Yorkshire Dialect – Rambling Remarks

November - Weather


“We’re all fond o’ tawkin abaat mists, fogs an dull days i’ November, as if ther’s nivver onny breet days; but aw’ve known money a November ‘at’s had days as breet an bonny as what ther’s been i’ April and May. But that’s just like us, if we find owt pleasant we accept it an forget it in a few baars, but if we meet owt ‘at’s disappointin or disagreeable, we nurse it, an harp on it, for months. It’s foolish we all know, for nubdy ‘at’s onny wit expects to find nowt but sunshine i’ this life. If we wor hawf as thankful for us blessins as we are discontented wi awr trubbles, we should find life better worth livin.”

Source

John Hartley (1910) The Original Clock Almanack

Peace and Remembrance

The war which lasted 4 years and 3 months was called to an end when the Armistice was signed on the 11^th November 1918 and 6 hours later military operations ceased. Everyone felt the impact of the war and we should take time to remember not only those who sacrificed their lives or were wounded but also those who contributed to the war effort at home. Remember those who worked in a munitions factory, nursed the wounded, volunteered, who struggled to survive emotionally and financially and the communities that supported them.

I’m sorry that I cannot provide details of the reaction to the armistice in Bradford as the newspapers are currently unavailable. However I thought it might be appropriate to record the Peace Day Celebrations that were arranged by Bradford Poor Law Board of Guardians on 19^th July 1919.

Inmates, who were still dispersed at different locations due to the use of Union House and St Luke’s Hospital as a War Hospital, were allowed special fare consisting of:

·   Breakfast – bread, margarine, tea, bacon, sausage.

·   Dinner – beef, plum pudding, vegetables, oranges.

·   Tea – bread, margarine, cake, cheese.

·   Extras – sweets, tobacco, snuff, biscuits.

Visiting regulations were relaxed and entertainments arranged. The children at the children’s home at Bowling Institution were provided with sports and outdoor amusements with a marquee erected for the provision of tea and, with the approval of the Minister of Health, the sum of 6d each for pocket money. The members of the Ladies Cottage Homes Visiting Committee were invited and arrangements made to hold the event in a vacant block at St Luke’s in case the weather was wet.

Staff at the various institutions were granted a days holiday and 2/6 in consideration of the extra work they had to perform on the actual day (given at the discretion of the master/superintendent).

I hope the memories of a wide range of people who lived during that time can be maintained forever. If you would like to preserve the memory of your Bradford ancestors and their families who experienced life during through the war by sharing it online please contact me.

Whiskey and Worms – wonderful Yorkshire dialect and storytelling

“It matters nowt what yo say if fowk miss th’ point. It reminds me o’ what aw heard when aw wor at Keighley. Ther’d been a teetotal lecturer thear, an after tellin em what a fearful thing drink wor, an ha they wor shortenin ther days wi swallerin sich poison, he sed he’d give em a object lesson to prove it; soa he gate two glasses an filled one wi water an tother wi whisky, an then he tuk a worm aght ov a little box an dropt it into th’ glass o’ watter an it wor sooin wriggling abaat as lively as could be. “Nah,” he sed, “yo can see for yorsen ‘at watter willn’t hurt even a worm. But mark th’ difference,” an he tuk th’ worm aght o’th’ watter, an dropt it into th’ whiskey an in a minnit it wor deead. Ther wor a deal ov applause at this experiment, an as sooin as things quietened daan a woman at th’ far end o’th’ raam gate up an spake. “Awm glad aw coom to this lectur,” shoo sed, “for aw’ve been troubled wi them things i’ mi inside for monny a year, but aw know nah ha to get shut on them.” Soa yo see shoo’d mist th’ point o’th arguement.”

Just one example of the wonderful use of the Yorkshire Dialect by John Hartley in his 1910 Clock Almanack.

Source

Hartley, John 1910 The original Clock Almanack in the Yorkshire Dialect

On this day 31st October...

1858 Bradford Lozenge Poisoning

“The most dreadful calamity that perhaps ever befell this district has occurred within the last few days. The careless and negligent use of a deadly poison – arsenic – has had the unhappy result already depriving no fewer than 17 persons of life and filling innumerable homes throughout the district with suffering, mourning and woe.” Bradford Observer 4^th Nov 1858

 

In total 18 people died, mainly children, and it was estimated that there were 193 cases of illness but there may have been many more as no complete and accurate list could be compiled. They had all eaten peppermint lozenges and were struck by sudden and violent vomiting; sudden deaths were occurring all over the city as though a dreadful plague had come. 

