I always welcome the opportunity to talk to those Barwickers
who are our "elder statesmen", so it was with pleasure that I
greeted Mr. William Stead and his charming wife at my door
recently.
Bill lived in Barwick in his young days, but moved away to
find work as there was not much except farming or mining for the
lads at that time, neither of which attracted him as a job. He
has lived away from this area during his working life, and now
during retirement makes frequent visits to meet old friends and
relations in Barwick. Over our afternoon cup of tea he recounted
to me stories of a number of characters he remembered, in the
period 1916 to the 1920's.
There was Mr. Bowman, who acted as the Village Crier, who,
when anything important happened, would tour round the village
with his handbell, pausing at certain points to read the news.
Bill tells of "Bendy" Wilson who did a lot of poaching after
dark. A miner, he worked at the pit at Garforth.
Tom Robshaw, who looked after the village Institute taught
him and other boys to play billiards. He lived in the Church
House in Aberford Road.
Ned Wilson was the "Maypole Climber" between the wars from
1914 to 1940. He always took a collection to buy a new suit, he
said, "due to wear and tear occasioned by climbing the pole". He
lived next door to Colletts the blacksmith, then at the top of
Main Street next to Thorps' farm.
Apple Billy was the villagers supplier of fruit and
vegetables. He came with his horse and cart from Leeds every
Tuesday and Friday, and could be heard from a long way off,
shouting his wares thus:
"Apples a pound
Pears a penny
Nuts and Raisins we haven't any"
Mrs. Joe Poulter was in those days the midwife for all the
village. This was before there was a district nurse. She resided
in The Boyle next door to th~ shop (now a fish shop) ,and Bill said
she was an excellent person and did everything.
Bill Stead's father, and grandfather, both christened Thomas,
were corn stack makers and thatchers, and much in demand. Tom the
elder was a reputed authority on footpaths in the area.
Grandfather Robshaw, who also lived in The Boyle near the
Maypole, would use his pony and trap to go to his work at Garforth
pit.
Another Robshaw, Ben, also a miner, was a very good cricketer
and kept the game going in the village. This was the time when
the first cricket ground, in Leeds Road, near to the Mill, was in
use. From here, a ball hit by "Sneady' Lovett landed in a passing
hay wagon and went on its way to Leeds.
Bill is modest about his own sporting prowess, but we are
told he was a good enough footballer to have had a trial with
Leeds United.