Selected items only, as there was a great deal of local news and advertising in the Reporter (and its rival papers) by this time.

• 1897 Jan 1: Advert at top of front page: Matthews & Son, clothiers of 4 & 35 Church Street, "wish all their friends and customers a happy and prosperous New Year".
• 1897 Jan 1: Heane Brothers, drapers in the Market Place, advertise their January sale, to start on the 7th.
• 1897 Jan 1: James Hudson, pork butcher in West Gate for 33 years, has disposed of his business to J.T.M. Dunn
• 1897 Jan 8 (Jan 2): Employees of Barringer's tin works and mustard works were treated to a dinner at the Town Hall, attended by over 300. There was also a concert, and a show by the "Merry Motor Minstrels" (all employees of the firm).
• 1897 Jan 15: Report that the "Feathered World" magazine for Jan 8 contains a good snap-shot of a group of fowls belonging to Mr W. Pickard of M (taken by Edgar Pickard, with a Thornton-Pickard hand camera at 1/50 second).
• 1897 Jan 15: Three or four men formerly employed at D. Barrows' boot factory (recently closed) have set up a subscription list, supposedly in aid of the laid-off workforce. The local union branch secretary warns that all the money is going into the pockets of the organisers.
• 1897 Jan 15 (Tue prev.): Richard Walker, age 44, miner and refreshment-house keeper of 8 Market Place, was run over and killed by a rope-hauled coal wagon underground at Pleasley Colliery. His son was first to the scene of the accident. It was decided that he had probably tried to put a de-railed wagon back on the tracks without stopping the rope which was pulling other wagons.
• 1897 Jan 22 (Sun evening prev.): Keir Hardie gave a speech to M Labour Trades Council on "Socialism and Christianity". He claimed Socialism was "neither more nor less than applied Christianity".
• 1897 Jan 22: The Bankruptcy Court at Nottingham was told that D.T. Barrows, former bootmaker of M, had assets of £1,062, and debts of £2,545.
• 1897 Jan 22: The Council was wrestling with the problem of acquiring property to widen Leeming Street. They also decided to oppose the Nottingham Corporation and Newark Corporation Water Bills in Parliament, and to hold a public meeting to discuss the proposal to build a new wing at the M Accident Hospital to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
• 1897 Jan 22 (Thu prev.): A pony pulling a trap near the bottom of Leeming Street was startled by a slight collision; it broke the shafts of the trap and galloped off, dragging the still-occupied wreckage. It collided with a gas-lamp, but recovered its feet and dashed through the Market, knocking down a young boy, an old lady, another woman, and a crockery stall.. It also ran over the leg of another small boy, but fortunately the leg was in an iron reinforcement due to a previous problem. The driver of the trap was a doctor and, though hurt and shaken himself, he helped the other injured, who were taken to the Swan.
• 1897 Jan 29: The London Gazette officially announced the creation of the new parish of Pleasley Hill (previously part of St. John's).
• 1897 Jan 29: At the second annual prizegiving for Brunts' Technical School, the headmaster, Mr Stacey, lamented the tendency for parents to withdraw their children at 14: "it cannot be too strongly enforced that self-denial now means a very great advantage in the future".
• 1897 Feb 12 (Mon prev.): Part of the Dukeries railway line, from Chesterfield to Langwith, opened for freight traffic.
• 1897 Feb 26 (Tue evening prev.): First meeting of M Tradesmen's Association, at the Town Hall, to promote the interests of the town, to enable the tradesmen as a body to consider important public questions, to negotiate with the Railway Companies etc., and possibly to arrange insurance for windows etc.
• 1897 Mar 5: The Reporter regularly published train timetables for M. They show that at this time there were 7 trains daily to Sheffield via Chesterfield, 7 to Sheffield via Worksop, 3 to Chesterfield via Clowne, 3 to Chesterfield via Bolsover, 9 to London via Nottingham, 7 to Ambergate (for connections to Derby, Manchester etc.), 2 to Langley Mill, 3 to Alfreton, 2 to Southwell & Newark (with 2 extra trains on Thursdays), and 13 to Nottingham via Kirkby.
• 1897 Mar 12: The M football team played Kimberley at home- the visitors were one player short, because he missed the train. M played uphill in the first half, and scored one goal in each half to give a final score of 2-0.
• 1897 Mar 12: Analysis of February's weather showed that it had been the wettest since 1881, and warmer than average. It had been very windy on some days, especially the 20th and 21st.
• 1897 Mar 12 (Mon prev., Mar 8): The Chesterfield- Warsop- Edwinstowe section of the Chesterfield to Lincoln railway line was opened. The line included 30 miles of sidings for collieries etc.
• 1897 Mar 12 (Mon. evening prev.): The annual meeting of M Cricket Club was held at the White Hart. There were 89 members, and the deficit had been reduced to £8 (from £34/11/2 the previous year, and £50 the year before). The captain, A.J. Osborne, was persuaded to withdraw his resignation (offered following an "unfortunate unpleasantness" with M Woodhouse in the previous season) and is to be joint captain with Mr Walkerdine. The Borough Corporation had provided improved fencing for the Pelham Street ground.
• 1897 Mar 12: The debts of the defunct Greenhalgh football club were being pursued in the M County Court. The former club secretary, who had been made liable for much of the debt, was sueing other former committee members for their shares of the debt.
• 1897 Mar 19: Among the planning applications accepted by the Council's Roads & Buildings Committee was one for a house and shop on Bradder Street, from Mr G. Bradder. The Committee also selected the following tradesmen for its needs in the year ending Mar 31 1898: ironmongers, J. & E.H. Birks; wheelwright, S. Scott; horse shoeing, B. Woodward; horse corn, J. Beard; saddler, W. Hawkins; plumbers, Aves & Houfton; joiner, M. Brown; builder, C. Vallance; brushes, W. Shippam.
• 1897 Mar 19: Herbert Simpson was fined 2/6 in the Police Court for shouting too loudly to advertise his potatoes in the Market, and failing to be quiet when asked by the police, contrary to bye-laws. After the verdict, he said "I'll get a barrel organ- it will be all right then"
• 1897 Mar 19 (Fri prev.): Thinly-attended public meeting at Town Hall to discuss the celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It was agreed that the main commemoration should be the proposed enlargement of the Accident Hospital, but that Jun 22 should also be a day of festivities in the Borough. A committee was formed from the Town Council and the Hospital Board.
• 1897 Mar 19 (Mon prev.): The M School Board discussed the site for the town's proposed new schools. They were most interested in an offer from the Grammar School governors of 8084 square yards between Rosemary Lane and Bancroft Lane, at 5/6 per square yard.
• 1897 Mar 19: D.T. Barrows was examined at the Nottingham Bankruptcy Court.
• 1897 Mar 19: During restoration of St. Peter's Church spire, by Furse of Nottingham, a lightning conductor was installed. The weathercock was displayed in the Reporter's office window in Church Street; on its tail were records of the last two times it had been repaired, in 1793 and 1687.
• 1897 Mar 26: W.J. Furse of Nottingham takes the opportunity to advertise that while his equipment is in M for the church spire restoration, "it is a good opportunity for mill owners and others who may require repairs of a similar nature".
• 1897 Mar 26 (Wed prev.): Boxer George Franklin of M, trained at the Charter Arms by Gilbert Mee, beat J. Anthony of Bulwell at the Burnaby Club in Hyson Green. Franklin, age 30, height 5ft 6in, weight 9 stone 4 pounds, had taken part in 49 previous fights, of which he had lost only 4.
• 1897 Mar 26: The bells of St. Peter's Church are to be overhauled and re-hung by Messrs. Taylor of Loughborough (the article lists the inscriptions on the 8 bells, one dating back to 1603).
• 1897 Apr 2: Friday's show at the "Theatre Royal" in White Hart Street, the first production in M of "The Charlatan" will be a benefit performance for Mr Harry Hill.
• 1897 Apr 9: M Woodhouse Urban District Council signed an agreement to take a water supply from M Borough Council.
• 1897 Apr 16: The bankrupt bootmaker, Mr Barrows, is to be tried at the Quarter Sessions. He applied to the Nottingham Bankruptcy Court for permission to "correct mistakes" in the answers he had given to questions which had been put to him there, before he signed the court transcript as a true and accurate record. As the transcript had already been accepted as a true record of what was actually said in court, permission was denied.
• 1897 Apr 23 (Apr 16): PC Green attempted to arrest John Holland of Chesterfield, a drunk whom he saw assaulting another man in the Market Place. Holland hit him, then Hedley Bloom and George Pride of Sutton joined in. Bloom hit PC Green on the head, then Pride (or possibly Bloom again) kicked him when he fell down. On regaining his feet, he pursued the pair down Stockwell Gate. They again floored him, and one of them tried to throttle him. However, he had blown his whistle, and PC Hollis, who had been patrolling on Stockwell Gate, came to his assistance.
• 1897 Apr 30: Annual general meeting of Queen Elizabeth's Boys' School governors. It was reported that a woodwork shop had been added, and a room had been converted to a physics lab, for which Mrs Paget of Stuffyn Wood had given some of the apparatus and books.
