Fwd: EPISODE 56 (NOW EPISODE 73) BUNMAHON IRELAND TO EYWOOD ESTATE HEREFORDSHIRE EYWOOD ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL SEPT. 4, 1960 TO SEPT. 7, 1960

Note to READERS:  EPISODE 56 IS REALLY  THE CULMINATION OF THE IRISH SO SOME OF YOU

MIGHT LIKFE THIS WRAP UP OF THE JOURNAL … EPISODE 56 THEN BECOMES EPISODE 73 IF  YOU

EPISODE 56    BUNMAHON, IRELAND TO EYWOOD  ESTATE HEREFORDSHIRE  … ALAN SKEOCH’S JOURNAL SEPT. 4 TO SEPT. 7, 1960

alan skeoch

May  2020

THE IRISH JOB COMES FIRST:

IRELAND IN SEPTEMBER 1960…KNOCKMAHON MINE.  COULD IT BE REOPENED?   

RUINS OF THE MINE REMAIN TO THIS  DAY (2020) AS TOURIST DESTINATION  .  IN 1960 THAT WAS NOT THE CASE…IT WAS

A RUIN.

DR. JOHN STAM AND JOHN HOGAN…ON WAY TO MINE SITE

IRELAND  WAS CHARMING IN 1960…MUCH AS PICTURED IN THE FILM THE QUIET MAN.

What is that expression about ebb tide?  Shakespeare’s  Julius Caeser where  Brutus  says….

There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.

I know this  may sound silly but I have often thought of those words

when faced with an opportunity.  Either I grab the opportunity or I let 

it slip away.    In the summer of 1960 I had been trusted  to operate 

a Turam electromagnetic survey on an ancient mine site on the south

coast of Ireland.  A  place called  Bunmahon where copper had been 

mined in the19th century and there was just a chance the old mine could

be brought back to life. 

 I was  in the right place at the right time.

The previous summer four of us…called  ‘instrument men’ …who operated

a Turam job in south west Alaska near the Aleutian Chain.   One man,  Bill Morrson,

 knew how to set up

the generator, base line,  read the console, etc.  I was  assigned to be his helper.  Bill taught me all the

ins  and  outs of prospecting with the Turam.  The other two fellows,

Don Van Every and  Ian Rutherford also were instructed. That was

1959.  

[

POLICE KEPT WATCH  ON OUR WORK

The following year much to my surprise i was the only person still around who had

operated the machine.   The other three guys had gone God knows where.

I was on the ebb tide…riding high.  Entrusted  by Dr. Norman Paterson to

sleuth out the old  mine in Knockmahon,  County Waterford, Eire.  Dr. John

Stam,  a professional geophysicist would interpret the Turam Readings. 

John Hogan wold do the geology.  It

was  up to me to get the magnetic data…to make sure the Turam worked.

Ireland in 1960 was exactly as tourist  photos described.

Local newspaper arrived occasionally … as did police …even the village priest…all kept close eye on us.

“ALAN,  DO YOUR REALLY NEED ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES?”  Question raised by Canadian office.

MY BOSS IN CANADA, DR. NORMAN PATERSON WONDERED WHY SO  MANY MEN WERE HIRED.  THERE WERE GOOD

REASONS.  THIS IS  PAYDAY … PAID MEN WEEKLY AND GAVE BONUS OF CIGARETTES AND CHOCOLATE BARS.   YES,

I WAS CRITICISED FOR THIS LARGESSE.

MUCH MONEY WAS  SPENT IN KIRWIN’S PUB.  MOST OF  THESE MEN WERE EMPLOYED BY US.  TERRIBLE NEED

FOR JOBS.

I RENTED THIS OLD TRUCK A COUPLE OF TIMES.  NEEDED CRANK.  FLOORBOARDS HAD GAPS.

THIS IS THE TURAM…E.M. UNIT AT WORK IN AN IRISH WHEAT FIELD.

IF WE HIT HIGH READINGS  WE OCCASIONALLY HAD MEN DIG PITS DOWN TO BED ROCK.

LOTS OF MYSTERY AS A REJULT OF SOME OF THESE EXCAVATIONS SUCH AS  THE 

DEAD COW CAPER …LED TO DISCOVERY OF OLD MINE ADIT FROM 1850’S.

June, July and August…I did  my job.  Tried not to let anyone  down.

This  was  a big responsibility which  I took very seriously.  There was a

social side of the job as well like A pint   of

Gjuinnes  each night with Dr. Stam and John Hogan in Kirwin’s [ub

helped  all of us relax.  We hired the whole village. I will explain 

that in future episodes.  Perchance a  few readers of these episodes

saw the John Wayne, Maureen Ohara,  Barrie Fitzgerald  movie titled

‘The Quiet Man”…an  imaginary story about Ireland that was  damn

near true.  Surprised.  Joyful. 

When the job ended.  The Ebb tide came once more  I made a fast

decision without prompting.  After crating up the mining equipment

and  shipping it ask to Canada.  I set sail  on the EBB tide for

England.  This was my chance to see if EYWOOD  REALLY EXISTED.

