The Garrett

'The Garrett' was a steam locomotive - a steam engine - that passed through 'The Dam' part of the village for many years on its journeys up and down the railway line.

Many people knew about The Garrett, not least because it could be heard from almost any part of the village, even though it was far away from most places.

Many stories are told about that famous train engine - and here the aim is to gather them together and share them. Do you know anything about The Garrett? or about anyone associated with The Garrett? or any of the stories about The Garrett?

Information may be shared through the following email addresses, telephone numbers, or in person by speaking with Patrick at Dodworth St Johns Church on a Thursday morning (the coffee morning). Messages written in any form may also be left there or at Dodworth Library.
dodworthkronicle@googlemail.com
muckbank@yahoo.co.uk
249231 / 0746599171

Here's a few 'facts' about the Garrett.

It was the most powerful steam engine ever built in the UK - far more powerful that the engine which pulled The Flying Scotsman. However, both engines were designed by the same man Sir Nigel Gressley.

Perhaps only the one was built, but the plan was for 3. Being unsuccessful the plan was shelved.

It was made at the Peacock Works in Manchester.

It worked the line from the Wath-on-Dearne marshalling yards to Dunford Bridge Railway Station and return for about 25 years, until after WW2. That may be a journey of only 17 miles each way. That line included the steepest part of any mainline railway in the UK - The Worsborough Bank Line.

It was about 185 feet long, and weighed about 200 tons.

The trains involved were usually 'mineral wagons' containing coal, had about 40-50 wagons, and weighed about 1000 tons.

The engines were heavy on maintenance being prone to burning out fire grates, generated much slag, were disliked by 'firemen' due to the vast amount of shovelled coal needed to feed the great boilers.
The heat inside the cab was said to be immense.

The Garrett usually 'pushed' the train rather than pulled it. So the pressure on the Train Guards Van at the rear of train of wagons - jammed between the pushing engine and the weighty train - was so great that it was known to buckle the frame of the van holding shut the doors and preventing the Guard from getting out!

Locals robbed the train when it slowed on the hill to walking pace.

'Lady Asquith' was known to take rides on The Garrett 'footplate' from Smithywood Lane Crossing to Dunford.

Don't forget to send comments enhancing any of the above tales or sharing new ones.


Regards,

The Editor

Baker of oat cakes on Dodworth High Street / Dodworth War Memorial Project Group

A small group of dedicated and talented individuals are working in their own time to find out about people from the village who were involved in the First World War / WW1.

PLEASE HELP THEM - if you can - by sharing any information that you may have - the group especially want to trace living relatives of people whose names appear on the local war memorial.

If you have information such as letters, photographs or artifacts like medals, coins and brass shell casing ornaments please let the group know AND BE ASSURED that you will not be asked to part with anything - as COPYING and PHOTOGRAPHING of any item can be done - without taking it away - and - that everything gathered will be shared with the public unless the supplier wants privacy in which case that wish will be honoured.

Memories are especially valuable. Tell the group what you remember - of what your relatives said to you - BEFORE it is forgotten. Remember - once its gone - its gone for ever!

The group can be contacted through Dodworth Library, or Patrick at Dodworth St John's Church on a Thursday morning - or - through this website - just send an email to either of the following addresses: dodworthkronicle@googlemail.com; or to muckbank@yahoo.com. Or ring 249231 / 0746599171

RIGHT NOW THE GROUP ARE TRYING TO TRACE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT:

A local baker of oat cakes, who may have traded on Dodworth High Street. 

It was a man, named Ben Brooke. Are you related to him? Is anyone you know related to him?

Where was that bakery?

Whatever you know - be it just a tiny bit - please share it.


Many Thanks,

The Editor

Farms on Dodworth High Street

Many years ago there were farms on the High Street. Three or more farms existed.

One was at the top of Jermyn Croft - it was known as Senior's Farm.

Next, going down the hill, on the left, was Pashley's Farm - some of the buildings still stand - it is almost opposite the former 'pop' factory.

Just below Pashley's Farm, also on the left, was John Barrett's Farm. This is now the site of a housing development.