• 1897 Apr 30: The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry are visiting the town, the officers being based at West Hill House, where the band will play on the lawn each evening. Drills will take place at Radmanthwaite, and on Monday there will be a military tournament at Berry Hill.
• 1897 May 7: The cricket season opened the previous weekend.
• 1897 May 7 (Sun prev.): The Church Parade by the Yeomanry attracted the largest crowds in the town centre for some years.
• 1897 May 7: M and Nottingham were battling in a Public Enquiry over the right to extract water from the boreholes in the area. M claimed that some of Nottingham's proposed pumps would in effect steal M's water. There was particular discussion of the disappearance in recent years of the Blidworth Beck and the Fishpools, which it fed. There was a related enquiry about M Woodhouse's water supply, which was suffering from pollution.
• 1897 May 14: There was a complaint that some limited-stop trains, which had taken only 32 minutes to travel from M to Nottingham via Sutton Junction and Hucknall, now stopped at Bulwell, adding 3 minutes to the journey time.
• 1897 May 21: A pageant at the May festival, promoted by the local Band of Hope, looked back to "the good old days" of 60 years previously, when Victoria came to the throne. There were criticisms of lack of progress in some areas, such as: "Call this a Town Hall! Why I lived on a farm, where they'd a room big as this, and they called it a barn" or (on the Baths) "We want room enough to dive, swim and splash, without tramping to Caudwell, or Woodhouse Sheepwash".
• 1897 May 21: Funds had been set up for the commemoration of the Jubilee, one for festivities, and one for improvements to the Hospital. The former had so far raised over £100, the latter over £700. The Reporter also started a fund for a celebration meal for the elderly.
• 1897 May 28: There was not much response to the Jubilee meal fund appeal.
• 1897 Jun 4 (Tue prev.): First meeting of the Thoroton Society, the historical society for Notts., at Nottingham. There were 170 members.
• 1897 Jun 4: While some old bank records were being incinerated in the furnace at Sanderson's foundry on Leeming Street, a large explosion occurred. Luckily, nobody was injured. It is suspected that the flame from the burning paper ignited the lubricant of the furnace's air-fan.
• 1897 Jun 11 (Tue prev.): The M Athletic Sports were held on the Stanhope Street recreation ground, somewhat dampened by cold and drizzle. The winner of the Duke of Portland's cup for a 1-mile cycle race was disqualified when it was calculated that his home in Codnor Park was outside the permitted 10-mile radius from M.
• 1897 Jun 18: The paper includes a picture of the Steam Laundry on Wood Street.
• 1897 Jun 18: In M County Court it was alleged that the play "Two Little Rogues", performed by Mr Leybourne's company at the "Theatre Royal" travelling theatre on its visit to White Hart Croft in M last February, was in fact a direct imitation of "Two Little Vagabonds", an adaptation of a French play. The judge ruled that, while partly influenced by "Vagabonds", "Rogues" seemed to have been derived directly from the French original.
• 1897 Jun 18: It was noted in passing that, by this time, the Bleakhills and Victoria foundries had been demolished, and Kirkland's foundry was closed.
• 1897 Jun 25 (Tue prev.): The Queen's Jubilee celebrations involved free teas for 3,000 school-children (who also sang in the Market Place) and 600 old people, a lunch for the 120 Corporation employees etc. The Hospital fund by this time stood at £1,500.
• 1897 Jul 2: At the Quarter Sessions in Nottingham, the bankrupt Mr D. Barrows was found not guilty of fraud, after the chairman of the Bench ruled that they must consider "whether it was an attempt at concealment" and not "accuse the man simply because he was stupid and blundering in his affairs".
• 1897 Jul 2: The foundation stone for the Jubilee extension to the Hospital was laid in a "pleasant and unostentatious" ceremony by Mr W.F. Webb, current President of the hospital board.
• 1897 Jul 9: At a special meeting in the Bull on Westgate it was agreed not to wind up the M Football Club, despite poor attendances and continuing financial hardship.
• 1897 Jul 9: At their annual prize-giving, Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School sdaid goodbye to their headmistress Miss Crosland, who was retiring to marry, and welcomed her successor Miss Mary Macrae.
• 1897 Jul 23: The foundation stone was laid at the new Workhouse hospital, to be known as the Victoria Hospital. It is to cost £10,000, and will almost double the available hospital accommodation there, to over 160 patients.
• 1897 Jul 23 (Sun prev.): A small war broke out in Chandler's Court, between Lydia Robinson and Ellen Newton, in the course of which the former gained a lovely black eye. In the Police Court a few days later, each woman produced other women from the court to testify that the other had started the fight, so in the end, both were bound over to keep the peace.
• 1897 Aug 6: A lady and gent who cycled down Leeming Street at high speed managed to get on a train before the constable at the bottom of the street could catch them. He phoned Nottingham and they were put on the train back to M, where they were fined.
• 1897 Aug 6: 40 Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School pupils sang in St. John's Church at the wedding of their former head, Miss Florence Crosland, to Herbert Nixon, a civil servant from Birmingham.
• 1897 Aug 13: Report of a match played by M Cricket Club, at the Stanhope Street ground.
• 1897 Aug 20: At an auction by Crampton & Sons in the Swan, George Nuttall's tobacco factory in Clerkson Street, established over 40 years, and turning over some £24,000 per year, was withdrawn from sale when bidding stopped at just £2,320. At the same auction, terrace houses were selling for around £175 each.
• 1897 Sep 10: A spate of garden robberies was reported. In Nottingham, the court chairman declared a determination to stop such crimes, and jailed a man for 3 months; in M, the normal punishment was a fine of £1.
• 1897 Sep 24: A garden robber at M was fined £2, with the alternative of 1 month's hard labour.
• 1897 Oct 1: There was a complaint about overcrowding at peak times on the railway to Nottingham.
• 1897 Oct 1 (Tue prev.): The death of George Wells, newsagent and herbalist of Ratcliffe Gate, aged 92. For many years from the founding of the M Reporter in 1857, he used to deliver it on foot to customers as far afield as Cuckney and Welbeck.
• 1897 Oct 8 (Wed prev.): A series of lectures on mining started at M Woodhouse, with about 20 students.
• 1897 Oct 22: M Football Club paid Rothwell Town Swifts £8 plus expenses to play their English Cup fixture at M rather than Rothwell. Despite this expensive home advantage, M lost 1-2 "and as an exhibition of football, the less said, the better".
• 1897 Oct 22: The Council discussed the alarmingly high death rate in M. It is hoped that a new sewage scheme, now in progress, will alleviate the problem.
• 1897 Oct 22: Butcher J.T.M. Dunn of Westgate has placed adverts in the papers saying "Increasing death rate in M. Don't be alarmed, we simply refer to the increased rate of deaths among swine caused by the enormous demand for the celebrated pork pies, sausages etc. ..."
• 1897 Oct 22: About 80 people attended the over-subscribed annual dinner of the M Fanciers' Association, with a menu of turkey, grouse, chicken, duckling, pigeon, pheasant, partridge, wild duck or moorhen.
• 1897 Oct 29: Kent & Cooper's music shop has moved to larger and more central premises in West Gate. They are praised for the effectiveness of their hire-purchase system.
• 1897 Oct 29 (Tue prev.): The Rainworth waterworks was officially opened by the Mayor, after 4 1/2 years' work (and one near-disaster when the original 11-foot diameter well was suddenly flooded, forcing the lower part of the shaft to be drilled as 10-inch boreholes, to a depth of 300 feet). There is also a reservoir on the high ground between Rainworth and M, with a holding capacity of 800,000 gallons.
• 1897 Nov 5 (Mon prev.): The Tories gained 2 of the 6 seats contested in the municipal elections. Labour only contested the east ward, and came last; the Liberals remain in overall control of the council.
• 1897 Nov 12 (Wed prev., c11.30pm): A fire caused £6,000 of damage at Pye's timber yard (locally called "the bobbin shop"). Fortunately, the yard was insured- and at the end of the article, the Reporter pointed out that they were agents for Norwich Union insurance.
• 1897 Nov 12 (Sat prev.): M Football Club beat Eastwood 2-0, causing one supporter to claim that "the turn of the tide has come"- the Reporter cautioously agreed, on the grounds that "nothing succeeds like success".
• 1897 Nov 12 (Tue prev.): The Council chose Alderman J.E. Birks as mayor for the next year.
• 1897 Nov 19: A company has been formed to build a giant power station near the colliery at Warsop, which would supply electricity to all the towns within a 25-mile radius. Most people still think it more sensible to build power stations in the towns where the electricity is needed.
• 1897 Nov 19: Lifeboat Saturday this year, on Nov 20, will not be enlivened by a parade, and a record struggle for refreshments, and a not-very-exciting entertainment at the Reservoir "but it is hoped that people will give generously".
• 1897 Nov 26: The 6th annual report of the M Free Public Library. Total issues were 21,833 books (up 1,411 on last year) of which 88% was fiction. Over 200 books were bought during the year, but the total stock is still only about 2,700, for 1,380 readers. There were some problems with thefts of magazines and newspapers.
• 1897 Nov 26 (Wed prev.): St. Mark's Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Southwell. Most of the Town Council attended, despite the fact that many of them were nonconformists. The interior is described as "very simple though refined" and among the features noted is the figure carving by George Lang of Oberammergau. The designer was Temple Moore of Westminster, the builders were the local firm Fisher Brothers, and the exterior stone came from one of the Duke of Portland's quarries at M Woodhouse.
