|
BIRDNESTING |
The opposite side to Mumpton Hill and looking over the railway line (now the North East Primary Road) could be seen a mining area known as Briar Shepherd's Pits. Adjoining this was a large piece of ground which was called Holme's Field and down the middle of this land was an irregular growth of bushes and trees, an ideal place for birds'nesting. It was here that I found my first bird's nest (egg collecting being one of the hobbies of us boys). It had been a very wet day, and as dusk approached 1 went with some older boys on this exploration. I was frightened, yet eager to see what could be found as this time was considered to be a good one to disturb the nesting birds and so make our efforts much easier. Trespassing of course - it was a lonely spot, but the trees and bushes, called the parting were irresistable. The grass was long and my feet were soon wet through, but the thrill of discovering a nest was exhilarating. Yes! a nest, with four speckled eggs in it. I only took one to prove how clever I had been. The other field nearby was Biaden's Field, this ran alongside the road from the Greyhound up to Ketley Bank. All this land is now part of the Ketley Bank housing estate, 4th Avenue, etc. The Briar Shepherd Pits could only have closed down a short while for when I saw them the winding gear and rope were still in place with only a flimsy cover over the shaft. The engine house was intact, some distance away from the Collier Office. This soon became ransacked by children getting inside and having a real beano among the books and papers. The approach of a certain dignified gentleman soon put an end to these frolics. It was the owner, Briar Shepherd, and we very quickly scampered away. His face was heavily bearded and on his head was a tall black topped hat (a gas tar bucket). He wore a frock-tailed coat and carried a heavy stick.
In addition to the pit mentioned, there were four more shafts, one surrounded by a high brick wall, a source of temptation to climb up and try to see the bottom. Throwing stones down it, however, suited me. This now derelict land became a paradise for playing cowboys and indians, and we re-enacted scenes we had seen at the pictures. How serious accidents were avoided I do not know! God must have been on our side. The Indians and Mexicans were always routed, Tom Mix was ever supreme!
Overlooking the Greyhound Inn were some of the Ketley Bank Pits, the mounds, or part of them are still there. Across the front of one of the mounds and facing the Holyhead Road are some very nice houses on a site which used to be a field on which Mr. Harrison from the nearby farm used to graze his cattle. In what is now Mount View Road, there was a small attractive pool - attractive because it was there we used to go and fish for tiddlers. A piece of stick, a length of string with a bent pin attached to the end, was sufficient on which to affix the bait (grubs). This meant disaster for the adventurous fish who came to sample the bait. The time spent waiting for a bite was the time to enjoy eating a pocketful of hips and haws, red hawthorne and rose hip berries. These were always so succulent to one who always seemed to be hungry.