One young Lancashire soldier, enlisted on 8 August, 1914, didn't think much of Sutton: ²

"We were billeted in a school and barns. Our training was harder than ever it had been, and our liberty absolutely nil. This did not go down well with the boys and there was a lot of crime, the boys breaking out of the village and some not coming back at all. Others volunteered for active service and were actually clamouring to be put on drafts for the front, preferring the dangers of France to the hard training and strict routine in that village . . . "

Soldiers encamped in the fields of Holm Oak Farm, 1916

The presence of large buildings of course, was one of the reasons why Sutton took such vast numbers of soldiers - but also it was rural, and it had a train station, ideal for delivering rations and equipment.³ Not that the men at first were equipped, either with uniforms or weapons. The basic training consisted of foot drills and route marches, quick responses to discipline, field techniques and formations. The men would train only for a month or so before being drafted to France, and another battalion would be formed, only to be decimated at the Front.

Recruits lined up outside James Calvert's smithy, Potterill Lane, 1915
The small boy is Cliff Hakeney

People at home 'did their bit'. Elizabeth 'Grandma' Bayston ran a knitting class at her home near the top of Potterill Lane. Little Ethel Pinkney, aged 5, knitted socks for the soldiers. Dorothy Porter press-ganged village children into holding a stall outside Kirton's shop in 1914, and raised £2 'for the Belgians'. She holds the pot of money in the photograph below.

Village children and their fund-raising for refugees

Later, after conscription had been introduced, the army erected a large hut near the site of the present church hall, leaving it after Peace was declared to the young people of the village, and thus dubbed the 'YM hut'.

Outside the YM hut, Feb 1915

The list of Sutton casualties makes miserable reading - 36 from a comparatively small area. Ethel Pinkney's father was killed, leaving his wife with eight children to raise in Albert Terrace; two of the Baystons gone; Alice Coates' 21-year-old brother, Richard, only just married; three of the Wilkinson family. Many others wounded, like Albert Topham and John Casson in the Battle of the Somme. Eventually, villagers collected for the inevitable War Memorial, an ever-present reminder.

Sutton War Memorial, 1921

Sufficient funds were raised for a Memorial Cottage in Potterill Lane, purchased for a resident nurse. The house still bears the plaque, though its use was felt to be superfluous when the NHS was introduced.

In Wawne, just one young man was killed - the son of the grocer Mr J Brown. The Celtic Cross in the churchyard bears his name, and that of Arthur Bromby who was to die in 1941.

Soon after the war ended, Daniel Kirton, the shopkeeper at the corner of Church Street, was preparing for a wedding. He was a sadler, making horses' saddles, bridles, reins, and whips. One window of his shop, in which he arranged these goods, looked onto College Street. He would sit on a high stool at his wooden counter where he kept his tools, and was 'an excellent craftsman'

His daughter Lilian displayed 'her' goods in the Church Street window - boiled sweets, liquorice, and ½d. bars of chocolate. At Christmas she sold coloured tissue paper, tinsel and small toys. She was a great favourite with the children, and ran a scheme whereby they could save 1d a week for Christmas presents.

It was Lilian's sister, Emily, who was getting married.  Her future husband was Thomas Robson, the stationmaster, reputed to be "a wizard at Maths. He could do any calculation in his head."⁴   'Tommy' was involved in many village activities. He was a widower of 43 in 1918, having two daughters, Elsie and Ivy.⁵ He and Emily had three children - Kenneth, Enid and Betty.

Bowling Club 1923
'Tommy' Robson on right. Child Kenneth front

Newcomers to the village in 1924 were Mr and Mrs Porter, who moved to one of the four cottages adjoining the Church Room, which were later bought by William Waterhouse. These cottages were interesting historically, as they were thought to date from pre-enclosure times. Charles Porter's sister had been the previous tenant, and Charles saw in its design a good opportunity to set up a shoe repairer's business; it consisted of a small workshop (the tallest part in the photograph below), attached to the cottage. Charles' son, also Charles, takes up the story:

"I would be five when we came to Rokeby Cottage, and my father started the business. This wasn't very popular with some people, because we found out later that there was another shoe repairer in the village, a fellow called Pooley.⁶ There was a happy truce, though, because if Mr Pooley ran short of heels, my father would lend him some, or if my father ran short of sole or nails, I was despatched to Mr Pooley's to get some.

