A motor bike in distress?

A motor bike in distress?

When I was a child I had a dog. One day the dog was showing giving unusual attention to a hole [on the ‘muckbanks’ by the Sunny Hollow] - it was thought that the hole was a ‘rabbit hole’ of which there were a number in the vicinity. Being curious I examined the hole and to my surprise found that it contained a motor cycle engine. 

I excavated the remainder of the debris and pulled out what I identified as a Velocette single cylinder engine, later I was to discover that it was of 350 cc. The alloy crankcase was cracked - having apparently been subjected to considerable trauma - but apart from that the engine was in fine condition. 

I often wondered how the engine got into such an unusual situation, and would imagine all sorts of explanations. And I asked many people who I thought might know - but nobody seemed to have any idea. 

Of course I took the ‘find’ home, and in the interest of science ‘took it to bits’ - most of which were given away by my mother during a periodic clear-out. I managed to retain the cylinder head and barrel for a few years - they were not available at the time of the clear-out - but after a few years in my possession they disappeared.

The story does not quite end there.

A few years later a ‘muck-bank’ near the ‘find site’ was operated on by a mechanical digger - and loaded into lorries then taken away - it was assumed for use as building material. 

BUT during the digging - the digger machine came across a Velocette motor cycle - without an engine - apparently it had been buried years before and would not have been available for me to see - had not the driver of the digger chosen to cast it aside as rubbish.

I could not believe my luck - for I instantly linked the two artefacts together. I could not take the remains of the motor cycle home with me - but visited them often and conducted a thorough examination. 

Here is what I found! 

The motor bike had been in a serious collision judging by the damage to the frame and major parts of it - I recall that it still had a single seat ‘saddle’ set so low that it would have been easy to touch the ground with both feet at the same time. 

BUT most important it was painted in the colour of a military machine. I had not the slightest doubt that it was connected with the nearby presence of many military men - especially in the build up to the invasion of Normandy - and that it had been dismantled and buried to hide it - probably following an accident or something similar. The engine being the heaviest part was buried separately - and probably transported in that state - the rest of the bike similarly but to a different place. 

I imagined that whoever had buried it had knowledge of how it came to be so badly damaged - and possibly had been on it at the time of the ‘accident’ - or perhaps less dramatic when it had been in conflict with a truck of some kind - either deliberately or accidentally - and that the person or persons involved had ‘perished in the War’ - leaving no trace of the mystery.

It is possible that I am wrong in any number of my suppositions.

If you have anything to add to this story or any desire to comment - please share your views.

The Editor

Trevor Denton wrote this:

Dodworth Wartime Memories   by Barnsley Archives and Local Studies You are browsing in: Archive List > Family Life Archive List > United Kingdom > Sheffield and South Yorkshire

Contributed by  Barnsley Archives and Local Studies People in story:  Trevor Denton Location of story:  Dodworth, Yorkshire Background to story:  Civilian Article ID:  A3794295 Contributed on:  16 March 2005

Possibly an ancient track...

Look to the left - when driving from Silkstone Common to Dodworth - shortly after leaving the Silkstone Common boundary - and clearly visible is the remains of an old footpath [which is still usable] - but one which appears to be missing sections at either end.

Examination of such things as old maps may allow one to fill in the missing sections - close by the start of the path is a very old former farm - and at the other end in a good alignment is the 'old mill' [which is on the Huskar Dyke / River Dove] and which for many years was the main place to grind the corn produced by local farms.

It does not require much imagination to see the possible route of the path - which may have been used by 'pack horses'. A more difficult thought to accommodate is that the mill ceased to be used by about 1730 when Stainborough Lake was created - so why is the track still visible? The answer may be that the mill was first used about 1180 [from memory and not checked] - so the track may have been used for a long time - so perhaps the farm or its predecessors may also be very old - or the path may have run past the farmhouse and down towards Silkstone.

Clearly the path pre-dates the Ben Bank road now running between Dodworth and Silkstone Common.

Do you have anything to add to the above?

The Editor

WENTWORTH CASTLE - THE FOUNTAIN

The following item has been included in this blog for two main reasons - firstly it may be of interest to readers - secondly by this means it is hoped to leave a trace of the items for discovery in future by interested parties.

Outside the front of Wentworth Castle - where a car park used to be - and where the formal gardens are now [2017] was a large ornamental fountain - this was in place when or shortly after the castle was first built - and at some time it was removed!

