Cross Keys Black Bull

A Memory of Wombwell.

Can anyone tell me when the Black Bull and the Cross Keys got pulled down to make way for the Roundabout and junctions of Kendry, Ardsley, Wombwell and Lundwood. It was at the Cross Keys where my wife and I, had our reception, where we'd also spend a few hours within the Black Bull. Just a few yards from there was Wombwell Lane, of which we were living within a guest house. It was whilst living there within the attic, on a Sunday early afternoon, we were somewhat disturbed by a huge whistling sound which sounded like a jet plane going by at low altitude. What followed was maybe four loud supersonic bangs. There was some debris of what sounded like clinking metals hitting, and then sliding down the slate roof. Believing that it was a jet plane that had crashed somewhere at the back of the house, we were quick to get dressed and dash down the stairs, where we saw our landlord somewhat startled by the sound. It was then that I had told him of my belief that a Jet plane had crashed and I asked him if he was going to go with me to investigate? "Not a chance" he said, and began to shake with fright. On us getting out of the back door we were to hear a further two more explosions, but the blasts were at the front of the terrace house. It was then, that my wife and I ran to the front, and when we got there we saw smoke billowing high into the sky. It was then that I realised, that it was not a jet plane that had crashed. It was a railway shed or hut, which had either been set alight deliberately, or it was due to sunlight which had caused gas bottles to overheat and explode, where upon the first of those exploding gas bottles was to shoot over the top of attic making a sound like a jet engine. Houses both nearby and as much as four hundred yards beyond the railway line, on the brow of the hill going towards Ardsley House, had their windows completely blown out where glass had showered the pavements on both sides of the road. By now the Fire Brigade were there dousing out the shed. There was no telling if there were any more gas bottles that had not yet exploded; but these Firemen were dousing out the fire less than five yards from the shed. There are heroes and there are heroes, and there are idiots who stop at nothing in the saving of lives and property!

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