January
In January 1907 the Conisborough Cricket Club Ball was another successful event
Good news for Dagnall too as his sentence is reduced to life imprisonment
A Conisborough Shopbreaker gets penal servitude and a Denaby man is found drowned after a all day drinking session
There’s a sad homecoming for a young Denaby woman as she dies suddenly with heart problems
We hear amusing stories of Women prominent at football matches
and the Conisborough Donkey racers who were fined for furious driving – at 10 miles per hour !
February
In February 1907 there were several accidents and fatalities at the Pits
52 Miners were suspended for two hours in the Cage and a Collier struck by a piece of coal at Cadeby and more accidents in the ‘old pit’ at Denaby Main
Councillor Baker makes the headlines again, this time assaulting a Licensee on the Conisborough to Doncaster train
Denaby Main enjoys Operatic Success with the ‘Mandarin’
The owners take the Northcliffe footpath to the High Court and gain their injunction against trespassers
The Appleyard dynasty continues despite the retirement of George Appleyard
The ladies hold a Giant Tea with musical honours and attended by 600 people
and United put 7 past Lincoln City
March
There was much industrial news in March 1907 as the Pits claimed two more lives
with a Wagon Counter dying in unexplained circumstances and a fall of Roof claiming another miner
There were pit offences as a Trammer is prosecuted and, a deputy summoned for not reporting a gas build up
and there’s another case of cruelty to a Pit Pony and more accidents and a rise in drunkenness
We include a lecture on Pit Ponies which relates some of their history
The Parish Council elections are in the news with Mr Baker coming under more attack
A music concert at Denaby includes 5 great selections which we have included videos
and United have an indifferent month and a lucky win at Rotherham County
April
In April 1907 the Council had a new Chairman – Mr Henry Baker who had caused much disruption in the past was now in charge !
Two Wedding Celebrations are in the News and from one some of the participants are sent to the Assizes
There’s Child thieves and Coal thefts and Damage to a field and a preview of Denaby & Cadeby cricket prospects
Denaby Dramatics put on Ali Ba Ba
While United have another good month
and are challenging Mexborough
May
In May 1907 two Court Cases made the headlines
the Wedding party which turned into a bloodbath reached the Assizes and was described as an ordinary Denaby Wedding party
Then there was the case of a young married coupleand their lodger, a policeman
Now Mr Baker is the new Council Chairman a crowded public gathered for the entertainment and weren’t disappointed !
There were more cases regarding growing grass, petty theft, railway tresspass and another attempted suicide
Also a death in the Viaduct construction
We include the Midland League Final Table and the full results, scorers and attendances for United;
June
In June 1907 there was a serious accident to a young woman byclist and a Desperate Dog was terrorizing the neighbourhood
The miners were recruiting although the echoes of the Bag Muck Strike were still being heard
Bosdin J Clarkson appears in Court – on the wrong side !
and there’s cases of assault, damage to growing oats, fences and obscene language and a clamp down on the local betting activities
Denaby Football club are about to build a new stand (and embark on their most successful season ever !)
and we visit the Rifle Club for a match against Birley Carr
July
In July1907 there’s an amusing debate at the Parish Council about whether smoking should be allowed
And Mr Baker does his best to delay and sway the meeting
Another death of a young person at the Colliery leaves a mystery as to whether a prop was set
The viaduct is now complete and the actions of a man spurned by a woman suggests he may have been the first to jump off it
There are more gambling fines and one young offender attacks a policeman
and there’s another public nuisance offence for boys playing bounce ball
Denaby’s cricket season is having a poor ending
but United make another good signing as they prepare for what will be their best ever Midland League season
August
August 1907 saw a new pavilion for the Rifle Club opened by Mrs Pope and watched by many enthusiastic villagers
We include the fascinating diary of the Denaby St John’s Ambulance Brigade from their week at Blackpool including a NCO cautioned for snoring– with a whistle at the end of each breath!
There are numerous court cases for abusive language, breach of colliery rules, cyclists without warnings, gaming with coins, a collarless dog, handball and damages
And serious crimes of a runaway lodger and an assault on a young girl
United prepare for a new season with confidence and almost a new squad of players
and the Army invade Denaby and Cadeby in the early hours one morning
September
In September 1907 there are more deaths at the pit including a 15 year old ‘riding on the tubs‘ and a man killed by coal from over loaded wagons which prompted safety precautions
A case of illegal pawning at Denaby, raises an interesting legal point
and a brutal attack on a wife who left him, warrants a prison sentence of a month to a collier
United continue what was to prove their best ever Midland League Season, with excellent wins over Wednesday, Lincoln and at Leicester Fosse ,and adding more strength to the team, including Walter Bennett
October
In October 1907 there are 4 deaths reported at the Collieries
A filler is killed by fall of roof, leaving a widow and 8 children, another dies after being hit by a piece of coal and an operation
in another a “burst of the buttock” kills a 53 year old, and a miner is run over after finishing his shift and walking to the pit bottom
There are the usual cases of assaults, gambling prosecutions, mining offences and cruelty to a Pit pony, added to by obstruction, breaking glass and child abuse by swearing with the door open
United are playing well with former England International Walter Bennett scoring two hat tricks, as Wakefield City are demolished 13-0
November
In November 1907 youths and young pony drivers were in trouble
for a range of offences both down the pit including ill treating and riding on ponies and tubs
and above, for stealing pigeons, breaking windows a robbery with a bite and fishy business at the station
There’s another fatality at Cadeby and a man gets 12 years in prison for assaulting his step daughter
There’s unlawful pawning and a widow gets sued
Conisborough C.C. are celebrated as Champions of their League
and United stutter with a good win and heavy losses
as the ‘Times’ is moved to poetry over their winger, J Ball
and we discover more about Walter ‘Cocky’ Bennett.
December
The end of 1907 echoed that of 20 years earlier as a great fire hit Conisborough in the early hours of Christmas eve
this time it was the Stack yard at the Castle Farm with the Harvest lost and £1,000 of Damage
A Conisborough 8 year old and a Denaby 11 year old are in court for boyish pranks with 6 strokes of the Birch Rod for their trouble
Both the Musical Society and Orchestral Society held concert We have included videos of the music of the time
For the first time in 3 1/2 years there are no admissions to the Hospital, but The Burial Scandal rumbles on with the ‘Times’ comments
United have a good month and are invincible at home and we have a poem about Walter ‘Cocky’ Bennett