Mansfield in the News: 1900 digest

MANSFIELD IN THE NEWS: 1900
Source: Mansfield Reporter

1900 Jan 5: At a special meeting of the Town Council on Wednesday night, the appointment of Mr R.C. Quinn as consulting engineer for the proposed tramway system was agreed; he was also asked to prepare a report on the establishment of an electrical works within the borough.
1900 Jan 5: Advert for The New Empire Theatre on White Hart Croft, Friday "The Beggar's Petition"; Saturday "Buffalo Bill" etc. Chairs 1/6; front seats 1s; Pit 6d; Gallery 3d. Doors open at 7pm. "Good fires constantly kept"
1900 Jan 5: The fund for the wounded of the Transvaal War, and for widows and orphans, has so far raised £539/18/8. Treasurers, W.J. Chadburn, Mayor of Mansfield, and W.F. Sanders, ex-Mayor. Secretary, J. Harrop White
1900 Jan 5: "Old Mansfield" feature: The Nag's Head, + "The last of the coach drivers"
1900 Jan 5: Several letters from men serving in the Transvaal: Private J.A. Cliff, a Mansfield man serving in the Transvaal with the 2nd West Yorkshire regiment writes to his sister in Mansfield: "Bullets flew like hail, and shells all around us. Almost the first shot fired by the Boers went through a drummer boy's temple. Another man was shot in the stomach, and a man by my side got hit in the right knee, and would have bled to death, only for me putting his field dressing on him. I had to stand over him while I was doing it, with bullets flying all around us. It was marvellous I did not get it. I carried him to shelter, and then went back... The hills around here are our worst enemies, as they are so high... the Boers get on the top and wait for us and shoot us as we come up. When we get near to the top, they mount their horses and gallop off. They won't stand and fight on level ground".
1900 Jan 12: Advert for Philip J. Shacklock, dispensing chemist, Pharmacy hall, Market Place, Mansfield: "A dose in time saves nine. Cold in the head, sneezing, running of the Nose and Eyes...? If so, take Shacklock's Influenza Mixture. Suffer from Cough, Hoarseness, Chest Oppression? Then Shacklock's 'No-Koff'."
1900 Jan 12: The Duke of Portland has given 1,500 pounds of tobacco to the Sherwood Foresters regiment, supplied by Jolly's of Mansfield within 24 hours of receiving the order.
1900 Jan 12: (Fri prev.) Inquest on John Topham Spilman, aged 20, who came to the home of Councillor G.A. Fish on Portland Street for a few days' holiday, and became unwell. The doctor prescribed some medicine, but also directed that utensils should be disinfected with carbolic acid. About midnight on Wednesday, Cllr. Fish's son George, who was sitting up with the patient, gave him a dose of medicine, following which Spilman asked for a drink of soda water- shortly afterwards he died. The result of an initial examination by the doctor was confirmed by the post-mortem: George had given his friend a dose of carbolic acid, having apparently found the medicine glass next to that bottle and failed to read the label. Verdict: misadventure.
1900 Jan 19: Advert: "Khaki wool for working into Tam-o-shanters, balaclava helmets, cuffs, socks etc. is now to be obtained from Russell Vallance, 70 West Gate".
1900 Jan 19 (Fri prev.): Inspection and annual dinner of the Mansfield Fire Brigade.Mr Graham, the town's water manager, proposed a toast to the brigade, and expressed the hope that before the next dinner they would have a steam fire engine.
1900 Jan 19: "Old Mansfield" feature: Cromwell House
1900 Jan 26 (Mon prev.): William Radford, a former bag hosier now resident in the Workhouse, celebrated his 100th birthday. He had at one time been owner of the Charter Arms Inn, and still owned enough property to give him a small income to pay for his care at the workhouse.
1900 Jan 26: As the remaining tree in Three Thorn Hollow had blown down a while ago, the Mayor had three young thorns planted there by his children.
1900 Jan 26 (Wed prev.): D company of the 4th Notts. Volunteers, including eight new recruits from Mansfield left for Derby, en route to the Transvaal. On Monday night, the Mayor had held a banquet in their honour.
