A selection of items about Tickhill from the British Newspaper Archive
A close shave
‘On Tuesday sennight [a week ago] the inhabitants of Tickhill were under a serious alarm from fire which was discovered in the roof of the church, owing, it is supposed to some charcoal having been left burning in a chafing dish the preceding day by the workmen who had been employed to repair the lead. It was discovered by a person going into the church on Tuesday morning. The roof was so much burned as to melt the lead over it and some of the fire had fallen into the pews. Fortunately, from the air being excluded the fire had not broken out, which if it had done in the night, the whole building would probably have been consumed.’ (‘Leeds Intelligencer’, Monday, 26 May 1800, page 3.)
Two lucky finds
Silver penny of Edward I, about 28th year AD 1300 dug up on making alterations in the Priory, Tickhill, and in the possession of Mr T Lister. Obverse side – full faced head with an open crown fleury, the hair extending on each side of the face. Legend “† Edw R Angl Dux Hyb”. Reverse side – a cross extending to the edge of the coin and pellets. Legend “Civitas London”. Present weight 21 grains, original 22 grains.’ (‘North British Daily Mail’, Tuesday, 4 November 1851, page 4.)
This Roman brooch or fibula was ploughed up in a field south of Wadworth near the Tickhill-Worksop road at the beginning of the 20th century. It is 2¾ inches long. Hull’s City Museum Curator noticed it in a shop in Doncaster and acquired it. The following is an extract from an article in the ‘Bradford Weekly Telegraph’, Friday, 1 December 1905, page 6.
‘It is an ordinary type of fibula, but is in an unusual state of preservation and the pin or acus is of bronze and still in position and in working order. Fibulae are generally found minus the pin. As will be seen from the figure, the fibula is not lacking in ornamentation. At the shoulder and at the bottom are two discs, in the centre of each of which has originally been a piece of enamel, that on the shoulder evidently being blue in colour, while the other appears to have been red. The bronze ring at the top of the brooch was there that it might be sewn on to the dress in order to prevent its loss. The specimen finds a resting place in the City Museum, being one of the finest in the collection…’
Noblesse oblige
‘The munificence of the Earl of Scarbrough has been extended, as usual, at this season of the year, to the poor in the neighbourhood of the parishes of Maltby, Stainton and Tickhill, by a plentiful distribution of bread and beef, and a large quantity of bed rugs, besides the completely clothing upwards of fifty poor children.’ (‘Leeds Intelligencer’, Monday, 15 January 1821, page 3.)
‘Earl Fitzwilliam on St Thomas’s day distributed 325 stone of beef and nearly £70 in sixpences each to the poor people in the immediate neighbourhood of Wentworth House. The Earl of Scarbrough has, in addition to the clothing of 70 poor children, distributed 30 cloaks to as many old women, 50 pair of blankets, upward of 1,000 loaves of bread and a large quantity of meat, to the poor families in Tickhill, Stainton, Maltby and Stone. George Saville Foljambe Esq. has, although absent from Osberton, shown that he does not forget the wants of those who usually partake of his Christmas bounty, and has just now gladdened the hearts of numerous poor families in the parish of Worksop and various other parishes where his estates are situated, by the distribution of 150 pairs of blankets, 50/- worth of coals and 2 fat beasts.’ (‘Globe’, Monday, 2 January 1832, page 4.)
‘On Friday last the Earl of Scarbrough, with his accustomed liberality, gave his workmen, tradesmen and labourers an excellent dinner at Rufford Abbey to celebrate Her Majesty’s nuptuals. About 200 sat down to dinner which was followed with “English brown ale”….His lordship also gave a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding to upwards of 80 labourers and other persons employed at Sandbeck and to each of the widows of Tickhill, Maltby and Stainton 1/6 each, to the labourers’ wives 1/- and the children were presented with buns.’ (‘Nottingham Review and General Advertiser for the Midland Counties’, Friday, 28 February 1840, page 4.)
