Hello Bill. Thanks for getting in touch and sharing your memories of Newminster Abbey. I remember visiting as a child and playing hide and seek in the ruins. It’s a lovely tranquil spot, although few people even know it is there now as it is so hidden by trees.

Good morning Tom. I do like your analogy of mice in plastic tubes. Thanks, as ever, for sharing your thoughts and I’m delighted these posts trigger memories of past adventures.

BACK IN 1965 (59 YEARS AGO) I ENTERED A RELIGIOUS ORDER. (THE DURATION WAS LESS
THAN A YEAR … BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY). MY SEMINARY WAS LOCATED IN THE SNOW ZONE OF UP-STATE – NEW YORK.
THE ORDER HAD PURCHASED A ‘NO LONGER USED’, WW II, VET. RETRAINING CENTER.
SINCE THE ANNUAL SNOW FALL IN THAT NORTHERN SECTION OF NEW YORK STATE IS OFTEN SIX FEET AND UP, ‘TUNNELS’ WERE ORIGINALLY INCORPORATED IN THE DESIGN. GOING FROM THE DORM. TO: THE DINING HALL; CHAPEL, OR CLASS ROOMS, OFTEN REQUIRED THE USE THOSE TUNNELS. THINKING BACK, WE WERE SORT OF LIKE THE MICE OR GERBILS IN THOSE PLASTIC TUBES. IT DID HOWEVER, KEEP US OUT OF THE RAIN AND SNOW.
THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS COMMENTARY BEING: THE REUSE OF STRUCTURES IN CREATIVE FASHIONS IS ALWAYS AN INTERESTING TOPIC. YOUR ARTICLE BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES I HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT FOR …. ‘DECADES’.
MERCY BUCKETS,
TOM