The lozenges had been brought from William Hardacre in Green Market who was also suffering from eating one of his own lozenges. He had brought the lozenges from a wholesaler dealer in confectionary, Mr Joseph Neal, of Stone Street.

Mr Neal made the lozenges partly from sugar and partly from a mineral technically called terra alba or “daft” and described by the chemist as Plaster of Paris used as a substitute for sugar. By alteration he could produce lozenges at about 8d per pound which would normally cost 10d or 1s per pound. These lozenges had been made by Mr Neal by the order of Mr Hardacre. 

There had obviously been some mistake in the supply of the daft which was purchased from the shop of a druggist in Shipley named Hodgson. A fortnight ago Mr Charles Hodgson being ill in bed left a young assistant Mr William Goddard in charge, he had only been in his employ a few weeks having recently left school. He had been asked by a man from Bradford (James Archer, who lived with Mr Neal) for 12lb of daft not knowing where it was placed he asked Mr Hodgson who directed him to a corner of the cellar. Unfortunately Mr Goddard went to the wrong cask, which had no mark or label, and actually contained arsenic. Mr Archer then delivered the arsenic back to James Appleton one of Mr Neal’s men who had made up 40lbs of lozenges. 

Immediate steps were taken to publish the news far and wide in order to induce caution and safety. The quiet sleep of people was broken at midnight by the sound of the bellman’s warning and notices were put up in around the neighbourhood and in public houses asking people to return any lozenges to the police station.  

Mr Leveratt the chief constable had been able to obtain about 35lbs of the lozenges which were analysed by Mr Rimmington a chemist. He discovered that just one lozenge contained enough arsenic as would be sufficient to poison a man.

James Appleton confirmed that “daft has always been used ever since I have been in the trade. I have been in the trade 6 years... we do not put draft in always; it is just according to price. When lozenges are sold as these were at 2oz for 1½d it could not be expected that they were genuine. But I did not expect there would be poison in them. They are made of sugar and gum and daft put in to adulterate – to cheapen... it is the custom to use daft in all adulterated lozenges.” 

Charles Hodgson, William Goddard and Joseph Neal faced manslaughter charges. However all parties were set free without trial “the only thing criminal in the whole affair was what the law could not touch – the practice of adulteration and the supply of daft for that purpose”   

A relief fund was established to help the families of those who had been affected. The case resulted in a change to the legislation regarding the sale of poisons.
 


DEAD

Orlando Burran, aged 5 and John Henry Burran, aged 3, sons of Mark Burran, 30, Jowett Street, Manchester Road, Bradford.

Elizabeth Mary Midgley, aged 7 - Margerison Street, Bermondsey.

Elijah Wright, aged 9 - 63 Queen Street Bradford.

Joseph Scott, aged 14 - 5 Railway Street Bradford.

Joseph Crabtree, aged 16 - Jacob Street, Bradford.

Ann Shutt, aged 38 wife of John Shutt - Leeds Road, Bradford.

Herbert Holdsworth, a child Rutland Street, Bradford.

John McCormack, aged 4 Heaton Syke.

Adela Lee, aged 3, Heaton Syke.

John Broadley, aged 21, labourer, Heaton Syke.

Mark Green, aged 17 months, Low Moor.

Mrs Shackleton, aged 30 residing at East Ardsley.

John Lupton Constantine, aged 69, Tyersall.

— Wright, a married woman, residing at Wibsey.

Briggs Ramaden, clogger, aged 24 Thornton.

Robinson Wood, aged 3, East Ardsley.

Thomas Wright, child, Thompson’s House.

ILL

BRADFORD

Armitage, Martha, adult, Nursery Lane.  

Bairstow,  Martha, adult, Marsh Place.

Bairstow,  Abraham, adult, March Place.  

Cluster, Grace and Elizabeth adults, Preston Place. 

Cooper, James, adult, Scarr Hill.   

Cosgrane, John, adult, Eastbrook Lane.  

Crusher, Walter, adult, Crowe Street.

Dennison, John, two children, Scarr Hill.  

Dixon, Thomas, five adults, Thompson's Houses.   

Downbrough, Elisabeth   adult, Preston Place.

Fletcher, Elizabeth, adult, Marsh Place.

Frankleton, -, three children, Thornton Street.

Freeman, John, one adult and one child, Scarr Hill.

Graces, Leah, adult, Nursery Lane.    