• 1897 Dec 3: A great gale swept over Britain. The most serious damage in the M area was the uprooting of an ornamental tree in a garden in Welbeck Road, M Woodhouse.
• 1897 Dec 3: The Old Vicarage in Bridge Street, lately used as a lodging house, was sold by auction to its tenant William Ward (with its yard, barn, stable, outhouses and garden).
• 1897 Dec 10: Report of the inquest on the very unpleasant death of William Morris, at Royce Gascoine's boot factory in Radford Street.
• 1897 Dec 10: The National Telephone Company has been busy in the M district, and there are now over 40 subscribers on the local exchange, including the workhouse, Sherwood Foundry, Sanderson's Foundry (and the home of its manager Mr Robinson), the M Sand Co. etc.
• 1897 Dec 17: The annual general meeting and dinner of the M Cricket Club. The team had played 16 matches in the Notts. and Derbyshire League, winning 9, losing 5 and drawing 2. Match receipts increased to £31, from £21 last year; subscription income also rose.
• 1897 Dec 24: John Wilkinson, age 5 months, died in bed at his home in Brown Cow Yard. Also in the bed were his mother, Miss Elizabeth Wilkinson, his 2 1/2 year old sister, and 14 year old Lily Copeland. The baby had been insured by its father's mother for about £5. A post-mortem revealed no evidence that anyone had laid on top of the baby. It had been fed largely on bread and water in addition to breast milk. The doctor who had conducted the post-mortem accepted the coroner's suggestion that this was not a proper diet, but said "It is a favourite food in this district" and that "many survive it". The coroner also commented on the practice of insuring babies.
• 1897 Dec 24: Report on the town's best shop-window Xmas displays. Blythe's butchers presented an amazingly lavish spectacle, while the centrepiece at rival Dunn's was a huge pork pie, weighing over 5 stones.
• 1897 Dec 24 (Mon prev.): The M Fire Brigade rushed off in the night to Two Oaks Farm, only to find that the message had actually said "to Oakes' Farm" (where a straw stack worth about £40 was burned, probably as a result of arson).
• 1897 Dec 31: A beef and plum-pudding Xmas dinner was held by public subscription in the beautifully-decorated dining hall of the Workhouse. From a separate fund, adult patients in the Workhouse hospital received Xmas boxes containing oranges, apples, grapes, pineapple, apricot, crystallised ginger, figs, biscuits and pastry. The children had to be content with oranges, biscuits and sweets, paid for from what was left of the Xmas fund!
• 1897 Dec 31: A pickpocket, one of many in the town over Xmas, was imprisoned for 1 month. He had refused to be photographed or to give his address before conviction, but his picture was, with difficulty, taken at the House of Correction in Bagthorpe. It was then found that he was known by at least 9 other names to the police in Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Wigan etc.
  
  
  
• 1898 Jan 7: Ad for "Pavilion Theatre of Varieties", proprietor Mr W.Butler, manager Ned Herbert, musical director William Renshaw, open every evening, "Crowded houses nightly". "First seats 6d, Second Seats 3d". Doors open 7.30, commence at 8 (Sat 7 & 7.30). "Look out for Don Esparto and Florrie Astro".
• 1898 Jan 14: The 1898 "Portland" cycles, made in M, were shown to the press: a "popular" machine at 10gns; a road racer, "a very eyeable and attractive little mount", weight about 25lb; also a path racer (similar, but weighing c20-21lb)
• 1898 Jan 14: An epileptic man aged 24, Ernest Devenport, fell from a ladder at Reed Mill while fixing a water spout. He was attended to at Matlock Mill, but suffered haemorraging in his skull and died a few days later.
• 1898 Jan 14: Advert for J.W.Fisher, coal merchant of Clerkson Street, with a puzzle (the prize for which, a ton of Bolsover coal, was won by George Everitt of Belmont Terrace):
  If the B M T put :
  If the B . putting :
• 1898 Jan 14: Members of the Council visited the slum housing in yards off Stockwell Gate. One remarked that a good fire to burn these "rookeries" down would be a blessing, if it did not inflict hardship and loss on the inhabitants.
• 1898 Jan 14: "Neighbours at War": In Curriers Alley live George Walker and, nearby, the Dixon family. The Dixons number 11, and have 3 lodgers. Walker threatened to make official complaints about them and, when this ploy failed (and roused the ire of Mrs Martha Dixon) he broke their window and shouted threats through the hole at Mrs Dixon (who was in bed at the time). A summons for wilful damage was issued against him, whereupon Walker went and smashed 9 more window panes (his response on being accused of this in court was "I did that all right"). He was fined by the magistrates and bound over to keep the peace.
• 1898 Jan 21: The Council was attempting to improve Quarry Lane, which was "all ruts and mud", and not lighted for most of its length. Unfortunately, one of the landowners along the road, who would have to share the cost, was the Bellamy's Charity (for the benefit of people in Rotherham), the trustees of which wanted the road widened as well if they were to invest in improvements. The agents for the Duke of Portland, who owned much of the land which would be needed for this, said they would not object to a widening if the Council were prepared to pay for the necessary land (including the cottages and warehouse which stood on it, by Field Mill). This would cost the Council about £200, which it could not afford.
• 1898 Jan 28: William Renshaw, pianist of Belmont Terrace, was charged with assaulting Harry Townrow, age 13, of Upper Wood Street. Some boys had been larking in Frisby's brickyard on Westfield Lane, where Renshaw's father-in-law was in charge, and he chased them. Coming upon Townrow and his younger brother (both of whom claimed in court that they had not been among those in the brickyard) he grabbed the younger boy and shook him., then when Harry intervened, knocked him down and kicked him, bruising his body and injuring his right eye. Renshaw said that Harry's intervention had taken the form of throwing a brick at him and threatening to "knock his bloody head off"; nevertheless, he was found guilty, and fined 10 shillings with costs.
• 1898 Jan 28: Pye's sawmill has reopened in temporary buildings, following the recent fire.
• 1898 Feb 4: Richard Blythe advertises that he will be taking over his late father Richard's butchery business on West Gate.
• 1898 Feb 4: Football referee Mr Proctor wrote a letter of complaint to the M Reporter about the insulting and threatening behaviour he had been subjected to while making his way home after a match between M and Nottingham Forest Reserves, which he has decided to report to the F.A. The Reporter considered the letter "very much on a par with his refereeing" and described him as "no friend to the M Football Club for a very long time".
• 1898 Feb 4: At Pye's timber-yard, which was being rebuilt after the fire at the end of last year, Jackson Draycott, age 13, who had started work there as an errand-boy a few days before, got caught up in the drive-belt of a bark removal machine, which was part of the new work and had not yet had its safety cover fitted. He was pulled round the 250rpm drive shaft several times, banging against structural beams each time, and losing pieces of his body. Though still breathing when found, he was losing blood so fast that he could not possibly be saved. Pye's were found guilty of negligence.
• 1898 Feb 11: M 2nd Team were due to play a football match against Westwood on the old Greenhalgh's ground at Field Mill, but Westwod sent a telegram saying that their men were at work and they could not raise a team. As some tickets had already been sold, a scratch match was played.
• 1898 Feb 18: Harry Sansom is the new proprietor of the Pavilion Theatre of Varieties.
• 1898 Feb 18: A meeting of local authorities affected by the proposed giant electric power station near Warsop decided to oppose the scheme, as it would affect their own interests in gas supply etc.
• 1898 Feb 25: It is proposed to form a Camera Club in M.
• 1898 Feb 25: Boilers are being installed at M Workhouse, to provide central heating, and to power the newly-mechanised laundry. The development has necessitated the building of a very large chimney.
• 1898 Mar 11: An intercepting sewer is to be built running parallel to the River Maun, from Bath Street, through Rock Valley to discharge into the Flood Dykes, thus reducing pollution of the Maun.
• 1898 Mar 11: Contracts have been put out for an amalgamation of several cotton-spinning firms, including Bradley & Co., and Cash & Son.
• 1898 Mar 11: A touring production of "The Yeomen of the Guard" went to Sutton instead of M, because M had no premises large enough. A spokesman said "the M Town Hall would be half filled with the stage".
• 1898 Mar 18: M Council is to seek an appointment with the Great Central Railway Co. about the possibility of a line from Kirkby to Retford via M. They are also asking for a connection to the town from the "East to West" line (through Ollerton etc.).
• 1898 Mar 25: A tramline promoter has been in M, trying to sell the idea of lines to Pleasley Hill, Sutton and Mw, on a commercial basis, without burden on the Rates.
• 1898 Apr 1: Fisher Brothers, builders and contractors, have removed their monumental works and offices from Albert Street to the top of White Hart Street. They also sell sanitary goods and garden pots.
• 1898 Apr 1 (Fri prev): The Duchess of Portland opened a new wing at M Accident Hospital. Weather awful. The wing (to be known as the Diamond Jubilee wing) has 12 beds & 2 nurses' bedrooms.
• 1898 Apr 1: A patient in a serious condition arrived at the Accident Hospital during the opening ceremony for the new wing. He was a goods guard who had been hit by a train at Sutton Junction.
