WILLIAM ENGLISH
FROM TRAPPER BOY TO TOFF
This article about William English who worked at Victoria Garesfield 1894-1897 has been taken from the website about his life based, among other, on a journal he wrote.
William English was born in Wylam as the year 1875 drew to a close. William’s father, Henry English, a sinker, originated from Tow Law, his mother, Margaret Lawson, from Greenside. By 1889, work had lead the English family to Ashington, where, at the age of 13, William started work as a trapper: “After working a week, I didn’t like the mine, and wanted to leave, but my father said I had looked for the job myself and would now stay there. Well that fixed my destiny, but I know I should never have been a miner.” Between the ages of 14-16, William worked at Pegswood, thereafter, following his mother’s death in 1892, moving from village to village working alongside his father as new pits were being sunk: “We then moved to Seghill for a year, where we did drifting in stone. Then to Ravensworth…where we did sinking and rising in stone.” |
1894 - 1897 VICTORIA GARESFIELD
In 1894, aged 18, William went to lodge with his aunt, Jane Laybourn, at Ramsay’s Cottages in High Spen, finding work at Victoria Garesfield. Due to his physical condition, William was immediately able to secure a relatively well-paid position for his age:
In 1894, aged 18, William went to lodge with his aunt, Jane Laybourn, at Ramsay’s Cottages in High Spen, finding work at Victoria Garesfield. Due to his physical condition, William was immediately able to secure a relatively well-paid position for his age:
“I started work on stonework receiving men’s pay (although I wasn’t supposed to do men’s work until I was 21 years) and in a couple of weeks got a contract on couch work, as it is called there; that is taking down hanging wall to make height for the tubs to get near to the working face”. This brought me good pay about £2.10.0 a week.”
In the prime of his youth, William already had a great interest in sporting activities, demonstrating an acute competitive spirit and an ardent desire to succeed in everything he did. Before moving to High Spen, while lodging with another relative in Gateshead, William had joined the Empire Rowing Club, taking part in competitions on the Tyne and while at Victoria Garesfield, William spent his free time trail walking. It was at this time that he also bought himself a bike and took up cycling, his sights always set on excelling:
“…Victoria Garesfield in the Derwent Valley…at 19 years I was 11 stone 9lbs; was the fastest cyclist in the district, also the fastest walker in the district…”
In his journal, William makes mention of a number of personal records he sets:
“In cycling I rode one mile on the flat road at Rowlands Gill on an Elswick bicycle…in 2 minutes 20 seconds standing start, also on my own machine, a full roadster…I rode a ¼ mile on a flat road, close to the Derwent, below the paper mill…in 33 1/5 seconds.”
Friends from Victoria Garesfield witnessed William’s achievements:
“I have a photograph of this event taken just before the start by Sid Smith (1) of Garesfield, and showing Kit Graham (2) holding (illegible) and his son Billy (3) holding the pistol.”
The road at nearby Lintzford being flat in contrast to the hills and banks at Victoria Garesfield, this proved ideal terrain for William’s training sessions:
“I walked a trial over a half mile on the road below the paper mill in 3 minutes 50 seconds, one of the witnesses being George Bell(4), a footrunner when I used to train…I always walked trials with clogs without irons, on my feet, and had a stride of 4 feet 9 inches.”
While William was at Victoria Garesfield, his father Henry had signed up to go and work in the mines in Rhodesia, eventually going off in 1896. The recent discovery of gold near Johannesburg in 1896 meant new labour, especially deep-level workers, were in high demand, with skilled miners commanding very high wages.
William joined his father in the Transvaal the following year.
William joined his father in the Transvaal the following year.
WILLIAM'S LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Life in the gold mines of South Africa presented a wealth of opportunity for William who seized every chance to better himself. Through his own efforts and initiative, William rapidly worked his way up from sinker to overseer, obtaining a Certificate in Methods of Mining and Mining Economics from the Transvaal University College in 1909. |
William was also quick to perfect his cycling skills, taking part in numerous competitions: “I rode in many races…and soon passed out of the 2nd class in to the 1st class.”
A Return Trip to Emmaville
Although far from his native land, it would seem that William did not lose sight of his roots and his family in the North East. During a return visit to England in 1906, William undertook an epic cycle ride from Leigh-on-Sea to Emmaville near Crawcrook to see relatives, calling in at Victoria Garesfield before setting off on his return leg. William’s cycle route is shown on the map opposite: Ordnance Survey 1:633600 map of Great Britain dated 1904. |
The move to South Africa had enabled William to secure a very comfortable life-style and improve his social status – as of 1905 he records earning £30 - £55 a month - working in the mines there was, however, to be at the cost of his health.
A mention in his diary for 1909 recording his last cycle race, was poignantly premonitory:
“…work in these mines is not conducive to either long life, long wind or strength…I rode my last race 9th November 1909…when I felt I was only a third rater, so I gave it up; I was then within a month of 34 years of age…”
A mention in his diary for 1909 recording his last cycle race, was poignantly premonitory:
“…work in these mines is not conducive to either long life, long wind or strength…I rode my last race 9th November 1909…when I felt I was only a third rater, so I gave it up; I was then within a month of 34 years of age…”
In 1914, William was diagnosed with miners’ phthisis and the following year his life - that of a determined, talented trapper boy turned toff - was sadly cut short at the age of 39.
William died at the Phthisis Sanitorium at Modderfontein. He is buried at Burgheshoop Cemetery, Krugersdorp.
William died at the Phthisis Sanitorium at Modderfontein. He is buried at Burgheshoop Cemetery, Krugersdorp.
NOTE: The names mentioned may correspond to the following people from Victoria Garesfield
1. Sidney Smith, deputy overman, of 14 Albert Street
2. Christopher Graham, miner, of View Terrace
3. William Graham, Christopher’s son
4. George Bell, miner, of 11 Alexander Street
1. Sidney Smith, deputy overman, of 14 Albert Street
2. Christopher Graham, miner, of View Terrace
3. William Graham, Christopher’s son
4. George Bell, miner, of 11 Alexander Street
Source: website ‘William English’ by Hilary Norris (William’s granddaughter).
All information and photos used with the kind permission of Hilary Norris – May 2021
To read the full story about William English’s life, please see: https://williamenglish.net/
Source of photograph in header: https://www.thediamondworks.co.za/history-of-gold-in-south-africa/
All information and photos used with the kind permission of Hilary Norris – May 2021
To read the full story about William English’s life, please see: https://williamenglish.net/
Source of photograph in header: https://www.thediamondworks.co.za/history-of-gold-in-south-africa/