Water Shortages

Water Tower, Stanbridge Road, Leighton Buzzard [Z1432/2]

Tuesday 19th June 1917: The following notice was issued by Leighton Buzzard Urban District Council on Saturday:   

WATER SUPPLYIn consequence of the shortage of water at this period of the year, the above Council request householders not to use more than is necessary for domestic purposes, and to avoid any waste by running taps, etc. Standpipes should be turned off immediately after use.Leaking taps should be reported at once to the Water Engineer, and the same will be re-washered free of charge.Water for “domestic purposes” does not include water for gardens, lawns, etc. Water used for the latter purposes must be paid for according to the scale of charges under the Council’s Water Regulations.In every case where water is used for other than domestic purposes notice should be given at the Council Offices, or to the Water Engineer.Penalties are provided under the Waterworks Clauses Acts for waste or misuse of water.

The Urban District Council of Linslade has now followed suit with a similar edict:

WASTE OF WATERNOTICEAttention having been called to the serious waste of water caused by leaking taps and defective fittings on private property, and the unauthorised use of water for garden purposes in the district.Notice is hereby given that proceedings under the Public Health Act (Waterworks Act) will be taken against any person wilfully allowing any waste or leakage or misuse to occur on his or her premises.NOTE. – It is the duty of every tenant immediately to inform his or her landlord or landlady, of any defective pipe, tap, or fitting, and to report same to the Council in writing.

The need for these ordinances had become acute. Not only has water wastage by consumers become an issue of national importance, but a considerable amount of water is being lost due to burst service pipes. During May the Water Engineer for Leighton Buzzard had to repair to burst pipes in South Street, North Street, St. Andrew’s Street and Market Square. A plan has been draw up of the water distribution system showing where shut-off valves are situated, and five additional valves are to be installed to allow for better control of the system when carrying out repairs.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 5th and 26th June 1917

Funeral Held for Samuel Whitbread

Samuel Whitbread (Wikimedia, from Vanity Fair 1895)

Thursday 30th December 1915: The funeral took place at 1pm today of Mr. Samuel Whitbread, D.L., J.P., who died at his residence at Southill Park early on Christmas morning at the age of 85. The church at Southill was filled to capacity for his funeral. Mr. Whitbread was associated with the brewery which bears the family name from 1867 and in 1889 became chairman of the company. He served as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Bedford for forty-three years from 1852 until his retirement in 1895. Locally he served as Chairman of the Governors of the Harpur Trust and of the Bedford County Hospital, to which he was a great benefactor. He took a great part in administrative affairs in the county and was at one time an Alderman of Bedfordshire County Council. Of great importance to the county was his role as Chairman of the Biggleswade Water Board in providing an excellent water supply for Biggleswade and the surrounding parishes by sinking a well in the greensand from which supplies are piped as far afield as Kempston.  He continued to be active in local affairs until a few years ago when advanced age and deafness forced him to retire.

Samuel Whitbread maintained his estates in excellent order, building a number of model cottages, restoring the churches of Elstow and Cardington, and carefully preserving the two villages. Large numbers of his tenants have attended a memorial service for Mr. Whitbread at Elstow where the flag flew at half mast. During his career he spent over £50,000 building and improving cottages on his estate. He helped to draft the Local Government Board Act which established Parish Councils and until his death was the first and only Chairman of Southill Parish Council. Thanks to his generosity Southill possesses a splendid cricket ground. It is said that, “He was one of the kindest and most sympathetic of men, always ready to help any good cause, and to relieve any necessitous case, his right hand not knowing what his left hand did; he never, I believe, said a harsh word to any person of humble estate, and was most careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 31st December 1915

Engineer Hit by a Pickaxe at Clophill

Clophill Village, c.1904 [Z50/31/33]

Wednesday 17th November 1915: One of the difficulties facing the military authorities is the need to provide a satisfactory water supply for the various military camps established in the county. Clophill enjoys excellent water from the lower greensand and Ampthill Urban District Council has agreed that this may be conveyed to the camp at Haynes Park. The job of laying pipes was given to the Monmouthshires. Unfortunately Private Parsons, one of the Monmouthshire engineers, suffered a nasty accident while carrying out the task when one of his comrades, Private Parry, accidentally stabbed him in the knee with a pickaxe. Immediate treatment was provided by a military surgeon and the young man is now progressing well.

Source: Luton Times, 19th November 1915

A Fight to the Finish

Sharnbrook Vicarage - this thatched building was pulled down in the year this card was postmarked, 1910 [Z1306/100/19/1]

Friday 2nd October 1914: The vicar of Sharnbrook, Mr Chetwode Ram, has written about the war in the parish newsletter this week, warning that the war may be a long one and will be a “fight to the finish”.

 “We must remember that when we pray for our sailors and soldiers we do not only pray that they may be protected from the special perils of war (wounds and sickness). They are be-set by other dangers besides these, and therefore we pray for those who are on service at home as well as at the front. We pray especially for young recruits, that God may guard them in the hour of trial and temptation, and keep them from all things hurtful to either soul or body. We shall pray especially for those patriotic young men who have left their homes and their work in Sharnbrook to serve their King and country. All honour to them. It seems as if this war will be a long one. Not until we have accomplished that for which we have taken up arms can we even wish it to come to an end. In the words of our King, “This is a fight to the finish.” So far we have done well. Our men have shown themselves to be heroes indeed. We trust in God and in them for the future..” 

There is also talk about the possibility of Sharnbrook getting a public water supply. The water is very hard and while those living in the old part of the village have plenty of water some of the newer houses do not have good enough wells and often suffer from lack of water.

Source: Sharnbrook Parish Record Book [P112/28/6]