• 1898 Apr 1: A boy named Frank Pembleton, of Rock Valley, was fined 5s + 1s damages + costs for setting fire to the gorse gowing by the racecourse. J.W. Hutchinson and J. Wignell, builders, were fined 10s for allowing houses they had built in Littleworth to be occupied before they had been certified as connected to the water supply.
• 1898 Apr 8: Inquest on death of Robert Leeson, collier, of Nottingham Road, who was brought into M. Hospital on Mar 31 after being crushed in a roof fall at Shirebrook Colliery. He was conscious on admission, and able to explain the circumstances of the accident, for which he blamed nobody. He died that evening. Verdict: accidental death.
• 1898 Apr 15: Pavilion Theatre of Varieties programme for Easter week includes a return appearance for Don Esparto and Florrie Astro "and a big company of artistes".
• 1898 Apr 15: Advert for the Portland Cycle Co., with testimonial from Joseph Gething JP, of M Woodhouse: "The first ride I had on it for more than five miles from home was to London, which, to the surprise of many of my friends, I did in the day".
• 1898 Apr 15: The Thoroton Society's spring excursion will visit M, Rufford Abbey etc. on Apr 21. Brake ticket 3s, luncheon ticket 2/6, tea tickets (at the Swan) 1s or 1/6.
• 1898 Apr 22: Registration of the M Motor Car Company Ltd.; directors William Chadburn (chairman), George Fish, Frederick Hameyer, Frederick Robinson MD, Robert Vallance & John Ward. The first car will arrive in a few weeks' time. It will be able to carry 22 persons, and can pull a trailing car carrying another 22. It uses a high pressure (over 200 pounds per square inch) steam boiler, running on paraffin fuel. The weight will be kept below 2 tons, in order to avoid the 5 miles per hour speed limit on heavy vehicles. fares will be about 1d a mile. A shed is being built for it at Sanderson's foundry.
• 1898 Apr 22: A meeting is to be held on Monday to encourage support for M Football Club, which, though now free from its earlier debts, is struggling due to a lack of support. Tradesmen in other towns such as Newark and Heanor, where the teams were allowed to fall through, noticed a drop in business as football supporters spent their Saturdays in other towns.
• 1898 Apr 22: Maskelyne & Cooke's animated photographs, by David Devant, will be shown in M Town Hall at 8pm on Monday & Tuesday next week. Titles include "The Laboratory of Faust" and "The Prince and Princess of Wales interviewing the Chelsea veterans". Tickets 2s, 1s or 6d.
• 1898 Apr 29: The football club meeting raised a large amount in subscriptions, and adjourned until Friday evening to appoint various local tradesmen to the committee.
• 1898 May 6: Russell Vallance has taken over the haberdashery & hosiery shop of Mr J. Austin at 70 West Gate; he proposes to maintain the character of the business, while extending the gents' outfitting department.
• 1898 May 6: Plans for a new Board School in M have been approved by the Education Department. it is to cost around £12,000.
• 1898 May 6: The Football Club, following its general meetings, now has 103 members, plus the support of the Mayor and the Duke of Portland. The new president is to be J. Harrop White.
• 1898 May 6: At the annual general meeting of M Mechanics' Institute, it was reported that the debt for extension of the billiard room had been paid off, and that the room had brought in an income of £116 over the past year- more than compensating for a slight fall in membership of the Institute.
• 1898 May 13: Letter pointing out that the main public hall in the Town hall has only one exit, and would be a death-trap in the event of a fire.
• 1898 May 13: A local gentleman met with the Town Council to propose that he take a long lease of the Town Hall and improve it by the addition of a large public hall (there are reports of a similar hall being proposed in Newark, to cost £3,000).
• 1898 May 20: GThe licence to provide catering at next season's M Football Club matches was auctioned at a record £18 (the previous best was £15)- an indication of the new optimism about the club.
• 1898 May 20: The M Fire Brigade Committee agreed to buy a second-hand steam fire engine from Merryweather & Co. It would cost £450 new, but only £332/10/- second-hand, including training and delivery.
• 1898 May 20: Moves are being made to establish a "Cambridge Extension Society" in M, to provide a permanent framework for adult education in the area.
• 1898 May 20: At the Court of Appeal, M Council won its case against Bellamy's Trustees over the widening of Quarry Lane.
• 1898 May 20: At a full Council meeting, caution was urged over the fire-engine purchase.
• 1898 May 20 (Wed prev.): When a lady cyclist collided with a terrier dog near the Reporter office, losing her luggage, three men came to help the dog, none to help her.
• 1898 Jun 3: The weather was mostly fine for the 25th annual M Sports, on the Stanhope Street ground, after a worryingly cloudy morning. There was a brief rain-storm which dampened the 1 mile flat-race and the 1 mile cycle race. Gate receipts were £79.
• 1898 Jun 3: The arrival of the motor char-a-banc has been delayed. In the meantime, a petrol-drive daimler Waggonette Car has been demonstrated in the area. The car company has also taken an agreement for use of this model.
• 1898 Jun 17: The Council is seeking competitive quotations for a steam fire engine.
• 1898 Jun 17:The Reporter is to invest £500 in new printing machinery, with a view to enlarging the paper.
• 1898 Jun 24: Varoiouis M industrialists have given evidence to the House of Lords, regarding the proposed power station. All agreed that cheap electricity woiuld be a boon.
• 1898 Jun 24 (Mon evening prev.): Several lady cyclists encountered a flock of sheep near the railway bridge on Woodhouse Road, causing one rider to turn a complete somersault.
• 1898 Jun 24: Mr Dunn, pork-butcher, is spending about £500 to build an insulated and refrigerated cold-storage chamber at the rear of his premises.
• 1898 Jul 1 (Thu prev, about 5.30): The Motor Car steamed into town, having journeyed from Cowes via Oxford, Birmingham, Derby and Sutton in Ashfield. The only cause for anxiety is the rubber of the tyres, which is too "sensitive" for road use.
• 1898 Jul 1: The main opponents to the electricity scheme are town corporations who do not want the enterprise to have statutory powers to dig up their streets to lay cable. Normally, where this is the case, the Town Council itself will take on the responsibility of supplying the required service.
• 1898 Jul 1: A new physics laboratory has been built at Brunts' School, costing over £400, of which £135 has come from the County Council.
• 1898 Jul 8: The new Co-op premises have opened in Stockwell Gate; an exhibition of Co-op products from 22 societies has been held at the Town Hall. The chief speaker at the opening was Mr F. maddison, MP for Sheffield Brightside.The M society has 1,631 members, 9 stores, and sales last year of £44,198.
• 1898 Jul 8: The 23rd annual exhibition of M Horticultural Society will be held at Carr Bank on Aug 1. Both Class A (cottagers) and Class B (amateurs) are open to exhibitors living within 2 miles of M Market Place. Class C (gentlemen's gardeners and nurserymen) is open to all England.
• 1898 Jul 8 (Jul 1): The Motor Car, christened the Pioneer, commenced running. Car 2 is now being built, and it is hoped that solutions to the wheel problem will be incorporated in the design. Pioneer has run faultlessly and punctually some 50-60 miles a day this week. At present it serves the routes between Warsop & Huthwaite, and the Nottingham Road in M. It has also made, without mishap, a long excursion into the Dukeries. [The article also includes a detailed description of the vehicle].
• 1898 Jul 8 (page 3): An article on the economic geology of M.
• 1898 Jul 15: Police officer Joseph reeves, having suffered from pleurisy and typhoid, finally died when he also contracted pneumonia. He was well respected, but also popular. Captain Tomasson promoted him on his death-bed to the rank of inspector.
• 1898 Jul 22: At the Horticultural Show, the fireworks display will, rumour has it, feature a representation of the Motor Car "going for a short distance and then suddenly blowing up".
• 1898 Jul 22: On Captain Tomasson's recommendation, the widow of Inspector Reeves was granted £101/1/10, one month's pay for each complete year he had served.
• 1898 Jul 29: Advert for Matthews & Son, gentlemen's outfitters, claiming that the breakdown of the Motor Car the previous Saturday was due to the number of heavily-laden customers returning home from their sale. Now that it is running again, they offer to pay the fares of all their customers who wish to use it to take their purchases home.
• 1898 Jul 29: The official explanation for the breakdown is that it was caused by friction, due to "an oversight".
• 1898 Jul 29: There will be a benefit cricket match tomorrow (at the Stanhope Street ground, between William Wright's XI and the M & District team) for Bill Benton, who has been at the forefront of the game locally for over 30 years.
• 1898 Aug 5: The cricket match was won by M & District, 141 runs to 137.
• 1898 Aug 5: Gate receipts at the M Flower Show were almost a record, at £129/4/6. The show itself was fine, though there were slightly fewer exhibitors than last year. The fireworks, by James Paine & Son of London, were very good indeed.
• 1898 Aug 5: Vibration caused by the abandonment of the rubber tyres has damaged the mechanism of the Motor Car.
• 1898 Aug 12: The committee of the M Football Club have met to decide ticket prices for the new season: 3d per match.
• 1898 Aug 12: The Motor Car is "resting" until the vibration problem can be cured.
• 1898 Aug 19: Attractive illustrated advert for Hallsworth & Sons of Stockwell Gate..
