This photograph of the Black Path from Thornley to Wheatley Hill was taken in the autumn of 2005. It was taken from the approximate point that the old path crossed the railway line and followed up to the big wooden gate and the old weigh cabin in the heyday of the pit. The old path continued in a straight line across the railway lines and up to the present camera position. For a different perpective on the same scenery, see these old photographs.
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When the colliery closed and the railway line was taken up, the path was redirected to curve up and come out opposite the Colliery Inn. See this 2005 photograph. The grassed area in the foreground is where the railway line went from left to right to the colliery, which would have once stood off the picture to the right.
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Some readers may remember that the BBC children’s TV programme Blue Peter covered the reclamation of this area in report which aired (I think) in early 1972. Blue Peter presenter Peter Purvis asked the driver of a huge bulldozer contraption what he was doing: ‘Well, waddeya want to knaa, like?’ was the driver’s succinct reply.
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The route of the Gassy Gutter, which went under the path in two big pipes, can still be seen above, where the nearest hedgerow meets the path in the centre of the picture. Next photograph.
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