SCOOP FOR BARNSCAN

I was at a meeting with the local history group on Tuesday the 29^th of May 2008 when Mr George Gracey local independent councillor came in and told that they had found something over at the new doctors site.

He told us that the people had found what they thought was the front of a boat or a part of an old seat, on investigation with the local group a young lady said that we could not go in and have a look due to health and safety I asked if she would take some photos for me and she dually obliged the photos are as follows

One shows the piece of wood found in the hole also a second piece of wood that is round. The second photo shows them both from a different angle.

The next photo shows a mollusc, which they were guessing at 500,0000 years old the girl also mentioned that a river once ran through askern and this fossil had come from the riverbed.

The next photo shows where the wood was found

The next four photos show the hole where the find was made from different angles.
The next photo shows a piece of pottery found on the site it is brightly coloured.


The final photo shows some more of the old riverbed with the pottery in the top of the picture

On speaking with the young lady onsite she said the people in charge thought the hole could have been a plunge pool going back to when askern was a spa, the piece of wood was most likely a seat that was used before they plunged into the pool or it could maybe a piece off an old boat, we at barnscan are the first to report this find and I shall keep you informed as to what it really is.
Sid roe

Blog update

Hi again just a few more photos for the update the first is of the high street in and around 1909 the Lupton shop is now a Indian restaurant and very nice it is too.
Next up something we can all remember the whit walks here you can see how the horse and cart were dressed up to parade around the streets of askern this photo is opposite the Methodist chapel.
Next is a place I remember well as will most of the people viewing this Blog it is of course the swan hotel notice the flag pole where people used to gather for the may queen also the gas light on the right this was taken when the swan had a bowling green at the rear one of the landlords was Ronnie Clayton a famous boxer, when I used to drink in here with the lads it was run by Arthur Duran’s a good landlord who became a friend.
Another view this time of Bennett’s the butcher on the high street again notice the gas light on the left fixed to the building, the meat hung outside the butchers shop this shop is still there but is used today for beauty treatments.
Another view of the lake looking down towards the a 19 it is the back of the charity baths an early photo notice the lake entrance the place where the swans are was the boat house when I was a nipper.
Here is a photo of the floods in askern taken in 1932 the young lads are sailing paper boats, the car is struggling to get through and the little girl in her Wellingtons strolls on as though it was nothing to worry about.
The next photo shows a bungalow on the high street again an early photo notice the way the people are dressed this is just of the lakeside.
Didn’t mean to frighten any of you old villians but here is a photo of the police that used to patrol askern the one sat front left is the infamous bobby savile had a few clips of him in my time but it taught me some respect. There was a little tale going round that where kings road is it used to be called the darnels and the police would never patrol this area on their own as fighting was the normal run of the mill occurrence.
Finally a photo once again of the firemen’s Christmas party do you recognise anybody. See you soon on the next update

Sid roe

Blog Update

Hi there once again just a few lines to keep you informed about the lake developments. The council has come through along with D.M.B.C. and volunteers and succeeded in tidying the lakeside up all the litter was picked up and rubbish taken out of the water, rubbish bins sited and it looks a picture so once again well done. Beryl Roberts labour councillor has also put herself out and made sure that the swans on the lake had fresh straw with which to make their nests hopefully the swans will once again breed as will the other wildlife. Lookout for picture’s of the swans.

Here are some more pictures to be looking at not just of Askern but the surrounding district as well.

BARNSCAN

Barnscan is the local history group for askern Campsall Norton and Sutton, they do a lot of work in the community and have in the past helped me to publish my local history booklets here is a list of what we have published up to now.

• A history of Askern picture house
• Askern spa visitors guide 1905
• Saint Peters church 1852-2002
• Excavation of Sutton common
• A visit to Askern 1892
• Visitors guide to Campsall 1823
• Visitors guide to Norton 1823
• Robin Hood of Barnsdale
• Enclosure act for Askern
• Lankester visit to Askern 1842
• Brewerton’s visit to Askern 1818A Queen is crowned
• History of Askern pit
• Remembrance
• Askern a spa town

Look out for more local publications in the near future, soon to be printed a history of the four churches to include askern Campsall Burghwallis and Owston.

The Northumberland Fusiliers

Do you remember the bunch of pit lads who joined the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, well they just held a reunion in the Spa Club at Askern, and it is believe it or not it was fifty years ago so they met up for a catch up with what they are doing today.

It was organised by George Gracey and the men who are now in their late sixties and early seventies, some of them still live in Askern today. George recalls that they always enjoyed a party and the Geordies certainly knew how to party George also recalls that they had great comradeship and they still have it now, at the time of joining up the eleven lads created a record by being the largest group of recruits to join up from a single village.

Their service in the army took them to places like Germany, Aden, Hong Kong and Ireland the majority of the lads stayed in for six years George said that he would not fancy army life today as in his day you got to see a bit of the world before being sent to a war zone he also says that he has the utmost respect for the young men and women serving in today’s forces and wishes them all the best and a save return from where they are serving, as do the rest of the Askern fusiliers.

Here are the lads in uniform back row left to right Alan Hepinstall-Daniel Deere-Mal- Robson-Edward Roe-George Gracey front row left to right Brain King-Ronald Maudsley-Jeffrey Adamson-Brain Lowes-Dennis Reed-Sock Armstrong.
and heres the men who turned up for their reunion they are George Gracey, Danny Deere, Sock Armstrong, and Mal Robson. on the front row left Ron Maudsley, Dennis Reed, and bob Stewart.

Can you also remember the askern secondary modern running team see how many you can name.

Remember these part-time firemen from Askern Station

Dedicated followers of fashion or what

Here is another one spot anyone let us know.

Please keep watching more photos to follow, also more information regarding the Hog roast, American car show and the next reunion.

Meet the Team

As this is the first blog of the reunion site I thought we could start by bringing you up to speed with what’s happening in the village.

Firstly there are plans afoot to re-establish the lakeside bridge back to how it was also the lakeside has been awarded grant moneys to try to bring the lakeside back to how it used to be when we were growing up so well done to D.M.B.C. and to our local parish councillors on Askern town council.

We shall be watching this closely in the hope that it happens sooner rather than later

We would also like to hear from any old pupils of Askern secondary modern school especially from the years 1961 to 1962, get in touch with us let us know what you would like to see or talk about and we shall see what can be done.

We shall also be doing write ups about various things, sporting times gone by, school plays, school
days out and of course what has happened to our teachers.

It is hoped that any thing posted on this blog is of your own making and shall not be deleted so keep your eyes peeled, as it will be updated at every opportunity also this will not just be about Askern but we shall also include Campsall, Norton, Sutton, Moss and Whitlybridge if you have any photos we can use please send them to Sid Roe at 4 Airstone Road Askern DN6 OQB see you soon.

Welcome

Im setting up this blog to keep you all updated with news around Askern District.

Look out for us coming online in the near future