• 1898 Aug 26: The M Motor Car has started running again, with strengthened replacement parts. Better rubber tyres have still not been supplied.
• 1898 Aug 26: Next Saturday, an express train excursion to York and Scarborough will be run for employees of M Brewery and Sanderson's Foundry.
• 1898 Aug 26: At the magistrates' Brewster Sessions, it was reported that there were 91 licensed premises in M, one for every 175 inhabitants. During the past year, there had been 238 convictions for drunkenness in the town.
• 1898 Aug 26: Royce, Gascoigne & Co's third annual flower show & sports day was held at the Field Mill ground. Sports included cricket, hockey, tennis, skittles, football etc., plus various races, including egg-and-spoon, and a skipping handicap for the girls.
• 1898 Sep 2: Two organ-grinders both wished to pitch at the bottom of Church Street, and spent some time playing different tunes on opposite sides of the street.
• 1898 Sep 2: Next week, the Modern Marvel Co. will demonstrate the Analyticon stereo photography process at the Town Hall. The projected views look blurred until they are seen through a pair of "analysers", which are supplied to each member of the audience.
• 1898 Sep 9: An article about the late 5th Duke of Portland, in connection with the Druce inheritance claim being pursued in London.
• 1898 Sep 16 (Sat prev.): There were over 1,000 spectators at the M v Sutton football match. M won 3-1.
• 1898 Sep 16: The grand opening night of Garrett's Empire Theatre in White Hart Croft will be Sep 17, when the historical drama "Jane Shore" will be performed.
• 1898 Sep 16 (Tue prev.): Opening of the water supply to M Woodhouse from M waterworks. The turn-on ceremony activated a fountain- which was powerful enough to spray water right over adjoining buildings onto washing in a back yard.
• 1898 Sep 16 (day prev.): Lady Laura Ridding, wife of the Bishop of Southwell, opened the Victoria Hospital, built by the M Board of Guardians at a cost of over £13,000. This facility for 68 female patients is additional to the infirmary built about 15 years ago.
• 1898 Sep 16: The paper includes a table of attendances & grants for local schools.
• 1898 Sep 23: M School Board agreed to seek permission from the Education Department to take out a loan of £11,975/10/-, from the Public Works Loan Board, at 2.75% annual interest over 30 years, for the building of the new Rosemary Board Schools.
• 1898 Sep 23: M Brewery Co. asked permission to transfer the licence of the King's Head in Stockwell Gate to a new hotel proposed for the corner of Westfield Lane and Ladybrook Lane. The magistrates refused, largely because the Brewery could not supply the name of the proposed licensee.
• 1898 Sep 23: All of the 10 deaths registered in M this week were of children; 9 were babies under 1 year old.
• 1898 Sep 30: M Harmonic Society is to be revived. The first rehearsal and meeting will be held on Oct 4. "If silly and nonsensical class prejudice could be sunk for once, there might be an amalgamation of the Orchestral society and Harmonic Society, and then a concert worth going to might be given... ...we would be compellled to have the concerts at Sutton, as with a band and chorus there would be no room for an audience in the present Town Hall."
• 1898 Oct 14: Advert for M Brewery, with prices: Luncheon Ale, 10d per gallon; X mild, 1/-; XX mild, 1/2; XXX strong, 1/4; XXXX deep, 1/6; Bitter beer, 1/4; Porter, 1/2; Stout, 1/4. All available in casks from 6 to 54 gallons.
• 1898 Oct 14: The M Reporter has enlarged, and has opened a branch office in Sutton. To reflect this, it is now known as the "M Reporter & Sutton in Ashfield Times".
• 1898 Oct 21: Brunts' School has acquired a typewriter, and typing and shorthand are now taught.
• 1898 Oct 21: Advert for the "New Pavilion Theatre of Varieties", proclaiming the "great success of the new hall".
• 1898 Oct 28: Electioneering for the Municipal Election, with photos of favoured candidates, and diagrams of ballot papers, showing where to put the Xs.
• 1898 Nov 4: In all three wards contested in the Municipal Election, the sitting Liberal candidates were defeated by the Tories.
• 1898 Nov 11: There were three railway accidents at M in one day: two derailments at points, and one collision. As the breakdown gang were returning to the sheds after the second derailment, in fog, they collided with a shunting engine and four men were injured.
• 1898 Nov 11: Doctors removed the tonsils of William Taylor, age 16, unaware that he suffered from mild haemophilia. Despite cauterization, the wound would not stop bleeding, and he died the next day.
• 1898 Nov 18: The Corporation has applied for authorisation to instal electric lighting in the town.
• 1898 Nov 25: Tenders are invited for the construction of about 1,650 yards of brick sewer & storm overflows, plus 570 yards of pipe sewers.
• 1898 Nov 25: A heavy snowstorm has caused damage at the new St Mark's Church. Snow drifted under the roof tiles on the south side and trickled down inside the church in nearly 20 places, damaging the paintwork.
• 1898 Nov 25: The Council discussed a proposal to adopt the privately-owned Park Avenue. It was pointed out that the road was a dead-end, and that there were several thoroughfares in the town more deserving of maintenance at the public expense. Park Avenue did, however, lead to the residences of the Mayor and the Borough Surveyor. As the street was of an acceptable standard for adoption, and no other candidates had been officially put forward, the Council was in effect obliged to accept the proposal.
• 1898 Dec 2: A telegraph message from Hucknall Station was received at M Station, asking that all third-class carriages in the next train should be searched for a baby which had been left by its mother. The baby was found and returned.
• 1898 Dec 9: Advert: George Blythe of 3 West Gate was the largest purchaser of Berkshire Pigs at the annual sale of the Queen's fatstock in Windsor. Be sure that your Xmas fare includes a 'Royal' pork pie.
• 1898 Dec 9: Advert for Richard Blythe, pork butcher of 62 West Gate.
• 1898 Dec 9: Perjury case at Notts. Assizes. George Raynor had acted as witness in February when his brother William was charged with using an unlicensed building as a slaughterhouse. The police presented evidence that the beast they had found in William's outhouse in February was not, as George had claimed, slaughtered at a nearby licensed slaughterhouse. George conducted his own defence, but did not endear himself to the court with remarks such as "You know this job is all in spite, isn't it?". The jury took just 40 minutes to find him guilty, and he was sentenced to 2 months' hard labour.
• 1898 Dec 16: Death of William Key, headmaster of Clerkson's School, age 35.
• 1898 Dec 23: Following Mr Key's death, a meeting of Clerkson's Trustees decided to close the boys' school due to financial problems. The girls' school continues, under Mrs Key.
• 1898 Dec 23: M Town Council have suspended a rent-collector, Mr W. Lewis, who mysteriously disappeared two weeks ago (though no irregularities have so far been discovered in his accounts).
• 1898 Dec 23: M football team will play Kimberley on Saturday (away) in the Notts. League, then Newark on Monday (at Stanhope Street) and Bulwell United on Tuesday (home again). It is to be hoped that there will be larger crowds than at recent matches- a surprise given the team's success in the Notts. League.
• 1898 Dec 23: Local teetotallers have succeeded in stopping the supply of half-a-pint of beer to each Workhouse inmate on Xmas day, although the two barrels have already been bought.
• 1898 Dec 30: M football club won all three of their matches last week, and are now second in the Notts. league, behind Forest Reserves. Good weather brought out a good crowd for the Boxing Day match against Newark, but the opposite was true of the Bulwell match.
• 1898 Dec 30: Mr Humble at Allen & Swift's notifies the public that 10 West Gate is about to be converted into "a modern cafe of the highest class", to be decorated by Mr C. Scott with the "most modern type" of fittings.
• 1898 Dec 30: On Boxing Day (because Xmas Day was a Sunday), the 250 Workhouse inmates were treated to an (alcohol-free) Xmas meal. They also received gifts from various townsfolk, of biscuits, sweets, fruit & toys. Kent & Cooper's have also promised that they shall be among the first to hear "that remarkable novelty, the gramophone".
  
  
  
• 1899 Jan 6: The first person to face the magistrates this year was Mary Jane Emly (married, middle-aged) charged with drunkenness and using obscene language in the street. She had been taken to the town lock-up on a hand-cart, and was released the next morning after promising to appear in court. When she failed to keep her appointment, she was "fetched", and spent the week until the next court session in the "county hotel" at Bagthorpe. At yesterday's court she was fined one guinea, with the alternative of one month in prison.
  The next case was that of Sarah Clements, another middle-aged woman, charged being drunk and disorderly in Stockwell Gate on Jan 2. She claimed she was "more tired than drunk", and that PC Pilgrim, the arresting officer, had "pulled and towed her about until all her clothes were off her back". Inspector Herrod reported that she really had been drunk, and that "she had her clothes under her arm when he saw her". She was fined 15 shillings (alternative, 10 days in prison).
• 1899 Jan 13 (Tue prev.): About 50 people gathered in the "iron room" associated with St. Mark's Church, to say goodbye to Mr Sills, who had been volunteer organist at the church for several years (also an altar server and sidesman) and to his wife, who had been involved with the parish ladies' working party, and the Guild working party. The couple are moving to Manchester.
