Reminiscences of Rotherham
prev « «OLD OFFICIALS
Writing of these old worthies recalls memories of a few old officials such as Tommy Gillott, at one time the only Meter inspector the gas company employed. His was a familiar figure about the town, to be seen daily with a gas rent book under his arm and a tin can with a long spout in his hand. Formerly 50 per cent, of the gas meters were of the wet type and required - like many men I knew - lubricating periodically. The can Tommy carried was used for this purpose, and was also useful in emphasising a point in the arguments he loved to indulge in with his old cronies. When Tommy retired, another equally diminutive man named Copley took his place. He was even more argumentative than his predecessor, and with out his urbanity. Another old official was Mr. R. H. Haggard, generally called Dicky, father of William Haggard, who for many years kept an ironmongery and agricultural implement store at the corner of Market street, on the site now occupied by the Co-op furniture stores. Dicky ‘served the town in various capacities for over 55 years, chiefly, I believe, as collector of gas rents aad rates.On one occasion he called on an old lady in Down’s Row and asked for the highway rate. Highway rate, exclaimed the old lady, Why, I ain’t neither cat, dog, nor wheelbarrow
OLD HABITS AND CUSTOMS
When I was a lad at school there were two things we could usually rely upon - one a bit of sunshine and warm weather during the summer months and the other snow and ice, with plenty of skating, in the winter.During the keen frosts, thousands of people flocked night after night to Greasbro’ dam, where masquerades and other entertainments were held for the skaters. Torches and lanterns in various colours made the whole living scene one of picturesque beauty.
In the home, antimacassars and cushions played an important part in drawing-room equipment. The mantleshelves in many houses were graced (save the word) by wax fruit under glass shades, and by their side there would be a pair of glass lustres.
The gas chandeliers were usually of glass, with drops on the loops scintillating in the light like diamonds.
Until 1870 crinolines were worn by women, and Inverness capes - a most comfortable form of overwear - and Wellington and elastic-side boots by men. Scotch caps were the most popular headgear for boys and muslin dresses and prints were fashionable for girls. Pianos and tables were supposed to have limbs; these had to be draped to save the blushes of the fair sex.
A velvet smoking cap with a fancy tassel, or a pair of worked slippers with plenty of glittering beads thereon, was the sort of present your sister sent to her sweetheart ( fashionably called fiancée) or to the curate.
DRUNKS
In bygone days it became a practice to hold petty sessional investigations at the residences of magistrates. Mr. Henry Jubb, who resided in Moorgate in the house now belonging to Mr, Cowlishaw, when Chairman of the Bench, had prisoners brought to a special room in his house. I have often seen prisoners in chains walking up Moorgate about 9 or 9.30 a.m. in charge of a police officer. Those were called the good old days, but I think every. one will agree we are now living under more enlightened conditions, and have get rid of anomalies and abuses which certainly did not add dignity to the law.Mr. Jubb was said to have a summary method of dealing with drunks. If a man pleaded guilty he was taken at his word, without evidence being called, and fined in accordance with his past record. But if he pleaded , not guilty your worship, the magistrate would hear evidence. It might save valuable time if the justices of to-day could adopt similar methods.
On one occasion, in a drunk and disorderly case before the Bench, the evidence revealed the fact that the defendant was a good singer. The case was dismissed by the reverend chair man on the understanding that the defendant would join his church choir. » next
prev « «