What do you know about these farms?
Do you know who lived in the farmsteads?
Do you know what was farmed there?
Do you know who worked there?
Do you know when they were in operation as farms?

Answers to the above and any other information will be warmly received.

Development of the Pheasant Inn site of Dodworth High Street.

After a long time, during which the site has been a derelict eyesore, the clearance work which precedes the building operation, has begun.

In his thesis (1984) on Dodworth and Stainborough, Sam Sykes, speculated that the site - which was formerly known as 'Delf Garth' - may have been the location of the earliest human settlement in Dodworth. However work by an archaeologist for the South Yorkshire Archaeology Department a few years ago, soon after the Pheasant was demolished, revealed little in the way of evidence. So let's see if anything is turned up by the current work.

Also let us hope and believe that whatever is erected on the site is a credit to the village and something which enhances it.

Prisoners of war - World War 1 and World War 2

Do you know anything about prisoners of war in our area?

It has been reported that German prisoners worked at Home Farm at the top of the hill on Dodworth Green, and that one of them made wooden toy hens! do you know anything about that?

Italian prisoners are reported to have worked on the railway line by 'The Dam', Have you heard that too?

Someone mentioned a legendarily strong prisoner who 'set gateposts' on local farms. Was it you who said this? Do you know about it?

Where did the prisoners live?
Who looked after them?
Where did they come from?
Where did they go?
Were there any incidents?

Missing large stone post from site near old coal mine

Near the site of the 'Old Sovereign Pit', close by the stream and the footbridge over it, was until recently a very large stone post, perhaps a former gate post.

In recent times the post has disappeared. Do you know where it has gone and why it was removed?

Langsett to Derwent and Ashop Valleys - footpath over 'Cut Gate', and by Marjorie Hill.

The above mentioned footpath has been in use for longer than human memory can say.

At one time it was used by 'drovers' who took sheep that way, over the 'Cut Gate' pass from the valley that holds the Lady Bower Reservoir, Howden Reservoir and Derwent Reservoir - to the market in Penistone. That was long before the reservoirs were built.

Marjorie Hill is the highest point of 'the moors' visible from around these parts.

Towards the top of Cut Gate is a shaped stone with a deep cross cut into it. Do you have any idea what that stone is and why it is there?

This item will be shared on other similar sites - and if any information is gained it will be put here.

Hood Green - camp between there and Eastfield after World War 2

Until perhaps 1970-80 a camp was situated in a field to the south-east of the road that runs between Hood Green and Eastfield. Do you know anything about it?

Nowadays a public footpath goes across the field from the said road towards Stainborough Fold or Crane Moor, but there is no trace of the camp except for a few bricks and bits of rubble in the nearby hedge rows.

I recall the camp as consisting of a series of huts - like army huts - each made of a concrete frame with brick walls and metal windows, and a concrete road between the entrance gate and the huts which were around the centre of the field.

Who lived there? Was it for prisoners of war or resettlement or something else?

When was it built and removed?

Langsett Reservoir and North America Farm

Many local people are familiar with the Langsett and the North America Farm. Some of them will - as I did when a child - have visited the place using the 'Stocksbridge Circular' bus service. Some will also have called at 'Mother Green's' pub - which I believe is now called the Wagon and Horses.

Do you have any recollections of the place - such as: the journey there and back, what you did when you went there, why you went there?

For those who are interested - in the car park just above Langsett - a set of display boards was recently renovated in connection with the visit to this area of the Tour de France. The boards explain the role of Langsett in World War 2 and show some photographs and maps. Amongst the information is some pictures of a giant steel net strung across the entire reservoir to prevent bombing of the dam by hostile aircraft. Apparently this was deemed a necessary precaution after the success of the Dambuster raids.

It is said that the North America Farm was used for 'target practice' by trainee tank crews. This seems unlikely to me, do you know anything about it? There was a lot more of it standing when I was a child and I have visited it regularly over the years, never have I noticed any 'shell damage'.

Signal boxes in World War 2

Sometime during World War 2 a decision was made to appoint women to operate some Signal Boxes on the railway line that ran through the 'Stainborough Valley'. This is the railway line that started at Wath-on-Dearne and went to Dunford Bridge, where it entered the Woodhead Tunnels - when it emerged it was not in Yorkshire but in Lancashire.

