From The Wild Borderland of Richmondshire (1909) by Edmund Bogg     Another interesting 'old habitant' is George Reynoldson, now in his 83rd year, who began work at the age of ten as a miner at "T'awd Gang" mine, wherein he toiled for 63 years. George was summoned to London as a witness in regard to certain Shooting Rights - an action between the Lord of the Manor and the Broderick family, yeomen of Spring End and Summer Lodge. ... To some question put by the judge to Reynoldson, anent shooting, he is said to have answered, "Yer honour, it isn't shutting noo-a-days, its on'y modder (murder)! "When ah wer a lad, gentlemen used to shut ower points (pointer-dogs) - that's wat a' call spoort. Noo-a-days, t'gents hire men to draave birds tit guns, which is nowt at all but modder." ... During his cross-examination he replied, hand to ear, "A's varry deaf - ye mun speak up - ah ave already said all at ah noo t' t'other side, an' ye heeard it all, an' a've nowt else to tell ye." To the writer's question, "And what did you think of London?" he made answer, "Ah reckon nowt at all aboot Lunnon - they're onny pup heeads there; it's a faane place eneaf, bud theer's sadly too mich sparkling abaat. ... There was lots a portraits of kings and queens" which seems to have pleased the old fellow mightily; but "the finest place on earth" to George's thinking is Melbecks Moor and T'owd Gang Mines! Return