Coal Mining in the Shrewsbury District (Stuart
Tomlins, SCMC Journal No.2)
During research for the book "Mining in
COAL MINING IN SHREWSBURY
DISTRICT
AN IMPORTANT
"ADVERTISER" REPRESENTATIVE'S VISIT TO HANWOOD COLLIERY
Mention of the eastern part of the
To the people of the Shrewsbury district in former times, the Coal
Measures which rise to the surface on the westerly slopes of Lyth Hill, and
follow the line of the hills round by way of Pontesbury and Westbury, proved a
great boon, providing them with a plentiful supply of good coal. In the days of
our grandfathers there were coal mines flourishing at Pontesbury, Westbury,
Crewe Green, Arscott, Moat Hall and Hanwood, and on the other side of the hill
one may still see the old workings at Longden Common, Stapleton and Longnor,
which latter used to be worked by the late Mr Edward Corbett, of Longnor Hall,
father of the present Major E R T Corbett.
Gradually, however, the smaller pits became exhausted, as it was not
possible in those days to work any great distance from the bottom of the shaft,
a new pit therefore had to be sunk, and to greater depths, though here Nature
provided compensations, for, generally speaking, the quality of coal found at
depth is better than that found near the surface. In the early years of this
century the mines round Pontesbury and Westbury closed down one by one until,
in 1920, there were only three left working in what is geologically known as
the Shrewsbury Coalfield.
A NEW COMPANY
These three were the Arscott, Hanwood and Moat Hall Collieries. In 1921
the present company, which is known as the Hanwood & Moat Hall Collieries
(Salop) Ltd, was formed, being made up of a number of local people with Mr A
Nicholas Fielden as managing director. This company took over the colliery
businesses previously carried on by Messrs Atherton and the late Mr W T
Shorthouse, and when the Arscott Collieries were closed on the expiration of
their lease, the men from these pits were absorbed in the larger undertaking.
Today the company and its associated company, Hanwood Brickworks Ltd, provide
employment for some 250 men and youths drawn from Hanwood, Westbury,
Pontesbury, Hookagate and Annscroft. These districts have long looked to the
collieries to provide a large number of their men with a livelihood, and
nowadays they rely yet more on this industry to provide them with employment.
OPENINGS NOW
There are at the moment a number of openings for boys of 14 or 15 at the
colliery, and there is no reason why a boy of intelligence starting there
should not rise to a well-paid position in a few years, though of course a
great deal must depend on the boy himself.
At various times there have been 7 shafts sunk at Moat Hall, varying in
depth from 25 yards to 150 yards. Both the present Hanwood and Moat Hall pits,
however, were sunk some 50 years ago to the Half Yard Seam, about 150 yards
down. This produces a very high grade of coal, which has a calorific value of
approximately 15,000 BTUs, and which is a quick lighting and free burning coal.
Always the products of these pits has been in great demand in Central Wales
right out as far as the coast, and all over the countryside between here and
the coast Hanwood coal is very widely known. Today, coal from this colliery is
sent down to South Wales as well as
UNDERGROUND
From the bottom of the pitshaft, the workings stretch out for about a
mile, and slope downwards in the northerly direction at a gradient of about 1
in 10. As the pit is free from gas, the use of naked lights is allowed
underground and this freedom proves of great advantage, as a disease of the eye
due to working in the insufficient light which the safety lamp too often
affords and from which, miners in gassy pits often suffer, is practically
unknown in open lamp pits.
All the coal is brought to the surface at the Hanwood shaft, where the
tubs are weighed before being sent on to the screening plant. Under the
guidance of Mr A N Fielden, the present company at its formation made many
improvements at the collieries, bringing them up to date in practically every
respect. The underground workings from the two shafts now join and Hanwood and
Cruck Meole are worked in complete conjunction.
THE CHANGES
In the old days, a number of steam engines provided the power for the
work of the colliery but the first and most important step which the new
company took was to introduce electricity for pumping and underground haulage,
while the company's power station also supplies electricity to the associated
company.
In the power station, which is at Cruck Meole, there are two
Williams-Robinson centre valve electric sets, the two generators being rated at
200kW each, and there are instruments to show what power is being used in
various parts of the workings. The introduction of the underground electric
haulage constituted a great improvement, particularly in view of the steep
slope of the workings, while it has enabled the company to reduce the number of
pit ponies to a minimum.
TRAINED PONIES
There are in fact only three ponies now in use at the colliery, and it
has been found possible, with no great difficulty, to train these ponies to
enter the cage without fear, so that they are brought out of the pit at the
close of each working day - a privilege enjoyed by very few pit ponies in this
country.
The use of coal cutting machines has been tried at the colliery but,
owing to physical difficulties, the machine did not show any marked superiority
over the man. Electricity also serves to light the pit bottom, as well as the
surface works, while the screening plant and the ventilating fan are also
electrically driven. The ventilation is on the general principle, the impure
air being sucked out of the pit so that pure air naturally takes its place. The
ventilation is so controlled underground as to ensure a steady current of air
over the coal face.
