1920 January 7th …. The Rev. T. G. Dixon was present to explain his offer of the Cricket Field, the field on South Dale & the tolls to the Trustees. Also to explain the way in which he wished the Trust carried out.

After hearing the Rev. Dixon’s explanation & offer it was proposed by Mr. Ainger & seconded by Mr. Lamb that the Rev Dixon’s offer of the fields and tolls be accepted & that the Trustees of the Public Hall take over the Trusteeship of the fields and tolls & that the members of this Trust offer their best thanks to the Rev. Dixon for his very generous offer …..

The offer is as follow:-

The right to collect Tolls in the Parish of Caistor except those at the Top House be given to the Parish and used for the benefit of the town at the discussion of the Trustees.

The field, South Dale, comprising of 2.935 acres & the Cricket Field comprising of 4.031 acres be sold to the Parish for the sum of £300 & such sum to remain on mortgage until such time that the Trustees can pay off the same at the rate of 5% interest making £15 yearly payment for the fields.

The question of electing two new members on the Trust was considered & it was resolved to ask the Rev. T. G. Dixon & Mr. A. Marrows to act on such Trust.

…. to ask those members who have not attended in the past if they wish to remain on the Trust & if not they were to be replaced by (1) Mr. T. Grant, (2) Mr. Temple, (3) Mr. Mairs, Snr., (4) Mr. Mairs, Jnr.

…. we endeavour to raise £100 before the 6th October 1920 for the purpose of reducing the loan …. Public Hall Minutes 11 September 1888 – 22 April 1920; CAIHC/CTCM/1

1920 January 17th The hope that the Caistor-Cricket Club ball would regain its pre-war popularity was realised on Wednesday night last. ……….. Hull Daily Mail

1920 March 13th

Holton

Dear Mr. Mason,

Cricket Ground

There was not time to go into the matter of letting the grass the other night, but I think the field is now in the possession of the P. H. Trustees.

To make sure it will be best for you to telephone to Mr. F. H. Nettleship or see him if he is in Caistor.

Mr. Wilson has completed the purchase of the Talbot, & I think has given up the Cricket Field.

Mr. Wilson will remove wooden shed but not disturb brick building & a payment of £2. 10. 0. is I believe due to him for the brick building.

The Pavilion he does not claim

It will be best for you to clear up all these points by communicating with Mr. Nettleship.

The meeting was very satisfactorily & the Trustees will now be able to make all arrangements.

I hope that horrid word Recreation Ground will not come into use – Playground or Park seems more suitable.

Yours truly

1. G. Dixon

CAIHC/TH/5

1920 March 16th

Holton

Dear Mr. Mason,

 

Is there a Children’s Playground Committee tonight?

I think so but I have not had notice. With snow on the ground I fancy it will be or maybe dangerous to drive so I shall probably be unable to come. If you say it is important that I should come please say so and I will try.

But you know my views and can express them.

Liberty is the chief point for the children to enjoy the ground, so that very few regulations are necessary.

A sub-committee of boy from the 2 schools might be useful (so far they have behaved extremely well as far as I have seen).

The children should have the range of the whole field and a fence, when put up, would not be there to keep them out but only sheep.

At present the Committee have no funds to erect a fence. I think sheep netting with strong wire, top and bottom, & strong posts should enclose the part planted with trees so that shrubs and flower beds may grow undisturbed.

I am afraid this fence will have to wait until next year.

The yew trees may be dangerous to sheep & I suggest that sufficient wire should be bought to go round them. If this is done sheep could come in & they would be useful in keeping down the grass.

But perhaps the owner of sheep will say that the presence of children would make it not worth while to put sheep in at all & then there is no need for a fence.

The weather has affected the yew trees & perhaps one or more may die. I planted them as a background shelter for seats.

I think the brick shed should be kept standing & tiles replaced. It will not be an eyesore if creepers & shrubs are planted near it and with an opening on the west side & some seats inside it would be a useful shelter from sudden showers.

At present the place does not look ‘park-like’ but with seats & a little layout of beds it will become a pleasant spot for older people to take the air and enjoy the sun.

I hope some person or families may give some fixed seats & a pair of iron gates for the entrance.

