Easter 1882, Fred gets booed at football

Season 2, episode 23. April 1st - 7th 1882. The letters come thick and fast in the run up to Janie & Fred’s reunion in Easter 1882  and Fred gets booed by football supporters, when playing for Redcar against Middlesbrough in the Cleveland challenge cup final rematch. 

Transcript

[Intro]
Hello and welcome back to My Love Letter Time Machine, were we are unfolding the Victorian love story contained in the letters of two ordinary people from Yorkshire — Fred Shepherd and Janie Warburton. I’m Ingrid Birchell Hughes, and I just happen to be their great great grand daughter. Each week we travel 140 years back in time to discover the latest happenings, and today the letters come thick and fast in the run up to Janie & Fred’s Easter reunion  and we find out how Fred did in the Cleveland challenge cup rematch

[Easter 1882, Fred gets booed at football]
Before I begin I just want to say thank you so much to all my listeners for tuning in every week, for your support, your comments and questions over on the instagram and to everyone who’s bought me a coffee over on my Kofi page, and an extra big thank you to those of you who buy me a coffee every single month. If you’d like to support this podcast financially, you can at ko-fi.com/mylovelettertimemachine and if you’d like to become a monthly supporter then as a thank you I’m going to send you a copy of one of Fred’s letters and one Janie’s first ever letters - that includes the little drawing she did getting on the train. 

But don’t feel pressured to support me financially, I still need you to click on the ratings, leave a review or share it with someone who you think might enjoy it, it really really helps get the podcast noticed and pushed up the charts. So on with podcast

This time we have several shorter letters, being dashed off in haste in the week before Fred’s return to Sheffield in the Easter of 1882. I know there are many stories told about the ‘golden age of the postal service’ concerning the frequency and reliability of the post, and big cities certainly enjoyed multiple deliveries - with London having between six and twelve deliveries daily - enabling people to converse during the course of a day. I’m not sure how many deliveries Janie would have got up in the village of Handsworth but in the week this episode covers, between April 1st and 7th
Janie and Fred wrote 8 letters between them with every confidence that they were able to have a dialogue and plan for Fred’s arrival back in Sheffield on the the 8th.

Very few envelopes have survived in the collection of all of Janie and Fred’s paperwork and I don’t have any of envelopes that they used for each other so I don’t know how exactly how much they spent, but most of their letters would have cost about a penny. This wasn’t the famous penny post, as back in 1874 legislation had updated postal charges so that they were now governed by weight. The first ounce (or 27grams) was still a penny, 2 ounces was 1 and half pence, and then it was a further ‘apenny for each additional 2 oz after that. I imagine this would have been a factor for Janie and Fred who were in the habit of sending each other the local newspapers, sheet music and various pamphlets they mention. The pair of them seem to have the time of the last post indelibly stamped upon their memories and I’ve noticed sometimes they sign off quickly on a letter they are still writing before rushing to make sure it gets sent.

Janie and Fred are still trying to nail down their friends into a trip to Wharncliffe for Easter Monday, as Janie mentions in her next, she also responds to Fred’s recent mithering over how he is going to set up home for her before she arrives in Middlesbrough, with a very level headed plan. 

Handsworth 
April 1st 1882. 

My own darling husband
I  received your welcome letter this morning, I wish I had been with you to cheer you up love on Thursday night, you must not get downhearted that will never do my darling, it must've been the weather; we are having very nice weather now. I am glad my letters do you good as yours do me love. 

I hope Johnny Meays will go with us to Wharncliffe, it will be much better than seeing him on the Sunday, I dare say I could go with you on the Tuesday if you decide to see him then but still I would rather have you all to myself, if he can possibly get on the Monday. Did you ask them to guarantee a fine day, if you remember our last excursion to Wharncliffe was rather damp but in spite of it we did enjoy ourselves didn't we love? We have had some dear old times darling together both in the spring+all the year round, I like the spring best of all the seasons, our courting days have been the happiest of days, I am sure we have had happier than most people. 

