Mexborough and Swinton Times August 4, 1939

Remarkable Family of Eleven Children

Ages Total 764 Years

Wombwell Main has what can truly be called “a family in a thousand.” The name is Hinchcliffe, and they have been rooted in the traditions of that district for getting on toward a hundred years. Through the calls of daily life, the members of the family have become scattered, but they still regard Wombwell Main as “home,” and return there at every opportunity which circumstance offers.

The Hinchcliffe tradition is founded on a family of eleven children, daughters and sons of the late Mr. George Hinchcliffe, whose ages total 764 years, and of whom four are over seventy. The oldest is 83 and the youngest 55. Members of this remarkable family are: Mrs Eliza Duck of Bartholomew Street. Wombwell: Mrs. Martha Kaye, Hough Lane, Wombwell; Mr Arthur Hinchcliffe (73), 2, White Stiles, Kendal: Mr George Willie Hinchcliffe (72), Summer Lane, Wombwell: Mr. Thomas Hinchcliffe (71) Windmill Road, Wombwell: Mr. Charles Hinchcliffe (69). 50, South Road, Bare, Morerambe: Mr Herbert Hinchcliffe (68), Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Canada: Mr Walter Hinchcliffe (66), of Barnsley: Mrs. Emily Annie Ward (64), Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Canada: Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kent (62), of Blackburn: Mr. Sam Hinchcliffe (55), of Dovecliffe Road. Wombwell.

The Patriarch.

Mr. George Hinchcliffe, the patriarch of this household, was born at Silkstone, but came to Wombwell Main as a young man to act as striker for his father, Mr. Samuel Hinchcliffe, who was then head blacksmith. At an early age Mr. George Hinchcliffe, ioined the commercial staff at the colliery, and upon his retirement had served the firm for nearly seventy years. He died at the age of 86.

The family history is one of records. In addition to working at the colliery, Mr. George Hinchcliffe was the proprietor of the grocer’s shop opposite Wombwell Main Foundry, and later was succeeded by his son, Mr. Arthur Hinchcliffe, who kept it until he retired, when he in turn, passed on the business to his son. Mr. Henry Hinchcliffe. It has now been in the family 76 years without a break. It served as the general store for Wombwell Main when the district was isolated, there being only a narrow lane connecting it with Wombwell proper. It was not until the middle lot the “nineties” that the construction of the Sheffield-Barnsley branch line at Wombwell Main put the place in the line of Traffic from outside districts.

Long Teaching Career.

When he retired, six or seven years ago, Mr. Charles Hinchcliffe had served the whole of a long teaching career on the staff of Wombwell schools, and had, for many years been headmaster at King’s Road.

Mr. George Willie Hinchcliffe retired with a record of 56 years’ service at Wombwell Main Colliery, and, although he is the youngest of the family. Mr. Sam Hinchcliffe has been at Wombwell Main over forty years. Mr. Thomas Hinchcliffe has served a lifetime as a butcher at Wombwell Main.

It is through such families as these that Wombwell Main Colliery is inseparably linked with the Congregational Church at Wombwell.

The connection originated with the late Mr. William Utley, who, when manager at Wombwell Main, laid the foundations of local nonconformity in a little chapel in the pit yard.

Mr. George Hinchcliffe was connected with this place of worship and, as was common in those days, used a little persuasion to see that his children attended too. Eventually (some sixty years ago) the Congregational Church was erected in the centre of Wombwell.

Though a little vexatious at times, Mr. George Hinchcliffe’s influence was, nevertheless, good for his family, and good for Wombwell.

For many decades the children have played a big part maintaining this church. Mr. George Hinchcliffe so loved the place that he left it £100 in his will.

There were originally fourteen children. Two died in infancy and Albert, who came between Arthur and George Willie, left a gap when he was about sixty years of age. The traditional association of the Hinchcliffe family with Wombwell Main is now being carried on by sons and grandchildren.