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We feel
that it may be interesting for the present generation to hear how many of
the amenities in the village now available to them, came to be provided.
The following abstracts from records of the work of Parish Councils of the
past provide much of this information.
On
Dec.4th 1894 a public meeting was held in the Board School (now Cowling
Primary School) to elect representatives to administer Parish affairs,
assisted by the Rural and County Councils.
Mr. Ben
Snowden was appointed Chairman of that meeting, and nine representative’s
ware then elected by show of hands, from 25 nominations. These nine
gentlemen were then declared duly elected and signed the declaration of
acceptance of office, and arranged for the first Parish Council Meeting to
be held on 14th. December 1894. At this meeting Mr. John Hartley (founder of
the present firm of John Hartley (Cowling) Ltd.) became Chairman, and Mr.
Philip Snowden (later to become Chancellor of the Exchequer of the first
Labour Government subsequently became a Viscount) was appointed Honour
Secretary. It was decided to ask the Rural Council for £10 to begin business
with, prepared standing orders and adopted the Lighting Act, asking the
County Council for permission to light the streets with gas, for which £200
was borrowed. A table and some chairs were acquired along with an Ordnance
Survey map of the Parish. The Council then became responsible for the
majority of footpaths and bridges of which there are a considerable number,
also they were involved in naming the streets.
1896 was
the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and there was a request for the
provision of a Park for the village to commemorate this event, public seats
were also asked for. Attempts were made to purchase land for a park in the
area now taken up by the Collinge Road Estate, but obviously this was
unsuccessful. In order to raise money to buy seats, two concerts were held,
the proceeds amounting to £17 sufficient to provide six public seats.
****
In 1898
Philip Snowden resigned as Hon. Secretary and was succeeded by J.W. Gott.
Consultations took place between Lothersdale and Cowling Parish Councils,
with a visa to the building of a light railway track to serve both villages
and link up with the main line at Kildwick station. The Councillors
envisaged an Expanding community as mills were being opened with the power
loom taking ever from the hand loom, and the resultant textile product being
in great demand. The poultry industry was also expanding and required a good
transport system. However it was found that this venture would be too costly
and the idea was dropped.
When King
Edward VII died in 1910 a procession was lead through the village from
Garden Terrace, by Cowling Temperance Brass Band, to a Memorial Service at
the Parish Church. Minister, of Religion, members of the Parish Council and
residents of the village walked in the procession.
The
Coronation of King George V followed in March 1911 when the celebrations
took the form of a mass tea in the Wesleyan Schoolroom (now Ickornshaw
Methodist), followed by a cinematograph show in the United Methodist Free
Church schoolroom (formally sited on Pinnacle View estate). Coffee and buns
were then served at the County Primary School.
In 1912
with the nearest Fire Brigade being stationed at Keighley arrangements were
made for the formation of voluntary Fire Brigade in the village when the
fireman could be trained to use the hydrants and bases pending the arrival
of the Keighley Brigade.
In June
1913 Wright Snowden was appointed Clerk, and who in later life was to become
a Justice of the Peace and who had considerable influence on the life of the
village.
1914 saw
the passing of John Hartley who had held the office of chairman since the
first meeting in 1894. Subsequently five public seats were presented to the
Parish by Watson and Alfred Hartley in memory of their father.
With the
outbreak of the 1914-18 war a committee was formed to raise funds for the
relief of distress. Over £228 was raised and four hundred garments sent to
soldiers serving overseas.
****
 In
Jan. 1919 In reply to a query from the Rural District Council concerning the
need for houses in Cowling, The Parish Council asked for 12 immediately
increasing to 24. Lingcrag Gardens housing estate was built as a result of
this enquiry.
After the
signing of the Armistice on 11th Nov. 1918, the street gas lamps in the
parish were refitted and lit from December 1918 to March 1919.
