Turn Right at Mottram Roundabout - Week 11
Tue 18th October 2016 | General | By Stewart Taylor
No quick link last week but, as said, a link between all of the little stories would give a big clue to the club we were looking for. More than a few people struggled with this but the club was 1874 Northwich and the clue was that all of the stories referred, in some way, to the year 1874. There is a fairly obvious excuse to repeat this format with another of our clubs, but too much of a good thing …..
As many correctly identified, the photo was of the Barton Stadium which, of course, 1874 Northwich share with Winsford United. The location pictured is, not surprisingly, very popular in bad weather.
So, ever forward to this week.
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
This is the first, and probably the last, time we begin one of our journeys with a poem. Some may recognise the above as the beginning of the poem “Anthem for Doomed Youth” written in 1917 by Wilfred Owen, perhaps, along with Rupert Brooke and Siegfried Sassoon, the most revered and remembered of all World War I poets.
Wilfred Owen was born in the destination we are heading out for today and died on active service, aged just 25, just one week before the armistice was signed in 1918. As the journey begins the above was brought to mind as a reflection on the futility of war as we remember the centenary of the Battle of the Ancre Heights – one of the many battles which are collectively known as the Battle of the Somme.
In another reference to World War I, Harold Whitfield, who was born and died in this town, was awarded a Victoria Cross whilst on active service in Egypt in 1918. Harold was buried in the cemetery of this market town which was granted its charter as long ago as 1190.
Back in 1190, this town was what may readily be called “disputed territory”. The records show many skirmishes from this date right the way through to the English Civil War but, thankfully for all concerned, peace reigns at the moment.
Indeed, this was something of an enlightened town even way back as it boasts the second oldest independent school in the country which was established in 1407. (The oldest is Winchester College (1382)). The term “independent” in this context meant free from the influence of the church.
One of the school’s more famous pupils was William Spooner, later Reverend Spooner, who was notably absent minded and liable to mix up phrases. Examples of “spoonerisms” abound and this example is typical.
"Three cheers for our queer old dean!" (rather than "dear old queen," which is a reference to Queen Victoria).
A much more recent example came when Len Goodman – a judge on that popular Saturday night TV show Strictly Come Dancing - was heard to say “Leave no turn unstoned” in a reference to one of the performing couples. Maybe this is the reason for the demise of the Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club.
The church was, of course, a very powerful organisation during the mediaeval times and was untouchable to a large extent until Henry VIII decided that he didn’t like the church rules on marriage (or divorce really) so set to with the dissolution of the monasteries thereby founding the Church of England as we know it today. (Note – a rather simplified version of events but we know what I mean).
Much of the centre of this town is now a Conservation Area. Students of architecture can find a lot of interest here from timber framed houses, through rather grand Georgian townhouses to the Victorian era represented by shop fronts, terraced housing, churches and railway buildings.
In football, the original town club could trace its history way back to the beginning of organised football in this country with some sources suggesting that the club was formed just three years after Sheffield FC – widely recognised as the oldest of all football clubs.
However, things have been less than plain sailing since that start way back in the Victorian era. A number of financial issues meant that the club was disbanded in the late 1980s only to be reformed. The fortunes of the club were not much better and merger with a nearby club in 2003 saw the end of the original club. Somewhat more recently, a club bearing a similar name to the original was established with the objective of climbing the Leagues and providing FA Cup football for local people thus continuing the fine tradition of football in the town.
Quick link - What links this club to Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers?
Turn Right at Mottram Roundabout - Week 11
Tue 18th October 2016 | General
By Stewart Taylor
No quick link last week but, as said, a link between all of the little stories would give a big clue to the club we were looking for. More than a few people struggled with this but the club was 1874 Northwich and the clue was that all of the stories referred, in some way, to the year 1874. There is a fairly obvious excuse to repeat this format with another of our clubs, but too much of a good thing …..
As many correctly identified, the photo was of the Barton Stadium which, of course, 1874 Northwich share with Winsford United. The location pictured is, not surprisingly, very popular in bad weather.
So, ever forward to this week.
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
This is the first, and probably the last, time we begin one of our journeys with a poem. Some may recognise the above as the beginning of the poem “Anthem for Doomed Youth” written in 1917 by Wilfred Owen, perhaps, along with Rupert Brooke and Siegfried Sassoon, the most revered and remembered of all World War I poets.
Wilfred Owen was born in the destination we are heading out for today and died on active service, aged just 25, just one week before the armistice was signed in 1918. As the journey begins the above was brought to mind as a reflection on the futility of war as we remember the centenary of the Battle of the Ancre Heights – one of the many battles which are collectively known as the Battle of the Somme.
In another reference to World War I, Harold Whitfield, who was born and died in this town, was awarded a Victoria Cross whilst on active service in Egypt in 1918. Harold was buried in the cemetery of this market town which was granted its charter as long ago as 1190.
Back in 1190, this town was what may readily be called “disputed territory”. The records show many skirmishes from this date right the way through to the English Civil War but, thankfully for all concerned, peace reigns at the moment.
Indeed, this was something of an enlightened town even way back as it boasts the second oldest independent school in the country which was established in 1407. (The oldest is Winchester College (1382)). The term “independent” in this context meant free from the influence of the church.
One of the school’s more famous pupils was William Spooner, later Reverend Spooner, who was notably absent minded and liable to mix up phrases. Examples of “spoonerisms” abound and this example is typical.
"Three cheers for our queer old dean!" (rather than "dear old queen," which is a reference to Queen Victoria).
A much more recent example came when Len Goodman – a judge on that popular Saturday night TV show Strictly Come Dancing - was heard to say “Leave no turn unstoned” in a reference to one of the performing couples. Maybe this is the reason for the demise of the Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club.
The church was, of course, a very powerful organisation during the mediaeval times and was untouchable to a large extent until Henry VIII decided that he didn’t like the church rules on marriage (or divorce really) so set to with the dissolution of the monasteries thereby founding the Church of England as we know it today. (Note – a rather simplified version of events but we know what I mean).
Much of the centre of this town is now a Conservation Area. Students of architecture can find a lot of interest here from timber framed houses, through rather grand Georgian townhouses to the Victorian era represented by shop fronts, terraced housing, churches and railway buildings.
In football, the original town club could trace its history way back to the beginning of organised football in this country with some sources suggesting that the club was formed just three years after Sheffield FC – widely recognised as the oldest of all football clubs.
However, things have been less than plain sailing since that start way back in the Victorian era. A number of financial issues meant that the club was disbanded in the late 1980s only to be reformed. The fortunes of the club were not much better and merger with a nearby club in 2003 saw the end of the original club. Somewhat more recently, a club bearing a similar name to the original was established with the objective of climbing the Leagues and providing FA Cup football for local people thus continuing the fine tradition of football in the town.
Quick link - What links this club to Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers?