At various times the fountain has been the subject of controversy - in fact it was even said by some that fountain had never been built - and that it was only ever a drawing - this is a complete error. It was also said at one time that the 'reservoir' or 'tank' to supply the water for the fountain was too small to permit the fountain to operate for more than a few seconds - this also is incorrect - but a reason for believing it can easily be found - the answer is the presence of a small tank beneath the central stone stairs outside the east front - this small tank which at one time was thought to be the reservoir feeding the fountain - is accessed by a passage leading from the kitchens of the castle - inside or close to the tank is the valves and pipework that controlled the fountain.

At some time around the late 1970s or early 1980s - the 'college bar' of the Northern College was created - during its construction the 'digger' broke into a tunnel at the north end of the castle, which appeared to run towards the church - but it is the other end of the tunnel that is of interest! - it permitted entry to a cellar of the castle - later to become the actual college bar - and examination of that cellar shows it to be the 'original' water tank that fed the fountain - this is supported by at least one document which was a letter sent as part of correspondence between Lord Wentworth and his architect or builder - the letter describes the cellar as a tank and says it would fill to a depth of 4 foot 6 inches - from a spring located at the southern end of the cellar. This tank would be large enough to support use of the fountain for a much longer time than had until then been considered possible. It is now evident that the tank / cellar must have been made during the construction of the foundations of the east wing of the castle about 1709 - and that it was an integral part of the building from the very beginning.

A few of the many questions that this information gives rise to include - how has knowledge of the tank and its construction been 'lost' over the years, and are there other major matters which have become overlooked or forgotten, and why have the 'Wentworth Papers' in London not been searched for such things by now?

Do you have anything to contribute to the above?

The Editor

A Wentworth employee - some facts and some rumours...

In his day it appears that he was an important man, and lived in some interesting places. It is conjecture but a case could be made that he is responsible for the rumour that there was a tunnel between Saville Hall Farm and Stainborough Castle - or that the rumour was based on something that he did.

He was a senior member of the Wentworth staff, perhaps a land agent of some sort, who sometime lived at Saville Hall Farm then at Needlewood - the substantial house on the left as one ascends Keresforth Hill.

Apparently it was his habit to turn up unannounced in the gardens or grounds of the Castle - to the dismay of employees - to whom his manner and comments caused concern - it was said that he was inevitably on horseback when he made his surprise visitations.

Was he in the habit of travelling from Saville Hall Farm - perhaps during the time that he lived there -by horse - and entering the Castle grounds through the under road tunnel between Steeple Lodge and Steeple Cottage? The under road tunnel collapsed - possibly in the 1970's - and the opening to the Castle grounds was obscured by landscaping in the 1980's. But - the opening on the Lowe Wood side of the road - still existed recently. Was this the origin of the 'tunnel story'?

Was he the first to occupy Needlewood when it was first built? - and was it built as a replacement for Saville Hall Farm at the time the latter was reduced in size by the demolition of one of the, until then, two wings? When did the demolition occur and what necessitated it?

He was known to periodically engage in shooting in the rookery at the top of Pilley Hill, and to be in the company of Captain Bruce Wentworth at such times.

His name is known but has been withheld for reason of confidentiality.

A hard life - in Dodworth Bottom

This is about Silver Street in Dodworth Bottom.

Incidentally my researches have shown that Dodworth Bottom was a separate community to the rest of Dodworth as far back as the 1600's - when it was 'given' as a wedding gift.

Amongst the many stories which I have gathered over the years is a recollection told me by my grandmother who lived in Silver Street - the story is regarding the purchase of meat.

In those far off days they were to say the least 'poor'. So poor in fact that on a Saturday night she and her husband; my grandfather, used to walk to Barnsley to buy the cheapest cuts of meat and bring them back home, to feed the enormous family they looked after. Their purchases would fill 4 shopping bags, and with 2 bags each they would walk back to Silver Street.

She said the butchers were selling the meat 'cheap' at that time as it would not keep well over the remainder of the weekend.

The butchers were on market stalls which at the time were at the upper end of 'Market Hill'.

The 'enormous' family that they looked after included 5 children; from 2 families, whom they had 'taken in' when their parents died or were killed - they had 3 children of their own.