On March
17th 1919, 110 electors were present at the Annual Parish Meeting and there
were 16 nominations for the nine seats, and thus the Council continued with
Parish affairs after the break during the war years. One of the first items
of business dealt with concerned the proposed erection of a War Memorial,
and the provision of a field for recreation activities, in memory of the men
of this village who were killed in the war. In June 1919 negotiations were
completed for the purchase of the field being used at that time by the local
cricket club, and which is now Cowling Recreation Ground. The money to pay
for this field was to be raised by public subscription and fund raising
efforts, and a joint committee meeting was called between the Parish
Council, the War Relief Committee and a Women’s' working party with this
object in view. In Feb. 1923 the field was paid for and a declaration of
Trust drawn up naming five permanent trustees and five trustees to serve a
term of five years, to administer the Recreation Ground
Also in
1919 Mr. Richard A. Forts was engaged as Clerk, holding the office until
1936.
Under the
Will of the late Ben Snowden, £250 was left to the Parish Council to be
invested, and the interest used each Christmas on gifts of money to the
residents over 70, and also towards the cost of the Primary School parties.
During
this period electricity had reached South Craven and representation was made
to the Electricity Authority for the supply to be provided for Cowling. The
Lane Ends area at this time was not connected to the main sewer, and efforts
were made to obtain a small area of land at Lower Lane Ends in order to
provide a sewerage system. It was not until the 1960's that this part of the
Parish was provided with this service.
In their
efforts fees provide more services for the village, The Parish Council
called a public meeting, with a view to forming a Nursing Association. Each,
household was
canvassed,
in order to enrol subscribing members who would then be entitled to the
services of a nurse. A District Nurse for Cowling was in due course engaged
by the Association.
In March
1924 a letter of congratulation was sent to the Right Honourable Philip
Snowden, on his appointment to the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer in
his Majesties Government, It was also proposed that a celebration be held in
the village to commemorate this achievement by one of cowling's sons and a
former member of the Council, including a presentation tote. Snowden
presentation fund was formed and a solid silver Grecian Rose Bowl and two
flower vases were purchased. On May 17th a procession was led by Cowling
Prize Brass Band through the village from Garden Terrace to the United
Methodist Church schoolroom, where high tea was served and the presentation
made Mr.& Mrs. Snowden accompanied by the Band then visited his birthplace
in Middleton.
About
this time in is interesting to note that the Pariah Council were repeatedly
asking the County Council to tar spray the main road through the village,
which in. those; days was presumably un-surfaced limestone.
****
In 1925
Mr. Watson Hartley gave land at North Ends corner and at the Junction of
Oakworth Old Road with the County Road, when a low wall surmounted by
railings was erected, vastly improving a notorious danger spot.
The
Parish Council
received
a letter in 1930 from Mr. Watson Hartley expressing a wish to present a
public shelter to Cowling in memory of his son, Sgt. John Hartley who had
been killed in the War. The Parish Council were pleased to accept this gift
along with the North Ends Field in which a re-built Hartley Memorial Shelter
now stands. A sum of money was given by Mr. Hartley and invested in the name
of the Parish Council and the interest to be used for the purpose of
maintaining the shelter. The present public conveniences also sited at North
Ends ware given by Mr. Hartley but are the responsibility of the Craven
District Council for maintenance. The Recreation Ground was now being used
to the full and the Temperance Society presented a number of seats. A
putting green on the north side of the field was brought into use by cutting
the grass short into a playable condition but leaving the levels of the
ground unaltered making a vary tricky green compared with the putting greens
of today. 106 persons paid one penny for a game on the day it was opened.
Unfortunately this area was due up for use as allotments in support of the
"Dig for Victory Campaign" during the 1939 - 45 war
By this
date Philip Snowden had bean made a Viscount, taking the title of Viscount
Snowden of Ickornshaw, and again congratulations were conveyed to him on
behalf of the parishioners.
In 1931
the late Isaac Lund left his house in Fold Lane, and contents, to the Pariah
Council which
included
a collection of coins and several stuffed birds. The interior of the house
rather resembled a small museum
In 1932
as result of pressure by the Parish Council, the road at Holgate Corner
(adjacent to the Church gates and Townend Farm entrance) was widened, which
was a great improvement to Gill Lane, making it safer for the school
children in particular who regularly used this road.