"Going from the Church Room, there were people called Hannah, then our wee shop and cottage, then the Feaneys, and Suddaby nearest the church. Outside it was all cobbled. There was no kerb edge, the cobblestones went straight into the road. At the back there was a yard, which my father covered over with wood to make a sort of roof, and you could look over the fields except it was like a rising bank from the back yard up to the fields. Standing at the back door looking left, there were three doors; the first was for storage, the second a coalhouse, and the third was a loo, not a water toilet, but one of those things where the chap had to come every week and carry the bin away.

"Going in the front door, it opened directly into the general purpose living room. Most of the cooking was done on the Yorkist stove. We had gas then. On the left was the master bedroom where mum and dad were. In the corner of the living room was a doorway and then stairs, which led up to a sort of attic with sloping roof. My father quickly lined it with timber and it made a very nice room, one for my sister and one for myself." ⁷

Church Cottages 1923

When the church cottages were threatened with demolition in the '60s, amateur artists came to paint them - but inevitably they were knocked down in 1972. The Rectory garden was laid over heaps of masonry and rubble from the old cottages.

The older inhabitants of Sutton always maintain that the years between the wars were the best. It was a companionable community, bursting with fun and vibrancy. The Reading Room continued from strength to strength, the ladies actually being voted onto the committee by 1922, and were allowed to play whist and even read.  The Tennis Club was the 'in' thing for the youth of Sutton in the 1920s and '30s.

Harold Beckett, Dorothy Stainton, Doris Beckett, Benjie Bruce

An extension to the Room was built in 1935, slightly discernible in the roof line and brickwork.

Until 1954 the Reading Room was open most weekends and holidays until night-time. That year it was resolved to close at 5pm on Christmas Day. It is interesting to note that equipment such as the lawn mower remained unlocked at that time. It was decided by the men that perhaps it wasn't such a good thing to have ladies after all, and in 1959 the females were instructed that after dusk they were to leave the room to the men and lock the door behind them!

In the 1970s, a financial crisis occurred, followed by theft and vandalism. The Reading Room only just survived the ensuing years, and the greens were unused.

There has been a revival of interest in the last few years, and a band of committed enthusiasts have done much to recreate the Reading Room as an entertaining, recreational and informative facility in this important area of conservation.

Sutton Reading Room, July 1999

The old YM hut was much-used after the Great War. Fancy dress festivities, May Carnivals, 21st and engagement parties, pageants and plays, concerts and meetings filled the evenings.

Fancy-dress Party in the YM hut, 1932

One of the last parties in the YM was Nancy Wheelhouses's 21st/engagement party, held in 1933. A large poster was displayed appealing for a Mile of Pennies for a new church hall. The new vicar, Mr Paley, energised everyone and constantly found new ways of raising money. Eventually the new brick-built hall was opened on 18 October 1933. 'Snow White' and 'Wedding of the Painted Doll' spring to mind as two of the best shows in those early years of the new hall.  Nowadays, the hall has an extension, providing a modern, well-appointed kitchen. The Mothers' Union; Women's Institute; Townswomen's Guild; Dance Group; Brownies; Playgroup - all regularly use the hall, not to mention the indefatigable ladies of the Tuesday Sale.

Before Mr Paley's time, when Mr Evans was the incumbent - the vicar who had so intrigued the journalist - he founded the Girl Guide Movement in Sutton, with the help of Violet Robson of Sutton House and Barbara Reckitt of East Mount. Brenda Holmes and Dorothy Porter were the first leaders of the Brownies.

Brenda Holmes, Brown Owl; Dorothy Porter, Tawny Owl, c1925

Winnie Leake became Guide Captain, assisted sometimes by Clare Coleman and Alice Lee-Smith. After the War Winnie began a Trefoil Guild for older Guides. She was particularly involved with a Guide Company at the Tilworth Home.

