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Boyd's various sites |
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sys2508c |
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Diabolical Outrages at Whitewell. |
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An outrage, or rather series of outrages, of a most fearful and
diabolical character have recently occurred at New Hey,
Whitewell near Bolton by Bowland. They are such a nature that
had there not been the most undeniable and overwhelming evidence
of the truth, it would be difficult to believe that such things
could occur in England. The whole neighbourhood for miles has
been in a state of intense excitement and the affair has created
a most profound sensation. The Corporation of Preston are at
present engaged extending their waterworks at New Hey, Whitewell
in the Forest of Bowland by utilising the water from the rivers
Langden and Hereden. Upwards of 200 navvies are engaged on the
work and huts are erected for the accommodation of men. A man
named George Holden took a large farm-house at New Hey and
lodged between 30 and 40 of these men. From we have learned by
visit, and from eye-witnesses the life led at this huge lodging
house was of the most primitive and uncivilised kind [med14]. |
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New Hey Farm and modern extension on the left. |
The house was two storeys and had 5 rooms upstairs; and the same
downstairs. Holden also kept a 'Store' after the American
fashion, and not only supplied the hungry navvies with vittles,
but with clothing. Before any man retired to bed he had to pay
3d and he had to pay for his food before he got it. He also sold
beer without a licence and had as many as 20 or 30 barrels of
beer on the premises at anyone time. We have been informed that
women who were not of the most exemplary conduct were also kept
on the premise.
[Verdanda med 14pt] |
New Hey Farm. |
On 11 th inst. Holden had to go to Preston on some business and
on the Thursday following, his wife went after him, leaving the
place in charge of his father in law and the servant. The men
who at there best, were the most drunken proclivities. During
the absence of Holden strange rumours were heard, one being to
the effect that the bailiffs were coming and another was that
Holden had eloped to Preston Corporation. The men commenced
drinking hard on Thursday and continued till Saturday, entirely
neglecting their work. On Friday night the men commenced in a
series of orgies of the most diabolical description. In the
meantime the young women, after a series of indecent and strange
escapades, went no-one knows where. All this time the men were
drinking. There being twenty barrels of beer on the premises.
Some of the went and filled buckets with beer and visited the
men and asked them to sup. Some did so quietly and others
refused. Those who refused had the ale poured over them. The
drinking then became fearful. As daylight broke over the
peaceful and rural scene outside, yells and screeches greeted
the ears inside. Finally the men, being mad with drink and rage,
commenced to smash the house and its contents. Doors were
wrenched off their hinges, pots, pans, glasses and windows,
window frames and furniture were all smashed. A valuable 8 day
clock was kicked to pieces. Boxes were smashed open, £20 was
stolen; wearing apparel, bedding and furniture were thrown out
of windows. The premises were literally flooded with beer, the
men drank beer out of the pots, basins, buckets, chamber
utensils, dolly tubs and finally one inventive genius brought a
wheelbarrow. The men sang a comic song composed a few days
previously, A number of men rushed upstairs and seized hold of a
man who was laying sick in bed, stripped him and brutally kicked
him downstairs, He was left lying on the floor with his leg
broken and now lies in a bad state in the Preston Infirmary.
Holdens father in law, an old man apparently over 60 years of
age, was thrown on the floor and a stalwart brute resumed to
batter him head with a pot and swore he would kill him.
Fortunately he was rescued before life was extinct. The men
stripped themselves naked and went into the fields where they
fought. There was a steep incline near to the house, and the
drunken fellows rolled down the field and were scarcely able to
crawl. After rolling about 40 to 50 yards the men became
frantic. And the one called 'wild fire' was about to set fire to
the premises when he was stopped by the gangs. Words cannot
describe the fearful state of things. The horrible cursing and
beastly conduct that baffles all description. The orgies that
were indulged in were fiendish and if we dared shock our readers
by describing them they would be scarcely credible. When the
fury of the men had somewhat spent itself, some neighbours went
and knocked the heads off the barrels of beer in, and let the
beer escape. Some notion may be formed of the amount of beer
consumed when we state that we counted 37 empty barrels. Holden
was going to return on the Saturday night but he was informed if
he did he would lose his life, so he wisely stayed away. His
wife however had more courage and went but when she saw the
state of things she made the best of her way from the place and
happily without injury. Most of the men engaged in these
horrible proceedings, went away on the Sunday and have not been
heard of. The total damage is estimated at £90: the place as
been so rough that no one dare go near. We were informed that a
short time ago one policeman had the courage to go to the place
but he was stripped, tied to a tree. And a man stood near him
waving a bowie knife and threatened that if he spoke he would
rip him open. On Sunday last 5 men were locked up on suspicion
of having been concerned in the matter.
2nd May 1874
A
STEP BACK IN TIME Chronicle of Village Life in & Around
Longridge 1800s — 1900s
Step Back in Time: Chronicles of
Village Life in and Around Longridge
by Jane Riding Smyth
Paperback, 216 Pages, Published 1996
[From Roy Davies
13/02/2010] |
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