There are few visible clues to the history of Ham Lands, it looks as though it has been there forever, so it is something of a surprise to come across this section of rail that was part of the system used to move gravel off the site.
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In the 1950’s Dukes Avenue from the junction with Dysart Avenue to the gravel pits was not a made up road but still used by noisy lorries to and from the gravel pits. It was understood it would be many years before the filled in pits were built on, this was not so as Wates built the houses using a ‘raft’ under the foundations.
ReplyDeleteHi Matthew. I've had a longstanding interest in 'The Pits' and the Ham River Grit operations from my 60-plus years of living in the area, and I have amassed a great deal of historic information, maps and photographs. I do have vague memories of seeing a piece of exposed rail on one of the paths, long after the pits had been filled in, the ground levelled, and the area allowed to grow wild. Over the years I've since looked several times for signs of the railway, but found little except the routes of some of the paths which follow some of the lines. I have seen close-up the item you photographed, and as much as I wish it might be a railway line, alas I'm doubtful that it is, and think it might be a piece of old pipe. Maybe!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Keith M.