Memories
On this page we hope to record people's memories of life in Spaldington in the past. Many thanks to everyone who has very kindly shared their own stories and those of their family, past and present. It is so important that these memories are not lost!
As new memories arrive, we will post them at the top of this page ... but please don't forget to scroll down to see earlier entries - they are all such fascinating insights into life in Spaldington in the past!
Bill Atkinson & Brian Terry, by Susan Butler
Many years ago I knew a gentleman called Bill Atkinson who, long before the days of the internet. made a study of the village. His work is invaluable today.
My memories of Spaldington centre on visiting a shop/emporium/ shed in the village run by a gentleman called Brian Terry. My father often took my brother and myself there where you could buy all sorts ranging from tools, nails, paint etc to wellingtons, torches and shoelaces - in fact almost anything. Of course he is long gone but I can still remember the varied contents and characteristic smell of his premises.
Isobel Clayton & Fred Featherstone, by Wendy Hall-Robertson
My Nana was Isobel Clayton, she lived at Skytam Lodge, Gilberdyke with her parents and siblings. Her father was a manager at the Staddlethorpe Flax Mill. They were always well respected.
She was only about 14/15 years old when she left home to work at Spaldington Hall. She entered the kitchen and soon showed potential to be pastry cook, her pastries were scrumptious. She was an all round cook, her meals were equally scrumptious too.
She would cycle most Sundays back home to Gilberdyke after church, on her own to begin with, but she was a family orientated person and carried this through her lifetime too.
She met her husband-to-be, Fred Featherstone, whose father Alf Featherstone had the steam engines for roadworks n farming, at Newport. Fred also worked elsewhere as a horseman/teamman. Fred would cycle to meet her n then cycle back with her, then cycle home himself, all this in an afternoon and evening in light nights. Fred fastened hooks up in the farm shed at SH for her to put her bike up out of the way.
The Featherstone families were well respected, but oh, they loved their beer!! Nana was a staunch Methodist and women didn't drink, only port or sherry and a Mackeson!!
She said it was hard work at Spaldington Hall, but it stood her firmly for when she married and they lived in Thornton House, Staddlethorpe Fred becoming manager. Nana along with the others cooked n baked for all farm workers for breaks n meals.
After retirement they left and moved into a council house on Station Rd, Gilberdyke.
Fred worked laying hedges, cleaning dykes, paint factory, helping farmers harvest, he died working in his own garden.
Nana loved her time at SH, it provided a job with good food and comfortable accommodation.
I would love to be able to locate the SH records to see if she is noted, so far I have not located them in any archives ?
I hope this very brief jnfo gives a glimpse into the life of Nana below stairs.
Thank you, Wendy, for this lovely insight into your Nana's life at Spaldington Hall. We haven't yet found any staff records for Spaldington Hall, although I have found an entry for your Grandparents in the 1921 census, when they were living at Thornton House. Fred was 29 years 9 months old and working as a Farm Foreman for John Patchett. Fred was born in Laxton, according to the census. Isobel was 25 years 9 months old, born at Staddlethorpe. Their one year old daughter, Eileen, was living with them. Going back ten years and, in the 1911 census, we find Isobel still living with her parents at Staddlethorpe. Her occupation was listed as 'Wool Trade'. So, presumably, her employment at the Hall occurred sometime between 1911 and 1918, when Isobel married Fred.
School House, Meadow Farm and Villa Farm, by Elaine Home
Miss Everett was the School Mistress and lived in the School house & Miss Jessop cycled from near Bellcross to teach the infants. Miss Everett left Spaldington and took up a teaching post in Bishop Burton. Mr Harold Foley came next, his wife Monica taught ‘Domestic Science’ at Howden, they had I think three children Glyn & Marilyn are names I remember.
My Uncle and Aunt lived at Meadow Farm with my two cousins, I spent time with them although I only lived in the Village. My Uncle was one of the nicest persons you could ever hope to meet and were great friends with the Foley family, he went on to manage a farm on the Hotham Estate at Dalton Home.
To the right - Villa Farm ... now demolished!
Meadow Farm & general Spaldington memories, by Ian Underwood
My father and mother purchased Meadow farm Spaldington in 1967, I was aged 6 and my brother was 1 year old. I attended the village primary school which closed around 1971 and we were relocated to Howden Junior School in Hailgate.