Not so fortunate
‘Signs of the times: Fifteen able bodied labourers with their families, came into the Union Workhouse, in Doncaster, on Friday, from Tickhill, in consequence of their inability to obtain work.’ (‘Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser’, Tuesday, 4 June 1850, page 6.)
Samuel Ward of Killamarsh, was charged by Overseers of Tickhill with allowing William Ward, his father, to become chargeable to the parish. It appeared from the statement of Mr Lawton, solicitor, who appeared on behalf of the Overseers of Tickhill, that the pauper had been in very affluent circumstances and had also received a collegiate education, but now unfortunately was become chargeable to the parish. Ordered to pay 2/6 weekly. (‘Derbyshire Courier’, Saturday, 25 January 1851, page 3.)
The tanyard
‘To be let with immediate possession: a small tanyard, situate at Tickhill, with good drying shed, bark mill, leather house, stables, cowhouses and a very good Dwelling House and Garden with about 9 acres of land. The stock is small and may be taken too at a valuation, with or without 20 tons of old oak bark. Application to be made to Mrs Rhodes, on the premises, or Mr Rhodes, Hooton Roberts. The tenant, if requested, may be accommodated with about 20 acres of good arable land. This advertisement will not be repeated. 28 January 1840.’ (‘Sheffield Iris’, Tuesday, 4 February 1840, page 1.) The new tenant did not last very long…
‘Tanyard to be let at Tickhill in the county of York and may be entered upon immediately. A small tanyard with convenient dwelling house, barn stables and other outbuildings and with or without 8 acres of land. Tickhill is a post town 7 miles from Doncaster, 10 from Rotherham and 16 from Sheffield. Apply (if by letter, free) to Messrs Bardwell and Sons, Sheffield.’ (‘Lincolnshire Chronicle’, Friday, 23 April 1841, page 2.)
Dramatic summer weather in 1858
‘On Wednesday morning a terrific thunder storm passed over Tickhill about six o’clock. The thunder was very heavy, the lightning remarkably vivid, the rain fell in torrents to such an extent that in several parts of the principal streets there was a complete sheet of water, the drains being unable to carry it off as it fell. It was attended with hailstones as large as nuts or small marbles, and panes of glass in windows were broken, besides doing other damage.’ (‘Sheffield Independent’, Saturday, 12 June 1858, page 6.)
The damage done to farming produce in this district by the thunder storm on Thursday afternoon is very extensive. A wheat stack near Finningley and another in the neighbourhood of Tickhill were fired by the electric fluid, and not far from the latter place, we understand that the lightning struck a wagon that was in a field laden with wheat. The wheat and body of the wagon it lifted into the air while the wheels and horses were not touched. The person in charge had a narrow escape.’ (‘Sheffield Daily Telegraph’, Monday, 16 August 1858, page 3.)
Des res in the 1880s
The following two advertisements appeared in ‘The Field’:
‘To be let, furnished, early in September, a good sized family house, in the village of Tickhill, seven miles from Doncaster; containing entrance hall, with full sized billiard table; drawing room, dining room, library and smoking room, ten bedrooms, excellent offices etc; good stables and gardens with glass houses, grass paddock. Apply to the owner, B H Brooksbank, The Sand Rock, Tickhill, Rotherham.’ (Saturday, 12 August 1882, page 5.) [Similar advertisements continued to appear until December.]
‘To be let furnished or unfurnished or to be sold. The Friary Tickhill the nearest town to which is Doncaster, the nearest station is Bawtry, both on main line GNR. The house situated in a pleasant neighbourhood and surrounded by 14 acres of grass land, contains three sitting rooms, smoking room and twelve bedrooms and has compact kitchen premises, spring water laid on and appliances for flushing drains, stabling for five horses, coach house etc and cottage for groom; pretty, old fashioned garden, tennis grounds etc, good hunting country, front stream; also good shooting to be had. Walton and Lee, 20 Mount Street, London, W.’ (Saturday, 10 October 1885, page 5.)
