Balloon "Crystal Palace" near Ackworth.

During the evening of 15th June 1883 a balloon ascent was made during the 25th Yorkshire Gala that was held at Bootham Field, York. The balloon was owned by Henry Coxwell of London but he was unwell so could not attend, he did allow his balloons to be used at York and the one flown on this incident was flown by James Whelan. In the basket were also five passengers. The balloon's name is given as both "City of York" and "Crystal Palace", the latter appears to have been a bigger balloon and more capable of carrying six men. After ascending from York at around 18.00hrs the balloon rose to around 820 feet and drifted roughly south-west from York through two snow storms, it eventually landed in a wheat field near Castle Syke Farm, Ackworth, a few miles from Pontefract. No damage appears to have occurred during the flight and normally I would not create a webpage for such a mundane flight, whether or not damage occurred by deliberate acts after landing is open to debate but I have not ruled it out. After landing a large group of men (described in the newspapers of the day in terms they used as "collier class" men) gained access to the field, damaged the crops belonging to James Booth who rented the field, and then attempted to blackmail Mr Whelan to pay them to help him pack the balloon. Mr Booth ordered them off his land and was the assaulted by one of the men, a miner James Oxley. Oxley was later fined in court for his actions. How the balloon was packed is not recorded. Another man, George Sharpe, was also fined for damaging the cart that took the aeronaut and passengers off the land and for cutting the harness of the horse.

Aeronaut - Mr James A. Whelan.

Passenger - Mr George C. Milward.

Passenger - Mr H Creaser.

Passenger - Mr J Hicks.

Passenger - Mr J Poulter.

Passenger - Mr J Brunton.