Newspaper Cuttings

Unwelcome Travellers

A band of 60 German gipsies found themselves unwelcome in Sheffield and on the Friday night were escorted by the police across the border into Derbyshire. Derbyshire police didn't like them either and drove them back into Sheffield. Tiring of their game the police eventually let them camp by the roadside but were ready for them on Saturday morning. Twenty policemen then escorted them through Hathersage, Hope, Castleton and Chapel until eventually they came to Whaley Bridge. Once across the Cheshire border on Macclesfield Road, the police mounted a blockade against their return. Tired from their travels, the gipsies made camp and the site "looked like a fair". Hundreds of visitors turned up to see them and a trade in cheap jewellery and other goods ensued. Others, feeling sorry for their treatment gave money. The gipsies liked the country so much that they said they would like to stay for two years. The Cheshire police soon heard of their presence however and mounting a force of 30 men, drove them through Macclesfield and Stockport to Heaton Mersey. The story ends here for although being met by 20 Lancashire police, they were allowed to camp overnight in a field at the county boundary.

Disaster at Wedding

November 1865 and a wedding at Taxal ended in disaster. Following the wedding ceremony, the guests boarded two carriages and an argument followed as to which vehicle should take the lead. A race ensued and on reaching the turn at Horwich End, one of the carriages then rode for some distance on only one wheel and then overturned. The bridegroom William Waine suffered a dislocated shoulder but his sister Eliza Waine was found "devoid of all animation" and "it was feared that life was extinct". Being attended to by Dr. Bennet of Chapel it was said that there were but faint hopes of recovery. By the following morning however, she managed for the first time to speak a few words. It was feared though, that her spine may be permanently damaged. The parish clerk, Isaac Lomas was also "taken up insensible" but "revived with stimulants". John Andrew also sustained injuries to head and body. The carriage was broken and the horse badly injured.

Miraculous escape of two men.

On Wednesday evening week, at about 7 o'clock a most singular occurrence took place at Fernilee near Whaley Bridge, to two men who were engaged in working in search of coals, at a shaft which had been opened by Mr Lehas Proctor.

It was 14 yards deep and the working underneath extended to some 50 yards from the pit mouth, and whilst the men, one of whom was called John Jodrell, were busy, the water burst in with such force, as to sweep both of them right away, and forced them to the top of the shaft, where they were pulled out by J. Proctor, who was working at the top. Both had a most miraculous escape, as the shaft was filled with water

Man attacked on train

In 1896 Mr Peter Green, landlord of the Crown & Mitre at Chinley and a well known member of the volunteers, boarded the Derby to Manchester train at Chinley. The other occupant of the compartment was Mr Bald Schofield, a tinplate worker from Chapel who had recently been discharged from the county asylum. On arrival at Bugsworth, Green appeared at the window screaming "murder". Green was covered in blood as was the floor of the train. His face was severely cut and bruised, one eye and one ear "completely made up". The guard and several passengers joined the two men until the train arrived at New Mills where the stationmaster attended to the injuries. Green preferred to return home by the next train rather than see a doctor at New Mills. He stated that Schofield, without provocation had attacked him with a stick but the latter claimed that Green struck the first blow.

In October the Petty Sessions at Chapel heard the case but dismissed it with the expectation that it would come up in another court.

Hunting Extraordinary

In 1835 the Peak Forest Canal conveyed some unusual passengers to Bugsworth. This story is from The Sheffield Iris of December 1835.

On Friday week a deer and a bear gave no little trouble to some of the inhabitants of Chapel-En-Le-Frith and Stoney Middleton. The deer had arrived at Bugsworth per Wheatcroft's boat and was to be forwarded by their waggon to the owner, Mr Butcher of Sheffield who intended it for the menagery now collecting in the Botanic Garden. He was duly deposited in that conveyance but at Stoney Middleton the waggoners must needs have a peep at him and raised the covering for that purpose; the animal, probably not liking so tedious a mode of travelling, instantly seized the opportunity, sprang out of the waggon and was out of sight in an instant. He was not seen again until Sunday, when he was discovered by a party of men who had been employed to search for him, in a wood close by Middleton. After many efforts they succeeded in enticing him into a sheep pen and rushing in after him, they fully expected to seize him, but with one bound the deer sprung over the heads of five or six of his escort and knocked down the remainder. The chase was however, commenced anew and with better success and the animal was at length

secured and sent to the owner.

On the same day, and by the same conveyance, a bear was a part of the loading of Messrs. Wheatcroft's boat and which gave the luckless waggoners even more trouble than the deer. The efforts of four or five men were directed to the object of introducing Mr. Bruin into a hogshead, for the purpose of placing him in the waggon, but his violent resistance made it a difficult matter, and in the struggle his collar (to which the chain was attched) broke, and the bear finding himself at liberty, knocked down three of his persecutors, and departed at the top of his speed. He luckily ran into Hibberson's warehouse, where a grand hunt immediately commenced; the doors were closed, lights brought (for it was after dark), and dogs turned in. Bruin behaved very gallantly, and repeatedly put to the rout his human pursuers, to whom he was a formidable object, having no muzzle or chain on him; he was, however, secured at last, and forwarded to his destination at Sheffield, but not before he had severely scratched, bitten and torn the clothes of his assailants.

An Impersonation

In March 1844 a person of gentlemanly appearance stopped at a small inn at Calton near Ashbourne and was unable to continue on his journey through illness. He had no money and was unable to give good account of himself. The parish priest visited him and he confessed that he ran away from home for a trivial offence. He gave the address of his mother in order that the clergyman might tell her of his plight and desire to return home. His sickness increased and with death approaching, he told a lady who visited him that the previous story was untrue. A blister on the chest revealed that this was in fact a young woman in disguise. She would not disclose the reason for pretending to be a boy and would not disclose her name for fear of disgracing her family. She was probably about 19 years of age with auburn hair, pale complexion, of medium height and familiar with the scriptures.

