Lancaster Guardian & Observer. Friday 24th October 1952
SCOTFORTH CHARACTER BOWS TO PROGRESS
Old Inhabitants muse on past glories
CAUSTIC COMMENT ON PLANNERS
Scotforth, which was, until the extension of the old Borough boundaries in 1900, a self-contained and self-maintained village community, is rapidly losing many of its distinctive features. Caught up in the march of time and enveloped in post-war housing expansion schemes the old village is rapidly becoming submerged by an urban growth never envisaged by its inhabitants half a century ago.
Though it was officially incorporated in the old borough of Lancaster 50 years ago, the village maintained a separate existence until well after the first world war. Even the coming of the electric tramway in 1903 made little difference to its daily life and habits, but from 1919 onwards the writing was on the wall and its complete absorption was only a matter of time.
At that time there was still a definite gap between the town and the village which was only relieved by the existence of the old Marshall Houses and Addlecroft Terrace. But in the roaring ‘twenties and the apprehensive ‘thirties the gap dwindled as the rash of bricks and mortar spread ever outwards. Now, after a second world war, the advancing housing tide has engulfed the old spot on three sides.
MUSHROOM GROWTH
Developments on the eastern boundaries of the village in the past few post war years which have seen the mushroom growth of the new Hala Estate, now blossoming forth into a small self-contained town on its own, have robbed the old village of its quaint isolation. In a few more years only fragments will remain of this old world community which has had its highlights in history.
In order to preserve for the record something of its past glories, a “Guardian” reporter and photographer sought out several of its oldest residents and thanks to their recollections some few at least of these memories are here enshrined in print for the benefit of the present and future generations.
THE THREE OLDEST
Seventy years old next March, Mr. Tom W Close of Picaddilly, Scotforth, born in the village, was hard at work on his allotment down by the railway bridge.
Leaning reminiscently on his garden fork, he said, “I think me and Tom Hall of Hala Road, and old Tom Ford, of 5 Scotforth Road, will be about three of the oldest residents. Tom Hall still lives in the house where he was born, about a month after I was born.
“My father was a Liverpool man, but came to the village when he was about five or six years old and attended the old Scotforth School in the square, before the present school was built. The old school in the square is now used as private houses.
VILLAGE RAN OWN AFFAIRS
“I remember when I was a lad the village was entirely on its own and run by its own parish council. In the two Jubilee years of the late Queen Victoria there were great doings in the village.
“We elected our own Mayor and at the 1897 Jubilee the Mayor was the late Mr. James Proctor, a great uncle of mine, who brought up my father. At the Diamond Jubilee the Mayor was appropriately enough, Mr. Tom Mayor of Scotforth. We had a procession and they were real ‘do’s’ I can tell you.
“When I first started going to Scotforth School we used to take “school pence” to the headmaster, Mr. James Parker, but with the passing of the early Education Act that practice soon ceased.
“The church was established then and there were only a few houses between the Greaves and the village. This included what was known as the Seed House at the bottom of the lane leading to the old Greaves Quarry, and there were the cottages at Marshall Houses, between Rutland Avenue and Addle Street.
CARTED STONE FOR HOUSES
“When Addlecroft Terrace was built just before the turn of the century my father carted nearly all the stone from the quarry for the new houses there. I had a day or two off school to give them a hand on occasions. They were built by a man called Frank Wilson.”
Referring to other changes in his lifetime, Mr. Close recalled: “In the centre of the village, where the buses now turn down towards Hala Road, opposite the Boot and Shoe Hotel, stood the old pinfold, which belonged to the Parish Council. Here also stood the original Scotforth Smithy replaced later by another opposite the Boot and Shoe on the other side of the main road. This was carried on for many years by Mr. Reay before it was demolished.
“Not many folks know this,” continued Mr. Close, “but we used to have our own village stocks against the pinfold. When the pinfold was closed the Parish Council let them go but two of the stones are built in at the back of the fish and chip shop which stands in this part of the square.