I think it is because we have loved each other thoroughly we are all in all to each other my husband are we not? + we are always going to be true + faithful till death us do part, I wish we could seal that with a kiss like we always used to darling, they were happy days when we used to have such glorious moonlight walks down Grange Lane, do you remember the night at that old gate love, when you told me the old old story, it was a splendid night, I loved you then but it was nothing to the love I bear you now my darling husband + I hope to show you when I am your dear little wife + try my best to be a real helpmeet to you love, I do wish you could be with me to receive the sacrament tomorrow darling. I feel rather impatient to see you love I think this time has gone slower than ever, I wish you could've come over today but we must wait a little longer just one week, […] then my darling I shall meet you at the station as normal + we will spend as much time as possible together I like to meet you first + see you last love, I wish I was going back with you I should like to have rushed away somewhere last time to have a good cry I did feel you leaving me, I love you more every time I think. 

You will know now whether you have lost or won the final tie for the cup. I am glad your leg is all right, I wish I could've watched the match today I'm sure it would've given me great pleasure love to see my husband play. I am glad you never feel low or downhearted long when I am with you I hope to make you always feel so + always be your comforter + consoler my darling, so you must not get despondent + we will both look forward to a happy wedded life.

I think Mary, Lizzie Bradshaw + I are going for an early walk tomorrow morning, I wish you were going to take me instead. We have not had ours yet that we said we would have last summer, then to school + church, the afternoon + evening to myself I do wish you could be here to take me out darling but I shall see you this Sunday after + you will have that pleasure then.

I find I did not answer your question about the bedroom suite, I do like light things, but I thought if mother gave us a set of drawers we would buy dressing + wash tables to match, they would be rather dearer, she has not given them yet so perhaps we had better not depend on them, I think the suite although is very cheap for £6 but we will talk it over at Easter.

We will manage somehow about the furniture love, of course we cannot get all we wanted in Sheffield, + I should like to help you to choose the furniture + also to get my home a little bit in ship-shape form before I settle in it, I will tell the plan I have thought about, that Polly + I would come over a week or two before the time + get lodgings for a few days + then we can get things straightened I know Polly would help me + play propriety, would that do do you think love. I have not got time for more so good night darling a wifely kiss for you (x) I remain always your loving true + faithful wife Janie.

Fred did indeed play in the rescheduled Cleveland Cup Final which was played on the 1st of April and I tracked down a write up of it in Athletic News for Wednesday 5th April 1882:

 CLEVELAND ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP. FINAL TIE. REDCAR V. MIDDLESBOROI’OH. It will be remembered these clubs fortnight ago played undecided match, each scoring three goals, after some of the most exciting play ever witnessed. At meeting of the Executive of the Association they were ordered renew the fight again on April 1st, at Middlesbrough. During the past week the final tie has been an absorbing topic of conversation in the Iron town and adjacent villages, and partisan feeling ran very high. In the first half Harrison, by means of pretty play, scored the first and only goal for Redcar. score was not equalised until the second half was reached, Pringle doing the needful for Middlesborough. Just as every one was beginning to think that a drawn game would again result. Borne dodged the Redcar backs and scored the second goal, which left Middlesbrough winners two to one. The article finishes with the team listings including Fred Shepherd as one of the forwards. 

Although not fully reported in the article, the somewhat febrile atmosphere of the match, appears to have resulted in rambunctious behaviour from the spectators. This seems to have literally put Fred off his stride as he unhappily explains in this next letter:

 21 Church Street, Middlesbrough
April 2nd 1882.

My own darling wife,
I received your nice letter yesterday love, it is very kind of you my darling to give me so much pleasure. As I have said before I will remember you for it in my will.

I am sorry to hear that Jinnie Reckless is not to have even a days holiday at Easter, she will not be able to go to Wharncliffe with us.

I am glad to hear that you will not grumble at me for not having saved £20 as I thought, you are a dear considerate darling.

I am glad to hear that you have been preparing for my coming love, + sorry to hear that we damaged the chair so much, you see you are so heavy love, however we will stick to the sofa in future. I am sorry to hear that your father is not so well, + that Maurice is ill too – I hope they will both soon recover.

