Progress at Denaby Main

It seems to be the prevailing custom in the neighbourhood to look upon this centre of industry in our midst with a spirit something akin to contempt.

“Can any good come out of Denaby Main?” would express the feelings with which this home of the miner is regarded in many quarters. This sentiment, however, is not justifiable, however, either as regards the life of the people or character of the village. With regard to the latter, it cannot of course be said that Denaby Main is a place to attract those in search of the beautiful; but this is necessarily the case with colliery villages, since monotony prevails in the style of the houses, and the ever present smoke makes dingy the surroundings.

Still it is pleasing to see that the monotony of the place had been broken by the erection of buildings which appeal to the imagination as well as serves a useful purpose.

Only recently the Roman Catholic Church was opened, a building of chase design and fair proportions, which is done much to beautify the place. Now we understand there is a prospect of a new Parish Church been erected in the near future. That this scheme is in a fair way to be realised there is now no doubt, and those who have laboured so energetically towards the attainment of this very desirable object, will learn with satisfaction and pleasure at the progress which has been made.

We understand the church building fund has just been augmented by donation of £1000 from the trustees of the late Andrew Montagu Esquire, which has been given with the sanction of F.S.O. Montagu Esquire, the heir to the estate. The estimated cost of the building proposed is set down at about £3,000, of which £2,740 has already been subscribed or promised, and there is a favourable prospect of the whole of the funds being raised before the completion of the works.

The church is to be built of stone, and will be provided with seating accommodation for around 500. An ecclesiastical parish is being formed, with all the necessary arrangements having been made, and awaits completion by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who have the matter in hand. The church when completed will be the Parish Church of the new parish of Denaby Main.

The Denaby Main Institute is doing a little part in the effort to raise the standard of life and morals in the community, affording as it does, opportunities of recreation under healthy conditions.

The Denaby Main Co-operative Society recently decided to cooperate with the Institute Committee in the improvement of their library, and the joint committee has been formed for the separate management of the library. Arrangements have been made for the personal £100 worth of new books and the order has been given to a Manchester firm. It is gratifying to note that an institution capable of doing it so much good work, is gradually increasing its usefulness and when the library is so substantially improved and extended, and the rooms made neat and comfortable, as is proposed, its facilities will not unlikely be still more taken advantage of by the inhabitants of Denaby Main, who have so many excellent opportunities afforded them for their educational advancement and improvement.

The shorthand classes under the County Council have just completed the session for 1897-8 and the results, so far as at present have been no are eminently satisfactory, even more so than last year when there was only one class – elementary. The number of students enrolled this year was 20, in the elementary class, and 8 in the intermediate, 17 of whom sat for the County Council examination, held on May 12 last, the results which have not yet been received. Out of the 12 students who attended the examination for the Pitman certification, there were only two failures, which reflect credit on Mr Wainwright, the instructor, who has spared no effort to make the classes a success.

Next year, in addition to the “advanced” class in short time, it is proposed to make arrangement for an evening continuation school, under the Education Department, and also ladies class in dressmaking, cookery, or sick nursing. A meeting of those interested is to be held on Friday evening next, when Mr F.M. Cooke, the organising inspector for the Technical Instruction Committee of the West Riding County Council is expected to be present.