Dodworth Hall - its final use and demise

Situated on Green Road; almost opposite Home Farm, Dodworth Hall in its heyday was the grandest house in the village. It was built for Thomas Thornely Taylor at a time when weaving and the cloth industry was at its peak of prosperity, and Taylor was a leading local entrepreneur in that field. He was also the holder of considerable real estate, mainly it is said towards Hoylandswaine, and he was of his time probably the main benefactor of the the village donating at least one school, a church, and a chapel. Houses in the village bearing his initials TTT were built in his name.

More will be said in another post about him and his family, for now this blog will deal with the matters in the title.

Does anyone have any recollections about the Hall; the nearby open cast mining; the gymnasium that was set up there after the NCB acquired it; and its final demise and demolition.

The Editor

Update on 'Burial sites in the time before 'the church' was built' first published 17 05 2015

Burial sites in the time before 'the church' was built.

When a local 'historian' was asked if it is known where human bodies were put before the current Dodworth St John's Church was built about 150 years ago. The answer given was 'Silkstone Church' - it seems that the latter may have been too small and unlikely that everyone was taken there. So - were other places set aside for use as cemeteries. Do you know the answer?

The Editor

Corporal Punishment at a local school...

A recollection of Public Corporal Punishment.

How old was I? I don’t know. Who took me there? I don’t know. Why did they take me there?  I don’t know. Why don’t I know the answers to these questions? I don’t know. What do I know? 

I know that we were at a local County Secondary Modern School. That was the title by which I knew the place some years later. But that name does not convey the entire story, for there was also an infant school on the premises, in fact housed in the same building as the Secondary School. The whole premises may have had a slightly different name but I don’t know it. The Infant School in that building was the first school I went to. Although I suppose that at the time I did not know my age, I recall being told on many occasions that I was four and a half years old and that I started earlier than some other kids, possibly because I could already read, having been taught at home by my mother – I was told. The one dealt with here is the Secondary School.

I recall that it was an evening, but I do not recall what season it was. I was certainly not cold nor do I recall being hot, or anything about the journey to and from the school. Given the nature of the event I guess that it was the late summer of 1951.

Something else that I recall is that I was taken to another similar sized event in the same place. When the event that is the subject of this examination occurred I was of pre-school age – but only just – and by the time of the other event I was of school age. They were each bigger than anything I had ever attended before – or attended for many years thereafter.

When I say ‘big’ I mean that every inch of space appeared to be occupied, and that a lot of people were stood up at the back and side of the room. The room was ‘the hall’, the main room in the school and the largest room I encountered in my life until I was much older. Largest that is if I don’t count the dining rooms at the Holiday Camps where we went for family holidays in the few years subsequent to then.

The hall was high ceilinged with visible timber vaulting and heavy horizontal steel rods, in tension, holding or pulling the hammer beam vaulting together. Around three sides of the hall, at interval were doors opening directly into classrooms, maybe five or six, each classroom being separated from the Hall with a shoulder height wall topped with multi-paned opaque glass panels. The wall opposite the classrooms was of similar construction. The glass walls were presumably to ensure maximum light penetration. At each end of the hall was an entrance, one primary being nearest to the staff offices, and the secondary being nearest kitchens.

With others I was situated nearly at middle of primary end. My angle of view suggests to me that I was standing, and that would fit with the sombreness of the occasion.

At the opposite end of the hall to me, was a 4 foot high wooden stage, running almost the entire length of the room. Perhaps the stage had been put there purposely for the occasion, maybe it served some other purpose, I imagine that the latter was the case.

The hall was well lit but I do not recall how, but I know that when I knew the place later it had large diameter circular electric lights which were suspended from the beams on long metal tubes or rods.

The ceiling was plaster painted a uniform school off white, as was the beams, and the walls were similarly bland, devoid of decoration and pale green.

The venue having been described, I will now turn to the atmosphere. It was clearly a sombre serious occasion, and all those present appeared to know that. I see men clutching folded cloth caps, and looking down, and women with their hands on the shoulders of children half their height. All were standing looking towards the stage, across the void of empty floor, wooden floor. That was the first time I had ever seen herring bone pattern oak floor tiles, each about 2.5 to 3 inches wide and maybe eight inches long. The pattern of them mesmerised me and I long conjectured about them over the years. My eyes sought out where they ended at the edges of the room, they were finished by a double row of end to end tiles. I thought it was a marvel.

Standing on the stage, towards the left was a senior school pupil. His head was down and he was looking towards his feet, his hands clasped in front of him as if they were held there by handcuffs, which they were not. He was not facing the assembled audience, but toward the centre of the stage. Close by him, but not shielding him from the view of the audience, were two adult males, I think that they were teachers.