1900 Feb 2: Advert. Artificial teeth: Mr John H. Hardy has now opened his consulting rooms and come to live at White Hart Street. Best mineral teeth, mounted on Vulcanite, £2/10/- per set. 13,000 sets satisfactorily fitted.
1900 Feb 9 (Sat prev.): Inquest at the New Inn, West Gate, Miss Sabina Revill, age 32, of Alexandria Buildings, Westfield Lane. She was found unconscious in bed on Thursday morning, and died that evening. She had drunk carbolic acid. Her doctor confirmed that last summer she had spent six weeks in the County Asylum, suffering from melancholia. Some weeks previously she had told her sister that she had tried to buy some carbolic acid in Mansfield Woodhouse, but the chemist there had refused. She bought the acid which killed her from Pegg's chemists in Mansfield, saying it was for disinfectant. Verdict: suicide.
1900 Feb 9 (Tue prev): Inquest at the Waggon & Coals on Sarah Ann Savage, age 68, of Rock Valley. Her house was about 6 feet above street level, with a low wall. Her partner, Robert Morrell, who had been with her for 40 years, said that she had gone out into the yard, a little drunk, just after 8 in the evening on Saturday, and not returned. He found that she had slipped in the snow and pitched over the wall into the street. Verdict: accident. The owner of the property was asked to provide a higher wall or fence.
1900 Feb 9: "Old Mansfield" article: the White Hart
1900 Feb 9: More deaths were recorded in Mansfield this January than in any month since records began. 67 in all, many from influenza. 27 were over 60.
1900 Feb 16: Advert. "THE FINEST NON-INTOXICANTS IN THE WORLD... A.G.BINGLEY & CO.'S PURE MINERAL WATERS. ... OFFICE & WORKS: LINDEN STREET, MANSFIELD." This issue also features an advert for Sampson Brothers' mineral water, Sutton in Ashfield.
1900 Feb 16: Following an offer by Canon Pavey, the Council's Roads & Buildings Committee resolved to accept the land offered for widening Church Lane, in conjunction with the earlier purchase of neighbouring cottages from Mrs Handley, and to rebuild the wall of the churchyard and school playground further back, with new gates.
1900 Feb 23 (Wed prev.): Following news of the relief of the besieged town of Ladysmith, boys at the Grammar School were allowed home an hour early to celebrate.
1900 Mar 2: Extracts from an article in the February issue of the magazine "Commerce" recounting a visit to the Barringer, Wallis & Manners tin works in Mansfield and Sutton.
1900 Mar 2 (day prev.): Following genuine official news of the relief of the besieged town of Ladysmith the day before, all Mansfield schools were closed for the afternoon, church bells were rung and flags flew from the Town Hall.
1900 Mar 2: "Old Mansfield" article: the Angel Inn.
1900 Mar 2: The Transvaal War Fund now stands at £616/17/11.
1900 Mar 9: Advert. "WAR! WAR! WAR! TOWN HALL, MANSFIELD FRIDAY and SATURDAY... Mr Horace G. Banks' Gigantic WAR ENTERTAINMENT Animated Pictures FRESH FROM THE FRONT. TAKEN UNDER FIRE. Attack on Mafeking and repulse of the Boers... Reserved Seats 2/1, Front Seats 1/-, Back Seats 6d. Doors open 7.30... SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FOR CHILDREN On Saturday Afternoon at 3 o'clock. Admission 2d each. Adults 6d each."
1900 Mar 9: Article on Boer mistreatment of African people.
1900 Mar 16: The demolition of properties acquired by the Corporation on Leeming Street has commenced.
1900 Mar 23: "Old Mansfield" article: Rock Valley.
1900 Mar 30: "Saturday night rowdyism on the Woodhouse road continues unabated... The inhabitants complain, and certainly not without cause, of the conduct of half-drunken youths for the most part, whose language as they are proceeding homeward soon after 11 o'clock at night is of the most degrading description... An extra policeman on the road might be the means of checking it".