Truth be told I had no idea where I was going.  Eywood was in Herefordshire

England.  First I had to get there.  If I failed I would  still fly home.  Just a few

days later than Dr. Paterson expected.  My job was over anyway.  Fast 

decision to catch that Ebb Tide to Eywood.

Perhaps my journal entries are the best way to describe this

adventure.  Remember I was going almost blind but not totally.

I had a name…Cyril Griffiths whose mother Polly had been in

constant letter writing contact with my grandmother from 1905 until

her death in 1954.  And I had  a name…Lower Wooten Farm somewhere

in Herefordshire, perhaps close to Eywood.  Eywood itself was

a blank.   The Estate, to my knowledge, had been put up for auction

and then demolished.  

 Why go there at all?  There was a sense of

mystery about the estate and just a chance that the estate gardens…

where Granddad was head gardener for a decade…just a chance 

that huge brick walled garden was intact.

JOURNAL

Sunday September 4, 1960

Bunmahon,

County Waterford,

Southern Ireland

Packing up the job.   Has been an exciting time.  Mr. and Mrs. Daye presented  me with two

figurines.  Mrs. Kennedy,  the village leader, gave me a fine tablecloth.  Tommy gave Me a nice

bottle of Guiness Stout.   

CRATED EQIPMENT … BIG RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME…FLATTERED TO BE TRUSTED.

In the afternoon I hired Barney Dwan to help crate up our equipment.  Very sad to leave.

Barney has been my right hand man.  Later Dr. John Stam and I drove to Tramore for a

fast game of mini golf and a meal of fish and chips topped off with a bottle of Bass Ale.

I am going to miss all in the village.  Managed to hire quite a few of them so became a

major employer paying them one pound  a day plus free packs of Wild Woodbine cigarettes

and chocolate bars.   Back in Canada, Dr. Norman Paterson wondered why I needed so many

employees. 

THE SOUTH COAST OF IRELAND IS DOTTED WITH HISTORIC RUINS

HERE ARE THREE OF THE BOYS TAKING A REST.  THE CATTLE HAD TO BE PREVENTED FROM EATING OUR GROUNDED

CABLE…BUT COULD NOT BE STOPPED.  LITTLE BALLS OF COPPER WIRE WERE VOMITTED…OR PASSED.  

THIS YOUNG BOY WAS HIRED TO GUARD OUR GROUNDING RODS AND GENERATOR FROM

CATTLE AND SEMI WILD PIGS.   HE TOOK THE JOB VERY SERIOUSLY. CAMPED THERE.

 “Cost of labour here is so cheap…. ten men amounts to less than cost of 

one man in Canada.   And I need ten men to protect our base line for the cattle keep eating

chunks of the cable then regurgitating balls of yellow sheathed copper wire.  Try to stop

this from happening.   Also need a man to lift me over the stone and brier fences.  Sounds

stupid, I know but these fences are a nightmare.  Danger that a bull would charge and I cannot

get away with console, battery pack, copper coil, record book, etc.  Need another two men

to protect our grounding points and tend the motor generator.  Then need two linecutting

crews…etc. etc.  Want more Dr. Patterson”  

 Barney Dwan told me a story about a nun crossing

an open field.  All they found of her were her shoes with her feet in them.  Semi wild hogs

got her.   Not sure I believe this  story.”

I will miss all these men.  Just  getting to know all their names and meeting

their families and now we are packing up the gear.   I will also miss Kirwin’s pub in the

evenings.  Quite a  social hub.  It does not take long to develop at taste for Guiness.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 1960

We finished  crating all  the equipment  and made arrangements with Frank Kirwin to 

transport the crates to Waterford. Seemed  like all was ready.  Not so.  I could

not find my return tickets home…flight.  Panic.  Mrs. Kennedy helped…no luck

so she called a great group of the villagers to her home.  Why?  Seemed  strange

to me as well.  “Master Skeoch has lost his tickets home.  He needs our help.”

There were about  a dozen people gathered in the sitting room. Some got down 

on their knees and prayed.  Others held hands in a circle.  Then Mrs. Kennedy did

the strangest thing. She reached in the pile of records, papers, graphs,

waste paper and pulled out my tickets…one reach only.  I know this sounds far

fetched  but it was real.  After that I took a family photo of the Kennedys.   Bridey, my

maid (yes, I had a maid) presented  me with an Irish handkerchief.  You remember

Bridey…she was the person who yanked the covers off me while inked and

announced “Time for Mass, Master Skeoch” and made certain I attended even if

I was a Presbyterian.  Because of her we did not work on Sundays as we did

on bush jobs in Canada.

THIS IS THE KENNEDY FAMILY.  MRS. KENNEDY RAN THE VILLAGE REALLY.  SHE HAD THE ONLY STORE IN TOWN.  HER SON

GERALD WAS  HANDICAPPED AS  YOU MIGHT NOTICE.  HE FOLLOWED ME AROUND AND WAS A JOY.  THEIR LABRADOR DOG

WAS TRAINED TO KEEP GERALD FROM WANDERING INTO THE SEA.  MR. KENNEDY WAS A  FARMER.