A man who I later was to know as ‘The Headmaster’, was standing facing the audience, and further – towards the right of the stage were several men and at least one woman, standing facing the audience. I later became aware, or of the belief, somehow that they were the teachers who worked at the school.

It was a moment of high drama. The audience all looked at the Headmaster, and were silent, giving attention.

Horizontal across his thighs held in both his hands was a curved stick. I was later to learn that this was ‘the cane’. He wore a hairy suit of green-khaki colour, and he had spectacles on. He was not a large man, and of slight build, his back was straight, and he spoke clearly – but trembled with emotion. I now have impression that he was unaccustomed to this situation, and imagine that he had never before done what he was about to do. Certainly I never again saw anything even remotely like what was about to happen.

The Headmaster spoke to the audience. His words were few and to the point. He did not fluster or prevaricate. I don’t know the exact words he used, but the gist was this. He said that the shamefaced boy to his right had been guilty of making a serious sexual assault on a girl, and that he was to be punished for it. He ordered the by now weeping and trembling boy to walk to the centre of the stage – to turn to face the way he had come - and bend down with his hands on his knees. Accompanied by an escort of the two male teachers – the boy who was taller than The Headmaster - hesitantly complied – he continued to look down all the time – and he looked pathetic, humbled, pale and weak. 

His brief explanatory speech over, The Headmaster briskly took off his suit jacket, and handed it to one of the male staff members. Then he walked towards the bended boy and without any further formality - holding it at one end he raised the cane in his right hand – high in the air – and brought it down with all the force he could muster and as fast as he could – it hit the boy across the buttocks – and his knees buckled – but not completely – there was no bravado displayed – the boy sobbed and tears fell. The physical aspect of his ordeal had begun – The Corporal Punishment. The boy recovered slightly and his bent knees straightened. This was a matter not to be rushed - but to be carried out to perfection. One of the two teachers signalled to the Headmaster that he could carry on. He repeated the performance – and as before his feet left the ground as he hit the boy. This time the boy was not so quiet. He yelped with pain – and his knees buckled even further than before - and begged that it stop – it was in vain. Each of the two escorting teachers took an arm and steadied the boy as he again bent and prepared for an excruciating punishing blow. It was not clear whether he was struggling against them or whether they were holding up. A third time – after what seemed like an age – the Headmaster raised and lowered his cane – in just the same manner as before – each time the cane made contact with the boys trouser covered buttocks – the sound was heard at the back of the hall. After this third blow the boys knees did buckle – completely – he fell to the floor in a kneeling position – sobbing furiously – but still not looking any direction but forward.

The head spoke…

People walked silently out of the hall…

The event had ended…

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Did I imagine the entire thing? 

If not then why does no-one else in my acquaintance admit to any knowledge of it?

I have enquired about it for years - and found no-one who acknowledges any memory of it.

————————————————————————————————————————

Can you or anyone known to you explain any of the above?

The Editor

Wentworth Castle - a gatepost and a gate and another thing

Wentworth Castle - a gatepost and a gate and some other things

From Hood Green there is a footpath to Wentworth Castle. The footpath starts at a lodge [possible the North Lodge] that once was part of the Castle Estate - but which is now 'private residences' whose privacy must be respected, especially by the curious walker / investigator.

Currently the footpath begins at a farm type gate just beyond the residences. At one time there were two gateposts built of stone, and it is imagined, an ornate hinged gate hung between them.

At some point in past years, the gateposts were dismantled and the gate removed [perhaps it was at about the same time as the Steeple Lodge gateposts encountered a similar fate, and maybe for the same reasons - it is said that military activity at the Castle during WW2 was the reason for the removal of the Steeple Lodge gates.]

Whatever the reason - at least until recently - large parts of the dismantled gateposts were in the adjacent field through which the footpath goes - close by the boundary hedge.

As for the gate - at the same time the gatepost remains were 'discovered' - a rusted metal gate was seen to the left [with the Lodge behind the walker] of the footpath in the undergrowth of a wood - was this the gate that once controlled entry to the estate?


In the aforementioned field is a large tree [chestnut?] that was - within the early part of the last decade - said to be the 'oldest' for many miles around.

Do you know anything more about any of the above?


The Editor

Dodworth Feast

The Dodworth Feast was presumably held at the same time each year - but as I don't recall perhaps you could help out by telling me if I am right or wrong!

The Feast was for many years - perhaps very many years - held at the same place - in a field below the former Horse and Jockey pub [now the Dil Raj restaurant] - it stretched at least as far down the field as what is now land occupied by Council bungalows. When the bungalows were built the Feast or fair moved to the 'Welfare' - or rather the remnants of it did.

In the later years - the stalls and rides and showman's caravans and generators etc. occupied the top part of the field that ran from the High Street to the dyke at the bottom - some say that in earlier times it covered the entire field. Of the latter I have no knowledge - perhaps you can tell me?