“On the opposite side of the main road at the corner of Scotforth Road and Ashford Road is a stone upright which is a pedestal of the old sun dial. The dial face has been gone for many years but the screw holes which held it down are still visible on the top.”
Scheduled for demolition are the old cottages fronting the west side of the village square extending from Dawson’s shop on the corner. {east side ? DAR} In one of these lives another old respected Scotforth resident, Miss Cumpsty.
Mr. Close reminded us that the City’s last remaining toll house, the old Toll Bar Cottage on the main road, is also due for demolition. This was for many years latterly the residence of the Rogerson family, who have built the adjoining garage.
MISSION IN A COTTAGE
Another of the village’s landmarks which is due to disappear when the left hand side of Hala Road is demolished is the old Scotforth Mission, with which Mr. Close has a life long association.
“The mission began with house meetings in a thatched cottage on the opposite side of Hala Road, which no longer exists,” said Mr. Close. “The Quarme family who lived at Sandfield House, were prominently identified with it in its early days. So was Mr. Richmond, father of ex-Inspector Richmond of the Lancaster Police, who is today associated with me in its administration.
“We have secured and dedicated the site for a new church on the fringe of the new estate when the present building is done away with. Before the Mission was housed in its present premises, meetings were held in a corrugated iron roofed building in Piccadilly, which was formerly a pigstye and is now used as a grain store.”
DIGGING AND REFLECTING
After leaving the Friends’ School Mr. Close joined the staff of the Lancaster and District Cooperative Society and served the Society for 51 years until his retirement as Grocery Manager and Buyer.
He mused, “I’ve had this allotment about 27 years. I like to come down here and do a bit of spade work. It not only keeps you fit but gives you a chance to think about things.”
Another old Scotforthian, Mr. Tom Ford, who lives at 5 Scotforth Road, is a walking encyclopedia of village sport over the last half century or more. He can’t lay claim to being a native, but he came from his birthplace Ironbridge, 75 years ago and so can regard himself competent to tell Scotforth’s sporting saga.
Tom still lives in the delightful little home in which he and the late Mrs. Ford brought up their family of two sons and two daughters, one of whom lives just across the road within easy hail. Mrs. Ford, unfortunately, died three years ago, shortly after the couple had celebrated their golden wedding.
UNDEFEATED SOCCER TEAM
Well over 50 years ago Tom was one of the most promising lads in a Scotforth soccer team which for a long period carried all before it without defeat.
“I started playing in my early teens for the village and carried on until I was 34,” he said. “I did a bit of sprinting too, in spite of the fact that one Christmas morning I broke my ankle playing football.” Mr. Ford’s proud possessions include an eight-day clock which he won at a Diamond Jubilee sports day in the village. “We used to pay a couple of bob and it entitled you to enter every if you liked. I won the clock in the 100 yards. It’s gone ever since but it gallops a bit now,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
He recalled that Ted Dearden was a grand centre half and Jack Richmond was a northern 100 yards champion sprinter.
HEDGE WAS A DRESSING ROOM
“We used to play on a pitch on the top side of Hala Carr Farm in those days and the hedge bottom was our changing room. You can see the collars and ties hanging on the hedge in this picture,” he said, producing another photograph of an early Scotforth team. He also remembered, with a chuckle, a challenge match between the old Lancaster R.U.F.C. and Scotforth under soccer rules which ended in favour of Scotforth, who had “scored three goals almost before they realised that t’game had started.”
Though he wouldn’t commit himself any further, Tom thought it might have been possible that their opponents had called in somewhere on their way to the match.
Mr. Tom Hall of Hala Road, now living in the same house in which he was born nearly 70 years ago has vivid memories of the days recalled by his old cronies.?
“Retired?” he scornfully echoed the “Guardian” reporters query, “I should say not. I’m still engaged in my market gardening job and I work hard I can tell you.” Looking at his broad rugged frame, one can well believe it.
Changes in the outward structure of the village are, as can be imagined, not exactly relished by Tom, whose house was built in 1698 and subsequently renovated, is one of the most picturesqueand solid in the street. He also has a fine garden opposite which is the subject of admiring comment by passers-bye.