Some of the questions posed are:-

How did it come about that women operated the Signal Boxes?

Which Signal Boxes were involved?

How long did the arrangement last?

Why did the arrangement cease?

Who were the women involved?



The identity of a woman who operated the Signal Box at Smithywood Lane Crossing is known, but it is not known if that lady wishes to be identified, if anyone knows her and is able to share that information it would be appreciated if they could contact the Editor.

Silverwood Camp

This summer Silverwood Camp was investigated by a team of archaeologists assisted by local volunteers. Originally it was the site of New Hall at Silkstone, the old hall having been destroyed by fire. Before the scouts got it - and in connection with the First World War - it was a major army camp - inextricably linked to the Barnsley Pals Battalion, and such illustrious things.

The team investigating it were from a small private company called Elmet Archaeology based at Wath-on-Dearne. The same team have done work discreetly and publicly all around here, including important stuff at New Lodge (the New Lodge was actually a place belonging to Monk Bretton Priory), Monk Bretton Priory, and Stainborough.

Elmet Archaeology are the driving force behind a history and archaeology group which meet in Wath-on-Dearne around monthly. The group has interesting talks and members get involved with all sorts of related activities. I recommend seeing the Elmet Archaeology website for more information at - http://www.elmetarchaeology.co.uk/

Tomorrow - Wednesday 10 September 2014 - is their next meeting - it should be interesting - and if you aspire to having a go at Time Team type activities - they are a good place to start.

The Editor.

Sources of information

We are old getting older. That much I can say with absolute certainty! So I have decided that if I can pull together or out of my files - any sources of information that may be of use to users of this blog - then I will - and I will share them here. If anyone else has similar material - I encourage them to follow my example - as loss of such things would be a tragedy. Examples of what I have in mind are - from memory at this stage (refinement will come later hopefully):

Anything written by Professor David Heys of the University of Sheffield is fascinating and full of material relevant to a study of 'round here'.

Almost all of what he has published in the past is now 'out of print' and is unlikely therefore to be found in regular bookshops. BUT it is sometimes in 'secondhand bookshops' - to my certain knowledge - and of course it is likely to be found on such websites as EBay and Amazon. David Heys is a 'local' - from Penistone - and thus has an affinity with this area, as well as direct knowledge of it. David is still with us and may be the springiest of chickens, and if you ever get the chance to attend one of his talks - you should! - and it is very unlikely that you will be disappointed.

Almost the exact comment can be made about Professor Melvin Jones - except that he is not from Penistone - but maybe from the east of Barnsley, like Royston - nevertheless he is an authority on these parts. Sometimes he writes simply as Mel Jones.

Brian Elliott - who has written many things about Barnsley and its environs - or been the editor of books containing such material - including places around here - is a fine author - who happened to live for a time in Dodworth.

Sam Sykes, another son of Dodworth, wrote the definitive history of Dodworth and Stainborough in 1984. Copies of his thesis were lodged in the University of Sheffield Library, Barnsley Library (now the Barnsley Archives), and in Dodworth Library. Since the sharing of that work, Sam has written several items relevant to here including a shortened version of his thesis, and something about the prominent 'B' stones to be found in the Stainborough Valley, and about the lost village of Falthwaite, and the 'The Forfeits' or spelled properly The Faufitts. His work also deals with 'Sludgy Lane' - possibly the oldest dated 'trackway' around here.

A Canadian lady called Katherine Degnan, lived in Dodworth, in Holdroyd Yard, whilst writing her PhD about the village of Dodworth. That was about 10 years ago. A copy of what she wrote is in Dodworth Library.

By far the best history of Stainborough, in the time of the Wentworths (which may not be the most interesting time), was written by a woman called J.E. Humphries. It is a first class piece of work and fascinating to anyone interested in that time and place. Unfortunately the only place that I know where a full copy exists is in the University of Sheffield Library archives, but I understand that a shorter version is more readily available.

Many similar things are in Dodworth Library, ask the Librarian if in any doubt.

