Memorabilia 5
2. A letter from 1855
Dialogue between Alan Archer and Sheila Kelsall about the letter:
ALAN: Is any one dealing with the distant history of Hemsworth Grammar School? I have a letter "Hemsworth Hall" dated 1855. Could this be the same place?
Alan Archer.
(HGS 1958-1962)
SHEILA: Yes, we are most definitely dealing with the early history of Hemsworth Hall, and would be very interested in seeing the letter to which you refer. Are you able to scan and send it, or if not, we can make other arrangements. How did you come by it? Is it in good condition? Do, please, tell us all about it.
ALAN: Yes it is in good condition. The letter is readable and is in the original envelope with stamp. No special story about having it. I saw it on eBay and figured it would be of much greater value back in its home town. You can have it. Where should I send it, or take it? Pleased it's of interest.
SHEILA: Thank you for the scan. I certainly will keep you informed as to the way this will be displayed for all to share on the website. Translation will be the first job! The information we have so far is that in 1849 William Henry Leatham came to look round Hemsworth High Hall, and bought it from Sir Francis Linley Wood. William refurbished the house, and in 1851 took up residence with his family. He was a banker, but retired at the end of 1851 to devote his time to the improvement of the estate, and his magistrate's duties. He was a keen student of rare botanical specimens, and planted a coffee plant among many others in the grounds of the High Hall. In the 1852 general election he stood as a Liberal. The Conservative candidate defeated him by 33 votes. In 1865 he was elected, and represented Wakefield Borough until 1868. Again in 1880 he was elected against the Conservatives, and he retired from Parliamentary life in 1885. W.H. Leatham was deeply interested in the welfare of the Working Class, and a generous benefactor to the Hemsworth District. Hemsworth Library is the former reading room which he had built at his own expense, and he distributed food and fruit to the needy of the district. He was a familiar and well-respected figure in the area, and there was a sense of loss felt when he moved out of the Hall in 1887, and retired to another property he owned in Pontefract - "White House" in Carleton. (The letter is addressed to Carlton). It was there he eventually died in 1889. He is buried in the old Hemsworth Cemetery. When W.H. moved out of the Hall, his eldest son, Samuel Gurney Leatham, aged 62yrs, continued his father's role. He had gone into the family business of banking, and his large family filled two pews every Sunday at St. Helen's Church in the village. The village cricket team used the Hall cricket pitch, and as a Justice of the Peace, Samuel continued the rural traditions established by his father, but major changes were to come with the advent of the First World War ............ and so it goes on. Dave will be back from holiday in a few days, and together we will work out how best to feature the letter on the site.
ALAN: I'm certainly impressed by your information. The letter is much easier to read in the flesh but it is hurriedly written in possible anger. You have only seen one side of the page but the letter is complete. Thank you for keeping me informed.
SHEILA: This morning I received W.H. Leatham's letter, and read it properly for the first time. I was surprised at how small it is, but I agree with you, it was possibly written in irritation and at speed. I shall take great care of it, and hope you realise how much I appreciate your passing this along to me. Thank you so much. Just out of interest, whereabouts was the letter when you first recognised it as being a 'local' item of interest? Ebay seems to be an American-biased site. Such small items are easily slipped into the pages of books etc., and it would be interesting to hear of how and where it has survived for 148 years. Was it expensive to rescue?
ALAN: It obviously has great value to you and I'm very pleased about that. I had no idea when I bought it that it related to my old school. I was amazed that it was only a few pounds to buy, so in terms of money spent I have not really given you much at all. The seller was aiming to sell it to America and had published the auction in dollars .... but it received very little interest. I placed my bid 10 seconds before the auction finished, therefore there was no chance of a last minute surge in price. I will try to find out more for you but I suspect, like you say, it turned up in a book or something. I will keep my eye open for other items as I'm often on eBay. I have very little time to take close interest in a hobby like yours but I was very pleased to find that you and your friends have gone to such lengths. The originator of the 1855 letter has merely responded "pleased it was of interest" to my request for further information.
A translation.
My dear cousin,
In reply to your letter, and that of Mr. K., I have no objection to abide by the decision of the inland revenue office, at the same time, I have no doubt that Mr. K's solicitor is also communicating with the inland revenue office, and endeavouring to influence their decision, and if so, we ought to know what his statements are. The law is very clear, I am told, about the income tax, making it payable in all cases, except where specially provided that it shall not be paid, therefore it appears to me quite clear, that unless the Vice-Chancellor's order specially provided that income tax should not be paid, Mr. K. must pay it.
I have been quite laid up with cold. My wife returned home safely last evening from a journey with her father.
With love,
Your affectionate cousin,
W. Henry Leatham
Comment
This letter was written on a piece of cream-coloured writing paper seven inches by four and a half inches, and bordered with a black edge. It is folded lengthwise into thirds, and fitted into a matching envelope four and a half inches wide, and almost three inches long. Much smaller than a postcard size, the envelope is also bordered in black. Had there been recent bereavement in the family, or was this the usual stationery of Hemsworth High Hall? (Wm. Henry's father had died in 1842). Apart from the Penny Red stamp, the other items of interest are the oval embossed emblems 'Hemsworth High Hall' which appear on the point of the elegantly-shaped envelope flap and in the centre top of the writing paper, and the circular embossing in the top left-hand corner of the notepaper. This says Hicks, Wakefield, and could refer to the manufacturer or retailer of the notepaper. The left-hand side of the writing paper appears to have been torn, as from a notebook or notepad.
This is a letter from an irritated man, written at speed, with underlining used for emphasis, but still managing a flourish as he signed his name at the end. He wrote his initial 'W' and then the full name 'Henry'. Perhaps he was known as Henry rather than William? The clear intention of the letter is to make his opinion known concerning Mr. Kenworthy's obligation to pay his income tax. Note the firm full stop after the phrase "must pay it". The brevity of the family news in the last paragraph seems to indicate a weariness, or lack of patience with the situation, despite the stylised expressions of love and affection prior to his signature.
More information on the recipient of this letter - Mr. Lowitt - gives perhaps an opportunity for further research. Any help on this would be appreciated, as would the identification of Mr. Kenworthy.
The envelope has two postmarks. The one for Hemsworth, in black ink, is not dated. The Pontefract stamp has the date - 3 May, 1855 in blue ink. The addressee is a Mr Lowitt, Carlton, Pontefract, who is clearly W.H. Leatham's cousin. "White House" Carlton is the house to which Wm. Henry retired in 1887, leaving his eldest son, Samuel Gurney Leatham, aged 62, to continue running the household at Hemsworth Hall.
Sheila
3. Matriculation Certificate 1928
My family lived in Hemsworth for many years and my mother attended HSS, as it was then called, in the 1920's but, unfortunately there were no discussions about the history of the area. Education has changed so much. My mother's Matriculation Certificate, above, was signed by the first Headmaster of the school. It is quite different to our O level and A level documents.
Janet Noble
4. Fives Ball from the 1960s
Image provided by Fred Johnson. Thank you, Fred.
Fred writes: I've enclosed a photograph of a an HGS Fives Ball. FIVES by CLIFF is stamped on the leather. There is a stitched seam. Those of us who played Fives at HGS (I think it was the fame of 'Pedro' that got me interested) had to use a tennis ball and I think we played 'Eton' Fives because of the 'Pepper Box' or 'Box' for short. It has never been used although it is a bit dirty from spending the last 30 years in the attic.
Fred