With reference to your treatment of Mr Walker, I don't think I quite understand all about the question + so will reserve my opinion until Easter, if you care to mention it then. As far as I can see, I don't think it was necessary for you to shake hands with him. I look at it in this light. He never was a friend of yours, but a friend of the family through your Emma, of course when his attention to Emma ceased, he fell back to a casual caller at your house, just as anyone else might; + it is not usual with you I know love to shake hands with callers, so perhaps to a certain extent, your mother was right. I don't think I should have gone contrary to your people’s wishes in such a trivial matter wifey, because it was not really necessary that you should show him that you thought he had done the right thing. You see love, the whole thing throughout was outside your concern altogether. I don't know whether I have clearly explained this – it is rather difficult in writing – but we shall perhaps have time to discuss it at Easter, if we are not otherwise engaged, my darling, I'm so forget everything else but ourselves, as is usual when we are together.

I hope you will not be offended with me love for not quite agreeing with you.

I received your loving letter this morning darling, I can always rely on getting one from you for Sunday, it is very kind of you love.

I hope with you love, that John Meays will be able to go with us on the Monday to Wharncliffe, it will save the time on the Tuesday.

I do remember our of the trip to Wharncliffe love, it was damp but we enjoyed ourselves, + I feel sure that no matter what kind of weather it is this time, we shall still enjoy ourselves darling.

We are all in all to each other my wife, + will always be faithful + true. I wish like you darling, that we could seal it with the usual kiss.  I do remember the night darling, when I told you the old old story, + you said you loved me as I did you. I shall never forget it wifey; + like yours, my love for you then was nothing to what it is now. I am sure you will show your love for me darling, when you are my wife (you have always done so since I told you the story) + I feel sure you will be a real helpmeet to me love. Oh my darling, I do love you so much. I would give anything to be with you today, to kiss your dear face, + hear you say you loved me, as much as ever.

I think like you my darling that the time has gone slower than ever this time, but it only wants six more days love + then I shall be with you. I feel much better today, when I think that next Sunday I should be with you wifey. I shall look forward to seeing you at the station darling, I like to see you first + last love. I expect Alvey’s Young lady will be there, so we shall have a general introduction.

With respect to the Football match yesterday love, I am sorry to say we lost. 2 goals to 1. we ought to have one, as we got the first goal, but our fellows did not play up at the finish + they got the second goal about 5 min before the finish. I played as well as I could, but I cannot play as well as I could at Sheffield. I have not had so much exercise, + cannot run so fast now as I could at the beginning of the season. We are defeated but not disgraced love.

I don't like the Middlesbrough spectators at all, 9 out of 10 would be on the side of Middlesbrough, + if one of the Middlesbrough man knocked one of our men over it was good play + got cheered, if one of our men knocked one of the Middlesbrough men over, it was considered bad play + they hooted us. I was hooted several times, an insult that I have never suffered in Sheffield all the times that I have played. It made me feel rather wild at the time, but I put it down to their ignorance of the game, + their onesidedness. If I had joined Middlesbrough, of course, everything that I did would have been right, but saying that I didn't, they feel justified I suppose in hooting me when I play the best I can for my own side even against theirs.

I should very much have liked you to have seen the match love (I thought it was a beautiful day) but I know you would not have liked to have heard them hoot me. It seems I have rather disappointed the Middlesbrough people in not doing something extraordinary. They watch me like a cat watching a mouse, + prevent me from doing anything great, + then they are disappointed at me not doing it.

I wish I had been able to take you out this morning love, instead of Mrs Beardshaw, but we will have our promised walk next Sunday morning love, if I stay Saturday night at our house, I should like to stay every night except Tuesday night at your house darling, but I don't know how that would suit them

We will have a good long talk about everything at Easter wifey, + then I shall have some good news to tell you about the future.

I think your plan about Polly + yourself coming here a very good one, if it will not be too much trouble for her to do so. I don't like to put people to a great amount of inconvenience.

I received your wifey kiss darling, + return you one (x)

I am anxiously looking forward to 3 days bliss love, only 6 more days, they will soon go wifey.

You have not mentioned what I am to bring you love, have you forgotten it.?

It is very dull here today, I did not go to church this morning I was not up early enough as I felt rather tired after yesterday.

I do love you my darling wifey + remain 
Your loving, true, + faithful 
husband 
Fred

Handsworth 
April 4th 1882. 

My own darling husband
I received your letter yesterday + paper this morning for which I thank you I shall be very happy to be remembered in your will, for giving you pleasure but I would rather have the kisses you promised for Easter then be so remembered, + which I know you will give me. I see love I have not quite put it clearly to you about Mr Walker we will as you say discuss it at Easter if we have time.