In the village there was a chapel, clad in corrugated iron sheets which we attended on Sundays, Mini Ferguson who had a shop close by to the chapel played the organ, I remember going into Mrs Fergusons shop and getting sweets for a half penny and penny, usually bubble gum mojo's fruit salads black jacks penny arrows quarter of sherbet lemons etc.
The village pub was called the Plough Inn it was run by landlord Jack Featherstone and his wife Rose, Jack passed away in the early 70's and Rose kept the pub on into the late 70's. The next owners where Mick and Beryl Jempson.
The farmers in the village were Tim Lissiter Town End Farm, Cyril, Stanley and Clive Clark Holme Farm, Howard Gore Manor Farm, Cottage Farm and Johnsons farm were run by R.H Falkingham.
Brian Terry had an iron mongers business which sold every thing from work boots car radios timber roof sheeting wiring netting, an aladdins cave of merchandise! My father would often find he needed something whilst doing repair work to the buildings or gardening, so off I would be sent with a list to Brian Terrys.
Spaldington Hall was an eerie old place as it was all derelict at that time, the older locals told us it was haunted by calf without a head, a pig without a tail and a horse without a hoof! We never hung around long enough to find out!!
Our family lived in the far end cottage which was Meadow Farm, George Buck who was a dairy farmer, owned the farm before us. In 1967 Mr Gandy the Spaldington School headmaster lived in the school house for a short while. He moved on from Spaldington school to be replaced by Mr Wood from Pocklington, the house remained empty for a while until another teacher Mr Penfold and his family moved in.
(Photo source: Elaine Home)
Mrs Ann Martin & the Drury family
Mrs Ann Martin, also known as Granny Martin, was interviewed by the press in 1914 when she was in her 96th year. She was a daughter of the Drury family, of Spaldington. (Research suggests that the correct spelling of Ann's maiden name was DREWARY, not DRURY).
She was born at Villa Cottage Farm (now named Oak Tree Farm). Her brother (Dad Drury) was well know as the village pig killer. Mrs Martin’s father-in-law who farmed at Warham Farm is said to be the first farmer to grow potatoes in Spaldington. There was no school at that time except being taught needlework and reading at a cottage by Mrs Mary Dove (The Dove family kept the Plough Inn for many years). Her first wage in domestic service being £2 per year.
She well remembered Snowdon Dunhill and when she married at 24 years the couple lived in Snowden’s thatched cottage (after he was transported to Botany Bay for thirty years).
The Martins then removed to Sandwood Cottage Farm, its acreage was 104, and the rent £45. Sir Henry Mervyn Vavasour occasionally called to see them. They farmed there for thirty years. Mr Martin died in 1901, at 77 years of age. [1]
Further Information:
Ann was born circa 1821 in Spaldington, the daughter of William Drewary.
1841: Ann was working as a servant in Flatt Gate, Howden, in the household of Mary Warsop.
2nd March 1848: John Martin married Ann Drewary at Bubwith.
1851: Ann and agricultural labourer, John, were living at Spaldington Outsides with two year old son, Edwin, 4 month old son Benjamin, and son, George Drewery (stet).
1861: Ann was living with her husband, John Martin, and sons Edwin (born 1849) and Benjamin (b.1851) and daughter, Hannah (b.1857) at Syke Farm Cottage.
1871: On the 1871 census Ann and John's address was given as Spaldington Outsides. Their daughter, Hannah, was also in the household.
1881: The family were now living at Sand Pit Farm (aka Sandwood Farm). Also in the household was granddaughter, Ada Lister. Daughter, Hannah, had by now married Benjamin Dennison of Selby, at St James' Church, Hull.
1887: In 1887, John Martin was elected to the Spaldington School Board.
1891: Ada was still in the household in 1891, alongside John, Ann and their married son, Benjamin.
18th March 1901: Burial of John Martin at Bubwith.
5th April 1901: At the time of the 1901 census, widow, Ann, was now living at Sandwood Farm, together with son, Edwin and his wife, Emma. Granddaughter, Ada, was also in the household, but now under her married name of Ada Reed.
1911: 90 year old Ann was living with granddaughter, Ada, Ada's husband, farmer George Reed, and their six children, still at Spaldington.
1915: Ann died at the age of 97 years. She was buried in Bubwith on 16th February 1915.
Sources
From unpublished notes collected by Bill Atkinson in 1979.