The following is a representative selection of articles from Carlisle-based newspapers that relate to the Midland Railway Company's mission hall and associated rifle range at Petteril Bridge, Carlisle.
The first extract has been included purely to provide some context. (It suggests that, prior to the opening of the dedicated Mission Hall at Petteril Bridge, the Midland Railway Temperance Union held at least some of its regular meetings at the nearby Durran Hill engine shed.)
Carlisle Journal - Tuesday 19 November 1895:
MIDLAND RAILWAY TEMPERANCE UNION: CARLISLE BRANCH - The usual monthly meeting was held in the Mess Room at the Midland Engine Sheds on Sunday afternoon. Mr. C. Forster presided. Mr. Robert Watson (United Kingdom Alliance) gave an address. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smith sang a duet, and a party from the North-Eastern Railway Temperance Union, consisting of the Misses Hallon, Mr. Earl, and Mr. Young also sang. There was a good attendance.
Carlisle Journal - Tuesday 24 August 1897
OPENING OF A NEW TEMPERANCE HALL IN CARLISLE. - On Saturday a new hall, provided by the Midland Company in connection with the Midland Railway Temperance Union, was opened at Petteril Bridge, London Road. The proceedings commenced by a tea, the tables being presided over by Mesdames Foster, Watson, May, Richardson, Shurmer, Owsley, Smith, Davies, and Irving. After tea a public meeting was held, presided over by Mr. R A. Allison. M.P., who was accompanied on the platform by Mrs. Allison. Addresses were given by Mr. Fred Gelsthorpe, line secretary, Derby, and Mr. Robert Watson. U.K.A. Miss Ada Cumberland and Mr. W. Barrett sang solos, and Mr. G. Skelton and Master F. Owsley played selections on the violin. Glees and anthems were given by the choir, under the leadership of Mr. Wainwright. Miss Foster accompanied on the pianoforte. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded on the motion of Mr. Foster, seconded by Mr. Richardson. On Sunday the meetings were continued, and at night the concluding opening meeting was held, when Mr. F. Gelsthorpe and Mr. R. Watson delivered temperance speeches. Mr. and Mrs. T. Smith rendered a duet, and Mr. Smith a solo. Mr. Foster presided. The whole series of meetings have been largely attended, and great interest was evinced. Several pledges were taken.
Carlisle Patriot - Friday 27 August 1897
A NEW TEMPERANCE HALL IN CARLISLE. - The members of the Midland Railway Temperance Union and their friends have celebrated the opening of a new hall at Petterill Bridge, London Road, provided the Midland Railway Company. The proceedings commenced on Saturday with a tea, the tables being presided over by Mrs Davies, Mrs Foster, Mrs Irving, Mrs Watson, Mrs May, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Shurmer, Mrs Owsley, and Mrs Smith. Mr Allison, M.P., presided at a public meeting which was afterwards held, and was accompanied the platform by Mrs Allison. Glees and anthems were rendered by the choir, under the leadership of Mr Wainwright. Selections on the violin were played by Mr G. Skelton and Master F. Owsley; and solos were sung by Miss Ada Cumberland and Mr W. Barrett. Miss Foster played the pianoforte accompaniments. The speakers were Mr Fred Gelsthorpe, line secretary, Derby, and Mr R. Watson, U.K A. The usual votes of thanks were passed, on the motion of Mr Foster, seconded by Mr Richardson. The meetings were continued on Sunday. Mr Foster presided, and speeches on temperance were made by Mr Watson and Mr Gelsthorpe. Mr and Mrs T. Smith rendered a duet, and Mr Smith gave solo.
Carlisle Journal - Tuesday 15 November 1898
MIDLAND RAILWAY TEMPERANCE UNION
SPEECH BY Mr. ALLISON, M.P.
The Carlisle branch of the Midland Railway Temperance Union held their anniversary meetings on Saturday, Sunday, and last night, in the Mission Room, near Petteril Bridge, London Road. On Saturday Mr. Gelsthorpe, of Derby, delivered a lecture on railway work illustrated with lantern views. On Sunday meetings were held in the afternoon and evening, and addresses were given by Mr. Langford, of Sheffield, Mr. Gelsthorpe, and Mr. Hinde, locomotive foreman, Leeds, and a brief of programme of music, recitations, &c., was contributed by Miss Jones, Tait Street; Miss Cumberland and Miss Foster, Petteril Street; Miss Steel, London Road, and Miss Robinson, Broad Street. At the meeting last night the chair was taken by Mr. Allison, M.P., and Mrs. Allison was also present. A programme of songs, recitations, and instrumental music was performed by Miss Firth, Miss Stephenson, Miss Wright, Miss Richardson, Mr. T. Parker, Mr. Skelton, and Mr. ?Tamel. Mr. Gelsthorpe gave a lantern exhibition, and Mr. Watson, U.K.A., delivered an address.Mr. W. Forster, President of the Branch, said that owing to their opening that hall a little over twelve months ago, they had to forego their anniversary meeting last year. During the past two years they had not made much advance in membership, which comprised 159 railway men and 29 railway men's wives and friends, making a total of 188. (Cheers.) But though the membership had not increased, they had been able in spite of difficulties to keep up the membership at the normal figure. Financially they could pay their way, and they had been able to carry out some improvements in the hall and provide additional furniture. During the past year a Band of Hope had been formed, with a total membership up to date of 112. (Cheers.)