Of course love it was my heavyweight that broke the chair your eleven stones could not possibly have helped at all you are so right.

Father is not very much better,  the doctor called in last night + he said it was inflammation, he does not keep in bed he's going about, Maurice is going on very nicely.

I should have written to you yesterday but had to go to Mrs Faldings, we had heard that Mrs Barber was very ill so Father wanted me to go + see, as you know it does not do to let them think you are neglecting them, being the landlady of our house, they live in Grimesthorpe Road, now I started to walk + got about a mile out of my way, they seemed pleased to see me + gave me a very pressing invitation to go for the whole day next time not for half the day.

They enquired after you I think you will know who I mean, you fetched me from their house over the line at Darnall that little farm, where I was nursing the baby + you thought I looked very nice in fact would make a nice little mother.

I saw Lilly Stevenson’s baby yesterday, it has a little fat chubby face, it is a real [joy]

I see by the account in the paper that your match was a good one + that you were defeated but not disgraced I wish I could have been a spectator but should not of liked to have heard you hooted, their onesidedness of opinion is not very pleasant to bear I don't wonder at you feeling wild when they go on like that.

You would have a great stir[sp?] in Middlesbrough yesterday on account of the boat race I see that Hanlan has won very easily, at which the Middlesbrough people will be rather provoked.

I came home by the 7-20 train last night I called at your house, your mother was not very well, Louisa Emily Lilly + Walter had gone to the sermons at a chapel in Darnall so did not see them, John brought me home into Handsworth, they are always very anxious about me getting home safely, now I have not you to take care of me darling.

Mary Beadshaw[sic] + I did not go for our walk last Sunday morning, I went to school, then in afternoon I read, church again in the evening, Emma Gill came up to our church, she is very much better but I think she is scarcely fit to be out in the night air, Polly Corbett Fanny Makin, Lizzie Williams + I took her down to Darnall I always feel your loss more on Sundays then any day my darling but I was thinking about how soon I should see you + what a pleasure it would be to have you here next Sunday, I am looking forward to meeting you at the station, I suppose you will come by the same train as usual darling husband, I expect Mr Alvey’s young lady + I will be companions in waiting, for our husbands, what is she like?  I suppose you have had it over before now, then I shall know her when I see her + study her before I have the introduction. 

We will have a good long walk darling at Easter, + I shall be very happy to hear your good news about the future.

My darling I scarcely know what you are to bring me yet, I have plenty of jewellery, you know the case you brought me last time, the scissors have turned out very bad ones, I thought if you liked to get some more they would be very useful I have not time for more past time. 
I love you more every day 
I remain your loving true + faithful 
wife Janie

Royal Exchange Middlesbrough, The North Eastern Steel Co Limited 
April 4th 1882 

My own darling
I received the enclosed letter from Ted Watt’s this morning – I thought I could not do better then hand it over to you + then you can make what arrangements you like love, I shall be sure to agree with them. As you will see he expects to be up at your house tomorrow night with Miss Dalton so I thought if I let you know you might arrange to be in.

I was rather disappointed this morning darling, at not receiving a letter from you, but you would no doubt be busy yesterday. I shall expect one tomorrow morning love, or else there will be a kissing fight at Easter.

Only four more days love, to our meeting. 

I have not time for any more my darling, 
I remain 
your loving true + faithful husband 
Fred

[in the corner:] excuse the half sheet - I am just out of paper
Handsworth 
April 5th 1882. 

My own darling
I received your letter this morning, I am glad you let me know Ted + Miss Dalton are coming up tonight – though I should not have been out as I had asked Polly Roe to tea this afternoon. You did not say whether you would like to go to Matlock I think it would be better than Wharncliffe now it is so cold, you say I am to make any arrangements I like + they will be sure to suit you love so I think I should arrange to go there, I shall see you all the day + if we stopped at home I should not be able to say much to you if I have to wait all the time. It is very good of them getting all the eatables ready + saving me the trouble.

It has been a wretched day raining all day it is fine now. Not long to our meeting now darling, I will write more tomorrow. 
I remain 
your loving, true + faithful 
wife Janie.


