This Goblins Pit thing seems to be unstoppable. The irrepressible Kate from Lichfield Lore has been on the case this afternoon. First of all, she points out that Goblins Wood is marked on the Yates Map of 1798. Thus I think the Gobbins Pit thing can be nailed as a transcription error. I never thought to look at Yates, Kate proving to me the value of checking your own resources before looking for new ones. Consider me suitably cardiganned…
Clearly significant before Bullings Heath or Walsall Wood. Download the whole of this remarkable map from my 'Unfolding the map' post.
Kate also found a reference to Goblins Pit Historic Environment Record at the Heritage Gateway, which seems to be largely derived from the sources already cited here, including the above Yates map and Brian Rollins work.
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler – stirling Panoramian (whose comments I occasionally get round to answering there – sorry Peter!) has also pointed out in the comments to ‘Goblin it up…’ that a railway nearly came through Goblins Pit, or at least, within the vicinity.
Found in a number of Newspapers a Planning Application by South Staffs Railway to create an extensive Railway network with Branch Lines. The route mentions hundreds of places, but locally of interest, from the Newbury Herald Sat Nov 15th 1845…
…Birchills, Ryecroft, Cart-bridge, Coalpool, Shaver’s End, Moss Pit Green, Sheffield, Sheffield Common, otherwise Birches Green, Four Crosses, Cole Heath, High Heath, Goblin’s Pit, Goblin’s Pit Wood, Walsall Wood, Sheffield and Walsall Wood…
I assume that the line did not come to fruition?
All the best Peter
Followed soon after by:
Since found that the Bill did not come through Parliament. It may have been in opposition to GWR.
History may have been different if it had gone ahead!
Regards Peter
More bizarrely is the following, again from Kate. Now, at the outset, neither of us have a clue what’s going on here and contributions, opinions and abuse are welcome. This is well odd. It comes from an 1888 Mormon publication (anyones ears twitching at the Derry link yet?) called ‘Vision: A Magazine for Youth’ published by Herald Publishing House in the US. To refresh the memory, The Derry Journal can be found on Sue Lote’s site (you’ll need to scroll right down).
Hi Bob
I’m not really sure what’s going on here. It’s a story called ‘The Poor Widow’s Offering’ and it appeared in an 1888 church mag produced by the Latter Day Saints.
I haven’t read it through but it seems to be set in an old thatched cottage at Goblin’s Pit, Walsall Wood. It also references Green Lane and tells of childish legends of goblins roaming at night!
What’s interesting with things like is did legends give rise to the name, or did the name give rise to legends?
Hopefully this link will take you there but if not give me a shout! http://www.archive.org/stream/visionamagazine01saingoog#page/n440/mode/1up
Cheers, Kate
The ebook interface is horrid, so I’ve screen grabbed the relevant pages. Click on them for readable versions. This really is worth persevering with, and rather weird. What do you folks think?
Page 1 - click for a legible version.
Page 2 - click for a legible version.
Page 3 - click for a legible version.