To the uninitiated, the screening process is particularly interesting.
The plant is at Cruck Meole, where all the coal is screened. The coal is tipped
onto the screen in exactly the same state as when it comes up the pit shaft,
and is carried along the plant to be automatically divided into four grades -
large coal, nuts, steam peas and a fourth grade that is little more than coal
dust. Each grade finds its way down its particular shute into the appropriate
truck.
It is interesting to note that the company themselves use the fourth and
inferior grade of coal to feed the furnaces of their steam boilers, which are
also to be found at Cruck Meole. They are enabled to use this cheap fuel, for
one is informed that it can be sold at a remarkably cheap rate if taken in
large quantities, because they have a special grate fitted with an induced
draught apparatus. Under the grate are four tubes through which steam draughts
are passed.
The company do their own repairs and near to the pit head there are the
workshops, containing the necessary machines and tools, where these repairs are
carried out. Altogether one gathered that the Hanwood and Moat Hall Collieries
constitute a self-contained and up to date business run on economical and
methodical lines.
FREEDOM FROM ACCIDENTS
Enquiring into the history of accidents at the collieries, one found a
record of freedom from accidents which it would be difficult to equal, for
Hanwood and Moat Hall have each had only one fatal accident in recent years,
with a few minor casualties.
AN ENDOWED BED
Writing of accidents of one kind and another, one is reminded that at
the Royal Salop Infirmary there is a cot endowed by the employees of the
Hanwood and Moat Hall Collieries and the Hanwood Brickworks Ltd, and it is good
to know these men, while retaining their own health, yet remember others who
have lost theirs.
Between the management and the men an excellent feeling exists and while
the men, of course, joined in the general strikes, there have been no disputes
between the men and management at the collieries. In fact a good healthy spirit
characterises the undertaking.
THOSE IN CHARGE
Mr Nicholas Fielden, the managing director of the company, is widely
known and esteemed by all who know him. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of
the coal industry, of which he had experience in
The collieries are under the able management of Mr C H Bolton, who prior
to coming to Shropshire, has many years experience in the deeper pits of
Mr W Mansell is the under manager and is a valued official of the
company. He as served all his working life in the company's mines and has an
intimate knowledge of them.
The Engineer is Mr W Clarke, a capable and knowledgeable official. He
hails from the
The output of the mines is very considerable and is handled by the
Shropshire Coal Company Ltd, with offices at 7 Shoplatch, Shrewsbury, here
interested persons will find the officials always willing to arrange for them
to visit the collieries upon due notice being given.
THE BRICKWORKS
The works of the Hanwood Brickworks Ltd adjoin the Cruck Meole Colliery,
from which, as has been stated, this undertaking gets electric power, though
there is a special 150HP electric motor to drive the brickyard plant. There one
finds a huge Staffordshire Kiln which holds 180,000 bricks. It is oval in shape
and the inside is a series of chambers built round a central block. In these
chambers the bricks are built up. The fire slowly burns underneath each
chamber, taking about a fortnight to complete the circuit of all the chambers.
Thus the fire is taken to the bricks, rather than the bricks being taken to the
fire.
The heating process is very gradual, while the chambers under which they
are very slowly passing is, of course, subjected to intense heat, the chamber
in front of it is getting hot, while the chamber ahead of this is also getting
warm.
In the old days attempts were made to make bricks from the pit shale,
and for a time bricks were made from this material. They were not suitable for
the needs of the district, however, and their manufacture was discontinued some
years ago. All bricks now are made only from good red clay and the excellent
quality common brick produced finds an extensive sale in this district. The red
clay is passed over a screen and mixed with water, after which it is moulded
and subjected to high pressure, the whole process being carried out on one
ingenious machine. The "green" bricks thus formed are then
transferred to the kiln.
At the brickworks, as at the colliery, everything is very methodically
arranged, and a visit to the premises is full of interest.
The
The Shrewsbury Coalfield is situated to the south and south west of
One of the earliest references to coal mining in the
One mile south east of Asterley is Malehurst Colliery which may be the
site where, in 1775, there is mention of a "fire engine" being erected.
If so, this seems to be the first recorded steam pumping engine in this area.
In 1778, Scott & Jeffries took out a 50 year lease on land belonging to the
Boycott Estate north of Pontesbury and this included the Malehurst Colliery and
other mines. They purchased a 27" pumping engine from Boulton & Watt
although the exact location of this engine is not known. Local place names give
some clues to possible sites, eg names such as Old Engine and Big Engine appear
on large scale OS maps. An engine is also shown here on Baugh's map of 1808.
