Spen Valley Through the Years
by Maurice Popplewell
1924 to 1926

1924

Early in 1924 King George V wrote in his diary: "At 12.15 I held a Council, at which Mr Ramsay MacDonald was sworn in as a member. I then asked him to form a government, which he accepted to do. I had an hour's talk with him. He impressed me very much. He wishes to do the right thing. Today, twenty three years ago, dear Grandmamma died. I wonder what she would have thought of a Labour Government?" So, for 8 months, from January to November we had Ramsay MacDonald leading a short-lived Labour Government. But it was a difficult year for them. They depended on the Liberal vote, and suspicions of dealings with Russia helped to defeat them. British Airways was formed and Paris sponsored the Olympic Games.

Wembley. In April, many pupils from our local schools went to the British Empire Exhibition. And our townspeople went too, many of the menfolk wearing their fashionable Oxford Bags, which were 25 inches around the bottom. For the ladies, the Shingle, and the Bingle, and Cloche hats were the thing.

Stubley Estate. Early in the year, Mr and Mrs Sam Brearley took up residence in their new Council house. For them, at least, it was a year to remember.

Heckmondwike Secondary School. January 1st saw the new headmaster, Mr Edwards, installed. His salary was £700, rising to £900 by annual increments of £25. He had been science and maths master at King Edward's Grammar School, Birmingham, before joining up in 1914 with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, as a Second Lieutenant. He was finally promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and gained the M.c., D.S.O. and Croix de Guerre, being mentioned in despatches three times. He had an excellent athletic record. Miss Hilda Craven and Miss Mona Lawton joined the school at the same time. We all fell in love with Miss Craven!!

Wages at this time seemed to vary. We find a curator at Cleckheaton Town Hall earning £3 10s, with apartments in the building and coal and light provided.The Dewsbury Guardians paid female attendants, for 'feeble-minded patients' £2 a week plus uniform. Brick layers could earn £3 11s 5d, while the average textile workers earned 51s for men and 28s 7d for women.

Prices must be looked at, however, in order to see how folks fared. J & Bs cafe had ham teas for 1s 3d, fruit and cream teas 1s. Lion Stores had ½lb tins of 'Princes' lobster for 1s 10½d and ham at 1s, salmon 7½d per half pound. At Golbys, Dewsbury, you could pick up and Austin 'Seven' for £160. Coal was 32s a ton, and a two-valve wireless set cost £4 10s, but you had to assemble and wire the thing yourself. Martins, Heckmondwike, offered a 1921 P&M combination, 3½hp for £35.

The Boots for the Bairns Fund urgently asked for local support, a clear indication of the financial state of some of our people. For we had 1,108 unemployed in the Valley, mainly among the unskilled, but including also fitters and wire drawers.

The Regular Army was asking for new recruits (18 to 25) at 2s 9d a day, and unmarried ex-soldiers (up to 30) at 3s 6d a day. There was no stampede to join!!

Dewsbury Court. William Gambles, a steeplejack of Heckmondwike, was remanded in custody for stealing a bottle of whiskey, three bottles of brandy, £1 in threepenny pieces, £1 in sixpences and some cigarettes, all valued at £6 19s from Heckmondwike Bowling Club. He pleaded for bail, because he had just got married, but the Bench was not so understanding.

Heckmondwike Cricket Club, at their AGM in January, heard that they had had a successful season. Matches played 25, won 13, lost 10, drawn 2. They scored 2,963 runs for 187 wickets, an average of 30. Ossett, who beat them in the semi-final, could only manage an average of 10.

A devoted Couple. Mrs Emma Harrison (85) of Spen Cottage died in January, and her husband Mr John Harrison (89) died the next day. They were looking forward to their diamond wedding anniversary, but were buried in the same grave at Gomersal Parish Church. John came to Cleckheaton as a boy in 1842, and remembered the Chartists tapping the boilers at St. Peg Mills. The Rev. S. Baring-Gould, the well-known composer of hymns, had married the couple at Horbury in 1864.

The Spen Valley Motor Cycle & Light Car Club had their AGM with president H.A. Davison in the chair. It was said of him tat 'no club had such a position more admirably filled.' Major W.C. Fenton and Mr Dempster Lister were among the vice-presidents.

Entertainments. Heckmondwike School Amateurs put on "Iolanthe," with G. Radcliffe as 'Private Willis,' Mary Alderson as 'Iolanthe,' and Geoffrey Burnley as the 'Lord High Chancellor.' Cleckheaton Central produced 'Rebel Maid,' the title role being played by May Taylor. Providence Place had 'A Chinese Honeymoon,' with H.G. Hartley as Mr Pineapple. Westgate Amateurs presented 'Patience,' with Fred Roberts as 'Bunthorne.' Elias Jones was musical director: his grandson was much later to become a member of the 'Rolling Stone.'

General Election. The local results were:
Sir John Simon (Liberal) - 18,474
Tom Myers (Labour) - 13,999

Films. At the Savoy, Barbara Le Marr and Ramon Novarro in 'Trifling Women.' Pensioners admitted free to matinees.