The boys were not far behind. When Clifford Hakeney was still a teenager, he began the 1st Sutton Scout Group, assisted by two older friends until he reached 21. Clem Robinson started the Sutton Cubs a little later. Jessie Hakeney, Jack Reed and Douglas Hamilton were also leaders in the years before the War.

Sutton Cubs. Clem Robinson and Jessie Hakeney.

When Jessie and Cliff were married in 1933, there was a good turnout from the uniformed organisations, and well over 100 guests enjoyed the reception in the YM hut.

After the War, the Organisations thrived for several decades.

Preparing for Parade Service 1980
Bill Peterson 'Acorn'; David Cross Cub Leader

The Chapel also began a Guide Company back in the early years.

Sutton Chapel Guides 1960s

The Scouting/Guiding Movement struggles to survive in some areas today, mostly from lack of leaders rather than disinterested youngsters.  Of the new packs in Bransholme, those attached to St John's church and Mary Queen of Martyrs are doing well.

Two little girls who joined the Brownies soon after they arrived in Sutton were Dorothy and Joan Stainton. Soon after the village was taken into the City of Hull in 1929, the former police houses changed status, soon to become the doctors' workplace. Mr Charles Stainton was the new constable and he settled into the new police house built at the other end of Church Street. The two cells still remain.

The Stainton family outside Police House, Church Street, c1930

Next door, on the site of the orchard of Holm Oak, a new chemist, G.S. Fanthhorpe, made its appearance.

G S Fanthorpe, Chemist

Ethel Pinkney's sister, Nellie, came with her husband and in-laws, Mr and Mrs Myers, to a shop a short way from Fanthorpe's. They bought the property in 1932 from Miss Amy Cottingham and opened a general store, selling fruit and vegetables and tinned goods, bread and cakes. The business did well, and the Myers' soon had a jolly café service. When troops occupied the village, the shop and café were very busy.

Nellie Myers in the Shop

'Grandma' Elizabeth and husband John Bayston ran a carting and carrier business in the yard of 110-114 Church Street. Around 1930 the Bayes' family moved into one of the houses in the yard and built up a wet fish business which flourished for many years.

It was thought that the Sutton Feast had been consigned to the history books long ago, but in the 1920s it enjoyed a revival, Jack Hakeney's field behind the farm becoming the new venue. Peas, pies and games became the order of the day, and many folk came from neighbouring villages to celebrate the day. Recently, the Saturday nearest to St James' day (25 July) has been an occasion for a Garden Party.

Behind the Church Mount houses, the 'old boys' recall with nostalgia 'Cat Island', though the origin of the name eludes everyone. It was the old Cricket Field. Sutton Cricket Club existed at least as long ago as 1893, when an old photograph reveals the familiar names of Calvert, Rodmell, Jack Lee Smith, Bayston and Thacker. Apparently the mowing and rolling of the grass represented mortal danger; it was reputed that someone was killed when the mower ran its own course down the steep bank. Perhaps it's no wonder people were hurt when the young daredevils of the 50s were driving . . .

Sutton Cricket Club - no seat belts here!

It was a red-letter day for the Club when on 16 June 1955, the new cricket ground behind Netherhall was opened by Norman Yardley, with Walt Blanchard and Ted Found close to hand.

Opening of new Cricket Ground, 16 June 1955

Rugby and football were played on the Barbara Robson playing field after it was opened.

Sutton Recreation Football Club, 1930s

Sutton School Rugby Team, 1930
(familiar names of Blanchard, Blagg, Hickey, Beckett, etc)

The new Golf Course at Riseholm opened in 1935, and a café was opened in the farmhouse.

In July 1937 an enthusiastic band of ladies knocked on doors in the village persuading people to form a Sutton Townswomen's Guild.  Consequently, an Afternoon Guild was quickly established. Eileen Found is the longest serving member. During the War the ladies met in the Chapel rooms in Potterill Lane, and helped in the 'war effort' in various ways: they ran a house for the homeless at the corner of Gillshill/Cavendish Road; held a Sewing Circle each week to make items for the Red Cross; and sold Saving Stamps.

