This new blog is being developed for the book " A Kid from the Concrete Cottage".
published by Amazon Books.
Concrete Cottages
KnollBeck Lane Brampton Bierlow, Wombwell South Yorkshire
This Blog will be updated with lots of information over the coming weeks .
This book is published by Amazon Books - The book is the story of Henry `Harry ` Ellis, born in number 84 Concrete Cottages in 1936. This is his personal story of growing up in such hard times through WW2. The local kids had a motto "Don't get Mad get Even " which the reader will understand its meaning as one reads the mischief that kids entertained themselves with, no need for modern TV and computer games. There are many photos of what life was like during WW2 and its impact on every UK citizen.
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Above print was created by a retired miner and friend of my brother James many years ago.
Concrete Cottages, Knoll beck Lane , Brampton Bierlow, Near Wombwell.
One may smile at the thought of cottages with thatched roofs, roses growing up the walls, pretty flowered gardens. not so with Concrete,
Concrete Cottages were a grim depressing looking place, It was like something from the Dickensian era, the homes were two up two down with a basement, no heating, outside toilets complete with squares of the Daily Herald hanging on a nail in the door, the paper was always damp which often left the latest news and racing results on ones rear.
The house roofs were flat, the exterior walls were of dark grey concrete, probably coloured by the constant smoke from Cortonwood Colliery.
The Cottages were situated on a hill which overlooked both the village of Brampton and Cortonwood Colliery from either side.
The Cottages were built by the mining company in 1850 to house the miners and their families, my family lived there from about 1860 until 1940. moving just ten minutes away to Rother Street to a slightly more modern home. Concrete was demolished in the 1950s.
It was only after doing lots of research for this book that I discovered that `Concrete Cottages was not the real name of the area, I discovered that I was actually born at 84 Knollbeck Lane. some birth certificates also refer to ` Concrete Cottages` my mothers being one of them, and more amusing is the fact that the GPO ( post office ) delivered mail to Concrete addresses.
1940s - Concrete Cottages WW2 - windows taped to avoid bomb damage.
The Myths - Legends and Facts of Concrete Cottages
WW2 - 1940
It is said that during WW2 Herman Goring pleaded with Hitler to bomb Concrete whilst they were bombing nearby Sheffield, Hitler refused, stating that Ariel photos showed that someone had already bombed Concrete before them. so no one would have believed Germany had bombed it.
Burglars
To my knowledge there are no known historic cases of burglaries in the old Concrete Cottages.
There were reports of burglars dropping food parcels and other goods at night on the doorsteps of various deserving cottages.
Palestine
There was another rumour that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat had attempted to buy a row of Concrete Cottages to use as luxury holiday homes for his family members. It was argued that this claim is untrue as Yasser Arafat died 11th -November -2004, and Concrete was demolished in 1955, the truth is, Mr Arafat liked the ambience and grandeur of the demolished houses,
The Romans
It has also been rumoured that the Romans built Concrete as a fort with barracks for it legions of troops in preparation for
The long march to Hadrian's Wall in AD122.
Sanctuary City
One of the less believably claims is, Concrete was thought to be the remains of an old monastery and Sanctury for people in the 18th century escaping at night from Rotherham - Mexborough and Wath, as the escapee's headed for the safety of the welcoming folk of Barnsley.
Dick Turpin
It has also been said that Concrete was the hideout for the notorious highway man, robber and murderer,
Dick Turpin, He is said to have misread his sat nav on his horse Black Bess as he made his famous ride to the beautiful city of York, where he was caught and hanged on the 7th April 1739.
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"Its discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty, and how few by deceit" ~ Noel Coward
Martial Arts Books by Abdul Rashid - Henry Ellis - Derek Eastman
Click on Image to Enlarge
The books authors respectfully acknowledge the many `genuine` Budoka involved in the UK origins of Aikido and other inclusive Martial Arts.
L to R: `British Aikido Board Controversy` - `Kenshiro Abbe Bio` - The Founding of JuJutsu - Judo - Aikido in the UK` - `Positive Aikido` - ` My Interviews with Henry Ellis ` - `British Aikido History`The six books above are all factually honest books, documenting and protecting the legacy of UK Traditional Martial Arts from its UK origins. All the books are available on. Link> "
Amazon Books ".
