Rent Dinner at Denaby – Speeches on Agriculture and Local Questions

May 1880

Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 28.

Rent Dinner at Denaby.


Speeches on Agriculture and Local Questions.

Friday last was a half yearly rent day for the tenants of Denaby, and Thrybergh, living under the Lord of the Manner, T.G.Fullerton, Esq., D.L.and for this purpose, G.E. Swithinbank, Esq, the agent, attended the Reresby Arms, at the former place.

In the afternoon an excellent dinner was provided and heartily partaken of in “the upper chamber,” the carvers being the reverent Charles Garth Fullerton, brother of the Lord of the Manor and Mr Swithinbank. A larger attendance might have been desired. On the removal of the cloth, the chair was occupied by the reverent Charles Garth Fullerton, rector of Boothby Graffoe, G.E., Swithinbank being in the vice-chair. The rector of Thrybergh, the reverent L.Bennett, supported the Chairman, and the reverent, J.M.Evans, curate in charge of Denaby, supported the Vice Chairman.

Owing to the Chairman suffering from an affection of the throat – which he has had for some time past – the Vice chairman had to officiate in his place. The glasses having been well “charged” the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given, and most loyally, and most cordially received.

This was followed by a toast to the clergymen present and the reverent H. Leigh Bennett returned his personal thanks for the way in which the toast had been received.

One of his distinctive characteristics, he (the speaker) thought, was the power which he exercised amongst working men – although they did not mean to say that their gathering that afternoon was in any sense, a gathering of working men; it was a gathering of tenants on the Thrybergh, and Denaby estate, a very different thing indeed. Still, he was not very wrong in saying that the effect of the Archbishop Avenue in such power with the masses – and he had wonderful power with them – entitled him to recall the layman´s Archbishop (hear, hear) – and therefore he was quite sure that it would give him most sincere pleasure to know that he had to thank them that day for this token of their feeling towards him. One of the things which he had greatly at heart was not only that he might be a power over his clergy – over whom he was a ruler – at any rate in the diocese of York, if not in the whole of the provinces. (Cheers).

One thing and occurred to his mind, and he was very grateful for it, for it gave him a peg on which to hang a remark or two. The gathering that afternoon was only an assemblage of tenants of Denaby and Thrybergh, but perhaps to a great extent a gathering of the tenets of Denaby, because the dinner was held in the midst of the latter. The last occasion when he was in Denaby, was at the re-opening of the mission church, and a very interesting night indeed that was to him. (Hear, hear).

He had never been in the Mission Church before and had not seen it in its old state, so that he could not so well are appreciate what had been done to it. But no one who went into that place now could help but feel that it was a building which had been put into a good condition for the worship of Almighty God. (Hear, hear). It was now proof against any kind of weather, and was so fitted that it could be made suitable either in cold or heat. (Hear, hear). He did not suppose that the congregation on the evening in question was a specimen of the attendance on any occasion added before or since because of course when there were special services in any place there was always a special effort on the part of the people to be present. Still, he could not help but feel that these services of that day might be a sample of what was to be hereafter, and that the people would make it their business and pleasure, as well as their privilege to go there, and he ought that it was the beginning of a new epoch in many ways in the history of the place. (Cheers)

When there was no service atUpper Denaby, he felt sure that the people would be very glad to come down to the Mission Church, and to mingle with their colliery neighbours, and worship amongst them without distinction and without difference. (Cheers)

It always gave him great pleasure to speak to a congregation of Colliers, for he felt the intensest sympathy towards them. (Hear, hear). Those who worked in a glorious free sunlight were apt to forget what a life the miner lived and what a daily risk he ran. (Hear, hear). They went down into the bowels of the earth half naked, blackened and grime lying on their bodies, and pecking at the coal above them, in the midst of all sorts of dangers, some of which were brought to their minds at times by reading the sad accounts in the papers of accidents which had befallen them. They little thought of the dangers the miners had been surrounded with in procuring them the coal which they burnt in their grates, and the frequent death, which it caused. The miners had a great claim on their sympathy and help. (Hear, hear) he liked very much to preach to them, and when he was doing this on the evening when the reopening services were being continued, he could tell that some of his words went home. He begged to heartily thank them for the toast. (Cheers)