There should be a heap of sand for small children to play with in the summer.

Yours truly,

1. G. Dixon

CAIHC/TH/3

 

1920 About 24th March Draft of a public notice from the Caistor Public Hall re. The Park and Cricket Field

Through the arrangements of the Rev. T. G. Dixon, Holton Park, the Trustees of Caistor Public Hall have recently acquired upon certain trusts the Cricket Field adjoining the Union Road, and the field in South Dale, to be known as “The Park” subject to a mortgage of £300, bearing interest at 5% per annum.

The Trustees are desirous of repaying this amount (to Mr. Dixon) as soon as possible and as an incentive to clearing off the debt Rev. Dixon has very kindly offered to subscribe £10 if the first £100 is forthcoming by September 30th, this year.

At a Town’s meeting, held in the Public Hall, 24th March 1920 it was unanimously decided to hold a Grand Bazaar at Easter 1921, to raise the necessary funds. Whilst in the meantime, in order to raise the money, by September 30th, and thus secure Mr. Dixon’s donation and also effect a saving of interest on the mortgage, it was resolved to proceed with the following scheme:-

The Trustees propose to issue 300 loan certificates of £1 each which will not bear interest. They will be repayable out of Trust Funds as they become available. It is anticipated that by the Bazaar more than sufficient money will be raised to repay these loans; should these expectations not be realised, as many of the certificates as possible will be repaid (redeemed) as soon thereafter as can be arranged by drawing by ballot. The remainder will eventually be repaid (redeemed) by drawing by ballot to be held at least once a year, due notice of which will be exhibited on the Public Hall.

As this scheme is entirely in the interests and for the benefit of the town and neighbourhood it is confidently hoped that the necessary funds will be quickly subscribed.

The Trustees have pleasure in announcing that already the sum of £110-0-0 has been lent under the scheme and they will be very grateful for your support.

Application for further particulars may now be made to

Subscriptions will now be received by CAIHC/TH/4

1920 June 23^rd  Wesleyan Circuit Gathering. The annual Circuit gathering was held last week. The Rev T. Dinsdale Young, of London, preached in the afternoon, and in the evening delivered his lecture entitled ” Vanity Fair.” There was a splendid attendance at both services. Tea was provided, and the whole of the proceeds, in aid of the Circuit funds, amounted to £64. Mr. Raby, of Goxhill took the chair in the evening, and Mr. Thompson, of Keelby, rendered two solos. After tea, and before the lecture, Miss Emily Smith, of Caistor, gave a recital on the organ.

Arranged by Miss Grunhill. of Caistor, a dance was held last week in the Town Hall in aid of the Louth Fund, and a sum £10 afterwards forwarded to the Mayor in aid of the Relief Fund. Local talent provided the music, the duties of M.C. being carried out by Mr. J. Hartop and Mr. F. Grant. Hull Daily Mail

1920 August 18th The townspeople of Caistor turned out in large numbers on Sunday afternoon, when the unveiling and dedication service of the Memorial, erected to the memory the Caistor soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice during the Great War, was held.

Beautiful summer weather prevailed, and the proceedings throughout were exceedingly impressive. Seats for the relatives of the fallen were provided, together with a Guard of Honour of the ex-service men of the town, under the command of Mr S. J. Barkworth (late Capt. and Adj. London Regt).

Lord Worsley, in a brief address, referred to the debt of gratitude which the people of Caistor owed those who had made the supreme sacrifice, and to those who had served, this having made a meeting such as the present one, possible in safety. The services rendered and the sacrifices made, had been fully appreciated by those who were at home, and the people of Caistor had had this memorial erected to show both now and for all time, how deep their appreciation has been. The Rev G. S. Tyuck, vicar, in well-chosen words, dedicated the memorial, which was unveiled by Lord Worsley, to the playing by the Band of , “To the memory of the brave,” including the “Last Post.”

After Mr W. S. Cunnington, representing the Congregational Church, had read out the names of the men whose names are inscribed on the monument (numbering 39).

