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Yesterday we went up Twist Moor to a landrover trial. The trial is held in a large quarry, part of which is still in use. On the way up to the moor we passed through Monk Hall, from then on up to the top were signs of old, long forgotten, grown over quarry areas. These stretched down to the river and in parts, over the other side. Standing on top of the quarry, on top of the moor, in the cold of yesterday made me think of my Stanworths who were quarrymen. They lived at Clough Croft, Holden and Monk Hall in the 1800's and must surely have worked where I stood. I could see these various homesteads, all now with running water, electricity and heating, tarmac roads, neatly laid out gardens and the rest. What a long cry from what my Stanworths would have gone home to after a long days slog.
It was freezing and wet up there, but we went home to a warm house, where there was hot food (when I'd made it), central heating, the wherewithall to dry clothes and hot water to have a bath.
It really made me think and appreciate what they must have gone through.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Mum and I have often commented on how bleak it is in winter up that end.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

I would think in winter they would work the short daylight hours, go home in the dark, freezing, hungry, wet and tired. No wonder they had lots of children---they went to bed to get warm
We drove up in a warm car---they would have trudged up with god knows what on their feet.
It was interesting standing up there though. I know you can look on google earth, but actually standing there you could see where everything is in relation to everything else. There was no noise at all apart from the wind and the odd bird---when the landrovers and scrambler bikes stopped. It was just like stepping back in time.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Like Mel says, it's a cold shop up there. But in the spring it's quite beautiful. No consolation I suppose when you're hungry.

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at

I wonder if they appreciated the beauty of it? Particularly during bad weather. I always think that mum and I see the area through different eyes than those who live up there

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

When we used to live up there we saw it totally differently as to how we see it now, especially the Harle Syke area. I don't think they would have looked around at the beauty of it all, more as a cold, damp, inhospitable place. But then again they stayed there, I wonder if they ever thought of moving on, or maybe it wasn't an option, or even a thought.
I used to exercise horses all around the lanes and never once gave a thought to my rellies who used to live there. Perhaps if I had known then, what I know now, I would have taken a lot more interest in the buildings I was passing. And I know this sounds daft BUT the lanes seem a lot narrower, and the distance from A to B a lot shorter, but maybe also that is because I am now in a car and not on a horse.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.