Terraced houses on Pasture Road, Goole
Yesterday, I boarded a train bound for the town of Goole. It's forty three miles from here. I first blogged about Goole back in April 2022. By the way, it's where my brother Robin was born back in 1951 when my family lived in the nearby village of Barmby-on-the-Marsh.
Unlike Sheffield which is a very hilly city, Goole is as flat as a pancake. Round there you could walk for miles at exactly the same small height above sea level - just over three feet. In fact, I went to Goole for a long walk that took me to the village of Hook and then along the bend of the mighty Yorkshire Ouse.
By The River Ouse, heading back into Goole
Goole has a population of around 20,000 people and it is Britain's biggest inland port. The town is situated some fifty miles from the mouth of The River Humber and though really big ships or container vessels cannot use the port, it is perfect for medium sized coasters and barges. That is really the reason why the modern town exists at all.
Round the back of St Mary the Virgin parish church in Hook (below), I came across a lone woman with a backpack and walking boots sitting in the open porch enjoying some rays of sunshine in what she called a "moment of reverie" We conversed politely for a little while.
Back in Goole itself, I visited the little town museum above the library before catching the 15.48 train home. The daylight was already fading in these northerly latitudes and by the time I disembarked at Sheffield Midland Station, the veil of inky darkness had already descended. It's only ten days to the winter solstice.
The clock tower in Goole's fading afternoon light
Before catching the 81 bus back to our neighbourhood, I made a special detour to The Moor - one of the city's main shopping streets - just to see the Christmas lights. It had been another grand day out with welcome exercise in the sunshine.
Goole takes me back to one of Tasker's posts.
ReplyDeleteLockdown. I had never read a blog but I was looking for background on
Stan Barstow. Tasker was like Stan and Keith Waterhouse's column on
The Daily Mirror of the 1970s.
So Goole is our biggest port ? With a wonderful canal walk.
I liked the Clock Tower in the fading light.
The Union Jack flags are being exploited by the Far Right like the Saltire in
Scotland. When did we become an ugly racist sad country ?
Pay attention Young Haggerty...Goole is not our biggest port, it is our biggest INLAND port. Britain's biggest port by cargo volume is Felixstowe. I shudder when I see those national flags flying and there were plenty in Goole. Last time my wife and I drove through the former coal mining town of Maltby here in South Yorkshire there were flags of St George on just about every lamppost. And you are right - so ugly, racist and sad. I am glad that we do not see similar displays of ignorance and warped patriotism in this suburb of Sheffield where there is lots of intelligence, kindness and decency though we might seem to be living in the land of the Clock Tower in the fading light.
DeleteI always enjoy your photos of the countryside and usually look up the town or area as well. The Christmas lights are an extra bonus:)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that my exploration posts spark your interest Pixie and you follow up with your own research.
DeleteSuch a lovely town.
ReplyDeleteWell - many would say that Goole is a grim down-at-heel kind of place but it has its merits that is for sure.
DeleteYou had sunshine and exercise, a conversation with a stranger and, to top it all off, Christmas lights! A great day indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on a good substantial walk myself this afternoon, having it kept deliberately free of other engagements, even my weekly cleaning round will have to wait until tomorrow.
The Ouse looks quite impressive there. Do you know how wide it is at that point?
I would estimate that The Ouse is about twenty five metres wide just east of Goole. Soon afterwards it feeds in to The Humber Estuary which at its mouth is about six miles across. I hope you enjoy an uplifting walk.
DeleteBeautiful Christmas decorations and lights. How many miles a week do you walk on average?
ReplyDeleteLet me see...About twenty in the wintertime. I am a fair weather walker and with my trusty camera I always lust for good light as I had around Goole and Hook. The weather people got it right.
DeleteHow delightful. I hope you had a custard tart from Sainsburys. I always buy one for the Hamster when I pass one of their stores.
ReplyDeleteWith him being a hamster I guess that he does not carry cash.
DeleteThat looks like a very pleasant walk on a sunny winter's day
ReplyDeleteI was pleased that the highest hill I had to climb was a river bank.
DeleteThat was a journey with a little bit of everything.
ReplyDeleteYes Bob and my next gripping blogpost will also feature Goole - Yorkshire's answer to Scarsdale NY.
DeleteA nice day for an outing, Neil!
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed. Shame you were not there to skip along with me Ellen.
DeleteLooks like a perfect day for a walk. I was so glad for Glen and me to get out and do even a bit of casual walking around yesterday under the beautiful sky, the cool air.
ReplyDeleteI guess Floridians really cherish the cooler days of your "winter".
DeleteMy brain kept reading "Google" instead of Goole. Although I knew that was a misreading, it made me google Goole. Google then presented the following to me (translated from Swedish): "Here are the results for 'Google' "- and in smaller print: "Look instead for 'Goole' "(clickable link). I clicked, and was asked (in English): "Did you mean Google?" After that, it did give a short AI introduction in English of Goole, ending with: "...famous for its maritime heritage, canals, and industrial past, and often mistakenly searched as "Google" due to similar spelling." ... Poor Goole. Seems you did a good job of giving it a whole blog article of its own! :)
ReplyDeleteGoole's town council should sue Google for attempted identity theft!
Delete