1900 Apr 6: "Old Mansfield" article: The Greyhound Inn.
1900 Apr 13: Extract from an article in the Mar 31 issue of Warehouseman and Draper, about a visit to Hollins' Pleasley Vale works.
1900 Apr 20: Advert. "MANSFIELD SCHOOL BOARD. OPENING OF THE ROSEMARY SCHOOLS. These Schools will be Opened for School purposes on Tuesday, 1st May. Children desirous of being enrolled may attend at the School on Monday, 30th April, between the hours of 9.30 and 10.30 in the morning".
1900 Apr 20: "The high wind which prevailed on Good Friday assisted the contractor in the demolition of the old buildings in Leeming Street. Fortunately, no one happened to be passing when a portion of brickwork fell across the road near Mr James King's shop"...
1900 Apr 27 (Apr 16): Death of William Radford, age 100, at the Workhouse Infirmary. He claimed that in his youth he had been a valet to Lord Byron.
1900 Apr 27: Long article on the ceremonial opening of the Rosemary Street Board Schools, with drawings of the main and infants' schools. There is room for 500 pupils in the main schools, and 300 in the infant's school. At the south-west corner of the site is a special Cookery School, with room for 40 pupils. There are also play sheds in the playgrounds, for use in wet weather.
1900 May 4: The Mansfield Science and Art School will start its new term on the 16th in "new and commodious premises in Commercial Street... The large room which Mr Scott has erected is as long as the Town Hall, and half as wide again...".
1900 May 11: Advert. "The Popular Hero is 'BADEN POWELL,' The Popular HATTER AND OUTFITTER IS FRANK WEBSTER, LEEMING STREET, MANSFIELD."
1900 May 18 (Fri prev.): Drivers on the Automobile Club's 1,000-mile tour of Britain took part in speed trials on the Duke of Portland's estate at Clipstone. As the venue had not been announced to the public, numerous local people mistakenly went to other spots on the Duke's estate, such as the Russian Log Hut.
1900 May 18: The Transvaal War fund stands at £639/12/11.
1900 May 18: A new fund has been opened up for relief of the famine in India. So far, £101/7/6 has been subscribed.
1900 May 18 (Fri prev.): Mr G.W.Howard, proprietor of the Pavilion of Varieties, allowed the night's performances to be made for the benefit of Charles Hayes, an old employee at Alcock's factory who had to have his leg amputated due to gangrene. The hall was packed and a good sum was raised.
1900 May 25 (Sat prev.): Celebrations for the relief of Mafeking inluded the display of Union Jacks outside shops, the wearing of patriotic favours by almost everybody, the playing of patriotic tunes in front of the Town Hall by the Mansfield Excelsior Band around 10pm, followed by an impromptu late-night procession to the Mayor's residence, Grove House, where Mr Chadburn gave a speech from his bedroom window. The crowd then moved on to the home of Superintendent Hensley, but he was away, and the procession dispersed. A Shirebrook navvy summed up the mood of the day "No more- hic- Mafekings to relieve, is there?".
1900 Jun 1: A close call for Randall Whitaker, son of Joseph Whitaker of Rainworth Lodge, who received bullet-holes in his hat and tunic while providing covering fire for his comrades in an unfortunate incident at Boshof in the Transvaal.
1900 Jun 1: Illustration showing sketches of various costumes worn at the Mansfield carnival the previous week.
1900 Jun 1: Report on the Light Railway Commission inquiry into the proposed Mansfield tramway system, held at the Town Hall. The Chairman stated that they "would be happy to recommend the Board of Trade to grant the application", subject to certain clauses agreed at the inquiry.
1900 Jun 8 (Fri prev.): Death of Charles Howitt, age 27, son of Jeremiah Howitt of Bull Farm. Charles was driving a cart along Chesterfield Road, standing up, when it jolted and threw him out. He fractured his skull and died before he could be got to hospital.
1900 Jun 15 (Mon prev.): Heavy thunderstorms over Notts. The bottom of Church Street was flooded in the evening, and the pressure burst some of the old sewers, forcing up the paving. The water was a yard deep in the kitchen of the Bridge Tavern. Premises on Littleworth were also affected.
