The Journey
THE EFFECTS OF THE MILL ON ALLEN
Allen Clarke wrote the book, 'The Effects of the Factory System,' as a historical account of the inhumanity that cotton operatives and little half-timers suffered in the intolerable surroundings and machinery of the cotton mills. Here Allen describes how his mother a mill girl worked in his infancy:
...And I know the case of my own mother she was a winder, and I was born during the cotton panic, when my father was out of work and my mother was compelled to become the bread-winner. I was nursed by my grandmother while my mother toiled at a factory a couple of miles disitant from our dwelling. During the dinner hour sixty minutes normally, often only forty of forty five really - my mother would run home in order to suckle me, get her own meal, and be back at the mill before work rstarted. What sort of milk, poisened by the worry and hurry, must that have been for me?
Page 91 (The Effects of the Factory System) A.Clarke.
The Cotton Times wrote about his book on the link below.
Link : www.cottontimes.co.uk/childreno4.htm
HOMES OF THE CLARKE FAMILY IN BOLTON
Allen born 27th February of that year, Eliza a cotton weaver, Joseph an out of work minder and part time actor. The first of ten children. One son died in infancy.
- 24, Vine Street, Great Bolton 1881
Allen's father was then a self acting minder and Allen was still a pupil teacher.
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(Allen's residence) 162, High Street, Great Bolton (Eliza's residence ) 13, Windsor Road, Halliwell 1889
Allen 26, then Directory Manager, married Eliza Taylor 18, on the third August 1889. Allen's father Joseph was self actor Minder and Eliza's father John, was an overlooker of Power Looms.
- 18, Windsor Grove Halliwell Bolton 1891
Allen was then a Newspaper Proprietor aged 28, married to Eliza aged 20, who came from Chorley, and they had a daughter Lavinia
Allen journalist and newspaper proprietor and Eliza with their first son Frank Allen, born 15th October 1891and Lavinia.
- 162, High Street Great Bolton St Mark's Parish Bolton 1891
His sisters Emily 24, Martha Ann (Annie) 22, Louisa 15, and son Joseph 19, were all working in the cotton mills. Allen's father was then a Life Assurance Agent. Allen's sister Carrie was aged 7, and brother Thomas 6, they were both scholars.
HOMES IN BLACKPOOL
Osbourne Rd
Peddars Lane
Grasmere Rd
St Ives Avenue
DEATH OF FAMOUS LANCASHIRE AUTHOR
CHARLES ALLEN CLARKE AT BLACKPOOL
Mr Charles Allen Clarke, the well known author, famous throughout the world for his dialect poems and stories, some of which were written under the pen name of, "Teddy Ashton," and other noms de plume, died suddenly at his home 17 St Ives Avenue, Blackpool, early today.
He had a heart attack in the early hours after he had returned home from attending a meeting of the Blackpool Speedwell Club. He had cycled to and from the meeting and seemed quite well when he went to bedafter supper. He passed away a few minutes after the attack.
Mr Clarke whose second wife died some years ago, was probably the most colourful personality of the literary world that Lancashire ever produced.
He wanted to mingle his dust with his family in Heaton Cemetery Bolton, but also stay within sight of his beloved Windmill Land and his Eliza, to hear the tinkling cyclists bells as they pass the Little Marton Burial Ground.
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Tim Bobbin resurrected
Allen Clarke's caricature (Punch Magazine's Editor Sir David Owen said he was one of the best humorist writers of his day)
Courtesy of the Oldham Library Archives
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LANCASHIRE KNOWLEDGE
Born in Bolton he left there at an early age to live in Blackpool, and lived to achieve fame particulary as a writer of dialect poems and stories couched in true venacular of the County Of Palatine. So extensive was his knowledge of Lancashire customs, idioms and dialect that he was regarded as the leading authority and was frequently quoted in the national press.
Allen Clarke knew more about Blackpool's progress than anyone. In his book, "The Story Of Blackpool," proof of his amazing grasp of local matters, his knowledge of the history of the town and distict were displayed. The book was instigated by his youngest daughter Dorothy's frequent questioning on her home town. The book is a treasure for young and old alike and Allen said that everyone should know the history especially schoolchildren of their own home town.
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Allen Clarke
relaxing in his garden at 17, St Ives Avenue, Marton, Blackpool.
