South Riding Read online

  Winifred Holtby

  SOUTH RIDING

  AN ENGLISH LANDSCAPE

  With an introduction by Andrew Davies

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  Version 1.0

  Epub ISBN 9781446416464

  www.randomhouse.co.uk

  This book is published to accompany the television series entitled South Riding, first broadcast on BBC1 in 2011.

  Executive Producers: Anne Pivcevic and Hilary Martin

  Producer: Lisa Osborne

  1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

  Published in 2011 by BBC Books, an imprint of Ebury Publishing.

  A Random House Group Company

  Introduction © Andrew Davies 2011

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  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN 978 1 849 90203 8

  Commissioning editor: Lorna Russell

  Project editor: Laura Higginson

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  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  A Note on the Author

  List of characters

  Introduction by Andrew Davies

  Prefatory letter to Alderman Mrs Holtby

  Prologue in a press gallery

  Book I: Education

  1. Lord Sedgmire’s Granddaughter Awaits an Alderman

  2. Kiplington Governors Appoint a New Head Mistress

  3. Mr. Holly Blows Out a Candle

  4. Alderman Mrs. Beddows Considers Heredity

  5. Miss Burton Surveys a Battlefield

  6. Alderman Snaith Contemplates a Wilderness

  7. Madame Hubbard Has Highly Talented Pupils

  Book II: Highways and Bridges

  1. Councillor Carne Misses a Sub-Committee

  2. Councillor Huggins Incurs an Obligation

  3. Tom Sawdon Decides to Buy a Dog

  4. Sarah Acquires an Ally, and Carne an Enemy

  5. Lydia Holly Goes Home

  6. Two Antagonists Meet

  Book III: Agriculture and Small Holdings

  1. The Cold Harbour Colonists State a Case

  2. Alderman Snaith is Very Fond of Cats

  3. Mr. Castle Counsels Caution

  4. Mr. Barnabas Holly Toasts Heredity

  5. Miss Sigglesthwaite Sees the Lambs of God

  6. Two Antagonists Meet Again

  Book IV: Public Health

  1. Mrs. Holly Fails Her Family

  2. Teacher And Alderman Do Not See Eye to Eye

  3. Councillor Huggins Secures Floodlighting of the Hospital

  4. Midge Enjoys the Measles

  5. Lily Sawdon Propitiates a God

  6. The Hubbards’ Only Object is Philanthropy

  Book V: Public Assistance

  1. Nancy Mitchell Keeps Her Dignity

  2. Mrs. Beddows Has Three Men to Think of

  3. Sarah Looks Out of a Window

  4. Nymphs and Shepherds, Come Away

  5. Carne Visits Two Ideal Homes

  6. Mr. Mitchell Faces an Inquisition

  Book VI: Mental Deficiency

  1. Temporary Insanity is Acknowledged at the Nag’s Head

  2. Midge Provokes Hysteria

  3. Mr. Huggins Tastes the Madness of Victory

  4. Mrs. Beddows Pays a Statutory Visit

  5. Nat Brimsley Does Not Like Rabbit Pie

  6. Two in a Hotel are Temporarily Insane

  Book VII: Finance

  1. Mrs. Beddows Receives a Christmas Present

  2. Mr. Holly Brings Home a Christmas Present

  3. Councillor Huggins Prepares for an Election

  4. A Procession Passes Through Maythorpe Village

  5. The Head Mistress Introduces a Governor

  6. Carne Rides South

  Book VIII: Housing and Town Planning

  1. Astell and Snaith Plan a New Jerusalem

  2. Three Revellers Have a Night Out

  3. Councillor Huggins Vindicates Morality

  4. Midge Decides to go Home

  5. The Hollies go Picnicking

  6. Mrs. Beddows Sends Sarah About Her Business

  Epilogue at a Silver Jubilee

  A Note on the Author

  Winifred Holtby had a short life and writing career, sadly passing away one year before the publication of South Riding in 1935 at the age of 37. During her life, she worked as a journalist writing for numerous newspapers and magazines, and wrote three other successful novels Anderby Wold (1923), The Crowded Street (1924) and The Land of Green Ginger (1927), as well as a collection of short stories, Truth is Not Sober. Having lived through the horror of the First World War, Winifred, still only in her late twenties, joined the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps in 1918 and moved to France. She returned to England in 1919 to attend Somerville College, where she met and became good friends with Vera Brittain. After college, the women moved to London together to pursue writing careers. Vera wrote about their close friendship in her book Testament of Friendship (1940).

