Nostalgia opinion by Michael Eagleton

I READ recently that the thick growth of random trees and undergrowth on the slopes of Winter Will are soon to be partially cleared by the National Trust in an effort to improve the view.

In my early school days, when it was quite an adventure to go up to the hill either by bike or via the winding path from the bottom of Quarry Wood Road, trees were largely confined to the other side of Gibraltar Lane at the foot, and the clear and steep hillside was a popular place for tobogganing in winter, or for myself to once very unwisely accept a bet to cycle straight down.

I was uninjured but ended up in a tangled heap at the bottom.

Of course back then, before the trees grew, the view over Marlow was superb and you could look down on the Marlow Donkey arriving at, and departing from, the Railway Station.

Above are various postcards from the early and mid-1900s looking both east and west.

I especially like the first one from the late 1950s indicating what a popular picnic place this was on a nice summer’s day. The oldest, number 4, shows an early motor car on the narrow hilltop track.

Forest Lodge, at the foot of the hill, left in the 5th card, has been shrouded in trees for many years since the 1960s.

Cockmarsh and Winter Hill became National Trust property in the 1930s, but, going back many centuries before that, this was the grazing area for the farmers of both Bisham and Marlow, and their flocks and herds were driven across the top of the hill and down the track into town for either milking or shearing. It was known as “The Wool Track”.

Flat fields in both Marlow and Bisham were reserved for haymaking.

This gives rise to an interesting alternative explanation to an old legend. It is usually stated that the name “Parole Bridge” for the crossing over the Bisham Brook at the bottom of Quarry Wood Road (inset picture) was because this marked the furthest point to which French prisoners of war on parole were allowed to walk and exercise when incarcerated in Marlow. However some years ago a Mr Bayley of Maidenhead wrote an article with his view that in Mediaeval dialect “Para heol” (parole) meant “the road for the herds” and “Waun tir heol” (Winter Hill) meant “pasture for the herds”.

I have been unable to find any confirmation of this. Which explanation do you believe?

Contact Michael on michael@jazzfans.co or 01628 486571