Songs. Chilli Bom Bom; Felix kept on walking; All alone; California here I come; It ain' gonna rain no mo; Passadena; What'll I do? Horsey keep your tail up; When you and I were seventeen.

1925

Our King is now 60. Stanley Baldwin is Prime Minister. Income tax is cut from 4s 6d to 4s. Second year of Wembley Exhibition. "2 LO" was set up, a high powered transmitter at Daventry. Hitler wrote 'Mein Kampf.' We had 1.3 million cars on the roads and 2 million families had a i-valve wireless set. Crossword puzzles and the 'Carleston' came in and Margaret Thatcher was born on October 13th.

April 25th. The Heckmondwike Baths & Electricity Station was re-opened after reconstruction. There was a new filtration plant for the baths. Current would now come from the Yorkshire Power Company, and the boilers, dymanos, etc. were disposed of.

The Old Pack Horse was bought by Tetleys from Sir George Armytage and others.

Heckmondwike Secondary School. In October Miss Rhodes of Lytham, founded a permanent Foundation Scholarship, tenable at Leeds University, in memory of her father, the late Josiah Rhodes, who, during his lifetime had been an educational pioneer, and a generous supporter of the school. Other similar worthies had been Samuel Wood, Thomas Redfearn, Walter E. Clarke and Thomas Rouse.

The Unemployment Act of 1925 brought in the 'Dole' for the first time. The employer paid 8d and the employee 7d a week. The standard benefit was 18s. The Old Age Pension was set in the Budget at 10s for the over 65s. Widows' pension was also 10s.

At Hartshead, the Rev. H.N. Pobjoy M.A. took over his first incumbency. He was interested in local history, and the church and Sunday school needed money for repairs, etc. He recognised the local interest in his Norman church, the remains of an Anglian Cross nearby, the remains of a Cistercian Priory of Kirklees and the saga of Robin Hood and his nearby grave. He decided to hold a Pageant for two years hence, in 1927. All the village folk were enthusiastic. During 1925 there was much activity, making Roman, Norman and Roundhead helmets and armour, the helmets from buckram shapes and old felt hats from hat shops. The armour was made from Woolworths dish cloths covered with aluminium paint. There was much rehearsal of the 200 who were to appear in 5 or 6 scenes each. We will come back to then in 1927!

Gumselilltop! Some wag signing himself 'Toby' wrote a number of letters to a fictitious aunt about our three towns, which he was visiting for the first time, and on foot. His letter about his visit to Cleckheaton went as follows:
"...from Birstall we cross an almost inaccessible range of mountains and over a dizzy summit known as Gumselilltop...after turning a few corners you see The Saw...the host will tell you that Cleckheaton is a city 'dahn i't hoil' famous for its town hall and Volunteers. When I got going again I found myself unable to stop...it was Spen Bank. On managing at last to pull myself up I found myself in front of the magnificent Town Hall!. I expressed my admiration for it to a bystander. He informed me it was the Central Chapel!!!"

Olympia Ballroom, Walkley Lane, Heckmondwike. It was previously the Drill Hall for the town's Territorials. Learners had to pay 1s 3d to dance from 7.30 to 10pm. The Tuesday Ballroom Night was only 1s!

Thomas William Thompson. I mentioned this Heckmondwike librarian under 1908. In 1925 he published his excellent book 'The Spen Valley: A Local History.' It cost 3s 6d and has been out of print for many years, although our libraries have copies which can be consulted.

Prices. Fish was 2d and chips 1d. Crystal sets cost from 1s 6d, without headphones. The Daily Mail was 1d. Gas was 8d per therm and electricity 2d per unit. Omo and Lux appeared in a new big pack, price 10d. A 'Consulate' shirt cost 6s 6d and a Lyons Swiss Roll 1s. Bitter beer was 1s 2d a pint, and a three bedroomed house could be bought for £675. It was 7s 6d a night for bed and breakfast at the Kensington Palace Hotel, and at a Lyons Corner House 2s would get you 2 fillets of fish, mashed potatoes, bread and butter pudding and a pot of tea.

Drunk & Disorderly. Harry Denney, labourer of Hightown, was told by PC Nicholson that he would report him for being drunk and disorderly. "You can do what you like," said Harry. He was fined 40s...you could say that he asked for it!

Wages. The cost of living was up 79% on 1913 but wages had more or less kept pace. The average seemed to be between 42s and 46s a week. Average farm hands earned 32s including 3s allowance for a small cottage. The humble cleaning lady got 11d an hour. Ellen Wilkinson found a manageress in a Midlands cafe working a 95½ hour week for £1. The other girls, after deductions for breakages, earned a penny an hour! The Chancellor of the Exchequer, at this time, had a salary of £5,000!

Films. A popular one at this date was Charlie Chaplin in 'The Gold Rush.'

Songs of 1925: Charleston; I want to be happy; Tea for two; Rose Marie; Indian lovecall; Yes, sir, that's my baby; If you knew Susy; Show me the way to go home; Always, and Bam Bam Bammy Shore.