  LIST OF CHARACTERS

  In their order of appearance:

  LOVELL BROWN, a young reporter on the Kingsport Chronicle.

  SYD MAIL, his senior.

  COUNCILLOR ROBERT CARNE of Maythorpe Hall, a sporting farmer.

  ALDERMAN FARROW, a memory.

  ALDERMAN ANTHONY SNAITH, a rich business man.

  A FAT REPORTER, from the Yorkshire Record.

  ALDERMAN MRS. BEDDOWS, née Emma Tuke.

  COUNCILLOR SAXON, a local celebrity.

  ALDERMAN GENERAL THE HONOURABLE SIR RONALD TARKINGTON, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., of Lissell Grange, Chairman of the South Riding County Council.

  LEET OF KYLE HILLOCK, a farmer.

  COUNCILLOR CAPTAIN GRYSON, a retired regular army officer.

  LORD KNARESBOROUGH, a pre-war beau of Muriel Carne.

  COUNCILLOR PEACOCK, member for Cold Harbour Division.

  COUNCILLOR (afterwards Alderman) ASTELL, a Socialist.

  MISS L. P. HOLMES, retiring Head Mistress of Kiplington High School for Girls.

  MISS SARAH BURTON, M.A. (Leeds), B.Litt. (Oxon), the new Head Mistress.

  MIDGE CARNE, Carne’s fourteen-year-old daughter.

  ELSIE, Carne’s maid.

  APPLETON, labourer on Carne’s farm.

  TOPPER BEACHALL, labourer on roads at Maythorpe.

  Miss MALT, once governess to Midge.

  WILLIAM CARNE, Robert’s younger brother, architect at Harrogate.

  BARON SEDGMIRE, Carne’s father-in-law.

  CASTLE, Carne’s foreman.

  MRS. CASTLE, his wife.

  DOLLY CASTLE, his daughter.

  MURIEL CARNE, née Sedgmire, Carne’s wife, in a mental home.

  GEORGE HICKS, Carne’s groom.

  ELI DICKSON, a
dairy-farmer, tenant of Carne.

  MR. BANNER, killed in the hunting field.

  POLLY, Mr. Dickson’s pony.

  MR. AND MRS. TADMAN, grocers of Kiplington.

  COUNCILLOR TUBBS, member of the County Council.

  MISS TORRENCE }

  MISS SLAKER } rejected candidates for head mistress-ship.

  MISS HAMMOND }

  MISS DRY }

  THE REV. MILWARD PECKOVER, Rector of Kiplington.

  CHLOE BEDDOWS, Ph.D., daughter of Mrs. Beddows, Lecturer in English at the Sorbonne.

  DR. DALE, D.D., Congregationalist minister at Kiplington.

  COLONEL COLLIER, Chairman of Governors of the High School.

  MR, DREW, estate agent, Governor of the High School.

  BURTON, blacksmith at Lipton Hunter }

  MRS. BURTON, a midwife—married to Burton. } parents of Miss Sarah Burton

  MR. BRIGOS, a lawyer, Governor of the High School.

  CISSIE TADMAN, daughter of the Tadmans, pupil at the High School.

  MR. FRETTON, Manager of Midland Bank, Kiplington.

  WENDY BEDDOWS, granddaughter of Alderman Mrs. Beddows.

  JIM BEDDOWS, auctioneer, Mrs. Beddows’ husband.

  MR. FRED MITCHELL, insurance agent.

  NANCY MITCHELL, his wife.

  PEGGY MITCHELL, his baby daughter.

  BARNABAS HOLLY, builder’s labourer.

  ANNIE HOLLY, his wife.

  BERT HOLLY, his son, aged 16.

  LYDIA HOLLY, his daughter, aged 14.

  DAISY HOLLY, his daughter, aged 12.

  ALICE HOLLY, his daughter, aged 8.

  GERTIE HOLLY, his daughter, aged 7.

  KITTY HOLLY, his daughter, aged 4.

  LEN HOLLY, his son, aged 10 months.

  MADAME HUBBARD, a draper’s wife, runs dancing classes.

  MR. HUBBARD, her husband.

  GLADYS HUBBARD, their daughter.

  MISS TUDLING, Head Mistress of the Elementary School, Maythorpe.