The reverent, J.M.Evans also responded, and in doing so referred to the occasion of the reopening service at the Mission Church. He was sure they had a treat, and were highly delighted with the sermons which Mr Swithinbank´s son Mr Bennett gave them. He was pleased to say that the congregationshad improved since then, but there was room for greater improvement (hear, hear). They were all aware that for the improvements at the church they were indebted to the liberality of T.G.Fullerton, Esq and he was sure they could not wish for a better place to worship in than the church now was. (Hear, hear).

There were also greatly indebted to Mr Swithinbank for worthily superintending the whole thing, and everybody also appreciated what he had done in old Denaby school, which was now the admiration of all in the neighbourhood. (Hear, hear). He was sure that their hearty thanks were due to the Squire and to Mrs Fullerton (cheers)

The vice-chairman then gave the toast of the day, “the health and happiness of the Lord of the Manor, of Denaby, Mr T.G.Fullerton and also to his excellent lady, Mrs Fullerton.” (Cheers.) In doing so, he said they had present that evening, not Mr Fullerton himself, but a most excellent representative in the person of his eldest brother, the Rector of Boothby Graffoe (cheers)

He (the speaker)had a letter from the Lord of the Manor, who was now travelling in Germany, in which he sent his kind regards, and remembrances to his tenants, and in which he expresses regret that he was unable to be present at the half yearly gathering, adding, however, that his brother, Mr Charles Fullerton, would act as his representative and that very ably. (Hear, hear).

He (the speaker) would take this opportunity of referring to one or two points in connection with the farm interests. He was sorry they had not more of the farm gentleman present that day, as they knew it was at the recommendation or rather the suggestion of Mr Spooner, of Denaby, and some farm tenants at Brinsworth, that an arrangement was made that the rent dinner should be held alternatively at Denaby and Brinsworth. It was, however, Mr Fullerton’s desire, and especially his (the speaker) that all the tenantry possible be present at these gathering, so that they might all meet together and be free and social with each other. (Hear, hear) and talk on their interests and the interests of the locality, and bring about a better feeling amongst themselves, and make friends with each other. (Hear, hear). He was especially sorry that they had not the presence of the Brinsworth tenantry, but although they were not present they were nonetheless in their minds. (Hear, hear).

Many complaints have been made by the tenantry on all estates – not complaints about the rent paid, but that they had been suffering for the last two or three years, through the general agricultural depression, that the farm interests that suffer most frightfully during that time in every possible way. By floods and continual wet the grain had been swept away, and had to be resown in many instances. This was, of course, attended with considerable loss, and the question you might ask, was whether any farmer and really within the past few years made a single farthing of money. (Hear, hear). Amongst their own tenantry he was sorry to say not onlyhad some of them the greatest difficulty in meeting the rent on the rent day, but they had had to dip into the capital which they had accumulated in former years. (Hear, hear). That was a very sad thing, but as it could not be helped all that they could really do was to tender their kindest sympathy. Surely they could hope that sometime would come to them. And if they looked and that powerfully to a higher power, and tended and watch the times and season and brought scientific operations to bear amongst their farmlands, surely they might hope for improvement. (Cheers)

He had little doubt but that the present you would be a more satisfactory one for the farmers than the last hadI
been, it could not be worse. But still there was a great deal to be done before the loss in the past could be made up. It was impossible that any change whatsoever could be made in the rental of the estates. Ashe toldthem before he would tell them again, that an examination of the rental booksfrom a great number of years past, assured him that there have been no increase whatever the farm rentals on the Fullerton estates but they had been kept as one uniform rent. He believed that whilst this was so the rentals of some estates had been increased, and not to an inconsiderable extent this. It was a very easy thing when rental was being raised for reductions to be made, but with them any reductions in rent, as a reduction, was an impossibility.

