PC Accounts 1900s

NICHOLFOREST PARISH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS 1895-1994

 What can an accounts book that contains one hundred years of finances show about life and living in Penton over the years? – As well as the cost of items like stationery, we can also see a change in trends i.e. electricity, telephones, decimilisation , transport etc. Here’s just a quick dip into the accounts, 1895-1994 of Nicholforest Parish Council, kindly loaned to us by Jack Lawson.

 In 1894, it cost around 1/6 (7p) for stationery and postage each month. £1 was spent on books that year and 5 shillings on conducting Election. Appointment of pursers was 1 shilling. Government audit stamps were 5 shillings. In 1896, little else changed other than an entry “Railway Carriage for Forms”: 3d. More letters were written and Circulars sent out for meetings cost 4-and-a-half old pennies. In 1897, envelopes and writing paper cost 6 old pence. In 1901, Notice of Meeting to three members cost one-and-a-half old pence and Notice of Meeting to four members cost two old pennies. – A ha’penny to send a notice! Looking at regular monthly expenses, it looks, therefore, as if there were five members on the Parish Council at that time. In 1909, Notices of Meeting still cost the same. One penny went to the Postmaster, Carlisle in April and one penny to the Education Office in 1910. In 1922, there was postage for the following names: T Robinson, R Tait, W Johnston, A Murray, Hugh Dalton, W Godderidge, Robt Moscrop and Wm Armonstrong. In 1943, alongside Notices “Rats”, was a cost of 3 pennies. It cost just over 8 pennies to send six notices and letters. In 1954, trends were starting to change. A letter was sent to Electricity Board (2-and-a-half old pence) and in 1955, Mrs Robson (Poster for new school): 10 pennies. Use of School and Hall for two meetings cost five shillings. Hire of school for one meeting in 1959 was 4 shillings and 6 pence. Municipal Mutual Insurance was 3 old pennies. In 1961, Director of Education was mentioned regularly, receiving 3 old pennies. In 1962, Harelaw Limeston Co.: 3 old pennies and again on 22 June, Harelaw Limestone Co. (phone): 4 old pence. By 1970, Meeting Notices cost 2 shillings and 8 old pence. On Feb 15th, 1971, an entry noted: Conversion to decimal £2.32. That year, Meeting Notices cost 20p. Hire of school room for five meetings at 75p - £3.75 in March, 1974. In 1975, costs for Questionnaires for Traffic Survey was £5.85. In April, 1976, Nicholforest Hall: 87p. Envelopes and writing paper in 1979 cost 65p.In May 1983, Planning Department (3 applications) cost 21p. Tourist Board began to appear regularly: 12p. Regular phone calls are also mentioned by this time. In 1993, seven notices to members cost £1.68. It was 18p to hire the hall. In 1994, the last entry was: Development of photos: £6.49