(The house exists today)
(copyright S M Matthews)
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POVERTY
He had known poverty, for he worked in a cotton mill at Bolton as a half-timer until aged 13 escaping the drudgery and hard labour of the mill. Even at a tender age he had aspirations towards a journalistic career. When he was 15 he won a scolarship and obtained a job as a pupil teacher at the Hulton Grammar School, near Bolton. Even at this time he was writing articles which were published by the Bolton newspapers and soon afterwards he inaugurated "The Northern Weekly," a paper dealing with the interests of the working people, first published in 1894 and which ran for several years.
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The Clarke Family
Allen and his eldest living son Frank, Lavinia eldest daughter, son Charles, Eliza Clarke and Edward Vernon (Teddy) youngest son as a baby. Edward was my father
(copyright S.M. Matthews) grandaughter
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COMING TO BLACKPOOL
He then came into prominence with a book, "Lancashire Sketches," revealing in its true light the factory system of the cotton mills of that time. The book was translated into several languages A BEST SELLER OF ITS DAY!!!
Known as "The Effects of The Factory System" and the Russian edition had a preface by Count Tolstoi. It told of the poverty of mill life by his first hand experiences as a little Half-timer.
He came to Blackpool living in Osbourne Rd and Robert Blatchford of The Clarion visited for several years until an argument over the Boar War finished their friendship. the family returned to Bolton but came back to Blackpool in 1900 to live permanently and with his young family took up residence in a large house on the sands at South Shore. He joined the editorial staff of the Blackpool Gazette & Herald.whilst still continuing to write for the Bolton Evening News.
He was a keen cyclist founding the Blackpool Speedwell Club and his love of walking led him to the Presidency of the Blackpool Ramblers Club. But above all the position he most prized was that of being the founder of The Lancashire Authors Association, of which he was president for many years.
A Gradely Prayer
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A Gradely Prayer written by Allen at one of the lowest points in his life
The Missing Picture
The wooden frame depicts Windmill Land with mills and cottages etc of the rustic iddly of the Fylde. Sadly gone missing from Edward (Teddy) Clarke's colletion, as it once hung in the Central Library in Blackpool
A picture of Allen and Eliza The Beloved
He said of her "The divider of my purse and the multiplier of my children"
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DEATH OF ELIZA CLARKE
Laid to rest in Marton Cemetery in a grave from which can be seen much of her beloved Windmill Land. Marton had seldom seen an occasion like this hundreds attended from cycling clubs, rambling clubs 150 walked before the hearse which had enough flowers to fill a landau. The Rev Morton Gledhill conducted the service and verses of two of the ramblers songs, 'The Great Temple,' and 'Windmill Land,' were sung at the graveside. At their home Allen played the hymn, 'God be with you till we meet again,' at Eliza's request on the family organ even though it broke his heart. Arecord of, 'Handel's Largo,' was played and she was buried wearing her blue badge of the Speedwell Club pinned to her shroud. It was Eliza's wish that the route to the cemetery lay along the edge of Windmill Land, now occcupied by Stanley Park. A small sheaf of flowers from the family bore the insciption, 'From her little garden.'
Acard was handed out to the mourners bearing the following words:
IN MEMORIAM
Eliza (Lila) wife of Allen Clarke, married and mated nearly forty years died Tuesday 14th June 1927. 'As a tale that is told.' Psalm 90
The tale of our life together has been mingled affliction and sweetness but we have yet to know it in all it's grand completeness, here are but beginnings, lessons in tears and laughter. This life is but a chapter, and the best is to come hereafter. For the wonderful story continues, and goodbye is followed by greeting. Sad as the earthly parting, so glad the heavenly meeting. A.C.
Eliza 3
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Eliza Clarke outside their home in Blackpool at Osbourne Rd Blackpool
with son Frank to the left of the picture, baby Teddy (Edward Vernon)
in the bassinette and Charles her other son
sticking his tongue out for the camera man.
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Eliza Garden
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Eliza in her garden in Blackpool
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Eliza Edward
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Eliza sitting in the middle, son Edward to her left and Lavinia to her right.
Her garden was her sanctuary in the end.
