Brings back rafts of memories looking at that google map Simps.
Back in the 60s and early 70's I used to camp quite a lot at Hilton Hall - only yards away from Dans Pool in the Woods top right hand corner of Dans Pool.
Neither Dans Pools or Chubs Pools existed those days - they were just fields with a massive Oak tree in the middle that no longer exists looking at this.
From where I camped, the syndicate pool with the walk over bridge used to be just visible - we knew it as 'Pickards' - well known for 'get off my land' - wander where Viz got the idea for their character
Anyway, I used to fish the moat you can see around Hilton Hall - used to be stuffed with stunted roach and some perch those days - the nuns who ran Hilton Hall as a home for the elderley used to lease the pool to Wednesbury Tube, but also used to give us permission to fish it.
When I wasnt camping there, never used to bat an eyelid at biking the 4 miles from home (and back) day after day during the summer school holidays just to fish the moat.
Bread was the bait
Anyway, Tarmac took it over during the 80's (I think it was)
How I longed to give it another bash.
Low and behold, my younger bro who worked at the same place (MEB) sorted out a problem for them back in the 90's and as a result chanced his arm and asked if he (plus me) could give it a whirl one Saturday.
The 'gaffer' of the place agreed and let us in through the security gates one Saturday morning. I had a real nostalgia trip fishing it - things had changed a bit - as well as netting loads of roach, I also had crucians and tench that I never knew existed in there when I was a kid.
Ah.........happy days