So it looks as if Fred’s friend Ted and his young lady Miss Dalton have rather derailed things and  decided that an excursion to Matlock on Easter Monday would be preferable. 

It’s been years since I’ve been to Matlock, a beautiful town in the north of Derbyshire, but I wanted to know what about it in the Victorian era was attractive to day trippers and I found this description in the The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868 

which describes Matlock as “situated in a deep valley, the sides of which are richly wooded with pine, fir, cedar, &c. The bottom of the valley is narrow, the hills rising abruptly to the altitude of 800 feet at Masson-Low, or Heights of Abraham, as they are sometimes named from a fancied resemblance to those of Quebec. The baths are about 1½ mile S.E. of the town of Matlock, and near the station on the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland Junction railway, which runs frequent excursion trains during the summer season, thus affording easy access to the pleasure parties from the neighbouring towns.”

It goes on to say “Among the various places of attraction are Cliff House, Old Bath, Dungeon Tor, and High Tor, this last is 396 feet in height, and commands a fine prospect; also Cumberland, Rutland, Devonshire, Speedwell, and other caverns. The Lover's Walk is situated on the opposite side of the river, and consists of various pathways cut through the dense woods, all of which lead to certain points where the beauties of the dale are seen to the best advantage.” 

There are many etchings, paintings, postcards and now instagram photos of the iconic and spectacular view of High Tor above the river Derwent. I’ll find some of them and share them on the My Love Letter Time Machine instagram. 

I love Fred and Janie’s description of picnic food as ‘eatables’ and I’m now wondering that might have consisted of. Trying to research this, again, like many other subjects turns up the habits of the middle and wealthier classes, and doesn’t shed any light on what a group of young ordinary working class people might take. I’m imagining it would probably be pies from the local baker or butcher - easily portable.

Royal Exchange Middlesbrough, The North Eastern Steel Co Limited
April 6th 1882 

My own darling
I received your loving letters of yesterday + this morning, you are a dear little love, I will kiss you strongly.

I have not time to write much today we are so busy, I should have written last night but went to a Football dinner at Redcar will give you all particulars when I come over.

I did not say what I thought about going to Matlock because I was rather doubtful how the train ran, of course if they are convenient I shall be pleased to take you.

I received the enclosed letter from John Meays about next Tuesday. I have written to say that I will let him know for Tuesday whether you will be able to go. I should very much like to take you love. 
I remain as ever 
your loving true + faithful husband 
Fred

Royal Exchange Middlesbrough, The North Eastern Steel Co Limited 
April 7th 1882 

My own darling Wife
I'll come by the usual train tomorrow, I shall look forward to seeing you at the station if you can possibly get. Only another day love + then we meet. We are working very hard today, it is the first Good Friday I have had to work. We are the only people working in the exchange, + I think in the town.

All the shops are closed + it is as near Sunday like as poss. It is a beautiful day, I wish you were here darling then I could take you to Saltburn or Redcar.

I have not got the letter you promised me darling for today I feel rather disappointed but I shall see you soon + then we shall not want any letters, shall we darling. Oh I do love you so much my darling wife.

Only 24 hours love, + then I can kiss you 150,000 times, + shall enjoy every one of them. 
I remain 
my own darling 
your loving, true + faithful 
husband 
Fred

And so as we leave the Easter of 1882, and Janie waiting at the station for Fred’s train to come in and their longed for reunion, we come to the end of season 2 of this podcast. I seem to be ending a season when Fred and Janie get back together as that feels like a natural break and obviously we have no letters for that time. We’ll have to wait until season 3 to try and piece together what they got up to.  Next time there will be a Q&A bonus episode and then we’ll start season 3 the week after that, when we discover that Fred looks like he’s on the verge of falling out with his landlady and might have to find new lodgings. We also get the rather startling news that there was a coalminers fight outside the pub which resulted in the assault of a police officer. 

Thank you again for listening to My Love Letter Time Machine, which was written and produced by me, the title music is called Delicate Waltz and written by the talented Neil Cross. 

As I mentioned before perhaps you could show the podcast some support by clicking on the ratings, leaving a review or sharing it with someone who you think might enjoy it, and if you’d like to write to me, you can at my love letter time machine at gmail dot com.

Until next time, take care.
© Ingrid Birchell Hughes 2022