Catholic life in Askern at the turn of the 20th century was Mass being said in various venues; such as the White Hart pub and the local cinema which was situated at the site now occupied by the furniture store next to the post office.
Older residents of Askern still remember going to Mass at Burghwallis in their pushchairs as there was a footpath which stretched from the top end of Sutton Road, across the field that lies south of the Anne Arms pub, to Burghwallis.
With the advent of coal in 1916, life in Askern gathered apace and catholic life was given a boost through the introduction of a Chapel of Ease in the 1920's in a converted army hut.
Askern, a small farming village, became known locally for it’s waters in the 1700’s when Dr Short, in his book ‘Mineral Waters of Yorkshire’, refers to the waters as having a most unpleasant odour and taste.
Askern came to be the place to stay and the railway was built to enable people from across the Pennines to come and partake of the healing waters.
The mine was regarded as producing high quality coal and the opening of the Coalite works confirmed Askern as a place of high employment and a pleasant environment to live in.
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