Mexborough and Swinton Times August 12, 1927

A Sacrifice to Progress

The demands of progress, exemplified in the improvements of Warren Vale Road into a more negotiable and safe highway for modern traffic, overwrites private tradition and sentiment in the instance of the cottages at the bottom of the valley.

Our photographs shows the two picturesque dwellings which have to come down in order that the straighten Road may go almost over the site they now occupy; and on the right, Mr Mrs Froggatt, who seek a new home.

It will be a wrench for them, particularly for Mr Froggatt, who was born in the house 65 years ago, and whose family have lived in it to the third generation. Naturally the house is full of association for him; and at 65 years of age one does not break all ties with ease.

“If I have to go and live in a town I shall feel smothered,” he told a representative of this paper.

Mrs Froggatt remarked: “It is a pity the house has to come down, because it had been thoroughly modernised and electric light put in.” One touch of modernity, however, was still lacking: “We still have to fetch our water from a spring nearby,” she added.

This property was formerly part of the estate of Squire Foljambe, but Mr Froggatt and his neighbour were given, and took, the opportunity of buying it and obtaining security of tenure – untill the great road scheme which they could not foresee came along.

Former the houses were used by officials of the Warren Vale Colliery, and Mr Froggatt recalled the 1873 explosion in that mine. He himself is a miner at Silverwood. He is an old footballer too, and for years played for Kilnhurst. He has also played, he told us, with Rawmarsh and Mexborough.

The Urban Council made an offer for the purchase of the property and have offered Mr Froggatt the tenancy of one of their houses. He had not accepted either offer when we interviewed him.