August 15th – As the Royton coach was travailing from Royton to Manchester heavy laden with passengers both inside and outside, when at Coppice Nook, Werneth, a cry was raised that the coach was breaking down, when James Lees, of Highgate, manufacturer, jumped from the top of the coach, and had the misfortune to break his leg, split his knee, bruse his ancle, and other parts of his body seriously injured. August 19th, 20th, and 21st – Very hot days, and excessive droughty. August 22rd – Four persons of the name of Marsland, and all of one family, and who resided in Denton-lane, where taken before Mr. Holme, and by him committed to the New Bailey on a charge of stealing. August 22nd – One Ogden, a young woman of Royton, died a few days since, and it being surmised she was poisoned by her sweetheart, she was on the 19th inst. examined by Dr. Taylor, of Royton. The coroner, Mr. Farrand, was at Lancaster, and could not attend till this day, and as the body had lain so long before examination, Dr. Taylor could not determine whether she was poisoned or no. August 23rd – This day died at Oldham George Wright, master of the Hare and Hounds. He had been huntsman to the Oldham pack of hounds upwards of 50 years. His age 77 years. George Wright was the embodiment of a an old instinct which, besides being thoroughly English was pre-eminently local. As regards Oldham, if we but knew the annals of its hunting days many a rare tome could be written of them. For five centuries back, at least, we find traces of the sportsman-like qualities of the ancient Oldhamer. Have we not a Foxdenton, a Falconhurst, a Hawk’s New Meadow? Did not that veteran scholar and Puritan Divine, erst of “Ye Leze,” consume much of his time in hunting and hawking which should have been spent otherwise, being – mark the words – indulged by his father”? Did not our own Sir Roger - I mean Sir Watts – and the mighty “Pickford” keep each his own pack? Was there not an unquenchable rivalry between these respective meets and also between those of the Stake Hill and Oldham hounds? The Oldham hunt, which was followed for 52 years by George Wright, seems to have been made up of the smaller fry of the local gentry. Who these local gentry were in George Wright’s time, I have no means of judging. Our foxes had died out, and it was necessary to hunt the hare if we must hunt at all, and so a pack of harriers was kept, of which George Wright was the huntsman. Riders many there were in the hunt, but George’s Bucephalus was a pair of stout shanks which he had brought into the world with him, and which stood him in great stead for at least 52 years he was Oldham huntsman. |
Those who have seen his likeness as pourtrayed by some local artist on the hunting field, would find him not far from his pack in its full cry, and he seems to be running to the full bent of his purpose. Many reminiscences of George Wright are still preserved. I am told – his cap, coat, and horn, and I can fancy some simpering utilitarian saying, what good are they, or what good was George Wright straining his muscular body in this way to run out the life of a harmless puss. The answer can only be the general one, that wisdom is justified of her children. Why were our old laws conceived in a hunting spirit? What was the meaning of free warren being granted from time almost immemorial almost universally in England? But the best answer to a utilitarian question is also utilitarian. What must have been the effect of such a pastime on the health and physique of the people? Hunting literature is very scarce among us now; almost the only vestige left is an echo of an old nursery song “A hunting we will go – will go; We’ll wear the cap of liberty, and a hunting we will go.” The spirit of this old hunting craze seems to have been well concentrated in a modern song, of which, with many apologies to the author, the following is a faint echo:- Neighbour Dick to his mate Each weaver and spinner |
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August 26th – George Hanson, of Middleton, a traveler with stocins, handkerchiefs, &c., suddenly attacted with a sickness of wich he died in a few days; a man with a fair character. August 26th - Was Oldham Rushbearing Sauterday. A fine day but very few company, little spending, and no rushcart. August 27th – Sunday, very few strangers and no spending. August 28th – Monday, a fine day, and a deal of company, and there where two rush carts but they where very small and mean in the extreem. One came from Bent and the other from Mumps, near Greenacres Moor. There was a cart laden with coals wich came from Dry Clough; the cobs with wich it was laden where of great size. There was a cart from Shaw in wich was placed a pair of looms, on wich a person was weaving and another was winding