HOUSE IN KNOTTINGLEY CEMETERY

ADDED 25 OCTOBER 2006

I grew up on Womersley Road, Knottingley, next door to the cemetery. Mr. and Mrs Addy were the tenants of the cottage there. We were good friends. My mother and I used to keep Mrs Addy company whilst Frank, her husband, went to Hill Top Workingmens’ Club for a drink It was very spooky on the dark winter nights when the owls were hooting in the trees. Mr. Addy was the Sexton and used to dig the graves, his only assistant being a young man called Dickie Baines, who was a cripple. Dickie used to lie on a board with wheels attached and propel himself along by pushing with his hands along the ground. He was a very good worker and of great help to Mr. Addy.

During a funeral, a church bell used to toll above the front door. The Clergy used to change into his robes in the front room before the service. Mr. Addy was also suitably dressed, having to change back into his working clothes afterwards to fill in the grave. I must say that the yard was always very well kept. The house had no gas or electricity, illumination was by candle light or a small lamp.

At the outbreak of the Second World War we had to move to a bigger house. We were sorry to leave our friends. I am now eighty three years old and have many happy memories of other good friends and relatives on Womersley Road.

Annie Sproston (nee Neilson)
25 October 2006

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