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Reminiscences By
Ken Barrett |
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Monument
Keeper 1992 - Present |
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( For
keepers and dates since 1850, please click here |
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| "I
wondered what possessed me to take on an unpaid job as caretaker to the
Sir John Barrow Monument which is on top of Hoad Hill – 430 ft above sea
level! When I saw the last
keeper’s name on the plaque – John Tyson from 1898.
I thought that will do for me, he has had a good long life. |
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| I
took the task on in 1992 after it had been closed for 3 years for repairs. It was my family who pushed me into it. Also we live right at the bottom of the hill, it is the first
thing we see when opening the curtains every morning. It is so rewarding being up there, the fresh air and the
lovely views of Morecambe Bay, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. |
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| When it first opened in January 1851, it was open 6 days a week, closed on Sundays. How times have changed, we now open Sundays and Bank Holidays only, 2pm – 5pm. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In
the 12 years I have been doing this job I have met some very interesting people,
from as far as U.S.A, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
The list is endless. |
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| One
local young lad asked me to open one evening and to meet him up there at 7.30pm.
I asked him “How many would be in the party?”
He replied “Just me and my girlfriend”.
After about 2 hours they came down; he had proposed to her which she had
accepted; I never asked any more questions.
When school parties have booked me to open it is quite a daunting task to
let 6 up at a time (that is all that is allowed) when there are 80 – 100
school children all wanting to go up at once! |
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| It
surprises me how many people do not make it to the top.
They all set off quite eager, but soon re-appear after a few minutes.
I suppose the 112 steps and the fact it is an open spiral staircase must
have something to do with it. |
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| Quite
the opposite happened in the Year 2000 on the 150th anniversary of the monument
being built. We had people abseiling
down the outside from the top windows. One
chap was dressed as Sir John Barrow; he stood on the dome outside at the top of
the monument for a couple of hours while the celebrations took place!
It is a day I will never forget. |
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| One
of the unseen jobs I carry out is keeping the monument tidy, quite a task
sweeping the 112 steps down with a hand brush, I am glad I live in a bungalow.
Hopefully when it re-opens I will be on the door, making cups of tea and
selling souvenirs for the visitors. |
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| So after 6 decades of being on this earth, I wonder how many more years I will have, so I can walk up to this wonderful icon of Ulverston. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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