The old mill

Jesmond Dene I used to come here all the time as a small child My Mam used to walk my two brothers and myself through Heaton Park (which in those days was pristine kept so by "The Parkie" of whom all children were terrified!!). Then up through Jesmond Vale into Pets Corner where we picnicked. Up into Jesmond Dene which even then was wild and natural but I remember the Mill in my child's mind as being in a state of worse dereliction than it is today! How can that be?? From there we walked up to Paddy Freeman's to the boating lake where my brothers sailed their boats and I fished with a jam jar and a net!!!!! Simple pleasures all free of charge and a first hand experience of nature......