January
Two well-respected Conisbrough inhabitants passed away in January 1889; a High Street cobbler and a the veterinary surgeon for 45 years
A meeting of miners pledged to make sure they received the 10% advance in their wage
While more colliery offences came to court including a young driver caught with a tobacco pipe and arrested and put into custody and a man is imprisoned after stealing a jugful of wine
Conisborough Parish Church hold their annual parochial tea and concert and Conisborough notes tell us the state of the footpaths, the sinking operations for the new pit and what to do to prevent mosquito bites
A rough match when Denaby beat Mexborough is replayed and Mexborough run out winners 9-0 !
February
in February 1889 a new shaft, which was to become Cadeby Colliery was to be sunk and with it some 400 additional cottages at Denaby Main to be built
There was a report of a desperate prize fight for half a guinea between two Denaby Main Colliers which lasted over 25 rounds
And with it half a dozen different pugilistic encounters on the Pastures between Staffordshire men and Irishmen employed at the Colliery
The schoolroom at Denaby Main held a concert for a new organ and there’s more cases of cruelty to Pit Ponies by Pit lads
There’s a serious outbreak of swine fever and report of Denaby’s 8-0 win over Monk Bretton
March
In March 1889 there was a mysterious death on the railway at Conisborough and a woman died in childbirth with only an unqualified midwife in attendance
The first sod’s of the new Cadeby colliery were dug
and the ‘Times’ comments on the impending change from sylvan scenery to industrial dirt and grime
A scandal, as a married woman and a hairdresser elope to America
and a ghost is reported on Melton Street, Denaby Main
There is a painful domestic story
and a farmer reports losing two Heifers, which were driven on foot to Sheffield and slaughtered before the men were arrested
April
In April 1889 a toddler is drowned in 4 inches of water in a Slop Tub
The quadrille society holds a “Long night” with dancing until 5 AM
Once again thousands of people flock to Conisborough at Easter with stalls and swing shows on the streets and the cliffs, rivers and Castle a major attraction, with a Hawker is in trouble for breaking windows
A cooperative conference in Denaby debates the level of dividend and 500 cottages are planned for ‘New’ Conisborough
Denaby Main Cricket Club hold their annual concert and we feature contemporary versions of songs and recitations
May
In May 1889 the pony drivers threaten to strike at Denaby Main and the Flameless Explosive Works at Denaby opens
The Conisbrough Conservative Association hold their annual meeting
A youth is fined for misusing a safety lamp, and there’s another case of cruelty to a pony, with the punishment a month’s imprisonment
There are cases of riding on an underground road, going into places not appointed, drunkenness, gambling, wilful damage and game trespass
and Denaby Main cricket season begins without a victory
June
In June 1889 a four year old walks 8 miles after being lost at Mexborough market
300 top men and pony drivers at Denaby Main are threatening to strike
The new colliery at Cadeby is making rapid progress
with 400 coal wagons constructed and similar number of cottages built
there’s a floral festival at Conisbrough
The courts hearing of traction engine nuisance, Gooseberry Tree robbery and a cowardly assault on a woman
July
In July 1889 the Colliery “top men” were in dispute over wages and a collier is “buried alive”
Sinking operations in the new Colliery at Conisbrough were making satisfactory progress with around 500 cottages to be built
1000 botanists from Manchester visit Conisbrough in two trains during the Conisbrough Feast
A farm labourer from Conisbrough dies after falling from a haystack
and an 18 year old domestic servant drowns after walking back from Denaby range farm
The Courts here cases of slander, wilful damage to a haystack
driving too many horses and stealing a duck
August
In August 1889 the permanent relief fund comes under scrutiny
as miners are asked to pay an extra penny a week
The “top men” dispute continues and Pumping operations are continuous at the new colliery
A father behaves like a “madman” as he tries to get his daughter back and a former Staffordshire man is charged with making threats
other local cases involve damaging a fence, a family quarrel an employer seeking damages when is workmen Leeds
and four Conisbrough men for game trespassing with dogs
September
In September 1889 there was a Fire at the Star hotel caused by a slight explosion under the copper in the cellar kitchen
Problems were increasing over the miners Permanent Relief Fund as an extra penny per week is required
A new Cottage Hospital was announced at nearby Mexborough and 150 men are engaged on the new colliery at the “Cadeby Rattles”
Mirth is caused by a large poster being posted in three places
and the annual Saint Ledger week takes place with 600 coaches, buses etc coming through the village
There is a disgraceful row over a child fetching drink for three women and a girl and boy are in court for stealing turnips
October
In October 1889, there are fatal accidents at Denaby Main
as a joiner is crushed whilst helping with the new Coke washing building and a carpenter’s skull is smashed when an iron bucket falls
A fall of “blind” causes a severe accident to a dataller and there’s a detailed account of the progress of the new colliery at Cadeby
There’s a parish meeting at Conisbrough, which discusses the diversion of footpaths, lighting of the village by gas and repair of the old Pinfold house
Additionally the requirement for new burial facilities and the formation of a burial Board are agreed
Two miners are fined for racing from the Reresby Arms to the railway station and a 10 year old gets six strokes of the birch rod for stealing cigars
November
In November 1889 the dispute between the “Top” men and the colliery increases and a major meeting is held with the MP Mr Pickard speaking
The new colliery looks in business with headgear erected, and preparations for a bridge over the river
The Conisbrough burial Board meets but are still struggling for a site for the cemetery
The chrysanthemum show is opened by Lady Auckland and three calves are smothered when a granary floor collapses
The question of lighting up Conisborough is raised and neighbours are at variance when a delicate wife is insulted
December
In December 1889 the dispute with the Denaby and Manvers topmen heightened when all of them give in their notice
We have a review of trade in the Mexborough area in 1889
The Conisborough Burial Board meets again with little progress for a burial ground
The cases heard by the court include another matrimonial failure, a butcher’s whose dog was not muzzled, an employee selling horse corn from company’s stables, the theft of a pair of trousers and an ingenious defence pleaded innocence because they were tossing a coin to decide which way to go
Buckingham Pope provides all the miners with a rabbit for Christmas and we spend an evening with the children of the National School at Denaby