However, they did much more than lowering the rent. They considered that was only right the tenant should be put to as little expense in connection with the farm buildings as possible; that they ought to be in first-class order, and then if they had everything to their hands they could work the farm properly and economically. It was their wish to do this for the tenants, and he was supported in his view by the highest authority, which showed that it was unwise policy in the landlords lowering estate rentals, that the wisest course to adopt was to keep up the rent, and to spend money upon the farm buildings, drainage, etc when necessity required, in order that the farms might, as he said be worked properly and economically. (Hear, hear).

That was a policy of Mr Fullerton, and he (the speaker) was adopting it on his behalf. If he had not in this policy of expenditure reached some of the farms the tenants might rest assured that their turn will come in time. (Hear, hear), Much had been spent upon the Fullerton farm buildings,homesteads and cottages and in farm drainage, than any return of rent could levy equal, and more than the reduction made by many other landlords in other parts of England. (Cheers). If they could only see the amount of money spent over this estates since 1871, there will be greatly surprised (hear, hear). If they calculated they will find that the percentage on the rental where reduction had been made, was exceeded by them by the capital expended over this estate. (Cheers).

He was speaking from facts. So when any gentleman said to him, “Are you going to lower the rent?” He replied they did not lower the rent, they did more, they improved by a large expenditure, that which had to produce a profit to the tenant, and which profit would exceed fourfold that which any reduction in rent could amount (hear, hear). Mr Fullerton was a gentleman who was exceedingly economical in his own living, and all the money that he did not want he was willing should be spent on their state to benefit it. So that the estate was benefited as well as the tenantry. He could assure them that his tenants losses and trials had been a source of much concern to Mr Fullerton, and had called forth from him on many occasions the expression of his deepest sympathy, and if they only knew how often they were spoken of, and their position talk: there was not one present would not involuntarily exclaim – “God bless the Squire of Denaby.” (Cheers) they would do this because they would feel that he was a good squire, a good earnest and harness landlord, anxious to do his utmost for the good of his tenantry. (Cheers) He would now ask them to drink with dual heartiness to the health and happiness of the Lord of the Manner of Denaby, and to his excellent lady and to which toast he would couple the name of his excellent brother, the reverent C.G.Fullerton (applause.)

This having been done. The reverent C.J.Fullerton said (and it was with great difficulty that he could speak): I feel I must say if you words sources thank you for the kind manner in which you have drunk the health of my brother and that of Mrs Fullerton. I know of no Squire, who has the interest of his tenantry more at heart than has my brother (hear, hear). He has done everything he can for you, and is only too pleased to delay (cheers). I thank you very much for the kind way in which you have received this tells. (Applause.)

The health of the visitors was then proposed by the vice-chairman who coupled the name of Mr Fullerton.

The reverent C.J.Fullerton: I wish Mrs Fullertonhad been hereto return thanksin my place for I havelost my voice, and this being so, I am sure she would have readily done it for me. (Hear, hear.) I thank you. (Cheers).

The health of “the Yeomanry of England, especially the farmers on the Fullerton estate,” was given for the vice-chair, the name of Mr Spooner being coupled with it.

Mr Spooner said: I am very glad to find that Mr Swithinbank takes so deep an interest in our present condition. I can assure him that the farmers had been playing a losing game during the past few years, and it is to be sincerely hoped that a better day is dawning upon us, though we very much fear that it will not be so. We have had to pull such long faces in the past that we have not much confidence for the future and this foreign competition makes it much more difficult for us to get into the markets (hear, hear). However, we hope in two or three years we shall be in a much better condition. (Cheers).

After giving the usual complimentary toast to the agent, Mr G.E. Swithinbank, the tenants were left to have a social hour together, all heartily enjoying themselves

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