Patriotism. The part that Beeston played when Napoleon disturbed Europe has been referred to. Of the men who fell in the Crimean War—1854-5—there is a record on an obelisk in the churchyard. In the Square is a Memorial to the soldiers who fell in the South African War (1899-1902), with a symbolical figure of Hope. The cost of this memorial, £200, was raised by public subscription. All these struggles, however, were insignificant in comparison with the mighty effort that is being put forth in the Great War, when everything we hold dear—life, liberty, home, religion—all that makes life worth living is endangered, when the grandest Empire the World ever saw, which makes for liberty, truth, and righteousness, with many peoples and small nations, is in the balance, and brave Beeston lads, with men of every rank and clime throughout the Empire, have rushed to the rescue, made the great surrender, and risked their all, in order that those dear to them, the welfare of the country, and the good of the world, may be saved.
The Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital, on the premises of "The Cedars" (kindly lent by Mrs. Poyser), has been managed by the Beeston Branch of the British Red Cross, with Mrs. Spendlove as Commandant. It accommodates 26 wounded soldiers, and has been full since it was opened in 1915. Towards the fitting-up, and comforts, as well as towards comforts for the troops and mine-sweepers, parcels for prisoners, help to the stricken nationalities, etc., funds have been subscribed, and meetings of ladies have continually been held in the Station Road Schools and the Wesleyan Schools, and the children in the Day Schools have done their part. The girls have done nobly.
In addition to the 600 men who have gone to the front, and whose names are on the "Roll of Honour" in the church porch, there are many who have attested and continued at their work, not yet being called up. Over 100 Special Constables have allotted duties, and over 150 members are enrolled in the Beeston and Chilwell Company of the Notts. Volunteer Regiment for home defence.
There is a War Savings Committee for aiding investment in Government Securities.
That same patriotic spirit, so nobly developed in both sexes, may have further demands made upon it. Our individual rights having been secured by hundreds of years of effort, we must now turn not only to individual duties and discharge them, but we must further submit with a good heart and patient spirit to what our rulers deem to be the requirements of the State in a thorough organization with regard to our labour, food, alcholic drinks, tobacco, amusements, sports, with a view to meeting the necessities of all classes, and the rigorous suppression of luxuries, extravagance and waste. We shall show our patriotism by submitting to a present restraint for a future good.
There are in Beeston scores, it may be hundreds, of persons who are as patriotic as the most energetic, but who by reason of sickness, age, infirmity, or family duties, cannot do as they would. To them the pathetic words of Milton, in allusion to his blindness, may he applied;—
"Who best Bear His mild yoke,
they serve Him best.
His state Is Kingly;
thousands at His bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."
When the war is over the same noble patriotic spirit which has produced so much self-sacrifice and benevolence, continued, hut applied to the young instead of to the war, will give wondrous sources of refreshment of spirit to the workers, and will help to make Beeston a paradise.
Institutions and Societies.Beeston has its Urban District Council, its Overseers of the Poor, its Representatives on the Notts. County Council, and on the Basford Board of Guardians. It is part of the Rushcliffe's Parliamentary Division, and for nearly all other purposes has its head in Nottingham, which is four miles to the east. It has a Fire Brigade, Branch Banks, a Newspaper, Cinemas, and Societies for all kinds of objects, some of which in connection with religion and social welfare are mentioned elsewhere. There is a British Women's Temperance Union.
(Would that they could persuade all soldiers wives to abstain). There are, or were, eight Bands of Hope teaching the children that water is best, and warning as to the evils of juvenile smoking.
The Sick Benefit Societies, which have done a good work in the past, are now largely affected by the Government Insurance Scheme, but the best of them continue their mutually helpful work.
There are Nursing and Benevolent Societies, the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, the Freemasons' at the Masonic Hall, the usual Political Parties, Trade Unions, Co-operative Societies, Men's and Women's Adult Schools.
The Land Societies did a good work in opening out estates on which houses were built in gardens, thereby promoting health, quietness and beauty.
There are cricket, football, bowling and angling societies, and bird fanciers Lawn tennis has its grounds, and musical and social bodies are represented.
Cricketers desire it to be named that William Scottorn obtained his first century on Beeston Cricket Ground, and lived a number of years in Beeston.
The War Institutions operating in the parish as elsewhere at the moment of writing look more important than all the others, but they are national.