• 1899 Jan 13 (Wed prev.): A meeting was held in the Mayor's parlour to discuss the proposal by the Czar of Russia for an arms limitation conference.
• 1899 Jan 20: A meeting had been held at the Swan Inn to explore the possibility of inviting the Notts. Agricultural Society to hold their next show in M. The Society requires a payment of £500 to hold its show outside Nottingham; £350 was promised at the meeting.
• 1899 Jan 20: The quarterly meeting of the M Traders' Association had discussed the lack of trains to Bolsover on Saturday evenings (the last being at 6.50pm). They also discussed the Borough Council's rejection of Mr Wilkinson's proposal to build a large hall at the rear of the Town Hall. There were also complaints about mail deliveries between Nottingham and M, which were then carried by road, not railway.
• 1899 Jan 20: J.C. Downham's drapers, in the Market Place, advertise their sale: "Every article in ordinary drapery will be reduced in price".
• 1899 Jan 20: G.A. Hutchinson has opened his new confectionery works at 5 Bridge Street, M (wholesale only), "Headquarters for sweets of every description".
• 1899 Jan 27: The Town Council had discussed a proposal to raise the rent of the Free Library premises at the Town Hall, from £1 per annum to £30. The vote was split, so the Mayor voted for a reconsideration of the matter by the Town Hall Committee, expressing the opinion that there should be a rise in the rent, as it was far below commercial rates for the space (which might be seen as an illegal subsidy, given that the council was only entitled to spend the product of a 1 penny rate on the library).
• 1899 Jan 27: Messrs Allen & Swift announce that 10 West Gate is about to be converted into "An Oriental Cafe of the highest class. Fresh coffee will be roasted and ground daily".
• 1899 Feb 3: "Enterprise with a vengeance! Matthews & Son's Great Sale. Tremendous reductions in all departments! A special offer for One Month only! 500 Men's Blue and Black Fine SERGE SUITS at 25%. And with each SUIT we shall GIVE, absolutely Free of Charge, A PAIR OF TROUSERS, any Pattern or Colour selected, VALUE 8/6." [At 35-35 Church Street]
• 1899 Feb 3 (Sat prev.): The Notts. Agricultural Society agreed to hold their annual show at M.
• 1899 Feb 10: A coroner's jury were shown a young man's suicide note which began: "I am going to face an express train, and going to throw it over, or else it will me. If I don't succeed, it is my duck-heartedness." His body was found by the line between M and Sutton.
• 1899 Feb 17: M played a friendly football match (away) against Millwall. The home team were nearly all former First League players, and on average about 2 stones heavier than the M players, "but what the home men had in size, the visitors made up for in dash". Milwall won, 1-0.
• 1899 Feb 17: The M Reporter had a "card basket" section of very small adverts; in this week, they included: "STEAM LAUNDRY, W. COWPE, WARSOP ROAD, MANSFIELD. All linen dried in the open air- weather permitting. No connection with Leeming Street laundry" [Cowpe's was actually to the north of Mansfield Woodhouse]; "GASCOINE'S HOME-MADE BOOTS ARE THE CHEAPEST AND BEST"; "LAWSON'S ALL LEATHER BOOTS AND SHOES ARE THE CHEAPEST AND BEST".
• 1899 Feb 17: Lindley & Sons have quarried a 10 ton, 165 cubic-foot stone for a sculpture of the crucified Christ, commissioned for St. Alban's cathedral. It is the largest block ever delivered to this sculptor's workshop.
• 1899 Feb 17: M Hospital annual report. Income has risen £56 above last years, but expenditure has risen by £292, following the opening of the Diamond Jubilee wing.
• 1899 Feb 24: For Sale by M Corporation Water Department: vertical boiler and steam pump by Tangye, removed from Bleakhills pumping station.
• 1899 Feb 24: The White Hart hotel has been sold at auction by Mr Crampton, for £6750, to the Nottingham & Notts. Banking Company.
• 1899 Feb 24: At the Town Council meeting, it had been agreed that the library rent was to be raised to £20 for the following year, then to £30 the year after. The possible provision of a steam fire engine was discussed, and it was pointed out that some of the town's fire hydrants gave inadequate pressure; the Brigade captain recommended the provision of larger water-mains to these areas.
• 1899 Feb 24 (Sat night prev.): A brawl took place, in which several policemen were assaulted, and a heavy object was thrown at Inspector Herrod. This turned out to be a bible- it was suggested that perhaps it had been aimed at PC Chapple!
• 1899 Feb 24: (wekend prev.): £14 was stolen from the cash-box in a break-in at the Free Library. Two high-spending youths were swiftly arrested. They pleaded guilty before the magistrates, and were sentenced to 3 months' hard labour in Bagthorpe House of Correction.
• 1899 Mar 3: The Shirebrook Curve, permitting direct trains between M and Edwinstowe, is to be opened for passenger traffic on Mar 20.
• 1899 Mar 10: Advert for the Waggon and Coals Inn. Thomas Buckley, the proprietor, is a playing member of the M Cricket Club. The inn is near to the cricket and football ground, and has ample accommodation for horses and cycles. He serves "MANSFIELD celebrated ALES".
• 1899 Mar 17: The Parliamentary Bill for a power-station to built at Warsop was voted out by a majority of 32.
• 1899 Mar 24 (Mar 20): M Traders' Association and Town Councillors made an excursion on the first train to Edwinstowe, at 7.15am. They posed for a photo at the Dukeries Hotel, and "if colour photography had been possible, some of the noses would have come out blue". The minimum temperature at M that day was 16 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 1899 Mar 24: The weekly railway timetable listed trains to Edwinstowe (where it was possible to connect with trains to Ollerton, Boughton and Tuxford) at 7.15, 9.40, 1.00, 6.30 and 10.10.
• 1899 Mar 24: At the Town Council meeting, the building of a large hall on the site of the Free Library and Butter Market, behind the Town Hall, was discussed. Many councillors wished to see designs before making a decision about the scheme.
• 1899 Mar 31: A large blank panel in the paper had a small box in the centre, with the words "This small Advertisement will be read by more people than the large ones, just as the heat from a small fire of J.W. FISHER'S Coals radiates further than that from a large fire of rubbish. 23 CLERKSON STREET."
• 1899 Mar 31: A woman who presented herself for admission to the casual ward at M Workhouse was found, on examination, to be wearing clothes marked with the letters NCA. It was later confirmed that she had indeed escaped from Notts. County Asylum at Mapperley, and had walked to M.
• 1899 Apr 7: The Portland Cycle Co., of Victoria Street, expects to be making 500 cycles per week in the near future.
• 1899 Apr 7: Allen & Swift's Oriental Cafe is now open. Teas & coffees, chops, steaks, luncheons etc. 200 cycles cam be accommodated.
• 1899 Apr 14: In a football match against Nottingham Forest Reserves, M player James Richardson got a dislocated shoulder in a heavy tackle. He is the fourth M player to suffer serious injury in matches this season- all four in games against Forest Reserves.
• 1899 Apr 14: In M County Court, George Raynor, butcher of M, sued his brother William Raynor, who counter-claimed. The action was over money owed for work done between August 1897 and August 1898. When asked why he had not brought an action earlier, George replied that he had been in gaol, following an earlier appearance in court as a witness for William, when he perjured himself for his brother's sake. After hearing the testimony of both brothers, the judge decided that he believed neither of them, and ruled against both claims.
• 1899 Apr 14 (Sat prev.): As Mr John Shaw, antique dealer of M, was riding his Bradbury cycle along Peafield Lane, one of the forks holding his front wheel snapped, and he was pitched head-first to the ground. He died soon after, his last words being "George, take me home".
• 1899 Apr 14: A young man had tried to drown himself in Bleakhills Mill dam, but was dragged out by employees of the factory. He was taken to the house of Mrs Green nearby, to await medical assistance, and was moved to M Hospital when he was fit to travel. Mrs Green died shortly afterwards.
• 1899 Apr 21: A meeting had been held at the Oriental cafe, attended by some twenty gentlemen, to propose the formation of an M Chess Club.
• 1899 Apr 28: The M Engineering Co. have set up in Pelham Street, "and will shortly be in a position to supply, fix and repair every description of steam, gas, water and electrical machinery".
• 1899 Apr 28: Kent & Cooper announce their great annual Sale of pianos, organs and other musical instruments.
• 1899 Apr 28: At the Town Council meeting, the Town Clerk reported that he had received a copy of the M Electrical Bill, as introduced in Parliament. A sub-committee had visited Renshaw's premises on Church Street, and declared them unfit for tripe-boiling. The steam fire-engine debate continued.
• 1899 May 5: A brawl had taken place in the Crown & Anchor pub, in which 42 drinking glasses, 2 jugs and 6 pewter pints were destroyed.One glass hit a young man named Joel Wilkinson (who had nothing to do with the fighting) in the eye, smashing his eyeball. He lost so much blood that he was lucky to survive.
• 1899 May 5: Work has started on the Chesterfield Road site for the Notts. Agricultural Show, to be held on June 7 & 8.
• 1899 May 5: At M Football Club's annual meeting, a deficit of £18/11/- was recorded, but it was hoped that this could be made up with proceeds from the sports-day.
• 1899 May 19: W.E. Knight of Stockwell Gate sells seeds, fertilisers, feeds etc., including Pure Dissolved Bones, Raw Ground Bones and Basic Slag.