  PAT AND JERRY, campers at the Shacks.

  GRANDPA SELLARS, father-in-law to Topper Beachall.

  WILLY BEDDOWS, Mrs. Beddows’ son, a widower.

  MR. CROSS, a member of the Rescue and Preventive Committee at York.

  SYBIL BEDDOWS, Mrs. Beddows’ spinster daughter.

  COUNCILLOR ALFRED EZEKIEL HUGGINS, of Pidsea Buttock, haulage contractor and lay preacher.

  MRS. HARROD, friend of Mrs. Beddows.

  Miss TATTERSALL, Head Mistress of the South London United School for Girls.

  PATTIE, Sarah Burton’s married sister.

  DERRICK }

  TONY } London friends of Sarah Burton.

  NICK }

  JERRY BRYON, a singer.

  NELL HUGGINS, wife of Councillor Huggins.

  FREDA ARMSTRONG, her married daughter.

  MRS. RANSOM, worshipper at the Methodist Church, Kiplington.

  MISS DOLORES JAMESON, Classics Mistress at the High School.

  PHILIP (PIP) PARKHURST, Miss Jameson’s fiancé.

  BILL HEYER, an ex-serviceman smallholder.

  AGNES SIGGLESTHWAITE, B.Sc., Science Mistress at the High School,

  JEAN MARSH, pupil to Madame Hubbard.

  MRS. MARSH, her mother.

  GRACIE PINKER, another pupil.

  MRS. PINKER, her mother.

  ROY CARBERY, friend of Sarah Burton, killed in war.

  OLD MR. COSTER, an old sportsman.

  MR. LAIDLOW, a farmer near Garfield.

  MR. STATHERS, smallholder, tenant of Snaith.

  COUNCILLOR BEALE, member of South Riding Council.

  MRS. BARKER, a Methodist at Spunlington.

  BESSY WARBUCKLE, a girl at Spunlington.

  REG AYTHORNE, marries Bessy Warbuckle.

  POLICE-SERGEANT BURT OF LEEDS, friend of Sawdon.

  TOM SAWDON, landlord of the Nag’s Head, Maythorpe.

  LILY SAWDON, his wife.

  MRS. DEANE, Christian Scientist in Leeds.

  CHRISSIE BEACHALL, married to Topper.

  ELSIE AND DORIS WATERS, broadcast entertainers.

  MRS. CORNER, landlady to Astell.

  ELLEN WILKINSON, Socialist M.P.

  MISS PARSONS, Matron at the High School.

  BEN LATTER, Socialist M.P., once engaged to Sarah Burton.

  JAN VAN RAALT, South African farmer, once engaged to Sarah Burton.

  MISS MASTERS, English Mistress at the High School.

  JILL JACKSON, pupil at the High School.

  MISS BECKER, Game’s Mistress at the High School.

  MISS RITCHIE, Junior Mistress.

  MR. TURNBULL, a farmer near Maythorpe.

  BLACK HUSSAR, Carne’s heavyweight hunter.

  SIR RUPERT CALDERDYKE, founder of Cold Harbour Colony.

  MRS. BRIMSLEY smallholder at Cold Harbour.

  GEORGE AND NAT, her sons.

  MR. AND MRS. CHRISTIE, servants to Snaith.

  CHADWCK, a warehouse builder.

  SIR JOHN SIMON, a tom cat owned by Alderman Snaith.

  BERYL BRYSON, pupil at the High School.

  EDIE SIGGLESTHWAITE, sister of Science Mistress.

  PROFESSOR GELDER, scientist at Cambridge.

  URSULA CROSSFIELD, Jim Beddows’ sister.

  MR. CROSSFIELD, her husband.

  ROSE CROSSFIELD, their daughter.

  COLONEL WHITELAW, Alderman, Chairman of the Public Assistance Committee.

  GWYNETH ROGERS }

  NANCY GREY }

  LESLIE TUCKER } Midge’s friends at the High School.

  JUDY PEACOCK }

  JENNIFER HOWE }

  MRS. GREY, Nancy’s mother.

  MR. STILLMAN, an undertaker.

  REX, an Alsatian, bought by Tom Sawdon.

  ADDIE }

  MAIMIE } married daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Sawdon.

  DR. STRETTON Specialist at Kingsport.

  SIR WILSON HEMINGWAY Specialist at Leeds.

  PRATT, a commercial traveller.

