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Tales from the Council Chamber


from The Barwicker No.77
Mar. 2005



The minutes of the Barwick-in-Elmet Parish Council in the period between the wars reveal much information about the past of the parish but also have maddening omissions where important events seem to have been completely neglected. They also reveal some rivalry between Barwick and Scholes.

PEACE CELEBRATIONS


Nothing whatsoever is recorded in the minutes of the Parish Council regarding the outbreak of World War I. However, much is recorded with regard to the "outbreak" of Peace.

At a parish council meeting held on the 7th. of July 1919, it was agreed that separate Public Meetings should be held in each ward of the Parish (i.e. in Barwick and Scholes) to discuss the best way of celebrating PEACE DAY, which had been nationally designated as Saturday the 19th. July, 1919. It was also agreed that each ward should be completely responsible for its own arrangements.

The first Public meeting was held in the Barwick Schoolroom on Monday 14th. July. It was then agreed that Peace Day Celebrations should be held - but the question of how money would be raised to pay expenses should be subject to a further meeting to be convened at another date. This proposal was not seconded but it was then proposed, seconded and finally agreed "that the appropriate steps be taken to celebrate Peace in the village". It was also agreed that "the Form" of celebrating Peace should be decided - TONIGHT.

We shall never know just what, if anything, was decided as no details are recorded of any decisions reached. After very much discussion it was agreed, by 10 votes in favour and 2 against, that a rate of 2d. in the £1 be levied to pay expenses. The date for the celebrations (whatever they were) was fixed for Bank Holiday Saturday, 2nd August - in only 19 days time!

However, on the same day a Public Meeting was held in the Council Chamber at Scholes to consider the celebration of Peace Day in Scholes. Judging by the minutes it was obvious that fast and decisive decisions were to be made. Councillor Rayner and Miss Rayner immediately promised that they would provide a tea for all school children in the ward. All those present at the meeting (numbers and names are not recorded) agreed to provide prizes for a Sports afternoon. A joint-committee of councillors and parishioners was named and appointed - although no date for the event was fixed. It was agreed that "no special rate" would be required for Scholes.

On Wednesday 16th. of July, a Special Parish Council Meeting was held and the reports from both wards' peace meetings were considered. It was then resolved that the Chairman would call another Public Meeting at Barwick - to explain the situation, state the amount at 2d. rate would realise in the Barwick ward and also report the strong opposition at Scholes against levying such a rate.

The second Public Peace Meeting at Barwick was held on 19th. July. The Chairman explained the situation - but he also stated the impossibility of levying a rate for the Barwick ward only. He then explained that in the circumstances, any expense incurred in celebrating Peace Day in Barwick, would therefore, have to be met by voluntary subscription.

If there were any further comments from the Barwick residents present at this meeting, then they were not recorded but it was IMMEDIATELY resolved that there should be NO PEACE CELEBRATIONS in BARWICK.

WAR MEMORIALS


On the 17th. January 1919, the Parish Council agreed that public meetings be held in both the Barwick and Scholes wards to be arranged by the representatives of each ward to suit their convenience "for the purpose of considering, if thought advisable, what steps, if any, should be taken to commemorate the War".

BARWICK WAR MEMORIAL


In 1919, a committee was formed to raise funds for, and subsequently erect, the Barwick War Memorial. Full details of this are aptly described by Arthur Bantoft in 'The Barwicker' No.39.

There is however no record of the existence of this committee in the Parish Council minutes until August 1920 when the Parish Council received a letter from its Secretary, Mr Arthur Booth. He stated that his committee wished to hand over the Memorial Cross to the Parish Council so that the same should be in the keeping of "the people's constitutionally elected representatives".

The Parish Council readly accepted the offer, provided that Colonel Gascoigne would give a written undertaking vesting the memorial "site" in the Parish Council for all time. Colonel Gascoigne had in fact previously written, as follows, to Mr Childe (Chairman of the Memorial Committee) on 25th, February 1919, already making such an offer:

Dear Childe,
I have much pleasure in making over the Village Cross at Barwick for the purpose of a Barwick War Memorial., providing that the Parish Council prepare whatever legal document there may be necessary for me to sign at their own expense.
Some ten or twenty years ago, the fact of my being Lord of the Manor saved what remains of this Cross from being turned into a Lamp Post, for which it was never intended.
I will tell Prater (Colonel Gascoigne's agent ) to reply to you as above. I enclose £15 (Fifteen pounds) for the Fund and £10 from Miss Gascoigne.

Yours very truly,

(signed) RFT Gascoigne
After signing the letter, Colonel Gascoigne wrote: "I should think that if I give a written undertaking that I make over the Barwick Cross to the Barwick Parish Council that that will be sufficient".

Mr Childe sent a copy of the letter to the Parish Council, which contacted its solicitors, Bromet and Sons of Tadcaster, to make the necessary legal arrangements. The solicitors replied on 11th. May 1921:

Barwick War Memorial

We have now considered this matter and have also interviewed Colonel Gascoigne and Mr Prater.
It appears to us that the old Barwick Cross is not vested in the Colonel either as Lord of the Manor or otherwise, and this being so, he has no estate or interest therein to pass on to the Council.
We return the letter for filing, and think you need not do anything further in the matter. We make no charge.

Yours faithfully,

Bromet and Son


The Parish Council immediately took over the ownership of the Barwick War Memorial. The original cross, presumed to be a market cross, was transferred circa 1920 to an area near to the entrance porch of the Parish Church. I wonder if this cross should now be included, under recent red-tape arrangements in the list of assets of the Parish Council.

The memorial suffered "desecration" in August 1930 and following a request from the British Legion, was "railed off" with posts and rails for the sum of £10. 7s. 6d. Further "malicious" damage occurred in October 1930 and again in October 1932 - the cost of the repairs being 6s. 6d. The Parish Council resolved that the account be sent to the ramblers who were responsible for the damage.

SCHOLES WAR MEMORIAL


In April 1919, it was reported that the Scholes War Memorial Committee was desirous of commemorating those who had fallen in the War and also those who had served in HM Forces during the War, by placing a clock at the Council Offices.

The Parish Council agreed that the Committee be given permisson to erect a clock on the building at Scholes and that they also be allowed to place a tablet, or tablets, in the Council Room with all the names of the men who had served in HM Forces "fighting during the War", from the Parish of Barwick-in-Elmet. The tablet is now displayed in the Manor House in Scholes.

In October 1920 it was reported that the Parish Council had received a letter from Miss Cox, Secretary of the Scholes War Memorial Committee, stating that her Committee had unanimously resolved to hand over the clock, roll of honour and tablets erected by public subscription of the inhabitants of Scholes to be held in perpetuity. This was agreed.

In August 1932 the Parish Council received a deputation from Mr Blackie and Mr Gosnay regarding the condition of the War Memorial. It was agreed to provide posts and chains and renovation of the tablet.

It was noted that, under the War Memorials Act of 1923, the Council could "claim back" any cost of improvements not exceeding £15.

In October 1932 the Parish Council approved the undermentioned expenditure:
  1. New gate and fence.
  2. Painting gate and fence.
  3. Renovating tablet.
  4. Adjacent tarmacadam paving and kerbing.


The total cost was £14. 2s. 0d

ALAN SENIOR



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