Some things are on the internet - interrogate Google...

Antiquarians - i.e. folks a long time ago who were interested in history and everything similar, such as archaeology, who were interested in this area, and whose work is still available in Barnsley Archives, include The Reverend Joseph Prince, of Silkstone Church, who wrote around 1830; Joseph Wilkinson of Barnsley, who wrote in the 1800's; a man named Jackson, who wrote around the same time as Wilkinson; and of course John Hobson - Dodworth's very own version of Samuel Pepy's - who wrote diaries detailing many things about this area, I think around 1700-1800. Hobson was incidentally connected to the Strutt family, some of whom still live in Dodworth. The towering figure of Joseph [yes they really were nearly all called Joseph] Hunter dominated historical matters in 'south Yorkshire', in the 1800's, as did Ralph Thoresby in the Leeds area. Joseph Kenworthy wrote and recorded much about the areas between here and Bradfield in the 1800's. Similarly an authority called Wilson lived at Broomhead Hall, near to the nearest stone circle, on the moors. Finally a man called Dransfield recorded much about Penistone and district during the late 1800 early 1900 period, and a man called G.N. Sykes from Huddersfield wrote a history of Silkstone that included stuff about the Huskar Disaster.

Many other people have written things about this area, and we are in danger of losing that heritage if we fail to use it and to preserve it - pity.

A Dodworth school, a teacher, a boy on a bike, a golf ball ... what more could it take to make a story?

Many years ago - in the olden days ...

Young boy on pedal bike cycling past Silkstone-Dodworth golf course,

when a golf ball lands on the path in front of him,

boy can't believe his good luck, 

sees in the distance on the golf course, 

a man waving at him and shouting angrily, 

boy picks up golf ball, 

gets back on bike, 

pedals like fury, 

man gets behind boy through hole in hedge, 

man running fast but cannot catch the flying bike, 

boy gets away but hears man shout after him "I'll get you for this...".


Some weeks later boy goes to new school, 

there at the front of the class is the man who chased after him, 

man is a schoolteacher! 

He shouts at boy "Get out here, now, I told you I'd get you for the golf ball thing!". 

Six strokes of the cane  - 'six of the best' - administered by the teacher to the boy.

"Lets start as we mean to go on." says the man to the boy.

Ah well...


Story shared a long time ago, by 'anonymous'.

Keresforth Road School

The canoes

In about 1958 someone at the school had an inspired idea, the result of which was a project to build and operate canoes, in a pool behind 'The Huts' at the school. The Huts were towards the bottom of the school site and to the left of them was the garden area where, along with other things, boys were taught the practical aspects of 'Rural Science', and where some of the older ones tormented frogs.

In practice the elder boys - assisted or not by teachers - wearing shorts, got into the stream and created a dam, in much the same way as they would have been used to doing in the streams, dykes and becks of the area every summer, to make pools into which they could jump and splash about. In this case they were using brick - that must have come from somewhere - and stone and clay.

The school dam, held back the stream and created a good sized pool.

Whilst the dam and pool were being created, the woodwork classes were given over to making full sized wooden kayak style canoes.

Once the canoes were finished some of the senior pupils learned how to use the canoes.

The whole thing sounds like a dream. Perhaps it was. Maybe it didn't happen. It wouldn't be possible now because of the risks involved to health and safety, and because the lawyers would be attracted like sharks to see what was in it for them - to pester the people involved.

Along with many other questions it would be interesting to know - how the project came about, who was involved, what was their inspiration, if it was part of a bigger scheme, if the teachers were rewarded for their initiative, what happened to the dam and to the pool, what happened to the canoes - and to the paddles, how was the head teacher persuaded to go along with the scheme, were the plans for the canoes made by the school or handed to them or bought in, was any teacher involved skilled or qualified in what they were doing, or had they perhaps done it before?

If you have answers to any of these questions, or if you want answers, or if you have any other questions, or any comments that you wish to make - then ask or share them here please. If you do not want people to know who you are - then make up a name.

In case you need inspiration - the stream that was dammed still exists - as it must have done for centuries - and nowadays it runs between the 'old' school playing fields and the current school site. A footpath runs alongside of it, so take a walk there and refresh your memory.