A few days later, after the death of the young person, the story unfolded. Her name was Ellen Hatfield, daughter of a Bugsworth tailor. Her father had died some years previously and her mother had married a boatman also residing in Bugsworth. Ellen had received an ordinary education at the village school. She displayed higher educational accomplishments that must have been obtained through living in service with several families. On the death of her father about five years previously she had gone to live with a lady in Scotland where she remained for some months. On leaving this position she dressed as a man assuming different roles including that of the mate of a merchant ship, holding that post until her sex was discovered. She figured as the son of a nobleman in various parts of the country and supported herself by obtaining the sympathy of those whom she approached.

Her mother seemed unaware of her way of life although receiving letters from time to time.

Ellen Hatfield was about twenty two years of age but in her male attire would have passed for a youth of about nineteen.

Boots gone

In 1896, George Pearson's shop was broken into. A small window had been forced and a number of boxes of boots were removed. Four pairs of boots were found abandoned on the road near the shop.

Reporter

24 July 1920

The Finance Committee had recommended that the speed limit for motors through Whaley should be 8 mph.

The Clerk said it would be necessary for the County Council to get an order from the Ministry of Health to impose a speed limit and that could not be less than 10 mph.

Mr Secombe said that in a few minutes on Sunday morning he saw 27 motors go through Furness Vale at 20 mph.

Evasion of tolls

1865

A legal action involved a drover coming from Taddington along the Buxton - Manchester Turnpike with 120 sheep. On the Taddington side of this gate is an inn called the White Hart about 100 yards from the gate. The landlord has a field adjoining the inn and the sheep were grazed here overnight. The following morning, the sheep were taken out of the field by another gate, across two other fields, on to a portion of an old road and then back on to the turnpike beyond the toll bar. In this way it was possible to avoid paying the tolls.

Man loses leg in fight

In 1876 Thomas Handley was already bailed for a previous offence, when with John Madden,a boatmen, he assaulted, beat and abused John Thomas Goddard at Bugsworth. At the Crown Court, it was stated that Mr Goddard was unable to be present due to amputation of a leg following his injuries. Mr Edward Allen, a surgeon had examined him and declared him unable to travel. Goddard worked for Mr Sampsom Maden, a boat owner and his job was unloading boats. Having emptied his boat and wishing to go up the canal, he pushed his boat off and in doing so the stern got in the way of Handley and Madden's boat. "I will pull thy ears" called Handley to which Goddard replied "Thee cannot do it" and went forward and left the canal. Nothing more ocurred until two days later when he again encountered Handley who once more said "I will pull thy ears". "Will thee" replied Goddard as Handley went towards Bugsworth. In a little while he returned and said "I told thee I would pull thy ears"; "Well I am here" replied Goddard who guarded the first blow. The second struck him in the face however, and they fought until Goddard thought Handley beaten. Madden then sprang out of his boat and said to Handley "Art thou going to be beat by a thing like that ?"; "No" said Handley who then squared up again to Goddard. Again they fought and as they both fell to the ground Goddard was kicked behind the ear and became senseless. On coming round he found hiss nose to be bleeding, picked up a stone and said to Madden "It is you, I had a good mind to throw this at you". Madden then struck him in the face after which he got up and went off towards Bugsworth. He was followed by Handley ang again they fought. Madden then came up and struck him several times so that he became dizzy. Goddard's brother James and Horatio Bennett then came to his assistance but Handley again rushed in. Handley was induced to go away but by now Goddards leg had been hurt as he fell.

A police officer apprehended Handley and Madden and Dr Allen was called to examine Goddard. He found an abrasion to the cheek, a black eye and bruising to the head. Goddard complained of great pain in the chest, hean and knees. Two days later Dr. Allen found that the knee joint was inflamed and amputated the leg at the hip. Goddard also seemed to be suffering from "An affection of the brain".

The jury found both men guilty but recommended mercy. Madden was sentenced to six months hard labour and Handley to one month.

An infected area.

Notices were posted in the district stating that the highway known as Bugsworth Old road, from the Gnat Hole Schools to Whaley Bridge Turns, is an infected area under the act, in consequence of foot-and-mouth disease having broken out on a farm

at Bings Wood.

Tragedy

March 1965. Broadhey Hill above Furness Clough. Two boys, 12 and 14 years old from Heaton Chapel discovered an old mine shaft. This was protected only by railway sleepers which gave way under their feet. They fell 150 feet and the younger boy Stephen Robinson was found by firemen to be dead. His friend David Arnold injured his head but was conscious when carried to the ambulance. How he survived such a fall, nobody could understand. Mr Hill from Furness helped in the rescue.

Accident at Station

1864 Aug 19. A terrible accident at Furness station, when Daniel Pickford Cook, schoolboy son of the Furness station master was killed by the 3.56 passenger mail train from Buxton. The boy, who was nine years of age, was returning from school and ran past the end of the ballast train which had stopped for loading. The engine was blowing off steam, which prevented the boy from hearing the oncoming train. The boy was struck by a projecting crank on the side of the engine and decapitated.

On the following Saturday, an inquest was held at the Soldier Dick before Mr Johnson and a jury, who returned a verdict of accidental death. The jury recommended that in future two men should be on duty at the station, one to each turnstile, in order to prevent the reoccurrence of a similar accident.