Walking Miles to School

Morecambe Ex Pat · 14-10-2008, 15:17

I was having one of those 'we had it tough, when we were young' conversations the other day and the subject of walking to school came up. Early 70's, I used to walk from Laburnum Drive in Ossy to Spring Hill School in Accy, either over Fern Gore or via Hawthorn Avenue. Never did work out which was the quickest. It seemed a long way but I never really knew how far it was. Could someone give me a fairly accurate guesstimate - it would help settle a bet.

Also, what was the original use for the tower, next to the old playground, in Rhyddings park? Would be something to do with Rhyddings Hall but what was it's purpose

Ahh! Rhyddings Park - the happy memories come flooding back.

Less · 14-10-2008, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morecambe Ex Pat

Could someone give me a fairly accurate guesstimate - it would help settle a bet.

A very short distance for long legs really, but, for short legged school kids especially when they are looking back over many, many, years, Oh, I'm sure it went on forever!

K.S.H · 14-10-2008, 15:25

0.8 mile going Hawthorne Av way.
Prob only 0.4 or 0.5 going over the field and along Richmond Rd

Google Map

K.S.H · 14-10-2008, 15:33

I used to do 1 mile when I needed the bus fare for other things

Seemed to take for ever and all up hill, could make some good speed up running home though - all down hill

Studio25 · 14-10-2008, 15:44

It's 4 miles to get my nine-year-old to school in the morning, with no direct bus route, so I take him in the car. School lane is always jammed with cars, though, so I park two streets away and walk the rest. There's someone two doors away from the house where I park who drives in from there!

garinda · 14-10-2008, 15:50

The 'tower' in Rhyddings park was actually built as a folly, when the old house was built.

I think there's a thread about it.

I'll have a search.

garinda · 14-10-2008, 15:53

There's a thread here which has some interesting facts re: Rhyddings park.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...tory-5521.html

garinda · 14-10-2008, 16:20

Yesterday I had to be at the doctor's at 8.50 a.m.

It's next door to St. Paul's School on Union Road.

It was absolute chaos, with cars double parked, and parked on the pavement.

All dropping their little dears off at school.

In all my time at Moor End Junior School, walking all the way up Stanhill Lane, were we ever driven. It kept us fit and healthy, and also gave us plenty of adventures, and quality time with our mum, when we were younger.

shillelagh · 14-10-2008, 16:29

I always walked to school when i was at primary school but once i hit the high school had to catch the bus seeing as it was in hassy and then broadway.......

Morecambe Ex Pat · 14-10-2008, 17:29

I am sure they must have moved the school or Ossy since then, it did seem a lot further.

We couldn't get across the clough as we would have had to run the risk of being caught by Mr. Vandome who guarded his precious playing field like a rottweiller. We saw no harm in playing football on a football pitch but the school had other ideas.

K.S.H · 14-10-2008, 17:34

Must admit that it surprised me when I found out my trek was only one mile

So who won the bet?

katex · 14-10-2008, 18:38

Of course, all those years ago (talking personally of course

) you had no option but to walk to school. I walked to Peel Park (only ballpark 400 yards) on my own from being 4 1/2 years (brother escorted me on first day).

Then in secondary, had to walk the mile from Penny House Lane to the Accy High School, now Moorhead (prox. 1 mile) .. Can't tell you how many games I got up to counting trees, jumping on flag stones, rehearsing times tables, etc., to alleviate the boredom .. seemed to go on forever.

The return journey was quite different, as used to come back with my school chums weaving in and out of the area to get home; even going to town first and walking up Burnley Road. Twice the distance, but having companions appeared to shorten the journey somehow.

cashman · 14-10-2008, 18:49

many times i walked from dowry street accy to accy tech up union rd, the bus fare going on woodbines.

Doug · 14-10-2008, 19:01

Always had to walk, it was easy when we lived at Church, just popped out of one door and in the other, about 30 yards in all. That all changed when we moved up Fern Gore, That bloody hill up to Green Haworth was a pain for a kid with little legs, it got worse when I went to Rhyddings, Miller fold to Rhyddings twice a day played havoc with the legs, at least we got long pants.

Royboy39 · 14-10-2008, 20:48

Park Farm over Church Kirk Bridge to Rhyddings was a fair trek....Choice of canal tow path or down Church Kirk Lane....got a bike when I was thirteen....luxury.
Got done five day's later...5 bob for giving my mate a lift home by the ugliest policeman I think I ever met....or I still think he was.