The main ride was the 'waltzer' - it was always set up in a prominent position - and was a kind of round-about for 'grown-ups' or perhaps those aspiring to be grown-ups - of both sexes. Instead of 'cocks and hens' or some alternative it had carriages that each held half-a-dozen or so people - and which could - and did - spin around randomly. They were usually full of squealing girls - but occasionally a male would have a go - usually if he was courting, and wished to show to 'show off' to the girl who had captured his heart, or more likely to warn-off potential suitors. Those embryo men would often sit there nonchalantly, trying hard not to smile with delight and attempting to look what is nowadays called 'macho'. That latter term - or whatever was the current version - was most likely to apply to the roustabout type characters who rode on the waltzers apparently to spin the carriages and flirt with the girls! They often demonstrated athletic skills and balancing feats in pursuance of attention from their audience. Of course the fair moved around the area, and at every venue the lads who operated the waltzer would be counted on to do their thing!

Other stalls included - ones that did things with pennies - like require the punter to roll them, hopefully until they fell on a playing card - darts games; hooking floating 'ducks'; and a number involving throwing items like wooden balls at various targets. The main examples of the last type were the 'coconut shy's', where the object was to knock a coconut off its stand by a thrown ball - it was much harder to do than seemed possible!

Along with everything else were food stalls selling unusual confectionary and snacks - and of course the loud traditional music which combined with the chatter of excited youngsters to produce a sort of joyful cacophony!

Underfoot was either grass or wet grass, which the traffic churned into glorious mud!

The University of Sheffield is home to a collection of memorabilia and accounts of the showman's life - it is unique in the UK.

There is however no substitute for your own recollections - which can be shared here if you wish.

The last sentence is a sort of invitation to share your memories!

The Editor

Italians - AN UPDATE ON A PREVIOUS ENTRY...

AN UPDATE ON A PREVIOUS ENTRY…

THURSDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2014

Prisoners of war - World War 1 and World War 2

Do you know anything about prisoners of war in our area?

Since the above was written - or maybe before but I don’t remember! - I have read the words submitted by Trevor Denton of Dodworth to the BBC archive project - the views were written in 2005 and I regret not having given them credit before now.

Amongst the interesting things that he said were that Italians were camped at Wentworth Castle / Stainborough Castle.This undated information may indicate that they were there after they joined with the Allies in 1948. At that time they would probably not have been prisoners, but combatants of some sort. It seems unlikely that they were held as ‘prisoners’ at Stainborough at any time, but it is known that soldiers were stationed at Stainborough - and that they were accommodated in tents [the ‘lower ranks’ at least].

As for the comment that they used to rob the food trains travelling through the valley on the Worsborough Bank line - there are some interesting notions about this! For instance - it is known that men from Worsborough, Dodworth and Silkstone Common [perhaps amongst others] robbed the train and that several from Dodworth were caught and sent to jail for it. Mention has been made by another person of Italians being responsible for robbing the food trains.

Might it be then that the Italians were blamed for something that they did not do - and that it was convenient to attribute blame to them, or that it was a useful term to refer to all ‘train robbers’. If they did the robberies they would most likely have come into ‘contact’ with more local robbers! Which begs the question - was there collusion between them and locals?

One local has said that, during WW2, in their house there never tinned salmon - except for the box that a relative ‘acquired’ and hid somewhere unknown. Apparently occasionally a tin from the secret supply was brought out on a Sunday for a family treat!

Do you or anyone you know have anything to share about this story?

The Editor

A motor bike in distress?

A motor bike in distress?

When I was a child I had a dog. One day the dog was showing giving unusual attention to a hole [on the ‘muckbanks’ by the Sunny Hollow] - it was thought that the hole was a ‘rabbit hole’ of which there were a number in the vicinity. Being curious I examined the hole and to my surprise found that it contained a motor cycle engine. 

I excavated the remainder of the debris and pulled out what I identified as a Velocette single cylinder engine, later I was to discover that it was of 350 cc. The alloy crankcase was cracked - having apparently been subjected to considerable trauma - but apart from that the engine was in fine condition. 

I often wondered how the engine got into such an unusual situation, and would imagine all sorts of explanations. And I asked many people who I thought might know - but nobody seemed to have any idea. 

Of course I took the ‘find’ home, and in the interest of science ‘took it to bits’ - most of which were given away by my mother during a periodic clear-out. I managed to retain the cylinder head and barrel for a few years - they were not available at the time of the clear-out - but after a few years in my possession they disappeared.

The story does not quite end there.

A few years later a ‘muck-bank’ near the ‘find site’ was operated on by a mechanical digger - and loaded into lorries then taken away - it was assumed for use as building material. 

BUT during the digging - the digger machine came across a Velocette motor cycle - without an engine - apparently it had been buried years before and would not have been available for me to see - had not the driver of the digger chosen to cast it aside as rubbish.

