Hoyland Town.

A Memory of Hoyland.

I am going back in history ,now, but reading the various comments brings back many fond memories. I was born in the top house on Milton Road and the view from our front window was identical to the first published, with the exception of the top part of the road, which started with Guest's Butchers, followed by Higgs Fish shop (in my time ,known as 'Chippy' Chambers) followed by the Tobacconist/ sweet shop (better known as spice).
Next to Storey and Cooper was the Church known as John Knowles Memorial Church, the front wall of this was the Bus Stop used by the Elsecar and Jump Circulars, and the Rotherham buses, all from Barnsley. Directly opposite was the Dole Office at the top of George Street, and slightly down was the Fire Station ,beside the Town Hall, which was surmounted by 'Martha', the magnificent four sided clock, donated to the populace by the aforesaid John Knowles , and named affectionately after his wife. He donated the clock, she built the Church opposite in his name. Alas, this is now gone, replaced by a supermarket. As for the whereabouts of the magnificent 'Martha', which, on demolition, was promised to be kept and rebuilt, this is still a mystery,which was often raised by people of my mother's age, up to the turn of the century.
I well remember my schooldays, first at the 'Sunshine School' on West Street, later at Market Street, followed by time at Ecclesfield Grammar, and of walkis firstly down Milton Hill past the air raid shelter, the Furnace Inn , the THREE Milton Ponds (two on the right, one on the left which was later filled in., then down either to Spring Woods, or left down the back way to Elsecar Park.
Many Happy Hours were spent in my youth in Hoyland. Unfortunately, when I have chance to go back,infrequently, many of the places of my youth have been altered or demolished. not leat the Hoyland Cinema House, where I learned to fire my six-shooter alongside Roy Rogers, or fly like Superman, And even where I stole my first kiss, in double seats!