Ironbridge Journal

EXTRACTS FROM THE IRONBRIDGE WEEKLY JOURNAL

18th November 1871

The kindness of the `Dale workers has accidentally come under our notice.  One morning last week after a severe frost, an old man, probably 70 years of age, went shivering to the door of the pattern shop at the `Dale and asked to be allowed to warm himself.  Permission was readily granted; and the miserable state of the poor old man caused the workmen to question him, when they elicited that he was travelling to Longwood, Nr. Shrewsbury.  He stated that, starved and hungry he had sunk on the cold ground under the Shrubbery wall and fallen into the sleep of exhaustion.  When the poor old man awoke he was nearly frozen to the ground and it was some time after he reached the pattern shop before he could get his one eye open.  On hearing this pitiful story the men at once brewed  the old man some warm coffee which he swallowed eagerly.  Mr Weston, the manager, coming in, kindly sent to his house for some breakfast for him.  After brokenly expressing his gratitude, the poor old fellow departed on his journey.

The pattern makers are deserving of the highest praise for their kindness and charity.

25th  November 1871

On Monday last a lad named Pinkstone, who resides with his parents at Reeves’s Row, Ironbridge, employed at one of the fitting shops at Coalbrookdale Works, had two of his fingers cut off while at his work.  It appears that the injured lad was employed at a drilling machine, and in starting the machine got his hand between the cogs, and the third and fourth fingers of his hand were cut off completely.  He was taken to Mr Eaglestone, assistant to Dr. F.H. Hartshorne, under whose skilful treatment, the poor lad’s injury is progressing favourably.

30th December 1871

Holy Trinity Church Coalbrookdale is decidedly the prettiest and most ecclesiastical in point of architecture of any of the churches in this neighbourhood, and its Christmas decorations also bear away the palm.  The ladies to whom were entrusted in the work, have certainly shown good taste in adapting the style of their decorations to the style of the building.  The shafts and capitals of the pillars were entwined with a single wreath of ivy, and the arches had thicker wreaths of laurel.  The pulpit, font and communion rails were wreathed with holly leaves and their bright scarlet berries, and over the altar was a satin cross in evergreens.

The offertory on Christmas Day was for the purpose of providing seasonal gifts for widows and orphans of the parish.