Three Old Photographs.

[HIGH PIT WILMA]

My Marra,lived in the end hoose of Doctor Terrace,in the latter years afore they were pulled doon.

First time I went up ti visit him,he said "Wilma,dae yi notice owt aboot that back door?"

"Whaat?" I replied.

"The pitmen must aal hae been a smaal race of men,when these hooses were built,cos luk at thi height of that door.."

A cud see wat he wus gettin' at,the battened "coal-hoose" back door was only aboot 5ft 10inches high!!

Aa had ti bend me head doon ti get in,and aa was aboot that height,but me marra was aboot 6ft 2inches,so he had ti bend head and shoulders ti pass through!

The generations have grown taller through better feeding,methinks,and not so much back-breaking hard work,as wat the pitmen had in them days..[1800's]

Taaking aboot smoky hooses,at Bomarsund,West Terrace,[and East Terrace..],they had FOUR fireplaces,[2 doonstairs,and two upstairs!!]

Adams fireplaces upstairs were smashed up and skipped ti modernise the rooms......Adams's!! [ignorance was bliss in 1970!]