Doctor Martin,vicar of Irlam.

Cadishead and Irlam Guardian, 7, March, 1925.

THEN AND NOW.

EIGHTY NOT OUT. "MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY."

TRIBUTE TO IRLAM'S RETIRED VICAR.

NOW AN OCTOGENARIAN.

 

"Guardian" special.

My first words this week must be words of congratulations to a typical English gentleman and his wife, who have spent the greater part of their lives in Irlam, and Irlam to-day is the better for the Rev. Robert Martin, D.D., and Mrs Martin having been residents for more than half a century.

"Many happy returns of the day" was my hearty greeting to the retired and revered Vicar of Irlam, who received me most genially at his residence, and I am sure the older residents of the district especially, who know him best, will echo this sincere wish on the celebration of his eightieth birthday. The Rev. Dr. Martin was born in Little Hulton on February 21st 1845. Thus on Saturday last Irlam's late Vicar became an octogenarian. Small in stature, but large in mind and in heart, Robert Martin can look back with pardonable pride upon his fifty years activities in the best and highest interests of Irlam and Cadishead.

Cadishead for many years was under the spiritual direction of the Vicar of Irlam, The parish of St. John's extending from Barton Moss to Glazebrook Bridge - an area something like fifteen square miles.

 

"Martin" a Household Word.

The name of Martin was a household word in a torirer? generation in the Walkden, Little Hulton and Tyldesley districts, just as it had been in Irlam during the last half-century. Dr. Thomas Martin was a well known physician and surgeon, and two sons, Dr. William Young Martin and Dr. Edward Johnson Martin, upheld the family tradition in the profession for the cure of the body, whilst Robert, the third son, "called after" his grandfather who was an eminent surgeon in the Tyldesley district, was intended "for the cure of souls," and it is no exaggeration or flattery, to say there are few clergymen with a better record.

Young Robert had private tuition, and was much handicapped by the loss of his father when he was fifteen years of age. Four years later, however, he entered the University at Oxford, where he had a brilliant career, and graduated. He gained his B.A. and S.C.L. in 1867, his M.A. in 1871, and B.D and D.D. together in 1886.

 

Ordination and Marriage.

He was ordained in 1868, and married the same year to Elizabeth Emton Hall, daughter of the late Mr. Robert Hall, of Oak Mount. Half Edge Lane, Eccles, whose memory is perpetuated in that borough by the generous gift of the public clock at the Town Hall.

 

His first curacy was at Croston, near Southport, under the Rev. Oswald Master, a representative of a well-known county family in those days. The Bishop of Whatley is the present rector. After a stay of two years the young curate went into Cheshire, and had only been at St. George's, Altrincham, for fifteen months when he was offered and accepted the living of Irlam, as successor to the The first Vicar was the Rev. T. L. Beddoes, who was previously the Rector of St Mary's Manchester, he died on 25th November 1880 in his 49th year he was buried in the churchyard. ,Church being consecrated in 1866.

 

Prior to that year a curate from the Parish Church at Eccles conducted divine services in the Endowed School. Irlam at this time forming part of that ancient parish.

The school was built a few years before the church - in 1854 to be exact (in 'The History of Education' Cyril Wheaton predates this date with more information than in this news article.) - and endowed by the late Mr. John Greaves, who was a justice of the peace, and resided at Irlam Hall, the same benefactor leaving money for the building of the church and vicarage and the land upon which they stand.

 

Irlam's First Schoolmaster.

The late Mr. Joshua Jones was the first head master - and a wonderful schoolmaster he was - always gaining splendid results, and the salary was the princely sum of £80 per annum. He was succeeded by the late Mr. Peter Farrell and the late Mr. Thomas Parker, who faithfully upheld the traditions of the school.

There was no St. Mary's Church or School at Cadishead for many years after. The whole population of the parish only numbered 2,700 when the young vicar was installed. There were only ten communicants, and not more than fifty Sunday school scholars. The church, of course, provided accommodation very greatly in excess of the needs of the parish for very many years, and the Archdeacon, during one of his visitations suggested the use of a screen in the church.

 

St Mary's, Cadishead.

It was not until 1891 that St. Mary's School - Church, Cadishead, was built, at a cost of less than a thousand pounds, which was considered a very big scheme in those days. The Revs. A. Ditchfield, W.H. Austwick,A. Floyd, Thomas Lever, A.F. Finch, G.J. Ash, C. Smith, are the names of curates who have served St. Mary's, prior to the Rev. H.R. Bakker taking charge some years ago.

The first wardens at St. John's, after the Rev. Dr. Martin came to the parish, were the late Mr. James Platt, who built Moorfield and resided there for some years, and the late Mr. Spencer Barlow, farmer, Fairhills Road. There were no sidesmen in those days.

 

A Hard-working Vicar.