  AN EX-OFFICER, camping at the Shacks.

  LADY COLLIER, aunt of Colonel Collier.

  ERNST, German Communist friend of Sarah Burton.

  MATRON AT THE LAURELS, Harrogate.

  DR MCCLEMMAN, psychiatrist at Harrogate.

  MR. THOMPSON, a Relieving Officer.

  MILLIE ROPER, a dressmaker.

  MRS. BRASS, a jeweller’s wife.

  MRS. SNAGG, landlady to Millie Roper.

  RICKY BARNES, a carrier.

  DAVID SHIRLEY, a coal merchant.

  MRS. POLLIN, a drug taker.

  MRS. FORD, an inmate of the County Mental Hospital.

  DR. FLINT, Medical Officer at the County Mental Hospital.

  MOTHER MAISIE, an inmate at the County Mental Hospital

  KATE THERESA, a kitten at the Mental Hospital.

  MISS TREMAINE, a deaconess.

  SPURLING, an employee of Huggins.

  BERTIE BEDDOWS, son of Jim and Emma, gassed in France.

  STANLEY DOLLAN, retired solicitor, afterwards Councillor.

  MISS EMILY TEASDALE, Board of Education Inspector.

  MISS VANE, succeeds Miss Sigglesthwaite as Science Mistress.

  DR. WYTTON, Medical Officer of Health for South Riding.

  MR. EDWIN SMITHERS, Clerk to the County Council.

  MR. PRIZETHORPE, County Librarian.

  COMMANDER STEPHEN KING-HALL, Broadcasts a description of the Silver Jubilee Procession.

  INTRODUCTION TO SOUTH RIDING

  South Riding is an extraordinary book, and it was written by an extraordinary woman. It’s as bold and ambitious as Middlemarch by George Eliot, a portrait of a whole community at a time of change and stress, with an endearing and idealistic heroine at its centre.

  Why read it now, or dramatise it for television? Well, of course there’s always the timeless reason that it has a strong story, and is full of vivid characters that engage our sympathies. But it feels timely as well: it was written, and set in, the 1930s, a tim
e of forced austerity that offered governments, and local government too, stark challenges and choices. How do we deal with a recession? Do we cut public spending, slash welfare, and in general batten down the hatches, repeating the mantra that “we’re all in this together”? Or do we embrace the alternative of bold programmes of public works, creating employment and stimulating the economy in that way? Rather thrillingly, in this book, the South Riding Council embarks on the latter course, following the examples of Roosevelt’s New Deal in the United States, and Chancellor Hitler’s programme in Germany. And if you thought that PPF, public-private financing, was born in the Blair-Cameron era, you might be surprised to see it in action here. Alderman Snaith wants to do well by his constituents, certainly, but he’ll make sure that there’s something in it for him as well.

  We tend to think of local government as worthy but boring. South Riding shows what vital importance it can have in people’s lives. Joe Astell is a case in point; he has moved away from revolutionary socialism because he has found he can affect more change for the good by quietly beavering away on council committees, making unlikely alliances with hard-faced businessmen to get better roads, schools and housing for the people he serves. And then we have the richly human figure of Councillor Huggins, haulier and lay preacher, who is passionate in his desire to better the lives of the slum-dwellers in the Shacks, but fatally compromised by his weakness for the pleasures of the flesh, and easily tempted into a bit of insider dealing.

  At the centre of this society sits Mrs Beddows, a very lively septuagenarian, whose character was inspired by Winifred Holtby’s mother, the first woman alderman to serve on the East Riding County Council. Her guidelines are common sense, her deep knowledge of the community, and a hard-headed optimism about human nature and the possibility of making life better. Her relationship with her husband has been disappointing and unfulfilling, and she pours her emotional energy into her council work. She also enjoys a very close and intimate relationship with Robert Carne, the farmer and horse-breeder who would be the romantic hero of the book, if Winifred Holtby believed in romantic heroes. Carne is a man who is out of joint with his times. He is deeply traditional and instinctively conservative. His family has for generations had the status of someone like Jane Austen’s Mr. Knightley, but the 1930s were not a good decade for the Knightleys of this world. And Carne has his personal tragedy, too: he married an aristocratic wife, whose wild extravagance and subsequent decline into insanity have drained his resources, both financial and emotional. He has a daughter, Midge, thirteen years old, physically delicate and emotionally volatile.