Golden era of pits galore

It was forwarded by a Sutton reader who wishes to remain anonymous. Explaining that it was written in the mid-70s by a Bold Colliery workmate from way back, he says:"I thought this poem may rattle one or two of our old miners' memories. It may not be the best of poetry, but it is to the point!"

It's entitled 'The Passing of Time' and the amateur poet has since died, making the last line particularly poignant.

JUST listen to me friends whilst I remind

You of the past,

Some pits you knew a few years ago

Over which Lord Robens his spell had cast.

Like Garswood Hall and Crow Pit, Lyme and

Good old Clock

And Mosley Common, Manchester,

That really was a shock!

Lea Green, Wood and Ravenhead all went

With such a rush

Stone's, Giants Hall, and Chisnall Hall,

But no one gave a cuss.

Gone before are many more, like Southport

And Collins Green,

Pretoria, Victoria, Tawd Vale

God save the Queen!

Do you remember Almond's Pit, or the

Windy Arbour Group

Like rat holes near Billinge, all these

Were full of mining 'soup.'

John Pit, Albert and Dairy have had

Their little day

Whilst Robin Hill and Chanters have

Also past away.

Ellerbeck, Sandhole and good old

Astley Green

With Landgate and Summersales, all

Gone from the mining scene.

A few more I can remember like Nook,

And Wigan Junction

There was Makeys, Mains and Crippins,

All these have ceased to function.

I think I've nearly recalled them all,

Gibfield, Sherdley and Boston,

If you can think of any more

Keep them to yourselves, I've passed on...

WELL, of course a quite few more have been axed since then, notable among them being Cronton (closed 1983); Bold (1985); Golborne (1987); Agecroft (1989); Sutton Manor (1991); Bickershaw (1992); Parsonage (1992); and Parkside, Newton-le-Willows (1993).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.