Population. The Population was in 1801, 948; 1851, 3,016; 1891, 6,948; 1901, 8,960; 1911, 11,841. According to the Annual Report of Dr. F. Rothera, the Medical Officer of Health for the District, the birth rate was, in 1915, 22 6, the average of ten years being 25.8; the number of births 257, of whom 12 were illegitimate; the death rate was 12.3, ten years average 10.0; number of deaths 122; infantile mortality 73 per thousand births, ten years average 99.2. The birthrate was considerably below the average, possibly owing to the war, but it is to be hoped that it may not continue.
The area in acres, land and water, 1601; rain-fall in 1915 31.76, average 30 years 26.58; temperature 47.9; rateable value £43,416; general district rate 4/2 in the £; poor rate 3/4.
The District Nurse under the direction of the Nursing Society is doing an excellent work.
Public Houses. An act of 300 years ago declared that "the ancient Principall use of Innes, Alehouses and Victuallinge Houses was for the Receipte, Reliefe and Lodginge of wayfaring people travellinge from place to place * * and not meant for entertainment and harbouring of lewde and idle people to spende and consume theire money and their tyme in lewde and drunken manner," etc. Therefore the two Victuallers who in 1675 had licenses, had previously to give sureties against unlawful games and for good order and compliance. Since then many limitations have been imposed and improvements made, but the Beer-house Act of 1830 was a great evil in Beeston, for in 1832 there were three inns and taverns, and ten beerhouses—one drinking house for every 194 people. The work people were then very poor, and could not afford to send their children to school. How could they afford to find money for drink? In 1844 there was an improvement, there being then eight inns and two beerhouses. In 1916 there were thirteen fully licensed public houses, two beerhouses, five beer-off shops, and two wine and sweet licenses; two political clubs at which liquors are sold to the members, and a brewery.
Under the war conditions the public houses are open on weekdays only from 12 noon to 2.30 p.m. and from 6.30 to 9.30 p.m.; and on Sundays from 12.30 to 2.30 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and this limitation has been attended with advantage to the public good. There continues however, considering the terrible war in which we are engaged, and its costs and consequences, far too much money spent in alcoholic liquors.
There are nine Policemen in Beeston, and one at Chilwell.
Water. The parish was included in the Act of the Nottingham Water Works Company of 1874, but it was 1876 before an effective supply was obtained.
Before the introduction of gas generally in the parish there was a limited supply from the Mill to separate houses, necessarily at a high rate. The Church was first lighted with gas in 1857. The Public Lighting Act was adopted at a Vestry Meeting on November 13th, 1862. The opposition to lamps in the streets was strong, and the effigy of an active promoter of it was carried on an ass round the village and hanged on a lamp-post, and but for police interference would have been burned. In 1864 gas was supplied from Nottingham, and for street lamps in 1872.
Roads. The roads were, according to a report of 1846 quoted by Messrs. Price in one of their almanacks, in an intolerable state of repair, sewerage was a disgrace, the causeways were unpaved and unkerbed; channels were also unpaved, and this notwithstanding that there were even then twice over more genteel families residing in Beeston than in any other parish of the like extent in the locality. All this was, however, changed after a Local Board of Health was adopted and formed in 1871-2, and sewering, lighting, watering, kerbing, cleaning, and other sanitary requirements were attended to, the death rate being reduced from 24 per 1,000 to 16, and accomplished at a charge of 2/0 in the pound in rates. The value of this may be better realised when it is stated that with the present population, were the old rate of mortality maintained, 159 people per year would die who live, or in a still other form, three people per week would be killed by bad sanitation.
There was in 1915 a very serious interference with the roads in Beeston parish owing to the construction of the National Shell Filling Factory, and large sums were subsequently paid by the Government for re-instatement.
The Urban District Council in 1894 superseded the Local Board. They have just constructed, at a cost of £80,000, up to-date sewerage works and a destructor, Mr. W. H. Radfordbeing the engineer.
It was stated in 1906 that there were in the parish 17 miles of footpaths, 15 miles of which Mr. W. Walker (who was local Surveyor) said were after 1881 coated by a system of tarring that he invented, with a great economy to the rates.
Cemetery. In 1882 the Vicar reported that the churchyard was full, and the Local Board purchased from the Trustees of the late Thomas Bayley four acres on Wollaton Road, at £500 an acre. Mr. Herbert Walker's estimate of the cost of works being £4,480.
Post Office.The postal service with its great development in regard to the collection, transmission and delivery of letters, telegrams, telephones, money and postal orders, savings bank, government insurance, war savings certificates, payments to soldiers wives, etc., would take more space for description than there is room for here. Suffice it to say that it has become a great agency for good.