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The Burnley News

Saturday 01 December 1917

Briercliffe

The first death in the village from measles during the present epidemic took place on Thursday noon, when Harry Yates, the five year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert yates, of 31, Camp-street, Cop Row, died of this complaint.

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Mel

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Burnley News

Wednesday 05 March 1919

Ravages at Briercliffe

Three more deaths have occurred during the week-end in the village. Miss Mary Whittaker, daughter of the late Councillor Jno. Whittaker, who was buried only last week, died on Friday night after a short attack of influenza. She was in her twenty-fifth year.
On Saturday morning Miss Lily Duerden, daughter of Mr and Mrs Robt. Duerden, of Towneley-street, passed away as a result of the prevailing sickness. Miss Duerden had not been in perfect health for several years.
Miss Mary Emmott, of Queen-street, has also passed away during the last few days.

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Mel

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Burnley News
Saturday 22 February 1919

Many Briercliffe Cases

Our Briercliffe correspondent writes:- The new form of influenza is making itself felt in the village, especially among the farmers, stramge to say - the class that one generally regards as getting a fair share of good wholesome food and plenty of fresh air and exercise, things which are supposed to help one in warding off this insidious sickness. All Mr. Barker's family, at Haggate House Farm; all in Driver's family, at Lane House Farm; four of the children at Burwains' Farm, several of Mr. Nuttalls, and four of the family at Hill Farm, are all laid up with the complaint. Many school children, and one teacher, are away from school, and a good many mill workers are suffering in the same way.


Burnley Express and Advertiser
Wednesday 26 February 1919

Briercliffe School Closed

The Council School has been closed for a fortnight, and some of the Sunday schools did not open on Sunday. The families in several farmhouses are having a very bad time with the influenza, both parents and children being confined to bed.

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Mel

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The following information [from Lancashire Online Parish Clerks] provides evidence of some earlier epidemics:

Burials at St Bartholomew in the Parish of Colne

The early registers contain a number of interesting notes, which are displayed here.
• Jun 16 1776 - Note beside entries 'NB The Smallpox in ye Town'
• March 1782 - Note at end of March entries - 'Memorandum. The Smallpox raged excessively at this time; which carried off prodigious numbers of persons, Specially Infants.

As mentioned elsewhere on this Forum, burial records for the years 1792 to 1812 at Colne include information on the cause of death. A very quick look reveals later 'epidemics' (or at least large clusters of cases in Colne) of smallpox (1794-5. 1798-9, 1801-2, 1808, 1812) measles (1807-8, 1812) and whooping/chin cough (1795, 1800, 1803, 1807-8, 1812).

Ruth

Thanks Ruth.

I remember mum saying my Nan had Spanish flu at the end of WW1. Her sister tried to drag her from her bed to go into Burnley to celebrate the end of the war.

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Mel

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Mel I'm in New Zealand and have the family bible for my great great grandmother Louisa Maude Yates. Inside is the funeral bookmark for 5-year-old Harry Yates.
His parents were Bertie John Yates and Emily Yates,
Finding this page has been very helpful in finding our family, in particular for my grandmother who's grandmother was Louisa. Louisa never spoke about her family and childhood, nor of her siblings before emigrating to NZ.

Thanks soo much,

Melanie

Welcome to the forum Melanie.

I posted these articles just because they gave Briercliffe a mention but to know that they do mean something to someone out there is rewarding and makes it all worthwhile!

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Mel

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