After the War, in 1945, an Evening Guild was started to provide for women who were working. The two merged in 1949. Later, the Guild had an excellent choir. The Sutton Townswomen's Guild is still very popular and well attended.

Wawne was still served by mobile tradesmen between the wars.⁸ Bayes, Sutton fishmongers would travel by horse and rulley, the fish piled high, all round the villages of Sproatley and Skirlaugh, Catwick and Atwick, where they would stay overnight, and then end up in Wawne. Holmes and Hickey both brought their meat to Wawne, and so did the Co-op cart from Hull. This was a 'proper' provision vehicle, and was one of three who visited regularly from Hull, the others being from Cussons and Fields.

Mr Foggin, a Hull draper, would ride an old carrier bicycle to Wawne with a huge bundle of materials and clothing on the front carrier.  Mr Boswell of Beverley, also a draper, was another regular visitor. He, too, rode a bicycle to Tickton, Routh, Meaux and Wawne, over the ferry to Thearne, Woodmansey and back to Beverley. 'Clarky' was a travelling fruiterer from Beverley. Another visitor was Mr Calvert the corn merchant, selling flour, corn and meal. Then there was 'Oily' Brown from Stoneferry who stocked 'everything' on his rulley - pots and pans, brushes, chocolate nugget bars. He had two tanks fastened beneath his rulley, one for paraffin, the other for malt vinegar.  

The visits of these travelling salesmen were anticipated with delight by the children, who would crowd on the road edge to watch them unpacking their wares. There were also six or seven small shops in the village at that time. One of the little cottages in Church Row opposite the church, owned by the Wests, sold cigarettes, sweets and paraffin. Mrs West would say that she sold cigarettes because "the Browns are Methodists and can't sell them." They were also sold at a little 'parlour' shop, 'White Cottage', which was situated in Middletons' Field, and run by Mrs Squires, who also sold sweets and crisps. Paraffin was sold in most shops for no other fuel was available.

Wawne Cricket Club played on the field on Main Street, opposite the present village hall. It was reputedly very uneven and also used for cattle, which can't have been kind to either cricket or cattle.

Wawne Cricket Club 1930s

After the War, when the land was bought for housing, Muriel Rogerson, who never ceased raising funds for most of her 90 years, collected enough money for the new cricket ground in Ferry Lane. The village hall; electricity in the church; church vestry and bells - all were targets of Mrs Rogerson's boundless energy and drive. No wonder she received the BEM.

Opening of Wawne Cricket Ground by Sidney Hainsworth, May 1964

In 1939 a new Methodist Chapel was erected in Wawne, on land given by Mr J.F. Farnaby. The Minister was Revd J Ridley of Sutton, who would, like most people then, make the journey on foot. To raise money, he went from door to door with the collection plate, and eventually the chapel opened completely free from debt.

Chapel opened 4 May, 1939
The old chapel can just be seen at the rear

Church and chapel attendance always rises in times of stress, and during the war, the old chapel was also well used as a canteen. A plaque marks the gratitude of the Forces stationed in Wawne. Sadly, with modern living styles changed so radically, the chapel was forced to close recently.

Wawne was to lose one young airman in the Second War, Arthur Bromby, who lost his life in August, 1943, aged only 21. Each village had its Home Guard.

Wawne Home Guard

Sutton Home Guard at Springfield, 1941

Mr J. Redfern whose home was at Springfield during the War, was captain of the platoon.⁹ He trained his men on Sunday mornings in the grounds. Some training weekends were spent at Rolston camp. Another Home Guard gun site was at the bottom of Wembley Park Avenue. "When the guns went, it felt as if Sutton was falling down," remarked a nearby resident.