The care of such extensive, though for a very long period sparsely populated parish, was no child's play, but the zealous and hard-working Vicar found time to serve the interests of the parish as representative on the Barton Board of Guardians, in which capacity he succeeded the late Mr. Charles Garlick, who resided at Longfield Lodge, Cadishead.

It was a vastly different Irlam then than it is to-day. Liverpool Road was not the light railway it is now, and means of travel were less convenient.

 

The Old Coach Days

Old inhabitants will remember old Harris's Coach, which used to ply at regular intervals between Hollins Green and Patricroft.

Irlam and Cadishead had neither town's water nor gas, and there was no drainage of any description. The Rev. Dr. Martin has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the district, which he attributes principally to the effects of the Manchester Ship Canal.

 

There was nothing but fustian-cutting and farming for many years after he took up his residence at the Vicarage. The "good old days" were days of low wages, but he was inclined to think there was much happiness and contentment with it all, there being fewer needs and less calls than there are to-day.

 

Strikes and Lock-outs Unknown.

The terrible conflicts between capital and labour, such as have occurred in recent years with almost alarming frequency, bringing discontent and distress in their wake, were almost unheard of in the Rev. Dr. Martin's early days. And this phase of industrialism is not one of which we can congratulate ourselves. On the whole people were not badly behaved in the old days, though he must confess there had been improvement in manners and in morals, due in a great measure to the progress of education, "and" I added - the venerable Vicar being too modest to say so - "the good work in which you and other ministers have been engaged for so long a period."

 

Dr. Martin has united in matrimony perhaps more couples than any other clergyman in Lancashire, including many of those whose baptisms he had performed in their infancy.

Guide, Philosopher and Friend.

Irlam's Doctor of Divinity has indeed been guide, philosopher and friend in a very real sense to a host of people. He loves Irlam and is beloved by a legion of friends in Irlam, and in nearly all parts of the world.

 

He is the most modest of men and has always shrunk from appearing in the limelight. There is no phase of Irlam's public life in which the Rev. Dr. Martin has not taken an active share, and it was with much reluctance on his own part and the deep regret of the parishioners of all shades of thought when he took off the armour and relinquished the vicariate he had faithfully occupied just two years ago.

 

In Good Health and Spirits.

I was delighted to find him in good health and spirits after reaching his eightieth birthday. His devoted wife who has for long shared her husband's joys and sorrows, is still as active as many a younger lady, and I am sure "Guardian" readers will wish, with me, that their later years may be among their best. A Cheery optimism has pervaded the whole of his life. He has been remarkably free from serious illnesses and rarely been absent from a Sunday service at the church, during the whole of his 50 years vicariate. Proverbs may well be quoted: "Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."

Reminiscences.

 

I intend in future articles to record some reminiscences of the venerable retired Vicar, which I am sure, will be read with great interest in the locality in which he has laboured for so long and lovingly for the uplift of the people.

 

 

Cadishead and Irlam Guardian, March 14, 1925

THEN AND NOW

A VENERABLE RETIRED VICARS RECOLLECTIONS

THE OLD COACH AND PACKET DAYS RECALLED

REMINISCENCES OF THE REV. DR. MARTIN.

"Guardian" Special.

 

"Yes, Irlam and Cadishead were far different places in 1872, when I came to Irlam, than they are to-day. I have used the plural, though Irlam and Cadishead were always combined in the same parish and later in one urban district, because people always maintained a separate and distinct entity."

Thus declared the Rev. Robert Martin. D.D., for fifty years vicar, in the course of an interview I had with him upon the attainment of his eightieth birthday, the first instalment of which appeared in the "Guardian" last Saturday.

Not what it would seem.

 

"It was not the great inconvenience it would seem to-day to be without gas, a public water supply and a proper drainage system. The absence of these essentials to a well-regulated community must, of course, be a very big drawback in any locality, but it is surprising how people adapt themselves to the circumstances and conditions in which they are placed.

You have an example close at hand in the parish of Rixton-cum-Glazebrook, where the inhabitants are bestirring themselves in regard to a public water supply."

 

Water and Gas Big Boons.

If my memory serves me right, there was nothing like the same agitation in Irlam for a public water or gas supply. They seemed to come in the natural order of things - water first, then gas light. I well remember we had a very good well at the vicarage, and what seemed almost an inexhaustible supply of good water.

The farmers would come off the Moss with their churns and carts and take supplies to last them a day or longer. There were no wells at all on the moss. There was another good well down Fairhill, but that at the Vicarage was the most popular.

There were only 2,700 people in Irlam and Cadishead - farmers and their labourers and fustian cutters. And there were many good-hearted folk among them, too.