Mr. Allison said it was a satisfactory feature of the Society that they were free from debt. He was glad they had been able to start a Band of Hope Union, for whatever people might say of temperance work in general all approved of inculcating temperance principles amongst the young. As to the adult branch of the Midland Temperance Union, they seemed to be marking time, neither going forward nor retreating. They were not singular in that respect, as everywhere at the present time the temperance question seemed to be marking time. They had little difficulties and feelings of depression about it, but he believed if they could hold their own for a short time they would go more strongly afterwards, and he hoped that would be the case with regard to the work of this Society as well as with the temperance movement generally. Speaking for himself, he certainly thought the longer they lived the more they saw the importance and value of temperance work. They could not help being struck with the example of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who with his 80 years and every inducement to take a little leisure, never seemed to flag with regard to the advocacy of temperance principles. He thought railway men were very well fitted from their occupation to take their part in the work of promoting temperance. Railway men had hard work to do, and he thought they could do it as well, and in fact better, on temperance than on other principles. Some people thought that men could not do hard work without "something" to keep them going, but they knew that that was absolute nonsense. (Hear, hear.) The Midland Railway Temperance Society was at the head of railway temperance societies, and he hoped that state of things would be reflected in the condition of the Carlisle branch. Everyone knew that habits of temperance were of immense advantage to him in life, enabling him to avoid many difficulties which otherwise he might fall into. As for himself personally, his only regret was that he did not become an advocate and practiser of temperance at an earlier period than he did. Better late than never, and although it was a considerable time now since he took up the question, he had never regretted taking the step, and the longer he lived the more he thought they ought to do away with the use of alcohol or confine its use within the very narrowest limits. (Cheers.)
Carlisle Journal - Tuesday 12 November 1901
MIDLAND RAILWAY TEMPERANCE UNION. - In connection with the Carlisle branch of the Railway Temperance Union, anniversary meetings were held in the Mission Hall, Petteril Bridge, on Sunday. At the forenoon meeting the speaker was Mr. London, and in the evening an address was given by the Rev. H. Lonsdale. Solos and recitations were given at intervals. Yesterday a public tea meeting was held, and afterwards addresses were given by Miss Sewell and the Rev. W. G. Bird. Dr. Adam, Loudon Road, presided over the gathering. An interesting programme of vocal and instrumental music was gone through.
Carlisle Journal - Friday 21 July 1905
PRESENTATION TO AN EX-RAILWAY OFFICIAL. - Recently Mr. A. M. Johnstone, who held the position of Chief Clerk at the Midland Goods Station, London Road, for many years, retired from the service. His long connection with the company and the general esteem in which he is held induced the staff at the station and a few friends to offer Mr. Johnstone a testimonial in the shape of a silver teapot and a pair of candlesticks. The presentation took place on Tuesday in the Mission Hall, Petteril Bridge, where a large number of his former colleagues and friends assembled. The chair was occupied by Mr. E. Jones, the goods agent, who handed over the gifts in the name of the subscribers. Congratulatory speeches were also made by Mr. Walker, who has succeeded to the chief clerkship, Mr. J. Batey, Mr. A. Humpston, Mr. W. Johnstone, and Mr. C. H. Rigg. In response Mr. A. M. Johnstone thanked his old friends most heartily on behalf his wife and himself for their unexpected kindness and referred to his long connection with Petteril Bridge Station. He remembered the first Midland goods train arriving and departing, and although at that date (nearly thirty years ago) the company were newcomers to Carlisle he thought they were now fairly well established in the regard of the traders generally and could claim to be one of the leading trunk lines running into Carlisle.
Carlisle Journal - Tuesday 30 August 1910
MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING.
CARLISLE MIDLAND RAILWAY CUP.
A match between two teams representing the Clerical and Repairing Staffs of the Locomotive Department was shot on Wednesday evening at the club's new range at Petteril Bridge, which was recently opened by Sir R. A. Allison. The Repairing Staff won by 80 points.
Score:
.... [not transcribed]
Carlisle Journal - Tuesday 04 April 1911
Railway Temperance Union. - The monthly meeting was held on Sunday afternoon in the Midland Railway Mission Hall, Petteril Bridge, when an address was given by Mr. W. Castle, jun. Mr. J. Middlege presided. A solo was rendered by Mrs. Fazackerley. The choir singing was conducted by Mr. W. Hetherington, Miss M. Graham being the accompanist. A vote of condolence was passed with the widow and daughter of Mr. J Holstead of the Maryport and Carlisle branch. There was a good attendance.
Acknowledgements
The contemporary accounts were transcribed by Mark R. Harvey from digitised versions of newspapers accessed via the British Newspaper Archive (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/).