Ollerton – Sophie’s Story

Our guide is Sophie, a young woman grappling to understand her place in a town her family has long called home. As she introduces five stories that move
through the years of coal mining, and we hear from those who work with the local community now, this is a rich exploration of the past, present and future of Ollerton.

This walk is around 3 miles and should take around 2.5 hours to complete. It starts and ends near the Hop Pole in old Ollerton.

You can download the route instructions and map below and print it out to take with you on the walk, although the instructions on the audio are very clear and – as long as you start in the right place – you shouldn’t get lost. (If the map is currently visible on your device you can zoom in and out using the – and + keys above it).

Download

The audio can be streamed here (or on a variety of other platforms as listed at the very bottom of this page). You can also download these tracks to your device from the links below (just click on those three dots to the right) if you’d rather do that (and save your data!)

1. The bench opposite The Hop Pole

2. The bench where Church Street meets Market Place

3. The entrance to Private Road / Middlefield

4. The railway bridge

5. The Skatepark at the centre of Darwin Drive

6. Lifespring Church, Sherwood Drive

7. Church Circle

8. The bench opposite A. W. Lymn’s

9. The railway bridge

10. The bench where Church Street meets Market Place

11. The Remembrance Garden

Sophie’s Story was written by Andy Barrett and read by Julia Bird, with Andy Barrett, Stuart Bull, Margaret Knowles, Hannah Lucy Stone, and Emma Rayner. The sound design was by Adam P McCready. Thanks to all those whose voices are included; to everyone who shared their stories and knowledge; to Andy Oxnard, Alistair Littlewood, and the many people who helped with the research for this walk.