Winter Hill Coal Collieries, Horwich, Lancashire.
The south
side of Winter Hill is riddled with old levels and shafts from the remains of
coal mine workings. The mines worked the lowest of the coal measures - the
Sandrock or Mountain seams. Mines on the hill included, Burnt Edge Colliery,
Montcliffe Colliery, Wilderswood and Wildersmoor Collieries, Winter Hill Mine
and many more.
The coal
seams outcropped in many places and probably initially were worked by
individuals for personal use and for small scale sale, before industrial
commercialisation. It is known from archives the seams around Winter Hill were
worked from the late 18th century onwards through to 1966 when the last mine
Montcliffe closed. It is also probable they were worked in the late 17th
century and possibly earlier as abundant outcrops encircle the hill. The
seams were accessed via drifts and shallow windlass and ladder shafts. Around
fifty shafts and 20 drifts are known to exist, the true figure may be twice as
many.
For
reference, in the Lancashire coalfield a seam is termed a 'mine' whereas the
coal mine itself is termed a colliery.
 |
Wilderswood
and Bleachworks Colliery - An area of the mines that was worked by the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. (Alan, Andrew, Dave, Keith, Mike,
Stewart, and Tom), 17th Novemeber 2007. |
|
