coal

1529 - Coal used for fuel at Whalley Abbey from mine at Padiham.

Coal seams outcrop in Dean Wood.

Leases of coal mines:
1450 Padiham and Pendle Forest. 1590 - Ightenhill, also 1638.
1537 - Offences committed in selling coal outside township.

17th /18th c. Bancrofts of Palace House sunk shafts at Higher and Lower Close Farms, also to West of Gawthorpe Hall. These were the "Nook o Holme" collieries. (Holme meaning area surrounded by water).

Hunters Holme Farm was on the North side of the Calder due to flooding of the `esses` after advent of the Calder Valley Corn Mills at the turn of the 13th century.

The old colliery on South bank of River Calder became known as Bancroft Plantations,as trees were planted to screen spoil.

Shuttleworth Pit and Dugdale Pit, latter on Burry`s Market Garden at Whitegate.

On North side of Calder were Lomax Pits / Small PlacePit / Balance Pit / Whitaker Clough Pit.

OPEN CAST mining commenced in 1526 - From 1446 anyone could dig for coal.

Iron Stones or Bullion Stones several feet thick upon Union Seam.
Early 17th c. Area from Moor Lane to Hollins Farm worked by unusual `PILLAR AND STRAIGHT` method as opposed to usual Bell Pit method.

Padiham Thick seam extended from roughly Dean Wood to Pendle Hall Farm.
Outcrops 500 south of Huntroyde, almost under Hargrove, High Whitaker and West Close, and running out against rough at Pendle Hall Farm (Moor Isle Fault). Seam was 10/11 feet thick.

Fulledge Thin and King seam to south (Stockbridge, Padiham, Gawthorpe and Ightenhill) seams submerged in places burying the coal in sand, in places.

Padiham Thick Seam (Adamson st/John o Gaunt St area- known as Old Croft Area). All area cut into large pillars of coal which measured up to 20 x 60 yards. This means the coal pillars were 20 yards down to the dip and 60 yards across or on the strike of the coal seam. Roadways were 7ft high in most places x 7/8 ft wide and were all well made. Cutting continued to Burnley Rd where water had come up to the roof. Whole area has been cut including Garden Street / Delph. Square inspection holes most noticeable on opencast site around High Whitaker. These were to determine depth of roof cover.

TALLOW CANDLE AND A SLEDGE were discovered 17th c.

Small mine at junction of Grove Lane and Garden Street which was with the Pen Fold the old Town Gate area. After closing the mine, 6 cottages were built and long after their demolition, the workings caved in, in January 1967.

Drift in Slade Lane twix Sdy? wall of old Rope Works and Guide corner (was thought to have been a trough) this area was known as Sane Acre Drift. approx. 20 yards S of the `rhubarb stile` which led to Hargrove Farm from the top of Adamson Street.

Mine at Hargrove - area of coal was found to be burnt when open casting. This was caused by an outbreak of foot and mouth disease at the turn of the 20th c. The affected animals were burned in a large hollow, formerly a private mine, but set fire to the 11 seams adjacent.

Coal mines around Huntroyde, iron tipped wooden shovels and pair of wooden clogs found near "Red Doors".

A SEAM OF SEAL COAL was recorded in 1434 - Henry Marshall, vicar of Wilmington , in 1550 bequeathed his lease of a coal mine in Padiham to Elizabeth Marshall.

COAL PITS Approx. 1526 - Each employee was to give up a days work (or 2 if necessary) to fill up coal pits at Stockbridge.

COAL MINES - Last in Township closed about 1870.

This article has been reinterpreted from original documentation which dates back hundreds of years. If you spot any mistakes or you can add to it, e-mail: leigh@madassociates.com