Coal from Malehurst Colliery was sent to Pontesbury to be used in John
Lawrence's smelt house and, when the colliery closed in 1795,
The nearby Pontesford Colliery was acquired by Probert, Lloyd, Jones
& Co and in 1793 they installed a 33" engine for pumping. The engine
house appears to have been built of wood and, although this would have been
cheaper than stone, it would have increased the fire risk considerably. The
engine is recorded as having consumed 2,715 tons of coal in the period July
1808 to July 1811. This is an average of 21/2 tons per day but at least the
colliery could produce the coal on site at no additional cost. From details of
the pumps, it appears that the shaft was 225ft deep at that time. In 1831, John
Lawrence ordered a new engine for the colliery and this was carried from
By the mid-19th century, the rich Snailbeach Lead Mine Company had taken
a major interest in the colliery, presumably to ensure coal supplies for their
engine houses and smelting activities. A second-hand engine with a 20"
diameter cylinder was purchased in 1859 for pumping and winding and the shaft
at this time was 360ft deep. In 1862, the Snailbeach Mine daywork book records
that the mine mechanic, Vincent Hughes, went to the colliery to take down the
engine. This job took 12 days and it was taken to Snailbeach Mine where it was
re-conditioned. This probably signified that the colliery had closed since the
workings would flood rapidly without the engine. It is believed that, after
Pontesford Colliery had closed, Snailbeach Lead Mine acquired its coal from the
neighbouring Nags Head Colliery.
A few miles
The partnership hit problems and John Thomas went bankrupt in September
1862. Following a visit by HM Inspector of Mines in October 1862, three summons
were issued to Thomas Davis. The first was for failing to produce a plan of the
workings, the second for not having an adequate brake attached to the steam
engine used for winding men in the shaft and the third for not having a proper
depth indicator on the steam winding engine. Smythe-Owen seems to have been
concerned at the efficiency of the mine (since this would affect his royalty!)
and in November 1862 he instructed his attorney to try and get his lands back.
With all these problems, the partnership decided to cease business and arranged
for a valuation of equipment in February of 1863 which came to £366.14.6d.
Included in the list were the following :-
|
£115. 0.0 |
Steam engine with
301/2" diameter cylinders, air pumps and condenser, iron beam with 6ft
stroke, 2 air pump buckets with turned rods, 12ft balloon boiler, 16ft
flywheel with spear rod, winding apparatus with large double crank, strong
frame and holding down pins |
|
£50. 0.0 |
12HP beam steam engine with
winding apparatus gearing and boiler |
|
£5. 5.0 |
166 yards of best two link
chain |
|
£2.10.0 |
60 yards of red deal
pumping rods |
|
£19. 0.0 |
30 yards of 14" pumps
with clack door piece and working barrel |
|
£3.10.0 |
Gin and strong frame |
|
£2. 0.0 |
Pit frame with two large
pulleys and roller posts |
To the north of Westbury, old workings occur in the area around Coedway
and Crewgreen. Remains here can be seen in many different locations but there
are only spoil mounds and collapsed shafts. No remains of masonry structures
can be seen and it is likely that these were small concerns with only wooden
surface buildings. A few years ago a brick lined shaft of one of these opened
up in a farmer's field near Halfway House, close to the A458. This was filled
and made safe by British Coal.
Further east, Arscott Colliery was operated by a Mr Smallshaw and
appears to have closed around 1920 when the lease expired, the men transferring
to Hanwood Colliery. The closure caused a great deal of concern to the
neighbouring Cruckmeole Colliery which experienced increased water inflow after
pumping stopped at Arscott.
Hanwood Colliery was started in the 1870s and, although originally a
small independant venture, it eventually became the biggest in the coalfield.
In 1921, the Hanwood & Moat Hall Collieries (Salop) Ltd was formed and this
was managed by Nicholas Fielden. The company acquired the old Hanwood, Moat
Hall, Cruckmeole and Arscott Collieries and combined them together to work
under the name of Hanwood Colliery. At its peak, the colliery employed about
300 men drawn from Hanwood, Westbury, Pontesbury, Hookagate and Annscroft. It
was a major employer and its closure in 1941 was a serious blow to the
communities.
During the 19th century, eight shafts had been sunk on the Moat Hall and
Hanwood sections and these varied in depth from 75-450ft. The deepest workings
were in the "Half-Yard Seam" which provided a quick lighting and free
burning coal. This was much in demand locally and in
One of the first innovations of the new company was to erect an
electricity generating station on the surface at Cruckmeole. This allowed the
introduction of electric pumps, fans, lighting and underground haulage, the
latter being very important in view of the steep slope of the workings. Even
so, three pit ponies were retained underground for haulage duties and they were
perhaps unique in that they were brought back up in the cage each night instead
of being stabled at the pit bottom. Electricity was also used to operate the
screens which were at Cruckmeole. These sorted the coal into four grades which
were large coal, nuts, steam peas and dust. The latter was not commercially
viable but it was used as a cheap fuel for the company's own boilers, also
sited at Cruckmeole.