A Special
Parish Meeting was called to make preparations for the Silver Jubilee of
King George V on May 6th, 1935. Cowling Crass Band was engaged and the Vicar
was asked to arrange for the Boy Scouts to light a beacon on Earls Crag. The
Headmaster agreed to help with the presentations of medals, fountain pens
and pencils to the School Children, and a house to house collection realised
£32. 17.6d. A procession through the village terminated in thy Recreation
Ground where a wreath was placed on the War Memorial and the King's speech
was relayed by public address system. Two Shillings and sixpence was given
to all permanent invalids and Two Shillings
to each unemployed person in the Parish.
After 17
years as Clerk, Mr. R.A. Forte resigned in 1936 and was succeeded by Miss
E.M. Snowden.
****
aS A
contrast
to present day costs it is records that in 1937 five footbridges were
creosoted at a cost of 92.5 pence, including labour.
This year
the Vice-Chairman Mr. J.W.Gott died suddenly after serving the Council for
28 years. Evidence of his dedication to his work for the village is recorded
in the Minutes, and also the fact that he left money to the Parish Council
which enabled them to provide public seats in certain parts of the Parish in
his memory. Some still carry a plate naming Mr. Gott, as the doner.
The death
of Viscount Snowden of Ickornshaw also occurred this same year in November,
and a Memorial Service was held at Pad Cote on Ickornshaw Moor when his
ashes were scattered there at his request. As can be imagined on this
occasion many notable people attended to pay their respects. It was
necessary to use a field adjacent to the moor as a car park, and several
police were on duty to regulate the traffic on this narrow approach road to
Ickornshaw Moor. Later a portion of land was
acquired
by the Council at Pad Cote, and a Cairn built and a memorial tablet
attached. On the death of Lady Snowden her ashes were also scattered on the
same spot and her name added to the Memorial Tablet.
The
Parish Council were very much involved in the organisation on these two
occasions) and now, land on which the Cairn is sited also a path leading to
it is vested in the Parish
Council.
At the
first meeting of the National Parish Councils association a resolution was
passed expressing the view that the election of Parish Councillors by show
of hands was unsatisfactory, and welcomed the improved method made possible
by the Passing of the Local Government Act 1933, but deplores the inevitable
expense, and trusts that amending legislation will do passed for a
simplified and less costly method. Cowling Parish Councillors were pleased
that some progress had been made to elect Councillors other than by show of
hands, a point they had bean making to the Authorities since 1922.
****
In the
spring of 1939 with the Government scheme for the evacuation of children
from large towns in view, local authorities were requested to prepare a list
of homes in their area willing to accept evacuees. Several volunteers helped
the Council in canvassing the village in order to prepare the required list.
Owing to
reduced membership at the Liberal Club, the Cowling Liberal Association
offered the building to the Parish Council, to be used in the future as a
village Institution for the benefit of the whole community. The Council
decided that a special ratepayers meeting should be called to allow the
public to voice their opinion on this matter. The outcome was chat the
Committee of the Liberal Club, agreed to make a free gift of the building to
the Parish Council, which was accepted and a constitution formed to
administer the premises under the title of, Cowling Village Institute
management Committee. The building now functions under the name of Cowling
Village Hall.
In 1941
Mr. J.T.Horne was appointed Clerk of the Council on the resignation of Miss.
E.M.Snowden.
During
the war years 1939 - 45, much of the less important work of the Parish
Council had to be left in abeyance and priority given to matters concerning
the war effort. Half of the boiler house in the basement of the Village Hall
was taken over and temporally converted for use as an Air Raid Warden's
Post, all the more
vulnerable
walls above ground level being protected by walls of sandbags. Members of
the Home Guard helped to man this Post, and contact was maintained with the
Royal Observer Corps Post sited on the hill above the village at Rose Too,
adjacent to Oakworth Old Road.
