In the early part of the latter half of the nineteenth century Normanton ceased to be an agricultural village and began to assume the character of a small industrial town.

The Midland Railway from Leeds to Derby was opened in 1840, the first train passing through Normanton on June 30th of that year, and in the following month the York and Normanton line was also opened.  

A large Iron and Steel Foundry had grown up in the town and the population, which in 1861 numbered 563 had increased in 1871 to 5,448, and yet we find that at this period the town, with its 3,448 inhabitants had no water supply, no sewerage plant, no drainage and no lights in the streets.
  
The old system of local government continued till the year 1872 and in that year the Local Government Act of 1858 was adopted, and a properly elected local Board of Health was set up as the governing body of the town. The first meeting of the Board was held in the National School on Thursday evening, 1st of August, 1872 at 6 o'clock. The members present were:-

Messrs. Samuel J. Walker, Robert Leake, Henry Burnley, Joseph Lodge, William Whittell, James Bussey, Martin Horsfall and John Raynor.

On the motion of Messrs. Leake and Horsfall, Mr. S.J. Walker was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.  

In perusing the old minute book for this period I find that one of the first resolutions passed was ''That the Board advertise for a clerk at a salary of £20 per year.'' And at the next meeting we find that Thomas Sterland was elected clerk to the Board at the above salary, and that William Sterland of Stotton, Nr. Alfreton, Derbyshire, and H.Burnley, colliery agent, Normanton Common, Normanton, be accepted as Bondsmen for Mr.Thomas Sterland as clerk on the sum of £200. It almost seems ridiculous that a person receiving a salary of only £20 a year should have to find bondsmen for £200. But these figures enable us to make comparisons as betwixt the salaries paid to public servants today and the salaries paid fifty years ago.

At a meeting held November, 5th, 1872, it was resolved "that the Board advertise for a working surveyor and inspector of nuisances at a salary of twenty six shillings per week" and later we find that George Webster was appointed to the position.   At the same meeting a minute was adopted which enables us to make comparisons with the rates paid at that period, for we find it was resolved ''That notice be given to lay a rate of one shilling in the pound."

An election was held in the month of March, 1873, to elect nine members to the Local Board, and it is pleasing to know that the event created great interest. Many of the inhabitants were anxious to obtain local honours, as no less than twenty candidates entered the field for the nine seats. Mr. Christopher Ellin, one of the overseers of the poor, and Mr.Joseph Carr, one of the church wardens of the parish, acted as returning officers.   The successful candidates were:-

Joseph Lodge, Farmer, James Bussey, Inn- keeper; Samuel John Walker, Farmer; John Raynor, Coal Agent;
Henry Burnley, Agent; William Whittell, Innkeeper; Robert Leake, Builder; James Brook Woodhead, Farmer & Butcher and Martin Horsfall, Farmer.

Among the unsuccessful candidates were:- Richard Tadman, Contractor, Wakefield, and George Hampson, Auctioneer, Castleford. I may be allowed to remark that the said George Hampson was uncle to the writer and was a popular public man at that time. His name may be seen on the memorial stone of the Market Hall at Castleford.  

It would appear that the newly elected Board found the scarcity of water a serious problem, for under the date July 7th, 1873 we find the following entry-

"That the Board order a water barrel to hold 250 gallons of Messrs. Crosskill's, Beverley and engage a man and horse to lead water at once. The water to be sold at 3 buckets for one penny, and in no case must credit be given''

And at an extraordinary meeting on September 23rd in the same year, it was resolved

''That we instruct our solicitor to prepare a draft of agreement with Mr. Baily for a supply of water for the township.''

On January 27th, 1874, it was resolved "That the plans and estimates submitted to the Board by Mr.Lynam, amounting to £6,500 relating to the water supply be accepted", and at the same meeting it was decided to apply to the Local Government Board for powers to borrow the above sum for the purpose of carrying the said plans into effect.   In the same year. it was decided to light the streets with gas and accordingly seven lamps were erected at the following places:-

one at the Cross, one at High Street Junction, one at Mr. Dennison's buildings, one at Mill Hill, one at the end of Church Lane, one at Scarboro' Row, and one at Woodhouse Hill.

The first time the streets were lighted was September 1st. 1874.   During the next three years the Board was actively engaged carrying out extensive plans for the general improvement and convenience of the town. Besides lighting the streets and pushing the scheme for a water supply, which involved the making of a large reservoir on Marshall Hill, Warmfield, and the laying down of miles of pipes. They also took in hand a scheme for sewerage plans and the drainage of the town. These undertakings were comparatively large ones and of great importance to the township, and the difficulties which had to be overcome makes one feel some admiration for the men who had the schemes in hand. They had to borrow and lay out large sums of money (one loan amounted to 30,000 pounds). They were constantly harassed for compensation from landowners through whose land the work had to pass; contractors were found to be not doing the work according to specifications and agreements.  

Certain ratepayers in the town engaged solicitors to oppose the Board when applying to the Local Government Board for powers to borrow the money to carry on the work, and the reading of the minutes of the Board Meetings over this period show that the members were engaged in no easy tasks. Keeping strict and proper accounts of the finance appears to have been their greatest difficulty. At last the finances got into such an unsatisfactory state that the Local Government Board interfered, and we find that the Board was surcharged with a sum of £2,000. 

But it is pleasing to be able to state that the Board at once decided to put the finances in better order, for under the date October, 1876, we find that the following entry:-

"Resolved that the accounts of the Board be put into the hands of Mr.Thomas Harrison, of Wakefield, Accountant, to be put in order since the formation of the Board to the present date and to be balanced to the 25th March each year."

During the preceding three years the rates had increased from one shilling to one shilling and fourpence in the pound, but when we consider the extra benefit which the inhabitants enjoyed, we are bound to conclude that they were receiving value for their money. In this year also the Board made an attempt to extend the boundaries of the town. At a meeting held April, 14th, 1876, it was resolved

''that the Clerk be instructed to draw up a petition to the Local Government Board for the purpose of including within the boundaries of this urban authority the following places:-   Newland-cum-Woodhouse Moor, the township of Ackton, Whitwood proper, Altofts and Warmfield-cum-Heath,   and submit the same for approval to the Board.''

At the same meeting it was resolved:-

''that all shops and dwelling houses using the town's water, and rated up to £20 per year be charged 15/- per year water rate, and up to £30 per year, 17/6 per year, and that those with baths in dwelling houses be charged 5/- per year.''