MIDDLETON ON THE WOLDS HERITAGE

Most folk who come to live in Middleton
Seem to settle down.
I suppose it is a bit different
If they’ve been used to living in town

I’ve lived in Middleton all my life.
And I’ve seen lots of changes take place.
Ill try and tell you what it was like
If I can remember my childhood days.

We had some kind of a shop in every street.
We were well provided for.
With two butchers, two cobblers, a blacksmith
And grocers’ shops, numbering four.
Wo fish and chip shops and a drapers
Two coalmen with horses and carts
Two pubs and the hilltop café
And a garage for all your spare parts

We had road men to sweep up all our streets.
And keep them nice and clean.
And a pond that came right to the road
Which is now part of the village green.

Our water we got from pumps in the street.
Back in days gone by
And never once in many a year
Did I know the pumps to run dry

For it was spring water
And sparkling clear
And when you got a sip of it
‘Twas as good as John Smiths beer
The mains water tap appeared in our streets.
But your buckets you still had to fill.
And it was no joke carrying two heavy buckets.
If you lived at the top of the hill

We had whist drives and danced for half a crown.
They used to be held in the old school.
And concerts with talent by local folk
Who liked to act the fool

Later on, we got the village hall.
My word we thought it grand.
With electric light and flush toilets
There at the flick of your hand

We had two chapels and a church.
I remember long ago.
The two houses next to the village hall
Were one of the chapels you know.
The doctor, vicar and schoolmaster
Highly respected in those far off days
Were all involved in our village life
And helped in so many ways.

Theres such a lot more that I could tell.
I could go on for quite some time.
But I think I’ve told you enough now.
So, this is the end of my rhyme.

Unpublished Local poem
Author & Date Unknown
Received by Green Group 2025