He recalled the building of what was for many years known as Club Row, a stone built terrace, erected in 1874, on the same side of the street as his own house, and adjoining the Boot and Shoe hotel.
WHEN RENTS WERE 3s. 6d.
The houses were erected from funds of the old Scotforth Friendly Society called locally the “Mechanics” and let at rentals of 3s 6d per week including large gardens at the rear.
With the passing of the first Health Insurance Act the society was wound up, it’s funds distributed and the property sold.
Support for Mr. Hall who does not see eye to eye with modern planners in some respects, will be forthcoming from all those who respect the passing of familiar scenes.
He snorted, “Good stone houses which have been up for 50 years have got to come down. Ridiculous I call it. Especially when you consider that they have build new roads leading on to the new estate. Trouble is that a lot of folk today seem to have gone planning mad.
“But there, I’d better watch myself or you’ll print what I say. I know you lads,” he said with a chuckle.
(photo – Hala Rd & Mission Room, unfortunately not yet reproducable.)
Well that is Scotforth and what some of its oldest inhabitants are thinking about all these changes which are going on in their midst to the scrunch of the bulldozer and the staccato rattle and whine of pneumatic drills in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty Two..
(Reproduced by courtesy of The Lancaster Guardian.)
“I remember Tommy Close in my childhood, of attending his ‘Scotforth Mission’ on Hala Road, set among the old farm buildings going down on the north side situated close to the roadway where the sign for ‘Melling House’ now stands. Upon the demolition of that side of Hala Road, a replacement Mission Room had a short existence in Lentworth Drive. The ‘Sun Dial’ stone pillar mentioned by Tommy, stood at the north corner of Ashford Road and Scotforth Road, always thought of by my contempories as the ‘Roman milestone’, but I bow to Tommy’s earlier knowledge. ‘Blind Jack’ referred to elsewhere on this site, spent many an hour leaning against it, acknowledging passers-bye who greeted him. However, for whatever reason, it disappeared during ‘the grand clearout of the 1950’s.” (D.R.)
Article courtesy of Lancaster Guardian.
Earlier life around Scotforth.
Fire At Scotforth.- At three o’clock on Wednesday morning a fire was discovered in a barn in the occupation of Mr. James Thompson, farmer, Scotforth, and situated near Scotforth Mill. An alarm was quickly raised, and two cows which were in an adjoining shippon were released, but not before one of them got singed, those who rescued them having to enter the place on their hands and knees owing to the dense smoke which filled the place. Efforts were made to put out the fire till noon, and then assistance was sent for from Lancaster. Chief Constable Ward, accompanied by P.S. Winder and two constables, went to the place with the fire engine, and on arrival found the roof of the barn had fallen in and also a portion of the shippon. At one end of the barn there was a large mowstead of hay, which was one mass of fire. The fire engine was got to work in very little time, a plentyful supply of water being obtainable from a brook close to the premises, assistance in pumping being readily offered. After pouring water on the burning hay for some hours, it got cool enough to allow of its being removed, and in which the police were engaged, with intervals at pumping, til four o’clock on Thursday afternoon. There was a large stack of hay under a dutch barn immediately opposite, and the police had to be kept on the spot till all danger was passed for fear some sparks should get on that and ignite it. Fortunately the danger was avoided. A cart, hay and straw cutter, and other farm implements which were in the barn at the time, have been destroyed, the total damage being set down at £600 – the hay alone being worth £250. The building only is insured. Overheating of the hay is believed to be the origin of the fire.
(FMP: Lancaster Gazette. 29 August 1885)
This article relates to the farm of James Thompson, part of the Thompson family, already known on here, for photographic studies of old Lancaster, and for the paintings of Scotforth Beck and it’s ford on Hala Road. The remains of the farm still stand, in the shape of the Barton Road Community Centre, and the red brick building of the farm house opposite.
(DAR. May 2024)
