Work in Return for Toffees
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Work in Return for Toffees
The Barwicker
June 2015
This article is based on Tom Freeman's memory of life in the 1920s
Aberford. It is taken from a newspaper, now looking dull and old and
undated. So I have no idea of which paper printed it nor can I
remember where it came from although I guess it must be from one of
our members. So who was Tom Freeman? If anyone has any further
information please let me know.
Whenever he could young Tom Freeman wouldjoin his Great Uncle to
collect a ton of coal from Peckfield Colliery to Aberford. Their cart
was pulled by a shire horse named Bonnie.
The journey began by going down Pump Hill crossing the bridge over
the Cock Beck and past St Ricarius Church to the top of Bunkers Hill.
After passing through Hook Moor following the road to the old village
of Micklefield they went under the old echoing railway bridge which
carried the trains from Leeds, Cross Gates and Garforth to such places
as York and Scarborough. To a young boy in the 1920s such places
sounded very distant and romantic. They then turned right off the
Great North Road into Pit Lane.
Before nationalisation Peckfield was a thriving colliery. In his article
Tom states that he was very proud to be able to tell the weighman
every time they visited 'This is where my father works'. The front
board 'seat' was removed during the outward journey and replaced
with sacks to sit on. The cart was manoeuvred into the correct position
under a chute. Great Uncle pulled a lever and a great cloud of black
dust and coal fell extremely noisily into the cart. Some of the coal was
as large as a football. They then took the cart back to the weighbridge
to check they just had one ton.
On the journey back to Aberford young Tom sat on sacks between
lumps of coal. One of the highlights of the journey was the customary
stop at a little shop near the Bland's Arms in Old Micklefield. Pipe
tobacco for uncle and a pennyworth of sweets for Tom. As with most
children Tom always took his time in making such an important
decision as to what to choose. However he always ended up with
Mayfair Toffees, and got four for a penny; each toffee being
individually wrapped.
Once back on the journey the road went uphill to Hook Moor and Tom
had to be lifted down and walked. He was told it was to lighten the
load for the horse but he had his own idea that it was to teach him a
sense of responsibility towards animals as prior to mechanisation on
farms people were reliant upon the use of animal power.
Once back in Aberford Bonnie would be unharnessed and led to the
water trough for a well earned drink prior to munching her way
through hay from the rack in her stall. Great Uncle and Tom would
likewise cross the stockyard for their own lunch.
PAULINE ROBSON
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