Backwell.

1824 Oct 25. Thomas Berry, was indicted for stealing, on the 6^th of August last, some teazles, the property of Mr J Yates, of Backwell. The prosecutor deposed, that he was a dealer in hay, and that the prisoner lived also at Backwell; that a few days previous to the robbery, he met him in a public house in Bristol, the prisoner asked if he could sell him some teasles; to this he replied he could; and mentioned the price of his stock, about seven guineas. A short time after this, the prisoner went to a man of the name of Knight, and said he should want his “dilly” (a small cart) for the purpose of conveying home some teazles which he said he had purchased of Mr J Yates.

The daughter of the prosecutor, said that when Berry came to the house, her father was away from home. He said that her father had sold the teazles to a clergyman, and a man was waiting, she showed him to an outhouse where they were, and prisoner with Knight, carried them off.

Berry in his defence, said he took the teazles, with the idea of selling them for the prosecutor. Mr J Yates said that had the prisoner brought him the money, he would have overlooked the transaction.

No evidence being adduced proving that the prisoner took the teazles with intent to steal, he was acquitted.

1838 Jul 21. Death. July 12. At Westown, Backwell, Mrs Lewis.

1871 Sep 9. Samuel Reeves, beer-house keeper of Backwell, had his license renewed but he was cautioned.

1873 Apr 5. At a meeting of the sub-committee, under the Contagions Diseases (Animals) Act, Sir Arhur H Elton, Bart, in the chair, it was ordered that part of the loss sustained by Mr Hicks of Backwell, from pleuro-pneumonia, be now repaid to him.

1880 Nov 6. Samuel Cole of Backwell, pleaded guilty to being quarrelsome and disorderly and refusing to quit the George inn, Backwell on Saturday night. The defendant was fined 15s including costs. Cole was further charged with assaulting Thomas Johnson, at the same place. Fined £1-8s including costs, or a months hard labour.

1892 Apr 11. On Friday afternoon the rector (Prebendary Burbridge) distributed the prizes to the scholars who had attended regularly during the year. The names of eleven children who had not be absent once during the year are Martin Manning ( who had never been absent since he first came to school three years ago.) Evelyn Manning, Agnes Woodley, Louise Woodley, Rosina Griffin, Oliver Griffin, Leila Garland, Nora Garland, Arthur Blake, Andrew Kingdon and Edith Brian. In addition to their price each of them received a medal and a certificate. Altogether there were nearly 100 prizes. The visitors included Mrs Burbidge, the Misses Burbidge, Mr T A Smith, Mrs Alvis and Miss Hayward.

1894 Sep 15. Backwell Annual Festival.

The most interesting day in the Backwell calendar is undoubtedly the harvest home celebration and the annual flower show; and as the double event comes just at a time when the summer pressure of work is over, the village festival as it is not inappropriately called, is always observed as a general holiday in the neighbourhood. The harvest festival is one of the oldest in the district, having already existed for more than a quarter of a century; and from very small beginnings, when the customary tea was served in the village school-room, it has now become a widely known and very popular fixture. For the last twelve years the show of garden produce has been held jointly with the harvest home. Mr James Watts, the energetic secretary, was once more responsible for much of the success of the exhibition, and he was well backed up by a thoroughly zealous and hard working committee. The judges were: Fruit vegetables and flowers, Mr V Down and Mr Robert Brown; Handicraft, Mrs Alfred Robinson (BackwellHouse) and Mr Rossiter.

Flower Show Prize List.

Cottagers in the parish of Backwell.

Collection of vegetables: 1^st A Bees; 2^nd Wm Loosemore; 3^rd G Rogers. Kidney potatoes, coloured. 1^st J Sully; 2^nd A Carter; 3^rd J Smith. Ditto white: 1^st A Carter; 2^nd W Loosemore; 3^rd A Bees. Potatoes round coloured: 1^st A Carter; 2^nd G Rogers; 3^rd Wm Loosemore. Ditto white: 1^st A Carter; 2^nd J Smith. Cabbages: 1^st A Bees; 2^nd G Rogers. Savot: 1^st G Rogers; 2^nd A Bees; 3^rd W Loosemore. Scarlett runners: 1^st J Sully; 2^nd A Carter; 3^rd W Loosemore. Turnips: 1^st J Sully; 2^nd C Hayden; 3^rd A Carter. Carrots: 1^st A Carter; 2^nd C Hayden; 3^rd A Bees. Onions: 1^st A Bees; 2^nd G Rogers; 3^rd W Loosemore. Cauliflowers: 1^st A Bees; 2^nd W Loosemore. Parsnips: 1^st J Sully; 2^nd A Bees; 3^rd G Rogers.

Basket of wild flowers by school children: 1^st Agnes Woodley; 2^nd Florrie Carter; 3^rd Gilbert Rogers.

Open to all in the parish.

Greenhouse plants: 1^st Edward Gibbons, gardener to Mr John Turner; 2^nd J Febrey, gardener to the Rev Preb Burbidge. Collection of vegetables. 1^st E Gibbons; 2^nd J Febrey. Collection of fruit: 1^st E Gibbons. Roses: 1^st E Gibbons. Decorative dahlias: 1^st E Gibbons; 2^nd Miss Watts, 3^rd J Febrey. Cactus dahlias, specimen blooms: 1^st Miss Watts; 2^nd E Gibbins. Asters: 1^st Miss Watts; 2^nd J Febrey. Gladioli: 1^st Miss Watts;2^nd T Smith, Backwell Hill. Cut flowers: 1^st E Gibbons; 2^nd J Febrey.

Amateurs: Greenhouse plants: 1^st Henry Baker. Collection of fruit: 1^st James Watts.

Prizes for children at Backwell National School: Asters: 1^st Edgar Sully; 2^nd George Woodman; 3^rd E Smith; 4^th Reginald Alvis; 5^th Louisa Woodley; 6^th T Parsons; 7^th A Pope; 8^th Herbert Phillips; 9^th J Hayden; 10^th Amy Griffin.

Champion Class for Best Collection of Vegetables in the Show: Edward Gibbons.

1893 May 1. The quarterly meeting of the local branch of the Girls’ Friendly Society was held at Coombe house on Friday. Mrs Turner and Miss Hurbridge were present and the members spent a very pleasant afternoon.

On Friday afternoon Mrs Burbidge distributed the prizes for regular attendance to the school children, upwards of 80, who received books. Twelve-Martin Manning, Evelyn Manning, Elsie Woodley, Bessie Woodley, Winifred Kingdon, Francis Kingdon, Rosina Griffin, Oliver Griffin, Hilda Bees, Bertie Brean, Reginald Vowles and Philip Blake-were awarded certificates and medals. In addition to their other prizes, as they had not been absent once during the year.

1899 Feb 4. Very general and sincere regret is felt at the sad tidings received by Mr James Rositer of West Town, on Saturday night, at the death of his only son, Egbert, on December 26^th, at New Umsall, Rhodosia, of blackwater fever. The news was totally unexpected, as he was coming home almost immediately. Mr Egbert Rossiter went to Matabeleland just as the last Matabele war broke out, and his letters home have given remarkably graphic descriptions of the war and of the country and its people.

1899 Sep 22. Backwell has had the services of Nurse Brazler, of the Church Army, for the past two years, and that her splendid work has been fully appreciated, was evidenced by the many presents of which she has this week been the recipient, subscribed for by nearly all the parishioners. They included a bag, suitably fitted up for a nurse’s work. Farewell meetings were held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.