Keresforth Hall RFM Blue Line Walking with Lacey and Mary

Keresforth Hall 

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Lacey and Mary

21/10/24

A short walk around the bottom end of Dodworth, Gilroyd and Keresforth Hall. The previous day had been very windy so it was good to have a windless and warm but not hot walk.

Down the High Street passing the old Pop Factory on our right, we stopped and discussed the proposed development of the house in the photo on the left into 5 dwellings.

I've always seen that property as an integral part of my Dodworth from my youth and I will be sad if the development occurs. The apparent joining of 2 properties together in this strange way always fascinated me.

Going down the path at the back of the school felt very enclosed whereas years ago this was quite an open path. However it was a very pleasant walk. We passed a lady with a little dog and she was keeping away from us. I talked to here and tried to engage with the dog but it just barked. It struck me that dogs need training (socialising), call it what you will and avoiding contact is a mistake, but its not my dog so not my issue.

We followed Keresforth Road for a while Mary and I reminiscing about mum working in the old folks home and how we used to get our sunday dinners there. I also recountered to Lacey that this was part of my paper round, a theme to be returned to later. The path from Keresforth Road past the stream up towards the motorway bridge was remarkably clear of mud which was a surprise.

The views back towards Dodworth and over towards Stainborough Low were satisfyingly familiar.

The impressively high bridge over the M1, built for cows to cross, Lacey and I agreed, may have been a problem for Max if he had been here. 

We climbed the hill past Needlwood where there are some very expensive looking houses and walked along Keresforth Hill Road just for a short while until crossing the road we followed the path to Keresforth Hall. As we walked along the road we reminisced again about the many times we had walked down this road after a night out in Barnsley. We also passed a man with a dog who stopped and asked the question, 'Are you a Mulrooney?' It was one Michaels pals Ian Steele from Dodworth. We had a short catch up and carried on.

The route along the lanes and roads to Genn House gave us fantastic views south to Wentworth Castle and beyond.

I generally led the way and could satisfyingly hear Mary and Lacey pleasantly conversing behind me. 

We passed the tower next to the road on Hound Hill. No idea what it is for but there are more than one stately homes nearby so it could be a garden folly.

On the hillside opposite we could see fields full of deer, part of the deer farm at Round Green.

At the railway bridge down the hill we took the path onto the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) and set off back towards Dodworth.

We re-crossed the M1 where a farmer was busy ploughing the field on the right. In the distance we could see the high bridge we had crossed earlier.

Being somewhat undecided which path to leave the TPT at we finally plumped for the Intake Crescent path. Reminiscing with Mary and explaining to Lacey the railway line we were walking on, the signal box, nut trees, bikes on town dumps and scary narrow dark tunnels was a great way to cover this familar but different path. I had forgotten about the dark tunnel with the bend in it. 

We sat on a stone bench at the top of the hill, before entering Intake Crescent, and enjoyed the view of the trees in the distance gently turning to an autumnal palette. As Mary said it will be a couple of weeks until they fully change colour.

We passed through Intake Crescent and down Snow Hill where Mary's paper round and my paper round met. Dodworth Bottom still with the park and small grass playing field was good to see. Obviously this was a central part of our childhood and we remembered all the shops and people that were no longer there. 

We passed a late field of maize along Dodworth bottom towards Pollyfoxes.

Up the path onto Pollyfoxes and back to Mary's for a couple of slices of excellent malt cake and coffee. Thanks for that Mary.

What a lovely walk not too difficult or far. There was a little reminiscing but not too much. I feel privilaged to have a big sister still willing to take me for a walk and a granddaughter who wants to join us. A happy man.