Photographs of Dodworth

Photographs of the village are on sale through the church - to help raise money for the church window fund - the photographs are on a CD, there are 349 of them. The disc can be 'played' on regular DVD players and computers - just pop it in and wait for the pictures to come on the screen, they change every 5 seconds or so. Not all of the photos are old, some are quite new, in the main they show points of interest - to me that is - over the past few years and can be useful as a memory jogger etc. Some folks have sent them to relatives and friends far away. Over Christmas the discs were selling for a minimum donation of £2 each, they are on sale at the church or through the Library on the crossroads.

Sludgy Lane and The Forfeits

What do you know about Sludgy Lane and The Forfeits?
Have you seen the 'B stone' on Sludgy Lane?
Do you know that Sludgy Lane is an ancient road / pack-horse trail / bridleway?
Do you know where the nearest village was to Sludgy Lane?

Can you recall anything about the Forfeits?

House on Dodworth Crossroads - dated 1641

There is a house on Dodworth crossroads, opposite the Library and next to the Budgens shop. Over the front door is a stone marked 1641. Some say it is the oldest house in the village. Do you know if that is correct? Do you know anything else about the house?

Editor

Dodworth Bottom

Dodworth Bottom - the area it describes has been known by that name since at least the first half of the 1600's - when it was given as a wedding present from a wealthy landowner to his daughter. Do you know anything about this?

It is said that; at one time, when the Miners Inn pub closed on an evening 'the men' would gather round the lamp post at the top of Silver Street and jointly sing well known songs. Do you know anything about this?

Editor

Wentworth Chronicle

An associated blog titled Wentworth Chronicle has been started with the same aims as the Dodworth Chronicle. Some material may be of interest so you are recommended to explore it - the address is below.

http://www.wentworthchronicle.blogspot.com/

Editor

The tunnel from Stainborough Castle to Saville Hall Farm

For many years there was talk of a tunnel connecting Stainborough Castle to Saville Hall Farm. That may seem a little far-fetched given today's understanding of mining matters. So what's the truth?...

Was there ever a tunnel?

What evidence exists to say a tunnel did or did not exist?

Where did the idea - and the story - come from?

Is there any explanation at all?

Editor

Local mining sites and related matters

Do you have any information about the Strafford Colliery; the New Sovereign Colliery; the Old Sovereign Colliery; the Levi [Levitt-Hagg] Colliery; Rob Royd Colliery - or about any other colliery or feature of that type - including - the Strafford Colliery Coking Works, the Two Tunnels, the Strafford Colliery Brickworks, Damstead houses, the Bullrushes, the Sunny Hollow...?

If you have anything at all to share - please consider putting it here for others to see.

Photographs can be used - if you have any to share please contact the Editor for a talk about what's involved.

The Editor

Contributions from older people

It's often said that older folk don't use computers, and although there are many exceptions to that view, there are a lot who don't use computers or the internet. That does not mean they cannot contribute - they can for instance get someone else to type in their words and thoughts - remember virtually all children are nowadays able to use computers and the internet - and many of them have access at home - and a lot of children have older family members who may value some assistance with this matter.

It is the case that much valuable information lies in the memories of older people and it is important that those memories are captured and shared - now - before they are lost. Perhaps you know of something told you by an older person - if so please consider sharing it on this blog.

Editor

Dodworth High Street - sawmill

There was a time - not very long ago - when a sawmill was situated on Dodworth High Street. It was located next to the 'Old Post Office' which is now a shop. Houses are built on the site - they are named Park View.

Do you have any information to share about the sawmill? - perhaps a photograph?

Editor

Dodworth Muckstack

Dodworth Muckstack also known as Dodworth Slag Heap and Dodworth Spoil heap has been a dominant visual feature in the area for perhaps 100 years. Today it looks very different from what it did a couple of decades ago [or thereabouts]. Back then it was not clothed in greenery, it was higher and more pointed towards the top. At some point it 'slipped' across the road from Dodworth to Higham, and had to be pushed back, this was maybe in the late 1960's - and maybe about the time of the Aberfan Disaster in Wales.

Do you know anything about these observations?

Do you agree with them?

Can you offer an explanation as to why the stack collapsed across the road?.

Do you recall how high the old stack was at its peak?

Editor