1947 - Water Closets, Butter, Street Lamps and Cricket
1947 was about more than just feeling the financial pinch, Dennis Compton’s glorious batting and a shocking winter. Many residents of Ushaw Moor, Browney Colliery and Waterhouses were unhappy about water closet management. At Browney many of the closets were not fit for use and many residents had to visit neighbours to meet their personal and natural requirements. The wagons called fortnightly and were inadequate during the hot summer conditions. At Waterhouses and Ushaw Moor the refuse was emptied into the streets prior to removal on to the wagons but children were often playing nearby. To make matters worse - the wagons were driving around the streets uncovered. There was considerable anger expressed by some at the time and no doubt there was a fear of epidemics – shades of Victorian town life! The stated reason for the uncovered wagons was a shortage of sheet metal but it was said to have arrived so matters could only improve. A new wagon that had been on order for over twelve months was said to be due shortly and that was promising.
A report by a Sanitary Inspector that 252 and a quarter pounds of butter had been condemned in the district brought comments from several councillors. One remarked on the alleged wastage and suggested that grocers should be allowed to sell extra to customers when there was a possibility of butter going bad. This will be linked to rationing which was still very much in place. It was decided that a letter of complaint would be sent to the Food Office.
A letter from the Assistant Chief Constable requiring all street lamps to be extinguished at midnight raised a storm of protest from Brandon Urban District Council. Many of the roads in the district [including Ushaw Moor?] were still in a bad condition. If trunk roads were lit up it was said to be only right that the men who got the coal should have light to guide them to work. I imagine that it was comparatively straight forward to get to work at Ushaw Moor, without lights - but comment is welcome. One observation was that the essential time for lights was 3am. At the time the Council was required to reduce electricity consumption by 50%.
Ushaw Moor Cricket Club played Langley Park Cricket Club in an effort for the Morrison Pit Relief Fund. In 1947 Langley Park had won the John Saunders Cup, North West Durham League Knock Out Cup, Walton Bowl, and were runners up in both the North West Durham League and Matthew Oswald Cup. Of course Ushaw Moor had won the Mid Durham Senior League in 1947.I do not know the result of this friendly game. I wonder whether the Mid Durham Senior League was regarded as superior to the North West Durham League. I do know that the Tyneside Senior League was a higher league that the North West Durham League [South Moor, one of my former clubs, were promoted from the latter to the former].
Wilf Bell
