BOOTboys

BB2436 : Bees, Bleaze and Treacle

Wednesday 4th December 2024

To my surprise, John didn’t know about the Natland Treacle Mines so I thought I would take him and Tony for part of the Treacle Mines and Caves Tour. We started from the village green where TV Mike had organised the erection and decoration of the Christmas Tree and person unknown had decorated the post box. After heading up through the village we took the foot path that leads up to the railway, passing close to the entrance of the now sealed Pipeline Cave.

Whilst crossing the railway bridge I pointed out two caves in the embankment that had also been sealed, this time with bricks.

After all this excitement (more yet to come) we called in at the new old folks’ home though I think they call Castlestead View a Retirement Village.

Anyway, the café is open to non-residents so we decided to pop in. This, I stress was for refreshment, not a viewing for residence though you never know ……

Refreshed (necessary as we had completed over a mile, you know), we next looked for the cave where many years before I had discovered a former work colleague emerging after crawling quite some distance.

Not a game for me!

The entrance has now been blocked off with stones but no doubt still accessible for those speleologically inclined.

After crossing the A65 close to the Special Scientific Interest bog and pointing out a house made of Natland Treacle, I offered the boys three choices. The steep route to the Summit of the Helm, the gentle route or a visit to the treacle mine. They opted for the latter. Thanks to it being shown, but not named, on the OS map I was able to use my GPS to take us up through the bracken and brambles and straight to it.

I could see the boys were underwhelmed. It is more of a quarry than a mine and the amount of abandoned treacle seems to have shrunk over the years, no doubt removed by similar enthusiasts.

We pressed on towards the summit. The ramparts of the Iron Age fort could be seen quite clearly which is more than can be said of the view from the summit.

Not the best day for long distance views. No hope of Blackpool Tower this week.

On the east side of the hill is a large pond (or small tarn) so we headed for that, passing en-route some very friendly fell ponies.

The next point of interest was what is called on the map “Syphon Well”. I’d call it a Manchester Corporation Water Works inspection chamber.

The Coat of Arms is still clearly on the wall though in need of decoration when funds allow. There is no Bee on it. I can’t remember when Manchester started using the Bee as its logo. I don’t recall it as a youth. The Bee was for Boddington’s ales. Uncle Google suggests it was in 1842 but I’m not that old.

Rather older is Bleaze Hall. Centuries older. 16th maybe 15th Century, Grade II listed. Featured in BB1316. together with its then sales brochure.

We were now on our return, passing another Syphon Well before entering Bleasehall Wood.

At bluebell time this is a delight. It was still a pleasant section before we reached the Beck-side fields where it was very easy to sink deep into the sodden ground.

At last we reached Stang and the short climb before dropping down to the Punchbowl.

The rain was threatening to come in. I remarked recently how often the rain kindly holds off until the end of our walk. But this wasn’t the end. We had another mile to go so rather than wet our whistle and then, later, our clothes and skin, we continued back to base. Consequently we missed the hole just behind the pub where, in 1855 or thereabouts, a passing tramp was lowered to check its depth. By the time we had changed and John had kindly driven us back to the Punchbowl, it was too dark and wet for its examination. Even more kindly, as by this time as the rain really had set in, John drove us back home again after a convivial Christmas themed session

Don, Wednesday 3rd December 2024

Afternote: Having subsequently looked at the Manchester Coat of Arms,
I now see that there are some bees on it, crawling all over the world.

Comitibus: John, Tony, Don

John, Tony, Don

Map: OS 1:50k

STATISTICS	BB2436 : Bees, Bleaze and Treacle
Date:	Wednesday 4th December 2024
Features:	The Helm, Bleaze Hall
Distance in miles:	7.3
Height climbed in feet:	807
GPX track:	BB2436.gpx
Comitibus:	Don, John, Tony

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