Conisbrough to Buy Castle for £25

Building to be Classed as Ancient Monument

Conisbrough Castle and grounds are to pass into the keeping of Conisbrough and Denaby rate payers, possibly before March 25 next.

This was revealed at Wednesday’s meeting of Conisbrough Urban Council, when it was decided to accept an offer by Lord Yarborough to sell the castle and its grounds, comprising of 5,623 acres, to the Council for £25, the Castle Lodge with yard and garden attached for £600, and the adjoining land comprising of 4,144 acres for £200.

On the motion of Coun. I Houghton, chairman, the council accepted a recommendation of the allotments and pleasure grounds committee that all legal costs would be borne by the council and the purchase completed, if possible, by March 25. It was further agreed that the office of Works should be approached to schedule the castle as an ancient monument.

Coun. R. H. Shephard said he thought the purchase would be an asset to the district. He thought some houses might be erected “at the bottom end.”

Councillor D Sheldon (Vice – Chairman) pointed out that a condition of the sale was at the property should be maintained as a pleasure ground.

Councillor G.Cheshire stressed that it was their duty as councillors to maintain what beauty spots they possessed. He felt the price they had been offered was a nominal figure.

Councillor H Gomersall wanted to know what asset the Castle would be.

Councillor Houghton, who at the committee meeting on Monday was associated with Councillor J.T.E. Collins in a proposal that Lord Yarborough should be requested to make the Castle and grounds a gift to local ratepayers and only moved that acceptance of the committee minutes in accordance with the Council custom, that the Council Chairman took such action in the absence of the committee chairman through illness, declared that he was very much against the purchase. Instead they should have asked Lord Yarborough to give the Council the Castle.

Mr H Thirlwall (surveyor) explained that Lord Yarborough could not make a gift because it would create legal snags in connection with the estate. A gift of the property had been contemplated but it could not be done.

County Councillor B Roberts declared that in view of the price of houses were costing the Lodge are been offered to them at far less than its value.

Conanby Housing

Moving the Adoption of the Housing and Town Planning Committee minutes, which included a recommendation that full details of the tenders received for the permanent housing scheme on Conanby number one site, varying from £33,015 to £40,093 3s, with an average price per dwelling of £1,094 3s 7d, should be submitted to the Ministry of Health, with observations with respect to the lowest tenders, County Councillor Roberts remarked that all the councillors were shocked at the amount they had to pay to build new houses which were very necessary. They knew the costs of labour and materials was high, but this thought price for housing excessive they held that the tenders there received were extraordinarily, and they were not at all satisfied.

Councillor J.I.Webster: Who do you suggest should alter it?

County Councillor Roberts: I would like alter it. I would like to ring it down to £300 a house.

Paying Too Much?

The council decided to ask the Minister of Health and the Doncaster and Mexborough Joint Hospital Board to take immediate steps to revise the original basis of contributions to the Common Fund, it being pointed out that Conisbrough was contributing in the racing office 16/87ths, which figure was fixed in 1921 when the population was 15,859 and the total population of the board’s area was 87,560.

Councillor Sheldon said they were of the opinion that they were paying more than they were entitled to pay. The figures were fixed in the area of the hospital was not the dimension it was today, and they wanted the ratio altering in accordance with present day populations. Conisbrough’s population was unchanged but other district’s population had doubled.

Councillor Sheldon drew attention to the increase in practice by boys of riding on the bumper guards of trolley vehicles in the urban area and the danger incurred. He suggested that notices should be placed on the rear of trolley vehicles. It was decided to approach the Mexborough and Swinton Traction Company, circularise the head teachers, and on the motion of Councillor Cheshire, to ask the West Riding County Council to detail a safety instructor to visit the schools.

The Council decided to send congratulatory messages to Lieutenant Col Thirlwall on being awarded the M.B.E., and Mr A.E. Platt, former head warden for Conisbrough on being awarded the B.E.M.. Mr Thirlwall replied on behalf of his son.

Before the meeting opened, the Chairman extended a welcome on behalf of the Council Mr J Brocksom, Conisbrough representative of the South Yorkshire Times, who has returned this week after five and a quarter years’ service with the R.A.F.