 

A big advancement has been made upon those days in many respects. You don't see the womenfolk to-day carrying water in buckets - one in each hand, and occasionally a pail on the head. This task devolved more upon the women than the men: and the supply of good water, always ready to hand, by the Manchester Corporation has been and is to-day an inestimable boon.

 

Drudgery Days Disappear.

"Washing days" are not the drudgery days they used to be. The water we get to-day is both better for drinking purposes, as well as washing. The present generation of women folk do not realise what their mothers and grandmothers endured.

There is more truth in the statement than appears on the surface when it is made as it often is by a grandmother or mother, to her daughter or granddaughter, "that women to-day don't know they are born." It simply means that the lot of women is much easier than it used to be, even in the discharges of ordinary domestic duties. And it is perfectly true.

 

How many women, for example, would like to go back to the days of carrying water, candle and oil lamps? Why, to-day washing, ironing and sewing are delightful tasks compared with what they used to be, in hard water and poor flickering lights.

No, the "good old days" have very little to commend them, except, perhaps, greater simplicity, fewer wants and less bustle and excitement than to-day.

 

"Dark" Days But Happiness and Contentment.

For the most part, people were happy and contented, but education was sadly lacking. There were not so many accidents in the "dark" days. They were dark days in a dual sense. It was common practice for folks to carry candle lamps after nightfall. They were not very serviceable in rough, windy weather, but serious personal collisions were rare.

 

Liverpool Road was more like a long country lane with high hedges and ditches on both sides, and stretches of cobble stones here and there, and traversed by farmers carts and an occasional vehicle from Manchester or Liverpool.

The mail coach also passed through morning and night between the two cities. But contrast this with the busy thoroughfare to-day. Motor vehicles, of course, were unheard of. The advent of the bicycle even caused quite a commotion - first the old-fashioned velocipede, and later the safety bicycle. What a development had taken place in transport!

 

There are few farmers to-day who have not their own motor-lorry for conveying produce to market. The horse is being slowly but, it would seem surely elbowed off the road altogether. There is even much ploughing done now in the district by motor-plough.

Advent of the Railway: One of the First Passengers.

The advent of the railway has facilitated travelling a great deal. Though it was in July, 1866, that an Act of Parliament was passed to construct a railway 36 and a half miles in length from Cornbrook to Garston, through Irlam, being afterwards extended from Cornbrook to Manchester Central and from Timperley to Glazebrook. Dr. Martin well remembers travelling on this first train from Irlam station accompanied by the late Mr. James Platt, who built and resided at "Moorfield," and was one of his first churchwardens.

 

Harris's bus which ran between Hollins Green and Patricroft was well patronised. Mr. Harris was his own driver, and a rather comical man he was too. He drove a pair of horses sometimes three at week-ends and they were by no means thoroughbreds. He was a careful driver and I cannot recall any serious accident ever taking place, though the state of the road was anything but conductive to safe vehicular travelling.

 

When the "Packet" Used to Sail.

Then there was the "packet" on the old river which I am not as familiar with. I often utilised Harris's coach for the journey to Patricroft. The "packet" was drawn by two horses, and there were regular daily sailing between Howley Wharf, Warrington and Old Bailey, Manchester. It was boarded at Jack's Lock, Irlam, which was located somewhere near where the Steelwork's offices are to-day.

 

It was a long journey from Irlam to Manchester, occupying something like four hours. Every first of May was a big day for the "Packet." The horses were gaily caparisoned and the boat too was nicely decorated and people used to flock to Jack's Lock to see the decorations.

I cannot think there was a Royal Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in those days, for the drivers used to whip the horses unmercifully sometimes, and they were anything but choice in their vocabulary.

Education Facilities.

 

The Endowed School, Irlam, and the Wesleyan School, Cadishead, were the only public elementary schools. Boys and girls used to come long distances to the Endowed School. Parents did not think as much then as they do to-day in sending their children long distances to school.

 

Many old Cadisheadites, as well as Irlamites, will revere the memory of the late Mr. Joshua Jones, who was one of the finest schoolmasters of his day. The late Mr. Adam Gatenby was schoolmaster at the Wesleyan school, Cadishead, and Mr. Gatenby and I were always the best of friends.

There was a boarding school at the rear of Longfield Lodge, kept by the late Mr. Charles Garlick, who served the parish as Guardian for many years, and whom I succeeded.

Service as a Poor Law Guardian.

 

The Rev. Dr. Martin served a number of years as local representative on the Board of Guardians for the Barton-upon-Irwell Union, and was chairman of the Rural Sanitary Authority when the main drainage scheme for Irlam and Cadishead was decided upon and carried out.

 

This phase of public service appealed to him more than representation on the District Council, though there is no department of the local government or life of the community in which the venerable retired vicar has not taken his due share.

In fact, 50 years of his life have been bound up with the progress and development of the locality which he has done so much to mould socially, morally, and spiritually.

More to follow.

Done