Blog

Bamfurlong (Interesting Old News)

Published by Brian on Friday 22nd July 2022

It's time for more interesting old news, this time from Bamfurlong. I've delved into the archives and have found some interesting articles dated between 1886 and 1917...

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 03 November 1886

KILLED ON THE LINE AT BAMFURLONG.

On Monday, at moon, Mr. Brighouse held an inquest at the Bamfurlong Hotel, Bamfurlong on the body of a man, whose name was unknown, whose dead body was found on the London and North-Western Railway between Golborne and Bamfurlong on Friday. - Mr. T, Arthur, manager at Springs Branch, attended the inquiry. - Harry Parkerm 27, Collier's Houses, Platt Bridge, said that on Friday last, about ten minutes to six, he was walking on the London and North-Western Railway near the Bamfurlong station. He saw the deceased lying in the four-foot. His head was under his body, and he appeared to have been knocked down. He was quite dead. Witness informed the stationmaster at Bamfurlong and the police, and the body was taken to Bamfurlong Hotel. According to the position in which the deceased was found, witness thought he must have been hit on the back. Two trains passed witness while he was on the line. - John Waterworth, factory-lane, Golborne, said he saw the deceased at 5 25 on the railway. He was in the six-foot, and was walking from Golborne. The place where he was found was a mile distant from where witness saw him. The deceased asked witness how far he was from Platt Bridge, and witness told him, and he went on his way. Witness though deceased was a tramp. He had a stick with him. - Louisa Butterworth, wife of Police-constable Butterworth, stationed an Abram-brow, Abram, said that while standing at her door about noon, on Friday, the deceased came to her and asked her for a stick. She gave hime one, and the stick produced was the same. The deceased appeared to be a tramp. He said he was a joiner, but being subject to fits he was unable to follow his employment. - Police-constable Waddicor said that on Friday he found the deceased on the line, and had him removed to the hotel. He though the deceased had been knocked down by a train going in the direction of Wigan. He was five feet six inches in height, and light complexioned. He wore a black cloth coat, a red and white scarf, cotton cord vest, moleskin trousers, no stockings, elastic side boots, felt hat and a blue plaid cotton shirt. He found 10d. pinned in the lining of a pocket. - By the Foreman: Parker did not remove the body from the four-foot when he found the deceased, and consequently while he was going for assistance another train passed over him. - By the Coroner: He was about 60 years of age. - A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

---

Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser 22 July 1887

A DANGEROUS CHARACTER.

At the Wigan County Police Court on Friday, John Orrell was summoned for assaulting P.C. Waddicombe on the 14th of July, whilst in the execution of his duty at Abram. - Complainant stated that about two o'clock on Thursday morning he was on duty on Little-lane, Abram, when he heard the reports of two shots of a gun. Witness proceeded to where the sounds came from, and got to the end of Bryn-lane, when he saw prisoner and another man coming along. Witness hid behind a gate post until they had passed, when he ran after them and asked what they had been doing. Prisoner turned round and caught complainant by the throat and threw him down. He pressed witness's head with his knees till blood came out of his ears. Witness managed to get up and the prisoner called the other man to help him, but he did not. Witness followed them to Bamfurlong, and after a desperate and long struggle, kept hold of the prisoner till assistance came, when prisoner was apprehended. Prisoner said if witness tried to seize him again he would kill him. - Prisoner, who pleaded guilty, was sent to prison for a month with hard labour, he having been up previously for nearly every class of offence. - Another charge of poaching was preferred against the prisoner, but was withdrawn.

---

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 24 August 1889

ASSAULT.

Wm. Whittle, a young man living at Abram, was summoned for assaulting Ann Shaw, a married woman of Bamfurlong. - Mr. Kees appeared for the complainant, who said that while she was in a neighbour's house the defendant came in. He was drunk, and began to talk about pigeon flying and betting. He put half a crown down on the table, and complainant, who had lent the defendant eighteen-pence some time previously, picked it up and put a shilling down. Whittle then became abusive and used foul language, and finally kicked complainant on the elbow. - Edward Milla, Wm. Hargreaves, and Margaret Carrol corroborated this evidence. - The defendant said that the complainant threw a bottle at him, and said that Shaw hit him before he did anything, and this story was supported by James Wright, Margaret Foster and Harriet Heyes. - Mr. Walmesley said they considered the assault proved, and the defendant would have to pay 5s. and costs.

---

Manchester Evening News 16 October 1890

RAILWAY BLOCK AT BAMFURLONG.

When the 8 15 train from Wigan to Warrington arrived at Bamfurlong this morning it was found that one of the boiler tubes had burst, letting out the water, and the train could not proceed. A fresh engine was procured, but a number of business gentlemen travelling to Warrington, Liverpool and Manchester missed their connections at Newton-le-Willows, and were delayed upwards of an hour. The line was blocked at Bamfurlong for a considerable time and much inconvenience caused.

---

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 25 July 1894

WAS THE DEAFNESS GENUINE?

Albert Williams, of Bamfurlong, was charged with travelling from Bamfurlong to Wigan without paying his fare and with intent to defraud. - Railway Detective Payne said that on Saturday evening he saw the 6 12 train come from Bamfurlong, the prisoner getting out of one of the carriages. He was making his way out when witness asked him for his ticket, and he answered that he had not come by train, and that he wanted to know what time the next train went to Chorley. Witness told him that he had seen him get off the train, and he then admitted that he had come from Bamfurlong. He further said he had given the ticket collector a shilling and was waiting for his change. This was proved to be false, and the man was taken into custody. - Prisoner appeared to be very deaf, and a good deal of trouble was experienced in making him understand the evidence against him. - Detective Payne stated that this was all a pretence, and that he was quick enough at hearing when on the station. - Prisoner was ordered to pay the railway fare and was fined 5s. and costs.

---

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 25 May 1909

Three Years In Inebriates' Home

A young married woman named Catherine Speakman, of 62, Lily-lane, Bamfurlong, was brought up for being drunk and incapable in Wallgate. The Chief Constable spoke to the many convictions against the prisoner, and submitted that she ought to have the full benefit of the Inebriates' Act. The woman was committed to a home for three years, although she pleaded not to be sent there.

---

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 03 November 1910

BAMFURLONG GIRL'S DEATH.

The police report the death of Lily Lee Ruck, aged 9, daughter of Thomas Ruck; a fireman, of 212, Lily-lane, Bamfurlong, which occurred on Friday, last week. It appears the deceased had been a delicate child since birth. She came home from school on the 13th ult. and complained of a pain in her right leg. She said she had not hurt herself, but later she said a lad had kicked her. Her father, however, could not see any marks. Dr. Clarke, of Platt Bridge, was called in on the 17th ult., and he attended deceased until her death. From inquiries made, the report states it would seem that children were sliding in the school yard, and deceased fell, and no information could be got about a boy kicking the deceased. The doctor said the cause of death was erysipelas in the right leg, and deceased was also suffering from tuberculosis and was very delicate.

---

Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 12 June 1917

Summonses for Gaming.

Seven men living at Bamfurlong were summoned for gaming in a public place at Bamfurlong on Whit Sunday afternoon by plaint cards. Police constable Lavery, who proved the case stated that he watched the defendants from a place of concealment, and with the aid of a pair of field glasses. He was in plain clothes, and when the defendants saw him approaching them they ran away.
Each of the defendants denied on oath playing cards or gaming, and they also asserted that they did not run away. Five of the men had been previously convicted of a similar offence. Two were fined 35s., three were fined 25s., and the remaining two were given the benefit of the doubt.