The Derbyshire Times, Saturday, January 20th, 1923

GLEANINGS IN THE PEAK AND WEST DERBYSHIRE … “Let us now go into the fields and glean”.

Bakewell & High Peak, Rowsley and District.

The Wye, between Bakewell and Rowsley, has been in flood for several days.

The pupils and staff of Lady Manners School, Bakewell, re-assembled for the next term on Wednesday.

We are told that two cottages in Cunningham Place, Bakewell, have remained untenanted for three months, although there have been over one hundred applications for them.

At the Bakewell Cattle Market on Monday the stock on offer comprised four bulls, 200 beast, 79 calves, 15 sheep, total 298, compared with 215 the previous week. Trade generally showed an improvement.

Messrs. Wm. Nixon (in the chair), T. Allsop, E. S. Bramwell, G. Hervey Wood, R. H. Massey, and M. J. Hunter, were the Magistrates in attendance, at the Bakewell Police Court. on Friday, when one charge, that of burglary, and two summonses were disposed of.

The Rev. J. E. Franks (Congregational) has been elected president of the Bakewell Free Church Council; the Rev. Leslie H. Clench (Wesleyan), J. H. Veal, (P.M.), and Mr. G. Scriven, vice-presidents; Mr. J. Darnell, hon. secretary; and Mr. T. W. Tiplady, hon. treasurer.

For the admirable services he rendered as hon. secretary on the occasion of the Chatsworth fete last July on behalf of the Bakewell War Memorial Cottage Hospital, Mr. A. D. Coates, of Edensor, has been presented with a silver cigarette case by the committee.

A billiards exhibition was given by Messrs. J. H. Nelson, junr. (Bakewell Conservative Club) and H. Hawley (Bakewell Working Men's Club) at the Bakewell Territorial Club on Monday. In a match of 200 up, the first-named, who made three breaks over 20, won rather easily.

Standing on Bakewell Bridge on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Walter Boulsover, retired postman, observed two swallows, one of a whitish hue, gaily skimming over the Wye, a most unusual sight for the time of the year. Had they forgotten to go home across the seas during the winter ?

At the annual meeting of the Rowsley parochial electors held last week, the Rev. G. G. A. Bullock (vicar) presiding, the whole of the members of the Church Council and the sidesmen were re-elected. There had been heavy expenditure during the year and a debit balance of £8 was reported by Mr. A. Walker, the people's warden.

“A Constant Reader” writes:- Two young Bakewell farmers who are very fond of fun, journeyed on their motor cycles to Sheffield, starting on their return at 10.15 p.m., and arrived in Bakewell at 3.30 the following day, one towing the other by the aid of his wife's scarf. Is this the result of watching “Jack and the Bean Stalk”?

With reference to a paragraph which appeared in this journal last week about the Saturday half-holiday granted to Bakewell postmen, it should be distinctly understood that the usual early morning delivery of letters and parcels has not been interfered with in any way. The afternoon delivery, however, has been advanced an hour or two.

We hear that Mr. U. R. Hawksley, who has been stationmaster at Hassop about three years, and came from Kentish Town, is being transferred to Glapwell to take up a similar appointment. It is probable that Hassop Railway Station, which is small, will be managed from Bakewell, and that a chief clerk will be in charge of it. This station was closed for Sunday traffic some months ago and local farmers send their milk largely from Bakewell, Great Longstone, and Rowsley Stations.

A Bakewell young lady was walking along Baslow Road, Bakewell, a night or two ago, when a tallish man; a stranger, suddenly sprang out of a gateway and seized her. She struggled free and in the darkness her assailant made good his escape. Unfortunately, the matter was not reported to the police and nothing has been heard of the miscreant. A few weeks ago. we heard of another young lady being stopped and molested as she was going home along a rather lonely road near Bakewell. It is hoped in the future that such cases will be promptly reported to the police, and we have no doubt blackguards of this character will be brought to justice.

Prices remained unchanged at the Bakewell Provision Market on Friday, fresh eggs, of which there is a fairly plentiful supply, being quoted at 2s 6d. per dozen. (wholesale) and fresh farm butter, an average supply, at 2s. per lb. (wholesale). Many farmers and their wives who bring in produce from the district are strongly of the opinion that the Bakewell Urban Council should again consider the advisability of holding a market in the real sense of the word, similar to that which was a feature many years ago, but for some unaccountable reason, probably apathy and indifference, was allowed to lapse. That was a pity. There is no reason, however, why something should not be done to re-establish the provision market on a proper basis. A country town like Bakewell, in the centre of, a wide, though scattered, agricultural area ought to have a covered-in market, either on Fridays or Saturdays, for the sale of butter, eggs, cheese, poultry, and even vegetables. We have frequently advocated a market of this kind and one which ought to have as much support as that accorded the Cattle Market on Mondays. Incidentally, we wonder what has become of the proposed scheme for making structural alterations to this market and which included the erection of a public lavatory in the Market Place. We have not heard it mentioned of late.

The discussion upon slot meters, which arose at the Bakewell Urban Council meeting and was recorded in The Derbyshire Times last week, will no doubt be appreciated by gas users, many of whom have been sorely troubled when the slot machines played them shady tricks. It is certainly not pleasant to receive a bill from the gas department tor extra gas consumed when one has placed implicit confidence in the slot meter to faithfully register every ounce - or rather cubic foot - of gas paid for in nimble pennies. The problem, however, can easily be solved. next time your slot meter goes wrong - if you are a user of gas in that way - notify the gas manager (Mr. T. W. Tiplady). Slot meters, like other, machines, get out of order sometimes.

The Derbyshire Times, Saturday, January 20th, 1923

Information compiled by Rosemary Lockie from various sources, 2000-2008.