The boys all  came to see me off.  Very sad farewell, This  has been a big

adventure for everyone including me.  Would it mean the rebirth of the village?

That would remain to be seen.  (It did  not happen)

Tommy, Frank and  I drove to Waterford in the old truck.   Met John Stam

and John Hogan.  Picked up newspaper that had featured our crew and

the attempt to reopen the old  Knockmahon mine.  Then I  caught the

train to Dublin and road in the first class compartment…like John Wayne

did in the The Quiet Man movie. Seemed I had been reliving that movie.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1960

Woke early and  enjoyed the full tourist breakfast…several eggs, sausages, rasher of bacon,

fried tomato, marmalade and triangles of toast…then coffee.   Viisited Arbuckle, Smith

and Company to finalize arrangements  with KLM airline for my flight home.

Then went shopping in the rain.  Portable clock,27 shillings, sixpence;

Sweater for Marjorie, 3 pounds, 10 shillings; three fake shillalahs , 40 shillings;

2 pints of  Guiness, 2 shillings;  gifts for Kevin Behan and family, 10  shillings.

Rented a slide projector and showed slides of Bunmahon job to the Behan

family who had hosted me so well in Dublin.  Kevin became name of our first son

in distant future … named after Kevin Behan.

  Back to hotel late…deep sleep…too deep as it happened.

WEDNESDAY , SEPTEMBER 7, 1960

Late awakening.  Alarm clock did not work.  Had a hell of a rush to make the

ferry boat to England.  Miss that boat and  all my plans to visit Eywood Estate

would  be ruined.  “Can you get me to the docks fast?”, I asked the taxi and

we speeded through the streets of Dublin.  Made it by skin of my teeth.

Boat trip was  uneventful but nice.

Where was I going?  I really did  not know.  Caught a train out to Herefored which

seemed a good place to start since Eywood was in Herefordshire.  What to do

in Hereford? I looked  up the name of Cyril Griffiths in the telephone book.  Felt

lost really.  The train platform emptied.  I was almost alone.  Almost.

“Can I help you son?”, asked a well dressed older man.  

STRANGE EVENT HAPPENED:  “Yes, you can help maybe.  I am looking for

Cyril Griffiths who lives  at Lower Wooten Farm somewhere in Herefordshire.”

Just saying that made me realize this venture was really stupid. 

“I know Cyril

Griffiths and know Lower Wooten Farm,  perhaps  I can give you a  lift there…near

the village of Almely…some distance from here.  I am the local bank  manager

for Cyril.”

CYRIL AND NANCY GRIFFITHS.  NEAR RELATIVES.  THEY OPERATED OATCROFT FARM ON THE EYWOOD ESTATE UNTIL THE

ESTATE  WAS BROKEN UP.  THEN THEY OPERATED  LOWER WOOTEN FARM PICTURED BELOW.  WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

What a surprise.  The whole Grifiths family were expecting me.  Mom had sent them

a letter that maybe I would arrive in early September.  Shy greetings.  Cyril and

Nancy Griffiths, aunt Polly, and their son David who was about 14 years old.

HERE THE WHOLE GRIFFITHS FAMILY IS OUT FOR A FORMAL PICTURE.  OUR PATHS  WOULD CROSS MANY TIMES

FROM 1960 TO THE PRESENT.

THIS PICTURE IS BACKWARDS  BUT GIVES GOOD VIEW OF LOWER WOOTEN FARM.  PICTURE WAS TAKEN ON A SUBSEQUENT

VISIT.  MARJORIE IN DOORWAY.  ON THAT TRIP WE CAUGHT A HEDGEHOG ONE EVENING…IT CURLED UP LIKE A BOWLING BALL

SO WE BOWLED WITH IT A FEW TIMES THEN IT TRUNDLED AWAY TO THE FENCEROW.

Lower Wooten Farm was  a storybook farm.  Built in the 16th century and designated an 

historic building that could not be  changed.   The Farm was wonderful.  A bed was ready.

The floors were uneven.  The ceiling was held up by oak  beams.  The roof was ancient

slate.  (SEE PICTURE)

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 1960

Beautiful day in a wonderful  setting. Young  David took me around the farm where we

helped Cyril debeak turkeys so they would not cannibalize each other I assumed.

Then Cyril drove us into Eardislely, a quaint black  and white 16 th century village.

In the afternoon we  drove to a farm auction near Leominster.

VISIT TO EYWOOD …

EYWOOD AS IT REMAINS TO THIS  DAY…A RUIN.

“Alan, I expect you will want to see Eywood.  Not much to see anymore.  The great

house has been demolished…just a few brick walls  and the stone entranceway remain.

but your grandfathers place is intact…the gardens were bought by Henry Mills.

I know him well.  He will be glad to see you.”

END  PART THREE

PART FOUR 

EPISODE 57:  COMING  NEXT:     EYWOOD … WHAT REMAINS OF A GREAT ESTATE