Reminiscences of Rotherham
A Retrospect of over 60 years
A LIFE SAVED
The winters in my early days were. or seemed to be, more severe than those of recent years. About this time the canal was frozen over and boat traffic suspended. When the thaw set in and the ice could be broken, I along with two of my mates, visited the canal to see the floating ice and get what fun we could out of this rare sight.As the large blocks floated by we amused ourselves by throwing stones to hasten their destruction. One of our number, probably owing to continuous turning in order to pick up stones, became dizzy and fell into the water. To our dismay, he quickly disappeared. Coming again to the surface he held up his hands in the prescribed manor, so that as he sank again we were able to note the exact spot.
With the help of some miners who were returning from their work at the Holmes Colliery and the old lady at the lockhouse on the opposite side who had noted our trouble and floated a boat hook across, we were able to rescue our playmate. The hook end caught the belt of the pinafore he wore, and after a good deal of man handling which would not commend itself to the St. John Ambulance Corps, our nearly drowned companion was restored. A cab and warm blankets having been procured, he was taken home. Mv old school mate enjoys to-day well-earned retirement. After succeeding to his father’s business as a printer, he built up one of the largest businesses of its kind in the neighbourhood. Many times has he descrbed those moments in the water.
It was as if he read the past. Even as a man in the grip of imminent death sees his past life spread itself out in front of him, for his final survey before the book is closed, so now on the brink of the new life to which he was speeding, my friend turned over page after page of the chronicles of his short career, and lived it again with frightful intensity as his doomed head bobbed up for, apparently the last time.
He remembered the lessons taught by Miss Crouch and his adoption of her method of holding up his arms undoubtedly led to the saving of his young life.
CANAL DIVERTED
The towing path and lockhnuse referred to disappeared with the coming of the M. S. and L. (afterwards the Great Central Railway), in 1866. The canal was diverted and now joins the river near the Bow Bridge.Shortly after the afore-mentioned incident I was promoted to the Upper School, presided over by Mr. Brooks, a strict disciplinarian but a real pal to the boys under his charge.
THE EASTONS
My reference to Miss Easton as second mistress reminds me of an accident by which she nearly lost her life. This occurred many years ago.Whilst on her way to or from school she had the misfortune to meet a bull which had got out of control. Unfortunately, it made for Miss Easton who was badly gored, and for some time it was thought she would not recover.
Happily, she got better and for many years was spared to carry on her duties at the school. Subsequently she was granted a well- earned retirement after nearly fifty years ot service. She died some years ago, loved and respected by all who knew her. The Eastons were a prominent family in the town. At this period a charcoal and blacking mill existed in Wellgate. This was managed by Mr. Easton , uncle to the lady mentioned. I remember frequently seeing him and his two daughters taking the air. The old gentlemans impressive demeanour and the young ladies haughty and superior manners, impressed us. We looked up to them with respect, mixed with awe, as no doubt it was intended we should. They resided in the house now partly use as offices by Mr. Treherne, and were held in high regard by the residents of that end of the town.
Gerard Road was then not opened out nor were any of the streets adjoining it. In fact, this part of Wellgate may be said to have been in the country. There wasn’t a house after leaving the Charcoal Works (with the exception of the Toll house), until you came to what is now known as Leedham's Farm.A MODEL SCHOOLMASTER
The first master of the Wesleyan schools was Mr. Brooks. I call to mind the many days of glorious fun and excitement we had through the kindness of this broad-humoured man, Amongst other forms of sport we were permitted to take part in, was ballooning. This sounds stale in days of flying machines. and it is now difficult to realise the excitement we got out of the flight of balloon. Mr. Brooks had a nice taste for this sport. He was very keen on it, and made his own balloons - not the ordinary type which could be procured from the shops, but large ones, measuring several feet in diameter. We were allowed in the fields adjoining the schools to take part in these flights. In those days the fields extended from the Cattle Market to Mansfield road; the Church and other properties on the Moorgate road had not then been built; and Douglas street and Stanley street were unknown.In addition to balloon flying, we were encouraged to indulge in kite-flying, and I have yet to learn that our education suffered on account of these breaks from the monotony of the ordinary curriculum. On the contrary. I believe the general character of our head master and his love of out-door sports had great and lasting influence for good on the boys who were privileged to he under his control.
SCHOOL SITE
These schools were the latest addition to the town’s educational efforts, and were the largest and best equipped in the district. The headmaster lived in a house adjoining the school, but one wonders what some of the teachers of today would say if they were compelled to reside in such a neighbourhood.It has often puzzled me why these schools were built on such a site. Reasons are sometimes given to explain why schools have been erected on bad sites, but no such reasons apply in this case.
The Wilfred Street Schools were probably erected here to be near the Chapel and Sunday school in Talbot lane, but whatever thereason, it ‘vas a most unsuitable and expensive site on which to build, the playground being uneven, dangerous and the cause of many broken knees. Owing to these deficiencies we made the fields in Moorgate our playground. These have since disappeared, and the photographer ‘s studio, the Unitarian Church, Stanley street and Douglas street, etc have taken their place.