The Stories from the Stones 1 - By Steve Lavender

'Stories from the Stones'
By Steve Lavender. Please visit the Contents Page for this section, where you will find other 'Stories from the Stones.'

These same stories are also published on Penistone Archive Group's Facebook page, their Journal and in 'The Bridge' magazine issued by St John's church, Penistone. Many thanks to their tireless author, Mr Steve Lavender, for his worthy contributions to local history and this website. - JB.

Story 1 - A Sad Tale in Memory of Joseph Prigg, 1856 - 1869
The first story concerns a young boy who died working at the Penistone steelworks, a factory which was opened only a few years before the accident.

The foundation stone of the 'Penistone Steel and Iron Works' factory on the Green Road was laid on 9th June 1862 (Whit Monday) with the 'first blow' of the hammer taking place on Friday 1st May 1863. In 1864, Charles Cammell and Co. purchased the new Penistone works from Messrs. Bensons, Adamson and Garnetts. (For most of its early years, the Penistone Iron and Steel Works would be called 'Cammell-Lairds', ultimately to become David Brown's Foundries - see Grace's Guide).

Back in December 1869 it was normal for children to work alongside adults in factories, mines and all types of industries. The 1833 Factory Act stated that no child (in certain industries) could work under the age of nine and that those aged between nine and thirteen should work no more than nine hours per day. And so it was that young Joseph Prigg, just thirteen, accompanied his father to work on a cold December morning from their home at Garside’s Buildings (by the Bowling Club) to the Charles Cammell and Co Steelworks down Green Road.

Joseph’s father Thomas, was a furnaceman - he had married Ann in Bradford in January 1856 and Joseph was born there on 5th December 1856. Joseph’s sister Elizabeth was born a few years later in 1860. In 1864 the family moved from Bradford to Penistone where Thomas was employed at the Charles Cammell Steelworks. It is likely that Joseph started work at around his 10th birthday in 1866.

Penistone was a very different place in those days. In fact Thurlstone was a much bigger place then than Penistone but the arrival of the steel works changed that. In fact Britain was a very different place; the acceptance of children working in such harsh conditions wasn't going to change any time soon; in 1869 Queen Victoria was on the throne and Gladstone was her Prime Minister. Locally, Sheffield Wednesday (The Wednesday) was only in its second season and Sheffield United and Barnsley football clubs were quite a few years from their formation.

It was 6 a.m. on Tuesday 21st December 1869 when Joseph and his father Thomas arrived at work and they began their shift just like any other day. Joseph’s job was to use a two-wheeled bogey (like a wheelbarrow) to carry items of steel to and from the 12 ton forge.

At around 9 a.m. Joseph moved the bogey into place as usual but on this occasion it seems that the forge was still operating and it hit the bogey, which in turn was raised up and hit Joseph on the chest and chin. He was rushed home but sadly died that same evening.

The inquest took place on Thursday 23rd December at the house of John Armitage - the Horns Tavern - which is now the Penistone Balti. The verdict of Joseph’s death was ‘accidentally injured’. On Christmas Eve, Joseph was buried at St John’s graveyard – during our project we were moved by the discovery that the employees had contributed to the erection of a special gravestone for him. The gravestone inscription states:

'Erected by the employees of Messrs Cammell & Co in memory of Joseph Prigg who died through injuries received at the works, December 21^st 1869, Aged 13.
‘Take ye heed, watch and pray for ye know not when the time is’ St Mark 13.33.'

It is sad to recall that many children would be killed or injured during their working lives in this century and beyond and we recognise that Joseph’s story is just one amongst many. He has not been forgotten. My special thanks to John Beardwood who researched Joseph’s story and gave us permission to share it. Steve Lavender, Chair Friends of St John’s Church Penistone. October 2020.

Footnote:
This unfortunate death was discussed on Facebook (Penistone Archive Group, 3rd April 2022) in an entry by Karl Morfitt, to which Jane Raistrick very helpfully posted an image of Joseph's burial entry, showing that there was some confusion as his name was entered in the register. A mistaken name was over-written with the correct one for the boy. We can see that the burial was conducted on Christmas Eve, Friday 24th December 1869 by Penistone Vicar WS Turnbull. This was two days after the boy's death on 22nd December.

Karl's photo on Facebook is reproduced here (my thanks to Karl) and shows the very ornate gravestone with its diamond-shaped cross at the top. The gravestone is located in the lower part of the churchyard.

Newpaper Clipping
Also on Facebook, Marlene Marshall of Penistone Archive Group found a newspaper clipping in the local archives about the same accident and posted it on 5th April 2022. The reference 'BC 24-12-1868' might be the Barnsley Chronicle. In familiar newspaper tradition, it mistakes Joseph's name for that of his father Thomas:

1869 - A Boy Killed at the Penistone Iron and Steel Works - On Tuesday evening, at a late hour, a boy named THOMAS PRIGG, aged 13 years, died from the effects of injuries received at the South Yorkshire Steel and Iron Works, about twelve hours before his death. It appears that the lad, who worked with his father, was found insensible near one of the steam hammers in use at the works. It is believed that the deceased, whilst he was at work as a "firer," was struck by a "buggy," which was used for conveying the metal away. He was removed to his home where he was attended by MR WARD, surgeon, of Penistone, who found that he had been injured in the chest. B.C. 24.12.1869.