• 1899 May 19 (Sat prev.): George Raynor, butcher, hanged himself in a building at Pennement Farm, probably depressed by his unhappy court experiences.
• 1899 May 19: The School Board felt obliged to comment on complaints that they were not ordering from local suppliers. They pointed out that local sources tended to be much more expensive than specialist firms; in a recent case which had received press attention, the local supplier quoted £667/18/4 for school furniture which was eventually purchased elsewhere for £443/15/-.
• 1899 May 19: The extension to M Cemetery had been opened by the Mayor, following a speech by Mr Scott, chairman of the Burial Board.
• 1899 May 26: Takings at the Sports Day were £143, and the profits were sufficient to pay off the Football Club's debt. The event was enlivened by an unusual cycle race. In 1897, cyclist Mr Doughty had been awarded the Portland Cup, following his objection that the fastest rider in the race did not live within the requisite 10 miles of M. He won it without argument in 1898, and had he won again this year, he could have kept the cup permanently. However, a Manchester cyclist named Bullock moved house to M, about 8 weeks before the race. All but one of the othere competitors refused to race against him, so on completing the course, he was declared the winner.
• 1899 Jun 2: Check the paper for a lovely advert for Smith & Brown's boots.
• 1899 Jun 2: The Reporter's advertising revenue was boosted by preparations for the Notts. Show. For example, the Portland Cycle Co. "beg to announce that their stand will be No. 7, where they will have a full selection of their cycles"; "Visitors on their way to the Agricultural Show will pass Winfield's Show of Perambucots, Nailcarts, China, Earthenware, Furniture &c." (this from A.A. Winfield, house furnisher, West Gate). There were many adverts for hotels and other accommodation.
• 1899 Jun 2 (Fri night prev.): A fire at the Meadow Foundry caused an estimated £6000 of damage. Initially, the Fire Brigade worked directly from hydrants, but the town's manual fire engine was brought in to help, pumping water from the Maun. Because of the danger from casks of tar, turpentine and oil in the works, efforts were concentrated on keeping the fire away from nearby buildings such as the Meadow Row cottages.
• 1899 Jun 9: The Agricultural Show was a great success. The Duke of Portland, this year's president of the Notts. Agricultural Society, presided at the luncheon. The town was decorated with floral arches: one next to the Town hall with "Welcome" on one side and "God Save the Queen" on the other; one at the entrance to West Gate with "Hearty Greeting to our President" and "Prosperity to the Borough"; and a third just beyond the old Westgate cattle market, with "Success to Agriculture" and "Prosper the County Show". Many local firms exhibited, incouding Blake & Beeley, the Meadow Foundry, king's Cycles etc. (a plan of the show stands was included in the paper).
• 1899 Jun 16: On further reflection, the Reporter commented that the Show had been "a brilliant success with the exception of the catering, which was execrable. The price for liquid refreshment was also calculated to tend to temperance..."
• 1899 Jun 16 (Mon night prev.): Mr Buckland's draper's shop near the bottom of White Hart Street was gutted by fire, while the proprietor and his family were visiting Farnsfield. Luckily for neighbours, Mr Steele of the White Hart smelled the smoke and alerted the Fire Brigade.
• 1899 Jun 16: Letter from Robert Doughty the cyclist, pointing out that under N.C.U. rule number 289, a "local" rider must have lived in the area since at least January 1 of the year he competes for a "local" trophy. Doughty also made it cloear that he was not the leader of the "boycott" of the Portland Cup race, but joined in when it became clear what the general feeling was among competitors.
• 1899 Jun 23: The Town Council's proposal to acquire a steam fire engine was adopted, following a demonstration of the appliance already in use at Welbeck Abbey.
• 1899 Jun 23: Letter complaining about the slowness of work on the sewers in Bridge Street, which have been left open for some time. No overtime payments are available to the workers, so they stop at 5.30, with several hours of midsummer daylight wasted.
• 1899 Jun 23 (Tue prev.): A meeting was held in Nottingham, presided over by the Duke of Portland, and with Dr W.H. Ransom in attendance, to consider the establishment of a county sanatorium for the treatment of consumptives.
• 1899 Jun 30: "Robin Hood scored 94 on the Field Mill ground against Royce Gascoine's on Saturday, to which the latter replied with 49".
• 1899 Jul 7: North Bingham, confectioner of 2 Leeming Street, advertises that he sells Gooseberry Tarts for the fair.
• 1899 Jul 7 (Tue prev.): Only 15 people attended a meeting to discuss the future of M Football Club. It was reported that of the 60-70 people who had last year declared their intention to join the club, only 20 had done so. The club officials therefore declined to continue their work, so it was disbanded.
• 1899 Jul 7: Advert for the Portland Cycle Co.: "Free wheels fitted to your old machine. Our price for fitting free wheel to your old machine will astonish you".
• 1899 Jul 7 (day prev.): The Bench passed plans for a complete remodelling of the Bowl-in-Hand pub in Leeming Street. The scheme includes a large hall for 800-1000 persons, and underneath will be a pavilion for the bowling green, with verandah. The development is by Vallance & Westwick for the M Brewery Co.
• 1899 Jul 7: A man was run over by a roundabout on Chesterfield Road, and later died in M Hospital. He was an employee of Twigdon's fairground showmen, who were sending the roundabout to M for repair.
• 1899 Jul 14: Today's menu at the Oriental Cafe: SOUP- Gravy; FISH- Filleted plaice; ENTREES- Mutton cutlets; JOINT- Roast beef; GRILL- Chops & chips, or steak & chips; VEGETABLES- Peas & potatoes; SWEET- Gooseberry tart, or cherry tart; CHEESE-- Cheddar, or Gorgonzola.
• 1899 Jul 14 (Mon prev.): Two cows paid a visit to Ernest Gouk's shop; fortunately, he was able to persuade them to leave.
• 1899 Jul 14: The Fair yesterday had almost tropical heat, though there have been several thunderstorms in the area lately. The show of stock was significantly down, possibly because much business had been done at last month's County Show.
• 1899 Jul 28: The Town Council has voted to keep Mr Vallance as Borough Surveyor, despite demands that, with the increasing size of the town (and hence of the Council's responsibilities) a full-time official is needed, not one who also runs a private practice.
• 1899 Jul 28 (Fri prev.): A stone was laid by Alderman Patterson, chairman of the Sanitary Committee, at the Forest Hospital, to commemmorate the building of a new extension.
• 1899 Aug 4: The 24th annual exhibition of the M Horticultural Society will be held at Carr Bank on Bank Holiday, Aug 7. Entertainment includes The Leroes (triple horizontal bar artistes) and Baker & Brookes (negro comedians and burlesque sketch artistes). Proceedings will conclude with a magnificent display of fireworks by Brock & Co. Admission 1s (6d after 3pm), under-12's half price.
• 1899 Aug 4: The NCU gave 4 days' suspension to Mr Doughty and the other cyclists who boycotted the Portland Cup. They did, however, also censure the race organisers for failing to comply properly with NCU rules.
• 1899 Aug 11: Advert: "Chesterfield Road is a very pleasant walk on Summer evenings, and the pheasant Inn is a favourite house for good ales &c." S. Clay, proprietor.
• 1899 Aug 11: The net profit on the County Show was reported to be £180.
• 1899 Aug 11: Nearly 8000 people had attended the Horticultural Society's show.
• 1899 Aug 11: Sutton Urban District Council are to discuss the possibility of acquiring a steam fire engine.
• 1899 Aug 18: A new Notts. League football team is to be formed in the town, called Mansfield Foresters.
• 1899 Aug 18: The Town Hall committee are to meet with the Post Office surveyor to discuss modernisation of the town's post office.
• 1899 Aug 18: At the County Court, Judge Masterman ruled that Captain Sansom (of the M Fire Brigade) was obliged to make a reasonable contribution to his wife's funeral expenses, though she had obtained a separation from him some 10 years earlier. Legally, the terms of the separation ceased to be effective at her death.
• 1899 Aug 25 (Sat prev.): Royce Gascoine & Co. Social Club held their 4th annual flower show and sports on the Field Mill ground, attended by over 500 people. Prizes were distributed by the Mayoress of M.
• 1899 Aug 25 (Sat prev.): About 650 people went on Sansom Brothers' works outing to London.
• 1899 Aug 25: The magistrates turned down an application by M Brewery Co. to remove the licence from the King's Head in Stockwell Gate to a new house at the Three Lane Ends on ladybrook Lane, intended to serve Newton Town.
• 1899 Aug 25: A.S. Buxton, head of the M School of Art, was congratulated on the success of his students. Only one student failed the elementary exam, and half of the rest gained First Class. There was also only one failure in the advanced exam.
• 1899 Aug 25 (Sat prev.): The Mayor laid the foundation stone for a new Methodist Mission Church on Berry Hill Road. In his speech, he praised the zeal of the various Nonconformist churches around the town.
• 1899 Aug 25: The Town Council agreed the purchase of a Shand & Mason 350-gallon steam fire engine, for £295, payable over 2 years.
• 1899 Sep 1 (Wed prev.): W.J. Chadburn was elected president of the new M Foresters football club.
