Comments on: On a Whim to William Gill

By: Colin Gregory

Colin Gregory — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 16:19:30 +0000

I have to say im not a purist when it comes to the shooting tracks. If it helps to keep me dryshod as I wander the moors then fine by me.

By: McEff

McEff — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 08:59:48 +0000

Hiya Graham. That’s a fascinating insight ??? the human side of an otherwise bleak story.
If you want to send the picture to [email protected] I’ll pop it on the bottom of the article with an explanation and credit.
All the best, Alen

By: Graham Vitty

Graham Vitty — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 16:25:45 +0000

Hi there, what a great article. I am very interested in William Gill as my Great Grandfather William Preston was born there and worked in the mine with his father, my Great Great Grandfather Preston who was married to one f William Caygills daughters. Both Williams and family moved down to Whaw between 1861 and 1871 and worked at Great Punchard and some Lead Mining also. You can see tall this on the 1841 census onwards. William Snr married Mary Caygill in 1831 at Gretna Green – nothing is new in theses modern times !!! If you want anymore help on the census let me know.
Finally a picture of William Preston Jnr in his elder days in, I think his back yard of his Whaw cottage.
Sorry it won’t copy in – send me an email address and I will forward it.

By: McEff

McEff — Sat, 30 May 2015 16:46:28 +0000

Hi Mavis. Thanks for that. It’s fascinating stuff. So there was a thriving community at one time and some basic comforts and culture. To walk up there nowadays it’s hard to believe there was once a community, because there’s scarce a stone left standing except at the colliery. One of the old maps I’ve seen refers to “William Gill Houses”, just below the mine, but there is very little to see on the ground. I might have another walk up there soon and another poke about. It’s an interesting place.
Thanks again, Alen

By: Mavis Moore

Mavis Moore — Sat, 30 May 2015 16:22:04 +0000

Hi again Alen,
Have just spent a week in A’dale and gleaned some interesting info re the people who lived up William’s Gill. There was quite a thriving community many of whom were Methodists as round about the mid 1800s they were on the circuit plan, had a preacher every Sunday and classes were held too. Living there, again in mid 1800s, was a certain Hannah Raynor who was a school teacher and who ran a small school thus ‘keeping up standards’ as far as poss for the locals. My informants felt that though life would have been hard for the community there, they would have had access to the same commodities as other settlements lower down the dale and generally would have been no worse off. In those days they would not have been as isolated as the location would make one think.

By: Jo Woolf

Jo Woolf — Mon, 18 May 2015 19:06:10 +0000

Haha, I can see the improvement. Your horse this time is strangely two-dimensional, but I think you have captured his intense but rather worried expression very well. :)

By: McEff

McEff — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:47:19 +0000

Hi Jo. It’s amazing what you can see from space. Apparently, it’s a myth that the Great Wall of China is the only manmade object that can be seen from space. My horse gin is visible too ??? on a good day anyway.
I thought you’d be impressed by my horse. Following your previous comment on my horse attempts I’ve been studying the works of George Stubbs.
Cheers, Alen

By: Jo Woolf

Jo Woolf — Mon, 18 May 2015 14:01:43 +0000

I agree with Zed – I do hope there was happiness in these people’s lives as well as hardship, Alen. Human nature being what it is, I would like to think there was. A great discovery, and especially since you saw it from space! I didn’t know that ‘gin’ was shortened from ‘engine’. Great history – and when I wrenched my eyes from your horse I was alarmed at the massive black hole that had opened up in the ground where the grille had once been. PhotoShop is a pretty much unopened book to me, so well done!

By: mountaincoward

mountaincoward — Sun, 17 May 2015 18:52:09 +0000

I disagree – trees, especially in winter, are far too complicated with all those branches and twigs

By: McEff

McEff — Sun, 17 May 2015 17:30:29 +0000

I used to draw trees all the time. They are easier than horses.

By: mountaincoward

mountaincoward — Sun, 17 May 2015 00:59:53 +0000

I used to draw horses all the time – I’ll have to put out a post sometime with some of them and my horse-paintings too :-)

By: McEff

McEff — Sun, 10 May 2015 13:42:13 +0000

Hi Hanna. Thanks for your comment. Yes, I believe the landscape is fascinating, and people’s comments have thrown up more facts and made it even more fascinating. What is tragic, though, is that there is still a great deal of inequality in the world ??? even in a supposedly modern and forward-thinking country like England. The divisions between rich and poor are growing wider all the time, and things are only going to get worse.
I like Ringo, too. I might incorporate him into more of my walks.
All the best, Alen