Usksider's Photo Blog

Did I ever mention that there used to be a thriving paper industry in this neck of the woods at Whitebrook?

You may recall I posted some images of and around Whitebrook back before Christmas... an idyllic little valley village with a babbling brook running through it. It wasn't always like that though... at one time there were five... yes five... paper mills in Whitebrook. And we're not talking about small garden sheds here... oh no...

This chimney is all that's left of one of the mills now, but just look at the size of it? A chimney this big obviously supported a damn large mill...

So anyway... I was wondering if anyone would be interested in seeing some images of the remains of this industry? If so I'll post a few with a potted history for your delight and delectation...

Open the box!

Good old Michael Miles; I wonder how many of us still remember him and the original quiz show Take Your Pick?

Perhaps more familiar to some would be the wonderful Month Python piss-take, featuring the inimitable Mrs Scum?

So anyway, there I was looking around this very old church and tucked away in one corner was this box...

Isn't it wonderful? If only it could talk, I thought, what stories it would tell.

I examined the timbers, the locks and the hinges. Nowhere could I find anything to indicate an exact date for manufacture. Oh but it was so beautiful to touch...

A small sign on top of the chest said, "Do Not Open."

A red rag to a bull in this china-shop...

I needed to peek inside... and there was no-one about... so I peeked...

I opened the lid and I peeked... and inside, what did I find?

It wasn't a pile of old bones or dusty books or ancient parchments...

No holy relics of a bygone age...

Just a couple of very rusty...

...clappers from a pair of old bells!

So much for being inquisitive, eh?

Baa Maa... why won't Junior get up and play?

...when you need sleep the most, it always damn well evades you...

Sick to death of being awake through the night and spending the day yawning and nodding...