New Mill and the Ernie Burniston Bench

[Douglas Enwright]

That’s just my name for it,everywhere I go,where’s there’s a landmark or location for the show,I have my own name for it,usually from a memorable scene there,even though many scenes over the years may have been filmed at the same place.This bench has been in many scenes over the years,it’s where Cleggy and Truly first met Entwistle,it’s the site of Foggy’s Glory Hole,and of course,it’s where Foggy,Compo and Clegg got the V sign off Ernie Burniston.
New Mill lives in the shadow of it’s neighbour Holmfirth as a place known for its locations,but countless scenes were filmed in this beautiful part of Summer Wine land,it’s one of my regular walking places,and am always reminded of scenes wherever I walk,like the recent A big tart and a midget post,and on future walks I’ll add further scenes on here,but I’ll start the post with an introduction,here Cleggy and Truly are sat on this lovely bench about to be introduced to Entwistle for the first time.
The bench is still there,it’s a real bench like another one not too far away in New Mill that I’ll post soon,unlike many benches that were props,so today I sat on this bench and looked out over New Mill,just like Cleggy and Truly did that day in Ancient Eastern Wisdom:an introduction,although there were no men from the Far East (Hull) passing by today looking to pass on their wisdom for 50p

 

[Douglas Enwright]

A truck appears coming down the hill that will become very familiar,the lane is called Scar Hole Lane at New Mill,and a certain Entwistle,formerly known as MacIntyre but who changed his name because people mistook him for being Scottish,introduces himself and
is keen to sell his Eastern wisdom from Hull for 50p a go

 

[Douglas Enwright]

In this scene from The magnificent thighs of Ernie Burniston,Foggy,Compo and Clegg are walking down the lane directly behind the bench,towards the bench

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Foggy,Compo and Clegg on this beautiful bench,you can still sit here today,as I did

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Compo : Nobody’s as fit as they used to be,you show me one bloke our age round ere who’s as fit as they used to be
Compo : It’s Ernie Burniston !
Foggy : Exhibitionist !
Cleggy : Show off !
(Ernie Burniston gives the V sign)
Compo : I never liked im,but tha’s got to gi him credit
Cleggy : For doing a V sign ? Even I could do that
Foggy : He’s not that fit,it’s just an act,underneath all that swank he’s exhausted really.
Here’s the very spot today where Ernie gave them that V sign

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Here are some scenes that were filmed 20 years ago just a hundred yards up from the bench on Scar Hole Lane,from In search of childlike joy and the farthest reaches of the lotus position,here Truly and Clegg are laid on a stretch of grass while Billy is nearby making a staff,all pretty much the same today,although in mid February it’s not quite as beautiful as it looks in mid summer,but it’s still lovely to visit here and pause a while,we’re still on Scar Hole Lane at New Mill

 

[RickAns]

Great pics, Chuffer. Thanks for sharing them. What a view!

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Here is Tom and Wesley encouraging Smiler to try out the Kart Wesley has made,whenever they needed a hill,like the episode with the spinning office chairs,this is often where they went,it’s carrying on up Scar Hole Lane up to the junction with Intake Lane at New Mill,and it’s exactly the same today,Smiler’s brakes failed that day,luckil I didn’t have a Kart,or skates,or an office chair to try out

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Here’s Billy with his new staff on Scar Hole Lane proudly demonstrating his skills to Truly and Clegg,I stood where the cameraman stood that day,and am happy to say it’s as tranquil and beautiful as it was 20 years ago when they filmed Childlike Joy

 

[Douglas Enwright]

After Billy nearly gets run over by the truck chasing the runaway Kart down the hill (this is really where the kart would run to) Howard and Marina appear cycling down the lane,Scar Hole Lane,and Billy decides to cut his staff in two to convert the two bikes to carry five people,this is the lane Howard and Marina cycled down,and this is the little rock area,about 20 yards further up the hill from the previous photo,where Billy converted the bikes

 

[Douglas Enwright]

