Kiveton Remembered
From Margaret Gibson Email gibsonmeglenathotmail.co.uk (remember to replace at with @):-
"The area is also called Kiveton Woodland. The large mound, the lookout, is the infill to the air hole and boat passing point for the Chesterfield Canal, with the tunnel openings either side at the bottom, though too far down under the water to be seen, though we were picnicking up there one day and a man my parents knew was swimming in there and dived down, much to the alarm of his wife and family, and when he emerged, gasping and spluttering, he told us he had managed to get his fingers on the edge of the tunnel; it was about 30ft deep and we were told not to go through the fence and to the edge when we were kids, and non of us ever fell in! Men and older lads used to swim in there. It was a popular picnic area even in the 1930/40's, even though the tubs from the colliery would be passing overhead to dump the rubbish well away from the 'lake' and 'pit railway line.' We kids would paddle in the Crab which ran alongside, it was a lovely area, and we would play 'Poo Sticks' on the little bridge, though of course, he hadn't been written about then! I think that is now your 'smelliest, muddiest dyke!' How well do you know Kiveton?
It would cost too much to renovate the pit baths, though we had hopes at one time of their being turned into something useful, like a small museum/cafe. Young vandals have had a good try at demolishing it! Kiveton West Colliery used to be down there, and when we were kids we would ride along the old, much reduced, tips, alongside the Crab on our bikes, bumping up and down, it was great fun!
There will be an Ordinary Members Meeting of the History Society on the 13th October in the Colliery Offices, a chance to see them inside, and on the 17th November there is a Public Meeting with speaker with a fee. Meetings start at 6.30pm for 7pm. There is a small charge for tea. Anything you wish to know, just let me know and I will do my best."
More from Margaret:-
"By the way, I can remember the old Kiveton Bridge Station from way back, when it was a nice, friendly, warm place, run by Mr Holmes and his daughter, Edith, with nice fires in the waiting rooms, very welcome on frosty mornings! I can recall leaving my home opposite the Regal Cinema about 8.00am, to get the 8.05am train to Sheffield and dashing all the way to the station, occasionally, it was a dead heat between the train and me, and there is more than once occasion when I've had to run alongside and open the door and jump in as the train was moving! Of course, I was younger then and more agile when I was on my way to school in Sheffield! Also recall the old, rackety lift from the alley-way from the Victoria station down to the Wicker, where I then had to dash to the middle of the road and get my tram to Pitsmoor and school! I was quite adept at jumping on and off a moving tram, too, with satchel flying behind me!"