
The there was an unusual Master and Servant Case; The Servant left after being told he had to go to Church and then finding there was no dinner for him He was contracted for £9 for the year – but his fine was £2 for the 3 weeks he was absent!
Concerts are held at the Parish Church, the Weslyan Chapel and Kilner Bros
and a Co operative Conference takes place at Denaby Main

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February

In February 1886 there are several events with musical accompaniments
by the Temperance Mission, a Children’s Concert, Church Tea and a Sale of Work
A Conisborough Clerk is sent to the Assizes for Embezzlement
The Rural Health Report tells of Smallpox at Denaby and the Water Supply At Conisborough
Two Denaby Miners argue about half a sovereign; there’s another Traction Engine Problem
and a Miners Meeting complains about the 6 pence per ton rate, while WH Chambers complains about the cost of the police

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March

In March 1886 there were two serious cases of cruelty to Pit Ponies and both Pony drivers received prison sentences
There’s the usual altercations by vagrants, ex police officer and fathers, mothers and sons in a Conisborough fight
The pub landlords are accused of watering down Whisky and Gin, at the Star, Eagle and Child and the Fox Inn
and there’s Concerts at Denaby and to relieve the distress at Conisboro’
WH Chambers complains about the state of the Footpath and Roads
between Denaby and Conisboro’ and the cost of the Police during the recent Strike

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April

In April 1886 there was a sad case of the burning of a widow who helped her neighbour to bed
And the shocking death of a labourer who was cleaning a flue in the furnace at Kilner’s glassworks and received burns resulting in his death
There was an accident to the winding engine at Denaby Main
and a Pony driver’s cruelty to his pony results in a prison sentence
And another pony driver is arrested after absconding over another colliery offence
the impassable footpaths and roads between Denaby and Conisborough and throughout the parish are the cause of much grievance and result in stormy parish meetings

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May

In May 1886 floods affected the country and our area was one of the most badly hit
We chronicle three days when the floods were at their worst
There’s an exciting, (and exhausting!,) chase by a man after poachers – and they are brought to trial
A hawker is caught selling objectionable prints and there’s a shocking affair on Conisborough Cliffs
there’s more fines for drinking outside permitted hours for people who breach the 3 mile rule
and another death at the colliery
and another steam traction offence

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June

In June 1886 we hear more stories of the cruelty inflicted on the Pit Ponies
and how one died as a result and other Colliery offences
there’s Anniversaries and Festivities at Whitsuntide and the Queen’s Anniversary
With it men appear for drunkenness and there’s an episode at Wadsworth Feast
There’s no opposition for the New School Board
A farmer’s pig strays and there’s a report of Conisborough Cricket Team

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July

600 Botanists from Ashton under Lyne descended on Conisborough in July 1886
and we’ve pictures of the plants they found 130 years ago
There’s another death at Denaby Main and the fillers strike for better pay and are told by WH Chambers that the colliers were their masters and they could be sent to Prison for their actions
There’s a new Library and Institute opened at Denaby
A shoplifter is caught after a man is taken short and after admitting he wanted a few berries is sent to the assizes
then there’s a row over a hat and the conduct of a Police Sergeant

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August

In August 1886 the Denaby Main Filler’s strike ended and the reports clearly indicate the relationships
between the Colliers, Fillers, Unions and Masters, and the desperation of the workers as 70 of them are prosecuted
There’s a fire at the Colliery and we read how it is put out
There are two suicides in Conisborough and a man hunt as a policeman is killed by a Denaby Main worker
Then there’s the ‘madman’ who declares he’s seen his dead father and Satan
and the young men who are prosecuted for damaging growing peas
and the amusing horse and cart case

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September

In September 1886 the policeman murderer Murphy was apprehended after an extensive manhunt, escape and capture
in a struggle between a gun and a umbrella ! and we reproduce the Barnsley Chronicle’s narration of events
There was a case of aggravated assault where a woman is stabbed in the head,
another fatal accident where a man is run over by a wagon at Denaby Main
and an outbreak of swine fever in the village
There’s a debate and the history of the Holywell as the Brewery and Council dispute the use
A lecturer informs people “how to get on in the world” and a puddler steals a coat after being given a lift

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October

In October 1886 the streets of Conisborough were in utter darkness
and Denaby miners returned to shovels instead of rakes and pans
A shocking accident at the Denaby sidings saw another fatality
and more miners and boys are in court for breaches of the rules
The harvest festivals make a colourful and pleasant sight
while publicans at the ‘Eagle and Child’ and the ‘Station’ are up in court for the non use of measures
and the striking Fillers are similarly punished for non payment of their Court fines

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November

Three shafts had been sunk in Conisborough Parks in November 1886
As the village was excited about the prospect of Iron Ore beneath the surface
We hear the story of the Mason’s marks discovered at the castle, and an explanation of the age of the Keep and the Curtain Wall
There’s an accident as Elephants pass through Conisborough and a boat hauler has a serious accident on a foggy night as he inadvertently walks into the lock
There’s a row over a sixpence at the Reresby Arms and a mischievous 15 year old trapper is fined
And there’s a Chrysanthemum show and a service of song by the Denaby Sunday schools

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December

As 1886 drew to a close the Pastures are iced over, and a young man breaks his arm and dislocates his shoulder after skating and tripping over a twig
There’s horrific news of the treatment of Pit Ponies, with 4 being killed and 12 maimed over the past 6 months, and more pony drivers are brought to justice
There’s an interesting case involving a horse and trap at the ‘Grapes’ at Dalton Brook, where a man is charged with obstruction by an eager policeman
There’s another fatal accident at Denaby Main, w hen a man is crushed by two falls of dirt
A young lad is in trouble for mischievously pulling the bell wire and an exemplary scholar gets a prize at the School Board Concert
and there are more assaults at Denaby and Conisborough

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