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1911 - At the national census of this year Skelton, [including Lingdale, Boosbeck, N Skelton.] had a population 8949. Old Skelton
3229 and N Skelton 1877. In the last 20 years there had been an increase of 2567.
January - Parish Magazine -
A very handsome frontal for the Holy Table, to be used on the High Festivals and other special services of the Church,
has been presented to the Parish Church by Mrs amd Miss Wharton.
23 January. North Skelton Mine. John Chapman, a miner aged 45 was killed. "Along with another miner he was engaged in
filling ironstone at the corner of a pillar in order to make room for the rails to be laid;
1 March. South Skelton Mine. William Barr, a miner aged 37, was killed. "He was engaged with another miner in removing
a stook which would have been finished that shift, when a sudden fall of roof (shale and dogger) took place and
displaced several balks; |
 [Photo kindly contributed by Julie Whitehouse of Cannock, Staffordshire.] |
the deceased was probably caught by a running balk as well as the fall; a shot had been fired 3½ hours previously, which may have shaken the stone into which some of time balk ends were inserted, and a sudden pressure of the roof caused the stone to burst off; the working was said to have been very closely timbered."
10th April - Parish Magazine.
It was resolved that the Coronation festivities of the Parish be carried out on the same lines as were adopted when
King Edward was crowned viz. a tea to all the children attending the Council Schools under 15 years of age and to all
adults over 60 and that a souvenir be given to each child.
22nd June - The Coronation of George V. |
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They then proceeded to the Recreation Ground. Here a sumptuous tea was provided for them and the old people in the open
air. The evening was then devoted to Sports for children and adults. The schools in Skelton marched to the Parish Church and formed up in a most orderly fashion in the Churchyard. The Stanghow Lane group were under the charge of Mr Barnes and Miss Calvert, the Green scholars under Mr Mott and Miss M White and the Skelton Infants under Miss E White and Mrs Robinson with their assistant teachers. The Church Lads Brigade under Captain Mitchinson and the Scouts under Scout Master Craven also took up positions on the East side. The procession then slowly wended its way through the village to the Old Kennels Field, making a most imposing sight with their flags fluttering bravely in the breeze. An excellent tea was provided in the four Halls. A very pleasant evening was spent in the Sports field and at 9 o'clock a general move was made towards Flowston to be in readiness for the monster bonfire which was to be lit at 10. This burned well to the great delight of the spectators, estimated to number over 2,000.
June - The Rev Ellis, who had been Vicar for 25 years was appointed to the Vicarage of Moor Monckton. |
 Edward on the right, who was to abdicate in 1936. and Albert, who was to replace him, taking the name George VI. |
He recollects in the Parish Magazine - Of the houses between the Rectory and the Church scarcely half a dozen are tenanted by the same people and some have changed two or three times over. The thought made me turn to the Baptismal Registers - and I find the number is 3,612. We have also officiated at 901 weddings in the Parish Church and at 1,910 funerals at the Cemetery and Old Churchyard. The Church Army and other services Temperance Meetings at North Skelton, first in houses, then in Richard Street Mission Room and afterwards in the Church Room. Further back still the Old Church Yard levelled and tombstones put straight. The new rector at Skelton All Saints Church was Herbert Mackworth Drake. MA. July 1st - Local miner records that Boosbeck Empire was built by W.S.Anderson. First sod cut by Mr. A. Gray. manager of South Skelton mines. This became a centre of entertainment for local people for miles around with shows and later films."
8th August - A nationwide strike of transport workers caused chaos across the country as goods and food were not
delivered to many cities.
Lloyd-George, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, finally defeated House of Lords opposition and introduced the
beginnings of the Welfare State. |
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To pay for this, taxation was increased. Whereas low incomes paid 9 pence in the pound [240 pence], those with incomes over £3,000 paid 1s 2d, with a supertax of 6d in the pound for incomes over £5,000. [£5,000 then would be equivalent to over £300,000 in the year 2000]. There were also new death duties and taxes on profits made from the sale of land. Lloyd-George also introduced national insurance, whereby everyone between 16 and 70 paid 4d a week to which the employer added 3d and the state 2d. In return contributors received free medical attention, including medicine, and 7 shillings a week for 15 weeks in any one year if they were unemployed. Skelton old church roof was repaired and reslated. 4th September. Longacres mine. Henry Dawn, a miner aged 33 was killed. "He was filling loose stone away from the entrance of an old bord and close to the stook he and his mate were working at; he had no right to do this, and while so engaged a large piece of ironstone fell from the corner of the pillar and so injured him that he died the same day; the stone was overhanging and came off from a slip and a cut from an old shot; when found, his pick was in his hand, and it is very likely he had been working loose stone from the pillar side; this accident should not have occurred."
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5 Oct. Skelton Park Pit, John Brack, deputy, aged 58, died of injuries suffered on 23 September. "He was engaged with three other deputies in timbering across an old bord, which had fallen many years ago, in order to make a road to work a pillar of stone. He was cutting a hole in the side for one end of a bearing balk, when some dogger and shale fell from above him and injured him about the head and body. All the men apparently satisfied themselves that the place was safe, but do not seem to have allowed for the possibility of a break existing, although such breaks are known to exist under similar conditions; if some long sprags had been set, the probabilities are that the accident would not have happened; the unfortunate man lived until October 5th, 1911." 21 October. Skelton Park Pit. William Allen Dunning, a driver aged 17 died from injuries received on 19 October. "He was bringing his horse to the stables at the end of the shift and was followed by two other drivers, each with a horse; on arriving at the stables he stepped to one side to allow the horses to pass; the first two passed quietly but the third struck out and kicked him in the stomach inflicting injuries from which he died in the infirmary on October 21st; the horse was not of a vicious character."
21st December - Skelton Church Lads' Brigade.
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