25 August 2020

Longdendale

Bottoms Reservoir and Tintwistle

At 3pm yesterday I met up with "the lads" once again at "The Hammer and Pincers". I have never been a daytime beer drinker but I am starting to get used to these leisurely Monday afternoon sessions that have arisen because of COVID. 

In two hours, we talked about a range of things from Mike's failing right eye to Mick's experience of selling vibrators at the Bowshaw car boot sale to Danny's grandson's circumcision in peculiar circumstances in Chicago. His son married into an American  Jewish family though he is of Irish Catholic descent. Apparently, the circumcision happened without his knowledge or permission. Utterly flabbergasting. I might make a blogpost about male circumcision some day soon. That's something to look forward to isn't it?

When I was able to get a word in edgeways, I talked briefly about the ramble I enjoyed yesterday morning before our afternoon session. 

I had got up early to fire up Clint's engine before driving over The Snake Pass to Glossop. Then I turned right at the crossroads there before leaving my silver beast tucked up against a wall in the village of Padfield which is right next to the village of Hadfield.

"I think I'll have a kip," he said as I rooted around in his rear end for my boots. "I'm not used to early starts you know!" 

Above Valehouse Reservoir

Hilary MantelI descended into the great valley of Longdendale which is home to a row of Victorian reservoirs. Back in 1877, they represented the largest man-made body of water in the world. That water was ingeniously harnessed to serve the endless thirst of the burgeoning city of Manchester. From east to west the reservoirs are called Woodhead, Torside, Rhodeswood, Valehouse and Bottoms. The engineer behind this ambitious scheme was John Frederick Bateman (1810-1889).

There weren't many people around - just a few dog walkers. Because of the pub gathering at three, I knew I would have to get back to Clint by around one thirty so there was little time for inquisitive diversions. However, I did discover that the award winning historical novelist Dame Hilary Mantel spent the first eleven years of her childhood in Hadfield and after leaving the reservoirs behind, I marched down a street called Brosscroft specially to take a photograph of Number 20.

Hilary Mantel's childhood home

There was no need to race home over The Snake Pass. Sensibly, I had given myself enough time. That road can be very frustrating with its bends, hills and narrow stretches. There is often no opportunity for overtaking so if you have a slow vehicle in front of you you might just have to patiently bear it for ten or twelve miles. As it happened I had a grey Nissan Micra in front of me and the guy's speed kept fluctuating unintelligibly. Sure enough after he had slowed to 20mph I decided to pass him just as he suddenly decided to speed up to forty. Pillock!

"Nice one!" whooped Clint as we got by. "To infinity and beyond!"

Pedestrian tunnel beneath the disused
Sheffield to Manchester Woodhead railway line

26 comments:

  1. What a pretty, pretty picture that last one is! So is the one above the reservoir, truthfully. Nice work, Mr. P.!
    Please. Tell us your thoughts on circumcision. I love a hearty debate on the subject and have quite strong opinions of my own.

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    1. One wonders what Dame Hilary would have to say about it.

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    2. Dame Hilary had her own health battles to fight in her youth - blighted as she was by endometriosis. It was the reason she never bore children and it had a deep effect upon her mental health.

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  2. Your last picture takes my breath away it is so lovely! It has a magical look of times long gone by. You had a wonderful day yesterday with both an enjoyable walk and a Pub meet up with your friends. Good for you!

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    1. All that picture needed was Mistress Bonnie approaching through the little gate.

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  3. Love the last photo. Winner !

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    1. Cheers mate*!

      *= informal Australian mode of address.

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  4. Well, I'm going to have to look for a Hilary Mantel novel. I like historical fiction.

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    1. She's very big in Britain. That is why she became a Dame.

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  5. I, too, love the last photo.

    I have no thoughts on circumcision. It's never been a subject I've thought much about one way or the other.

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    1. I have thought about the cruel disfigurement of young girls and the ritualistic circumcision of young boys - usually for religious reasons.

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  6. I tried to read one of Hilary Mantel's book but found her too long, perhaps that period of history has never caught my fancy, though I did enjoy the television adaption of Cromwell. Loved the darkness of it. You are blessed with beautiful countryside to visit.

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    1. When I read a Mantel novel I will pick it carefully. Thanks for the warning note.

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  7. I think Royston Vasey (Hadfield) was the village they filmed The League Of Gentleman YP. "This is a shop for local people."

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    1. Well, I did not know that but you are indeed right!

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    2. I watched a television programme about the Sheffield to Manchester Woodhead railway line recently. Apparently they use the big tunnels to carry electricity cables these days.

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  8. Hilary Mantel does not sound familiar to me, but I may have come across some of her work in the past.
    Like the others here, I love the last photo! Just like the disused railway line above it, the tunnel does not look as if it sees much traffic these days.

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    1. Historical fiction is not usually my cup of tea but now I think I will make a point of reading one of Hilary Mantel's novels. The depth of her research is apparently phenomenal. She is very, very well-known in Britain.

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  9. Another thing about America that is different to the rest of the civilised western world. that is their high level of male circumcisions.

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    1. That is true and the key question is: Why?

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  10. I, too, find Hilary Mantel's books somewhat overlong, but there is no denying her incredible depth of research and knowledge. "Wolf Hall" is the title that first drew my attention to her works. I have seen the TV adaptation, which for me, was easier to digest than the book. Haven't read "Cromwell" yet, but will wait until it's on TV. - I prefer much of my history that way these days - I can always switch off if I find it boring!
    Excellent photos, as always YP, and that last one is surely a prize winner.

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  11. Going by some of the comments left re Hilary Mantel:

    TLDR or some such - an acronym to be found in many a comment box in more serious papers. Too long, didn't read. Whilst being largely well disposed towards other people that, to me, is not so much a blue rag to a cow as met with udder disdain.

    What the eff is wrong with people? 140 characters on twitter? That's the attention span? That's how much one needs to condense a thought? May they all rot in hell with only Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time" to read. Or Hegel, come to think of it.

    U

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    1. Why do you care so much that two people don’t like Hilary Mantel? It’s their loss. Chill!

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  12. It was done without the father's knowledge or consent! If I was in a marriage like that I wouldn't eat or drink anything I had not bought or prepared myself and I wouldn't go to sleep.

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    1. I would not stay in a marriage like that.

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  13. The baby was circumcised without the father's knowledge?! Hmmmmm...sounds like there are some serious communication problems in THAT marriage. Circumcision was almost universal in America for years, regardless of religion. Doctors convinced the public it was more hygienic. Over the last few decades that thinking has changed, though, and more and more boys are going uncircumcised. In any case, it's something parents need to talk about!

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Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.

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