Reminiscences of Rotherham
A Retrospect of over 60 years
taking Wigfield, the lawyer gave him the morning’s greetings and asked where he might be wending his way. Looking at the horse man and after admonishing him for breaking the Sabbath by riding on horseback, Thomas Wigfield replied that he was on his way to the Bramley Wesleyan Chapel to preach and invited Whitfield to accompany him, which the latter immediately undertook to do on condition that the preacher would select for his text, An unnjust measure is an abomination to the Lord..
I am reminded of another story of Thomas Wigfield who claimed to be a teetotaller and an anti-smoker. Whilst taking the air in Moorgate he met a well-known character, the son of licensed victualler. and generally called Soldier Bakewell, whose mother kept the Cross Daggers,which then stood at the bottom of the Ship Hill on the site of the present Empire Super Kinema. Soldier was enjoying his morning smoke. The smell of strong tobacco so annoyed our friend Wigfield, he protested against the foul habit,’ telling Bakewell that he was not only creating a nuisance but polluting God's pure air. As SoIdier‘ was an artist in word- painting, his favourite colour being red, he gave the non - smoker a scorching few minutes. winding up with a promise to give up smoking if Wigfield would give up selling twist over the counter of his shop.
BINGHAM’S ACADEMY
Opposite the Wesleyan Schools, Mr. William Bingham conducted an academy, the entrance being a passage at the side of the Butchers Arms. The schoolroom, had formerly been a hay loft. What would the youths of the present day think of such accommodation? The term Academy, we thought in our ignorance, was used to infer that a superior education could be obtained and with it superior pupils turned out. The boys at the Wesleyan School being 'young plebs', resented the superior airs of the Academy scholars, whose fathers were perhaps a shade higher in the social scale.Whether this was so or not we knew they paid higher fees, and consequently thought themselves superior. Frequently miniature battles resulted, and many a black eye and torn coat were to be accounted for by this youthful class prejudice.
MORTAR BOARDS
In addition to the rivalry between these two schools, we had another on our hands with the still more superior boys of the Grammar School, the feeling against them being keener. As allies, we enlisted the lads from the Charity School, then located in the Cattle Market, and presided over by a dear old man named Braithwaite, who, in addition to his duties as schoolmaster, officiated as clerk to the Burial Board. These boys in the sixties wore a distinctive dress, designating them a Charity boys. Thanks to a more enlightened age,such an unworthy dress was later abandoned. The school belonged to the Feoffees of the Common Lands of Rotherham, who were also Governors of the Grammar school - a school which granted a few free scholarships, the holders being distinguished by a special tassel on their college caps, which were otherwise known as Mortar Boards. The difference between the charity boys and those with free scholarships was not apparent to us, especially as the scholarships were not always granted for merit. Personal influence had, as it still has, great weight. This added to the ill-feeling against these boys and many were the fights we had with them.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
This school at this period was situated opposite South Grove. The premises have since been converted into dwelling-houses. As the minority of the scholars resided on the north side of the town and had to pass through the Cattle Market on their way home, our battles usually took place there. The boys from the Grammar School being more advanced in years and stronger than we were.Care was usually taken that they were outnumbered. With the assistance of the Charity scholars this was not difficult, Occasionally Binghams boys forgot their feud with us and joined in attacking the common enemy.
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