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THE LIVERPOOL WEEKLY POST
An article in the L.W.P. followed by Margaret Pierce paying tribute to Eliza for her work with children whilst acting as Secretary for the"Babsie," fund.
Here is the poetic tribute:
In Memory
She walked in the vale of the shadow of death with never a single plaint. Her patience wove her a wondrous wreath, fit garland for a sait. The father regarded with pleasure and pride, the daughter who walked in His ways, made room for her at His own dear side, while seaphims chanted her praise.
And a, 'Babsie,' whose cross she had lifted on earth pressed shyly towards His feet. "She gave me manna for body and soul her spirit Lord let me meet." The Father looked pleased and a sweet angel bird, with a skylark's golden throut. Left Heaven's Dome and winged its way to where Ben Adhem wrote and she flew with his Lady's virgin soul through the heavenly portal wide aand the aisles of eternal light to the waiting Master's side.
But the thought of the mourning bereaved on earth drew her back from the funeral riteand shee trilled them a message of comfort and hope, blest minstrel whose song knew no night.
Allen buried his 'Beloved,' and she remained forever in his heart. His only comfort was that she would be reunited with their other children again and they would wait for him together.
SPIRITUALISM
He had a definite leaning also towards spiritualism and one of his books, "The Eternal Question," dealt with this subject, giving his experiences as an investigator of spiritualism. This book had a preface by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In this regard one of his experiences as a spiritualist was a deeply personal one. It concerned his eldest son, Frank Allen, born 15th October 1891 and who was drowned aged 7 in a clay pit Cambridge Rd Blackpool. Soon after the boy's death Mr Clarke claimed to have took a pidture on one of his rambles in Knott end and there on the photograph (within the pages of Windmill Land) is a startling true spirit resemblence of his dead son in the same clothing.
He was buried in Bolton, at Heaton Cemetary with Allen's first wife Lavinia and his baby May and eldest daughter named after his first childless wife Lavinia.
LANCASHIRE WORTHIES
In his book, "Moorlands and Memories," his descriptions of the moorlands and the hills, stories and dialect poems show how important Lancashire history and customs were to him by his careful style of writing.
When he wrote the classic, "Windmill Land," he not only wrote the history but got inside the heads of the characters, keeping them forever fresh and alive today, as they were when Windmill Land was dotted with, the idyllic industrial towers and acres of corn fields and creamy blossomed lanes.
FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP
He takes you as a reader by the hand for a ramble or a cycle ride stopping a while for a chat and as you sit and listen to his many humourous tales you find yourself part of his windmill land in another age long gone, as he allows you the reader to use all of your senses with his descriptive tales aand little asides as he treats you as his travelling companian. A book to pick up whenever you want as it remains forever fresh even today in this workaday world. Even the king himself read Allen Clarke's stories as Allen treated everyone the same from the humble tramp or as he called tham the people of the lanes (that is where some of the stories came from or the gypsy encampments) to Lords and Ladies at the many Newspaper conventions he attended as a Gazette columnist under names such as Teddy Ashton, Ben Adhem, Cap and Bells, Cog and Wheels, Speedwell, Criticus, Salticus, Rusicus, Dorothy Gurney, and many more. The reason he explained was he didn't want his public to tire of seeing the same name each time!!
Allen Clarke came from a very literary family his grandfather was a schoolteacher in Ireland and an author and a poet as was his own father who was also a part time actor as well as working in the cotton mill.
ON THE DEATH OF HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER LAVINIA (a part of a poem)
(buried in Heaton Cemetery with his first wife Lavinia her namesake, her baby sister May, and her brother Frank Allen)
RAININ'
I(n Memory of Vinnie)
On a little churchyard th' rain is fawin' dree,
Wheer's th' little babby I once nursed on my knee?
O, my arms are empty - God be good to me!
Droppin' deawn like trouble, rain on land an' sea,
Rain on teawn an' country, rain on street an' tree
An' in my heart it's rainin' God be good to me!
TEDDY ASHTON'S ANNUALS LANCASHIRE POEMS 1890-1927 A.C.