1900 Jun 15 (last night): Auction at the Swan of properties in Leeming Street, Toothill Lane and elsewhere.
1900 Jun 15 (week prev.): The Boers overwhelmed the Sherwood Foresters on the railway at Rodeval; many were killed, the survivors taken prisoner.
1900 Jun 22: The Sherwood Foresters' casualty list from Rodeval confirmed the wounding of Private 'Tich' Bingley, of Mason's Yard off Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield. Before signing up he was a fettler at Sanderson's Foundry; he has a wife and several children.
1900 Jun 29 (Wed prev.): Hearing of the Light Railway Commissioners at the Town Hall, concerning extensions to the proposed tramway system:
  a) From Beech Hill to Pleasley Hill
  b) A new route from the Market Place along Albert Street & Nottingham Road
  c) From Sutton in Ashfield to Hucknall Huthwaite It was pointed out that Albert Street would have to be widened, but the the promoters expressed willingness to contribute to this cost.
1900 Jun 29 (Wed prev): Inquest at the Waggon & Coals on John Bryce, age c28, a lithographic transfer hand at Barringer's, recently arrived in the town, who drowned in the Quarry Hole in Rock Valley. He was naked, so the jury was unable to decide whether he had committed suicide or got into difficulties while swimming.
1900 Jul 6: Canon Pavey, vicar of Mansfield, has retired after nearly 27 years.
1900 Jul 6 (Wed prev.): The foundation stones of a new Wesleyan chapel were laid at the corner of Rosemary Street and Byron Street. The building, designed by Mr J.E.Goodacre of Mansfield, will be of brick, faced with stone, the estimated cost being £2,378. It will seat 300, and there is room to expand.
1900 Jul 13: Advert for Doan's Backache Kidney Pills, featuring a testimonial from Miss Edith Richardson of 30 Church Street: "They soon eased the pains in my back and before I had finished the box I was quite cured".
1900 Jul 13 (Fri last): Dedication of the organ at St. Mark's Church. An organ fund had been started some years ago, but it was not called upon until the debts for building the church had been paid. The fund has so far raised £400 of the £450 cost.
1900 Jul 20: For sale: 8 cottages, 2 houses with shops, a bakery and stables in Littleworth, and 12,000 yards of land. Enquire to John Wignall, builder of Mansfield.
1900 Jul 20 (Tue prev.): Inauguration of the new gas purifiers at the Mansfield gas-works. In the past 7 years, annual gas consumption in the town had risen from 66,000,000 cubic feet to 95,000,000 cubic feet. The running cost of the new purifiers will be only 2d per ton, as opposed to 8d under the old system.
1900 Jul 27 (Fri prev.): Violent thunderstorm. Three young horses in a field in Stonecross Lane were killed by lightning, and a large tree in the grounds of Queen Elizabeth's Boys' Grammar School was also struck. The Mansfield Laundry Co., and Mr Renshaw's shop in Church Street were flooded. At Newstead, a woman was killed.
1900 Jul 27: Sale of 65 pedigree hackney ponies by Mr Hollins of Berry Hill. The sale was preceded by a champagne luncheon. The highest price paid was 410 guineas for Windsor Snorer, a prize-winner over several years. She was bought by Sir Gilbert Greenall.
1900 Aug 3: Advert for Doan's Ointment for skin diseases, with a testimonial from Mrs Rachel Johnson of 5 Burns Street, Mansfield: "...as soon as I began to apply it I found relief. I continued to take the ointment and by the time I had finished the box I was quite cured, and the skin is now perfectly clear and healthy".
1900 Aug 10 (Mon prev): The Bank Holiday was wet and dismal. Not a ball was bowled in the cricket match between Mansfield and Woodhouse, and the Horticultural Society's show at Carr Bank took only £47/3/- instead of an expected £200. A member of the committee commented "It will knock the rose water and kid glove sentiment out of us, and perhaps make us more determined than ever to make the show go". Those who had paid for stalls were less philosophical. One visitor, having decided to get as wet inside as outside, ended up rolling over some of the winning plants, for which he had to pay 10s.