Hartley, Richard, child, Scarr Hill.  

Hudson, Abraham, three children, Seymour Street. 

Isles, Hannah, two children, Swaine Green.     

Jowett, Elizabeth, adult, Bower Street.   

Lawson, William, three children, Buck  Spring Row.  

Laycock, Mary, an adult and a child, Fitzgerald Street.

Mann, Samuel, adult, Daisy Hill. 

Mann, John, three children and two adults, Daisy Hill.

Midgeley, Sarah, adult, Margerison Street.       

Murgatroyd, Richard, two children, Scarr Hill.   

Neamont, Hannah, adult and child, Croft Street.

Pattchett, John, two adults, Scarr Hill.   

Pease, - , three adults and two children, Manchester Road.    

Smith, Rebecca, adult, Preston Street.

Smith, Ann, Preston Street.

Smith, James, Preston Street.

Smith, John, 4 adult family members, Four Lane Ends.

Stead, William, adult, Crown Street.

Stott, Joseph  adult and two children, Croft Street.

Swaine, John, six children and two adults, Bowling Back Lane.  

Taylor, Mrs, one child, Scarr Hill.   

Tetley, Benjamin, two adults, Swaine Green.   

Thompson, Eliza, adult. Mulgrave Street.

Watson, Elizabeth, adult, Jury Street.  

White, Martha, adult, Little Horton Lane.

Whitehead, James, one child, Scarr Hill.   

Wilkinson, Mary, child, Daisy Hill.    

BAILDON

Holmes, family, four adults.

CLAYTON HEIGHTS

Wilcock, Henry, 55, toll bar keeper.

Wilcock, Sarah, 53, wife of the above.

Wilcock, Hannah, 23, daughter of the above.

Wilcock, Mary, 9, daughter of the above.

ECCLESHILL

RECOVERING

Curtis, Thomas, 18, joiner.

Denison, Emma, 13, Millhand.

Denison, Abram, 9,  schoolboy.

Duxbury, Catherine, 6, schoolgirl.

Hartley, Samuel, 10, schoolboy.

Murgatroyd, Ann, 20, millhand.

Paget, Charlotte 42, no trade.

Paget, Grace 16, no trade.

Patchet, John, 46, mason.

Taylor, Richard, 16, labourer.

Waterhouse, Benjamin, 48, weaver.

Waterhouse, Martha, 44, no trade.

GREAT HORTON

Beaumont, John, adult.

Beaumont, Mary, adult.

Bennett, Hannah, two adults.

Priestley, Hannah, Child.

Thompson, Thomas, four children.

HEATON

DANGEROUSLY ILL

Ardester, Kester, 23, delver.

Child, Samuel 22, delver.

Child, Zilpha, 53, no trade.

Recovered

Greenwood, Joseph, 41, delver.

Greenwood, Ruth, 12, servant.

Hollingworth, William, 13, labourer.

RECOVERING

Ardester, Grace, 63, no trade.

Ardester, Grace, 17, mill hand.

Chatband, Mary Elizabeth, 5, mill hand.

Child, Sophia, 94, mill hand.

Waterhouse, Sarah, 26, mill hand.

IDLE

Recovered

Skirrow, George 30, clothier.

Skirrow,  Sarah Ann 8.

LOW MOOR

Bartle, Lea, 10.

Bartle, James, 19.

Bartle, Samuel, 17.

Bottomley, Elizabeth, 33.

Bottomley, Elizabeth, 60.

Bottomley, Henry 3½.

Bottomley, Mary,  30.

Burnett, Deborah, 5½.

Green, James, 20.

Mason, John 18½.

Tordoff, Love, 6.

Taylor, Joseph, 20.

Walker, Jane, 5½.

Walker, Samuel, 35.

Walker, Susannah, 6.

QUEENROW, near Thirsk

Clark, Henry and John, adults.

SHIPLEY

DANGEROUSLY ILL

Boston, Jacob, 10, schoolboy.

Boston, Jane, 22, mill hand.

Golden, John, 21, mill hand.

Golden, Mary, 53, no trade.

Sutcliffe, Ingham, 14, mill hand.

Sutcliffe, Jane, 48, no trade.

Wood, Margaret Ann, 25, weaver.

RECOVERING

Boston, James, 14, mill hand.

Boston, Mary 16, mill hand.

Boston, Mary, 55, no trade.

Fortune, David, 58, comber.

Garth, Isaac, 15, mill hand.