TOM CLARKE, ALLEN CLARKE'S BROTHER
Tom Clarke was also an author, writing Lord Northcliffe's Diary and was a journalist at Fleet Street and a friend of Winston Churchhill who said (one of my proudest momnts was to see Allen and Eliza go to meet Thomas Hardy at Max Gate) Allen gave Tome twenty years his junior a start at Tillotsons Newspaper and Tom taught journalism at King's College Oxford. He was a broadcaster and esteemed war correspondent. His own son Brian born June 1931 and died tragically on the 30th of September 1931 he had lived nine years and nine moths. I am honoured to have been given a copy of Tom's Clarke's book 'BRIAN,' which was published and circulated by Tom to his closest family and friends by Rosalie Coulthard the grandaughter of Allen and Tom's sister Carrie.
Hugh Redwood wrote in Tom's paper this poem:
BRIAN
We bore him sleeping, by the quiet ways which once
he took to school, and, as he passed, the russet leaves
gave benison, loosing their hold and floating gently down
that they might kiss his coverlet of flowers.
There was a drowsy bee, too, over his golden head;
perhaps from Rabbit Hill, or Bluebell Wood, where
yesterday we gathered autimn fern and thought we
watched him play and heard him call.
Oh, 'twas a triumph, lad! and yet as, unseen, you gazed,
it was the simpler things that touched you most, like the
grief in a *spaniel's eyes, like the presence of humble friends.
for you the riddle is solved and the answer is good.
how should we doubt it? And this, at the least we know,
that others may live because you had the strength to endure.
H.R. (BRIAN p 284)
* The spaniel was Brian's dog Tubby who collapsed a few hours after Brian died.
Amongst the letters of condolences Tom received were those from: Lord Beaverbrook, A. J. Cummings, Edgar Wallace, Allen Clarke,
Allen Clarke: I know what it is to look to the dor of my room, and expect a little boy popping in - to listen for a voice that comes no more - and through the years and years go by, one never forgets, though the hurt heals, and there are always memories, and maybe hopes - hopes of a reunion. The best thing we cad do in these times of affliction is to be brave and get along with our work. (A.C. page 289-90)
At Brightlands School that Brian attended there was a memorial to Brian and a Memorial Cup. 'The junior high jump Challenge Cup.'
ALLEN CLARKE'S SON MY FATHER
Allen Clarke's youngest son was my father, Edward Vernon Clarke who carried on his father's wish and took over the reins, and wrote the Teddy Ashton Annual's after his father passed away in 1935.
I am sure my father and mother Gwendoline would be thrilled his book has now been made available for another generation to read about the Fylde and Over Wyre's, rich milling industry and the gradely folk that lived in the many villages, and the many churches and halls he describes in Windmill Land.
Shirley Matthews B.A. (Hons)
CORNELIUS BAGOT
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Cornelius Bagot the last miller and owner of Little Marton Windmill
Donated the windmill to the Speedwell Fellowship in honour of his friend Charles Allen Clarke to be kept as a permanent memorial to his memory and the sward of green surrounding it. The council own it now but the original deed still stands.
(copyright Peter Bagot grandson)
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CONELIUS BAGOT
Cornius was born in 1879 and followed in his father George's footsteps as a miller at Little Marton Windmill and became a friend of Allen Clarke who visited the mill with his young family on numerous occasions. In 1922 Cornelius was living at the miller's cottage Graham's House and was elected as a town councillor representing the Marton Ward for ten years. He was an important figure at Marton Parish Church and on the church council.
When Cornelius moved to Whitegate drive he sold Graham House to Abraham Braithwaite his neighbour in 1924. On the death of Sir Lyndsey Parkinson, J.P., he was appointed chairman of Catterall & Swarbricks Brewery Ltd and took the opportunity to display their slogan on Little Marton Windmill
Insert picture here
In masonic lodges he was an oficer of the Provincial Grand Lodge.
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The original Dedication Plaque at Little Marton Mill.
It is fixed on the inside for its safety but I fought to have a replica put on the mill wall outside this was kindly done by the Blackpool Council.
This is Allen's memorial in his mill for Blackpool's adopted son who loved his towm of his birth ('Steam Engine Land') as much as his ('Windmill Land') and said, "Bolton and Blackpool are forever woven in ny heart like the threads of the weft being bound together on a loom in a cotton mill."
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Carrie Clarke
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Carrie Clarke, Allen's sister
(courtesy of Rosalie Coulthard, Carrie's grandaughter)
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01 April 2009, shirley