January
As we go back to the nineteenth Century to 1895 the January Courts clear up the Christmas Drunkenness
An ex soldier is tried for attempted suicide
after he takes too much Laudanum
There’s another death at the Colliery
and men admonished for rule breaking
After completion of the ‘Drum’ an explosion
breaks windows and door and the roof
but the ‘Times’ journalists reserve their best narration
for a fascinating debate at the Parish Council
and a visit to the ‘Modern Marvel’ of Sweet Manufacture in Conisborough
February
In February 1895 Rabies was a major scare
and locally fines were issued for unmuzzled dogs even to a gentleman of Conisborough
There was another fatal accident at Cadeby Colliery to a 15 year old pony driver
The Denaby Main Hotel had just been completed
the first case under the Cruelty to Children Act was brought
and a ‘jolly’ miner is fined after drink lost his memory but not his cap
There was a major debate by the full Council at the Burial Board
as to whether Conisborough should accede to the Archbishop’s request
for two Chapels – and why the Chapel mortuary was used as a stable
and we print all 3,500 words of the report !
March
The Denaby Main Hotel is completed and opened and we reprint a fascinating, detailed description of its excellent facilities
The inquest and funeral of the Orphaned, well liked pit lad are held and we include some of the music from his funeral
The first case of Parental neglect is brought to conclusion
as their second child dies and another Denaby Child is burnt to death
Denaby Pit has ‘playing days’ through lack of trade and Pit lads get into trouble
The Friendly Societies hold their Annual Church parade
A prize fight is held in Denaby Park
and the Fire Brigade request a new Fire Engine and Equipment
There’s Swine Fever and plans to build a new workhouse in Denaby
And we print thousands of words as the battle for Consecration
reaches the Annual Parish Meeting
And many thanks to 16 year old Elishia Beachill for her help in Transcription !
April
In 1895 a Conisborough Man was fined for exceeding the speed limit
and driving at 3.5 miles per hour!
The Consecration question goes to the Poll
We are on the verge of getting a fire engine
But which – Merryweathers or Roses ?
The School board agrees what to do with the Blind Boy
and in the battle against rabies
dogs are muzzled and a mad dog bites
But the big story of the month
is the attempted murder and suicide at Denaby
May
In May 1895 the Attempted Murder case is fully heard in court and a verdict reached
There’s another child burned to death
and another miner killed at Cadeby
while a pony is ill treated and We learn of acceptable punishment at the schools
A Conisborough man visits Louis Pasteur for treatment and there are plans to develop the successful Hotel at Denaby
A walk through Conisborough and Denaby on a Sunday afternoon is described
and Conisborough F.C. celebrate their South Yorkshire Championship
June
In June 1895 there were novel Milk Stealers;
Young Boys who drank straight from the cows! And did they get the punishment they deserved?
There was a Whit Monday Procession and the Village Feast
and an accident sees a Denaby man with a bolt in his head and horses stray on a Conisborough road
After a stormy debate the Council finally decide on a Fire Engine
and the School board argue about a cancelled meeting and School attendance
while a train trip to Scarborough is very popular
July
In July 1895 the Conisborough Hospital Sunday parade included the Police, Yorkshire Dragoons, Fire Brigade, Brass Bands, Friendly Societies, Miners and Glass Workers
The School Board Elections take place and the new Board discuss attendance, scarlet fever and the Inspector’s reports
The Courts hear cases of threats and intimidation, coal stealing, breaches of the mining rules and employment of a child
and we read detailed reports as the Parish Council discuss and argue about dole payments, allotments the Water Supply, Election Expenses and of course – the Fire Engine.
August
In August 1895 more cases for Muzzling are brought to court and after several more assault cases; We are told this is an almost daily occurrence
A Denaby veteran in summoned for being drunk and relates his war heroics before being let off
There’s more Colliery prosecutions
for negligence, back stay and taking matches down,
and a “Scrap” in the Dark at Cadeby Main
There’s a Mushroom expedition at Conisborough
and a violent storm at New Conisborough
Then Doncaster West End Play at Denaby
and they are told they can’t play for Nuts or Toffee
September
A big event in September 1895 was the marriage of a Denaby young Lady to a Leeds Manufacturer
Then the New Fire Engine arrives at Conisborough
and Fire Brigades from Mexborough & Stocksbridge welcome it
There’s a full description of a visit to Denaby & Cadeby by Hull Engineers and Naval Architects
In the Courts a Pit Lad gets Hard Labour for Cruelty to a pony and there’s an Affray on a Train in Conisborough Station
There’s an alleged assault on a miner’s wife, a Violent fellow at Conisborough, more drunks
and a man loses his good name after stealing a piece of beef concealed with a sheep’s head and half a pound of sausage
October
In October 1895 the topmen (surface workers) at Denaby Main came out on strike; over 2,000 men idle at the largest pit in Yorkshire
The miners (underground workers) were not happy from the comments by Mr Pickhard M.P.
The New Fire Engine is at last Accepted
after the Councillors have a free lunch
A Policeman is violently assaulted with a poker
and there’s a daring robbery of cattle who are moved to Carbrook
and two Miners are buried at the Pit,
only one survives
November
The Surface Worker’s Strike continued into November 1895 until a settlement and a return to work began as the month ended
and we see a list of the disputes at the Colliery
There was another fatal accident at Cadeby Main as an Engine Cleaner stood up too soon and a Blacksmith returning from Doncaster on a trap receives a fatal gangrenous injury
The School board debates a Widow’s special friend and the Chairman of the Parish Council tells what he thinks of the District Council
and young people get into trouble for gambling, damaging a lock and stealing 5 shillings worth of timber
December
In December 1895 a Denaby mother receives the Queen’s bounty, 3 gold sovereigns, for having triplets
The Conisborough School Board agrees to buy Gas Stoves from the Market
Two thirds of the Drunks at Doncaster Courts are from Conisborough
Three boys receive 12 strokes of the birch for stealing a pair of Ladies Boots
and a Collier spends a week in prison for filling a bag and his pockets with coal
‘Ivanhoe’ writes about the conditions in Ivanhoe Land and a boy loses fingers after playing with an Explosive charge
and there are still many miners and surface workers to return to work after the strike