Holiday times past

SOME of the holiday activities remembered by Yate's older residents would make modern parents' jaws drop, as David Hardill discovered.

IN the midst of the Easter holiday period, I am reminded of the profound differences between the activities of modern day families and children of yesteryear.

Today, for many children there is more organisation in their lives.

If families are not going on holiday, days are organised around local shopping trips or visits to activity centres or family attractions.

Local oral history confirms that for children of previous generations holiday time and weekends were pretty laissez-faire.

Parents allowed children to roam and explore local farms. The remnants of local mining and quarrying proved too exciting for children to miss.

Before the 1960s, many children could play in local farms. Several farmers were relaxed about children entering the farmyard and were trusted to avoid dangerous machinery or animals.

As John Dyer of Old Sodbury (1935-2020) recalled: “You did go up to the local farm.

"Farmer Batten did let us ride on the back of the shire horse, the hay cart and generally we did have the run of the farm.”

Playing in local fields was de rigueur for most children. Some were particularly inventive as a result.

Tom Lewis recalls making bows and arrows from willow twigs, hazel sticks for catapults and hay bales for dens.

Making river dams was also a welcome challenge. Tom recalled procuring stones and clay for damming up the Frome.

The industrial landscape around Yate afforded endless fun for children. Before the mid-1960s, pools from mineral workings littered the area between the modern shopping centre and Stanshawes Court.

Children learnt to swim in these, while their fathers used them for angling.

The remnants of coal mining to the west of Yate was an especially rich source of fun.

Bob Williams and Stuart Ovens recalled the old Frog Lane Colliery spoil tip. Children slid down the steep embankment on shovels, or rode on motorbikes around the tip when they were teenagers.

Access to industrial remains

Diary dates

country, c1900.

Until May 13: The Office - exhibition on the history of office life and equipment in and around Yate in the 20th century.

April 3, 10am or 1pm: Easter craft workshops. Booking essential April 12, 10am or 1pm: Chinese culture workshops. Booking essential.

April 22, 10.30am-4.30pm: St George celebrations. All-day entertainment, activities and stalls with a traditional English and Medieval history theme. Free event.

April 25, 7.30pm: Yate Lecture Series – Presentation on Sir Watkin Morgan, a colourful 17th century Gloucestershire gentleman, by Malcolm Watkyns.

Call 01454 862200 or email infoyateheritage.co.uk for more information.

was unlimited. Stuart recalled making swings in trees to sail over the mineral railway line when trains went past. Failing that, throwing old tiles down mine shafts, to gauge the depth, offered alternative entertainment for the fun seeker.