Lord Worsley addressed the assembly, remarking that while such gathering brought back many sad memories, it brought also memories of the great spirit heroism and self sacrifice so willingly offered when required, and stated that he considered the monument a fitting tribute to those who had made the greatest sacrifice of all.

During the concluding hymn, “For all the saints who from their labours rest” a large number of wreaths and floral tributes were placed on the memorial bv relatives and friends, including wreaths from “The Comrades,” and the members of the Druids’ Club, the latter, together with the members of the Oddfellows’ Club, being present in a body, wearing their regalia. Before the ceremony a half muffled peal was rung on the church bells, and a peal afterwards.

The Rev. G. S. Tyack pronounced the Benediction, which brought to a close another interesting ceremony in the old wold town of Caistor, leaving with those present, a memory that will live, and to the future generation, a monument to remind them of the part played in the Great War, by boys Caistor. Hull Daily Mail

 1920 August 21st Caistor market place is now looking spick and span. The central lamp has been repainted, and also the ornamental town pump, erected to commemorate the jubilee of Victoria, by the loyal residents is once more resplendent in gold and green. The lion in his new coat of gilt looks on serenely, while present day residents carry on their business on the site where the ancient Britons had their stronghold, and the Roman legions marched, succeeded by Saxon and Normans in turn. The lion looks on and never gives as much as a wag of his tail in approval. He did, no doubt, however, approve of his brand new coat for last Sunday’s function, for now he has got a companion as silent as himself. A grey stone cross, plain and unadorned, except by garlands of flowers, put there by loving hands, in memory of the brave lads of Caistor who went to the Great War and returned no more to this ancient town on the hill, this memorial was unveiled on Sunday last. The lion and the stone cross will live peacefully side by side, the one telling of a good queen and the piping times of peace and jubilation, the other grey and sombre, telling the of  the sorrow that war brings, giving the names of those Caistor lads who left the town in the hey day of their youth and prime. To-day they sleep in many lands having given their life for England. The cross stands in Caistor. and in scores of towns and villages of our land, saying. as the angel in the scriptures. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Hull Daily Mail

1920 August 26th … the caretaker has a salary of £2 per month as long as the hall be let as a cinema and the use by schools for drills commencing 1st Sept 1920.

…. Mr. Woodhead be requested to remove or reduce the size of the pay box in the entrance hall to the satisfaction of the committee…

…. a letter be sent to Mr. wilson requesting him to refrain from using the Green  for drying clothes; 2. allowing his chickens to run there in.

… no gambling be allowed, notice be put up and rule will be strictly enforced.

…. Mr. Woodhead to curtail lighting and heating as much as possible.

…. the scheme of raising money bonds be xxxx.

…. the pay box to be made collapsible.

…. to have a form printed for anyone engaging the room to sign undertaking that no gambling be allowed and that no drinks be sold on the premises. Public Hall Minutes 11 September 1888 – 22 April 1920; CAIHC/CTCM/1

1920 November 8th … Order 200 cards printed with agreement.

Notice to be printed as suggested … and exhibited in the down stairs rooms and in the cloak:       Scale of Charges:-

6 to 11             £1. 2. 6

6 to 2.30          £1. 15. 0

3 to 11             £1. 5. 0

9 to 6               £1. 10. 0

9 to 11             £1. 15. 0

The caretaker to see that the water is boiling by the time required by the Leasee. The caretaker duties to cease at the time stated.

Grammar School Concert to be charged £1. 15. 0 inclusive. Public Hall Minutes 11 September 1888 – 22 April 1920; CAIHC/CTCM/1

1920 November 22^nd … 35 lamps be lighted instead of 24 as per last year. As an amendment it was proposed … that 24 lamps be lighted as recommended by the Parish Council. On being put to the meeting the proposition was declared carried 6 voting in favour and 5 for the amendment.

…  £120 be levied upon the Overseers for Street Lighting …

… all persons in receipt of Outdoor Relief be excused from payment of the Lighting Rate. Caistor Town Council Minutes 4^th December 1894 – 21^st February 1961

1920 December 17th …. Insurance of the Hall to be increased to £3000.

Interest be paid to Mr. Dixon for 6 months. Public Hall Minutes 11 September 1888 – 22 April 1920; CAIHC/CTCM/1