January
In January 1921, William Still took over as manager at Denaby Main and Denaby & Cadeby lead the Hull listings
A bursting Air Pipe caused injuries to four miners and a young pony driver falls and dies of shock
We have a list of events and obituaries from the Don and Dearne valley in 1920
A former Denaby miner appears in a pantomime, before appearing in court and jail for maintenance arrears
The shooting affray is heard in court, with a miner committed for trial
And a spectator is sent to jail after assaulting a United player
February
There’s a presentation night for the Ambulance Chiefs in February 1921
As W H Chambers retires after 30 years as Assistant Commissioner
And we have a full review of the career and influence Of this remarkable man
A teenage servant’s allegations of cruelty are dismissed, and a Denaby man receives three months for stealing two jersey suits as a child is the victim of another flannelette fire accident
United are still rooted to the foot of the Midland League With the only bright point a win and double over Barnsley Reserves
March
In March 1921 a 20 year old chemist has a terrible accident at the Westalite factory and a five year old boy is found lying dead at Morley Place
The body of an elderly woman is recovered from the River Don, & another dies as a gust of wind blows her over
A Motor engineer has an accident when his car collided with a bridge
A Conisborough man is awarded the Belgium Palmes en Or, and the shooting drama outside the Star Hotel is heard at Leeds Assizes
After 23 years of waiting Urban powers are at last awarded to Conisborough !
Denaby & Cadeby are preparing for their first season in the Yorkshire Council whilst United’s poor season continues with a 7-0 defeat at Meadow Lane & 8-0 reverse at Hillsborough
April
There’s an unfortunate mishap to Conisborough brothers in April 1921 and a fatal fall at Doncaster workhouse to a former Denaby miner
There’s a National mining strike with talks of a triple alliance and a Manifesto of support for the coalminers, which fell through on Black Friday as local businesses and employment are affected
The first elections of the new Urban Council are held and WH Chambers resigns from the rural District Council
The Conisborough War Memorial is unveiled and Sorby Scientific Society visit the Don Valley
United finished bottom of the Midland league, with a further heavy 9-0 defeat at Clifton Lane by Rotherham Town
May
In May 1921 the coal strike, in its seventh week, had raised the unemployment total to over 4 million
the Whitsuntide holiday was celebrated in a good spirit despite this, with organised pit pony races, parades and sing songs
The Urban Council appoint a medical officer and debate highway matters and education
The “Times” suggests a speed limit of 10 miles an hour for Char a Bancs and relates the beginning of “Conans berg”
In the courts damaging trees and wood theft are reported and “The Son of Tarzan is on at the Globe
United’s return to the Midland league and end with a credit balance, although they finished at the bottom of the table
June
W H Chambers announced his retirement from public office in June 1921
the Relief Committee had served over 275,000 meals to children
A new infant welfare Centre was opened at Denaby Main, with Lady Mabel Smith appealing to mothers to use the centre
Coalminers prepare to accept the coal owners offer
Albion House is to be the centre of the Urban Council
there are prosecutions for obtaining relief by false pretences
Conisbrough Notes tell us of the new bowling green, water carts and the prices of commodities
There are reports of Denaby’s cricket tour to the Midlands
and ground improvements are in place for the new season
July
A Councillor dies after a long and painful illness in July 1921
Over 330,000 children’s meals from the Emergency Feeding of Children Fund.
There’s a fire at Conisborough Station, with the Mexborough Fire Brigade stuck in Kilner’s yard
A Reviving of Don Valley Trading sees the re opening of the British Westfalite Powder Factory
The Wesleyan Fete in the Castle Grounds raises a Religious Controversy
A suicide change of mind goes wrong and a claim against an Auctioneer, by a man knocked down by a car, fails
August
In August 1921 a local entertainer composes a poem: “A Pit Ponies memories of the strike” which is accepted by the Price of Wales
Two brothers are in pit accidents with one dying and another miner meets his death whilst trying to regain his screwdriver
The Council are in conflict with the Ministry of Health over the appointment of the Medical Officer
There’s a successful Hospital Sunday with a Pit Pony and tub collecting a goodly amount
The Census sees a slight increase in population with Conisborough & Denaby still larger than Mexborough
September
In September 1921 the district is shocked by three suicide cases
A storekeeper’s invalid wife , a 14 year old after working a night shift and a wife who wanted a whiff of her husband’s pipe
Westalite Explosive recommenced their business and the Toll bar road towards Denaby level crossings had become a “No man’s land”
the infant Urban Council agreed to purchase their municipal offices and the fire brigade is strengthened by a sergeant and additional men
There’s concern about racegoers throwing pennies and butterscotch to children and Kilner jars are full of local BlackBerry and Apple jam
October
In October 1921 a modest Cadeby miner is found to be a honorary Freeman of Wakefield through his heroism in the South African war
Mexborough Council discuss amalgamation with Conisborough
Wath Pierrots provide entertainment to a packed audience in the Large Hall
The Conisborough Choral Society will perform “Hiawatha” and there’s a Catholic mission at Denaby Main with two Franciscan Friars
United supporters wear amber & black rosettes & they beat Mexborough at Hampden Road in the English Cup, before a crowd of 5000
November
There was a thrilling rescue at Conisborough Station in November 1921 when a 19 year old girl faints in front of an approaching train
Mexborough were attempting amalgamation with Conisborough and milk was dearer in Denaby than in London
The Conisborough Choral Society produced “Hiawatha” and a window in memory of Caleb Kilner was unveiled in the Wesleyan Church
The “father” of Bolton Council is the latest typhoid victim at the Isolation Hospital.
The Courts hear betting offences by military medallist and a Conisbrough miner receives a months imprisonment for pouring boiling water over a crippled soldier
A Protestant Irishman claims intimidation by the Catholics of the district and there’s too much dirt in the coal in a claim over wrongful dismissal
December
In December 1921 the Urban District Council consider electricity, the prospect of a public market and slaughterhouse methods
The Parkgate seam is to be worked from the Cadeby pit and local miners wages have fallen considerably
There’s a full report of the Bolton typhoid epidemic which involved Conisbrough Isolation Hospital, as scarlet fever patients were removed to make beds available
We include the diary of local events in the year
The courts hear a tangle question over rents and a mean theft of gramophone records from a person in a fit
After a good run of five wins in six matches United lose their last two games of 1921 which are local derbies against Wath Athletic and Mexborough Town