Tailpiece. And the zip fastener was born in 1925!!

1926

Princess Elizabeth (and now our Queen), was born on 21st April. British Forces were evacuated from Cologne and Baird invented Television. There was a craze for Russian boots and Women and Home was a new popular magazine. 

We had a general strike, which lasted nine days, from May 4th to 13th. Conditions in mining areas were causing special hardship: the Government subsidy of wages had been removed and its renewal was demanded. Other unions supported then and 2½ million downed tools, but only for the nine days. The miners, on their part, continued their protest, which resulted in a coal mines lock-out for 5 months!! One million miners were without work for seven months. Russia sent them encouragement and £200,000, but the union was completely defeated. During this time, coal was rationed to 1ct per fortnight plus a half bag of coke, which cost 9d. In fact, if you went for your own coal, they gave yo 28lbs extra.

Knur & Spell had been played locally for some years. The 'bat' had a flexible shaft of ash or alder. The head, with a flat face, was beech, with a specially hardened surface. The 'knur' was golf ball size, made of hard wood, horn or pot. The object was to knock the knur the longest distance, and bets of £25 a side were not uncommon. Some players used a spring trap to throw the ball into the air; others threw it up by hand or had it suspended from a cord. There were a number of big and popular game held in Scholes in 1926.

Unemployment Payments. We had, as always, our unemployed in the Valley, but having a wide variety of trades, from card clothing to carpets, we were better off than towns where they depended on one activity, e.g. textiles. The 'dole' was now 18s for a man, 15s for a woman, boys 7s 6d, girls 6s. Children were given 2s each.

Tramps Home. On February 13th, Spring House was opened at the bottom of Norristhorpe Hill by the Wayfarers' Benevolent Association. It was opened by Mr. George Rowntree of York, with the Rev. T.B. 'Tubby' Clayton, founder of 'Toc H' in support.

'Toby' Visits Heckmondwike. As promised, here is another letter to his aunt:
"My dear Aunt, I was much struck by the crowds of people all moving in the direction of a handsome erection at the west end of the town. I enquired of a bystander if there was some attraction there? "Nay, they're bahn ta pay their gas bills!" It was the day they could get a discount. Heckmondwike is all centre. Stand in the middle of the Market Place and throw a stone in any direction. It will go out of the Market Place and also out of Heckmondwike! The town has three good cab ranks. I offended a cabby by offering him drink. "What's ONE to a chap like me?" he said. The beauty of the public places is beyond question. I have heard about the Paris boulevards, but you should see Royle Fold!! The chief products of the town are gas and footballers. Church parade is a great institution. I was advised to take a stroll on a place called Dewsbury Moor next Sunday evening between eight and nine. And you've got to take a walk on the luxuriously verdant village green which makes you think of the Sahara! Heckmondwikians are a sturdy, independent lot. I shall visit Liversedge next week.

Waring Brothers. Miss Louisa Waring writes to me from Yarm, pointing out that her father's dripping refinery, which I mentioned in my 1911 report, was up the Hightown Road, Cleckheaton, and not near Six Lane Ends. I was quite wrong: the one there was "Trotter" Wilsons, of course. She tells me that both held a Royal Warrant, she believes. She is also certain that both gave out disagreeable smells at times. Her father had complaints from folks who lived on Pyenot Hall Lane. Sorry, and thanks, Louisa.

Local Pits had gone back to work much earlier than the national miners, accepting the April rates of pay and the eight hour day. These were Cheerbarrows, Hartshead Moor, Coates Pit, Combs Pit (Thornhill), Crawshaw & Warburtons, Shaw Cross, Mirfield Moor, Critchleys and Birkenshaw. It was claimed that to make coal last longer you should dissolve a handful of washing soda in a gallon of water and throw it into your 'coal-hole.'

An Unlucky Chimney Sweep. Somewhere about this time Emanuel Clayton, chimney sweep of Liversedge, was caught knocking at the door of Prospect Villas, Cleckheaton. Abraham Oade, a Cleckheaton sweep, had reported him for soliciting business. He could seemingly shout in the street, but must not knock on doors! Clayton was fined 6d.

Films: Rudolf Valentino died in this year, on 23rd August. He was only 31. 'Metropolis' and 'Ben Hur' were going the rounds, and also Romberg's 'Desert Song.'

Songs: When day is done; Blue moon; Bye bye blackbird; The more we are together; I'm sitting on top of the world; Valencia; Who; and When the red red robin.

Prices: A 1 pound loaf was 3d at Cleckheaton Co-op. Potatoes were 7d a stone at the Lion Stores. Wills 'Gold Flake' were 10 for 6d and streaky bacon at Wallaces 1s 3d a lb.

Wages. A man and his wife, as caretakers, were needed at Heckmondwike Secondary School, and were offered £3 10s a week, with free house, fuel and light. Bert Ambrose was paid £10,000 a year as musical director at the Mayfair Hotel.

And also: Gene Tunney beat Jack Dempsey for the Heavyweight Championship of the World.