From Bolus Lane, Outwood to Amblers Mill, East Ardsley, approx 3 and a half miles.
In the 1930's one source of employment for girls in Outwood was Thomas Amblers Mill in East Ardsley.
Quite a few Outwood Girls worked there. Some from the bottom of Bolus Lane, Newton Lane area worked there, one was called Hilda Myford.
To get to the mill, Hilda and a few friends, walked up Bolus Lane, passing Bourne Methodist Chapel, Hallas's Pig Farm and Tinner Holroyds on the left (repaired anything metal) and at the very top on the right was Wakefield Borough Cooperative shop, now Tesco’s.
They then crossed Leeds Road on to Ledger Lane at the Queens Pub, now the St. Ledger.
Proceeding along Ledger Lane, passing the Avenue, Gilchrist’s Sweet Shop, Swains Newsagents, Charllie Moss’s Green Groceries.
Then Outwood Primary School, and the Boys and Girls Schools on their right, then on towards Outwood Working Men' Club.
Here girls who lived in the first original bit of Outwood Park tagged along, two being the Ogden Sisters.
Onward to the Post.Office and the Grange, where the owners of Lofthouse. Colliery, the Cordens lived .
The girls then crossed at the Four Lane Ends and on to Lingwell Gate Lane, passing the Pit Offices, Johnson's Poultry Farm, Sadler's Butchers and slaughter house. Every butcher in those days had their own slaughter house, which was adjacent to The Railway Hotel.
Then proceeded over the Lofthouse Railway Bridge, and Lofthouse Railway Station, noted for winning prizes for the best kept Railway Station Garden.
The station was on the main Leeds to. London line, but also had a branch line going to Stanley and. Castleford. In the summer time day excursions and evening trips went from the branch line to the East Coast.
Destinations Scarborough and Bridlington. Fare, two shilling and six pence in old money. 12 and a half pence in todays money, many times the evening trips did not arrive back until midnight.
Having gone over the Railway Bridge the girls turned left up the unmade Grandstand. Road where the three Arundel sisters Nellie, May and Violet joined them.
The road was also known locally as the Wagon Road because a railway line used to run up the left hand side. All the houses on the left hand side of the road were built over where the line once was. On the right were the Arundels rhubarb sheds.
The girls still going on their way passing Sudbury's small mansion, the Spring Hills on the left, Long Lands on the right.
The girls then passed Macauleys rhubarb sheds and the Outwood Church Mission on the left, before crossing Lawns Lane.
Then on to a path called The Ramper, passing the top side of Elm Villa Farm. This path came out on the former Bradford. Road.
The girls, now in small groups, walked up Bradford Road up “ Sunny Side”, Then past the. Bay Horse Pub and the Ardsley Boys School, where Ernie. Wise of Morecombe and Wise fame attended.
Then passing Ardsley Church before finally reaching. Amblers Mill to start a days work.
The journey was approx three and a half miles.
That was quite a trek in all weathers, summer. winter, hail , rain, snow or blow.
Then at the end of the day they had to make the journey all the way back home.
Des Ashton.
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My Mam Nellie Arundel married George Hooley from Sharlston. Violet Arundel married John Trundley from Wakefield and later Eddie Colley from Outwood. May Arundel married Gordon Horner from Thorpe. all of the above are now deceased.
Mike Hooley.
