By Canal, River and Railway Lines (picture)

December 1966

South Yorkshire Times, December 3, 1966

By Canal, River and Railway Lines

Their home is only 200 yards from the main road in Denaby yet two schoolgirls are living in almost complete “isolation” – and enjoying every minute of it!

Barbara and Carol Jackson, students at Mexborough County secondary school, have lived in the Lock house, Mexborough Low since their father, Mr Eric Jackson, became Lock keeper in July, they are separated from “civilisation” by the canal, the Don, and Denaby Coal marshalling yard.

On Friday 13 year old Barbara had to ask permission to leave school early as the river had risen 4 ½ feet during Thursday night and her usual way home round the edge of the marshalling yard and over the “Silver Bridge “was flooded.

In order to get home she had to cross a busy marshalling yard. Mr Jackson said “the yard is a dangerous place at the best of times, and I didn’t want Barbara crossing it alone and in the dark.” Carol, her 16-year-old sister, was ill so she was not affected.

Because of their “isolation” the Jacksons collect their post each day from Denaby Post Office, “If we have visitors they have to ring us from Denaby and one of us goes to meet them,” said Mr. Jackson. “If they tried to come alone, they would get hopelessly lost.”

A reporter who went to see Mr Jackson was “saved” by N. C. B. Shunters who gave him a lift! On one or two occasions Carol and Barbara have been given lifts part way to school on passing barges.

“Both the girls like it down here,” said Mr Jackson. When we moved here from Don View, I told them that if they didn’t like the idea I wouldn’t take the job, but they were both very keen.”