Pros and cons of living in Tickhill in 1928
‘In the area controlled by Tickhill Urban District Council there is the largest percentage of inhabitants over 65 years of age (7.6%) in the whole of the Doncaster Union; and more than the average for the whole of the West Riding (5.4%). This fact is mentioned in the annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Urban District (Dr A C Lindsay) for the year ended December 31st last. It is also stated that there has been a remarkable absence of infectious diseases in the district. Births numbered 40 equal to a rate of 20.1 per thousand, against the average for England and Wales of 16.7. The death rate was 12.3 as compared with the average for the country of 11.7.
Dr Lindsay comments upon the fact that in December last only 18.7% of the dwellings in the Urban District were using a reliable water supply. He states that he would like to see all the dwellings voluntarily connected up at an early date and adds: “Many of the sources of supply of pump water are contaminated”.’ (‘Sheffield Daily Telegraph’, Tuesday, 10 September 1929, page 3.)
The Council’s housing responsibilities in 1936
‘When at yesterday’s meeting of Tickhill Urban Council it was reported that there had been an instance in which a condemned house had been let to a tenant after the vacation period had terminated, the clerk (Mr E D Walker) said that it was illegal for a landlord to let, or for a tenant to go into, a condemned house after the day for its vacation had expired. It was reported that a builder was proposing to erect 13 houses in Mangham Lane Tickhill on the site of buildings to be demolished. In view of this Mr W Smith proposed, as a matter of urgency, that the Council should adopt the Town Planning Act.
It was reported at yesterday’s meeting of Tickhill Urban Council that good progress is being made with the housing scheme, and that another 10 houses are ready for occupation. The Council decided to let the 2 bedroomed houses at 4/4 a week, the 3 bedroomed at 5/8 and the 4 bedroomed at 6/1. It was decided to reduce the rentals of the council houses in Rawson Road and Doncaster Road by 2/- a week. In all cases the rentals are plus rates and water rates.’ (‘Sheffield Independent’, Thursday, 27 August 1936, page 3.)
Local traders caught out
‘No less than 25 persons, in Doncaster, have been convicted and paid the penalties for having in their possession light and deficient weights, on Saturday last, by His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace, acting in and for the lower division of the Wapentake of Strafforth and Tickhill at the Town Hall in Doncaster. The astonishing number of 80 persons, living in the townships of Wadworth, Tickhill, Bawtry, Austerfield, Cantley, Armthorpe, Hatfield, Stainforth, Thorne, Fishlake and Sykehouse were also convicted of the above offence. What a scene of roguery is here laid forth to public view!’ (‘Chester Chronicle’, Friday, 12 September 1800, page 3.) [In 1797 an act was passed ‘for the more effectual prevention of the use of defective weights and of false and unequal balances’. However, it was not until 1824 that legislation was introduced to standardise weights and measures – the origin of the imperial unit.]
‘A Tickhill butcher, William Dawson, was fined £10 including costs, at Doncaster, yesterday, under a food regulation permitting prosecution where preparations had been made to commit an offence, but where an actual offence had not been committed. Dawson pleaded ‘guilty’ to an offence relating to overcharging on meat. The prosecution stated that two Ministry of Food inspectors visiting Dawson’s premises in Market place, Tickhill, found tickets on 7 of 18 parcels in the refrigerator, ready for delivery, which showed an average overcharge of 7½ d on each parcel.’ (‘Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer’, Wednesday 13 December 1950, page 6.)
Renting Tickhill Castle
‘….Owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, the castle is about 1,000 years old and has 7 acres of ground, a fishpond, a drawbridge crossing the moat and hot and cold running water in the rooms. An official of the [Retford] auctioneers said yesterday: “The rent is very reasonable but the tenant must be prepared to contribute something towards the upkeep of the castle. We have had about 20 people making enquiries. One man wanted to turn the castle into a hotel, another into a small holding and a third into a garage. The castle has recently been used as a preparatory school and a private residence”’ (‘Birmingham Daily Post’, Thursday, 17 May 1956, page 10.) [The successful applicant, who took up residence in 1957, was John Cavall, (otherwise known as Guy William Hugh Waters) a music adviser for the West Riding, with his wife Rosemary Horstmann. The rent was £3/10/- a week.]