All of those involved will by now be old enough to be grand-parents and they may not want to talk about this thing - they may want it to be kept secret - and they may not be able to use a computer so will never see this, what a pity - SO - be tactful when poking about for information - and surprise them!

If you know of anyone else who went to Keresforth Road School, ask them if they know anything about this matter, and then - after getting their permission - share what you have found here - please.

Keresforth Road School

The huts

The Huts were some sort of prefabricated buildings erected after World War 2 on ground downhill from the main school building. A path connected them to the playground. A variety of classes were taught there 'down in The Huts' including woodwork in the classroom to the far left, and either art of history in what may have been the middle classroom of three.

Do you remember any of the above? - if so please share it here...

The Berry House

Do you know what the Berry House was?  Do you know where the Berry House was?  

It was a sort of public house, and it was at the bottom of Smithywood Lane, on the left, at the junction where the lane joins the road. Just visible is a low stone wall which marks the spot. Until a few years ago beyond the wall was a tangled mess of brambles - that was the actual site of the Berry House - and behind it was an orchard where fruit grew, from which beverages were made, and which were sold, hence the name Berry House. This little hostelry was very popular in years gone by. Do you wish to say anything else about it?

Dodworth Cenotaph - renovation

A group of people interested in community matters, including local counselors, meet each week at St John's Church on a Thursday morning - and are taking steps to ensure that the above is suitably prepared for the events due to take place later this year.

The work will involve cleaning and re-pointing the stonework, and maybe other things such as a means to secure wreaths when laid.

That we are fortunate, to have such a group of people, to look after matters such as this, should not pass unnoticed, hence they are commended for their efforts.

The Thursday morning meetings are informal, last about one hour and start at about 9.30, all are welcome to come along, and they deserve the support of the whole village. Come along and have a cup of tea, or coffee, and a bun, and have a chat, and help make this community stronger, warmer, and better.

Perhaps it is worth mentioning, that there are now, more and better supported, community initiatives in the village, than has been the case for a long time. Well done to all involved!

Dodworth and the First World War - a memorial

Some men of Dodworth made great sacrifices in the First World War.

Some made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives for our future.

Others were seriously injured by explosions, gas, gunshot and many other terrible things.

Not one of them came home unmarked by the trauma of what happened to them.

The psychological damage alone was immense, they saw things that no-one should ever see, that no-one is made to see, and they experienced things that no-one is made to experience.

Then the survivors came home and got on with their lives as best they could.

Sometimes that was anything but easy.

Many were marked for life.

Some fellow sufferers understood, and gave support.

For most of them, their reward was a life-time working down a local coal mine, not the easiest of lives, in those days the mortality and morbidity of those jobs was incredibly bad, and the industrial diseases they encountered and contended with - were worse than anything experienced by anyone today.

The lives they led were hard, as were the lives of their family, and of the community in which they lived.

So - let us not forget them.

This year is the 100 year anniversary of that conflict.

To ensure that those who endured it are not forgotten, a group of local people are planning to create a memorial for them. This memorial will not be a statue but some sort of record of what they went through.

Interested people are meeting each week at Dodworth Library to create that memorial - and they need help for their cause.

The first meeting is tonight 27 March 2014 at 6.00 p.m.

The members of the group will be able to give more details after that meeting, but for now what they want is stories, big ones and lesser ones, about your relatives - and others - during the time of that Great War.

Come along with your stories, talk to your relatives and friends, and get them to come along, or to share their stories, or hand them in at the Library.

Remember that nobody is left alive from the time of the First World War - this is the first year that has been so - therefore we must do this thing for them - in memory of them - we must together make a memorial of them - that can be preserved for the future.

Do your little bit to help - share a story - a recollection no matter how simple - even if you have no-one connected with the war, tell us what your thoughts are on this matter.

For my part I will write about my Uncle and my Father's relatives who died in battle, and about my Grandfathers who both survived but were terribly injured and spent a lifetime physically marked by what they went through. I will share what I know of what happened to the families they left behind, and were at home whilst they were away soldiering, and when they returned.