Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prev something important I have no doubt, but what? Explanatory notes seem to have been necessary.A shortage of water occurred in the nineties, and to ensure a domestic supply, pumping at Ulley became necessary. The engineer tried to hire from a local firm a portable engine, but was refused because he required it to work on the Sabbath day. Another strict Sabbatarian was Mr. John Moorhouse. who owned a large livery stable. He would never allow a horse of his to be hired out on Sunday. In this case it was only the people’s pleasure that was sacrificed, whereas in the former public health was endangered.
FREE LIBRARY AND BATHS
I remember the time when discussions took place on the desirability of building public baths. Formerly the only means at our disposal was the river. Imagine the hardihood of the men who took risks in floundering in the pestilential Don, polluted by the excretion of the town of Sheffield, and flattering themselves they were enjoying the pleasures of bathing. Councillor Sorsby, in opposing the erection of baths, said he had never had a bath. Being reminded of this some time afterwards by the Editor of the Advertiser, he said in a speech in the Council, that if the Editor had nothing else to do than rake up his old speeches, he would send him a 'penny traicle stick' to play with. I think one of the biggest failures of the Corporation was the erection of a building in Main street which housed the Free Library and Baths. It was opened by Sir Charles J. Stoddart in 1887. These buildings were intended to be an ornament to the locality and an encouragement to others to erect similar or better structures in the vicinity. The scheme from its inception appears to have been one huge failure. The first mistake made was the combination of the free library and baths; the next, the appointment of the borough surveyor as clerk of works. He was already responsible for more work than he could do with his inadequate staff. Willing and obliging, he was one of those men who, as Sydney Smith said of Lord Russell, are ready to attempt at a moment’s notice the most incongruous things, to go up in a balloon. to perform an operation for cataract, or to take command of the Channel Fleet The result was inevitable, and the baths have been a source of trouble and expense ever since.MINERS DEMONSTRATION
The provision of food made for the miners of South Yorkshire when they held their annual demonstration in the town in the nineties', must have astonishcd our visitors quite as much, if not more than ourselves. Encouraged by the success of the gathering at Barnsley the year previous, when over 8000 members walked in procession through the principal streets of the town, and the fact that the provisions were exhausted long before the end of the day’s rejoicings, our people decided this should not occur in Rotherham. Everywhere provisions, chiefly consisting of bread and ham, were to be seen exposed for sale. Unfortunately for the caterers, the miners, profiting by their experience at Barnsley, brought their own provisions, and the loss to many of our people must have been very serious. Never before had there been such a glut of food. Loaves of bread and hams were sold at ruinous prices, and bought for distribution amongst the poor.SERIOUS FLOODS
At one time floods of a serious character were repeatedly taking place. In May, 1884, they exceedcd in dimensions the great inundation of 1875. Never had the town experienced such a 'plague of waters'. Work was very early stopped at Messrs. Steel, Peech and Tozers, Guest and Chrimes’, Baines and Co.’s. Gummer’s, and Rotherham Forge - in fact at all the works on the river banks. At Bow Bridge the water rose over nine feet; Sheffield road was impassable to foot passengers, and vehicles had the groatost difficulty in forcing their way through. The tenants in the houses in New Ickles were compelled to take to the upper rooms, and a fleet of boats, organised by Mr. W. L. B. Hirst, sent to their next »
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