For anyone interested - the events above took place in the 1920's

The Editor

Steeple Lodge - a regular shopping trip - and a tragedy

The regular shopping trip was an event that took place at least once a week. In the 1920's - if not before and after - the lady of the house would walk there and back to Dodworth Bottom to buy vegetables, from the green grocers at the bottom of Pilley Hill - the shop is still standing but it is now a house. During her shopping trips the lady would visit my grandmother in the nearby Silver Street and during one visit she taught my mother how to bake bread - in a fire oven probably.

Names of each of the above parties are known and have been withheld in the interests of confidentiality - they could be made available - contact the Editor if interested.


The tragedy was the suicide many years ago of a seriously depressed lady whose self inflicted death was by hanging. To its immeasurable credit, the Barnsley Chronicle in an extensive report on the incident, treated the matter with compassion and dignity. We often think of days gone by as being 'rough and ready' times - but those privileged to read the account will I imagine be suitably impressed. Many years ago I knew the nephew of the unfortunate lady concerned and all his words about his aunt were warm and tender.

Names of each of the above parties are known and have been withheld in the interests of confidentiality - they will not be made available - except to provable family members

The Editor.

Steeple Lodge - a one time garden ornament

Adjacent to Steeple Lodge was - until WW2 - a gate controlling access to the Wentworth estate. The gate is long gone - but remnants of the gatepost are still in existence.

For a time until about 1995 a pyramidal carved stone was in use as a garden ornament - it had an earlier life as the stylish 'top' of the east gatepost.

The west gatepost; or rather remnants of it, were found in the nearby Lowe Wood - where they had been discarded after apparently being damaged.

Photographic evidence exists to support some of the above assertions.

The Editor

The plank bridge over Bagger Wood Dike - located between the Water Pit and the Cattle-bridge.

Close by the bridge is a rare junction between 4 or 5 footpaths; the remains of a square structure; a stile over an animal proof fence; some concrete fence posts; and 2 or 3 of the mysterious and iconic 'B 1' stones. Here is what they each are.

The concrete fence posts were put there by contractors - who restored the field that they enclosed - after 'outcropping' work was done about 1940 to 1950. They are unique to the area.

The track / footpath leading from where the cattle-bridge once stood [it has been gone since soon after the nearby 'Levy Pit' closed down.] once led to a ford of the dyke used by tractors and cattle.

The overgrown square structure well above the level of the dyke is all that remains of a very simple cottage, vacated by the elderly female occupant around the time that the Gilroyd Old Peoples community was built [in the late 1960's]. The lady's name was Mrs Yates. There was no mains water to the property, so Mrs Yates collected her daily supply from a cold water tap that was located in the corner of a prominent field close to Lowe Wood. The site of her cottage is now protected by Hawthorne bushes.

The B1 stones are dealt with elsewhere in this blog.

The main footpath from Hood Green to Dodworth ran by the cottage, then over the Huskar Stream / River Dove via the footbridge [built when there was a reservoir in the area]. This is probably a very old footpath.

More information is available from the Editor for interested parties.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DODWORTH CHRONICLE BLOG

Hello fellow blog reader,

This blog has to date had nearly 12000 'hits' - but nearly all of the contributions are from The Editor - so - just in case you have something to contribute but have not done so...

HERE IS AN INVITATION!

Write something for others to read and maybe talk about.

The Editor

Cain and Abel Gates

These have been mentioned in many texts over the years. Here is recorded an interesting comment shared with me a week last Sunday during a walk around 'the castle' area. The commentator was a lady of considerable age [80+ years] who; accompanied by her husband of similar fine vintage, plied me with tales of the past at Stainborough - WAS it you? - I would like to know so that I can credit the tale to you.

She said that the gates or the statues on them or both, were 'down' and 'lying on the ground' for the whole of her childhood, and that as children they played on them climbing over them.

What she seemed to be describing is that they were in a state of disrepair, perhaps having been dismantled and abandoned, or maybe vandalised.

The available pictures of the gates - that I have seen - have all shown them in their closed and erect form. These images may not represent the truth.

It has been said that the gates were moved - and lost - when the work was undertaken to build the M1 motorway, and that the site where they were located is at present under the motorway - not far from Rockley Forge.

Some years ago - whilst travelling in the midlands with her husband - the lady saw what she thought were the very gates in some sort of place selling architectural fittings. Her husband, who also knew the gates from earlier years, thought that originally such items were made in multiples and that they had seen but another set of the same gates.


So here is a question or two for you readers, please try to answer them after asking around your contacts.

Is anything said above incorrect?

How do you know it is incorrect?

Do you have any information or theories as to what happened to the iconic gates?

The Editor