18th
November 1871
The
kindness of the `Dale workers has accidentally come under our notice.
One morning last week after a severe frost, an old man, probably 70 years
of age, went shivering to the door of the pattern shop at the `Dale and asked to
be allowed to warm himself. Permission
was readily granted; and the miserable state of the poor old man caused the
workmen to question him, when they elicited that he was travelling to Longwood,
Nr. Shrewsbury. He stated that,
starved and hungry he had sunk on the cold ground under the Shrubbery wall and
fallen into the sleep of exhaustion. When
the poor old man awoke he was nearly frozen to the ground and it was some time
after he reached the pattern shop before he could get his one eye open.
On hearing this pitiful story the men at once brewed
the old man some warm coffee which he swallowed eagerly.
Mr Weston, the manager, coming in, kindly sent to his house for some
breakfast for him. After brokenly
expressing his gratitude, the poor old fellow departed on his journey.
The pattern
makers are deserving of the highest praise for their kindness and charity.
25th
November 1871
On Monday last
a lad named Pinkstone, who resides with his parents at Reeves’s Row,
Ironbridge, employed at one of the fitting shops at Coalbrookdale Works, had two
of his fingers cut off while at his work. It
appears that the injured lad was employed at a drilling machine, and in starting
the machine got his hand between the cogs, and the third and fourth fingers of
his hand were cut off completely. He
was taken to Mr Eaglestone, assistant to Dr. F.H. Hartshorne, under whose
skilful treatment, the poor lad’s injury is progressing favourably.
30th
December 1871
Holy
Trinity Church Coalbrookdale is decidedly the prettiest and most ecclesiastical
in point of architecture of any of the churches in this neighbourhood, and its
Christmas decorations also bear away the palm.
The ladies to whom were entrusted in the work, have certainly shown good
taste in adapting the style of their decorations to the style of the building. The shafts and capitals of the pillars were entwined with a
single wreath of ivy, and the arches had thicker wreaths of laurel.
The pulpit, font and communion rails were wreathed with holly leaves and
their bright scarlet berries, and over the altar was a satin cross in
evergreens.
The offertory
on Christmas Day was for the purpose of providing seasonal gifts for widows and
orphans of the parish.