At some
period of the war the concert room of the Village Hall was used for the
billeting of soldiers, as was the Methodist Church School Hall (now
demolished), and the Foresters Hall (now converted to flats on Colne Rd.)
Whenever
an allocation of sugar (which
of course was
rationed)
was made to the Women’s Institute by the Ministry of Food, a communal effort
was organized
in
the Village Hall in order to make Jan.
****
In
October, the Chairman, Mr. Wright -Snowden, presented a plan for the
landscaping of the Recreation Ground more on the lines of a park. The
textile manufacturing firm of John Binns & Sons Ltd of which Mr. Snowden was
managing director, promised a sum of £1,000 an estimated cost of £4,837 for
the proposed improvements.
Consequently an area on the eastern side of the field, adjacent to the mill
boundary wall was laid out with circular rose beds set in a lawn, and
additional seats provided. The section in front of Keighley Road (Back) was
planted with flowering shrubs.
Surely
this was the limit of the landscaping of the field, presumably due to the
cost involved and no grant being forthcoming from the playing fields
Association. The circular rose beds have since been turfed ever due to
continual damage being done to the rose trees.
Now the
war was over the provision of houses throughout the United
Kingdom,
became top priority, and in 1946 an inspection of Rough
Fields
was made as a possible site for a housing development. The area proved
suitable and the Collinqe Road Housing Estate was built.
Mr. J.T.
Horne resigned as Clerk and Mr. Ernest Shuttleworth was appointed to
commence his duties on July 1st 1946.
In August
an announcement was made by the Philip Snowden Memorial Committee that they
had been successful in purchasing land at Middleton to be used as a playing
field for the children of Middleton, Gill Top and Ickornshaw. The field was
to be vested in the Parish Council, and to be called the "Miscount Snowden
Memorial Field.
At the
end of 1947 the Skipton Rural District Council, submitted plans for the
proposed houses in Collinge Road, together with lamps to be powered with
electricity.
The
Minutes now record that Mr. Wright Snowden resigned as Chairman after 34
years service to the Council. Six years as Clerk, nine Vice-chairman and
nineteen as Chairman.
**** ****
**** ****
Short Resume of William Smith
Born in Lothersdale the eldest of four brothers, the family moving to
Sutton-In Craven when he was in his late teens; there he became secretary to
Sutton United Football Club, for a number of years. On getting married he
moved to Cowling and was secretary to Cowling Cricket Club, later becoming
Vice-president of the Tennis Club.
A member of Cowling Methodist Church (Bar Chapel) he was secretary to the
leaders of the church, and elected on the Parish Council in 1937 on which he
served until his death in 1956 being chairman from 1950 to 1953.He was also
honorary treasurer during some of this time.
The
centenary of the local textile firm of John Binns & Sons Ltd was celebrated
by a concert being given to the Senior Citizens of the Village which in
liaison with Parish Council also provided a sum of money for the creation of
a rose garden and Lawns in one corner of the Recreation Ground. A manager of
the Recreation Ground Committee he was also interested in Education and
became a representative of Cowling Primary School on the Education
Committee.
One of his outstanding achievements was the arrangement made for the
ceremony of the scattering of Viscount Snowden’s ashes on Ickornshaw Moor at
Pad Cote through the Parish Council; also helping to administer the Memorial
fund to the memory of Viscount Snowden resulting in the purchase of
Middleton Recreation Ground.
Short Resume of Ernest Greenwood Smith
Born in Cowling in 1916 and educated at Cowling Primary School, Keighley
Boys Grammar School and Keighley Technical College evening classes.
A founder, mentor and secretary of Cowling Methodist players who produced
one three act play a year, and appointed secretary to the trustees of the
Church during the time when the Bar Chapel was demolished and the land sold
and cleared to buils what is now Pinnacle View Estate.
Major involvement with the building of the new St Andrews at Walton Street,
again as trustee secretary, and appointed clerk to the Parish Council
serving for a few months short of 20 years until local government
reorganization.
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