1900 Aug 17: Following the recent floods, the Borough Surveyor has recommended the provision of various new storm overflows along the Maun valley, at an estimated cost of £527.
1900 Aug 17: The Roads and Buildings Committee have approved plans for the making of public conveniences in the basement of the Town Hall, at a cost of £1,000.
1900 Aug 24: "Great Piles of MEN'S, YOUTHS' and BOYS' CLOTHING will be Cleared at VERY LOW FIGURES. MATTHEWS & SON'S SUMMER SALE TO-DAY... 4, and 35, CHURCH STREET, MANSFIELD" [Half-page advert, re-iterating the message several times with variations]
1900 Aug 24: Figures prepared for the magistrates indicate that there are 60 full "on-licences" in Mansfield, plus 7 for beer only and 1 for wine only. There are also 11 off-licenses for beer only, plus 4 for beer & wine, and 4 for spirits & wine. These represent 1 licensed establishment per 175 inhabitants of the town. 12 licenses have been transferred in the past year.
1900 Sep 7: Another advert for Matthews' sale, in the form of a calendar, reading:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Gone Gone Gone Gone Gone Gone Today Your Last Chance Sunday Too Late!
1900 Sep 7: Randall Whitaker, still out in South Africa, was part of a small party that was besieged by Boers at a farmhouse; he built himself a small fortification from bricks that were to hand, and shot anything that moved until relief arrived.
1900 Sep 14: The Mansfield School Board will take over the Wesleyan schools from Oct 1.
1900 Sep 21 (Sat prev.): Mr William Goldie ordered a gravestone to commemorate his late wife, then proceeded to the Town Hall for a meeting of the Mansfield Central Divisional Liberal Council. During the meeting, at the conclusion of a vigorous speech, he suffered a heart attack and died within 10 minutes. His funeral on Tuesday was attended by numerous employees of Goldie & Wade.
1900 Sep 28: Advert for the Meadow Foundry, with product illustrations.
1900 Sep 28: A general election campaign has begun; candidates Colonel Eyre (Conservative) and Arthur Markham (Liberal, selected by the Divisional Council, which is heavily weighted towards the opinions of the miners) advertise their public meetings.
1900 Oct 5: Election addresses from Eyre & Markham (the latter resident at Stuffynwood Hall). The Reporter has a picture of Eyre
1900 Oct 12: Advert: "A Cheese Fair Wonder. Everybody should visit LAWRENCE'S GREAT ELECTROGRAPH" including pictures from the Boer War and the Chinese crisis, plus "Living Pictures of Bridge Street, Mansfield, Showing the Workpeople leaving the Mills at dinner time."
1900 Oct 12: The Mansfield seat was won by Mr Markham.
1900 Oct 12: The steam fire engine which recently arrived in Mansfield was not called out to the fire at Welbeck Abbey, which destroyed the south-west corner of the historic building.
1900 Oct 12: The main local firms displaying cheeses at the Cheese Fair, were Allen & Co, and Pegg & Co., of Church Street; Allen & Swift of West Gate, and W.Taylor of the Market Place.
1900 Oct 26: The Indian Famine Relief fund now stands at £321/12/6.
1900 Oct 26: The Queen's Theatre opens tonight in White Hart Croft with "WHEEL OF FORTUNE, or The Downfall of Pride". Doors open 7pm; front seats 1s; second seats 9d; pit 6d; gallery 3d.
1900 Oct 26: Captain Hamlyn of the Welbeck fire brigade explained in a letter to the Mansfield Fire Brigade Committee that he had not known the new Mansfield engine was ready for use on the night of the Welbeck fire.
1900 Nov 2: Among the beneficiaries of the Welbeck Tourists' Fund (receipts from visitors to the Abbey grounds during the year, totalling £813) are the Mansfield & Mansfield Woodhouse Hospital (£100); the Mansfield Nursing Fund (£25); and the Mansfield Railway Mission (£5).