another pair of looms of similar description wich came from St. Hellens, Northmoor. They had a very novel apearance, and atracted a deal of admiration. Spending was very little and was chiefly done at the hush houses wich where very numerous. It is almost laughable how the law was set at defiance of the hushsellers in those times. The new Police Act, however, altered all this. In the administration of the law as well as in other matters, Oldham has greatly progressed since then. September 3rd – Very fine weather, but in consequence of the excessive drought of this summer and the general failure of oats most part of dealers are selling meal 2s. 6d. to 2s. 8d. a peck. Turnips have entirely failed. Several farmers have sown three times over, and the crops have each time failed. Weaving continues very bad. For two in breadth of cord they are giving 10d. a pond, for cords or velveteens wove exceeding strong 11d. to 1s. a pond is paid, of an inferior or lighter kind 9d. to 10d. a pond is given; tabbys on the finer sort 22s. a cut, but most have 11 ponds of sixty hanks and upwards of weft in, and 19s. for 11 ponds of weft of a coarser kind of weft and all kinds of lyght goods wages very low. Hating is nearly at a stand, great numbers being without any work at all. Meal and flour is given in all parts of the country in proportion to the number and disstress of familys, but as meal is become such a dear article in several places meal is omitted, and a large portion of flour is given. September 1st – This day his Majesty in council at Windsor issued out his proclamation for the importation of oats on paying 2s. per quarter, meal 2s. 2d. per boll, rye, peas, and beans 3s. 6d. per quarter, which had the effect of lowering meal in the course of a few days from 8s. to 10s. a load. This seems to have been a temporary measure occasioned by the high price of meal and the distressed condition of the people. It will be noticed that flour had been substituted for meal in dispensing charity. Meal was evidently at that time the food of a large portion of the people. In most of the old houses havercake bakestones were indispensable. |
September 10th – Was intered at Oldham Robert Howard, greengrocer; age, 72 years. September 12th – Roberry. This afternoon Mrs. Ann Horrocks, mistriss of the Chesshire Cheese public-house, Oldham, discovered that she had been robbed of upwards of £140 in cash, wich they had stolen out of her safe in the chamber. Suspicion fell on two private soldiers of the 53rd Regement, wich where quartered here. They had fleed with the money, but where pursued, and Woodhead, with the cash in possesion, was brought back to Oldham, and by Mr. Holme commited to the New Bayley for tryal. September 13th – Was the day for granting licenses at Oldham, when the old ones where granted, and a few of the old landlords rebuked for their conduct, and John Ashworth, late of the White Heart, Maygate-lane, had one for a new house, Royton-street; John Garside, of near Coldhurst, for a new house there; Simson, for a new house;, bottom of Hollinwood; one for a house at Shaw; one for a house at Hollins; and Benjamin Clegg, of the Iron Dish, near the Lamb Inn, Oldham, had obtained a license for a new house situate at Mill End, Oldham, and Whittaker enters on the house late Benjamin Clegg’s, which was formerly called the Iron Dish. In this month a deal of pottatoes where stolen from different farmers in this country, and particularly in this neighbourhood. These depredations are jenarally committed in the night, and no wonder, considering the state of the country. October 10th - The spinners in most of the factorys in Oldham and its environs are now at a stand, not having yet submited to prices offered by their masters. It causes a deal of confusion, mallice, and private damage. Some spinners have begun to spin at the abated price wich are denominated “Nob Sticks,” and who are in emenent danger of their lives from the turnouts. October 7th – A deal of flour was given to the poor at Oldham this day; as much as from 2 pounds to 18 pounds in a family. It was given according to the number of mouths in a family. October 10th – This day they are giving a quantity of clogs in Chadderton town. They are of a good kind, being new both tops and bottoms. October 12th – Michael Rowbottom and his daughter Betty left Burnly-lane for America. October 18th – The spinners and there masters are still at the greatest variances, both sides refusing to give the least way, and it must be acknowledged that the most wanton acts of barbarity are inflicted on those unfortunate men called knobsticks. A deal of mischief is done by breaking windows and other malicious acts. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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