As in the First War, Sutton was 'full of soldiers.' Older inhabitants remember them "coming round to the back door, propping their guns in the scullery, and sometimes staying to supper. There were hundreds of men at balloon barrage and gun sites on Wawne Road and Mead Street. They just wanted to talk about their lives and homes"¹⁰

Many villagers served in various ways during the War - in the Red Cross; as ARP wardens; in First Aid; and in the Fire Station that was set up in Elmtrees, and included a brick-built Telephone Room which was constructed at the front. Six firewomen manned the switchboard on 8-hour shifts. Nancy Wheelhouse, Jessie Hakeney and Gladys Dunn all worked there.¹¹

Gladys Dunn working on the Switchboard, WW2

The stables were used as a fire station, and a sub-division operated in Mona House.

At the beginning of the war, the officers of the Balloon Barrage on Wawne Road lived away from the site, but later, four houses were built on Wawne Road (now 1-4 Sutton Close), and more RAF houses were built in West Carr Lane. There was just one fatality.

Corporal Thomas Tierney of the RAF worked as a driver of a huge type of trailer nicknamed the 'Queen Mary', which collected gas bottles from Immingham for the Sutton site. He met a young Sutton girl at one of the dances in the large hall there, and married her at Easter 1943. One day, when driving bottles to the RAF site, the chain of a balloon swung free and hit Tommy on the knee. He went to Canada to train as a pilot navigator, but cancer affected the wound. He died before Christmas, and his body was brought back to Sutton and buried in the churchyard."

Gravestone of Thomas Tierney          

On the opposite side of Wawne Road a gun site was set up in the winter of 1939/40, and for the first three cold months the men lived in tents on marshy ground until wooden huts were built.¹² Later, a small bungalow was erected as an officers' mess next to Avondale house; the entrance to the site was flanked by the guard room and sentry box. The bungalow still stands, in use as a domestic dwelling. Initially, the site was in the charge of 2nd Lieutenant Mark Horsley (cousin of Diana Alec-Smith). The guns had to be ready for action within two minutes, 24 hours a day. Particularly severe attacks took place in 1941, but during the whole war, only two deaths occurred: in May 1942 a German bomber made for the radar lights of Castle Hill Lane. It dropped a 'stick' of bombs on the gun site, killing two men. R N Sheppard is also buried in Sutton churchyard.

There were several air raids in the Sutton area, resulting in a fair amount of damage; the church roof was endangered more than once. Two houses in Watson Street were demolished in March 1941, never to be re-built (a garage occupies the space), and a landmine fell on Highfield on 15 April 1941, causing huge damage and killing two residents.

Landmine in Highfield, 15.4.1941

Bomb damage in Watson Street

Many men of Sutton lost their lives, including one of the Pinkney boys, Frank, a Royal Marine who served on HMS Achilles; and the two Rowntree brothers, Midshipman Kenneth, lost at sea aged only 16, and Pilot Officer Raymond, aged 21, both killed within six months of each other in 1941

Kenneth and Raymond Rowntree

As the villages settled down to face the post-war future, it was soon clear that nothing would ever be the same again. 'Slum clearance' prompted the Corporation to enforce vigorously the Acquisition of Land Act of 1946.  On 1 January 1948 the Council began buying up fields in the areas of Wawne Road in preparation for a huge housing estate. By 1960, Compulsory Purchase Orders had been served on most farmers and landowners, and Bransholme was re-created.

The massive building programme has never stopped, with the new Kingswood Estate still being constructed at one end of the parish, and the development near to the Princess Royal at the other. The population is now reckoned to be in the region of 90,000.  The children are served by 27 schools, undreamed of just a few decades ago. Several churches, mostly opened in the 1970s, serve the community well. North Point Shopping Centre is a lively, bright hub of activity. Libraries, medical and community centres offer information and the latest technology. Bransholme is the nucleus of a huge regeneration scheme linking the villages of Sutton and Wawne - a very positive Education Action Zone for the new Millennium.

North Point Shopping Centre

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CHAPTERS

Chapter 1 ~ Chapter 2 ~ Chapter 3 ~ Chapter 4

Chapter 5 ~ Chapter 6 ~ Chapter 7 ~ Chapter 8

Chapter 9 ~ Chapter 10 ~ Chapter 11 ~ Chapter 12

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Notes