Cruising past Pooley Fields Heritage Centre we saw a monument atop the large spoil heap and the large coal pithead wheel which are part of the heritage trail.
A little further on we passed Pooley Hall, Farmhouse and former Chapel which are all now private residences.
Pooley Hall was built c1509 and the whole group here are Grade two listed buildings. This lovely canal-side poem on a copper cut-out of a coal miner was written by Raymond Hendy.
Memories of Pooley Mine.
I stood and watched as they pulled it down,
The blackened gear head of Pooley Mine,
The big black wheels rock and stumble,
And part of history began to crumble,
Locked in this twisted steel,
Were memories of men and coal,
Who gave their sweat and blood
To hew the coal that lay below.
I stood and watched them cap the shaft,
And thoughts went deep below,
like some blackened hand with fingers
Burrowed deep into my soul,
Gone this once proud mine.
We thought the poem was rather beautifully written and worthy of sharing with you.
This is the 15th century Abbey gatehouse which has been restored and is occupied.
Walking through the gateway and down the drive the Abbey Church comes in to view.
It is a shame that this old school building in the town centre is not in use. We popped into the busy little P.O. Stores, there was also a Green Grocers opposite and a Fish and Chip shop around the corner. Returning over the River Anker bridge we were commenting how clear the water was when we saw a couple of large brown rats. There riverside existence must suit them as their fur was lovely and shiny.
And on the other side of the bridge there was someone shouting “Look at me”
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