To me,this hill and path at the End of Intake Lane at the junction with Hirst Lane at New Mill is as famous as any location used in Summer Wine,and again New Mill doesn’t get the credit it deserves,there must be lots of people that visit Holmfirth looking for locations to visit,yet literally the town joining it,New Mill,barely gets a mention,and that’s why I decided to do this thread,I’m also going to do one for Hade Edge where again,many scenes were filmed in the beautiful countryside there.
Howard : I think we’ve really cracked it this time ( another one MoodyBlue)
People won’t look twice at people harmlessly painting the scenery.
From the episode In which Gavin Hinchcliffe loses the Gulf Stream,where we see Miss Peackock with a man friend,and who gets hopelessly drunk at the Monkey

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Barry and Glenda arrive to catch out Howard and Marina,you can drive to and park your car exactly where Barry and Glenda have,so you can visit this location without having to walk there,although I did today,the direction Barry and Glenda have come from is the area where the field is in Catching Digby’s donkey,if they went right they would end up at the Big tart and midget lane,if they went left they would end up at the Kart hill,and if they carried on,along the lane where Mavis lost Lionel in Spores,they would end up at the Ernie Burniston bench,everywhere you walk in New Mill reminds you of a scene

 

[Douglas Enwright]

A few scenes from Spores,filmed at New Mill,with the wonderful Anita Carey from I didn’t know you cared in which she starred with our Sid,and Roy Hudd,so many happy memories from my childhood watching him,this was the opening scene,showing Truly,Cleggy and Billy at New Mill,I loved the series where Billy was with us.
I had a terrible dream Robin Hood was ginger,says Billy

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Woman wailing in car.
Billy : A lady in distress,I’v trained all my life for this
Truly : Oh they can be tricky,I’v seen this in the vice squad,you go up,you say are you alright madam,next thing you’re in a fluffy pink boudoir
Cleggy : I’m not going in any fluffy pink boudoir

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Billy : No wonder he left her,can you imagine that in a small bedroom
Smiler and Tom arrive from Hirst Lane in a big American car
Smiler : What’s up
Truly : It’s a Mavis,she’s lost her husband,you take her back with you while we go find her husband
Tom : You see,a single lady in your car already,where am I taking her,where do you take spare ladies ?
Cleggy : Take her to Pearls,she’s experienced in dealing with wandering husbands

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Barry and Glenda notice a man ( the brilliant Roy Hudd playing Lionel) viewing a possible beauty spot,and stop to look
Glenda : Pull up here,the way he’s staring he must have found a nice bit

 

[Douglas Enwright]

This scene was filmed on Intake Lane at New Mill,
Lionel : Nice,you think this is nice,do you realise how many things are eating each other out there right now,bones cracking,shells going crunch,you can fair hear the jaws going,tiny shrieks of agony,but it makes no difference,yummy yummy,crunch crunch
Glenda : What about the vegetarians ?
Lionel : They’ve been eaten first,nothing wildlife likes more than a good vegetarian
Barry : But we just came to enjoy the view
Lionel : You know what else is out there ? The big threat,the real killer,the one you never see,are you with me ? let me say one word …Spores
Invisible in the wind,floating through the air,swarming with micro nasties,and you know where they’re heading don’t you ?
Straight for human lungs

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Still on Intake Lane,further up heading towards our famous little hill and path.
In the search for Lionel,Howard and Marina appear on their bikes,but he hardly knows the lady.
Billy : Eyup,it’s romance on wheels
Howard : I know what you’re thinking,but me and this young lady are on a humanitarian mission,we’re looking for a Lionel,
Truly : We’re all looking for a Lionel

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Lionel returning.
Truly : What’s this then,a lone figure,with the world on his shoulders,that could be a Lionel
Howard : He looks depressed enough
Marina : He’s every right to be if he thinks the worlds going to end next Wednesday
Lionel : It is ? Next Wednesday ? That’s the best news I’v had all week

 

[Douglas Enwright]

Walking up our beautiful and famous path at the junction of Hirst Lane and Intake Lane at New Mill,Truly,Cleggy and Billy decide that Lionel needs to meet a wise sage.
Truly : Lionel needs to meet a sage,famous for his ancient wisdom and reconditioned electrical appliances,he could look the part ( speaking about Entwistle) he could look like somebody who has words of wisdom