• 1899 Sep 8: M Foresters are top of the Notts. League, having won their first match against Red Hill 3-0.
• 1899 Sep 8: This summer has been the hottest since records began.
• 1899 Sep 15: The "Old M" column features Dame Flogan's house (the old White Hart).
• 1899 Sep 15: Demolition of the Bowl in Hand will begin on Monday. The lowest tender for the new buildings, £5977 from John Hutchinson of Nottingham, has been accepted.
• 1899 Sep 22: M Foresters had played Forest Reserves at the City Ground. Forest won 2-0 (one an own-goal). Both goals were scored in the second half, against a goalkeeper who had spend most of the first half off the field, having been kicked in the face a few minutes into the match.
• 1899 Sep 22: The "Old Mansfield" column features the Black Boy Inn.
• 1899 Sep 29: Six lectures by E.J.C. Morton on "Modern Developments of Astronomical Science", illustrated by lime light, are to be given at the Technical Schools on alternate Fridays from Oct 6, under the auspices of the Cambridge University Extension Society.
• 1899 Sep 29: To celebrate the 21st anniversary of the M Congregational Church, the rev Silas K. Hocking will conduct a service, and will also deliver his popular lecture "There's Nowt So Queer as Folk". The Mayor of M will preside.
• 1899 Sep 29: A new column on "M Industries" begins with "The Foundries".
• 1899 Oct 6: The "M Industries" column features Meadow Foundry & Union Foundry. There are also 2 letters on Sherwood Foundry.
• 1899 Oct 6: The "Old M" column features old shops on Stockwell Gate.
• 1899 Oct 13: Tonight in M Market Place: Bartlett's Great Lion Show and Cinematograph or Living Pictures (using one of Edison's latest machines) and X RAYS EXHIBITION.
• 1899 Oct 13: During this week, a programme with 9 items "giving an excellent variety" (including "Messrs Arran and Wells on the trapeze") has attracted good audiences to M's only place of amusement, The Pavilion.
• 1899 Oct 20: There are now 150 telephones in M, and a meeting of many subscribers has been held to ask for better service, including prompt repairs, a new trunk line to Nottingham, and reduced prices.
• 1899 Oct 20: Diversion of the yard called Dragon Court, off Church Street, has been agreed by the magistrates without opposition.
• 1899 Oct 20: Proposals to enlarge the town's baths, by enlarging the swimming bath and providing additional slipper baths, have been delayed due to financial difficulties.
• 1899 Oct 20: The "Old M" column features the old Market Place.
• 1899 Oct 27: The Reporter urges voters in the Municipal Election on Nov 2 to vote for the two Conservative candidates in each ward. Diagrams are provided, showing where to put the Xs on the ballot papers. There are also pictures of the favoured candidates, and lists of points to remember about them. For example, Mr John Renshaw: is well known to you; is a man of common sense; is a popular man; asks for your votes; deserves your votes; will get your votes.
• 1899 Oct 27: The Town Council considered street improvements, incouding the widening of Leeming Street now that Dragon Court can be diverted. Also, a letter had been received, proposing the establishment of a tramway system in M; the Deputy Town Clerk was asked to find out more about the proposal.
• 1899 Oct 27: The "M Industries" column features Walker's Foundry.
• 1899 Nov 3 (Nov 2): At the Municipal Elections, the Conservatives gained several seats, enough to oveturn the Liberal majority for the first time since the Borough was created in 1891 (but John Renshaw was not one of the successful candidates).
• 1899 Nov 3: Sarah Bennett, a girl living at 35 Stockwell Gate, is recovering in the M Hospital, after a clock she was winding up fell on her.
• 1899 Nov 3: Letters on "Old M".
• 1899 Nov 3: The son of Thomas Doncaster, landlord of the half-demolished Bowl in Hand, was looking for some marbles in the cellar when the gable end of one of the buildings being demolished fell down. He was buried in rubble for about three-quarters of an hour, but luckily suffered no serious damage.
• 1899 Nov 10: Due to the escalation of hostilities with the Boers in South Africa, local Reservists have been called up. They assembled in the Market Place, where they were each given several ounces of tobacco, a bundle of cigars and a small sum of money. They then set off for the railway station, witnessed by a crowd of several thousands, marching to the tune of "Soldiers of the Queen" played by the M Military Band. Fundraising efforts for the relief of wounded soldiers, and widows & orphans, have begun in earnest with the opening of a local fund.
• 1899 Nov 10: Messrs. Thompson, Ward, Beazley & Co. of M claimed £8/1/6 in the County Court from Henry Baggaley for their work constructing his invention, the "aquatic gig". The machine was a failure- though Baggaley refused to accept that it couldn't work.
• 1899 Nov 10 (day prev.): At a special meeiting of M Town Council, W.J. Chadburn was elected Mayor of M.
• 1899 Nov 17: Advert for the New Empire Theatre, White Hart Croft: "We are here again, with a good Company". Tonight's attraction is "The Miner's Dream of Home"; tomorrow "The Gipsy Queen" followed by the screaming Farce "Two Tailors on Tramp".
• 1899 Nov 17: At the Grand Bazaar in the Albert Street Schools, there will be a performance of the operetta "Little Red Riding Hood"; tickets 1s or 6d.
• 1899 Nov 17: On Mon & Tue will be performed at the Town Hall, Mr Edwin Ramsden's new burlesque "Little Red Riding Hood"; tickets 2s, 1s & 6d.
• 1899 Nov 17: The reporter includes a list of prices and members of the M & District Master Shoeing Smiths' Association.
• 1899 Nov 17; Antonio Richardson of the Phoenix Brass Foundry, Victoria Street, notifies the public that his business is carried on at that address only, and is not connected with any other in the town.
• 1899 Nov 17: Application is to be made this month to the Light Railway Commissioners for permission to lay tramlines connecting M with M Woodhouse, Beech Hill on Chesterfield Road, and Sutton in Ashfield, on a gauge of 3ft 6in, using electric power.
• 1899 Nov 17: The tramway proposal is being made by a private company, and there are worries that it will have to be bought out in the future at great expense, as happened with the water and gas suppliers.
• 1899 Nov 17: The "M Industries" column features Hosiery.
• 1899 Nov 17: The "Old M" column features The Coaching Days.
• 1899 Nov 24: M Post Office now has a couple of bicycles for the use of telegram messengers.
• 1899 Nov 24: The "Old M" column features More Coaching Days.
• 1899 Dec 8: Advert (referring to a patriotic song in the Daily Mail): "Absent Minded Beggars" who forget to order one of DUNN's famous Pork Pies for Xmas will, on arriving at the Old Home, have such a reception from their Wives that they will wish they were at the BOMBARDMENT OF LADYSMITH.
• 1899 Dec 8: During discussions on next year's Horticultural Society Show, it was suggested that the firework display could be based on The Fall of Pretoria; "what about The Fall of Ladysmith" said another committee member with frank realism.
• 1899 Dec 15: Ernest Gouk of Leeming Street has 12,000 Xmas cards, "the heaviest stock ever seen in M". Offers "12 beautiful cards (each worth 3d) for 1s".
• 1899 Dec 15: M Board of Guardians debated the provision of Cottage Homes as an alternative to the Workhouse for children. The proposal was rejected, as it would add to costs, and there were very few children in the Board's care at any given time.
• 1899 Dec 15: John H. Hardy has opened his consulting rooms in White Hart Street, and supplies artificial teeth from 1 guinea per set.
• 1899 Dec 15: The Duke of Portland has given 50 acres of land on Ratcher Hill for the construction of a sanatorium for consumptives.
• 1899 Dec 15: Barringer, Wallis & Manners have supplied 40,000 Queen's chocolate boxes to Rowntree's (representing 1/3 of the Queen's Xmas chocolate presentation), to be sent to the troops in South Africa.
• 1899 Dec 22: Royce Gascoine & Co. have received an order for 50,000 pairs of canvas shoes for the troops in South Africa. They hope to ship the first 10,000 by Jan 3, though this willean that employees will have to forego their Xmas holidays.
• 1899 Dec 22: Barringers' achievement in shipping out the 40,000 chocolate boxes within 10 days of the order being finalised has earned them the right to use the Royal Warrant from Jan 1.
• 1899 Dec 22 (Sat prev.): Two concerts held in the Town Hall, in aid of the fund for reservists' wives and families, were financially successful, despite the absence of the Duchess of Portland whose brother had just died.
• 1899 Dec 22: The "M Industries" column features Alcock's hosiery.
• 1899 Dec 22 (+ Dec 29): Advert: "Umbrellas! Umbrellas! Christmas Presents! Wedding Presents! Birthday Presents! Buy from the manufacturer, A. King, The Umbrella Shop. 10 West Gate."
• 1899 Dec 29: M Foresters (who have spent the whole season hovering around the half-way mark in the Notts. League) played a friendly football match at Luton and lost 7-1.
• 1899 Dec 29: Ice-skating was possible on some of the dams over Xmas, but there were serious risks to the few who ventured out on the Reservoir.
• 1899 Dec 29 (Xmas): Beer was back on the menu for this year's Xmas treat at the Workhouse.
• 1899 Dec 29 (Xmas): The mayor, Councillor Chadburn, gave 4-pound pieces of beef to 150 old people around the town.