1900 Nov 2 (Mon prev.): At a meeting convened by the Mayor, steps were taken to form an Agricultural Society for Mansfield, to hold annual shows. Historical note: an old resident recalls that Mansfield, half a century ago, had its own agricultural show, held in Newton's Croft on Clumber Street.
1900 Nov 9: At the Oriental Cafe, Allen & Swift have opened "a NEW AND COMMODIOUS DINING ROOM, FITTED WITH ALL THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS. Their KITCHENS have also been extended, and the most approved modern appliances are used..."
1900 Nov 9: For sale by auction at the Swan, Nov 22: the house & shop in the Market Place now occupied by the Maypole Dairy Co.; and the two shops in the Market Place now occupied as one by the Midland Boot Stores, with Mr Lymn's hairdressing saloon above.
1900 Nov 16: Application to be made to Parliament for a Bill to permit various improvements such as street widening, gas & water supply to Mansfield Woodhouse, etc.
1900 Nov 16 (Mon prev.): A travelling salesman brought an action for wrongful arrest and assault, against Sergeant Frederick Whitlam of the Mansfield Police Force, following an incident in the Market on July 5. The judge decided that the salesman's injuries were the result of resisting arrest, but that the arrest was unlawful, so he was awarded nominal damages of 2s 6d, without costs.
1900 Nov 16: The new Mayor of Mansfield is councillor Harry Smith (pictured).
1900 Nov 23 (day prev.): The shops in the Market Place failed to reach their reserve price at auction.
1900 Nov 23 (Tue prev.): A benefit performance, featuring a variety of silly competitions sponsored by local tradesmen, such as high kicking, verse making and tin whistle solo, at the Pavilion in aid of the Mansfield Foresters football club was sold out, so supporters were also admitted at Thursday night's performance. On Tuesday, the oldest person in the hall also received a prize; this turned out to be Mr Machin of Bull's Head Lane, age 72.
1900 Nov 23 (Fri prev.): At the Town Council meeting, the annual topic of the supply of a Xmas treat to the Workhouse inmates was debated. The previous year, beer had been removed from the list of gifts, but amid some acrimony it was restored for this year.
1900 Nov 30 (Mon prev): Double suicide of Kirkby teenagers in Cauldwell Dam.
1900 Nov 30 (Nov 26): A meeting of subscribers to the Mansfield Girls' Club; the total of subscriptins received being £64/16/6 it was agreed that steps should be taken to re-open the Club as soon as possible.
1900 Nov 30 (recently): Two Mansfield men went fishing at Bleak Hills Dam, and decided to make use of a punt moored there. Unfortunately, they had not noticed a hole in the bottom, and it soon sank. Happily, the water at that point was only 2 feet deep.
1900 Nov 30: Feature on the proposed sanatorium at Ratcher Hill for the Nottinghamshire Association for the Prevention of Consumption, with picture.
1900 Dec 14: The Bowling Green dinner was held at the new Bowl in Hand.
1900 Dec 14 (Sun prev.): Death of Matthew Faulkner, age 39, in a machine accident at Berry Hill.
1900 Dec 21: Mr J. Harrop White recently held a dinner to celebrate his appointment as Town Clerk.
1900 Dec 28: "Like a bright Easter morn dawned the 25th of December this year. Overcoats and wraps were as unnecessary to outdoor comfort as a big fire was to inside enjoyment. The old-fashioned Christmas, with its attendant snow and ice, becomes rarer."
1900 Dec 28: Letter from the Mayor noting that "The close of one century and the beginning of another is an event unique in the life of practically everyone" and urging the townsfolk to join him for worship on New Year's Day.
1900 Dec 28 (Dec 25): The workhouse was decorated with red, white & blue bannerets, shields etc., and the pulpit, reading desk and lectern were decorated with holly, artificial flowers and artificial snow. The Board of Guardians had had the final say, and vetoed the supply of beer by one vote, but there were 26 stones of beef, 6 legs of mutton, plenty of vegetables and plum-pudding.

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