Golden, Mary, 21, weaver.

Sutcliffe, John, 27, weaver.

Sutcliffe, William, 56, weaver.

Wood, Jemima, 35, weaver.

TONG MOOR

RECOVERING

Wheatman, James.

Wheatman, Nancy.

THORNTON

DANGEROUSLY ILL

Northrop, Betty, 63.

Ramsden, Elizabeth, 2½.

WINDHILL

Recovered

Brook, Elizabeth, 35, mill hand.

Brook, John, 40, labourer.

Chapman, Elizabeth, mill hand.

Chapman, Margaret, 23, mill hand.

Chapman, Milly, 27, mill hand.

Dalton, George, 35, mill hand.

RECOVERING

Pitts, Ellen, 11.

WIBSEY

DANGEROUSLY ILL

Wright, Mary, 40, married woman.

There is a lot of detail relating to the lozenge poisoning including inquests into the deaths. Was your ancestor one of those affected? Want to find out more details please contact me.

Sources

Bradford Observer, 4^th November 1858 
Bradford Observer 23^rd December 1858 

Leeds Mercury, 2^nd November 1858 

Leeds Mercury, 4^th November 1858

At the Archives... or not as is actually the case

Library closures, half term, children’s birthdays and Roman Day at school have been keeping me away from the archives the last few weeks.

Bradford Library was shut for 4 days when they identified a “fire risk”. The building has now reopened but there is only access to the first two floors.

The archives service has been temporarily relocated to the first floor but is closed this week for collections work and opening hours are restricted after that. Access to the local studies library which was on the third floor is severely restricted. Bradford Council’s statement on the current situation confirms that there is no access to microfilms (newspapers and parish registers), maps, card catalogues (including newspaper and WW1/WW2 soldier index cards) and if you want to obtain a book you have to give two full working days notice. 

Newspaper reports that the cost of making the current library building safe is £4 million meaning that all options now need to be looked at and may result in the library being relocated. It is expected that the library will remain open and will continue to provide service in the medium term (18 months – 2 years). But what happens to access to the local studies materials in the mean time and are they and the archives collections themselves safe from fire risk.  

I have written to my local councillors and asked them to press for a speedy and satisfactory resolution to the issue and encourage you to do the same. 

On a different front I am going into a local school to do a talk to year 3 (7-8 year olds) about why the Romans came to Ilkley. I will be using a variety of maps to show why Ilkley was strategically important and what life was like there at that time for the soldiers and the natives. If any other local schools would like me to visit them for similar talks please get in touch.

Bradford War Hospital / St Luke’s Hospital

Information on how St Luke’s came to be Bradford’s base War Hospital have been uploaded onto the BradfordWW1 website. At its height it provided almost 1,550 beds for wounded soldiers and that was just one of 9 military hospitals open in Bradford at the time. 

Read on find out more

Bradford’s military hospitals - overview

It is well known that Bradford had its own base War Hospital but this does not paint the whole picture as there were many more auxiliary hospitals that also treated wounded soldiers. It is difficult to provide total figures for the number of soldiers treated in Bradford as some were transferred from Hospitals in Leeds to a variety of auxiliary hospitals before the first Red Cross Trains brought wounded soldiers straight from France to the Bradford War Hospital in November 1915. 

Several blogs in coming weeks and months will provide information about the various military hospitals however here is an overview of the different hospitals that treated wounded soldiers first the three main hospitals that could take patients straight from disembarkation and then the auxiliary hospitals. 

Bradford War Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital run by Bradford Board of Guardians
Abram Peel Hospital, Leeds Road Hospital run by Bradford Corporation
Bradford Military Hospital, this was either at Bradford Moor Barracks or at Belle Vue Barracks

Bowling Park Auxiliary Hospital, Bradford Board of Guardians home for male imbeciles
Clayton Auxiliary Hospital, North Bierley Union Infirmary
Field House Auxiliary Hospital, Bradford Royal Infirmary’s convalescent home
Guiseley Auxiliary Hospital, not sure which hospital/private home this was
Royal Ear and Eye Hospital, Bradford a voluntary subscription hospital
Salt's Auxiliary Hospital, Saltaire Sir Titus Salt Hospital, charitable hospital
Woodlands Auxiliary Hospital, Rawdon, Bradford Royal Infirmary’s convalescent home

If you have any information on the location of the Bradford Military Hospital or the Guiseley Auxiliary Hospital please get in touch so that a more complete picture can be painted.