I could not believe my luck - for I instantly linked the two artefacts together. I could not take the remains of the motor cycle home with me - but visited them often and conducted a thorough examination. 

Here is what I found! 

The motor bike had been in a serious collision judging by the damage to the frame and major parts of it - I recall that it still had a single seat ‘saddle’ set so low that it would have been easy to touch the ground with both feet at the same time. 

BUT most important it was painted in the colour of a military machine. I had not the slightest doubt that it was connected with the nearby presence of many military men - especially in the build up to the invasion of Normandy - and that it had been dismantled and buried to hide it - probably following an accident or something similar. The engine being the heaviest part was buried separately - and probably transported in that state - the rest of the bike similarly but to a different place. 

I imagined that whoever had buried it had knowledge of how it came to be so badly damaged - and possibly had been on it at the time of the ‘accident’ - or perhaps less dramatic when it had been in conflict with a truck of some kind - either deliberately or accidentally - and that the person or persons involved had ‘perished in the War’ - leaving no trace of the mystery.

It is possible that I am wrong in any number of my suppositions.

If you have anything to add to this story or any desire to comment - please share your views.

The Editor

Trevor Denton wrote this:

Dodworth Wartime Memories   by Barnsley Archives and Local Studies You are browsing in: Archive List > Family Life Archive List > United Kingdom > Sheffield and South Yorkshire

Contributed by  Barnsley Archives and Local Studies People in story:  Trevor Denton Location of story:  Dodworth, Yorkshire Background to story:  Civilian Article ID:  A3794295 Contributed on:  16 March 2005

Possibly an ancient track...

Look to the left - when driving from Silkstone Common to Dodworth - shortly after leaving the Silkstone Common boundary - and clearly visible is the remains of an old footpath [which is still usable] - but one which appears to be missing sections at either end.

Examination of such things as old maps may allow one to fill in the missing sections - close by the start of the path is a very old former farm - and at the other end in a good alignment is the 'old mill' [which is on the Huskar Dyke / River Dove] and which for many years was the main place to grind the corn produced by local farms.

It does not require much imagination to see the possible route of the path - which may have been used by 'pack horses'. A more difficult thought to accommodate is that the mill ceased to be used by about 1730 when Stainborough Lake was created - so why is the track still visible? The answer may be that the mill was first used about 1180 [from memory and not checked] - so the track may have been used for a long time - so perhaps the farm or its predecessors may also be very old - or the path may have run past the farmhouse and down towards Silkstone.

Clearly the path pre-dates the Ben Bank road now running between Dodworth and Silkstone Common.

Do you have anything to add to the above?

The Editor

WENTWORTH CASTLE - THE FOUNTAIN

The following item has been included in this blog for two main reasons - firstly it may be of interest to readers - secondly by this means it is hoped to leave a trace of the items for discovery in future by interested parties.

Outside the front of Wentworth Castle - where a car park used to be - and where the formal gardens are now [2017] was a large ornamental fountain - this was in place when or shortly after the castle was first built - and at some time it was removed!

At various times the fountain has been the subject of controversy - in fact it was even said by some that fountain had never been built - and that it was only ever a drawing - this is a complete error. It was also said at one time that the 'reservoir' or 'tank' to supply the water for the fountain was too small to permit the fountain to operate for more than a few seconds - this also is incorrect - but a reason for believing it can easily be found - the answer is the presence of a small tank beneath the central stone stairs outside the east front - this small tank which at one time was thought to be the reservoir feeding the fountain - is accessed by a passage leading from the kitchens of the castle - inside or close to the tank is the valves and pipework that controlled the fountain.

At some time around the late 1970s or early 1980s - the 'college bar' of the Northern College was created - during its construction the 'digger' broke into a tunnel at the north end of the castle, which appeared to run towards the church - but it is the other end of the tunnel that is of interest! - it permitted entry to a cellar of the castle - later to become the actual college bar - and examination of that cellar shows it to be the 'original' water tank that fed the fountain - this is supported by at least one document which was a letter sent as part of correspondence between Lord Wentworth and his architect or builder - the letter describes the cellar as a tank and says it would fill to a depth of 4 foot 6 inches - from a spring located at the southern end of the cellar. This tank would be large enough to support use of the fountain for a much longer time than had until then been considered possible. It is now evident that the tank / cellar must have been made during the construction of the foundations of the east wing of the castle about 1709 - and that it was an integral part of the building from the very beginning.

A few of the many questions that this information gives rise to include - how has knowledge of the tank and its construction been 'lost' over the years, and are there other major matters which have become overlooked or forgotten, and why have the 'Wentworth Papers' in London not been searched for such things by now?

Do you have anything to contribute to the above?

The Editor