The old winding room rusting and high
Broken girders reached the sky
To climb as one would dare to go
To view the ruins, such an eyesore

Next leapfrog over an iron post
He should have known better I suppose
Hitting his bottom he gave out a yell
Made his eyes water, his nose as well

Then on to a tunnel low and dark
They had no torch, not even a spark
Forgetting essentials for the game
A candle in a jam-jar to give a flame

Uncovered shafts, who would dare
To climb on top for bird's eggs there
It was reached and boys would say
A slip, a fall to be seen never again

This was'n't a place boys only would play
The girls would join them any day
We had no fear we had no care
I can write all this as I was there

A playground great for daring adventure
A discarded pit head, few houses, PENPWLLA

Cookery Day

During the 1930’s pupils from Fochriw school had to walk to Pontlottyn school for cookery lessons.

Cookery day was Thursday
If it rained we didn’t smile
We had to walk to Ponty school
Which was about a mile

On Wednesday three pen’orth of cuttings
From Matthew’s butchers shop
To make delicious stew or pies
Which often were a flop

I remember clearly
Making Spotted Dick
But I couldn’t cut it
It turned out like a brick